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Joe & Esther Dequattro, Owners Of Pane E Vino On Federal Hill, Set To Open New Restaurant Massimo In Former Mediterraneo Space

Joseph and Esther Dequattro, owners of Pane e Vino Ristorante & Enoteca, are pleased to introduce their new restaurant, Massimo, set to open in spring 2016 in the space formerly known as Mediterraneo.

“Pane e Vino offers very traditional, authentic Southern Italian cuisine, founded on my family recipes,” said Joseph DeQuattro, “Creating this new menu has given me the opportunity to experiment with some contemporary and innovative concepts, with influences from all over Italy.”

“Joe and I created Massimo with the goal of providing our guests with a unique dining experience, where great food and attentive service are fun and accessible,” said Esther DeQuattro.

Joe and Esther have engaged acclaimed restaurant designer, Kyla Coburn, to execute their vision for the space. The 200-seat restaurant is being completely renovated, and will offer an extraordinary space for private events. Massimo will feature inspired and locally sourced small plates and entrees, a seasonally curated cocktail menu, and an international wine list. Many of the wines will be sourced directly from small boutique winemakers across Italy.

Massimo will be open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as Sunday Brunch. Pane e Vino will remain open as the beloved classic Italian restaurant, anchoring the western end of Atwells Avenue. For updates and more information about Massimo’s opening date, please visit www.facebook.com/MassimoProvidence.

Social Enterprise Greenhouse Drives Innovation in Food Cluster with Launch of First Food Accelerator on February 9th

Twelve high-impact New England-based do well, do good food entrepreneurs selected from a pool of 28 applicants will embark on a 3-month business development journey to bring their ventures to the next level.

The Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) will launch its first Food Accelerator cohort with a celebration on February 9, 2016 at the SEG Hub (10 Davol Square, Suite 100, Providence) from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The 12 New England-based food businesses selected for the program will introduce their ventures and goals, as well as provide tastings of their products. This event is an opportunity to celebrate the commencement of the 12-week program with the SEG and local food communities. The Food Accelerator, delivered in partnership with Brown University and funded by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, provides high potential entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks and resources they need to take their venture to the next level. This event is free and open to the public.

Although SEG continues to provide support and resources to social enterprises across industry, this new industry-specific cluster approach enables SEG and strategic partners to better provide resources and support to ventures that can respond to challenges in these specific sectors and ultimately help boost economic development in Rhode Island.

The Food Accelerator is SEG’s first industry-specific program, offering a 12-week blended learning model that provides high impact New England-based food entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to accelerate the growth of their enterprises. The program is made possible by a network of 200+ coaches and advisors, many of whom are among Rhode Island’s top business and food community leaders. Additional value is provided by 1-on-1 intensive coaching, a peer cohort model, and access to SEG’s recently opened coworking space at 10 Davol Square in Providence. Upon graduation, participants will receive priority access to the SEG loan fund that provides below market interest rate loans to high potential social enterprises.

The purpose of this new program is to stimulate innovation in Rhode Island’s burgeoning food sector and to help create more successful, sustainable do well, do good businesses in Rhode Island and the region, leading to a more extensive and healthy local and regional food system.

“Rhode Island’s food economy is strong and getting stronger,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “Social Enterprise Greenhouse is doing phenomenal work supporting start-up businesses, including those in the food industry. This Food Accelerator will no doubt further grow our vibrant food economy, and I can’t wait to see what this class of participants achieves with the help of the hardworking team at SEG.”

“Our final 12 ventures are passionate, socially-driven, and dedicated to making an impact on RI’s food system. Thanks to the support from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation and our Food Advisory Council, we have formulated a program that will give these ventures the tools they need to thrive in RI and beyond,” Isabella Cassell, Director of Food Initiatives, SEG

This year’s Food Accelerator program will conclude with a graduation and final pitch event on May 10, 2016.

