Fifth Annual Eat Drink RI Festival Showcases How Food Will Help Rhode Island Grow 2016 Festival Expands to the Rhode Island Convention Center
The Eat Drink RI Festival, April 28 – May 1, is three weeks away and many more exciting vendors have signed on to participate in the year’s most anticipated culinary event. NBC 10 WJAR has signed on as a partner providing coverage and media personalities. Tickets are now on sale for all four Festival events. Get them before they sell out at eatdrinkri.com/festival.
The Festival opens on Thursday, April 28th with Dinner by Dames Five to benefit Sojourner House, Rhode Island’s most popular multi-chef tasting dinner led by eleven extraordinary women chefs and bartenders. The always sold out Truck Stop to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank returns on Friday, April 29th.
There are over 50 exhibitors ready to sample their locally produced food and drink at this year’s Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 30th. Returning favorites include, The Backyard Food Company, Dave’s Coffee, The Granny Squibb Company, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Narragansett Creamery, Revival Brewing, Sons of Liberty Spirits and Yacht Club Soda. New exhibitors to this year’s Festival include Barr Hill by Caledonia Spirits, Cocofuel, Garde de la Mer and Shinn Estate Vineyards, with more to come.
“My family and I always look forward to the Eat Drink RI Festival,” Andy Moffit said. “It’s a great way to highlight Rhode Island’s fantastic chefs, restaurants and locally-produced foods. As First Gentleman, I care deeply about our local food economy. I am proud to partner with Eat Drink RI on many great initiatives that showcase Rhode Island’s delicious food and highlight the importance of healthy eating.”
The move to the Rhode Island Convention Center for the Grand Tasting has taken the chef and farmer culinary presentations to the next level with a demonstration kitchen provided by Wickford Appliance with Frigidaire Professional appliances.
2016 James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway with Jules Opton-Himmel of Walrus and Carpenter Oysters will be showcasing Opton-Himmel’s locally farmed oysters along with his newly developed, innovative kelp product. Willa Van Nostrand of Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails with Lee Ann Freitas of Indie Growers will demonstrate herb infusions and how to incorporate them into cocktail making. Chef Kaitlyn Roberts of Easy Entertaining with Ann Marie Bouthillette of Blackbird Farm will take the stage to discuss locally raised meats and grinding your own burgers for the grill. Chef Melissa Denmark of Gracie’s and Chef Sara Reilly of Ellie’s Bakery will show how to prepare beautifully decorated French desserts.
The expansion of the Festival’s Grand Brunch on Sunday, May 1st to the Ballroom at the Convention Center will feature 15 restaurants including custom craft cocktails and a coffee bar. Champagne Jacquart will be poured to greet guests. Entertainment will be provided by student jazz musicians, with special performances by The Chifferobe TropiGals, New England’s premiere vintage dance company. The Grand Brunch supports the Victoria Alviti Music Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing grants for music education.
Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.
About Eat Drink RI
Created in 2010 by David Dadekian, Eat Drink RI is one of the top media outlets in the region for all things culinary. The news resource covers local food events, chefs & restaurants, the beverage industry, and locally produced artisanal products. Eat Drink RI produces and promotes several all-local culinary events, including an annual 4-day Festival in Providence celebrating the best of the culinary world in Rhode Island. Dadekian is a 2014 RI Foundation Innovation Fellow and is currently working to create a central culinary market and food hub for all Rhode Islanders.
