Foodies With Benefits

What You Missed at Taste of the Nation

Joncarl Lachman repping Noord Eetcafe at Tatse of the Nation
Joncarl Lachman repping Noord Eetcafe at Tatse of the Nation Photo: Collin Keefe

The weekend proved quite a busy one for Joncarl Lachamn, the Philly-born Chicago ex-pat whose Noord Eetcafe will soon bring yet another BYOB to South Philly’s East Passyunk Avenue. He was on hand to debut new dishes at Saturday’s Flavors of the Avenue (a few short hours after his restaurant’s new sign was delivered and installed), and Sunday’s Taste of the Nation fundraiser. When Grub caught up with him there, he said he was looking to open on or shortly after May 8.

The annual benefit for Share Our Strength’s “No Kid Hungry” campaign was chaired this year by David Katz(pictured above). The former Meme chef-owner donned whites for the event, and turned out braised brisket tacos, featuring beef from his employers, Creekstone Farms. Close friends Zahav’s Michael Solomonov and Top Chef champ Kevin Sbraga (pictured below) turned out to support him in raising much need cash for local youth hunger organizations. Others who pitched in to the cause include Fond’s Lee Styer, 10 Arts’ Nathan Volz, South Philadelphia Tap Room’s Mark Reagan, Bistrot La Minette’s Peter Woolsey, Brauhaus Schmitz’s Jeremy Nolen, and Bibou’s Pierre Calmels.

Emmanuelle’s Phoebe Esmon returned this year as the event’s mixology chair, and served Buffalo Trace Old Fashioneds, while her fiancee Christian Gaal, stationed alongside her, poured absinthe-spiked Moscow Mules. Also in attendence was former Top Chef’testant Jen Carroll, who was mum on what’s next for her.

Earlier: Taste of the Nation to Bring David Katz Back to the Kitchen
Joncarl Lachman’s Noord Won’t Be a Noma Knockoff

What You Missed at Taste of the Nation