PERSIMMON, BRISTOL RI

Check out the Persimmon (31 State Street, Bristol RI  401-254-7474 ) website for restaurant week info.The Newport and Bristol County Restaurant Week runs Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 15. Menu looks inviting.  www.persimmonbristol.com/

R.I. CHURCH BAZAARS: NOVEMBER 6 - 8, 2015

St Mary's 35th Annual Holiday Bazaar - look for Middle Eastern foods, pastries, take-out and bulk food purchases. Friday (Nov. 6) 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7), 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 8), 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Parish Center  One Saint Mary Way  Pawtucket

Sts Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church - 85th annual food fair and bazaar
Look for Armenia foods, pastries and take-out. Saturday (Nov. 7), 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday (Nov. 8), noon to 6:00 p.m.
Egavian Cultural Center  70 Jefferson Street  Providence
armenianfoodfairri.com

AVIARY RESTAURANT, SWANSEA

The Seekonk to Fall River path is short on good dining options so when Aviary (2229 Grand Army, Swansea, MA  508-379-6007) was suggested as a new option it seemed worth a try. Hmmm. The Aviary is a seven-day-a-week lunch and dinner place with brunch on Sunday. It's not in a mall but that's the atmosphere, inside and out. Everything is perfect and the place appears to have been designed and decorated by people who design restaurants at fancy conference centers. It looks like a restaurant at a resort except it's on Route 6. There is not a thing intimate or individual about it. Cocktail too sweet, duck wings not notable, and the fish tacos poor.  http://www.theaviaryrestaurant.com/
 

DOLLAR OYSTER UPDATE - OCTOBER 2015; $3 OYSTERS AT MILL'S TAVERN

david manniaux

The Providence Journal provided a public service a few weeks ago by listing dollar oyster locations in Rhode Island.(http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150916/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150919533). I copied the article and put it on the wall. Long a fan of Tuesday night oysters at New Rivers (7 Steeple Street, Providence  401-751-0350) I thought we should branch out. So, in that spirit of good will I decided to meet my friend at Mill's Tavern (101 North Main, Providence  401-272-3331) which has dollar oysters Monday through Saturday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Sundays 4:00 to 7:00. Friend was to arrive at 7:45, in time to put in the order. This plan was a big deal as my oyster-loving friend has been at odds with Mill's Tavern for at least seven years (starting during the recession when our haughty waiter neglected to present the special $30 set menu and after he finally produced it kept referring to our dinner choices as being from the "value" selections.) Anyway, this time my friend sat at the bar and asked about the dollar oysters; the barman said, just order them by 8:00 and you're all set. I arrived and soon we had a plate of twelve, three each of four varieties. Three were terrific and the the fourth type (Beavertail from Jamestown) was not so pleasing, but for $12 we were not complaining. Time passed - more eating and baseball-watching followed before the bill arrived. The charge for the oysters was $30. Friend said to barman, what's this?, we were here for dollar oysters. Oh, says the barman, only the Beavertail are $1. A lot of things wrong with this picture. So, Mill's Tavern, maybe this is why your place is half empty most nights.

WINE DINNER AT SIMONE'S MONDAY OCTOBER 19

Okay, another wine dinner you say. But this one promises a rich and savory presentation. And the price is right. It's a Louis Latour night at Simone's (275 Child Street, Warren  401-247-1200). Here are the wines: 2013 St. Veran, 2013 Marsannay, 2012 Pommard vs 2012 Volnay. And ever important, the menu: oyster and leek stew, house-made mushroom and mascarpone ravioli, and braised beef in burgundy. For these dishes crank your Fitbit goal for the day up to a new high and do serious atoning before dinner. Simone's is an inviting, modern venue (if he removes those ersatz flowers I'll like it even better).  simonesri.com/

Time is 6:30     Cost is $85 inclusive     Call 401-247-1200 to reserve

SAVE THE BAY HARVEST DINNER SEPTEMBER 16

Good cause and good dinner. This Save the Bay (http://www.savebay.org/contact) event is at Hemenway's (www.hemenwaysrestaurant.com/) and all proceeds go to Save the Bay.
Cocktail time is at 6:00 p.m. and features oysters on the half shell, mussels, etc. Dinner is a four-course affair with bouillabaisse, Point Judith squid, and a surf and turf combo.

