Sunday, June 28
5th Annual A Taste for Life
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens | 6300 Old Lagrange Road, Crestwood, KY | facebook.com/atasteforlifelouisville | $70 adult, $25 child | 3-6 p.m. | all ages
In 2018, world-famous restaurateur, chef, author, TV show host, and self-described foodie Anthony Bourdain died by suicide, sending shockwaves of grief and confusion through every kitchen on the planet. How could a man so passionate, driven, and at the height of his career succumb to something like this? In truth, the question runs even deeper. “If someone as successful and outwardly happy as Bourdain wasn’t comfortable talking about and working through his mental health, how many others that we see daily in our own lives are struggling in the same way?” This very question drew local chef and owner of Germantown restaurant Four Pegs, Chris Williams, to begin A Taste for Life in his honor.
But the 5th Annual A Taste for Life is far more than a food event — it is a powerful story about the intersection of hospitality, mental health, and community healing. Honoring the legacy of Anthony Bourdain, the event shines a light on the often-unspoken struggles within the restaurant and bar industry, including stress, addiction, depression, and suicide prevention.
From the waiters who welcome us to our tables to the chefs who fill our bellies, the service industry is demanding and often takes a toll. Long hours, late nights, and high-pressure environments can increase the risk of mental health challenges, addiction, and suicide. And too many – both within the industry and beyond – don’t know where to turn for help. Through the power of food and community, this event raises awareness, normalizes seeking support, and connects people to vital local resources.
A Taste for Life exists not only as a place where restaurant staff can be open with one another about their professional and personal obstacles, but as a place where they can be warmly reminded that our Louisville community stands behind them.
The Event:
After a one-year hiatus, A Taste for Life returns bigger than ever with more than 40 chefs, 20 beverage stations, community leaders, and advocates uniting for an important cause benefiting NAMI Louisville and The Pete Foundation. With beloved Louisville personalities, including Dawne Gee serving as MC, the event combines culinary talent, heartfelt purpose and community impact in a way that resonates far beyond the plate. And this year sees the event moving to an exciting new location: 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens.
What to Expect:
• Unlimited tastings from over 40 local chefs
• Liquor & Beer Tastings
• Guest speakers from NAMI and The Pete Foundation
While the focus is on those who work in the service industry, the event is open to everyone of all ages! And all proceeds benefit NAMI Louisville and The Pete Foundation.
Participating Chefs/Restaurants:
Chris Williams – Four Pegs
Josh Moore – Volare Italian Ristorante
Dallas McGarrity – The Fat Lamb
Michael Bowe – Red Yeti
Serge Katz – FlavaVille
Casey Mader – Chef It Up
Lamont Bobo – 80/20 at Kaelin’s
Paul Berrier – Hop Atomica
Jon Broadway – Chef and new owner of Donum Dei Brewery & Distillery
Jim Richards – Cast Iron Steakhouse
Jackson Skelton – Owl Creek Country Club
Henry Wesley – Osteria Italian Seafood
Kyle Pax – Schreiber Seasonings
Kejuan Smith – Gordon Ramsay Steak
Ming Pu – Tana
Ian Cincinelli – Embassy Suites
Wesley Powell – 8UP
Allan Rosenberg – Hauck’s Corner
Ashley Northington – Happy Belly Bistro
Troy King – Velvet Couch Hospitality
Guy Genoud – Brasserie Provence
Sean Haggerty – Commonwealth Catering
Nelson Rivera – Alchemy
Kyle Fields – Crushed Ice Catering
Jeremy Johnson – Snow Business
Brandy Allgeier – Captain’s Quarters
Dan Thomas – Acxion Foodservice
Adam Ursprung – Noah’s Kitchen
Akshay Kadam – Noosh Nosh
Mark Smith – Performance Food Group
Mr. C’s Cheesecakes
Pops’ Pepper Patch
Naïve
The Wager
Slice N Dice
And more!
For an idea of what to expect, check out these highlights from A Taste for Life 2024!
At a time when conversations around mental health are more important than ever, A Taste for Life offers a timely, meaningful, and deeply human story centered on awareness, support, and the message that it’s OK to not be OK.
The Pete Foundation Mission:
Rally communities to champion youth mental health and wellness through normalizing the topic, promoting education, and providing tools for healthy emotional development.
NAMI Louisville:
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
For tickets, visit: redpintix.com/events/a-taste-for-life-2026-6-28-2026
For more information, visit: facebook.com/atasteforlifelouisville
To watch highlights from A Taste for Life 2024: https://fb.watch/FBwftYwLNF/
