Eat Drink RI
The best local food and beverage information in Rhode Island
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business LIVE Forum on Facebook
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Latest News
  • COVID 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:

Nemo Bolin

loading...

chefs & restaurantsnews

Gracie’s Chef Matthew Varga Wins at 2015 Boston Lamb Jam, Chef Tiffani Faison Takes Best in Show

by David Dadekian April 12, 2015
written by David Dadekian
Team Gracie's wins the Middle Eastern category trophy at the Boston Lamb Jam

Team Gracie’s wins the Middle Eastern category trophy at the Boston Lamb Jam

The American Lamb Board held their sixth annual Boston Lamb Jam at the Royal Sonesta Boston tonight. Chef Matthew Varga of Gracie’s in Providence, Rhode Island won the trophy in the Middle Eastern category for his Lamb Shoulder Confit with Za’atar, Muhammara and Lebne. Chef Varga used lamb from Hopkins Southdowns farm in North Scituate, RI.

Boston’s Chef Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks Q won the Asian category and took home Best in Show with her Spicy Chengdu Lamb dish. Faison will go on to compete in the National Lamb Jam in New York against the winners of other Lamb Jam competitions being held around the country. The winner of the Latin category was Chef Thomas Borgia of Russell House Tavern with Tamarind Braised Lamb Shank Empanadas with Plantain, Huitlacoche and Mole Ketchup. The winner of the Mediterranean category was Niko Regas of Emilitsa with Baby Back Lamb Ribs Slow Braised with Coriander-Citrus Honey Glaze with Herb Roasted New Potatoes, Garlic, Capers, Preserved Lemon and Spiced Olives.

Chef Matthew Varga's Lamb Shoulder Confit with Za'atar, Muhammara and Lebne

Chef Matthew Varga’s Lamb Shoulder Confit with Za’atar, Muhammara and Lebne

Two other Rhode Island chefs competed in Boston. The Salted Slate‘s Chef Benjamin Lloyd prepared a Slow Cooked Shoulder Steamed Bun with Chinese-Style Lamb Sausage and Smoked Vegetables. Cook & Brown Public House‘s Chef Nemo Bolin, winner of last year’s Boston and National Lamb Jams, prepared a Banh Mi Flatbread.

There were twenty-four chefs and restaurants represented at the event, each preparing a dish using American lamb in one of four categories: Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin and Mediterranean. This writer was one of the judges for the event. All judging was done blind—we didn’t know which chef made which dish until judging was complete and the scores were tallied. Congratulations to all the winners.

Chef Tiffani Faison's Spicy Chengdu Lamb

Chef Tiffani Faison’s Spicy Chengdu Lamb

April 12, 2015 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

News Bites: Newport Vineyards Opens Restaurant, DEM Farm Viability Grants, Cook & Brown Public House Wins National Competition

by David Dadekian October 24, 2014
written by David Dadekian
Newport Vineyards' Brix Restaurant

Newport Vineyards’ Brix Restaurant

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

Newport Vineyards Announces Addition of Brix Restaurant

New Restaurant Part of a Multi-Million Dollar Winery Expansion

Newport Vineyards is pleased to announce the addition of Brix Restaurant to its winery location, as part of a multi-million dollar expansion. The former location of Nunes Motor Group, Andrew’s Restaurant and The Glass Union, has been transformed into a refined rustic space, including exposed industrial ductwork, wood beams and polished concrete floors. Preserving the history of the space, an original stone fireplace has been restored and serves as an area for guests to gather around. The space also features two walls of windows, overlooking the winery’s barrel room, tank room and views out to the vineyard, ideal for taking in all the action of harvest and winery activities.

Under the culinary direction of Andrew Gold, the Aquidneck Island restaurateur has come full circle to manage Brix Restaurant which is the same location he opened Andrew’s Restaurant in 1988. The nearly 100-seat restaurant will serve dinner daily, and Sunday brunch will be introduced in the coming weeks. Guests can enjoy Newport Vineyards wines, along with a selection of guest wines, beer and specialty cocktails. The space will also be available for daytime corporate and social group functions.

“We are very excited to announce the addition of Brix Restaurant to the Aquidneck Island community and beyond,” stated owner John Nunes. “The restaurant will offer both our local guests and winery guests a truly unique dining experience, coupled with views of our winery and vineyard.”

On the heels of its 20th anniversary, Newport Vineyards is renovating over 30,000 square feet of their building located conveniently on East Main Road, just minutes outside of Newport. Phase one of the expansion has been completed and includes Brix Restaurant, a new fermentation tank room and barrel room, as well as an outdoor patio and seating complete with wine by the glass and tasting bars. Slated for an early 2015 completion, phase two of the renovation includes a new tasting room, three-season porch, second patio, marketplace and new space for neighboring business Fatulli’s Bakery and Deli.

