Lunch and conversation with Chef Walter Potenza

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Chef Walter PotenzaPROVIDENCE – When it comes to delicious food, the only thing better than talking about it is eating it. On Monday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m., you’ll get to do both at an open meeting of the Miriam Hospital Women’s Association. Join Chef Walter Potenza, the Rhode Island restaurateur, cooking school director, cookbook author and connoisseur of Mediterranean and European gastronomy, for a petite luncheon and tasty conversation.

Have an interest in the cuisines of the Roman Empire, Middle Ages and Renaissance or Sephardic Italian Jews? You’re in luck, because Potenza is an expert in those fields. Love to visit Federal Hill on a nice day? Ask him questions about Providence’s Little Italy. Potenza does know his subject matter. e is the recipient of multiple recognitions that include the Six Star Diamond Award, the Portonovo Award from the Marche Region of Italy and the prestigious Insignia Award in 1999 and 2006, presented by the Italian Government – identifying Chef Walter as one of the Ambassadors of Italian Culinary Culture Worldwide.

Arriving in the United States at age 19 from Abruzzo, Italy, Potenza abandoned studying history at Rhode Island College in favor of the culinary field. He opened his first restaurant in East Greenwich in 1985. Now Potenza Ristorante in Cranston boasts authentic rustic dishes.

If you are interested in learning about food preparation for yourself or for those with diet restrictions due to celiac and diabetes diseases, terracotta cooking or reinterpreting Jewish Italian dishes, do come to the luncheon. Even if you don’t enjoy the craft, you should attend to meet the chef featured in numerous international gastronomic publications and on many television shows.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Miriam Hospital Hurvitz Board Room, 164 Summit Ave., Providence. RSVP to Mary Ferreira at 793-2520 by Oct. 28.