Taste of the Nation is a national fundraising campaign to end childhood hunger, traveling from city to city, benefitting community organizations and showcasing prominent local restaurants. Proceeds from this year’s ticket sales and silent auction went to St. Vincent de Paul, the Oregon Hunger Task Force, the Oregon Food Bank, and Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.
Guests were invited to sample foods, desserts, wines, and other beverages from participating regional establishments. Here are the night’s best. I am a vegetarian but my photographer, Dominik Kolendo is a ferocious omnivore and voracious sampler of foods.
My Recommendations:
Accanto- Nettle pesto, olive tapenade, and mozzarella. Deliciously garlicky pesto.
nel centro- Homemade cracker and homemade cottage cheese with roasted red bell pepper
Charlie’s Produce- Creamy pesto pasta
Like last year, one of my only complaints about TOTN is that there weren’t many vegetarian options. However, like last year, I still stuffed myself until the thought of eating became unpleasant.
Dominik’s Meaty Recommendations:
Bamboo Sushi- MSC certified Oregon Coast albacore in sweet soy marinade, lightly torched
Davis Street Tavern- Seared Muscovy duck breast with apricot chutney and watercress on brioche
Ruth’s Chris Steak House- “Very soft perfectly cooked, nice pink steak!”
The Allison- Pork belly with truffle and apple salad and pickled ramps. This made Dominik extremely happy and he hates apples.
Screen Door- Oregon Bay shrimp with micro-basil and white remoulade
Waffle Window on Hawthorne- Ham and cheese waffle
Delilah’s Catering- Tuna tartar in wasabi miso
Laurelhurst Market- Steak tartar with a touch of vodka
Beverages:
Dry Soda- I already love their lemongrass and rhubarb sodas. At TOTN I got to try the juniper berry soda. It was surprisingly delicate and not at all like gin, as I would have expected.
Accanto- A cocktail with Finlanida Vodka (usually Stoli citrus), fresh carrot juice, toasted cumin, simple syrup. The rim was sugared with a bit of cayenne.
Apolloni Vineyards- 2008 Viognier. A bit sweet but really amazing apricot flavor.
Methven- 2007 Pinot Gris
Oak Knoll- Niagra. This really tastes like the skin and fruit of grapes. It made me think about being 8 and sitting underneath my babysitter’s grape vine after school (except with a high alcohol content).
Lange Estate Winery- 2008 Chardonnay from the Freedom Hill Vineyard
Argyle Winery- 2007 Argyle Brut Rosé. I was looking for remarkable sparking wine. This one was sharp and juicy, without a heavy sweetness.
Desserts:
Bugatti’s- Praline cannoli with dried cherry, chocolate, pistachio and candied orange peel.
I always have an undying faith for Saint Cupcake and an extreme fondness for Ruby Jewel Treats.
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