 


DEM Announces Award of $255,543 in Farm Viability Grants to Enhance and Promote Rhode Island Specialty Crops

The Department of Environmental Management has announced the award of farm viability grants totaling $255,543 for projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Rhode Island. The funds are from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Specialty crops are defined by this federally-supported program as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops including floriculture and turf grass production.

“These grants will help promote the long-term viability of agriculture in Rhode Island by strengthening markets for specialty crops and sustaining the livelihood of our state’s farmers,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.

The farm viability grants will be used for a wide range of purposes, such as enhancing food safety practices among farmers and produce vendors at farmers’ markets; increasing the consumption of specialty crops by the Latino population and decreasing obesity rates among participating families; and supporting agricultural research at Rhode Island College on the honeybee population.

Following is a list of projects awarded funding through the grant round:

  • $37,752,000 for the Rhode Island Good Agricultural Practices Program, a partnership between the University of Rhode Island’s Nutrition and Food Sciences Department and DEM’s Division of Agriculture, to provide growers with training and support to become part of the state RIGAP certified grower program. The program has helped enhance food safety on farms for the past 12 years by providing farmers with information and resources about safe produce planting, harvesting and handling practices;
  • $40,000 to Farm Fresh Rhode Island for the RI Farm to Cafeteria Project, a collaborative effort designed to bring RI institutional buyers such as schools, hospitals, state agencies and worksites together with RI farmers to develop sustainable purchasing agreements. This project builds on the success of the RI Farm to School Program, taking best practices and techniques and applying them to other types of large-scale food buyers. Work will include educating food service buyers and chefs on local specialty crop availability and use through the development and dissemination of a “Harvest of the Month” print marketing campaign to promote local specialty crops in cafeterias, and enhancing the Market Mobile program to serve more institutional purchasers;
  • $10,300 to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island, to increase the production and consumption of certified organic specialty crops in Rhode Island by providing outreach, education, and technical assistance to farmers;
  • $35,400 to New Urban Farmers, to support a collaborative effort with the Pawtucket Housing Authority that promotes the use of specialty crops among Latino residents living in two family development complexes in Pawtucket. The project will include hands-on demonstrations and workshops, a mobile market to make specialty crops available from farm-to-table, and assistance for residents to establish community gardens;
  • $22,736 to the Rhode Island College Honey Bee Study, to conduct a rigorous survey of the health and size of the state’s honeybee populations along with the incidence of the small hive beetle (SHB). Survey data generated will represent baseline data for further monitoring of the bee population in Rhode Island. Educational outreach will be conducted to promote beekeeping and bolster bee populations, and mitigation strategies will be assessed to reduce the impact of the SHB. The goal of the study is to increase the size of the bee population and enhance the ability to pollinate specialty crops in the state;
  • $31,398 to the University of Rhode Island Division of Research and Economic Development to conduct a study entitled, “De-Tasseling Sweet Corn to Prevent Bird Damage: An Alternative to Cannons?” This project is designed to address bird damage to sweet corn, which is a major specialty crop in Rhode Island both in acreage and in value. Uncontrolled feeding by flocks of birds can result in the loss of entire plantings of sweet corn. Currently the most effective and affordable control option for farmers is propane-fueled bird cannons, which emit a sonic blast every 40 seconds to 30 minutes to frighten birds. It has been reported that removing the tassel from corn plants after pollination decreases bird damage and may be an effective alternative to bird cannons. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of de-tasseling at preventing bird damage, measure its effect on corn yield and quality, and determine if de-tasseling provides sufficient benefits to growers to justify the expense; and
  • $6,000 to Harvest New England Association, Inc. for an educational program designed to increase sales and consumption of regional specialty crops by New England consumer, specialty crop producers and wholesalers of specialty crops.

In addition to the grants, $71,957 in funding is provided to DEM’s Division of Agriculture, to continue to increase demand and consumption of Rhode Island-grown specialty crops by expanding on the “Rhode Island Grown Get Fresh Buy Local” initiative through produce preparation demonstrations featuring local celebrity chefs at all RI farmers markets and participating roadside stands; updating its RI agricultural display; and enhancing the marketing program by making point-of-purchase advertising material available to farmers.

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 50 seasonal farmers markets in the state’s urban, suburban and rural areas, seven indoor winter markets, and numerous pick-your-own and farm stand operations. The recent Green Industry Economic Impact Study funded by DEM and conducted by URI conservatively estimates that total agricultural revenues in Rhode Island are $170.6 million.

