NEWPORT CHOWDER COOK-OFF 2013

Polar Seltzer's 32nd Chowder Cook-Off (and the connection between chowder and seltzer is?) at the Newport Yachting Center (Commercial Wharf) is this Saturday, June 1, noon to 6:00 p.m. Go to newportwaterfrontevents.com for info. Or call 800-745-3000. Tickets purchased now are $20, $25 on day of event, and include admission to the Newport Oyster Festival a bivalve's throw away.

FABULOUS FOIE GRAS AT GRACIE'S

meg zimbeck

Michael Ginor, chef and co-founder of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a purveyor of terrific goods, will be at Gracie's (194 Washington Street, Providence  401-272-7811) for a five-course tasting menu on Monday, June 10. Wine pairings will be from The Savory Grape of East Greenwich (www.thesavorygrape.com). This is a pricey deal but it's so deliciously tempting.

Monday, June 10   6:00 p.m.   $150 plus tax & tip   Call 401-272-7811

www.graciesprov.com

TIME FOR RHUBARB PIE

MOs810

I dug my rhubarb out because it was pale, too soft, low on flavor and went to seed in about five minutes. It came back (bad digging) and its new, smaller self looks promising. Time to think about rhubarb pie.

For a great rhubarb pie, revisit: http://rhodeislandismyoyster.blogspot.com/2010/06/make-pie-strawberry-rhubarb.html

DOLLAR OYSTERS AT PARKSIDE ROTISSERIE

Good news for bivalve lovers, Parkside Rotisserie (76 South Main St, Providence  401-331-0003) is a new entrant in the dollar oyster game. Tuesdays and Fridays. After 4:30.

www.parksideprovidence.com

PAWTUCKET: FRENCH TARTE CLASSES

"Baking with the french tarte" is her website's lead-in for classes. If you don't know the Paris-trained Susan Vanderberg from her shop at Hope Artiste Village (which is generally open on Farmers' Market mornings) in Pawtucket (1005 Main Street) you are missing out. Her butter cookies are terrific, breakfast treats fresh and buttery, tarts lovely. And she instructs. From June through September she is holding classes for specific ventures, i.e., a class for making financiers and madeleine, another for croissant, etc. Her classes sell out. http://www.frenchtarte.com/pages/class.html

KATRIN SNIPPERING: COOKIE ART

EyeCookies/Facebook

Go local for sleek, amazing cookies created by  painter Katrin Snippering. Based in Barrington (Katrin Schnippering, 3 Tiffany Circle, Barrington 02806   401-338-8881) Snippering custom-designs her cookies and decorates in eye-popping color.

Minimum order: 12 cookies starting at $3.50 each (prices lower for bigger orders).

This is when it pays to plan ahead.

401-338-8881 or www.eyecookies.com

BE A KITCHEN VOYEUR: TOUR 7 IN PORTSMOUTH

Joachim Beuckelaer: A kitchen interior

                     Joachim Beuckelaer: A kitchen interior

Every year the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation convinces people to show off their splendid kitchens for the Hidden Kitchens of Portsmouth Tour. There's an inner voyeur in most of us when it comes to other peoples' homes and these tours are usually fun. Pick up ideas (e.g., pot rack solutions; lighting fixes), be snarky (Does anyone actually cook here?), look over the gardens on the way in, and, support a cause.

The kitchens are all over town but two are at Carnegie Abbey, one in a so-called "cottage" and the other in the condo tower. Free snacks and drinks (donated by local restaurants, caterers and other businesses). Tickets are $30 if you purchase online at www.portsmoutheducationfoundation.org or at Corey Farm (3124 East Main Road, Portsmouth). Call 401-862-4447 if you need more info.

Friday, May 10     11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.     $30