Cost is $85.00 before tax and tip. Call Hemenway's to reserve:  401-351-8570

TONIGHT - AUGUST 21 - EAT A GYRO IN PAWTUCKET

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church (97 Walcott St., Pawtucket  401-725-3127) starts its annual fair tonight. There's Greek music, dancing and the agora but what do we really want? The gyros, the pastries, (and the winter memory of eating the gyro on a late summer's night). It's rain or shine, tonight from 5:00 to 10:00, Saturday from noon until 10:00 and Sunday noon until 9:00. Free admission & free parking.

http://www.assumptionri.org/GreekFestRI/index.htm

OYSTERS & WINE: CAMPUS FINE WINES AT BROADWAY BISTRO MONDAY AUGUST 3

Campus Fine Wines (campusfinewines.com/) at 127 Brook Street in Providence is a great store and has an especially good event on Monday:

OysterFest/Campus Pop-up at Broadway Bistro
Directly from the Campus newsletter:

"Can't get enough oysters? Neither can we! We'll be at Broadway Bistro with Ocean State Oyster Festival for a casual meal inspired by the sea. There will be a raw bar for the 1st hour, with wines from the Wine Traditions portfolio paired with small plates throughout the evening.

In addition to the tasty food and beverages, there will be much food for thought regarding the past, present and future of oysters in Rhode Island."

Monday, August 3    6:30 - 8:30
 
$40 + tax & tip

Call Broadway Bistro (broadwaybistrori.com/) to reserve a spot:  401-331-2450



ELLIE'S BAKERY: MOTHER'S DAY IN PROVIDENCE

Ellie's Bakery (61 Washington Street 401-228-8118) is open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday BUT not Sunday. If you're wise and thinking ahead about Mother's Day, decide now, put an order in and pick up the goods on Saturday. Trust me, the cake and cookies will still be good a day later.

This is what I think someone should order me: a box of ginger sandwich cookies with lemon cream cheese frosting. These are for me to hide and parcel out (to myself). To share with you? I'll have the Bon Anniversaire, a vanilla multi-layered cake with milk chocolate sour cream frosting and an adornment of croquembouche.

Just sayin ...

elliesbakery.com

CHEZ PASCAL SUNDAY SUPPER: MAY 3

Check out Chez Pascal's (960 Hope Street, Providence) Secret Sunday Supper being served this weekend, Sunday May 3, between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. They are cooking a four-course (with choices) all-Italian dinner. The complete menu isn't posted but a pair of the contemplated dishes: cannelloni with rabbit and roasted clams with sausage. Nice timing for a Sunday supper.

Call to reserve: 401-421-4422

Cost is $68 before tax, tip and drinks

www.chez-pascal.com

GLENDORN CHEF AT OCEAN HOUSE MAY 6

Joseph Schafer has cooked at a number of posh resorts and now presides at Glendorn (www.glendorn.com), a tony spot in northwest Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, May 6 he'll be in Watch Hill at the Ocean House (www.oceanhouseri.com) kitchen presiding over a farm and vine dinner - four courses paired with wines from Hourglass Vineyards (www.hourglasswines.com) in California.

Time is 7:00 - 10.30 p.m. Cost is $95 for dinner only; $135 for dinner with wine pairing. Tax and tip additional.

Call to reserve: 888-552-2588

MEXICAN COOKING CLASS AT OCEAN HOUSE

"Exploring Mexican Cuisine" is next up in the demonstration kitchen at Ocean House (1 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill  401-584-7000). May 2, 9:00 a.m. to noon. $95 (before tax and tip) gets you the class, recipes and an Ocean House apron (hmm, as good as my Cordon Bleu apron?). Call to reserve: 401-584-7000

oceanhouseevents.com

SEVEN STARS DEMO AND SALE: APRIL 25, 2015

Seven Stars Bakery (sevenstarsbakery.com), locally famous for its olive bread and great bread in general, is opening its flour mill at Hope Artiste Village (1005 Main Street, Pawtucket) for a milling demonstration and fresh-flour and whole-grain bread sale. Saturday, April 25 during the Wintertime Farmers' Market,  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

LOS ANDES ON CHALKSTONE AVENUE: MAKE THE TRIP

It's fun being at Los Andes (903 Chalkstone Avenue  401-649-4911) even before you eat. Why? Because it's alive. It reminds you of dinners out in New York or any other big city where waiting in line is part of the drill. If you want prime-time reservations at Los Andes, call days ahead but if you are flexible on either end just show up early or arrive at 8:30 when the turnover pace is fast and the line starts to disappear (on weekdays at least).

