Chef Yvon Goetz one of many Orange County culinary talents joining the fight against childhood hunger

Newport Beach, CA — With a passion to fight childhood hunger, Yvon Goetz, Executive Chef and Partner of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin, is one of Orange County’s hottest chefs, restaurants, and mixologists who will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, the city’s premier culinary benefit. Taste of the Nation Orange County will raise critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in Orange County and across the nation. This year’s event, the 3rd annual, will be on May 1 at The Island Hotel’s Pal Garden from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

More than 20 of the city’s finest chefs and restaurants will participate in the gastronomic event. Chef Goetz will be joined by The Island Hotel’s Executive Chef Bill Bracken, along with chefs from A Restaurant, Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza, Mr. Stox, Jay’s Catering, Bluefin and Sage on the Coast. Guests will enjoy the city’s finest foods paired with wines provided by Brown Forman as well as specialty cocktails from Tommy Bahama Rum. In addition to fabulous food and drinks, the event will feature an exquisite auction and live entertainment by local band, Off White.

“We’re honored to be part of this nationwide movement to end childhood hunger in America,” said Bill Groux, event chair of Taste of the Nation Orange County. “Taste of the Nation brings together the finest of Orange County’s culinary world, and helps the children in our community who suffer from hunger every day.”

Area charities that will benefit from this year’s event include Orange County Community Partnership and Second Harvest Foodbank of Orange County. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million for organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad, including more than $300,000 in Orange County alone.

With more than 12 million children facing hunger in America, and 9.39% of families live below the poverty line in Orange County. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation works to end childhood hunger in the United States and abroad by ensuring that children and their families have reliable access to nutritious food, and by addressing the deeper causes of these conditions. Funds raised through Taste of the Nation events provide grants to organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad that work successfully to end childhood hunger.

“An end to childhood hunger in the United States is within reach,” said Bill Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength. “With all the participants in Taste of the Nation Orange County sharing their strengths, we are creating more resources for the greater good of Orange County] and our great nation.”

Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman and S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Taste of the Nation Orange County is locally sponsored by Jay’s Catering, Sed de Saber and the Southern California Gas Company. One hundred percent of ticket sales help ensure no kid in America grows up hungry.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation Orange County are $75 and can be purchased by calling 1-877-26-TASTE or visiting TasteOfTheNation.org.

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About Taste of the Nation

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid in America grows up hungry. Each spring, the nation’s hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at more than 45 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman Corporation and S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million. Funds raised in 2008 supported 156 organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad. To purchase tickets or to get involved, visit TasteOfTheNation.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit, Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out , and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline. Visit Strength.org.