by Katie Orlando



CHARLOTTE – Davidson’s Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse will offer tastes and sips to patrons, along with restaurants from throughout the Charlotte region, to fight childhood hunger in America.

The Charlotte chapter of Taste of the Nation will hold its 17th annual event Wednesday, April 11, at the Wells Fargo Center Atrium.

Guests will sample food and beverages from the finest offerings in the area and help feed hungry children.

Harper’s Restaurant Group President and Owner Tom Sasser and Cathy Baker of American Express brought the event to Charlotte in the 1990s.

Taste of the Nation gathers pioneers of fine cuisine and celebrity chefs to raise money for Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit working to end child hunger. Taste of the Nation Charlotte will also benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and Community Culinary School of Charlotte.

Flatiron will be one of 25 area restaurants serving fine-dining menu items.

Flatiron General Manager Chris Mallery said the restaurant will serve small, light bites representing the restaurant’s signature high-end steak and seafood.

“We’ll offer food that’s conducive to what Flatiron’s always been known for,” Mallery said, “the best of the best high-quality proteins.”

The Flatiron steak and hangar steak, for example, have earned reputations as marquee menu items, Mallery said.

A mixologist will teach guests how to blend the ideal cocktail, which they’ll then enjoy as they tour the tables. Bealer Wholesale, of Anheuser-Busch, will provide libations along with 10 area wineries donating to the event.

Sasser says it’s fitting that the culinary community come together to end hunger in the country and specifically the Charlotte area.

“All day you’re working with food and working with feeding folks,” Sasser said. “To think that there are so many folks, especially kids, that don’t get nutritious food every day so they can learn and be healthy; it’s just a no-brainer for restaurateurs to want to contribute to Share Our Strength.”

Community Culinary School of Charlotte offers a 14-week program with 450 hours of culinary training, such as job readiness skills and job placement assistance for unemployed adults.

“We address hunger at its root cause – unemployment,” according to the school’s website.

Second Harvest is a regional distribution warehouse providing good and grocery items to charitable organizations that connect that food to the people who need it, according to its website.

“When I took the initiative with the event, it was to get involved with a good cause and to continue what Flatiron’s always done. It’s always been our thing to help the local community,” Mallery said. “Anytime we can get involved and showcase our restaurant, it’s a double win for everybody.”

Mallery’s looking forward to seeing the Charlotte chefs who inspired Flatiron’s success and maybe some new customers.

“Hopefully we’ll see a lot of our own friendly patrons that come into our restaurant all the time,” Mallery said. “And hopefully get to meet some new ones as well.”

Want to go?

April 11, 6-10 p.m.

Wells Fargo Center Atrium
301 South Tryon St., Charlotte

General admission - $85

VIP - $100

Tickets available at www.strength.org/charlotte or at the door.