Friday, August 31, 2012

ON THE WATER IN WARREN: WHARF TAVERN


The plan is to eat at every waterfront restaurant in Bristol, Warren, East Greenwich, etc. It looks, from the street, like Wharf Tavern (215 Water Street, Warren  401-289-2534) has an enviable view so we gave it a try. What's to say? First, what you think is an upstairs deck is not. The only deck space is a narrow band around the indoor restaurant (which has a Holiday Inn kind of look). We sat outside and it was a lovely night - setting sun, boats heading in and out, breezes. The menu is very long (red flag) and has chicken fingers as an option (not a good sign in my book). The mussels were served with a tiny bit of broth (which wasn't good and it's so easy to make delicious broth). The scallops and swordfish tasted the same, maybe because they were both topped with a garlicky butter before serving. Best not to describe the pale green broccoli.

www.thewharftavernri.com/

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

TOMATO TASTING DAY: CASEY FARM AUGUST 25

Scott Bauer, USDA ARS

Coastal Growers Market is at Casey Farm (2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown) and Saturday, August 25 is Tomato Tasting Day. Sample conventional red ones and funny-colored heirlooms before you buy tomatoes and other produce at the market, often cited as one of the best in New England. Check this link for a view:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwtsvBJHi0s

Saturday, August 25     9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

GREEK FESTIVAL: AUGUST 17-19

greek pastry/richard arthur norton
When you're really really hungry what's better than a freshly made gyro or souvlaki?

From Friday night (August 17) through Sunday (19) indulge in Greek treats, shop the market and enjoy the dancing at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church's annual Greek Festival in Pawtucket.                                     
 This is the festival's 85th year.

Friday 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 to 10:00 p.m. 
Sunday  12:00 to 9:00 p.m.

www.greekfestivalri.com


Thursday, August 9, 2012

NEW ON UPPER HOPE: OLIVE DEL MONDO

The new Olive del Mondo (815 Hope Street, Providence  401-383-5733) has a tasting bar for its Italian olive oils and vinegars (featuring products from Modena). The shop, in the space where Garrison Chocolates once had a retail shop, also sells pastas, tapenades, salts, etc.

Visit upper Hope Street - the shopping is varied, fun and local, local, local. Lots of lunch options.

Olive del Mondo is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m.

 www.olivedelmondo.com


NEW RIVERS: OPEN FOR LUNCH

New Rivers (7 Steeple, Providence  401-751-0350), now owned by chef Beau Vistal and Elizabeth Vistal (yes, teary eyes when people learned Bruce Tillinghast sold New Rivers but it's a good story, really), began serving lunch on Monday, August 6. This is great news for 1) persons living on the East Side near downtown, 2) for RISD museum visitors, 3) shoppers on North and South Main, 4) office people across the river 5) food lovers. Lunch options in this area are minimal. A Beau Vistal BLT with home-made chips sounds good to me. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

www.newriversrestaurant.com


Friday, August 3, 2012

BLOUNT'S AT CRESCENT PARK: ONION RINGS

So, the onion ring fryer at Blount's Crescent Park location (684 Bullocks Point Avenue, East Providence  401-628-0485) scored high in my book yesterday. The onion rings were thinnish and slightly crisp and the batter wasn't thick, hard-shelled or weird-flavored. Blount's stand is nothing to look at but walk thirty or so yards and you're in a pretty park alongside the river and across from the Loof Carousel (beautiful). Devour the rings, guiltily, on a bench with a breeze. Add fried clams of course. Probably 99% of Rhode Islanders have no idea where Bullock Cove and Bullocks Point are. Rhode Island has a great shoreline.

Blount hours here are Wednesday - Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. I recommend Wednesday and Thursday.


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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

FOOD TRUCK "THROWDOWN" ON NORTH MAIN

The food truck wagons will circle (sort of) at the Roger William National Memorial site on North Main Street in Providence on Thursday, August 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Billed the Healthy Food Truck Throwdown the event is organized by the city, the Rhode Island Department of Public Health and the Roger Williams Memorial staff (a great group, responsible for Shakespeare in the park in June). Twelve food trucks are participating. Details are sketchy but the idea is that the trucks compete to create the tastiest/healthiest offerings. And it's a good park to have lunch in - an urban oasis with lots of tables, plenty of shade. Music too.