Eat Drink RI
The best local food and beverage information in Rhode Island
  • Latest News
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business Coalition Forum on YouTube
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Small Biz Support
    • Restaurants with Online Ordering and Take Out
    • Shop Local Food & Drink Businesses Online
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 2 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 3 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 4 of 4
    • Resource Links for Small Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Shopping
    • About
    • Contact
Tag:

Jon Dille

chefs & restaurantsnews

March of Dimes 12th Annual Signature Chefs Auction Coming September 19, 2013

by David Dadekian August 29, 2013
written by David Dadekian
March of Dimes Rhode Island's 2013 Signature Chef Kevin Thiele of the Hotel Viking / One Bellevue

March of Dimes Rhode Island’s 2013 Signature Chef Kevin Thiele of the Hotel Viking / One Bellevue

It’s almost time once again for one of the year’s best chef and restaurant events in Rhode Island, the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction. Where else can you find 24 of the area’s best chefs preparing their fantastic food in the same place, while also benefitting a great charity? The event is coming up on Thursday, September 19 in Newport and tickets are available here. Full details follow in the March of Dimes Rhode Island release below.

 

 

Something’s Cooking In Newport and the Key Ingredient Is . . . You!

Twenty-four of Rhode Island’s top chefs “come to the table” with their signature dishes to support the State’s tiniest citizens at 12th Anniversary of March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction Event

Ever have one of those nights where you want to dine out but just can’t decide which of your favorite restaurants to go to or what kind of food you’re in the mood for? Problem solved for at least one day anyway. Head to Belle Mer on Goat Island in Newport on September 19 at 6 p.m. and enjoy the company and signature dishes of 24 of Rhode Island’s leading chefs. The chefs will leave their restaurant posts for the day to lend their culinary talents to the March of Dimes’ 12th annual Signature Chefs Auction. By attending the event, you’ll be helping R.I.’s tiniest citizens – its babies – while partaking in a culinary extravaganza with a front-row seat of the ocean.

“We are so fortunate to have such top-tier cooking talent all under one roof for this important event,” said Betsy Akin, director of March of Dimes Rhode Island. “These leading chefs have graciously donated their time to prepare samplings of unforgettable dishes to help support the March of Dimes, and subsequently, to help give babies a healthy start in life.”

Ellen Slattery, owner of Gracie’s and co-chair for the sixth consecutive year of the Signature Chefs Auction, added, “This is a true show of collaborative spirit and combined talents for a very important cause. As someone who has been personally touched by the March of Dimes and knows all too well how scary it is when a baby is struggling, it means so much to me that all of these skilled chefs are sharing their gift for cooking in support of this great organization which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.”

Serving as co-chair of the event with Slattery is Annette Picerne of East Greenwich.

In addition to the “Signature Chef” samplings, a tribute will be “on the menu” as Chef Kevin Thiele of Newport’s Hotel Viking/One Bellevue will be presented as March of Dimes Rhode Island’s 2013 Signature Chef. The evening will also include participation of celebrity auctioneer and entertainer Sir Jeremy Bell of Edinburgh, Scotland, who will auction off superb culinary, accommodation, theater and vacation packages. To give a “taste” of the evening, one of the superb items on offer during the Live Auction is an 8 day cruise, with stateroom river view accommodations of the storied Danube River and through 4 of Europe’s most enchanting countries – Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia – courtesy of Viking Cruises.

Participating chefs include: Kevin Thiele of Hotel Viking/One Bellevue, Karsten Hart of Castle Hill Inn, Michael Hervieux of Belle Mer – all in Newport; Matthew Varga of Gracie’s, Brian Kingsford of Bacaro, Josh Herring of CAV, Massimiliano Mariotta of The Dorrance, Melissa Denmark of Ellie’s Bakery, Joe DeQuattro of Pane e Vino, Rolando Robledo of Aspire at Hotel Providence, Edward Bolus of Mills Tavern, Jennifer Luxmoore of Sin Desserts, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Kaitlyn Roberts of Easy Entertaining, Jon Dille of The Grange – all in Providence; Champe Speidel of Persimmon, Sai Viswanath of DeWolf Tavern – both in Bristol; Joe Simone of The Sunnyside in Warren; Kevin Gaudreau of The Boat House in Tiverton; Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections in Central Falls; Ben Wood of Wildwood Catering in Kingston; Raymond Montaquila of The Coast Guard House in Narragansett, Ben Lacy of Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro in Foxboro, Mass. and Kevin Des Chenes.

