Taste of the Nation!
USBG helps Share Our Strength by Making Market Fresh Cocktails!

Monday, June 25th
Written by: Todd Appel

USBG Illinois members shook, stirred, and muddled cocktails to support Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation fund raiser in Chicago at the River East Arts Center.

For the second year running, USBG team Illinois took the reigns to mix cocktails at the annual Taste of the Nation event which raises money supporting the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Vital Bridges and the Illinois Hunger Coalition. Along with fighting childhood hunger, the funds also support nutrition education through healthy diets for our youth.

Twenty USBG mixologists created cocktails with sponsored spirits and the support of Southern Wine and Spirits. Drinks like the Banana Cream Pie and Grand Marinade by award winning mixologists Debbi Peek and Jen Contraveos, showed off fresh fruits and ingredients with the theme of Fresh Market Mixology. For the second year running, the Taste Beverage Chair was USBG Illinois President and SWS Master Mixologist, Bridget Albert.

Honorary Head Mixologist and Taste Beverage Chair and USBG Ambassador, Tony Abou-Ganim, headed the 10 Cane interactive mojito station, where he taught samplers hands on, and hands down, how to make the perfect fresh mojito.

Chicago restaurants and chefs took the food focus. Thirty Chicago area restaurants, including Blackbird, MK, Viand, Aigre Doux, Avenues, Sushi Samba and Wave along with their chefs and staff, fed the crowd with fresh made samples of their creative menu fare. Organic and sustainable foods were featured as well as world cuisines, wine and cheeses. SWS master sommelier, Serafin Alvorado, ran an interactive, blind wine tasting challenge.

Bill Curtis was master of ceremony. The noted television journalist and founder of Tall Grass Beef, along with Chef Graham Elliot Bowles of Avenues and Chef Chair Steve Chiappetti of Viand presented a special award to world celebrated chef, Charlie Trotter and then led a spirited auction which included a private dinner at Charlie Trotter’s home.

Since 1988, Share Our Strength has raised over 70 million dollars to end childhood hunger nationwide and in Canada. Among the over 70 cities in the US and Canada that join in this effort and to celebrate their local culinary scene are New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin, New Orleans, Miami and Las Vegas.

The USBG IL Chapter is honored to have participated and is looking forward to next year! Together we are making a difference one cocktail at a time.