We couldn't get the time we wanted the other night but we showed up (per the advice of the man who answered my call) and were immediately lucky, getting just enough seats at the bar. For two or three people sitting at the bar can be the best time. We watched the super hard-working (and friendly) bartender and the crazy fish in the giant tank. And I savored a chicken empanada dipped in spicy sauce. What could be better, really?

The menu has every manner of Bolivian and other Andean specialties. There are multiple ceviche choices and a standard appetizer is the "ceviche martini" - mixed seafood in a martini glass. If you're a ceviche fan, try it. A special the other night was tuna ceviche with a crown of crispy calamari, all healthy benefits of the tuna cancelled out but a good treat. There are saltenas (Bolivian chicken pies) and empanadas (chicken and queso and a special yucca and cheese in a banana leaf) and other popular Bolivian fare. Here's where you can order grilled garlic-marinated beef hearts on skewers.

The main menu is roughly divided among ceviche, other fish, beef and chicken. There are popular low-cost low-cut beef dishes with posole, fried eggs, etc., South American comfort food. Many of the tastes are not familiar flavors of the northeast U.S. More familiar are the expensive beef offerings, steaks of all types. Ceviche as a main course is popular and Los Andes serves it several ways - tuna, calamari, sashimi-cut tilapia. There's plenty of cooked fish including a simple, aromatic dish of steamed potatoes with tilapia and soft sauteed red onions on rice. Cheap, perfect. Next time around  we'll do some serious chicken ordering.

A busy place where people are obviously happy to be, a Pisco sour, an empanada dipped in spicy sauce and a menu which allows you to spend freely or frugally. East Siders, go west.

Los Andes is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, serving straight through on Saturdays and Sundays.

losandesri.com

CLAUDINE PÉPIN AT PERSIMMON APRIL 22

Claudine Pépin will discuss food, family and her new book, Kids Cook French, at a special Champe Speidel dinner on April 22 at Persimmon (31 State Street, Bristol  401-254-7474). Speidel will use recipes from the book as part of his four-course dinner with French wine pairings. The party starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $100 and include dinner, wine and a signed book. Tax and tip are extra. Call to reserve.

www.persimmonbristol.com

AL FORNO WINEMAKER DINNER FEB. 25, 2015

Al Forno (577 South Main St, Providence  401-273-9767) has a winemaker event coming up. Andrea Sottimano's Italian wines (http://www.skurnikwines.com/prospects.cgi?rm=view_prospect_detail&prospect_id=392) will be featured at a special dinner Wednesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Here's the menu (as of now, these things can change) with the wine pairings per the Al Forno website (alforno.com):

   Mixed crostini

Grilled Pizza Bianca

Sottimano, Dolcetto d'Alba, Bric Del Salto, 2013

Grilled Endive "Bagna Cauda"

Sottimano, Barbera d'Alba, Pairolero Superiore, 2012

David's Amazing Agnollotti

Sottimano, Nebbiolo, Langhe, 2012

Slow-cooked Pork "Brasato"

Sottimano, Barbaresco, Currá 2010

Vanilla Affogatto "Corretto"

Moscato d'Asti, Saracco  

Check the website for details. Cost is $125 per person, inclusive. Call Suzette or Rob to reserve.  401-273-9767

STUDY WHISKEY AT OCEAN HOUSE IN WATCH HILL

Naomi Ibuki

They call their monthly events Vine to Wine seminars but on Friday and Saturday, February 27th & 28th, Ocean House (1 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill) abandons the grape (well, partly) to consider Whiskeys of the World. There's a reception Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and a class, with tastings, from 11:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

Cost is $50. Register on line at oceanhouseevents.com or call 401-584-7000

BUY VALENTINE CHOCOLATE AT GARRISON FACTORY STORE

 
Garrison Confections (72 Ledge Street, Central Falls  401-725-0790)  is open through February 14 (except Sunday) for Valentine buying.

