Taste of the Nation 2015 This Thursday, Prosecco Afterparty to Follow

If there's an something no one enjoys, it's hunger.

That's why, for the past 25 years, Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation has been feeding foodies so that proceeds can go towards fulfilling the main mission of the No Kid Hungry campaign: ending childhood hunger.

The event returns to the Loews Miami Beach for the second time this Thursday, July 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. More than 50 of South Florida's top toques, sommeliers, and brewers will gather under one roof to dish out all they've got for the good cause and a night of fun.

So far, the lineup includes (in alphabetical order):

• 3030 Ocean
  
• American Social
  
• Beaker & Gray
  
• Blackbrick Chinese & Dim Sum
  
• Blue Collar
  
• Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar
  
• Cibo Wine Bar
  
• Edge Steak & Bar at Four Seasons
  
• Finka Table & Tap
  
• Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
  
• Joe’s Stone Crab
  
• Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
  
• La Mar by Gaston Acurio
  
• Little Palm Island
  
• Lure Fishbar at Loews Miami Beach
  
• Makoto at Bal Harbour Shops
  
• MC Kitchen
  
• Meat Market
  
• Mignonette
  
• Norman Love Confections
  
• Palate Party
  
• Palm d’Or at The Biltmore Hotel
  
• PB Station
  
• Phuc Yea!
  
• Piripi
  
• Quality Meats Miami Beach
  
• Red Ginger
  
• Red the Steakhouse
  
• Seagrape at Thompson Miami Beach
  
• Shake Shack
  
• StripSteak at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
  
• Susie’s Scrumptious Sweets
  
• Talde Miami Beach at Thompson Miami Beach
  
• Temple Street Eatery
  
• The Dutch at W South Beach
  
• The Forge
  
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room
  
• The Redlander
  
• Tongue & Cheek
  
• Truluck's Seafood, Steak & Crab House
  
• Whisk
  
• Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille at the Riverside Hotel
  
• Wynwood Kitchen and Bar
  
• Yardbird Southern Table and Bar
  

That's a whole lot of establishments to eat your way through in three hours, which is why you might consider VIP'ing it up, so you can have an hour of early access (starting at 6 p.m.) to the offerings. That and an invite to the "Chefs on a Half Shell" afterparty at Lure Fishbar from 10 p.m. to midnight hosted by executive chef Josh Capon and chef de cuisine Josh Latrelli. Think infinite amounts of oysters and prosecco at your disposal, as well as mingling with all of Miami's hottest toques, like Allen Susser. Taste of the Nation's founding event chairman is also none other than the Mango Gang forefather and Miami culinary icon. “Nutrition is instrumental to healthy development and a good diet helps kids grow strong, make them better able to learn, and prepare them for a productive and successful life."

It's not all food and drink though; Taste of the Nation also features silent and live auctions where you can bid on meals at restaurants on your wish list, and interactive art display that will showcase local talent, and a beer garden co-curated by Miami Herald food editor Evan Benn and chef Bret Pelaggi, formerly of Uvaggio.

Tickets for the benefit and gastronomic bacchanal cost $125 for regular admission and $250 for VIP. They can be purchased at ce.nokidhungry.org/southflorida.

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