Taste of the Nation Two Weeks from Tonight

Jory at the Allison Inn in Newberg
Start fasting now for Portland version of Taste of the Nation, the annual foodie gorge-fest that’s designed to help end childhood hunger (on Monday, April 26). Yes, you’re not the only one who sees a smidge of irony in the concept of stuffing yourself into oblivion to build sympathy for those who don’t have enough to eat, but hey, whatever works. It’s typically a sell-out event. The $75 basic admission ticket may sound steep, but consider it a chance to try several dozen trendy Portland-area restaurants in one night, gathering weeks worth of tweet material (and, of course, every cent goes to local hunger relief agencies). Sadly, if you want to sample from the uber cool eateries (Beaker and Flask, Genoa, Beast, Gruner and Thistle), it'll cost you $50 to $60 extra. But it may be worth it to try former Alberta Street Oyster Bar Eric Bechard’s well-reviewed Thistle in McMinnville without facing Highway 99 traffic. In fact, even the “regular” TOTN-ers (unless they're planning to eat 50 plates) would be wise to target the interesting out-of-towners like Hood River’s Celilo, Jory in Newberg's Allison Inn in and The Joel Palmer House in Dayton, which may be the only restaurant in Oregon (at least) focused on wild fungi. Previous attendants who may have been put off by the event’s sterile, blindingly bright Oregon Convention Center setting should note the exciting new location: Portland's gourmet car dealership Luxe Autohaus at Northeast 17th and Glisan.
What: Taste of the Nation Portland
When/Where: 5 to 9 pm Monday, April 26, Luxe Autohaus, 410 NE 17th Ave.
Cost/Tickets: $75-$135 advance online or call 877-26-TASTE
· Taste of the Nation [official site]