Celebrating Charities Through Food

Charlotte has two upcoming food-related events with proceeds benefiting very deserving charitable organizations.  I'm looking forward to partaking in both of them and hope some you you will be able to join me.

First up is the Sweet Tooth Festival happening on Sunday, March 23rd from 2-5pm in uptown Charlotte at the Omni Hotel.  Imagine twenty-five bakeries and candy purveyors offering table after table of chocolate, candies, and cake.  And, for those of you concerned that you'd leave with a massive sugar-induced coma, you're provided with a box to take home a selection of treats as well.

Tickets are $30 and all proceeds benefit RAIN.  RAIN is one of the largest HIV non-profits in the Carolinas providing direct client services and is widely recognized for its unique model and expertise in working with persons living with HIV and AIDS and with volunteers within the faith community. 100 percent of proceeds from the event benefit the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network.

Tickets are limiting and selling quickly, so be sure to click over to their website so you're sure not to miss the Sweet Tooth Festival.

Next up is an event that I look forward to all year long - Charlotte's Taste of the Nation.  This will be the third year in a row that I've attended, and I seriously cannot recommend enough that you consider attending as well.  The evening commences Wednesday, April 16th at 6pm.

After entering the Wells Fargo Center, you are inundated with endless options for cocktails, wine, beer, savory bites, desserts, and coffee.  Many of Charlotte's best fine dining restaurants compete for the title of best small plate, guaranteeing that you will leave with happy taste buds and a very small stomach.  Here are just a few of the restaurants that will be present.

• BAKU Restaurant
• Brixx Wood Fired Pizza

• Cantina 1511
• Chima Brazilian Steakhouse
• Central Piedmont Community College
• Coastal Kitchen & Bar
• Dressler's Restaurant
• Electrolux Professional

• Gallery at Ballantyne Hotel
• Ilios Noche
• Johnson & Wales University
• Mama Ricotta's
• Mimosa Grill
• QC Kitchen (Opening Sping '14)
• Saffron Indian Cuisine
• Savannah Red

• Upstream
• Village Tavern
• Wolfgang Puck Pizza | Bar

Proceeds from all Taste ticket sales benefit Share Our Strength's "No Kid Hungry" campaign, with funds trickling into our local charities - Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and Charlotte Community Culinary School of Charlotte.  

Tickets can be purchased here, and both general admission and VIP tickets are available.