music Archives – Eat Drink RI

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RI Community Food Bank Launches Summer Food Drive

During the summer, the need for food assistance among families spikes as children lose access to the healthy, nutritious meals they normally receive at school. To help fill the gap throughout the summer months, the Food Bank is asking the community to support the Summer Food Drive.

Here’s how you can help:

Drop off donations of non-perishable food
Pick up donation boxes and posters for a food drive in your workplace or community (or download and print your own poster).
Get the kids involved in an activity to benefit the Food Bank
Make a financial donation to help end hunger in Rhode Island

First Gentleman of Rhode Island and Chair of the Summer Food Drive Andy Moffit launched the campaign along with Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff by encouraging Rhode Islanders to join the effort and help their neighbors in need.

Get more details and a list of most-needed items»

Watch the Summer Food Drive kick-off with Andrew Schiff and Andy Moffit:

Newport Vineyards Brings the Napa Experience to Newport with Summer Events, Tours & Tastings, Live Music & Seasonally Inspired Dining

Newport Vineyards

Newport Vineyards, an award winning winery located in beautiful Middletown, RI, has a big summer planned with tours, tastings, special events, live music and much more. Founded by brothers John & Paul Nunes in 1995, the vineyard is the largest grower of grapes in New England. The winery produces nearly 30,000 cases of estate-grown wine each year through sustainable farming methods on 75 acres of historically preserved farmland. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2015, the winery has become a culinary and wine destination offering multiple experiences including daily tours and tastings, 100% from scratch culinary programs at Brix Restaurant and The Vineyard Café, The Marketplace, seasonal live music, private events and public activities.

Each Wednesday evening through the summer, enjoy an extended evening wine tasting from 5-8pm! Hear live music from a variety of artists while you sip and savor around the welcoming fire pits. In addition to wine, beer and sangria, snacks from the kitchen are available. The vineyard also hosts a weekend music series from 1- 4pm on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. Savor the season, glass in hand! No tickets are needed and all are welcome. For more details, including the artist lineup, please visit www.newportvineyards.com/calendar-of-events.

Dine at Brix Restaurant following an afternoon at the winery or just because! Cozy up around the fire with a glass of wine. Enjoy expansive views of the vineyard and the entire winemaking operation through two walls of windows that drape the room. The culinary approach, artfully prepared by Executive Chef Andy Teixeira, starts with the basic belief that it is their responsibility to provide truth in their food. “We love the food from the minute in comes in the door, to the minute it goes into the guest’s mouth,” said Chef Teixeira. The seasonally inspired menu highlights local farms and offers something for everyone’s palate. Wednesdays are Flight Night – just $10 for a tasting of four wines or beers.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon sipping wine and local beer with friends amid the vines, grabbing a quick breakfast or a leisurely lunch, enjoying a gourmet dinner, or hosting a private event, Newport Vineyards truly has it all. Located just 45 minutes from downtown Providence, experience summer at its finest on Aquidneck Island.

Follow Newport Vineyards on Facebook @NewportVineyards, Twitter @NewportVines, and Instagram @NewportVines. For more details, please visit www.newportvineyards.com.

Tasting Room	Winery Tours	Vineyard Café	Brix Restaurant
*Mon – Sat* 10am – 6pm *Sunday* 12 – 6pm	*Sun – Fri* 1pm & 3pm *Saturday* hourly, 11am – 4pm	*Sunday* 12 – 5pm (seasonally) *Monday* closed *Tues – Thurs* 11am – 4pm *Friday* 11am – 5pm *Saturday* 9am – 12pm breakfast sandwiches only 11am – 5pm full menu	*Tues – Thurs* 5 – 9pm *Fri & Sat* 4 – 10pmClosed Sundays & Mondays, but always available for private events, day or night

Six Farmers Markets Increasing Food Access To Open In July

Farm Fresh RI Farmers Market

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is excited to announce six of their farmers markets opening in July. Located in neighborhoods at risk for health disparities, Farm Fresh RI markets focus on increasing access to fresh, local food and nutrition education.

In July, shoppers can expect to find tomatoes, corn, peppers, blueberries, melons, grapes, greens, herbs, cheese, radishes, mushrooms, carrots, bitter melons, fresh bread and so much more! It’s easy to find a farmers market in your neighborhood and shop for fresh, local fruits and vegetables all summer and well into fall. Many markets also feature live music, prepared foods & food trucks and family-friendly activities.

