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News Bites: Celebrity Chefs Fundraise for RI Community Food Bank / Revival Brewing Company Wins Silver Medal / Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. Wins 100th Award

by David Dadekian May 9, 2019
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.



Celebrity Chefs Raise $195,000 For RI Food Bank / Jacques Pépin Collaboration

Chefs joined Jacques Pépin at Newport Vineyards for a reception to raise money for culinary job training programs. 

Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Rhode Island Community Food Bank

On Thursday, June 7, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and the Jacques Pépin  Foundation joined together for a special event that raised more than $195,000 to provide culinary job training opportunities for unemployed and underemployed adults. These funds will support initiatives like the Food Bank’s Community Kitchen program, now in its twentieth year.

“We are so thrilled with the success of our first collaboration together,” said Andrew Schiff, CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “Both the Food Bank and the Jacques Pépin Foundation are committed to transforming lives through community education and these funds will be put to use to expand that vision.”

Over the past year, the Jacques Pépin Foundation and the Community Kitchen program at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank have come together over their shared mission to educate and prepare the next generation of chefs for careers in the culinary field. Training programs also help lift participants out of poverty so they can support themselves and their families over the long-term.

Rollie Wesen, co-founder & COO of the Jacques Pépin Foundation, explains how this collaboration formed after he visited Community Kitchen and saw our students and their teachers in action:

“I was so moved by the incredible work that Chef Heather and Chef Ron were doing. It was so exciting to see these students that were really at the edge of hope find their confidence and a pathway back into the workforce.” 

To launch this collaboration, the Food Bank hosted Savor, an event with Jacques Pépin at Newport Vineyards in Middletown, RI.  The fundraiser with Jacques Pépin and special guest Sara Moulton, featured world-class wine pairings and a multi-course feast with plates prepared by:

  • Matthew MacCartney from Jamestown FISH
  • Rick Moonen from RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay
  • Jeremy Sewall from Island Creek Oysters
  • Champe Speidel from Persimmon
  • Andy Teixeira from Newport Vineyards (Host Chef)
  • Ming Tsai from Cooking with Ming
  • James Wayman from Mystic Oyster Club
  • Baking and Pastry Arts Faculty of Johnson & Wales University: Jaime Schick, Thao Rich and Maura Metheny

Other celebrity chefs in attendance included Rick Bayless, Michel Nischan, Claudine Pépin  and Rollie Wesen. Live music was performed by the Pat McGee Band.

Guests were treated to a live auction with prizes including dinner with Jacques Pépin , a “Best Cuisine at Sea” cruise and a day on the set of “Simply Ming” with Ming Tsai.

Community Kitchen graduate Khadijah Muhammad-Kebe spoke about the impact of the program on her life:

“This became my first step in a direction that would eventually change my life. I learned not only how to work in the kitchen but life skills that helped me love and value myself in ways that I never could have imagined.” 

The event raised $195,000 to support culinary job training programs that will prepare future chefs like Khadijah. The successful evening was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of:

  • Oceania Cruises
  • Atria Senior Living
  • Butchertown Grocery
  • U.S. Trust
  • Bank of America
  • Collette

Revival Brewery takes home a silver medal at the World Beer Championships

Revival Brewing Company Pinky Swear
Revival Brewing Company Pinky Swear

Revival Brewing’s Berliner Weisse, Pinky Swear, was recently awarded the silver medal in the Best Sour Ale and Best Fruit Beer category at the World Beer Championships from Tastings.com. Pinky Swear combines kettle souring with tons of fresh raspberries and blueberries to the tale end of fermentation to create a refreshing and tart drink of delightfulness at only 3.7% ABV and 8 IBUs.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this team. It’s great to see our hard work and dedication be rewarded like this. Awards are awesome, and we’ll continue to brew great tasting craft beers that our customers love,” said Sean Larkin, owner and Brewmaster of Revival Brewing.

Cans of Pinky Swear are available from their Cranston brewery and in limited amounts at package stores throughout Rhode Island. It’s also currently on nitro draft in Revival’s tasting room.

The following are the highlights from what the judges had to say about Pinky Swear.