 


Cook & Brown Public House Wins American Lamb Jam Finale

On Sunday, September 28, 2014, Chef Nemo Bolin of Providence’s Cook & Brown Public House was victorious in claiming the national title in the American Lamb Jam competition. The four competing chefs, all of who won Best in Show at their local area Lamb Jam competitions were: Chef Sophina Uong, Pican (San Francisco), Chef Sarah Lorenzen, Andaluca (Seattle), Chef Rodney Scruggs, Occidental Grill (Washington, D.C.) and Chef Nemo Bolin, Cook & Brown Public House (New England). Bolin’s winning dish was a merguez scotch egg with harissa, herbed yogurt, pickles & herb salad. More information on Bolin’s New England win can be found here on Eat Drink RI.

In celebration of the win Cook & Brown Public House will be hosting a limited dinner featuring local lamb and wines from Neal Rosenthal on Saturday, November 15th at 6 p.m. It will be five courses (with some additional treats here and there) of food and wine for $125 per person. Seating is limited and you don’t want to miss out. Call 401-273-7275 for reservations.

October 24, 2014 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsnews

Chef Nemo Bolin of Cook & Brown Public House Wins Two Trophies at 2014 Boston American Lamb Jam

by David Dadekian April 13, 2014
written by David Dadekian
Chef Nemo Bolin's Scotch Egg presentation plate. Photo by Front Row Eats

Chef Nemo Bolin’s Scotch Egg presentation plate. Photo by Front Row Eats

The American Lamb Board held their fifth annual Lamb Jam at the Royal Sonesta Boston tonight. Chef Nemo Bolin of Cook & Brown Public House in Providence, Rhode Island took the Best in Show prize, as well as winning the category of Best Ground dish, both for his Scotch Egg.

Another Rhode Island chef also won in the category of Best Shoulder dish. Chef Beau Vestal of New Rivers in Providence came out on top for his Lamb Merguez Hot Dog which bore more than a passing resemblance to a certain Rhode Island classic.

There were twenty-one chefs and restaurants represented at the event, including three from Rhode Island, each preparing one lamb dish using either a leg, shank, shoulder or ground cut of American lamb. This writer was one of the six judges for the event. All judging was done blind—we didn’t know which chef made which dish until judging was complete and the scores were tallied.

Bolin will go on to compete in September at Savor the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo, California with the winners of the other Lamb Jam competitions being held around the country. Congratulations to Chef Bolin and all the winners.

April 13, 2014 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsnews

News Bites: White House Kids’ “State Dinner,” Dave’s Coffee Syrup Goes National, Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Chef 2014

by David Dadekian March 28, 2014
written by David Dadekian
Dave's Coffee Syrup, photo by Brad Smith Photography

Dave’s Coffee Syrup, photo by Brad Smith Photography

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

Reed Urges Kids to Submit Their Favorite Healthy Lunch Recipes for a Chance to Attend Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House

Recipes may be submitted through April 5

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) wants Rhode Island kids to show off their culinary skills and win a trip to the second annual White House Kids’ “State Dinner.”  Reed is urging Rhode Islanders ages 8-12 and their parents or guardians to submit their favorite lunch recipes to First Lady Michelle Obama’s third annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge nationwide recipe challenge.  The deadline for entries is next Wednesday, April 5.

First Lady Michelle Obama, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Epicurious.com are offering kids a chance to participate in a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy school lunches, and the winner from each state will be invited to a White House Kids’ “State Dinner” this summer.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner” invites kids between the ages of 8 and 12 to work with their parents or legal guardian to create an original, nutritious lunchtime recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty.  Entries should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and low-fat dairy foods.  Details may be found at: http://www.recipechallenge.epicurious.com/

Entrants are encouraged to reference the nutritional guidelines of the USDA’s site, ChooseMyPlate.gov, to ensure recipes meet the primary criterion of being healthier.

“This is a great opportunity for kids and their parents to work together to promote healthy living and to win a chance to attend the third annual Kids’ “State Dinner.”  The contest is a fun way for kids and their parents to share recipes for good food and healthy eating habits,” said Reed, who helped increase federal funding for school breakfast and lunch programs through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act so more kids will have access to a stable source of nutritious food.

Last year, Samantha Mastrati, a 12-year-old from Cranston, was selected as the winner from Rhode Island for her recipe for Italian garden salsa with crunchy chicken tenders.  This marks the second time in a row a Cranston resident won the right to represent Rhode Island.  Then-twelve year old Cranston resident, Caroline Cowart, was the inaugural winner for her recipe for a broccoli and cheese egg white omelet.

The winning recipes from last year’s challenge are available free online in a downloadable cookbook named the Healthy Lunch Challenge Cookbook that also features nutritional analysis, and photos and drawings of the recipes.

