Thrive NC is a hot ticket in its second year
In less than a month, Thrive NC takes over City Market in downtown Raleigh.
Now in its second year, the two-day event has already sold out even before participating restaurants were announced. Things kick off on May 9 at City Market with a summit delving into North Carolina’s food issues, including childhood obesity and access to fresh and healthy food.
On the evenings of May 9 and 10, there will be a food festival featuring food and drink samples from North Carolina vendors and live music.
As with last year, award-winning chefs Ashley Christensen and Vivian Howard will be heavily involved each night by leading a selected group of chefs in demonstrations.
Howard, who stars in A Chef’s Life on PBS and owns Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, has selected Dean Neff of PinPoint Restaurant in Wilmington, Brian Noyes of Red Truck Rural Bakery of Marshall, Virginia and Cynthia Wong of Life Raft Treats in Charleston, S.C., for demos at Thrive NC on May 9.
Christensen, who is currently a finalist for the James Beard Award for best chef in the country, selected Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville and Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh to kick off demonstrations on May 10. Lin Peterson of Locals Seafood in Raleigh and Keith Rhodes of Catch in Wilmington are up next, followed by Vansana Nolintha of Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana in Raleigh and Michael Lee of M Sushi, M Kokko and M Tempura in Durham.
Christensen and Howard have also selected six non-profits to receive tickets proceeds from their respective nights. Howard has selected Conetoe Family Life Center, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and NC Future Farmers of America. Proceeds from May 10 (Christensen's night) will go to Alliance Medical Ministry, Band Together and Meals on Wheels Wake County.
Each night will also include live music. Bull City Syndicate, Adam Pitts, Danielle Ward, Marcus Anderson and Taylor Leopold will perform on May 9. On May 10, Jeanne Jolly, New Reveille, Raleigh Jazz Duo and Shana Tucker will perform.
More details can be found on the event website.
