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Jessica Wood

Eat Drink RI The Show with guest Jessica Wood of Umelt, Salty’s Burgers & Seafood and Burger Shack

by David Dadekian May 31, 2020

Season 1, Episode 11 of Eat Drink RI The Show, an interview series with guests from our local food & beverage community. In this episode, Eat Drink RI’s David Dadekian interviews Jessica Wood, co-owner of Umelt, Salty’s Burgers & Seafood and Burger Shack in Providence, southern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts respectively.

Please check out the entire series page or view the playlist on YouTube.

Also available as an audio-only podcast below.

Podcast: Play in new window

May 31, 2020 0 comment

chefs & restaurants farms news wine & 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

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

Dinner by Dames 2017 Group. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

Expired Dinner by Dames

by David Dadekian April 23, 2018

written by David Dadekian

April 26, 2018
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

We're sorry, but all tickets sales have ended because the event is expired.

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.

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

chefs & restaurants farms news wine & drinks

Eat Drink RI Festival — April 26 – 29, 2017

by David Dadekian March 7, 2017

written by David Dadekian

All-Local Celebration of Everything Edible returns for a Sixth Year

Plating dessert at the 2016 Eat Drink RI Festival Dinner by Dames, at center Chef Sara Reilly, at right Chef Melissa Denmark. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

The 6th 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, the Festival offers a VIP reception, unique dining opportunities, charitable events, and culminates with the Grand Tasting, an All-Local Tasting featuring farmer & chef cooking demonstrations and author signings. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

“Rhode Island’s vibrant food culture is a major point of pride—with good reason. From our amazing restaurants and vineyards to our local products, breweries, and more, there’s never been a better time to dine in the Ocean State,” said Governor Gina Raimondo. “The Eat Drink RI Festival brings together Rhode Islanders and visitors alike to celebrate our culinary scene, and this year’s sixth-annual event promises to be the best yet.”

The 2017 Festival kicks off Wednesday, April 26th with Fiestaval!, a VIP product launch from the team behind the incredibly successful Rhode Island food business, The Backyard Food Company. This event, showcasing the culinary collaboration between best friends and gardeners Matt McClelland and Louby Sukkar, will feature custom cocktails from Bootblack Brand, small bites from Easy Entertaining, live music and entertainment, and the unveiling of the newest BYFC product before it hits the shelves.

Tent interior at 2016 Eat Drink RI Festival Truck Stop to benefit the RI Community Food Bank. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

Thursday, April 27th is the sixth installment of Dinner by Dames, a unique experience bringing together a group of Rhode Island’s most talented female chefs & bartenders for a multi-course dining event held at the brand new Skyline at Waterplace in downtown Providence. This year’s Dinner by Dames is a part of Paint the Town (RED) to benefit AIDS Care Ocean State. This female-driven dining experience brings together five of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs, Melissa Denmark of Gracie’s & Ellie’s Bakery, Jordan Goldsmith of Moonrose Farm, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining, and Jessica Wood of Fire and Water Restaurant Group, for a multi-course dining event, in addition to guest Dames Rebecca Lentrichia of the Renaissance Providence Hotel and Sarah Williams of Seven Stars Bakery. To make the evening that much more special, Jen Davis of The Eddy will lead a group of RI’s top bartenders in creating cocktail pairings for each course with spirits provided by Origin Beverage Co.

On Friday evening, we’re expanding the Truck Stop to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank by moving it to the Food Bank’s huge lot in Providence with 21 vendors—the largest gathering of its kind in New England. The always sold-out event showcases the excellence and variety of Rhode Island’s mobile restaurants while benefiting an organization dedicated to ending hunger. Last Festival’s Truck Stop raised over $130,000 for the RI Food Bank. Drinks will be offered from Yacht Club Soda, Jonathan Edwards Winery and Revival Brewing Company, with live music performed by the Superchief Trio. Some of this year’s participants include Friskie Fries, Gastros, Gotta Q, Like No Udder, Mijos Tacos, Noble Knots, Open Season and Rocket Fine Street Food, among many others.

2016 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, in foreground Narragansett Creamery table with co-owner Mark Federico. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

Saturday’s Grand Tasting features samplings of locally produced beer, wine & spirits, as well as an abundance of local food artisans at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Some of this year’s participants include Barr Hill, Dave’s Coffee, multiple members from Hope & Main, Narragansett Beer, Narragansett Creamery, New Harvest Coffee, Newport Vineyards, Stock Culinary Goods, Whalers Brewing Company and many, many more.

During the Grand Tasting there will be all-new local food & drink presentations on the Frigidaire Professional Presentation Stage sponsored and provided by Wickford Appliance featuring James Beard Award Best Chef Northeast Semi-Finalist Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway, Master Pizzaiolo Billy Manzo of Federal Hill Pizza, Ann Marie Bouthillette of Blackbird Farm and several more of Rhode Island’s top chefs and farmers, guaranteed to wow attendees with some of the best food in the country.

New to this year’s Festival, Eat Drink RI is partnering with the Point Street Reading Series for a trio of food-author readings & signings during the Grand Tasting with James Beard Award winning writer David Leite, local writer/photographer Christine Chitnis and James Beard Award Best Chef Northeast Semi-Finalist Evan Mallett.

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 our local chefs, farmers and producers. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

Eat Drink RI Festival 2016, photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

March 7, 2017 0 comment

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