Recipes may be submitted now through April 5, either online at or via mail at:

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner”
c/o Epicurious.com
1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036

Winners will receive free round-trip flights and hotel accommodations for the winning child and parent or legal guardian.  For more information and contest rules, visit:http://www.recipechallenge.epicurious.com/


Dave’s Cold Brew Coffee Syrup Goes National with Crate & Barrel

Dave’s Coffee is starting 2014 with nationwide distribution of its award-winning coffee syrup. Crate & Barrel, specializing in housewares, furniture, and home accessories since 1962, has selected Dave’s Original Cold Brew Coffee Syrup and Dave’s Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Syrup to compliment its retail stores as a gourmet food item, now available in 89 locations across the United States.

“At Dave’s Coffee our focus is on quality and exceeding customer expectations. In this way, Crate and Barrel is a perfect fit for our product line,” commented Dave Lanning, Senior, CEO of Dave’s Coffee. “We could not be more pleased to roll out national availability of our coffee syrup with Crate & Barrel. This is a real success for our team, especially as we work to expand the brand.”

Crate and Barrel is a regarded retailer of fine housewares and gourmet offerings. With more than 105 stores in North America and 8,000 locations globally, the company is the cornerstone of modern home décor and interior trends.

Dave’s Cold Brew Coffee Syrup is available at Crate and Barrel stores across the country and online at www.CrateandBarrel.com. Made in Rhode Island in small batches, Dave’s Cold Brew Coffee Syrup is a gourmet ingredient that adds flavor depth and coffee notes to cocktails, baked goods, meat marinades, desserts and recipes.

To learn more about the product line and additional flavors of Dave’s Cold Brew Coffee Syrup visit www.davescoffeesyrup.com.


Food & Wine’s The People’s Best New Chef 2014 Nominations for Rhode Island Chefs Nemo Bolin and Matthew MacCartney

Food & Wine has announced the nominees for this year’s The People’s Best New Chef and in the New England region the nominees include Rhode Island Chefs Nemo Bolin of Cook & Brown Public House and Matthew MacCartney of Jamestown Fish. This is Bolin’s fourth nomination for the award and MacCartney first. You can vote for Bolin or MacCartney here. The following is information from MacCartney.

Chef Matthew MacCartney of Jamestown Fish

Chef Matthew MacCartney of Jamestown Fish

The People’s Best New Chef program is an annual contest now in its fourth year. The award, an extension of the Food & Wine Best New Chefs award, honors talented up-and-coming innovators who have run their own kitchens for fewer than five years.

The field of 100 nominees for The People’s Best New Chef® includes 10 chefs in 10 regions across America. The chef with the most votes in each region will be named a finalist; the finalist with the most votes overall will be named The People’s Best New Chef. The finalists and winner will be revealed on April 2 online at foodandwine.com.

Chef MacCartney has been with Jamestown Fish since its inception in December 2011. Jamestown Fish is a casually elegant Rhode Island restaurant serving a European inspired seafood based cuisine. The restaurant has enjoyed tremendous success and critical acclaim thus far. In 2012 and 2013, Jamestown Fish won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Rhode Island Monthly’s Best of Rhode Island in 2012, and numerous OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards.

MacCartney has worked in the dining rooms and kitchens of New York’s finest establishments, such as Restaurant Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, and Craft. He opened Craft in 2001 as the Beverage Director and was voted Best Wine Director in 2003 by the readers of Time Out NY magazine.

Early in his career, MacCartney worked in European kitchens that included Michel Guérard, a Michelin three star restaurant in France, and the world renowned Cibrèo in Florence, Italy.

MacCartney earned his B.T. in Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts from NYC College of Technology and studied at the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism & Creative Studies in Birmingham, England. He also earned a Level 4 Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in 2002, and in 2008 was published in Wine & Spirits magazine.

March 28, 2014 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts

Search:

Recent Posts:

  • Celestial Café June 2023 Local Farm Dinner

    May 27, 2023
  • News Bites: Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. Wins Whiskey Award / New Executive Chef and GM at TRIO Kitchen + Bar / Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. Grand Reopening / RI Food Businesses Featured by NIST MEP / Montauk Distilling Co. Wins at World Spirits Competition

    May 26, 2023
  • Coastal Wine Trail’s Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate Festival 2023

    May 23, 2023
  • Eating With The Ecosystem with Kate Masury at Newport Wine Cellar & Gourmet

    May 22, 2023

Advertisement:

Blackbird Farm

Advertisement:

Advertise with Eat Drink RI

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Food Trucks:

Facebook
My Tweets

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 2014 Innovation Fellow

Instagram

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Tumblr
  • Youtube
  • Email

Copyright © 2010-2022 Eat Drink RI LLC. All rights reserved.


Back To Top
Eat Drink RI
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business LIVE Forum on Facebook
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Latest News
  • COVID 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

Terms and Conditions – Privacy Policy