Area chefs give food lovers a Taste of the Nation in Laguna Beach

The 11th annual Laguna Beach Taste of the Nation welcomed Southern California restaurants serving bite-size fare at the Montage Laguna Beach resort Sunday afternoon.

Guests sampled main dishes and desserts paired with wine and craft cocktails.

The event benefited Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry program, which has provided more than 500 million meals to needy children in the United States.

Among the featured chefs were Amar Santana of Vaca in Costa Mesa and Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, Joe Sasto of Cal Mare in Los Angeles, Craig Strong and Julia Browne of Studio at the Montage, Brian Huskey of Tackle Box in Corona del Mar, Eric Samaniego of Michael’s on Naples Ristorante in Long Beach, Bryant Taylor of Chianina Steakhouse in Long Beach and Marcel Vigneron of Wolf and Beefsteak in Los Angeles.