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Black Trumpet Bistro

Cox Local Video: Gracie’s Restaurant Hosts No Kid Hungry Fundraiser

by David Dadekian January 13, 2014

This past November, Gracie’s restaurant in Providence hosted a No Kid Hungry fundraiser for Share Our Strength. Gracie’s Executive Chef Matthew Varga and Pastry Chef Melissa Denmark were joined by several guest chefs–Chef Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal in Providence, Chef Keith Luce of The Square in Greenport, New York and Evan Mallett of the Black Trumpet Bistro in Portsmouth, New Hampshire–to prepare the evening’s cocktail reception and multi-course dinner. Wines from Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington, Connecticut were paired with the chefs’s dishes.

All ticket proceeds, as well as a live auction with items offered by the chefs and Eat Drink RI, were donated to the cause of ending childhood hunger in America. Hunger is widespread; one in five children in this country experience hunger. Long term hunger reduces a child’s ability to learn, can contribute to emotional problems, and impacts the child’s overall health. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day.

Take a look at scenes from the evening and please check out nokidhungry.org to see how you can help end childhood hunger in America.

Cox Presents Eat Drink RI with David Dadekian is a video series produced by Cox Sports Online to showcase the vibrant and friendly food community in the Rhode Island area. Check out coxsportsonline.com for more local programming.

January 13, 2014 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news

Gracie’s hosts the region’s most celebrated chefs for dinner benefiting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign – UPDATED

by guest October 16, 2013

written by guest

The chefs for the No Kid Hungry Providence Dinner (from left to right): Keith Luce, Matthew Varga, Evan Mallett, Matt Gennuso and Melissa Denmark

Gracie’s hosts the region’s most celebrated chefs for dinner benefiting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign

On November 11, the region’s most celebrated chefs will gather at Gracie’s to prepare a multi-course dinner for a cause: ending childhood hunger in the United States. This is the second time the AAA Four Diamond award-winning restaurant will partner with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign to support its efforts to ensure every child has the healthy food they need, every day.

Gracie’s own Chef Matthew Varga and Pastry Chef Melissa Denmark will be joined by chefs Keith Luce of Main Restaurant, Greenport, NY; Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet Bistro, Portsmouth, NH; and Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal, Providence, RI. The theme for the dinner is a focus on seasonal root vegetables.

“Roots are not always visible, but they are the most important part of every living thing,” said Varga. We are helping to build a foundation from which children can grow – access to nutrient rich foods to feed their bodies and minds, a strong support system to guide them every step of the way, and an education to ensure they have the knowledge to make our world a better place.”

Guests will enjoy a one of a kind dining experience and by doing so, help to raise funds for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

“Our featured chefs are dedicated to the No Kid Hungry campaign and have participated in many dinners,” said Ellen Slattery, proprietor of Gracie’s and Ellie’s Bakery. “This is the second dinner we’ve hosted at Gracie’s. The first was in 2007 and we are so proud to once again partner with the organization and to showcase the incredible collaboration and culinary talents of the chefs involved.”

Reservations may be made at http://ce.strength.org/events/no-kid-hungry-providence-dinner or through Joe Allegro at joeallegro@strength.org or 917-834-5335. RSVP required, space is limited.

About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® Seated Dinners:

Share Our Strength’s national series of No Kid Hungry dinners are hosted by renowned chefs who join together with their peers to prepare multi-course meals with a cause: ending childhood hunger in the United States. Select events feature guest speakers and unique culinary, travel and lifestyle auctions. Since 2005, Share Our Strength dinners have raised nearly $7 million to support the work of the No Kid Hungry campaign, including starting and improving school breakfast programs, recruiting summer meals sites and teaching families how to shop for and prepare healthy meals on a limited budget. To learn more about the No Kid Hungry campaign and dinner series, please visit NoKidHungry.org.

