The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 5/1/98 Section: Undefined Section

Good food, good drinks and a very good cause was the reason about 600 people came to the Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation benefit Thursday night at the Lincoln Center. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the benefit go to feeding underprivileged. Seventy percent of all of Thursday night's proceeds go directly to the Fort Collins community, being shared by Neighbor to Neighbor and The Food Distribution Center. Neighbor to Neighbor is a non-profit organization that works to combat hunger and promote self-sufficiency, offering education, counseling, training and housing for people who are working their way out of the cycle of poverty. The Food Distribution Center is the only food bank in Larimer County, which handed out more than 3 million pounds of food last year. Ten percent of the proceeds go directly to Larimer County to help with hunger issues within the county, and the remaining 20 percent of the proceeds go to an international hunger grant. "Everyone involved donates all of their time, food and beverages," said Fort Collins SOS Taste of the Nation founder and event chairman Jay Witlen, owner of Jay's Bistro. Witlen said that local sponsors underwrite the remaining cost of the event, making it possible to donate the proceeds to feed the hungry. This year, 16 local restaurants and 11 breweries, wineries and beverage distributors donated to the event. The restaurants served up specialities along with the recipes to each dish available for sampling. Dishes ranged from beef and chicken tacos from the Rio Grande, chicken steaks with Indonesian peanut sauce from Nico's Catacombs to wild game kebobs from Jay's Bistro. "We are hoping to sell about 600 tickets, which would raise about $40,000 for the local organizations," Wilten said. As of Wednesday, about 475 tickets had been sold for the benefit. The local merchants donating to the benefit said participating in the event was nothing but a positive thing to do. "We feed hungry children Ñ it's always about feeding hungry children. A lot of people are going to bed hungry, and events like this help them," said Bruce Monette of Serinissima Wines. "We get a lot of exposure for our beer and food," said Linden's Brewing Company's Elizabeth Knight. "We have been doing this since its inception, it is feeding a lot of hungry people." "Things like this generate a feeling of goodwill throughout the community," Odell's Brewing Company Wynne Odell said. "We support the organization, and the food is great." Many patrons said the food was the main attraction to the benefit event. "It gives you a chance to try food from restaurants you might not otherwise go to," said Amy Minash. "I am here to eat and drink," said Cindy Barett. "The brisket from Coopersmith's is amazing. All the money goes to a good cause Ñ this is a great event." Taste of the Nation was founded 11 years ago by restaurant owners to benefit food banks and has grown to a national event in more than 100 cities. Witlen hosted the first SOS Taste of the Nation 5 years ago in Fort Collins and the event has grown each year with more than 20 restaurants expected and several more breweries wanting to take part in next years' event. "It's great that all of these people want to help with the fight against hunger," Witlen said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools