Tickets are on sale for Hartford's Taste of the Nation event, taking place April 11 at Marquee Events and Catering. More than 40 local restaurants and food vendors join wine, beer and spirits sponsors at the annual fundraiser for Share Our Strength, a national organization committed to ending childhood hunger.

Participating restaurants include: Backstage Eat. Drink. Live., Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant, Besito, Black Bamboo Chinese Restaurant, Bocca Rossa, Bricco Trattoria, Bridgewater Chocolate, Cavey's Restaurant, City Fare Catering, City Steam Brewery Cafe, Corey's Catsup & Mustard, Costa Del Sol, Cuvee, David Alan, Dish Bar & Grill, Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar, Feng Asian Bistro, Frosted Couture Cupcakes, Firebox, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Freshpoint, Grants, The Hartford Club, Infinity Music Hall and Bistro, Joey Garlic's, La Tavola, Lavazza Specialty Beverage, Lisa Cole, Inspired Catering; Marquee Events & Catering, Max Restaurant Group, McLadden's Irish Publick House, Millwright's Tavern, The Mill at 2t, Metro Bis, Mozzicato de Pasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop, ON20, Peppercorns Grill, Piccolo Arancio, Plan B Burger Bar & Tavern, Restaurant Bricco, Salute and Treva Restaurant & Bar.

Tickets are $75 for general admission, which includes food and drink samples. VIP tickets, at $125, include upgraded food and beverage, private entertainment and a goody bag. Click here to purchase online. One hundred percent of proceeds go to local grantees, including No Kid Hungry Connecticut Campaign, End Hunger Connecticut!, Hartford Food System and Foodshare.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Marquee Events & Catering is at 960 Main St. in Hartford. For more information, visit strength.org/hartford.

And keep an eye out for New Haven's Taste of the Nation event, happening May 22 at the Omni Hotel at Yale.