The Dorrance

March of Dimes Rhode Island’s 2013 Signature Chef Kevin Thiele of the Hotel Viking / One Bellevue

It’s almost time once again for one of the year’s best chef and restaurant events in Rhode Island, the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction. Where else can you find 24 of the area’s best chefs preparing their fantastic food in the same place, while also benefitting a great charity? The event is coming up on Thursday, September 19 in Newport and tickets are available here. Full details follow in the March of Dimes Rhode Island release below.

Something’s Cooking In Newport and the Key Ingredient Is . . . You!

Twenty-four of Rhode Island’s top chefs “come to the table” with their signature dishes to support the State’s tiniest citizens at 12th Anniversary of March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction Event

Ever have one of those nights where you want to dine out but just can’t decide which of your favorite restaurants to go to or what kind of food you’re in the mood for? Problem solved for at least one day anyway. Head to Belle Mer on Goat Island in Newport on September 19 at 6 p.m. and enjoy the company and signature dishes of 24 of Rhode Island’s leading chefs. The chefs will leave their restaurant posts for the day to lend their culinary talents to the March of Dimes’ 12th annual Signature Chefs Auction. By attending the event, you’ll be helping R.I.’s tiniest citizens – its babies – while partaking in a culinary extravaganza with a front-row seat of the ocean.

“We are so fortunate to have such top-tier cooking talent all under one roof for this important event,” said Betsy Akin, director of March of Dimes Rhode Island. “These leading chefs have graciously donated their time to prepare samplings of unforgettable dishes to help support the March of Dimes, and subsequently, to help give babies a healthy start in life.”

Ellen Slattery, owner of Gracie’s and co-chair for the sixth consecutive year of the Signature Chefs Auction, added, “This is a true show of collaborative spirit and combined talents for a very important cause. As someone who has been personally touched by the March of Dimes and knows all too well how scary it is when a baby is struggling, it means so much to me that all of these skilled chefs are sharing their gift for cooking in support of this great organization which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.”

Serving as co-chair of the event with Slattery is Annette Picerne of East Greenwich.

In addition to the “Signature Chef” samplings, a tribute will be “on the menu” as Chef Kevin Thiele of Newport’s Hotel Viking/One Bellevue will be presented as March of Dimes Rhode Island’s 2013 Signature Chef. The evening will also include participation of celebrity auctioneer and entertainer Sir Jeremy Bell of Edinburgh, Scotland, who will auction off superb culinary, accommodation, theater and vacation packages. To give a “taste” of the evening, one of the superb items on offer during the Live Auction is an 8 day cruise, with stateroom river view accommodations of the storied Danube River and through 4 of Europe’s most enchanting countries – Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia – courtesy of Viking Cruises.

Participating chefs include: Kevin Thiele of Hotel Viking/One Bellevue, Karsten Hart of Castle Hill Inn, Michael Hervieux of Belle Mer – all in Newport; Matthew Varga of Gracie’s, Brian Kingsford of Bacaro, Josh Herring of CAV, Massimiliano Mariotta of The Dorrance, Melissa Denmark of Ellie’s Bakery, Joe DeQuattro of Pane e Vino, Rolando Robledo of Aspire at Hotel Providence, Edward Bolus of Mills Tavern, Jennifer Luxmoore of Sin Desserts, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Kaitlyn Roberts of Easy Entertaining, Jon Dille of The Grange – all in Providence; Champe Speidel of Persimmon, Sai Viswanath of DeWolf Tavern – both in Bristol; Joe Simone of The Sunnyside in Warren; Kevin Gaudreau of The Boat House in Tiverton; Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections in Central Falls; Ben Wood of Wildwood Catering in Kingston; Raymond Montaquila of The Coast Guard House in Narragansett, Ben Lacy of Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro in Foxboro, Mass. and Kevin Des Chenes.

The Signature Chefs Auction begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are $150. Corporate and host tables are available, and the March of Dimes hopes that individuals and companies recognize the opportunity to help babies and their families while enjoying inventive and succulent dishes in an elegant venue.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities and tickets, contact Neil Sharpe at March of Dimes at 401.228.1932 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/rhodeisland

Proceeds from the Signature Chefs Auction will help support the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.