Atlanta’s Finest Chefs Gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® Locally Presented by Pulte Homes®

Kenny and Wanda Rogers to Serve as Honorary Chairpersons and
Laurent Tourondel to Serve as Honorary Chef

More than 50 top chefs from the Atlanta area will participate in Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® Atlanta, locally presented by Pulte Homes®, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the Georgia Aquarium. Celebrating its 21st anniversary, Taste of the Nation is applauded as the first-ever culinary benefit in the nation and a model for successful fundraisers throughout the country. One of many Taste of the Nation events held across the nation, the Atlanta event has raised more than $6 million since its inception and furthers Share Our Strength’s dedication to ending childhood hunger in America.

This gourmet food and wine event will feature specialty food samplings, live, silent and beverage auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment. The participating chefs include:
• Chef Antonio Abizanda from La Grotta
• Chef Jamie Adams from Veni Vidi Vici
• Chef Tina Aleandri from Hi Life Kitchen & Cocktails
• Chef Gregg Brickman from Wolfgang Puck Catering at the Georgia Aquarium
• Chef Michael Broom of City Grill
• Chef Ken Bouche from Beleza
• Chef Olivier De Busschere of Nikolai’s Roof
• Chef Gary Donlick from Pano’s & Paul’s
• Chef Daryl Gassman from Chops Lobster Bar
• Chef Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill
• Chef Todd Ginsberg of TROIS
• Chef Carvel Grant Gould from Canoe
• Chef Tom Harvey from ONE. midtown kitchen
• Chef Richard Hattaway from Sia’s
• Chef Rick Heald from Levy/BLRG Premium Seating at Phillips Arena
• Chef Bennett Hollberg from Ritz-Carlton Atlanta
• Chef Cyrille Holota of Joël
• Chef Robert Holly from Atlanta Fish Market
• Chef Linton Hopkins from Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House
• Chef Pano I. Karatassos from Kyma
• Chef Gerry Klaskala from Aria

• Chef Kevin Maxey of Craft Atlanta
• Chef Rogerio Martins of Mitra
• Chef Tom McEachern of Ray’s on the River
• Chef Nick Melvin of PARISH
• Chef Christian Messier from the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View
• Chef Sia Moshk from Sia’s
• Chef Nantha Niyomkul from Nan Thai Fine Dining and Tamarind Seed Bistro
• Chef Jesse Perez from Nava
• Chef Piero Premoli from Pricci
• Chef Matt Rainey from 103 West
• Chef Kevin Rathbun from Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar
• Chef Chris Raucci from Ted’s Montana Grill
• Chef Steve Sharp from French American Brasserie
• Chef Joey Riley from Buckhead Diner
• Chef Kien Sam from Aqua Blue
• Chef John Schwank from C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar
• Chef Scott Serpas of Serpas
• Chef Jay Swift of 4th & Swift
• Chef Cameron Thompson from TWO urban licks
• Chef Shane Touhy of Dogwood
• Chef Doug Turbush from Bluepointe
• Chef Riccardo Ullio from U Restaurants
• Chef Adam Waller of Cuerno
• Chef Hilary White from The Hil
• Chef Micah Willix of Ecco
• Chef Ian Winslade of Market and Spice Market.

Pano Karatassos, founder of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, started Atlanta’s Taste of the Nation event in 1988 and has chaired the event each year since. He will also be joined this year by George McKerrow, President/CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill. Laurent Tourondel, executive chef and partner of BLT Restaurants, including BLT Steak in Atlanta, cookbook author and Bon Appétit magazine’s 2007 Restaurateur of the Year, will serve as honorary chef. Music icon Kenny Rogers and his wife Wanda will serve as honorary chairpersons.

“We often forget that many people here in Atlanta and across the state of Georgia go hungry every day, but the money raised at Taste of the Nation will help make a difference and impact our local community,” said Kenny Rogers.

In addition to sampling elegant food and wine, guests also will enjoy live entertainment. A live auction will feature a variety of items, including chef dinners, a pig roast for 50 people and a trip to South Beach in Miami including a hotel stay at The Mandarin Hotel in Miami Beach and dinner for two to Asia De Cuba and dinner for two at The Blue Door at The Delano Hotel. Sponsored by Bloomingdale’s, the silent auction will feature unique wines, spa packages and other luxurious items.

Hunger is widespread in Georgia, with 19.7 percent of Georgians living in poverty. In Fulton County alone, the poverty rate raises to 25 percent. The net proceeds from Taste of the Nation Atlanta will help fund the development and implementation of Share Our Strength’s® strategy to end childhood hunger along with the continued support of organizations such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Open Hand and Genesis, A New Life.

“Having the opportunity to help end hunger, especially for children and working families in our community is a responsibility and an honor,” said Karatassos. “The Atlanta community has shown tremendous support for the cause. I credit our generous sponsors, chefs and event guests with helping us set fund raising records during an extremely fun and powerful night.”

“An end to childhood hunger in the United States is within reach,” said Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength. “With all the participants in Taste of the Nation Atlanta sharing their strengths, we are creating more resources for the greater good of Atlanta and our great nation.”

Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman and S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Taste of the Nation Atlanta is locally presented by Pulte Homes. One hundred percent of ticket sales help ensure no kid in America grows up hungry.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation Atlanta cost $250 per person for General Admission and $350 per person for VIP Admission. A VIP reception begins at 6:30 p.m. with general admission to the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.atlantataste.org or by calling 770.436.5151.

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About Taste of the Nation

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid in America grows up hungry. Each spring, the nation’s hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at more than 45 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman and S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million. Funds raised in 2008 supported 156 organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad. To purchase tickets or to get involved, visit TasteOfTheNation.org.

About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation®, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale®, Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit®, Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out®, and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline®. Visit Strength.org.