CHOCOLATE FOR EASTER

benson kua

Garrison Confections Factory Store (72 Ledge Street, Central Falls  401-725-0790) is open for Easter sales, beginning today, March 28 and running through April 7 (but closed on Sunday, April 1). This is the place to buy a chocolate hare with a cell phone a/k/a "Wall Street Bunny."  Hours are 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

www.garrisonconfections.com

In fact, there isn't much chocolate to buy in Providence, no place at all to purchase chocolate truffle eggs except Williams Sonoma in the mall. And theirs are good.

walters art museum

Along with ever-enticing (to me anyway) "view" eggs, sugary versions of Faberge (at left), Simple Pleasures (6 Richmond Square, Providence,  401-331-4120) has a good stock of Italian chocolate eggs with crispy insides, weird flavor jelly beans, lots of caramels and cute tins of fudge in a bunny  shape. No ganache eggs here but there are little foiled animals with hazelnut chocolate filling. They will do. And outside the front door big pots of blue pansies are for sale - maybe a healthier treat for the adult cooking dinner.

Current hours are 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday

www.simplepleasuresprovidence.com

MAKE PASTRY IN NEWPORT, MIX DRINKS IN PROVIDENCE

La Maison de Coco (28 Bellevue Avenue, Newport  401-845-2626)
For $45 learn to make pâté-a-choux and become an artist with the pastry bag. Participants will make something savory, e.g. a cocktail pastry, and something sweet.

Thursday, March 22  7:00 p.m.

And p.s., you can join French speakers any Friday 4:00-6:00 for Francophile Fridays.

 www.lamaisondecoco.com/


Tini (200 Washington Street, Providence  401-383-2400) will skip the precious and focus on whiskey at its next drinks class. $50 for cocktails, snacks and printed info. Better than beer for St. Patrick's Day?

Saturday, March 17  1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

www.thetini.com