A “Taste” of Taste of the Nation

Scenes from Taste of the Nation - San Diego

Share our Strength's Taste of the NationWhen Foodbuzz presented me with the opportunity to cover the San Diego installment of Taste of the Nation I absolutely jumped at the chance. Spend a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at a sculpture garden in Balboa Park, indulging and imbibing on food and drink from twenty of the city’s finest dining establishments? You need not ask me twice.

“Kid in a candy store” is (almost literally) the best way to describe me snapping up little plate after little plate as I slowly but surely made my way to each restaurant’s table. Candied sesame seeds, sweet pea blini, pickled heirloom carrots, mango mojito, Rocky Mountain oysters (yup, I even gave those a try, courtesy of our local “celebrity” chef, Oceanaire’s Brian Malarkey from Top Chef Season 3) – my taste buds were very happy indeed. It was a real treat to see so many executive chefs taking the time to staff the tables for this event, which benefited Share our Strength.

Without further ado, here’s a little photographic “taste” of Taste of the Nation – San Diego for you. Feast your eyes!

Pacifica Del Mar's house-smoked salmon with sweet pea blini and morel mushrooms (my favorite dish of the event)
Pacifica del Mar's house-smoked salmon with sweet pea blini and morel mushrooms (my favorite dish of the event)
Anthology's grilled Berkshire pork belly with citrus and ginger lacquer, petite arugula and blood orange
Anthology's grilled Berkshire pork belly with citrus and ginger lacquer, petite arugula and blood orange
The Glass Door's executive chef Robert Conaway plates his ahi poke - fresh from Hilo, HI
The Glass Door's executive chef Robert Conaway plates his ahi poke - fresh from Hilo, HI
The Marine Room's Sansho Seven Spice Baja Prawn (available on their Mother's Day menu, FYI)
The Marine Room's Sansho Seven Spice Baja Prawn (NOTE: This dish is available on their Mother's Day menu)
Pamplemousse's paella
Pamplemousse's paella
Addison's chilled leek soup (meyer lemon creme fraiche not pictured)
Addison's chilled leek soup (meyer lemon creme fraiche not pictured)
Tommy Bahama mojitos (I had the mango one...mmm!)
Tommy Bahama mojitos (I had the mango one...mmm!)
Truluck's executive chef Nate Boothe pours his tomato gazpacho mini-martinis with blueberry balsamic reduction and crab finger
Truluck's executive chef Nate Boothe pours his tomato gazpacho mini-martinis with blueberry balsamic reduction and crab finger

If this tasting extravaganza has your mouth watering, you may be in luck. Taste of the Nation is coming to many more cities this spring and summer – visit the official website for dates and tickets. Many thanks again, Foodbuzz, for giving me this terrific opportunity!

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KathyPanini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original panini recipes, my guide to choosing a panini press and a whole lot of other creative uses for the panini press.
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9 Comments

  1. Mindy wrote:

    Mmmm…that gigantic pan of paella is making my mouth water! Lucky you–sunny San Diego, great day, and beautiful Balboa!

    Mindy’s last blog post..Monday Mouthful Roundup and Next Week’s Challenge: Spaetzle

    Posted 5.5.09 Reply
  2. Kim wrote:

    This had to be so much fun! I here San Diego is wonderful you are lucky to have enjoyed them both. Thanks for sharing.

    Posted 5.6.09 Reply
  3. Melissa wrote:

    How wonderful! I wish I still lived down there at times like these. The day looked gorgeous.

    And I really would have liked to have tasted that morel/sweet pea thing that you liked so much at first. I’ve never even tasted morels, but I need to correct that. 🙂

    Melissa’s last blog post..the recipe that wasn’t

    Posted 5.6.09 Reply
  4. lo wrote:

    Absolutely fabulous! And what fine weather it looks like you had 🙂 (bad weather in San Diego? pshaw!!)

    I’m feeling inspired on the morel front! Which is good, cuz I’ve got ‘shrooms to use!

    Posted 5.6.09 Reply
    • Kathy wrote:

      This would definitely be a great use of all those morels you guys won! With the smoked salmon on a little pancake – so good.

      Posted 5.6.09 Reply
  5. Fun fun! Drove down to Newport Beach to check out the SOS event down there. Looks like we all had good eats! Your photos say a thousand words.

    The Duo Dishes’s last blog post..Orange County Shares Your Strength

    Posted 5.6.09 Reply
  6. Bren wrote:

    tommy bahama mojitos in ginger are the best hands down! (well, 2nd to mine :)! great event. man, i should have been able to cover the ATL one! need to look into it! thanks for sharing!

    Posted 5.10.09 Reply
  7. Sounds like a fabulous event!

    Cate O’Malley’s last blog post..Tequila Lime Marinated Chicken

    Posted 5.12.09 Reply
  8. RobinSue wrote:

    Great looking food you got to eat there. Looks like a fun time!

    RobinSue’s last blog post..Lakeside Café: Boasting Salvadorian Favorites

    Posted 5.26.09 Reply