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I Heart Providence

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The Duck & Bunny and the East Side Win I HEART PROVIDENCE 2013 Culinary Competition

by David Dadekian February 10, 2013
written by David Dadekian
Best Chef winner Chef Brandy Schwalbe of The Duck & Bunny

Best Chef winner Chef Brandy Schwalbe of The Duck & Bunny

On Tuesday, February 5th, the fifth annual I HEART PROVIDENCE was held at Providence City Hall. This year’s event included a culinary competition with the theme East Side vs. West Side. East Side chefs Nemo Bolin of Cook & Brown Public House, Brandy Schwalbe of The Duck & Bunny, and Paul Jalaf of Vanity “battled” against West Side chefs Mike McHugh of Julians, James Mark of North, and Jonathan Dille of The Grange, a plant-based restaurant from the owner of Garden Grille opening in March.

The judges,  David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI, Chef Branden Lewis of Johnson & Wales University and Chef Matthew Varga of Gracie’s, blind tasted the dishes from the six contenders and unanimously decided that The Duck & Bunny’s Chef Brandy Schwalbe’s bacon bread pudding was the winner for best dish. The judges also unanimously named the East Side as the side of Providence with the best food that evening. The People’s Choice vote went to the West Side.

Providence City Hall during I HEART PROVIDENCE 2013

Providence City Hall during I HEART PROVIDENCE 2013

Congratulations to The Duck & Bunny and Chef Schwalbe, as well as to all the participating restaurants who greatly impressed the judges and attendees.

I HEART PROVIDENCE founder Mike Ritz has declared 2014’s event will be themed “Will you marry me?” Ritz posted to Facebook, “Get ready to formalize your love with the city and that special someone. Take the big leap . . . renew your vows . . .dedicate yourself to a principle/idea . . .take an oath to your great city . . .make a lasting commitment in 2014 at I HEART PROVIDENCE.”

 

 

 

 

I HEART PROVIDENCE East vs. West Award Artwork by Ahlers Designs

I HEART PROVIDENCE East vs. West Award Artwork by Ahlers Designs

February 10, 2013 0 comment
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chefs & restaurantsnews

I HEART PROVIDENCE Hosts Culinary Competition Between East Side and West Side Chefs, Tuesday, February 5, 2013

by David Dadekian February 3, 2013
written by David Dadekian
I Heart Providence, Tuesday, February 5, 2013

I Heart Providence, Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Now in it’s fifth year, I HEART PROVIDENCE 2013 is hosting a culinary competition at Providence City Hall between East Side chefs Nemo Bolin of Cook & Brown Public House, Brandy Schwalbe of The Duck & Bunny, and Paul Jalaf of Vanity versus West Side chefs Mike McHugh of Julians, James Mark of North, and Jonathan Dille of The Grange, a plant-based restaurant from the owner of Garden Grille opening in March.

“This year’s collaboration with RI Food Fights is exciting to have at I HEART PROVIDENCE,” said Mike Ritz, the I HEART PROVIDENCE event founder. “It’s a free party that includes complimentary food, two live bands, a graffiti-styled art project, and hundreds and hundreds of Providence lovers . . . a fun celebration of our diverse city!”

Ritz created I HEART PROVIDENCE in 2009 as a way for positive Providence people to congregate and shout to the world why their city is so great. Since 2009, the annual event has expanded to all three floors of Providence City Hall.

The culinary competition judging panel of David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI, Chef Branden Lewis of Johnson & Wales University and Chef Matthew Varga of Gracie’s will determine the winners for two awards: Best PVD Chef and Best Side of Providence. The winners will be announced by Mayor Angel Taveras in front of his second floor office at 7 p.m. In addition to these two awards, the public will get a chance to vote for their favorite chef to determine the “People’s Choice” award which will be announced at the event’s after party at The Dorrance at 9 p.m.

This year’s event will showcase staggered performance times on the second and third floors with local bands Bored with Four and Miss Wensday & The Cotillions. Restaurants offering food sampling include Abyssinia, Ebisu, El Rancho Grande, Eye Cookies, Fertile Underground Grocery, Kabob and Curry, Los Andes, Olneyville New York System and Whole Foods Market. The RI Convention Center is supplying two cash bars. The Avenue Concept, a sponsor of the event, will oversee a graffiti wall for participants to “tag,” leaving an artistic memory of the evening.

