Ten years ago, downtown Providence was a different place. Many of the great restaurants and shops did not yet exist, and some of our favorites have since left. Gracie’s originally opened on Federal Hill, but opportunity knocked, and we moved into a great location across the street from the spectacular Trinity Repertory Company. Working in downtown Providence came with challenges and opportunities. We’ve seen a lot of changes in the last decade. But as we celebrate our downtown location’s ten-year restaurant anniversary, it is a delight to see many of our neighborhood restaurants bustling night after night. It is encouraging to see so many independently owned shops opening their doors, and at the same time, The Dunkin Donuts center plays host to hockey tournaments and world tour concerts. 

The restaurant business is a tricky one, and so often is subject to the economy, weather, fluctuating food prices, and even the whims of culinary fashions. It’s no secret that many new restaurants close within five years or less for any combination of reasons. Sometimes, though, you get lucky. Hard work, dedication, and a love for what you do come together with people who appreciate what you do. In that respect, we’ve been pretty lucky. 

In the last ten years, we have learned a lot – way more than we could possibly fit into a single blog post. We have also met some wonderful people – again, way more than we could possibly fit into a single blog post. As we celebrate our ten-year downtown restaurant anniversary, we know that we are fortunate to have met and worked with so many wonderful people. 

Sharing a Meal – photo by JWessel Photography

We have restaurant guests who have eaten with us regularly since we opened. We have some guests that we see every year on their anniversary. We have had movie stars and sports stars at our tables, and we have had young couples celebrating a first date. We’ve been honored to host weddings, graduation dinners, and birthday parties. 

Our kitchen has been graced with so many chefs, from Johnson & Wales interns, to our own regular staff, to guest Star Chefs from Maria Helm Sinskey to Ciril Hitz to Celina Tio and so many others. We really can’t begin to express how honored we are to host so many amazing, talented people. 

Current Executive Chef Matthew Varga was featured in Art Culinaire: The International Magazine in Good Taste. We’ve won the AAA four-diamond award four years in a row, and Executive Pastry Chef Melissa Denmark was named a Rising Star by the online culinary magazine Star Chefs. We’ve been able to partner with No Kid Hungry: Share Our Strength to work toward ending childhood hunger in America, and we’ve donated and walked many miles for the March of Dimes. 

In the front of the house, we’ve learned about Wine and Food pairings, how to share the joy of a tasting menu with new guests, and gone through more than a fair share of wine glasses. We’ve watched some of our staff graduate high school AND college, and some we’ve seen move across this great country to follow their dreams. We’ve managed to have some fun, too. Perhaps maybe too much?

This is supposed to be our Front of the House Manager.

 We’ve worked with so many dedicated and caring vendors, local farms, fishers, dairies, artisans, breweries, wineries, and distilleries, many of whom have been part of our team for years. We’ve shared our favorite Providence restaurants with you, and we’re even going on a Mediterranean cruise in October. 

And we owe it all to you. We love what we do, but we wouldn’t be here without each and every person who supports us. From the farmers that spend countless hours raising the best corn, or staying up all night caring for a newborn calf, to the men and women on the Rhode Island coast pulling in fresh seafood, to the guys who makes sure we have all the linens and dish detergent we need, this is a team effort.

Most of all, though, we wouldn’t be here without you. Whether you enjoy a meal with us on a special occasion, or just because, we couldn’t do what we do without your willingness to try new things with us, to taste new ingredients or an unusual wine. For you, we are incredibly thankful. Thank you for helping us make this ten-year anniversary the start of the next decade. 

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Come support Rhode Island in the 2015 Culinary Showdown at Jonathan Edwards Winery. Let’s show Connecticut who has the best food in New England! 

The post Culinary Showdown 2015 first appeared on Gracie's Providence.

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Melissa Denmark

April 15, 2014 marks a special day for us here at Gracie’s and Ellie’s. Our friend and pastry chef, Melissa Denmark, will be honored as a Rising Star in the Coastal New England culinary scene. She is one of 32 people to receive this award from the online culinary magazine, Star Chefs.

Who are the rising stars? They are a group of culinary professionals who represent the forefront of American cuisine. Creativity, ambition, presentation and, most important, delicious food or drink, is the hallmark of a StarChefs’ Rising Star.

Here is what they have to say about Melissa:

“For Melissa Denmark, pastry wasn’t so much a career choice, as it was a biological imperative from a young age—baking is in her bones. Now, as a bonafide pastry chef at Gracie’s in Providence, she leaves no resource untapped in a constant search for flavor, product, and ideas. Ambitious and focused, she takes broad concepts like romance or common ingredients, like the bay leaf, and conceives singular composed dishes. But all Denmark’s desserts share a common bond: they have it all.

 

No matter the technique or profile she’s highlighting, every plate is sweet, salty, sour, bitter, smooth, spongy, crunchy, creamy. Even Denmark’s “sweet” has subtle variation: savory-sweet, tart-sweet, rich-sweet. And if her work at Gracie’s—a restaurant synonymous with Providence—wasn’t enough, she has spearheaded the bread and pastry program at Ellie’s Bakery, making Denmark’s food an imperative in Providence.”

White Yam Custard, Brown Butter Shortbread, Pomegranate, Crème Fraîche Ice Cream, and Sorrel

The winners of the Rising Star award have strong, compelling culinary philosophies, and are committed to building a culinary community by sharing their knowledge with fellow professionals. They are the future of American cuisine.

We are thrilled, honored, and grateful to have Melissa working with us. Congratulations Melissa! You deserve it!

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The post Chef Melissa Denmark Shines as a Rising Star appeared first on Gracie's Providence.