Amherst Restaurant Joins Fight Against Childhood Hunger

New Hampshire’s hottest chefs, restaurants, and mixologists will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, the premier culinary benefit of the year.

Taste of the Nation Manchester raises critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in New Hampshire and across the nation. There are currently 16 million children facing hunger in America, and more than 12 percent of children in Manchester with inadequate access to nutritious foods.

This year’s event will be held on May 1 at The Radisson Hotel Center of New Hampshire, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH from 6-9:00 p.m., with a VIP reception beginning at 5:00 p.m. Food Network and Cooking Channel star and New York Times best-selling cookbook author Melissa d'Arabian will attend the event as a special guest.

Nearly 50 of New Hampshire’s hottest chefs and restaurants will participate in the event, including Amherst's newest dining destination BluAqua Restaurant and Bar. (See the full list here) Guests will enjoy the state’s finest foods paired with wines from 25 of the country’s foremost vineyards and spirits provided by Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire.

In addition to fabulous food and drinks, the event will feature a silent auction of a one of a kind, signed painting of Jeff Bridges, national spokesperson for Share Our Strength. Taste of the Nation Manchester commissioned the painting from Richard Nunez, an internationally renowned Native American artist who will also paint live at the event. Additional auction items include a custom-set diamond pendant from Jonathan’s Jewelers (valued at $2,700), an overnight stay at Mill Falls at the Lake and other great prizes.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation Manchester are $75 for General Admission and $100 for VIP and can be purchased by visiting www.tasteofthenation.org/manchester.

Funds raised through Taste of the Nation events support No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength’s campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

“Taste of the Nation brings together the finest of New Hampshire’s culinary world, and helps the children in our community who suffer from hunger every day,” said Basil Stergiou, Co-Chair of Taste of the Nation Manchester. “This is the largest food and wine event in New Hampshire. We expect over 800 guests to eat, drink and support our efforts to end childhood hunger.”

Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $75 million and the Manchester event has raised more than $800,000 to fund programs to combat childhood hunger in New Hampshire. Area charities that benefit from the event include The New Hampshire Food Bank, Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Farm to School Program and the Manchester Boys and Girls Club.