October 16, 2013 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news

Chef Michael Scelfo of Russell House Tavern Wins Three Trophies at 2013 Boston American Lamb Jam

by David Dadekian February 17, 2013

written by David Dadekian

Chef Michael Scelfo of Russell House Tavern with his three Lamb Jam trophies

The American Lamb Board held their fourth annual Lamb Jam at The Charles Hotel in Boston tonight. Chef Michael Scelfo of Russell House Tavern in Cambridge, Massachusetts took home three trophies, one for Best Overall dish, as well as winning Best Belly & Breast dish, and the People’s Choice Award, all for his Smoked and Braised Lamb Belly on a Steamed Bun With Pickled Radishes and Herb Salad.

We spoke with Scelfo after his win. He had to this say, “I’m very happy to be a participant for the third year in a row. It’s a great event and I always love cooking with American Lamb. I’m excited to go to New York and eat some good food and hang out.”

There were eighteen chefs and restaurants represented at the event, including three from Rhode Island, each preparing one lamb dish using either a leg, shank, shoulder or belly/breast cut of American lamb. There was also a lamb butchery demo given by butchers from Tavolo, shepherds from North Star Sheep Farms and The Farm Institute, along with beer served by seven area breweries and wine from 90+ Cellars. A portion of the proceeds went to support Lovin’ Spoonfuls Food Rescue.

As Best in Show winner, Scelfo will now compete in New York later this year against the winners of Lamb Jams being held in cities around the country. The winners in other categories this evening were: Chef Cassie Piuma of Oleana was the Best Shoulder dish winner for Moroccan BBQ Lamb Roll With Pickled Cabbage, Goat Cheese and Fried Sweet Potato; Best Shank dish went to Chef Brian Rae of Rialto for Lamb Shank Fritter With Garlic Chive Spatzle, Blood Orange , Fried Rosemary and Lamb Jus; Best Leg dish went to Chef Brian Reyelt of Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar for Adobo Lamb Leg Taco With Pickled Onion and Queso.

At last year’s Boston Lamb Jam there was one Providence chef in the competition. This year there were three from across Rhode Island competing. Chef Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal competed in the Shank category with his Braised Lamb Shank Ragout With Bread, Lamb and Kale Meatballs, Golden Raisins and Curried Cloumage Cheese; Chef Champe Speidel of Persimmon competed in the Belly & Breast category with his Slow Roasted Breast of Lamb with Medjool Dates, Pine Nuts, Cauliflower and Petite Anise Hyssop; and Chef Beau Vestal of New Rivers competed in the Shoulder category with his Crispy Lamb Shoulder Rillettes with Greek Yogurt, Aromatic Herbs and Curry.

Congratulations to Chef Scelfo and all the winners.

Smoked and Braised Lamb Belly on a Steamed Bun With Pickled Radishes and Herb Salad

Lamb Jam VIP hour included lamb charcuterie from Chef Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet Bistro

The Chez Pascal team plating Braised Lamb Shank Ragout With Bread, Lamb and Kale Meatballs, Golden Raisins and Curried Cloumage Cheese

The New Rivers crew plating Crispy Lamb Shoulder Rillettes with Greek Yogurt, Aromatic Herbs and Curry

New Rivers’ Crispy Lamb Shoulder Rillettes with Greek Yogurt, Aromatic Herbs and Curry

Oleana’s Moroccan BBQ Lamb Roll With Pickled Cabbage, Goat Cheese and Fried Sweet Potato

Shepherd Lisa Webster of North Star Sheep Farms with butchers Nuno Alves and Chris Douglas of Tavolo

Chez Pascal co-owner Kristin Gennuso with Lamb Jam host Billy Costa

Chef Champe Speidel plating Slow Roasted Breast of Lamb with Medjool Dates, Pine Nuts, Cauliflower and Petite Anise Hyssop

The four chef winners, from left to right: Cassie Piuma of Oleana, Michael Scelfo of Russell House Tavern, Brian Reynelt of Citizen and Brian Rae of Rialto

