Fourth Annual Taste America Program Kicks Off At Historic James Beard House

Earlier this month, the James Beard Foundation held its fourth annual Taste America kickoff event at the historic James Beard House. At the event, honorary all-star Tom Colicchio joined foundation president Susan Ungaro and all-star chefs John Besh, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Anita Lo, and Missy Robbins to announce the campaign that celebrates American cuisine.

The night was filled with star chefs, sponsors, media, food enthusiasts, and, of course, excellent food. Additionally, Colicchio made the exciting announcement that this year's program would take place in Boston; Charleston, S.C.; Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; New Orleans; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and the Twin Cities.

Colicchio and Ungaro led the festivities and captivated an impressive audience that included actress Patricia Clarkson and Bryan Hunt, the executive chef of Colicchio's new restaurant Fowler & Wells at the Beekman Hotel in New York City, who created the menu for the event.

A portion of the proceeds from Taste America 2016 will go to James Beard Foundation programs such as the Taste America Scholarship Fund. Since 1991, the foundation's scholarship program has awarded more than $6 million in financial aid to students who want to become America's next great chefs, restaurateurs, and winemakers.

Details of the 10 cities in the Taste America 2016 program (which includes A Night of Culinary Stars exclusive one-night-only dining event crafted in collaboration by a Taste America all-star and a local star chef) can be found here.

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