Taste of the Nation – East Bay

Dang, that was fancy! This event was everything it promised to be: a foodie’s paradise with 30+ East Bay restaurants sampling, along with numerous wine, beer, and cocktail sponsors. Although I got a complimentary ticket, I could have easily consumed enough to justify the $ 75 ticket price.
While the Claremont is stunning and all the participating purveyors were top notch, the space was a bit cramped and there weren’t many spots to just put your drink down and take a break. Next year, it would be nice if they had more space dedicated to lingering with your food & drink, versus walking around with your hands full the entire time. Also, the Claremont charged $ 10 for parking, on top of the ticket price, which was a little surprising.
All in all, this is an impressive event for a great cause. If you want to get chummy with many of the top chefs and mixologists in the East Bay, Taste of the Nation is the place to do it. Hope they return in 2014!