We want Providence to have nice things.”

Kristen Adamo

There’s an event for everyone 

The debut of the Providence Culinary Collective will showcase 28 unique food and wine events over four days, from Mar. 27 to Mar. 30. Visit the Providence Culinary Collective website for more details.   

Some people just want to sit down. Rhode Island’s foodie culture calls for more than just chain restaurants and drive-throughs that cater to the fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle many have adopted. The Providence Culinary Collective is an event designed to offer people a way to explore the rich food and wine culture of Rhode Island — inviting guests to sit down, enjoy delicious food, and sip on some wine while they learn.

In Europe some countries, like France, take long lunch breaks — up to two hours — making the meal more of a leisurely experience rather than a rushed break from a busy workday. For Kristen Adamo, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Rosanna Ortiz, president of RMO Public Relations, their goal in bringing a culinary and wine experience to Providence is to offer all Rhode Islanders a chance to explore a new perspective on food and wine.

“We want Providence to have nice things,” shared Adamo. The invitation from Adamo and Ortiz asks guests to take a seat and enjoy some good food and wine — and their initial conversation in creating this event happened, ironically, over a glass of wine.  

Sharing a lighthearted conversation over a glass of wine while on vacation in Napa Valley with friends, Christine Walsh Phillips and Chris Marsella, Ortiz and Adamo made the decision to collaborate on making this event a reality. Over a leisurely glass of wine Ortiz asked, “Why don’t we have both a wine and food festival at the same time?” That simple question sparked the creation of the Providence Culinary Collective — an ambitious event happening at the end of March in Providence, with hopes of becoming an annual festival. 

There is so much to learn  

“I don't even know everything the panelists will be teaching, so I'll be learning a lot at my own event,” Ortiz shared. The event is filled with opportunities to taste food and wine, but it also caters to learning more about both. There will be panels of speakers, renowned chefs and a host of events inviting guests to take part in an interactive cooking experience.  

According to Ortiz, the culinary museum at Johnson and Wales University in Providence has not been open to the public for a decade. However, for this exclusive event, it will be accessible, offering cooking classes where participants can have fun gaining hands-on experience in the kitchen.

The local foods and offerings of the state are so diverse that both Ortiz and Adamo wanted to create an event that not only brings people together to learn but also maintains a laid-back, joyful atmosphere that’s welcoming to anyone interested in exploring Rhode Island’s rich culinary scene. 

The fun part is the vibe. “I want people to come and feel welcome without a pretentious vibe,” said Ortiz.  

With 28 different events to attend over the course of four days, there is something for everyone to enjoy, according to Ortiz and Adamo. There is even a Lil Rhody Laugh Riot happening in Providence on the same weekend, which although isn't affiliated with the culinary and wine event, it meets the criteria for the vibe they wanted for the event. Ortiz tried to explain laughing, “There are so many moving parts to this event that I keep explaining to everyone, and the Laugh Riot is just one of them.”

Another “moving part” is an evening of global flavors at Hope and Main’s Downtown Makers Marketplace happening on Thursday, Mar. 27; It will be an entirely free event showcasing local businesses that began at Hope and Main that are now thriving. When asked to be a part of the event, Alison Mountford, the director of marketing and communications at Hope and Main, answered with definitive excitement, confirming, “Yes, we are in!”

Ortiz and Adamo share that same excitement for this four-day event that was inspired by their trip to Napa Valley, where they learned about wine over a glass of wine — and their event will, of course, culminate over some more wine.