The Signature Chefs Auction begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are $150. Corporate and host tables are available, and the March of Dimes hopes that individuals and companies recognize the opportunity to help babies and their families while enjoying inventive and succulent dishes in an elegant venue.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities and tickets, contact Neil Sharpe at March of Dimes at 401.228.1932 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/rhodeisland

Proceeds from the Signature Chefs Auction will help support the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.

August 29, 2013 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

Eat Drink RI Festival Rhode Island’s First-Ever Three-Day Local Food Celebration Comes to Providence

by David Dadekian March 1, 2013
written by David Dadekian

Eat Drink RI Festival

EAT DRINK RI FESTIVAL
RHODE ISLAND’S FIRST-EVER THREE-DAY LOCAL FOOD CELEBRATION
COMES TO PROVIDENCE
Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21

PROVIDENCE, RI (March 1, 2013) – Celebrating the best of the culinary world in Rhode Island, the Eat Drink RI Festival is set to take the stage as the state’s very first three-day local food festival. Taking place Friday, April 19th through Sunday, April 21st, the inaugural festival will be held throughout downtown Providence, the city ranked #1 for Food / Drink / Restaurants in Travel + Leisure‘s “America’s Favorite Cities 2012.”

The Eat Drink RI Festival will feature a star-studded line-up of over 40 chefs, farmers, bartenders and producers including: James Beard Foundation Best Chef Northeast semifinalist Champe Speidel of Persimmon, Blackbird Farm, Jonathan Edwards Winery, James Beard Foundation Rising Star semifinalist Benjamin Sukle of The Dorrance, United States Bartenders’ Guild RI, Revival Brewing, Allen Farms, Dave’s Coffee, among others.

“Rhode Island’s culinary roots run very deep and have helped play a major role in the state’s unique identity and culture,” says Martha Sheridan, President & CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Eat Drink RI Festival will celebrate our local food community and embrace a very important component of our heritage.”

The Eat Drink RI Festival is sponsored in part by Johnson & Wales University, world-renowned for its College of Culinary Arts and a driving force behind the rise of Providence as a top culinary destination on the world stage; and family-owned charcuterie maker Daniele, Inc., a proud member of the RI culinary community since 1976.

Festival highlights include:

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Truck Stop to Benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank – Bank of America Center, Kennedy Plaza
The Festival will kick-off with tastings from 10 of Rhode Island’s best mobile restaurants, and pairings by Jonathan Edwards Winery and Narragansett Brewery.  Benefiting Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the Stop’s participating trucks include Championship Melt, Clam Jammers, Flour Girls Baking Co., Hewtin’s Dogs Mobile, Joedega, Like No Udder, Mijos Tacos, Rocket Fine Street Food, and Tallulah. “Truck Stop showcases the best of Rhode Island—our culinary talents as well as our compassion for those who are struggling to feed their families,” says Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

Cocktail Couture – Providence Biltmore Garden Room
Presented in partnership with StyleWeek Northeast, Cocktail Couture will pair the talents of Rhode Island fashion with the talents found behind the bar. The event will feature the works of local designers including Jessica Abernethy, Jonathan Joseph Peters and Nick Pini; with specialty cocktails created by Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails. A portion of the proceeds will benefit AIDS Care Ocean State.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Education Panels – Providence Biltmore L’Apogee
Day two will begin with four panels dedicated to educating and entertaining attendees on the abundance and quality of local food and drink:

