Taste of the Nation dishes up $205K for No Kid Hungry
first thing to know about Houston’s Taste of the Nation is that there are levels.
A general-admission ticket affords two hours of power eating and drinking your way through 47 hotspots such as Nancy’s Hustle, Riel, Nobie’s, Eunice and BCN Taste & Tradition.
If the goal is to get up close and personal (i.e., take photos) with the city’s celebrity chefs, then a VIP upgrade is the way to go. That extra bump buys 60 minutes of line-free boozing and schmoozing with star culinary talent including Chris Shepherd, of Underbelly Hospitality fame, and Bobby Matos, who kicked off his evening by tastetesting Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory’s epic Maker’s Mark Cosmonaught.
For the ultimate foodie experience, do as longtime supporters Marta and Bill Marko do and rent a cabana. Yes, a cabana. Smack in the middle of Silver Street Studios, the couple hosted 65 of their closest friends behind roped-off quarters complete with lounge chairs, tables and umbrellas.
Surprised? Don’t be. Those cushioned seats and tabletops come in handy. A number of participants opted for Texassized over bite-sized portions; Indianola’s crispy duck wings and Roegels Barbecue Co.’s BBQ pork sundae required both hands to be consumed properly.
Sysco, which has co-sponsored the event benefiting No
Kid Hungry since 2002, CRC Insurance and Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP claimed the remaining three cabanas. And for good reason. On Wednesday night, they helped raise $205,592 toward ending childhood hunger nationwide through local programming in 20 cities. That’s the second thing to note — Houston Food Bank, Kids Meals and the Center for Public Policy Priorities comprised this year’s regional grantees.
To that end, host chefs Ryan Pera of Agricole Hospitality, Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar and Alba Huerta of Julep went the extra mile. In addition to serving her special order “Call Me Maybe” ice cream cones stuffed with cookie dough and white chocolate, Masson raffled off cake-walk tickets; the lucky winner received one custombaked confection. And Julep mixologists manned a sprawling cocktail bar overflowing with wild flowers, fresh herbs and exotic liqueurs — the better to loosen purse strings for silentauction bidding.
In between booth-hopping, a record 900 attendees cast bids for cooking classes at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, Houston Ballet tickets, a stay-cation at JW Marriott Houston Downtown, dinner at Weights & Measures and seats at Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming summer concert.
Standout food stops included Magnol French Baking’s sprawling bread station; State Fare’s miniature Frito pies; Louie Mueller Barbecue’s impossibly tender brisket; Main Kitchen’s 72-hour short rib, potato pull and bourbon punch shelves; One Fifth Mediterranean’s kibbeh nayyeh; and Michael’s Cookie Jar’s cinnamon roll cookies and lemon chews.
And let’s not forget Saint ArThe nold Brewing Co., Sonoma Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Heights or MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, among other spirits vendors.