Some unrelated stories on the food and dining beat share a common hospitality thread.
The signature month of autumn has become associated with the life-touching and ubiquitous disease of breast cancer. The outpouring of awareness and compassion that is visible everywhere the color pink is displayed has become more inclusive to extend a hand to all who live with the heartbreak and tragedy wherever it strikes.
Just as they do in so many other times of need, chefs and restaurateurs turn out and offer comfort from their kitchens and hospitality at their tables.
Ten Prime Steak & Sushi in downtown Providence is participating in Bakes For Breast Cancer again this October to help fund Dana Farber Cancer Institute research “one dessert at a time.”
Bakes for Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization. Restaurants and bakeries register for the organization’s events, committing to donate proceeds from the sale of a dessert or all desserts during a weeklong event. When one of the designated sweet treats is ordered from a participating establishment, the proceeds will benefit breast cancer research. There are participating restaurants, cafes, bakeries, chocolatiers, sweet shops and grocery stores taking part.
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TREATS FOR A CAUSE: Ten Prime Steak & Sushi chef Brittany Muggle has created a peach cobbler cheesecake as part of the Providence restaurant’s participation in Bakes for Breast Cancer in which the proceeds of dessert sales will support Dana Farber Cancer Institute research.
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At Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, chef Brittany Muggle has created an autumn-inspired peach cobbler cheesecake, featuring peach compote, oatmeal crumble, maple caramel and a gingersnap crust.
“This one hits close to home,” said Harrison Elkhay, president of Chow Fun Food Group in Providence, owner and operator of Ten Prime. “With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I think it is so important to shine a light on the continuous need for cancer research funding. After my father’s battle with cancer, I’m excited to give back to the cause with the help of my dedicated team and loyal customers.”
In other restaurant news, Panera Bread and its Rhode Island franchisee Howley Bread Group have made the decision to close its Newport location at Long Wharf Mall. Spokesman Luke Howley, in response to an email inquiry, said, “After nearly 20 years of serving our Newport customers, we have closed the cafe. It has been a great run, one for which we are very grateful. We are grateful for the hundreds of talented and caring managers, associates and bakers who over the past 20 years delivered the very best Panera Bread experience to our customers every day with warmth, great service and wonderful food. As we position ourselves to develop new Panera cafes and invest in a multiyear program of remodeling our existing cafes, we close by thanking Newport for supporting us for so many years. It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Newport community.”
The closing of any restaurant, particularly one of long tenure, has an emotional toll. In the vast majority of cases, the restaurant is replaced by another that most often hires the employees from the former place, resulting in no “loss” from an accounting or fiscal perspective. However, those who patronized the restaurant have a real sense of loss. The place they visited regularly, and in many cases daily, is gone.
Those of us who report on this aspect of our lives would do well to be aware of the ties many feel toward a place and its people. In our state, that extends to the proprietor who is likely to be a neighbor and whose name may be above the door. It will be of interest in this time of social media, in which anything can be reported without perspective or attribution, to take note of the recognition that people are the main ingredient of hospitality.
While there are aspects that might be advanced by technology, the essence of service, whether it is how we take our coffee or the creation of a special treat that ends our meal on a memorable note, comes down to people.
“Dining Out With Bruce Newbury” is broadcast locally on WADK 101.1 FM and 1540 AM and on radio throughout New England. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.
