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Ashley Vanasse

2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

Eat Drink RI Festival — April 24 – 27, 2019

by David Dadekian May 8, 2019
written by David Dadekian
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography

The 8th Annual Eat Drink RI Festival is a celebration showcasing the best of the culinary world in Rhode Island. Presenting farmers, chefs, bartenders and food & drink artisans from across the region, this year’s Festival features the return of our popular wine professional competition, an all-new women-prepared dining event, the area’s largest food truck event, and culminates with an all-local tasting featuring even more culinary and beverage presentations than before. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

The 2019 Festival kicks off on April 24th with Rhode Island’s second Sommelier Punchdown. Guests will watch and taste along as a handful of our state’s best Certified Sommeliers are pitted against each other in a wine theory quiz, a blind wine tasting, and a collaboration with a local chef. Returning for this year’s Punchdown is 2018 Champion Ali Innes of bin 312 wine cellar and Chefs Terence Feury of Forty 1° North, Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining and Benjamin Sukle of birch and Oberlin. They will be joined by new competitors for a special night full of delicious wine & food.

On Thursday, April 25th there’s something all-new and exciting for this year’s Festival. The Rhody Women’s Feast is a dining experience prepared by some of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs—Jennifer Backman of The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Shylicia “Shy” Heyward, Andrea LaFazia of The Locals, Rebecca Lentrichia of Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Gina Pezza of Vanda and Lizzie Fink of Bread Box Baking Company—for a multi-course dining event to be held at the new Revival Foodworks & Brewery in Cranston. Pairings will be offered by women-owned distilleries, Boston Harbor Distillery and Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island.

On Friday evening, April 26th, the always popular Truck Stop to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank returns to the Food Bank’s huge lot in Providence with over twenty trucks—the largest gathering of its kind in New England. This seventh annual Truck Stop showcases even more of the excellence and variety of Rhode Island’s mobile restaurants, offers drinks from Jonathan Edwards Winery, Revival Brewing Company & Yacht Club Soda, features local musicians, and also benefits an organization dedicated to ending hunger. In past years the Truck Stop event has raised over $150,000 for the RI Community Food Bank and the goal is to raise even more than that this year.

As always, the Festival closes with the biggest event. Our Grand Tasting features samplings and sales from local food artisans, locally produced beers, wines & spirits in the Rotunda & Ballroom of the RI Convention Center. Please see the Festival web site for a complete listing of vendors. During the Tasting there will be all-new local food & drink presentations and this year the Tasting is going for maximum interactivity with three presentation areas set in-the-round for attendees to enjoy.

The key to the Eat Drink RI Festival is that it is dedicated to showcasing Rhode Island food and drink. This Festival, unlike many others, is about local chefs, bartenders, farmers, brewers, distillers, producers and more—the people who have elevated Rhode Island to national renown for its culinary scene. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography
from left to right: Morgan Gray, Tiffany Ting, Maria Meza, Rebecca Brady and Gina Pezza (not pictured Yveline Bontemp and Lizzie Fink)
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop, photo by David Dadekian
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
Eat Drink RI Festival 2018 Truck Stop
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, photo by Brad Smith Photography
Photos by JWessel, David Dadekian, Corey Martineau and Brad Smith–see ticketing page for more information.
May 8, 2019 0 comment
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2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography

ExpiredEat Drink RI Festival 2019 Sommelier Punchdown

by David Dadekian April 24, 2019
written by David Dadekian

2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography

2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography

This year’s festival kicks off with Rhode Island’s second Sommelier Punchdown at the new event venue at Sprout CoWorking! Co-hosted by Certified Sommeliers Ian Magiros of M.S. Walker and Jonathan Feiler of Ocean House, this event sees a handful of our state’s best Certified Sommeliers pitted against each other in a wine theory quiz, a blind wine tasting, and a collaboration with a local chef. Some of our favorite chefs will present small bites with a wine pairing that the sommeliers believe is the perfect complement. Guests will vote on the fan favorite pairing, and Magiros & Feiler will tally the points of all three components of the competition to decide who reigns supreme in the southern New England wine world.

