When it comes to a play on words, you can have as much fun with “orange” as any color. And when it comes to a party? Orange really wakes it up, with both flavors and a burst of color.
The annual “Color Party”–with bright orange decor, food, and dress–showed its true colors as it honored the work done in support of Share Our Strength‘s No Kid Hungry campaign, aimed at ending childhood hunger in America. Hosted by Noble, the foodservice agency-of-record for the No Kid Hungry campaign, the color of hunger awareness was displayed in fine form as a reminder of the unmet need children in America face every day.
“This is a first for us,” said Debbie Shore, Co-Founder of Share Our Strength. “Because this is such an important issue within the foodservice industry, it’s great to have a foodservice agency throw a party to feature us and invite industry friends.” She went on to say, “Our biggest frustration is that kids aren’t hungry because of a lack of programs. It’s a lack of awareness of and access to those programs.”
She went on to talk about the barriers, including the “stigma” children feel when they are enrolled in free and reduced meal programs at school. “Kids get to school and feel stigmatized, so they don’t get in the breakfast/lunch line, and then they are hungry all day,” she said. “And if we don’t have healthy kids, we won’t have a healthy workforce.”
John Scroggins, Noble’s Vice President of Integrated Communications, said, “Sixteen million kids face hunger in America. It’s an issue that should be owned by, and solved by, the foodservice industry.” As a result, Scroggins and his passionate co-workers are constantly looking for ways to advocate and support the programs of Share Our Strength. “This was a way to take the Color Party back to its roots by shining a light on the Chicago culinary scene by featuring local chefs who are also supporters of Share Our Strength,” he added.
“Orange is not only a hot Spring color,” said Scroggins, “but it is also the color of hunger awareness. We wanted to celebrate Noble’s relationship and philanthropic commitment to ending childhood hunger in America by making it this year’s color.”
Noble partners with SOS in support of three major initiatives:
- No Kid Hungry campaign (runs all year long)
- Dine Out for No Kid Hungry (September 15-21)
- Culinary Events – including Taste of the Nation
The menu featured a signature drink, the Orange Mojito Crush, plus creations from industry and culinary partners that included Chef Jared Van Camp of Nellcote and Old Town Social, Patty Rothman of more™ Cupcakes, and chefs from the French Pastry School of Kennedy-King College in Chicago.
Van Camp has become an acclaimed Executive Chef for his attention to detail and support of local farmers–he helped first establish “bar food” as a serious culinary trend nationwide using locally made ingredients. His selections included Pan Com Tomat with chorizo, a housemade Ham Biscuit, and Fava Bean & Ricotta Agnolotti with Spring Onions & Brown Butter, and a Charcuterie display.
more™, a cupcake boutique located in Chicago’s Gold Coast, has been part of the cupcake revival since 2008. Cupcake flavors for the night were a savory Mango Cilantro, Valrhona Chocolate, and Bourbon Orange.
French Pastry School chefs Joshua Johnson and Joel Reno, along with Joseph Settepani, delivered Orange Exotic Macaroons, Orange and Yuzu Verrine, Carrot and Candied Grapefruit Bread, Apricot Pate de fruits, and Mango, Passion Fruit and Ginger Ice Cream.
This was the 16th annual Color Party for the agency, which holds it as an unofficial kick off to the National Restaurant Association show each year.
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Disclosure: The Food Channel, LLC is part of the same ownership as Noble. No additional compensation, however, was received for this coverage.
