Stellar restaurants? Maine's got them. Talented chefs? Check.

The downside, if there was one, is having to choose. If only we could corral Maine's exceptional cookery into one place.

Lucky us, Share Our Strength Maine is going to.

The non-profit's 7th annual Taste of the Nation event on June 24 will bring together leading chefs from around the state for an evening of delectable food. The event will also raise money to help end childhood hunger in Maine, with funds going to four local organizations working to feed hungry children in Maine: Opportunity Alliance, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Cultivating Community, and Preble Street Teen Center.

The impressive lineup of participating chefs includes Sam Hayward of Fore Street, Steve Corry of five-fifty-five and Petite Jacqueline, Larry Matthews of Back Bay Grill, Lee Skawinski of Vignola Cinque Terre, Jeff Landry of The Farmer's Table, as well as chefs from Bresca, Diamond's Edge Restaurant/Chebeague Inn, Cleonice/The Maine Grind, CVC Catering, David's/David's 388, El Camino, Francine Bistro/Shepherd's Pie, Grace, Hugo's, Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea, The Corner Room/The Front Room/The Grill Room, The Salt Exchange, When Pig's Fly, and Zapoteca.

The event takes place at Diamond's Edge Restaurant and Marina on Great Diamond Island. Tickets are $125 each ($200 VIP tickets include a private reception) and can be purchased at tasteofthenation.org/maine. A boat will leave Portland at 3:45 p.m. to bring attendees to the island. The VIP boat will leave Portland at 2:30 p.m. The event ends 8 p.m.

For more information, go to tasteofthenation.org/maine

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About the Author

Meredith Goad has harvested oysters on the Chesapeake Bay, eaten reindeer in Finland and sipped hot chai in the Himalayas. She writes the weekly Soup to Nuts column and enjoys a good cocktail.

Meredith can be contacted at 791-6332 or mgoad@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @meredithgoad

Susan Axelrod's food writing career began in the kitchen; she owned a restaurant and catering business before turning to journalism more than a decade ago. To relax, she bakes, gardens and hikes with her husband and their two dogs. A newcomer to Portland, she is an online content producer for the Press Herald.

Susan can be contacted at 791-6310 or saxelrod [at] pressherald.com.
On Twitter: @susansaxelrod

Wendy Almeida and her family have a smattering of livestock and a summer garden. After 10 years of her kids being involved in 4-H, she's finally accepted the term "hobby farm" to describe her family's work at sustainable living. These days her morning starts with milking a goat before heading into the office for her day job as an assistant editor for features.

Wendy can be contacted at wea [at] mainetoday.com or on Twitter @wea1021.

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