Taste of Salt Lake Raises Big Bucks for CF Foundation

November 25, 2008

It could have been New York City or Los Angeles or even Paris. Guests were ushered into an elegant ballroom, strewn with roses and rich with the aromas of tantalizing foods from 22 of the city’s finest restaurants. The 850 people entering the Grand America Hotel in early November at the Utah/Idaho Chapter’s 10th annual Taste of Salt Lake truly felt they were having a sophisticated night on the town. To make the occasion even more spectacular, the generous crowd raised an incredible $215,000 on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Love to Breathe award recipient Carol Wood is surrounded by friends Tiffany Rasmussen, Amanda Olson and Somer Love at the Taste of Salt Lake in November.

Long lines stretched before the 22 restaurant booths, as guests dined on savory dishes from lamb lolli-chops to sushi and smoked salmon mousse to crostine with chevre and green tomato marmalade.

Guests voted for their favorite restaurants in the categories of "Finest Cuisine," "Finest Presentation" and "Finest Service," and winning chefs strode, beaming, onto the stage as the crowd toasted them with a standing ovation.

Carol Wood, the first nurse to work at the Utah CF Care Center, was honored with the annual “Love to Breathe” award for her unflagging dedication to caring for CF patients over the past 30 years.

Not only is Carol known as an expert nurse, but as a beloved nurse known for “adopting” many young CF patients, she enthusiastically attended their school plays, concerts and softball games. Her inspirational stories of children with CF she has known helped raise a record $50,000 during the Bid for a Cure.  

“The evening exceeded my wildest expectations,” said first-time Event Chair Tammy Sloan. “Not only was I surprised by the size of the turnout, but I was astounded at the generosity of the people in our community who came together as one to support an incredible cause—finding a cure for CF.”

Thanks a Million!

Much gratitude goes out to the evening’s generous sponsors:

• Mark Ewell
• Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP
• Tammy and Jerry Sloan
• Sysco Intermoutan
• Mona Vie
• Zions Bank

The evening’s great success could not have occurred without the hard work of the following volunteers. Many thanks to: