These RI chefs are at the vanguard of the dining scene. Hurry to make a reservation!
The chefs at Pickerel, Thick Neck, Nimki, Dunes Brother and Pizza Marvin in Providence are in class all their own. So too, are chefs at Bywater in Warren and Yagi Noodles in Newport.
For more than 20 years, a restaurant industry media group has reported on those chefs who represent the future of American hospitality. Their names may or may not be familiar, but these Rhode Island chefs join bartenders and sommeliers as up-and-coming industry professionals on this unique list.
Through its Rising Stars Awards and magazine, StarChefs has introduced its view of the best of Coastal New England, the 2023 version. The Rhode Islanders join chefs from Maine and Massachusetts on the list.
The 2023 Coastal New England Rising Stars will be the 83rd class of Rising Stars Award winners and the 2nd class from Coastal New England.
It's more than the food and the drinks. They inspire their community
In all, 21 food and beverage professionals were cited by StarChefs. They noted exceptional food and drinks as well as "their ability to lead, inspire, and support their local communities."
The winners are chosen by the StarChefs editorial team based on in-person tastings and interviews. In each market, the editorial team tastes and interviews with more than 100 chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and artisans. In the end, they select 17 to 25 of the best, many of them on the cutting edge.
Rhode Islanders recognized by StarChefs
Award winners are evaluated according to a set of national standards. Creativity, ambition, presentation, philosophy, and taste win the designation of a StarChefs Rising Star. They have designated 83 classes.
StarChefs last visited New England in 2014. There are some ties with that group, namely Ben Sukle. He was a Rising Star Selection then for his now-closed Birch. Now he is honored as Mentor for his Oberlin and brand new Gift Horse. The award goes to a chef who supports and inspires young restaurant professionals in their community while nurturing talent.
Chef Eric Brown of Thick Neck has a residency in the Dean Hotel in the space that formerly was North. He was noted for dishes that highlight local fisheries and farms and his background in Nordic and coastal New England cooking.
Another tie between the two lists is chef Nikhil Naiker, a native of Fiji. After attending Johnson & Wales University, he worked at North Bakery for James Mark, a 2014 Rising Star. He later cooked at Fortnight. His Nimki restaurant pop-ups include regular appearances at Bolt Coffee in Providence, and Crispy Gài and Bar Futo in Portland, Maine.
A Game Changer Award was given to Scott LaChapelle of Pickerel in Providence. It celebrates a chef whose leadership is boldly advancing the restaurant industry, "whether it's through boundary-pushing cuisine, an innovative dining format, or a revolutionary business idea."
LaChapelle worked at pizzerias until a trip to Japan introduced him to street ramen. LaChapelle worked at Shimamoto Noodle under ramen master Keizo Shimamoto, before he and Spencer Smith opened Pickerel in the space that was Big King, another James Mark restaurant.
Rising Star awarded to many in RI
Other chefs on the Rising Star list include Robert Andreozzi of Pizza Marvin who also scored a James Beard Foundation nomination this year. He was cited for his community involvement including the fundraising “12 Pies of Christmas." The collaboration with other restaurants has raised money for organizations that feed the hungry over the past two holiday seasons.
Nick Gillespie of Dune Brothers Seafood in Providence was cited as a "concept chef" for his urban clam shack food.
Basil Yu, a first-generation Chinese American was named for his Asian-inspired comfort food at Yagi Noodles in Newport.
Warren's Bywater chef Luke Mersfelder was cited for his original seafood dishes. He has worked with two other Rising Star Chefs, Sukle and Al Forno's David Reynoso.
Excellence in bartending also recognized
Food is always enhanced by drink. StarChefs also recognizes excellence in bartending, Britt Simons of The Eddy, and in sommeliers, Bethany Caliaro at Oberlin and Gift Horse and Kelsey Shaw at Bayberry Garden. All three of those are in Providence.
Chefs and Bartenders outside of RI were also recognized
In Portland, Maine, the honored chefs are Jeremy Broucek of Bread & Friends, Cyle Reynolds of Crispy Gai, Neil Zabriskie of Regards, Valerie Goldman of The Honey Paw and pastry chef Georgia Macon of Twelve. In Portland, bartender Arvid Brown of Room for Improvement was cited for excellence. Manny Rojas of The Whale on Nantucket is also a Rising Star for Massachusetts. Restaurateurs honored were Marisa Lewiecki and Jordan Rubin of Bar Futo and Mr. Tuna in Portland and Taylor Oliver and Andrea Solimeo of Pizzeria Gemelle, Ventuno, and Via Mare on Nantucket.
StarChefs will host events during a Rising Stars Restaurant Week from Sept. 20 through Oct. 4. Guests can experience the honorees’ signature dishes and drinks. Find the list at starchefs.com under the Coastal New England news. Order any of the featured dishes or drinks, share an Instagram story or post, tag @starchefs to enter.
StarChefs has partnered with Tallulah's Taqueria to support Amos House. During For every Niman Ranch pork belly carnitas taco sold at the restaurant during Rising Stars Restaurant Week, StarChefs will donate $5 to Amos House.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI chefs make elite list of winners for Rising Star Awards from StarChefs
