Expedia employees and local Bellevue restaurants came together to help support Hopelink’s “End Summer Hunger” campaign at the Expedia, Inc. downtown Bellevue headquarters.

Employees were treated to a “Taste of Bellevue” event featuring cuisine from 11 Bellevue area restaurants. Restaurants provided a wide variety of their most popular menu items, and employees were asked to make a charitable contribution to Hopelink as their ticket for admission.

At the end of the event employees voted for their favorite restaurant, with the Joey Bellevue Grill & Lounge winning top honors for its tasty tuna taco. Runner-up was Pearl’s decadent butterscotch sundae.

Other participating restaurants included Lucky Strike, McCormick and Schmick’s, The Parlor Collection, Pogacha Restaurant & Café Pogacha, Purple Café and Wine Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Sheraton’s Bellevue Grille, Wild Ginger and Cupcake Royale.

The “Taste of Bellevue” event is just one tradition Expedia has started to help support Hopelink and families in need. Earlier this summer employees participated in a “CANstruction” food drive event where they built travel themed structures out of non-perishable food.

Through both events Expedia was able to raise more than 12,000 pounds of food and more than $6,000 in employee donations for Hopelink.

“These events give back to the community while giving our employees and local restaurants a chance to be creative and have some fun,” said Bonnie Morse, senior program specialist at Expedia. “Each year we are blown away with how passionate employees are about giving back and supporting those in need.”

Hopelink’s End Summer Hunger campaign, presented by Expedia, continues through August. For more information or to learn how to participate, contact Hopelink online or 425-869-6000.