When the doors open for Taste 2017 on Thursday, April 6, you’ll be greeted by more than a dozen restaurants that have brought some of their most-popular dishes for you to try.
As you walk from table to table on your gastronomic venture, grazing your way through the expanse of booths laden with foods and sipping wine along the way, you’ll be supporting the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area.
Anne BralyFor restaurateurs like Miguel Morales, of 1885 Grill and Feed Co. Table + Tavern, the nonprofit event is a win-win for everyone involved.
“Taste gives restaurants a good opportunity to introduce themselves to the public and a chance for restaurateurs to meet each other and establish relationships. That allows us to lean on one another so that we can continue to grow,” he says.
“As a guest, this gives you the chance to get a lot of great Chattanooga restaurants, caterers and bakeries all together in the same room to sample their offerings.
“These days it’s hard to keep up with the growing culinary boom in Chattanooga, and you always read about all these new restaurants and try to make time to visit them all. This event helps you do that in on delicious evening, while supporting the Kidney Foundation.”
The foundation’s development director, Amanda Browning, cannot stress enough the importance of supporting Taste, as its one of the major fundraisers to help renal patients in the Scenic City. The local foundation does not receive any funding from a national organization.
“One hundred percent of all funds raised stays within the greater Chattanooga area and [is] essential to providing the many patient services we offer,” she says.
Last year, Taste raised more than $20,000, which is enough to fund the Patient Utility Assistance Program, which can help patients pay for utilities such as electricity, water, heat and telephone service, for one year.
“As a nonprofit event, I feel this event is important to raise much needed funds for a great organization,” Morales says.
Restaurants participating in Taste 2017 include:
* Tremont Tavern
* Feed Co. Table + Tavern
* 1885 Grill
* English Rose Tea Room
* Bluewater Grille
* Big River
* Petunia’s Silver Jalapeno
* Cupcake Kitchen
‘ Chelsea’s on Thornton
‘ Rolling J’s Mobile Bistro
* Ovalle’s Mexican Cafe
* Countryside Cafe
* Milk & Honey
* Kozy Kooking
* Five
* Chicken Salad Chick
* Mad Priest Coffee Roasters
* Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College in Chattanooga
* Lifestyle Cuisine Meals and Catering
In addition to assistance with utilities, the Kidney Foundation supports patients by helping to pay for food, nutritional supplements, medications, medical equipment and transportation to and from dialysis.
Taste will take place between 5 and 8 p.m. at Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St. Tickets are $40 per person at www.tastechatt.com.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.