Learn more about the Impact Accelerator program at http://segreenhouse.org/blog/foodacceleratorlaunch

MEET THE INAUGURAL FOOD ACCELERATOR COHORT

Agraria Farm and Edibles is a Rehoboth-based farm that strives to contribute a new model of small scale agriculture that provides sustainable and systemic change.
Entrepreneur: Barbara Link

Bellicchi’s Best Biscotti  now offers three delicious flavors. This RI-based company was born out of adversity and donates 5% of profits to the Alzheimer’s Association and also plans to help others start successful home businesses.
Entrepreneur: Kathleen Bellicchi

Fox Point Pickling Company is on a mission to provide the Ocean State with a delicious, locally sourced sugar free, additive free, naturally gluten-free and non-GMO small-batch pickle.
Entrepreneur: Ziggy Goldfarb

Glenwood Garden is an e-market for sustainably made food while helping nonprofits gain a recurring source of revenue.
Entrepreneur: Jonah Shapiro

The Humble Pie Company provides its customers with freshly baked, honest pies made with wholesome ingredients sourced from local farms.
Entrepreneur: Daniel Sheehan

Laughing Gull Chocolates uses all direct trade, premium local ingredients to allow consumers to get closer to their food source, and learn the intriguing, magical story of chocolate.
Entrepreneur: Lindsay Tarnoff

Leah’s Recipe is a snack line of evolved, plant-based, whole-food snacks that integrate into a health and wellness-based lifestyle.
Entrepreneur: Leah Rosin-Pritchard

Mesa Fresca offers an authentic chimichurri sauce and hopes to address the gap in the marketplace for authentic, fresh packaged Hispanic food.
Entrepreneurs: Nathalie and Alan Alberto

Newport Cooks partners with local chefs to offer affordable cooking classes to the community. They teach adults and children to cook for fun, creative inspiration and to promote healthier lifestyle choices.
Entrepreneur: Mary Weaver

Ocean State Smoked Fish Company offers locally sourced, uniquely smoked fish. They also set aside a portion of their profits for a culinary scholarship fund dedicated to Rhode Island fishing families.
Entrepreneur: Jeffrey Powell

Savory Fare is a meal delivery service for seniors, enabling them to stay healthy and remain in their own homes.
Entrepreneur: Mary Hughes

SecondsFirst is a food processing business that prepares, freezes, and packages imperfect vegetables from local farms and also processes under-appreciated RI fish into fish cakes for food insecure communities.
Entrepreneur: Erika Lamb

Local Business Women Combine Connections and Expertise to Offer Food & Wine Lovers an Exclusive, Behind-the-Scenes Tuscany Trip

Past “Savoring Italy” Tour, photos by David Dadekian

For the fourth consecutive year, Jessica Granatiero, proprietor of The Savory Grape and The Savory Affair, along with Chef Kaitlyn Roberts, founder & owner of Easy Entertaining Inc., have created a luxury Italian excursion that gives visitors a personalized food and wine tour of the beautiful region of Tuscany. This epicurean duo created the itinerary of the “Savoring Italy” tour by tapping into their extensive knowledge of the Italian food and wine culture, as well as their personal relationships with vintners and chefs in Tuscany to bring guests a tour unrivaled by other travel experts.

“Our experience is different. It’s a real glimpse into the Italian culture of food and wine. Savoring Italy is an emersion experience,” said Granatiero. “Our guests are welcomed by some of the best vineyards in Tuscany, while also learning authentic hands-on culinary techniques of Italian cooking.”

The Savoring Italy tour is scheduled for October 16th through October 22nd, 2016. Guests will stay at Villa Daniella Grossi, a restored 17th century luxury villa located in the hills of Lucca and learn about life of Italian wine and food by visiting four exclusive Tuscan vineyards guided by Granatiero. Chef Roberts teaches how to prepare authentic Italian cuisine with hands-on cooking classes featuring homemade pasta and pizza.

The sellout success of the past years’ Savoring Italy tours prompted Roberts and Granatiero to team up once again. “While Jessica and I do this for a living, it is hard to call this work,” said Roberts. “We have such an amazing time each year reconnecting with our Italian colleagues, experimenting with unique recipes, sipping new wine varietals, and exploring different areas of this extraordinary country!”

Roberts completed her culinary training in Tuscany, speaks fluent Italian and returns frequently to lead educated tours in hands-on, one-of-a-kind experiences. Granatiero has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, Providence Business News and RI Monthly. She also leads the event-planning firm, The Savory Affair, specializing in wine-themed local, national and international travel.

A minimum of twelve guests are required by April 1st to confirm the trip. To reserve your spots please call Jessica Granatiero of The Savory Affair at 401-261-4966 or e-mail her at Jessica@thesavorygrape.com.

Click here to view Savoring Italy 2016 brochure. You can also learn more by visiting the Easy Entertaining’s website at EasyEntertainingRI.com or call Kaitlyn Roberts at (401) 437-6090. For more information on Villa Daniela Grossi please visit their website at www.VillaDanielaGrossi.it.

Disclosure: Pane e Vino/Massimo are clients of Eat Drink RI. The release and logo is identical to what was shared with other media.