All Pawtucket All The Time

Italian Chef Vincent Messina

When bidding began at the Capitol City Auction on March 11, one of the hottest prizes of the night turned out to be the cuisine of Italian chef Vincent Messina, a hard-working local gourmet who oversees the menu for many Providence seniors.

One generous donor at the auction, which benefitted the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, bid $700 to win a dinner at home prepared by Messina. Only a handful of luxury items, including a three-night stay in San Francisco with flight and hotels included, sold for more.

“I’m really excited,” Messina said after the event, held at the Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence. “I can’t wait to cook for the winner.”

Many local seniors know Messina, either from eating at EPOCH Senior Living on Blackstone Boulevard, where he manages the kitchen, or from visits to Gianfranco’s Ristorante & Bar in Johnston, where he’s the owner and head chef.

As part of the auction prize, Messina will cook a three-course meal with wine pairings at the home of winning bidder Evan Kantor, treasurer for the Alzheimer’s Association’s local chapter. The tentative menu, according to Messina: lobster crepes for appetizers, a filet mignon surf and turf entrée, and a souffle for dessert. EPOCH will provide the food and wine.

The annual auction raises money for the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter, which supports and advocates for Rhode Islanders affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Guests at the auction sipped champagne and sampled cheeses and fruit while bidding on vacation packages, tickets to sporting events and other prizes.