Chef Yvon Goetz one of many Orange County culinary talents joining the fight against childhood hunger

Newport Beach, CA — With a passion to fight childhood hunger, Yvon Goetz, Executive Chef and Partner of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin, is one of Orange County’s hottest chefs, restaurants, and mixologists who will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, the city’s premier culinary benefit. Taste of the Nation Orange County will raise critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in Orange County and across the nation. This year’s event, the 3rd annual, will be on May 1 at The Island Hotel’s Pal Garden from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

More than 20 of the city’s finest chefs and restaurants will participate in the gastronomic event. Chef Goetz will be joined by The Island Hotel’s Executive Chef Bill Bracken, along with chefs from A Restaurant, Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza, Mr. Stox, Jay’s Catering, Bluefin and Sage on the Coast. Guests will enjoy the city’s finest foods paired with wines provided by Brown Forman as well as specialty cocktails from Tommy Bahama Rum. In addition to fabulous food and drinks, the event will feature an exquisite auction and live entertainment by local band, Off White.

“We’re honored to be part of this nationwide movement to end childhood hunger in America,” said Bill Groux, event chair of Taste of the Nation Orange County. “Taste of the Nation brings together the finest of Orange County’s culinary world, and helps the children in our community who suffer from hunger every day.”

Area charities that will benefit from this year’s event include Orange County Community Partnership and Second Harvest Foodbank of Orange County. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million for organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad, including more than $300,000 in Orange County alone.

With more than 12 million children facing hunger in America, and 9.39% of families live below the poverty line in Orange County. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation works to end childhood hunger in the United States and abroad by ensuring that children and their families have reliable access to nutritious food, and by addressing the deeper causes of these conditions. Funds raised through Taste of the Nation events provide grants to organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad that work successfully to end childhood hunger.