‘Taste of the Nation’ exceeds $1 million goal
Xavier Teixido’s 26th, and last, Share Our Strength “Taste of the Nation” fundraising dinner on April 10 at Harry’s Savoy Ballroom generated more than $90,000 to fight child hunger.
Local charities benefiting from the fundraiser include the Food Bank of Delaware, the Claymont Community Center and the Ministry of Caring.
Teixido said he and his staff exceeded their goal of having raised $1 million over the years for the nonprofit Share Our Strength organization which will distribute the funds.
Last month, Teixido told The News Journal he was stepping away from the upscale, multicourse charity dinner he has hosted for more than two decades partly because of the amount of manpower and time it takes for his staff to put on the event. The downturn in the economy also has come into play. Purveyors who once donated goods are no longer in business, while others have consolidated.
It had also become increasingly difficult to ask for and receive donations.
As word got out it would be Teixido’s final dinner, the $200 tickets quickly sold out.
“We should have announced a few years ago this was our last dinner,” he joked at the dinner, which included an appearance by Sen. Tom Carper and was aided by more than 90 volunteers.
Teixido said all the wine and food was donated for the dinner that night as well as the time of employees who helped in the dining room and kitchen.
Guest chefs pulled out all the stops for the five-course dinner. Highlights included a stunning hamachi crudo including edible nasturiums by Boston chef Chris Coombs, and a silky smooth chilled foie gras with pistachio powder and currant foam from Nathan Rich, executive chef of Twin Farms in Barnard, Vt.
Aaron Burgau of New Orleans added a bit of Southern soul to the meal with his stuffed calamari with crawfish boudin, and Bryan Sikora, owner of Wilmington’s La Fia restaurant, presented tajine Moroccan lamb with chick peas. Dessert included a rich wowsa “Chocolate Symphony” of chocolate mousse with a salted caramel creme brulee center made by Robert Bennett, the former pastry chef of Le Bec-Fin.
Brother Ronald Giannone, founder and executive director of the Ministry of Caring, has said he hopes to find a new restaurateur to host the dinner. Brother Miguel Ramirez, director of the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Rooms, said money is still needed for the charity. Last year, 186,000 meals were served in the dining rooms.
“It’s a good day when we have low numbers,” he said.
Teixido says he still plans on giving back to the community through other events.
Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Read her culinary blog Second Helpings at www.delawareonline.com/blog/secondhelpings and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico.