pretty by the bay

Last night, I was fortunate to attend Taste of the Nation – San Francisco as a guest of POM Wonderful. All proceeds from this food and wine extravaganza went to Share Our Strength, an organization working to end childhood hunger. Since 1984, Share our Strength has raised more than $265 million for hunger-relief agencies worldwide. As we enjoyed a fabulous array of food and drink from local restaurants and vendors, we were reminded of the real reason we were there: Nearly 17 million children (almost one in four) in America face hunger. This issue is not limited to children in third-world countries; it affects our neighbors, our friends, perhaps even our own families, and it’s particularly prevalent in these tough economic times. I was fortunate to never experience childhood hunger; even in the leanest of times, my single mother ensured we always had food on the table and snacks in the pantry. I’m thankful for her efforts, and feel hopeful that my own child will never suffer the effects of hunger and malnutrition.

You’re probably reading my blog because you find great inspiration in food. I hope today’s post inspires you to give thanks for what you have, and to do something (even something small) in the fight against hunger.

Share Our Strength picked a perfect site for Taste of the Nation – San Francisco: AT&T Park. The venue offered lots of space and great views of both the ballpark and the surrounding bay. Who needs a baseball game when you have good food?

I couldn’t think of a better date for the evening than my friend Jenna, who’s equally appreciative of fine food and drink.

Taste of the Nation has a simple (and delicious) premise. Guests go from table to table, sampling food and drink from local chefs, mixologists and wineries. The selection was overwhelming and impressive, with many of the Bay Area’s best restaurants thrown into the mix.

The cocktails were calling my name.

But because I’m (temporarily) laying off the sauce, I settled for the next best thing: a POM signature mocktail. Who am I kidding…this was hardly a sacrifice! POM juice + apricot nectar + sparkling water + squeeze of lime = perfect girly drink, without the Friday morning hangover.

Drinks in hand, we moved on to the food. Jenna and I don’t play when it comes to food served in a buffet-style environment. You have to be selective. You have to be stealthy. And you have to be a little pushy when you’re trying to get food beauty shots while navigating crowds like these.

Clearly, people recognized us as food paparazzi and we were able to sample and shoot the best of the best. Among my favorites:

Salt Cod Fritters with Romesco – Serpentine

Cauliflower Gazpacho with Sweet Pea Puree & Toasted Almonds – ThirstyBear Brewing Company

Cincinnati BBQ Pulled Pork on Saratoga Chips with Cole Slaw – Maverick

Spring Vegetable Salad with Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese, Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette and Sourdough Breadcrumbs – Chef Chad Newton

Delta Asparagus Panini – Pizza Antica

Tarelli-Wrapped Wild Fennel Sausage – Delfina

Carnitas Tostada with Refried Beans, Tomatillo Salsa, Pickled Onions, Cabbage and Cotija Cheese – Tacolicious

Skyhill Chevre Mille Feuille with La Quercia Proscuitto, Asparagus, Almonds & Olive Oil – The Ahwahnee Hotel

and finally – be still my heart – Valhrona Chocolate Pot de Creme with Pistachio Macaroon – Mayfield Bakery & Cafe

(it should be noted that I double fisted this with an unpictured slice of baguette, also from Mayfield Bakery. Pregnant lady’s perogative!)

I actually tasted a lot more than this; some items were just average, and therefore did not warrant a photo. You can imagine the inevitable guilt that comes from taking one bite of something and throwing the rest away when you’re at an anti-hunger event. I hate wasting food. I feel the same sense of guilt at home when life gets in the way of home-cooked meals and I’m forced to get rid of rotten produce or moldy cheese. I’m thankful that the event forced me to look inside myself for ways to appreciate the food I’m fortunate enough to eat every day. More importantly, Taste of the Nation it inspired me to get involved in the fight against childhood hunger. Share our Strength offers several suggestions for ways we all can contribute to the cause, including:

- Participate in any of several Share Our Strength events. Maybe you missed your local Taste of the Nation event, but you can hold a Share Our Strength Bake Sale, or dine out at restaurants that donate a portion of proceeds to hunger-related charities.

- Volunteer. Obviously, Share Our Strength would love for you to donate time to their events – but if those don’t work for your schedule, consider helping out at your local food bank. Most (including the SF Food Bank) need volunteers willing to sort donated food items at their warehouses. And speaking of which…

- Donate. Every organization wants cash, and that’s probably the fastest way to contribute to organizations like Share Our Strength. If you’re low on cash, donate non-perishable items from your pantry to local food banks or organizations hosting food drives. I frequently over-buy when I grocery shop, so now is the perfect time to clean out those excess canned and boxed goods and help local organizations feed the hungry.

None of this is new information. We all know of ways to volunteer our time and money, and for you, other charities may take precedence over those devoted to ending world hunger. But if you’re reading this because you love food as much as I do, consider some of these opportunities the next time you’re feeling philanthropic.

Thanks again to POM Wonderful for sending me to Taste of the Nation – San Francisco. It was a wonderful evening, and I appreciate their generosity!