Outdoor food events slated for next week

Two big outdoor restaurant events take place next week.

First, there's Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation on Aug. 1, noon-4 p.m., at Solitude Mountain Resort. More than 50 Utah chefs and restaurants are participating, with proceeds going to the Utah Food Bank Services, Utahns Against Hunger and The Ogden Weber Community Action Partnership.

This is the 10th year for this event, with great food for those who can afford it, in order to give good food to those who can't afford it.

Restaurants such Stein Eriksen Lodge's Glitretind, as well as Meditrina, Bambara, Red Iguana, Garden Café at Grand America, Metropolitan and Donovan's Steak & Chop House will offer samplings of signature dishes. More than 15 pastry chefs will participate in the dessert booth, offering cupcakes, panna cotta, petits fours, tarts, chocolate-dipped fruit and cookies.

Advance tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for reserved seating at www.TasteOfTheNation.org/utah, or 202-478-6511.

Then, Worldwide on 25 takes place along Ogden's 25th Street on Aug. 3, from 5:30-9 p.m. It involves 25 local restaurants, hundreds of elite archery athletes and folk dancers representing 35 different countries. This cultural celebration of dance, song and cuisine is in conjunction with the third leg of the 2010 Archery World Cup at Lindquist Field in downtown Ogden, Aug. 3-7.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., athletes and performers will stroll from the Ogden Amphitheater to the 100 block on the historic 25th Street. Then 240 international folk dancers representing China, the Czech Republic, France, Guyana, South Korea, Paraguay and Nepal will perform on the street, with the community invited to join in the dancing.

Meanwhile, local restaurants will offer "taste portions" of their favorite foods. There is no entry fee, but tickets are required for each food booth. Cost is $1 per ticket, or 12 for $10.

Samplings are priced between two and five tickets.

USA Archery Team members will be on hand to sign autographs and demonstrate their sport. At 8:30 p.m., the folks dancers will take the stage at the Ogden Amphitheater at 8:30 p.m. for a 90-minute performance. Tickets for the amphitheater program are $10.

"What originally started as a small celebration for the Archery World Cup athletes and a few downtown Ogden restaurants has turned into a large event with amazing community support," said Aimee Edwards, who is involved in publicity for the event. "The dancers fell into place as they are already traveling in the area at the time. We anticipate it will become an annual event, as Ogden will also host an Archery World Cup stage in 2011 and 2012."

Participating restaurants include Tona Sushi Bar and Grill, Roosters Brewing Company, Sonora Grill, Beehive Cheese, Zucca Trattoria, Union Grill, Dragonfly Health Foods, Bistro 258, Two Bit Street Café, Harley and Buck's, Rickenbacker's, Grounds for Coffee, 360 Café, Soul and Bones BBQ, The Athenian, Bombay Grill, Timbermine Restaurant, Jutta's Fine German Food, Carlos and Harley's, Prairie Schooner, Powder Mountain, Trudy's Poppin' Johnny Ice Cream, Vintage Cupcake Co., Borrowed Earth Emporium and Peleton's Café and Bakery.

You can find more information on the event at www.historic25.com, and to find out more about the Ogden Archery World Cup, visit www.ogdenwc.com.

e-mail: vphillips@desnews.com