According to a recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “When comparing product prices between farmers markets and retail stores, local products are competitively priced – within a 10 percent price range – at farmers markets a majority of the time, even less expensive for some foods. Local, certified organic products at farmers markets are almost always competitively priced when compared to prices at retail stores.” (May, 2016; source with graphic: http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/05/19/local-and-organic-food-shopping-finding-the-best-price)

Farm Fresh RI markets accept cash, credit, debit, SNAP, WIC Fruit & Vegetable checks, and Senior vouchers. And in partnership with Wholesome Wave (wholesomewave.org), Farm Fresh RI provides Bonus Bucks—an additional 40% bonus for customers using EBT—to increase access to fresh fruits and veggies for low-income individuals receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The following markets, managed by Farm Fresh Rhode Island, open in July.

For a full list of farmers markets in Rhode Island, visit www.farmfreshri.org.

BROAD STREET — 807 Broad St, Providence
July 1 to October 28
Saturdays, 8:00am – 11:30pm

DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE — Kennedy Plaza
July 11 to October 31
Tuesdays, 3:00 – 6:00pm

CENTRAL FALLS — Garfield St Playground
July 5 to October 25
Wednesdays, 2:00 – 5:30pm

WEST WARWICK —Thundermist Health Center, 186 Providence St
July 6 to October 26
Thursdays, 3:00 – 6:00pm

SLATER PARK — 825 Armistice Blvd, Pawtucket
July 9 to October 29
Sundays 12:00 – 3:00pm

NEUTACONKANUT PARK — 675 Plainfield St, Providence
July 3 to October 30
Mondays, 3:00 – 6:00pm

And two other Farm Fresh RI markets are already underway!
ARMORY — Parade St at Hudson St, Providence
May 25 to October 26
Thursdays 3:30 – 7:00pm or dusk

WOONSOCKET — Thundermist Health Center, 450 Clinton St
Year-round (Moves outside July 5)
Tuesdays, 3:00 – 6:00pm

Matt Gennuso on banjo and Kristin Gennuso on harmonica

Last year Providence restaurant Chez Pascal celebrated ten years under the ownership of Kristin and Matt Gennuso. To celebrate, the Gennusos put together the Ham Jam, a great party with a bunch of bands. A highlight of the evening was the inaugural performance of Turn for the Wurst, a group of cooks who were also musicians—or maybe musicians who happened to work as cooks—from Chez Pascal, Nick’s on Broadway and Persimmon.

They’re back again this year and the party is open to the public this coming Sunday, March 16. Tickets are $5 plus service fee and are available online here. In addition to Turn for the Wurst, Mark and Sam Taber, WD & the DBC and Smith & Weeden will all be taking the stage at The Met. There is a cash bar and food will be available to purchase from Tallulah’s Tacos.

Scroll all the way down for photo highlights from last year’s show along with more information from Chez Pascal on the event. The entire set of 2013 photos of Turn for the Wurst can be found in an Eat Drink RI’s Facebook album. Don’t miss one of the great parties of the year!

Turn for the Wurst performing at Ham Jam 2013

Ham Jam was formed after a gathering of food dedicated individuals discovered they happened to share the same passion for music as they did for cooking; and thus, emerging from some of the great kitchens in Rhode Island, a music event was born. This Ham Jam will bring together four bands for one night of delicious music.

Persimmon’s Kyle Kerstetter on bass with Champe Speidel on drums

The lineup is:

The piano team of Mark Taber and his son Sam will delight and amaze with their fluid, jaw dropping piano performance.

WD & the DBC will get you moving to their sweet melodious tunes. The DBC’s are: Wade Devers, Scott Doggett, Bill Jette, Jen Macpherson and John Simpson

The kitchen band, Turn for the Wurst, will put down their knives and pick up their instruments for a whole new style of cooking. They are:

Brian Gibney, Chez Pascal, vocals, guitar
Champe Speidel, Persimmon, drums
Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, guitar, vocals
Kyle Kerstetter, Persimmon, bass
Mark Riendeau, Chez Pascal, vocals, guitar
Matt Gennuso, Chez Pascal, banjo, trombone
Mauricio Ossa, Chez Pascal, trumpet
Kristin Gennuso, Chez Pascal, harmonica
Michael Urso, Chez Pascal alumni, trombone
Mark Taber, kitchen band honorary member

And this year we are thrilled to welcome Providence’s own Smith & Weeden. If you haven’t heard them yet, you must and once you do you will be hooked. They are: Jesse Emmanuel Smith, Seamus Weeden, Ollie Williams and Dylan Sevey.

Plus The Met brings with it, its own perfect charm. Also joining us on the culinary side, Tallulah’s Tacos will be selling some fantastic food from The Met kitchen. Doors open at 5:30, music starts at 6:30. Tickets are $5 plus service fee and are available online here.

The Met is at 1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.