“Cloudy red oak color. Aromas and flavors of raspberry Greek yogurt, pickled melon rind, boiled potato and cabbage, and bubblegum dust with a supple, tangy, effervescent, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a silky, engaging, medium-long buttered potato bread toast with lemon zest, berry skins, wheat wafer, and mineral water finish. A very pure, clean, and precise Berliner Weisse that has a perfectly approachable style.”


Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. Earns 100th Award with Best American Whiskey at International Whisky Competition

The Rhode Island Distillery’s Uprising Single Malt Pedro Ximénez Finish Won 1st Place in Three Categories

International Whisky Competition
International Whisky Competition

Sons of Liberty’s Limited Edition Uprising Single Malt – Pedro Ximénez Finish was rated 93.6 points at the 2018 International Whisky Competition held in Las Vegas earlier this month. With 93.6 points, Uprising PX took 1st place honors for Best American Whiskey, Best American Single Malt Whiskey and Best Small Batch Whiskey. It was the highest rated American Whiskey in the competition regardless of age or category. Their Battle Cry Single Malt Sauternes Finish took 3rd place in the American Single Malt category with 92.1 points. These medals now put Sons of Liberty into triple digits with their 100th award since the company launched in December 2011.

“We’re ecstatic to say the least,” Mike Reppucci, Sons of Liberty founder, said of the results. “We strive to bottle the highest quality products possible and are always finding ways to improve them, but to rank as high as we did against some huge names is unbelievable.”

Uprising PX’s 93.6 points put Sons of Liberty above some well-known, high quality whiskies such as Eagle Rare’s 10 Year Old, The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, Woodford Reserve’s Distiller’s Select, Dewar’s 15 Year Old The Monarch, Chivas Regal’s 18 Year Old and many more.

“Sons of Liberty is among those pioneers changing the way we see American whiskey and realize it’s not only about Bourbon.” says Sylvain Allard, Managing Partner at the International Whisky Competition. No question that Sons of Liberty is setting the bar very high for the American craft whiskey movement.”   

Sons of Liberty has been taking home medals and earning recognition since 2012 and has now eclipsed the 100-mark. “We’ve been blessed,” said Reppucci. “Our team loves what they do, and they work extremely hard every day. We are honored to be a part of this exciting industry and grateful to be able to share what we do with everyone else.”

Sons of Liberty’s world-class spirits can be sampled in their 6,000 square foot tasting room in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Full results from the 2018 International Whisky Competition can be found here: https://www.whiskycompetition.com/2018-results/

May 9, 2019 0 comment
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farmsnews

News Bites: May 28, 2015 is Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House , The Savory Affair Welcomes Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director

by David Dadekian May 27, 2015
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

DEM, Farmers and Aquaculturists to Celebrate Rhode Island Agriculture Day in State House Festivities on Thursday, May 28

Large Selection of Local Foods Available for Sampling

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

To recognize the importance of the state’s $2.5 billion agriculture and green industries, the Department of Environmental Management will host Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House on Thursday, May 28.

DEM will announce the award of 15 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grants of up to $20,000 to assist small or beginning farmers and local seafood businesses promote and market their locally grown or harvested products grown in Rhode Island. The program is designed to increase the economic competitiveness of Rhode Island-grown agricultural products and local seafood. “This new initiative is one of many efforts taken by DEM to support local agriculture and our state’s food economy,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “Rhode Islanders are eager to grow, eat and promote local food, and this grant program supports the growth of our local food sector to meet the growing demand of consumers.”

This year’s RI Agriculture Day program will include remarks by First Gentleman Andy Moffit as well as Michel Nischan, executive director of the Wholesome Wave Foundation, who will focus on the importance of a sustainable, locally-based food economy. Nischan is speaking to the Interagency Food and Nutrition Policy Advisory Council on the morning of Agriculture Day as well as the City of Providence Healthy Communities Advisory Council the following morning. There are numerous efforts within Rhode Island and state government to focus on an enhanced local food economy including the LASA grant program, which is an innovative partnership between DEM and the RI Food Policy Council, the Rhode Island Foundation, van Beuren Charitable Foundation and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.

