Rio Goes Brazilian

On Saturday, July 20, the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce will host a “A Night in Rio (Brazil that is!)” to be held from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at St. Joseph Hall, 240 S.4th St. in Rio Vista.  This will be a lively evening of delicious food, great entertainment, and two exciting auctions – one live with auctioneer Joe Diaz, and one silent.

 The menu.  Our dinner features Chef Michael Torres, owner of “At Your Service Catering.”  Chef Michael is a passionate, confident, and creative chef who has an extensive background in menu planning and in food preparation and presentation.    He finds joy in creating a variety of dishes and in offering diverse dining experiences.  Chef Michael’s background includes being a young entrepreneur in Connecticut, selling his handmade ice cream at the age of 19 from the back of a station wagon..  He is a veteran who served in Viet Nam, a former teacher of tennis and rollerskating, and owner of a nightclub and restaurants in Key West, Florida. He lived in Brazil for 7 years where he learned to cook the local dishes including the flavor-filled grilled meats cooked the Brazilian way.  He then returned to the US,  first to Benicia and then to Rio Vista. He is a graduate of the Connecticut Culinary Institute. 

 The dinner will include:  an appetizer table, charcuterie board, grilled steak and chicken, vegetable skewers, rice, beans, cheese bread, and truffles for dessert.

The entertainment:  While enjoying “a taste of Brazil,” popular local jazz guitarist, Eddie Davis, will entertain our diners with a selection of Brazilian, Samba, Afro-Cuban, and Blue Note-era jazz. He has studied with some of NorCal’s and Hollywood’s most successful touring and recording pros.  His interesting full bio may be found at https://www.reverbnation.com/eddiedavis along with many samples of his music.

The live auction:  Live auction items include a certificate for a leg of lamb donated by R. Emigh Livestock which includes an R. Emigh Livestock hat and sweatshirt, Basque Marinade, and kitchen towels; a 59” x 50” quilt made and donated by Rio Vistan Joan Guptill; a beautifully framed poster titled “Warmwater Game Fish of North America;” and many other items we will  showcase on our Facebook page over the next few weeks.

Tickets:  Purchase online ($75.00 each) at https://Rio-Vista-chamber-of-commerce.square.site/shop/a-night-in-Rio-Brazilian-dinner/5 or call the Chamber at 707-374-2700.