Local restaurants make for a great ‘taste of Pawtuxet’

Posted 10/6/15

Guests could eat to their heart’s desire at the Sept. 29 fundraiser, the 4th Annual Taste of Pawtuxet Village, with local eateries providing sample dishes from their menus, including pizza, pasta, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Local restaurants make for a great ‘taste of Pawtuxet’

Posted

Guests could eat to their heart’s desire at the Sept. 29 fundraiser, the 4th Annual Taste of Pawtuxet Village, with local eateries providing sample dishes from their menus, including pizza, pasta, wings, cheese and wine.

Marta Martinez from The Friends of Pawtuxet Village, which sponsored the event along with the Pawtuxet Village Merchants, said 10 restaurants had tables with samples at the event and those businesses that didn’t serve food donated door prizes such as a wine gift basket, hand creams and hair products.

“We have a little bit of everything here,” she said. “This is a way to promote the whole village and what it has to offer.”

Every year, Martinez is “amazed” at the response from restaurants. Even new restaurants in the area seek Martinez out to be a part of the fundraiser. They donate both time and resources for the event, and rather than bring small samples all of the businesses “go above and beyond” with the food they bring.

“This is the place to be and one of the best ways to promote a business,” Martinez said. “It’s up to them what they want to bring, and they just go all out and I am so grateful.”

Kristy Knoedler, owner of Fellini Pizzeria, has only been conducting business for just over a year in Pawtuxet Village and said the event is a great way to gain new customers while giving back to the community that has supported her endeavor.

Fellini Pizzeria has seen a lot of success in the past year and Knoedler was happy to see some regular customers and new faces at Tuesday’s event.

Also participating were O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill, Rim Nahm Thai Cuisine, The Water’s Edge Café, Revolutions American Bistro, Betty’s Candies, The Elephant Room, Little Falls Café & Bakery, Basta Italian Restaurant and Edgewood Cheese Shop and Eatery.

Martinez described Pawtuxet Village as “one big family,” there to help each other out. She admitted that as more box stores and chain restaurants open up, especially in Warwick, it becomes more difficult for small and family business owners to stay open and get new customers.

“The village has so much to offer and so many of these businesses have been around for a long time. We want people to come in and enjoy the area while shopping locally.”

Even before the event those who wanted to attend were encouraged to purchase tickets at the local stores rather than online. Martinez explained that the event has never sold so many tickets – 110 – in advance, which means more and more people are becoming “acquainted” and seeing what the different businesses have to offer.

Guests can be just as generous, according to Martinez, seeing as it is the only fundraiser held for the organization throughout the year.

“People are so generous,” she said. “They realize everything we do for the village, and that everything’s free so the community makes the effort to give back.”

This year’s fundraiser collected just over $4,000.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards printing and purchases of hayrides, Christmas lights, wreaths, trees and various other components to the village’s autumn festivities.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here