February 17, 2013 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news

Coming Sunday, March 10, 2013: Chefs Collaborative Trash Fish Dinner – UPDATED

by David Dadekian February 12, 2013

written by David Dadekian

The following is a media release from Chefs Collaborative regarding their upcoming Trash Fish Dinner. Two of the chefs from the Rhode Island network, Jake Rojas of Tallulah on Thames and Derek Wagner of Nick’s on Broadway, are participating, along with a group of some of New England’s best. Tickets are now available for this multi-course New England seafood dinner. Purchase them at www.chefscollaborative.org/events/trash-fish-dinner.

CONTACT:
Melissa Kogut, Executive Director | Chefs Collaborative
617-236-5286 | 617-970-5613 (cell) | melissa@chefscollaborative.org

Trash Fish Dinner
The Best New England Seafood You’ve Never Tried

Chefs Collaborative, a national chef network that’s changing the sustainable food landscape using the power of connections, education and responsible buying decisions, is hosting the first-ever Trash Fish Dinner at the Cambridge, MA restaurant Area Four on March 10, 2013.

The dinner was conceived of, and is being led by, by eight New England chefs from the Boston area, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The dinner will feature lesser-known Atlantic fish species, including species such as the sea robin, dogfish, and hake. These fish have traditionally been left off the menu by chefs, are often discarded by fishermen as bycatch, and are virtually unknown to the general public.

Included in the evening is also a special short talk about the future of sustainable seafood from Barton Seaver, Sustainability Fellow in Residence at the New England Aquarium and National Geographic Society Fellow.

With the recent news about the near collapse of New England groundfish fisheries, the Trash Fish Dinner is well timed. Chefs Collaborative Executive Director Melissa Kogut remarked that “the overfishing of popular species such as cod and other groundfish has reached a critical tipping point in New England. With Chefs Collaborative’s Trash Fish Dinner, we hope to open up a conversation about the need to develop new fishing methods and target new species.”

Event Details:

When: Sunday, March 10, 2013. 6:00 pm
Where: Area Four, 500 Technology Square. Cambridge, MA. 02139
Ticket Price: $125 (Wine and beer included)
Tickets and Information: www.chefscollaborative.org/events/trash-fish-dinner

Chefs Cooking:

Rich Garcia: Executive Chef, 606 Congress – Boston, MA
Drew Hedlund: Executive Chef, Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar – Charleston, SC
Larry Leibowitz: Culinary Director for Guckenheimer
Michael Leviton: Chef/Owner, Lumiere – Newton, MA and Area Four – Cambridge, MA
Evan Mallett: Chef/Owner, Black Trumpet Bistro – Portsmouth, NH
Mary Reilly: Chef/Owner, Enzo Restaurant and Bar – Newburyport, MA
Jake Rojas: Chef/Owner, Tallulah on Thames – Newport, RI
Michael Scelfo: Executive Chef, Russell House Tavern – Cambridge, MA
Derek Wagner: Chef/Owner, Nick’s On Broadway – Providence, RI

The chefs involved with the Dinner are also on a mission to change public perception of these so-called “trash fish” – for the sake of the environment, fishermen, and continued innovation in this industry. 606 Congress Executive Chef Rich Garcia commented, “if one thing should be on the red list, the fishermen should be . . . we’ve just been so used to what’s always been sold, but we’ve got this abundance of fish with amazing textures and flavors.”

UPDATE: Chefs Collaborative Board Chair Chef Michael Leviton, host of the Trash Fish Dinner at his restaurant Area Four, has written an editorial piece “Are Trash Fish the Answer?” for The Huffington Post. Chef Rich Garcia of 606 Congress, also a Trash Fish Dinner participant wrote a post on his site, “Trash Fish to Cash Fish,” about his experience in Washington D.C. with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation during the Environmental Defense Fund National Outreach Day.

February 12, 2013 0 comment

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