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The CupCAKE Contessas Win Rhode Island Food Fights Great Cupcake Championship 2014

by David Dadekian March 9, 2014

The CupCAKE Contessas, Marylee Dixon (left) and Karianne Polak (right), 1st Place Winners of RI Food Fights Great Cupcake Championship 2014

The first Rhode Island Food Fights event of 2014, the Great Cupcake Championship, was held this past Sunday, March 9th at Fête in Providence. Thirteen area bakers specializing in cupcakes competed to see who had the best, according to a panel of six culinary judges (which included this writer), along with competing for the People’s Choice. Three trophies, created by Ahlers Designs, were awarded to the winners.

According to judges, David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI, Jan Dane of Stock Culinary Goods, Shawna Lawton of Project Undercover, Chef Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Julius Searight of Food4Good and Chef Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections, first place went to The CupCAKE Contessas for their Mexican hot chocolate cupcake. Judges’ second place went to new competitor, Patticakes of Wakefield, for their Sweet Corn cupcake. People’s Choice was awarded to Woonsocket’s Under the Olive Tree, for their Nutty Monkey cupcake. It is Under the Olive Tree’s second win in the People’s Choice category after taking it at The Spectacular Cookie Smackdown in December. Congratulations to all the winners.

The CupCAKE Contessas winning entry, a Mexican Hot Chocolate cupcake

RI Food Fights was created and produced by Jim Nellis. John Taraborelli and Mike Ritz entertainingly hosted the event.

March 9, 2014 0 comment

news wine & drinks

Cox Local Video: Bols Genever Cocktail Competition at The Eddy

by David Dadekian January 27, 2014

written by David Dadekian

Last November nine of Rhode Island’s top bartenders gathered at The Eddy in Providence, along with a crowd of many more bartenders, four judges and a lot of Bols Genever, to compete for a trip to Tampa to celebrate Repeal Day. Because of the Repeal Day prize the cocktails created were to all be Prohibition-era inspired.

The competing bartenders are all members of the Rhode Island chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild and it was certainly a friendly fight to see who created the best cocktail. Second place went to Vito Lantz of The Dorrance for his tobacco laced cocktail “The Nick.” The winner was The Eddy’s own Carlos Garcia with “A Bolswork Orange” also known as “Goddamn, Amsterdam” at The Eddy.

Here’s the recipe for Garcia’s winning cocktail:

7 dashes of Angostura bitters
1/4 ounce Demerara syrup
1/2 ounce Bols orange curaçao
2 oz Bols Genever
Absinthe rinse
orange twist

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 27, 2014 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news

Ellie’s Bakery Wins Rhode Island Food Fights The Spectacular Cookie Smackdown 2013

by David Dadekian December 8, 2013

written by David Dadekian

Eye Cookies “Baking Bad” cookie

The fourth Rhode Island Food Fights event of 2013, The Spectacular Cookie Smackdown, was held this past Sunday, December 8th at Fête in Providence. Eleven area restaurants specializing in cookies and sweet treats competed to see who had the best, according to a panel of four culinary judges (which included this writer), along with competing for the People’s Choice. Three trophies, created by Ahlers Designs, were awarded to the winners, along with gift cards donated by Whole Foods Market Providence.

According to judges Chef Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections, Shawna Lawton of Whole Foods Market, Chef Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande and David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI, first place went to Ellie’s Bakery of Providence for their lime glazed sugar cookie. A very close second place went to last year’s champion, Eye Cookies of Barrington, for their “Baking Bad” cookie. People’s Choice was awarded to Woonsocket’s own Under the Olive Tree. Congratulations to all the winners.

RI Food Fights was created and produced by Jim Nellis. John Taraborelli and Mike “Dink Martindale” Ritz entertainingly hosted the event.

Winners of The Spectacular Cookie Smackdown, Ellie’s Bakery. Holding trophy is Ellie’s baker Danielle Lowe, to her left is owner Ellen Slattery with her two children (and Santa!), to the right are Pastry Chef Melissa Denmark and judges Chefs Andrew Shotts and Maria Meza

December 8, 2013 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news

Ladder 133 Sports Bar & Grill Wins Rhode Island Food Fights Lord of the Wings 2013

by David Dadekian October 20, 2013

written by David Dadekian

The third Rhode Island Food Fights event of 2013, the Lord of the Wings, was held this past Sunday, October 20th at Fête in Providence. Seven area restaurants specializing in chicken wings competed to see who had the best, according to a panel of three culinary judges (which included this writer), along with competing for the People’s Choice. Three awards, created by Ahlers Designs, were given out and for the second time at a RI Food Fights event there was a tie.

According to judges Chef Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections, Shawna Lawton of Whole Foods Market and David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI, first place went to Ladder 133 Sports Bar & Grill for their House BBQ Wings. Second place went to South Street Café in Providence for their Lemon Pepper Wings. Underscoring the judges’ choices, People’s Choice was a tie between Ladder 133 and South Street Café. Other competitors included, Boneheads Wings Bar, Trinity Brewhouse, Wes’ Rib House and Wings Over Providence. Congratulations to both of the winners.