The Taste of Provincetown... under fire!
By: Jeannette de Beauvoir, August 24, 2011
- New Englandās LGBT celebrity couple, The Hat Sisters (also known as John Michael Gray and Tim OāConnor), help raise money for MassEquality's first Taste of Provincetown fundraiser in 2010.
If you’ve ever watched Bravo channel’s Top Chef, you’re familiar with the format: a few chefs, a few ingredients, and plenty of blood, sweat, and tears as they face off against each other (and the clock) to create the best dish.
This Saturday, you can watch the action live in Provincetown with celebrity chef, Tiffani Faison, as host.
It’s all part of The Taste of Provincetown, MassEquality’s signature fundraiser.
Miguel Rodriguez, director of development, couldn’t be more excited about the way the event has taken off in its second year.
“The first year we had 12 local restaurants offering hors d’oeuvres and amuse-bouches, and it was fantastic,” says Rodriguez.
This year, three of the chefs from participating restaurants—Michael Mishkin of Victor’s, Frank Vasello of Relish, and Laurence de Freitas of The Mews—will participate in a cooking contest under fire.
The three Provincetown chefs agree that the event is going to be a blast, but having never participated in a quick-fire challenge before, there’s a little nervous anticipation going on in the kitchens of Provincetown this week!
While the contest is broadcast live on giant wall screens during a food and wine gala at Provincetown Town Hall, the stand-off will be judged on stage by Improper Bostonian society writer and contributing editor Dana Bisbee, New England’s LGBT celebrity couple, The Hat Sisters (also known as John Michael Gray and Tim O’Connor, who wear flamboyant hats and help raise money for important causes), and LGBT community organizer and doctoral candidate Ember Cook.
The LGBT theme is not accidental. MassEquality worked hard to secure equal marriage rights in the Commonwealth for gay and transgendered couples, and its mission doesn’t stop there.
“We do so many important things here,” says Rodriguez, “working with and for the LGBT community from the cradle to the grave, with so many new issues coming up all the time—anti-bullying, transgender equality, immigration issues—that engaging people to help is more important than ever.”
It’s also what attracted Faison to host the event. An openly lesbian chef, she’s long been a supporter of MassEquality and once told Rodiguez that she’d be happy to help in any way she could.
“MassEquality is an organization that’s helping us achieve our goals, it’s pace-setting, and we need it,” she says.
Faison, who received much acclaim for her role as Executive Chef of ROCCA Kitchen & Bar last year, is in the process of opening a new restaurant in Boston’s Fenway area called Sweet Cheeks that will emphasize Southern-style hospitality.
She was one of two finalists on the first season of Bravo’s Top Chef and later took part in Top Chef's Four-Star All Stars and Top Chef Holiday Special, where she took home the $20,000 prize.
The Taste of Provincetown
Town Hall Auditorium, 260 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA
Saturday, August 27, 2011, 6 - 9 PM
Top-rated chefs from area restaurants and Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod will provide their delectable cuisine and wines for gala. Participating Restaurants/Wines/Liquors are: Victor's; The Mews; Jimmy's Hideaway; Central House At the Crown; Ross’ Grill; Patio American Grill & Cocktail Bar; Relish; Far Land Provisions; Bayside Betsy's; Ptown Parties; Harbor Lounge; Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod; Saki; Perry’s Wine & Liquors; and Waterford Inn Café and Tavern.
Individual tickets are $125.00, sponsorships begin at $250.00 and they may be purchased now at www.MassEquality.org/Ptown. All proceeds go to MassEquality.
Taste of Provincetown Timeline:
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM VIP Reception - Harbor Lounge (359 Commercial St., Provincetown)
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Taste of Provincetown (Provincetown Town Hall Auditorium, 260 Commercial Street, Provincetown)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Music and Food & Wine Tastings
7:00 PM to 7:30 PM QuickFire Challenge with Chef Tiffani Faison
7:30 PM to 8:00 PM Speaking Program with Special Guests
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM More Music, Food and Wine Tastings
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Jeannette de Beauvoir
UPDATE: The show went on despite news of a hurricane's arrival ... and the food was beyond fabulous. Congratulations to FRANK VASELLO of Relish for winning the Quick-Fire Challenge and becoming Provincetown's Top Chef! Make sure that you visit Relish, in the West End on Commercial Street, for the most delectable desserts around!