  • Slice & Dice: Hosted by Curt Columbus, food enthusiast and Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory Company, this roundtable with chefs from Gracie’s, Nick’s on Broadway, Persimmon and Tazza will speak to the essential know-how’s of cooking in Rhode Island.
  • Eat Local: Featuring local growers including Allen Farms, Aquidneck Honey and Blackbird Farm, the discussion will focus on the initiatives of this vital business and the process of farm to table.
  • Taste of Terroir: Embracing the true flavors of New England earth, Jonathan Edwards and other area winemakers will take a journey through local wine regions.
  • Brewing in Rhode Island: Discussion and tasting with local microbrewers including Revival Brewing and Ravenous Brewing Company.

Grand Tasting presented by Providence Monthly – Providence Biltmore Grand Ballroom
As the main Festival event, the Grand Tasting will feature beer, wine and spirit tastings as well as products from local food artisans. The highly anticipated demonstrations, The Tastemakers, will pair the region’s top chefs with local farmers to showcase the best in farm-to-fork cuisine.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Grand Brunch – Gracie’s
The Festival will come to a close at Gracie’s, Providence’s only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant; with dishes prepared by several of the area’s top culinary stars including: Gracie’s own Melissa Denmark, Food & Wine “People’s Best New Pastry Chef 2012” nominee; local pioneer Jonathan Cambra; vegetarian stars Jon Dille and Jordan Goldsmith; Momofuku alum James Mark; local WJAR NBC’s Chef Kaitlyn Roberts of Easy Entertaining Inc.; Joe Simone of PBS’s The Chefs of Cucina Amore; and two-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star nominee Derek Wagner. Artisan cocktails will be provided by members of the United States Bartenders’ Guild, RI Chapter, one of the fastest growing chapters in the country. In addition, the brunch will be accompanied by live performances from the Rhode Island Philharmonic, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Philharmonic’s Music Education programs.

For more information about the Eat Drink RI Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit www.eatdrinkri.com/festival online, on Facebook at facebook.com/eatdrinkri.

March 1, 2013 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail

Recent Posts:

  • News Bites: 10 Prime Seafood Poppy Hour / Avvio Taste of Naples Prix Fixe / Celeste Tour of Portugal Menu / Chow Fun Food Group Lenten Specials / The Return of Track 15 Station Tastings

    February 27, 2026
  • News Bites: Hemenway’s Handroll Happy Hour / The Mooring Paella Nights / RI Hospitality Education Foundation Competition Winners / J.T. Commons Lunch, Late-Night and Take-out Specials

    February 26, 2026
  • News Bites: Giusto “Secret” Winter Menu Items and Lunch / Track 15 Dining Igloos and Curling / Anna’s Taqueria Opens

    February 13, 2026
Advertisement:
Advertisement:
Advertisement:
Advertise here on Rhode Island's top local food site Eat Drink RI
Advertisement:
Eat Drink RI YouTube Channel
Advertisement:
Advertisement:
Advertisement:
Facebook
Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance Member

Four Time RI Monthly Best of RI Winner for the Eat Drink RI Festival

Four Time RI Monthly Best of RI Winner for the Eat Drink RI Festival

2019 Rhode Island Inno Blazer Award Winner & Two Time 50 On Fire Winner

2019 Rhode Island Inno Blazer Award Winner & Two Time 50 On Fire Winner

Rhode Island Foundation 2014 Innovation Fellow

Rhode Island Foundation

@eatdrinkri Instagram

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Tumblr
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Rss
  • Tiktok

Copyright © 2010-2026 Eat Drink RI LLC. All rights reserved.


Back To Top
Eat Drink RI
  • Latest News
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business Coalition Forum on YouTube
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Small Biz Support
    • Restaurants with Online Ordering and Take Out
    • Shop Local Food & Drink Businesses Online
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 2 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 3 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 4 of 4
    • Resource Links for Small Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Shopping
    • About
    • Contact
Loading Comments...

Terms and Conditions – Privacy Policy