In addition, Senator Susan Sosnowski and Representative Art Handy will talk about the economic value of agriculture, seafood and the local food economy in Rhode Island, and Tess Brown-Lavoie of the RI Young Farmers’ Network will talk about efforts among young farmers in RI to improve the local food economy.

Rhode Island Agriculture Day will showcase Rhode Island’s agriculture industry and all that it brings to the state. Beyond fresh and local produce, meat, nursery stock, sod and Rhode Island’s own Rhody Fresh milk, agriculture contributes to tourism, open space, landscaping businesses, and a variety of food-related industries. The event will also continue to highlight the statewide “Get Fresh. Buy Local.” campaign and farmers’ markets.

“All of our state’s natural resource-based functions – agriculture, aquaculture and fishing – result directly in jobs and opportunities to promote Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “Thursday’s Agriculture Day celebration is a great opportunity to focus attention on this vibrant industry and educate Rhode Islanders on the many ways that agriculture impacts the local economy and our quality of life.”

As part of the Rhode Island Agriculture Day festivities, over 40 exhibitors will host displays in the State House Rotunda from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibitors will include farms and local food purveyors, as well as government and non-profit agencies that work with farmers. Coordinated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture, the exhibits will highlight Rhode Island agriculture and the many organizations that collectively participate in its viability.

Large Variety of Locally-Grown Foods Available for Sampling

Several exhibitors will offer food samples, such as stuffed quahogs from Dave’s Marketplace; pizza strips and hermits directly from Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery; assorted cheeses from Narragansett Creamery; oysters from Ocean State Aquaculture Association; johnnycakes from the Kenyon’s Grist and Corn Meal Company; and Rhody Fresh milk and cheese from the RI Dairy Farms Cooperative. Also, fresh cider from Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield; Cabot Cheese made with milk from RI dairy farms; Rich’s Sweet Heat sauce for RI-grown vegetables and meats will be available for sampling.

Rhode Island has 1,243 farms, mostly family run, which occupy 68,000 acres. The state is a national leader in direct-sales to consumers, with approximately 50 seasonal farmers markets in the state’s urban, suburban and rural areas, eight indoor winter markets, and numerous pick-your-own and farm stand operations. According to the 2014 update to URI’s Green Industry Economic Impact Study, which was highlighted at today’s event, the 3,327 green industry businesses in Rhode Island sustain 15,826 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion annually to our state’s economy.

The Agriculture Day speaking program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Governor’s State Room, and the exhibits will be on display until 5 p.m. in the State House Rotunda.


The Savory Affair Welcomes Event Planning Expert and Author Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director

The Savory Affair Business Development Director Leah DeCesare

The Savory Affair Business Development Director Leah DeCesare

The Savory Affair, Rhode Island’s premier event planning and design company, recently welcomed Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director. With years of event planning and public relations experience at a national retailer based in New York City under her belt, East Greenwich resident DeCesare now returns to event design and management with The Savory Affair.

DeCesare has managed weddings and events for large-scale corporate meetings, celebrity appearances, fashion shows, grand opening activities, and customized special events. With a focus on serving her clients, she ran a local parenting support business and founded a nonprofit organization in 2008. With an eye for detail and a love of creative concept development, she most recently initiated and executed a major fundraising campaign and gala to build a medical center in Uganda.

“I am thrilled to be apart of the incredible team at The Savory Affair,” said DeCesare. “There is nothing more rewarding than to work with a client to make their event vision a reality.”

DeCesare is the author of Naked Parenting, manages an active parenting blog, is a contributor to The Huffington Post, and has been published in international journals. Leah received her BS from Syracuse University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a triple major in advertising, marketing, and French. Leah keeps busy with three children. To learn more about DeCesare’s fascinating career and life in her own words, click here!

“We are excited to utilize Leah’s creative direction and arsenal of skills as we continue creating unique and memorable experiences for our clients,” stated Jessica Granatiero, owner of The Savory Affair.

DeCesare’s creativity can be seen first-hand in her most recent Savory Affair blog entry, Outdoor Entertaining Beyond the BBQ. Click here to take a look!

May 27, 2015 0 comment
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