2019 Punchdown competing Certified Sommeliers and their pairing chefs:

  • 2018 Returning Champion Ali Innes of bin 312 wine cellar and Benjamin Sukle of birch and Oberlin
  • Justin Bothur of Oyster Club and Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining
  • Joe Hageman of Cellarology and Chris Champagne of 84 Ale Works
  • Nick Seminara of City Winery Boston and Terence Feury of Forty 1° North

If you’re passionate about wine and would love to learn more about how sommeliers refine their palates and sharpen their ability to recall wines, then this is the event for you.

Sommelier Punchdown tickets are $50 and include welcome bubbles & hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings and food & wine pairing.

2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography2018 Sommelier Punchdown, photo by JWessel Photography

2018 Eat Drink RI Festival Sommelier Punchdown, photos by JWessel Photography
April 24, 2019 0 comment
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Eat Drink RI Festival logo
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

Eat Drink RI Festival: April 25 – 28, 2018 | All-Local Celebration of Everything Edible returns for a 7th Year

by David Dadekian May 6, 2018
written by David Dadekian

Eat Drink RI Festival logo

The 7th Annual Eat Drink RI Festival is a celebration showcasing the best of the culinary world in Rhode Island. Presenting farmers, chefs, bartenders and food & drink artisans from across the region, this year’s Festival offers a brand new wine tasting experience, the return of Dinner by Dames, the largest food truck event in the area, and culminates with the Grand Tasting, an All-Local Tasting featuring even more culinary & beverage presentations than before. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

This year’s festival kicks off with Rhode Island’s first Sommelier Smackdown at the gorgeous, newly renovated Café at Easy Entertaining! This brand new event is co-hosted by Certified Sommeliers Ian Magiros of M.S. Walker and Jonathan Feiler of Rhode Island Distributing. The Smackdown will pit Certified Sommeliers Justin Bothur of Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn, Alan Freudeman of Gracie’s, Ali Innes of bin 312 wine cellar, and Alí Quero of Los Andes against each other in a wine theory quiz, a blind wine tasting, and a food & wine pairing collaboration with a local chef. Guests will vote on the fan favorite pairing and judges will tally the points of all three components of the competition to decide who reigns supreme in RI’s wine world. Tickets include wine tastings, food & wine pairing, and hors d’oeuvres.

One of Rhode Island’s most popular dining series, Dinner by Dames, returns on the Thursday evening of the Festival. This dining experience brings together five of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs—Melissa Denmark of Gracie’s and Ellie’s Bakery, Jordan Goldsmith of Moonrose Farm, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining Inc. and Jessica Wood of Fire and Water Restaurant Group—for a multi-course dining event. For the 2018 Eat Drink RI Festival three guest chef Dames are joining the team: Lisa Lofberg of Little Moss, Rebecca Lentrichia of Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel and Caitlyn McGuire of Ellie’s Bakery.

To make the evening that much more special, Jen Davis of The Eddy, along with a group of RI’s top bartenders—Cassie Coutard of Courtland Club and New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, Megan Freitas, Sam Royds of Gracie’s, Elizabeth Sawtelle of Nicks on Broadway, Britt Simons of Persimmon and Kayleigh Speck of The East End—are creating cocktail pairings for each course with spirits very kindly provided by Origin Beverage Co. Dinner by Dames will once again be held at the beautiful Skyline at Waterplace in downtown Providence. In addition, Dinner by Dames coincides with this year’s Paint the Town RED to benefit AIDS Care Ocean State and Eat Drink RI is proud to donate a portion of Dames proceeds to ACOS.

Every year the Truck Stop to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank continues to grow! The event is back at the Food Bank’s huge lot in Providence with twenty-three mobile food vendors and a trio of local beverage greats! This sixth annual Truck Stop showcases even more of the excellence and variety of Rhode Island’s mobile restaurants, features local musicians the Superchief Trio, and also benefits an organization dedicated to ending hunger. Trucks include: Citizen Wing, Friskie Fries, GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ, Noble Knots, Portu-Galo and more.

The Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting features samplings of over sixty locally produced beer, wine & spirits, as well as an abundance of local food artisans in Hall D of the Rhode Island Convention Center. Grand Tasting participants include: American Mussel Harvesters, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Los Andes, Narragansett Creamery, Revival Brewing Company, Seven Stars Bakery, Yacht Club Soda and so many more.

During the Tasting there will be all-new local food & drink presentations on the Frigidaire Professional Presentation Stage sponsored and provided by Wickford Appliance featuring Rhode Island’s top chefs paired with a local producer to wow attendees with some of the best food in the country, all included with admission to the Grand Tasting.

  • Easy Entertaining’s Chef Ashley Vanasse and Narragansett Creamery’s Pattie & Mark Federico
  • Nicks on Broadway’s Chef Derek Wagner and Blackbird Farm’s Ann Marie Bouthillette
  • Tallulah’s Taqueria’s Chef Jake Rojas and American Mussel Harvesters

In addition, a 2nd food & drink presentation area has been added at this year’s Grand Tasting. Get a floor-level, up-close look at the detail work & techniques of these chefs and artisans with this more interactive and intimate show area.

  • Pastaio’s Chef Adam Baffoni on Pasta
  • Ellie’s Bakery’s Chefs Melissa Denmark and Caitlyn McGuire on Decorating Desserts
  • El Rancho Grande’s Joaquin Meza on Cocktails

The key to the Eat Drink RI Festival is that it is dedicated to showcasing Rhode Island food and drink. This Festival, unlike many others, is about local chefs, bartenders, farmers, brewers, distillers, producers and more—the people who have elevated Rhode Island to national renown for its culinary scene. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

May 6, 2018 0 comment
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Dinner by Dames 2017 Group. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

ExpiredDinner by Dames

by David Dadekian April 23, 2018
written by David Dadekian

Dinner by Dames 2017 Group. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

Dinner by Dames 2017 Group. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

One of Rhode Island’s most popular dining series, Dinner by Dames, returns for it’s seventh installment at this seventh Eat Drink RI Festival. This female-driven dining experience brings together five of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs—Melissa Denmark of Gracie’s and Ellie’s Bakery, Jordan Goldsmith of Moonrose Farm, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining Inc. and Jessica Wood of Fire and Water Restaurant Group—for a multi-course dining event. For the 2018 Eat Drink RI Festival we’ve added three guest Dames: Lisa Lofberg of Little Moss, Rebecca Lentrichia of Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel and Caitlyn McGuire of Ellie’s Bakery.

To make the evening that much more special Jen Davis, of The Eddy, along with a group of RI’s top bartenders—Cassie Coutard of Courtland Club and New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, Megan Freitas of Durk’s Bar•B•Q, Sam Royds, Elizabeth Sawtelle of Nicks on Broadway, Britt Simons of Persimmon and Kayleigh Speck of The East End—are creating cocktail pairings for each course with spirits very kindly provided by Origin Beverage Co. Dinner by Dames will once again be held at the beautiful Skyline at Waterplace in downtown Providence.

View the Dinner by Dames Seven Menu (PDF)

In addition, the Festival Dinner by Dames coincides with this year’s Paint the Town RED to benefit AIDS Care Ocean State’s mission of providing quality housing, case management, medical and nursing care, and prevention to those affected by or at risk for HIV infection. Eat Drink RI President David Dadekian is a co-chair of the dining event and is proud to donate a portion of Dames proceeds to AIDS Care Ocean State.

 

Skyline at WaterplaceOrigin Beverage Co.Paint the Town RED

Dinner by Dames tickets are $160 and are all-inclusive. The evening will begin with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception with welcome bites, then moving into a six-course dinner with cocktail pairings and more.

Due to the limitations of the venue we are regrettably unable to accommodate any alternative menu/allergen requests other than a vegetarian option. Thank you in advance for your understanding on this matter.

April 23, 2018 0 comment
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