Chef Erik Desjarlais of Portland’s Evangeline has planned an event called Discover the Tastes of France that celebrates all things French to benefit Share our Strength Maine and help fight childhood hunger in our state.
This is the first time a restaurant has hosted an independent event outside of the larger annual Taste of the Nation. Evangeline will host “Discover the Tastes of France” on July 14, 2010 to help fight childhood hunger. The event will feature an open house, dinner, and silent auction.
“After participating in Share our Strength Maine’s “Taste of the Nation®” benefit for the first time this year and learning about the positive impact the organization is making in our community, I decided I wanted to do more to help,” said Erik Desjarlais, owner and chef of Evangeline. “I’m also a new father and the knowledge that children in our state are going hungry really hit me hard, so I wanted to share my love of French food and raise money to benefit Share Our Strength. I hope this becomes an annual event at the restaurant.”
In Maine, there are nearly 60,000 children under 18 who have limited or uncertain access to nutritious food, making it challenging to reach their full potential in school and in life. Since its first Taste of the Nation event in 2006, Share our Strength Maine has raised nearly $250,000 for some of the state’s most successful anti-hunger organizations working diligently to feed hungry children. This year’s beneficiary organizations are Preble Street Teen Center, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Cultivating Community and East End Kids Katering.
Discover the Tastes of France will be held at Evangeline, located at 190 State Street. The event will start with an open house from 4 to 6 p.m., to feature a wine tasting by Ned Swain of Devenish Wines and French cheeses and delicacies created by Chef Desjarlais.
The open house will be followed by a dinner at 6:30 p.m. The menu will include three courses of French favorites inspired by the summer. The open house is $20 per person, the dinner is $55; the cost for both events is $65. Evangeline is donating 20 percent of the event’s proceeds to Share Our Strength Maine. Call 207-791-2800 for reservations.
MF&L Staff at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.