I HEART PROVIDENCE is held at Providence City Hall on Tuesday, February 5 from 6 – 8 p.m. and is free to the public.

February 3, 2013 0 comment
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Save Chocolateville chocolate bar to raise funds for Central Falls

by David Dadekian February 3, 2012
written by David Dadekian

ChocolatevilleMike Ritz was concerned about Central Falls. The smallest city in the smallest state has been in receivership for almost two years and filed for bankruptcy last August. Ritz was trying to come up with a fundraiser for the economically depressed city when he came upon chocolate.

Turns out, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Central Falls was the regional center for chocolate manufacturing and was colloquially known as “Chocolateville.” Ritz knew that one of the country’s best chocolatiers, Andrew Shotts, had set up his Garrison Confections factory in Central Falls a few years ago so Ritz contacted Shotts to see about creating the Save Chocolateville dark chocolate bar.

Initially Ritz was using the bar to raise awareness, handing them out while dressed in a Willy Wonka-esque outfit, but as the project took shape it was quickly apparent that the 3.5 oz. high-quality dark chocolate bar could be sold to the public to raise funds. Bonnie Frechette, Marketing Team Leader at Whole Foods Market University Heights said she saw Ritz’s Willy Wonka photos posted online and “thought it would be a great idea to sell the bar to raise money.”

Mike Ritz as Willy Wonka

Mike Ritz as Willy Wonka

Part of Frechette’s mission at Whole Foods Market is to support the community. She said, “We found a way to make it work in a short time frame because we were going into the biggest chocolate holiday of the year [Valentine’s Day].” The bar is being sold as a complete donation—100% of the proceeds collected by Whole Foods Market will be going to Save Chocolateville to go to children in need in Central Falls.

The bars will be on sale beginning Tuesday, February 7. Frechette said she was interested “to see what the community reaction is. If it goes well perhaps that gives Mike & Drew the opportunity to make it a regular product.” Frechette plans on the bar selling at the store through Easter.

Ritz’s Chocolateville web site calls the Save Chocolateville initiative “a localized call-to-action . . . a modern day ‘barn raising’ . . . a collaborative, inside-outside effort to resurrect the spirit of ingenuity and community. The impact of revitalizing Chocolateville will be felt far beyond the city’s borders, removing the financial burden on the state, empowering the people of Central Falls, and doing the ‘greatest good for the greatest number.'”

Purchasing the chocolate bar is an easy (and delicious) way to support the initiative. In addition to being on sale at Whole Foods Market University Heights through Easter, Save Chocolateville will have a table set up at the I HEART PROVIDENCE event and will be highlighted at Whole Foods Market’s annual Chocolate Fest! Details are listed below.

UPDATE: “Rhody Food Tours has donated free food tours of the amazing culinary ethnic-food landscape of Central Falls, RI, to those lucky enough to obtain golden tickets randomly included inside Save Chocolateville chocolate bars. Your first opportunity to win is Tuesday, February 7 at the launch party at Whole Foods Market University Heights.”

Chocolateville Launch Party – Tuesday, February 7, 5 – 7 p.m. Come meet Mike Ritz and/or Willy Wonka and discuss helping Central Falls while also helping to “wrap” the Save Chocolateville bars. Whole Foods Market University Heights, 601 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.

I HEART PROVIDENCE – Thursday, February 9, 6 – 8 p.m. Celebrate our great city! Live music by Northern Lands. Complimentary food from Ebisu, El Rancho Grande, Fertile Underground, Hudson Street Deli, Los Andes, Sin Desserts, Tip C Cupcakes, Whole Foods, and more! Cash bar by RI Convention Center Catering. This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance St., Providence, RI 02903.

Whole Foods Chocolate Fest! – Friday, February 10, 5 – 7 p.m. Whole Foods Market University Heights, 601 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.

Save Chocolateville bar wrapper designed by Casey Spencer
February 3, 2012 0 comment
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