Lobster Boil Fundraiser at Hope & Main will Feed Dreams

WARREN, RI—Lobster lovers will find plenty of the delicacy to eat while celebrating National Lobster Day on Sept. 25 at Hope & Main, Rhode Island's culinary business incubator.

That's because Hope & Main is teaming up with the Rhode Island chapter of the American Culinary Federation to host a lobster boil that also serves as a fundraiser to support scholarships for aspiring young chefs. Proceeds will also support Hope & Main member companies.

“This is a Rhode Island food-a-palooza! From the shellfish caught in nearby waters; to the dozens of featured Hope & Main member products; to the generous local food and beverage company sponsors; to the all-star list of guests and chefs from the RI food industry -- this event is a real inside taste of the local food experience,” said Lisa Raiola, Hope & Main’s Founder and President. “Thanks to our wonderful ACF chef partners, almost everything has been donated, so the vast majority of event proceeds will directly benefit programs.”

Tickets are expected to sell out fast.

The lobster boil will be prepared by a team of ACF chefs and guests will be served a full lobster meal in a family-style setting. During a cocktail hour, a Blount chowder station will be featured along with a fully-stocked buffet featuring products from Hope & Main member companies, like breads, jams, cheeses, fermented foods, salsas and more.

“This event will create relationships that end up growing the entire culinary community in Rhode Island and surrounding areas,” said Daniel Van Etten, President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the ACF. “Together with Hope & Main, we are contributing to Rhode Island's culinary arts reputation by connecting aspiring chefs, entrepreneurs and industry professionals.”

There will also be a silent auction and a dessert featuring a tower of cupcakes, toffee, cookie, pie macrons, truffles and biscotti.

Tickets are $100 and can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/lobsterboil.

Hope & Main and the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) are pleased to announce their locally-sourced, three-course Lobster Boil fundraiser on September 25. Proceeds from the tantalizing event will create opportunities for aspiring, young chefs and determined food entrepreneurs to pursue their culinary dreams. Proceeds will support both scholarships for local high school students who seek to further their culinary training as well as the business and technical assistance that Hope & Main provides to its member companies. The benefit furthers Hope & Main’s efforts to enrich and strengthen the Rhode Island economy by building a more vibrant and sustainable local food system. The fundraiser is presented by Tom’s BaoBao, which launches its first Rhode Island restaurant in Providence in October.

“This is a Rhode Island food-a-palooza! From the shellfish caught in nearby waters; to the dozens of featured Hope & Main member products; to the generous local food and beverage company sponsors; to the all-star list of guests and chefs from the RI food industry -- this event is a real inside taste of the local food experience,” said Lisa Raiola, Hope & Main’s Founder and President. “Thanks to our wonderful ACF chef partners, almost everything has been donated, so the vast majority of event proceeds will directly benefit programs.”

The Lobster Boil will be prepared by a team of ACF chefs. Guests will be served a full lobster meal in a family-style setting. Cocktail hour will feature a Blount chowder station as well as a fully-stocked buffet assembled to highlight Hope & Main member companies’ breads, jams, cheeses, fermented foods, sauces, salsas and much more. The bar will feature Hope & Main member products such as soda, lemonade and tea. It will also feature a specialty cocktail created with Sons of Liberty Spirits Co, beer by Grey Sail Brewing Company, and wine from Greenvale Vineyards and Westport Rivers.

“This event will create relationships that end up growing the entire culinary community in Rhode Island and surrounding areas,” said Daniel Van Etten, President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the ACF. “Together with Hope & Main, we are contributing to Rhode Island's culinary arts reputation by connecting aspiring chefs, entrepreneurs and industry professionals.”

Guests will be able to bid on New England-themed silent auction picnic baskets containing Hope & Main-made products and gift certificates from acclaimed local restaurants. The night will end on a sweet note with a towering dessert buffet of Hope & Main member companies’ cupcakes, toffee, cookies, pie, macarons, truffles, and biscotti. Live music provided by Warren-based Beatles tribute band Marmalade Skies. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. in the Schoolyard of Hope & Main, 691 Main Street in Warren, RI.

Tickets are $100 and can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/lobsterboil. The event is expected to sell out. Net proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations Hope & Main and the American Culinary Federation. Your ticket helps small, local food businesses to launch and grow, and provides scholarships for local high school students to further their culinary education.

The Lobster Boil is proud to be a minimal waste event. In participation with The Compost Plant, all food waste will be responsibly collected and transformed into nutrient-rich soil amendment. Additionally, the majority of all other materials used for the event will be earth-friendly, such as compostable bamboo utensils, bowls, plates and platters.

ABOUT HOPE & MAIN

HOPE & MAIN is Rhode Island’s first culinary business incubator. We help local entrepreneurs jump-start early-stage food companies and food related businesses by providing low cost, low risk access to shared-use commercial kitchens and other industry-specific technical resources. Our goal is to help grow the local food economy by creating a community of support for food entrepreneurs and cultivating an environment where emerging culinary startups can test, create, scale and thrive. Hope & Main is a nonprofit.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION, INC

The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), a professional, organization for chefs and cooks, was founded in 1929 in New York City by three chefs’ organizations: the Société Culinaire Philanthropique, the Vatel Club and the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America. Since our inception, little has changed in our principal goals. We are an organization based on promoting the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education of culinarians at all levels