Mark your calendar for Oct 2 -- and get out your wallet -- for a meal worthy of James Beard, when Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto in New York City joins local chefs in a fundraiser that extends to 10 cities for the James Beard Foundation.

The event, called Taste America, will be held locally at Loews Minneapolis Hotel (601 First Av. N., Mpls.), and will begin at 6:30 with a cocktail and tasting reception, followed by a 7:30 p.m. meal.

The four-course dinner menu will feature the culinary talents of Waxman, and local chefs Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable and Timothy Fischer of the Loews.

The reception features fare by restaurateur Kim Bartmann of Biltwell Restaurants, chefs Thomas Boemer of Corner Table, Jim Christensen of Heyday, Taya Kaufenberg of Tiny Diner, and Lenny Russo of Heartland.

Andrew Zimmern, of the Travel Channel's "Bizaare Foods," will emcee the event.

To follow the epicurean tour this fall (Miami, Charleston, Phoenix, Seattle and Boston, among the stops), go to Twitter: #jbftasteamerica. Part of the proceeds goes to the JBF scholarship fund for local culinary students.

Scott Roth/Invision/AP, Star Tribune
Jonathan Waxman

Tickets for the event are $250; order them here.