RI Restaurants Band Together for Dining Out for Life Thursday

Thursday night is a fantastic night to go out for dinner this week, and not just because you get a break from cooking.

It’s Dining Out for Life — an annual event that brings together some of the best restaurants in Rhode Island, food lovers and AIDS Project RI.

Proceeds from the event go to support AIDS Project RI’s programs and this year, the need for the charity’s work and services is more pressing than ever.

HIV cases in Rhode Island are actually going up. The number of diagnoses last year jumped from 73 to 98 as compared to the year before.

“HIV cases have been rising in Rhode Island, we must remember,” said AIDS Project RI executive director Stephen Hourahan. “We’re not facing what Indiana is facing, but we need to be vigilant. People need to get tested for HIV, practice safe sex, and take other steps to help the state reach its goal of zero new HIV infections.”

HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS.

Dining Out for Life is Thursday, April 30, and with so many restaurants participating this year, it won’t be a long drive for almost all Rhode Islanders who want to support the cause — along with a restaurant.

Here’s a list of some of the participating restaurants:

• Barrington, Pizzico
• Cranston, Bistro 22
• East Greenwich, Grille on Main and Tio Mateo’s
• Newport, Despina’s Café and SpeakEasy
• North Kingstown, the Carriage Inn and Bravo Wood Fired Pizza
• North Smithfield, Cafe900
• Pawtucket, Hose Company #6 and Rasoi
• Providence, Blaze East Side, Broadway Bistro, CAV, Easy Entertaining, EatDrinkRI’s “Dinner by Dames,” El Rancho Grande, GPub, Gracie’s, India, Kitchen Bar, Los Andes, the Melting Pot, New Rivers, Parkside, Pizzico, The Red Fez, Rosalina, and Three Sisters
• Warren, Federal Hill Pizza and Simone’s
• Woonsocket, the Burrito Company.

The event is sponsored by CVS Health, the “Gold Fork Sponsor,” and Rustigian Rugs. National sponsor is Subaru.

“We work to fill these restaurants, even introducing their establishment to new customers, so they have a great business day and end up sending a sizeable check to AIDS Project RI,” she said. Restaurants donate a percentage from each dinner check—or checks from all meals on that day—or donate a flat amount.

This year’s honorary co-chairs for the event are: NBC 10’s Mario Hilario; David Dadekian, founder and president of Eat Drink RI, a leading local culinary media, marketing and event production company; and Jamie Coelho, an associate edito

Since restaurants have been signing up up until the last minute, it’s a good idea to check the AIDS Project RI website for a complete list.

“We’re asking people to visit our website to get the complete list of restaurants, which will continue to grow up to the day of the event,” said AIDS Project RI development director Julie Casimiro.

The website address is www.aidsprojectri.org.

Restaurants, food trucks, cafeterias and the like interested in participating should call her at 401-519-2289 or email her at Julie@aidsprojectri.org.

AIDS Project RI is also partnering with the EatDrinkRI Festival, which is kicking off the same day with ‘Dinner by Dames to benefit AIDS Project RI’ at Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence. Visit eatdrinkri.com for more information.