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Benjamin Sukle

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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
  • April 24, 2019
    6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
We're sorry, but all tickets sales have ended because the event is expired.

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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chefs & restaurantsnews

Benjamin Sukle of Birch and Oberlin Nominated for James Beard Awards Best Chef Northeast

by David Dadekian March 15, 2017
written by David Dadekian

Chef Benjamin Sukle

Chef Benjamin Sukle

The 2017 James Beard Awards nominees were announced today and Chef Benjamin Sukle of birch and Oberlin in Providence has been named a finalist in the Best Chef: Northeast category. This is the first time in many years since a Rhode Island chef has moved up from the semi-finalist list to a nomination.

Sukle called to offer his thoughts on his nomination. “What can I say but tell you what I told everyone at birch and Oberlin,” Sukle said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is their nomination as much as mine. I know they’re just as responsible for bringing this to the table. I’m just honored to be the sheepherder, the one fortunate enough to wrangle these cats.”

Diners at either of Sukle’s restaurants, which he owns with his wife Heidi and runs with a team clearly deserving of his praise, won’t be surprised by the nomination. I had dinner at birch recently and posted, “People travel to Chicago for Alinea, to NY for Eleven Madison Park, to Paris and Spain for you-name-the-top-50-restaurant, Providence has one in that stratosphere, on a list or not. You should experience birch, even if you think it’s outside your comfort zone (it’s not), if only because it’s world-class at a fraction of the price.”

Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala in Chicago on May 1st at what is essentially the Oscars® ceremony of the food world.

March 15, 2017 0 comment
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chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

Walrus and Carpenter Oysters Announces Fourth Annual Farm Dinner Series with Eight Renowned Chefs

by David Dadekian May 5, 2016
written by David Dadekian

This summer, Walrus and Carpenter Oysters is proud to present their 4th Annual Oyster Farm Dinner Series with Al Forno, Avenue N, birch, Blue Hill NY, Gracie’s, north, Persimmon and Tallulah on Thames. Each dinner features a tour of the farm, an in-the-water raw-bar, a multi-course dinner prepared by a chef committed to sourcing local seafood, and wine selections by the experts at Bottles Fine Wine. The dinner series will be produced by Eat Drink RI.

Walrus and Carpenter Oysters 2015 Farm Dinner, photo by David DadekianWalrus and Carpenter Oysters 2015 Farm Dinner, photo by David Dadekian

Walrus and Carpenter Oysters 2015 Farm Dinner, photo by David Dadekian

Each of the eight dinner experiences begin at 3 p.m. with a boat ride and tour of the 6-acre offshore oyster farm, with discussion and time for questions about the local ecosystem and environmental benefits of oyster farming. Following the tour, guests will enjoy an in-the-water raw bar featuring freshly harvested Walrus and Carpenter Oysters. After the raw bar, experience Rhode Island’s stunning East Beach with a view of the open Atlantic Ocean (swimming encouraged!), followed by the seated multi-course dinner paired with wine. Boats will return to land around 7:30 p.m.

Last year this series sold out in 4 minutes. Tickets for the 2016 dinners will go on sale Monday, May 16th at 9 a.m. at www.walrusandcarpenteroysters.com. Below is the schedule of chefs for this year.

Monday, July 18th | Chef Matthew Varga of Gracie’s
Varga is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, and began working at Gracie’s in 2007. He was promoted to Executive Chef in 2010. Since then, Gracie’s has won the AAA four-diamond award five years in a row for their seasonally-inspired cuisine and impeccable service. Varga has been featured in Art Culinaire and as a guest chef for the Democratic Governors Association Taste of America gala.

Tuesday, July 19th | Chef Jake Rojas of Tallulah on Thames & Tallulah’s Taqueria
Rojas originates from El Paso, Texas and is a graduate of the Culinary Art Institute of Dallas. In 2014, he received a StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Award. Some of his earlier career tours include Sous Chef at Joel Robuchon at the Mansion & Chef de Partie at Alain Ducasse’s Mix. Jake’s restaurants embody the flavors from his childhood, with technique from his experiences working with the best culinary leaders in the country.

Wednesday, July 20th | Chef Meytal Kotik of Blue Hill NY
Meytal is the chef de cuisine of Blue Hill in New York City. Transforming daily, the menu focuses on local food sourced from producers who respect artisanal techniques. Ingredients come from nearby farms, including Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. Following culinary school, Meytal worked for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group before joining the Blue Hill team.

Thursday, July 21st | Chef Nick Rabar of Avenue N
Nick has been cooking in Rhode Island ever since relocating from Upstate New York in 2001. He spent his first 10 years in Providence before opening Avenue N American Kitchen in the historic Rumford Center in Rumford, RI. He describes his food as approachable, progressive American fare that is guided by the seasons. He is the Emmy Nominated host of Nick Rabar: Chef 2 Go, 2-time Chef of the Year for the state of Rhode Island, has been named one of the Best and Brightest Young American Chefs. Chef Rabar sits on the board of directors at Hope & Main and has made numerous appearances on the Food Network.

Monday, August 15th | Chef David Reynoso of Al Forno
Reynoso is the executive chef at the internationally renowned Al Forno restaurant, where local ingredients shine in dishes cooked in wood-burning ovens and on grills over hardwood charcoal fires. He is the recipient of many accolades, including StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Award. For this dinner, David will be tapping into his roots with a meal inspired by his birthplace, Mexico. Chef Reynoso’s menus feature seasonal New England ingredients, as well as a variety of cultural and culinary influences.

Tuesday, August 16th | Chef Benjamin Sukle of birch & Oberlin
Sukle takes a “from the roots up” approach to all aspects of the dining experience, expressing the best of New England through a creative, modern and environmentally engaging menu. Ben received a 2014 StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Award, and has been twice nominated for Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Chef. He has been nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef and Best Chef New England.

Wednesday, August 17th | Chef Champe Speidel of Persimmon & Persimmon Provisions
Speidel is the chef and owner of Persimmon Restaurant, newly transplanted from Bristol to Providence’s East Side at 99 Hope Street in the former Rue de L’Espoir space. He has been serving contemporary American cuisine in harmony with the seasons since 2005. In 2010 he opened Persimmon Provisions in Barrington, a whole-animal butchery with well-curated cheeses, charcuterie and pantry items. Speidel is a six-time nominee for Best Chef: Northeast by the James Beard Foundation and recently was honored by his Alma Mater Johnson & Wales University as their 2016 Honorary Doctoral Candidate.

Thursday, August 18th | Chef James Mark of north & north bakery
Mark is the cook/owner/plumber/garbageman/shoveler/gopher/cat wrangler of north and north bakery. In 2014, James received the StarChefs.com 2014 Coastal New England Rising Star Community Chef award for his philanthropic commitment to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Prior to north, James worked at Nicks on Broadway and Thee Red Fez. In 2008 he helped open Momofuku Ko in NYC, and a year later he helped open Momofuku Milk Bar.

Please be aware that each dinner experience involves wading in ankle to knee-deep water, and a 15-minute walk to the beach, so dress accordingly. Guests who choose to take a swim are encouraged to wear bathing suits and bring a change of clothes. Boats will begin to depart from Charlestown, RI at 2:30 p.m., with the final boat departing at 3 p.m. Tickets are $225.00 per guest, all-inclusive, and will go on sale Monday, May 16th at 9 a.m. at www.walrusandcarpenteroysters.com.

May 5, 2016 0 comment
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