Bar Pazzo serves dinner with culinary movie at Ritz Theater in Scranton on Sept. 12
From a press release:
Two downtown Scranton businesses – Italian restaurant Bar Pazzo and the historic Ritz Theater – are pairing up for a special dinner and movie screening on Monday, Sept. 12.
“Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter” tells the true story of Chicago chef Charlie Trotter. In the 2000s, he was on top of the culinary world, but his competitive and volatile nature alienated many. He suffered a fatal stroke at the age of 54, but his legacy is one of complexity and creativity.
Guests can arrive at The Ritz (222 Wyoming Ave., Scranton) at 5:30 p.m. for a “red carpet” entry with photography by 1120 Creative. The documentary will be shown promptly at 7 p.m., following complimentary wine from Magnotta Imports, soft drinks, and small plates inspired by Trotter’s working session cookbooks.
Chef John Tabone of Bar Pazzo will be creating these wonderful dishes along with culinary consultant Guy Zehner, aiming to give a full representation of Trotter’s talent and passion. These plates, coupled with the film, will bring the audience as close to Trotter as one can get.
Trotter is Tabone’s most inspirational culinary idol. He has utilized not only his techniques in the kitchen, but also his business sense and compassion for the industry and employees. This is a project near and dear to Tabone, so it will be a particularly great experience for anyone in the culinary field.
For one memorable evening, attendees can witness the passion, flavors, and madness of Trotter in Scranton. They will also get the chance to meet Renée Frigo, the founder and owner of Oak Street Pictures, which produced “Love, Charlie.”
Tickets for the dinner and movie ($56) or just the movie ($17) are available now via ShowTix4U, along with senior citizen and student discount options ($47.75).
Proceeds from the event will benefit Restaurant After Hours, a 501c3 charitable organization providing mental health support for the hospitality industry.
Written and directed by Rebecca Halpern, the 96-minute documentary has never-before-seen archival material and interviews with those that loved (and even loathed) Chef Trotter, who died in 2013. “Love, Charlie” shows all sides of him, including the highs and lows of his unfortunately short perfection-pursuing career.
This inside look at Trotter’s success – and also his demons – was named “Best of the Fest” at its world premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2021. It is an official selection of the Florida Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called it “one of the best documentaries of the year.”
“Love, Charlie” is set to receive a wider theatrical release this fall.