Check out the collection at garrisonconfections.com 
Delicious tiny chocolates and macarons are what I want.

Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

FOOD NOTES: SIMONE'S IN WARREN; SALTED SLATE IN PROVIDENCE

• Remember  Sunnyside, the Warren waterside breakfast and lunch place run by Joe Simone? Well Mr. Simone is back and his new home, Simone's Restaurant (275 Child Street, Warren), may not be on the water but it is picturesque. Simone paid attention to every detail and the result is a cleanly- designed airy space with a great-looking bar and a view to the kitchen. It's light-hearted, vibrant, modern without being self-conscious. I like the menu. You can mix it up with starters and small plates (maybe roasted marrow bones with shiitakes, oysters, and a small bowl of Linguine alle Vongola made with Narragansett clams). Over four visits, with different groups, we tried a lot, and liked a lot. The selection is broad without being overly inclusive. Below is a list of entrees, or large plates, as listed on the website today. Note, though, that the menu changes. We've eaten excellent roast chicken, a beautiful cod roast, grilled salmon and lobster and an excellent pork chop (a daring menu option in my view since it goes wrong so easily).

Lemon-Fennel Roast Nantucket Bay Scallops, Spinach-Mushroom Gratin, Tomato Vinaigrete 29
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Braised Artichokes and Caramelized Lemons 25
Jumbo Shrimp a la Plancha wrapped in Pancetta, melting Onions, Polenta Bianca 27 
Wood Grilled Lobster, “Spiked Olive Oil,” Mushrooms, roasted Peppers, wilted Escarole, Quinoa 27
Native Cod Roast White Beans, Kale and Chorizo 26
Quinoa with Tomato Coulis, and organic Vegetables (vegan) 25 
Long Island Duck Breast Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Tamarind Leeks, Grilled Focaccia 28
Wood Grilled Flank Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Mushroom, Charred Onion and Arugula Salad 27
Roast Baffoni Farms ½ Chicken, Lemon, Rosemary, roast Farm Vegetables and Potatoes 25
Hand Cut Blackbird Farm Berkshire Pork Chop, Chorizo-Potato Cake, Braised Cabbage 26 

We had to share desserts. I can endorse the butterscotch pudding, lovely. And a spongecake with strawberries too.

simonesri.com 

275 Child Street (use your maps app), Warren   401-247-1200

•  Hourglass Brasserie (382 Thames Street, Bristol) closed in September. It was maybe a little too cute in its presentations for me but, that said, I certainly ate there often enough and enjoyed most of it. It's a tough business. In its exact place is the recently opened Christian's Wood Fired Grille (401-396-9811)(christiansri.com). Here's hoping.

•  Another replacement restaurant is The Salted Slate (186 Wayland Avenue, Providence  401-270-3737) which moved into the space vacated by Farmstead when the Jennings moved back to Boston. The cheese shop now holds the main bar (long, deep, good size) and elevated tables; the old dining room is all tables. After one brunch/lunch and two dinners I'm not smitten but I'm hoping for refinements so I can be smitten, because I like the location and want Wayland Square to thrive as a foodie neighborhood. Anyway, brunch/lunch was good, both food (especially the home-made doughnuts) and service. Dinner was the fall-off. Too much dubious sauce (think the brown stuff a country club will try to put on a New York sirloin or the too-much-soy coating on salmon). And, alas, service was very very slow so we all had time to think about food flaws. Desserts did not atone.

•  What's with the Chow Fun Food Group? Rick's Road House (370 Richmond Street, Providence  401-272-7675), serves possibly the worst barbecue. And XO (125 North Main, Providence  401-273-9090) is limping along giving almost nobody a reason to return.

R.I.'s 52nd ANNUAL ROBERT BURNS SUPPER AND DANCE

Email burnssupper@cox.net by tomorrow, January 29, to reserve your place at the February 7th (Saturday) celebration of Scotland's beloved 18th century poet, Robert Burns, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet (60 Rhodes Place, Cranston). There is a traditional haggis ceremony, dinner (your choice, prime ribs or vegetarian), and music by the Rhode Island Highlanders Pipe Band and Sean Connors and the Irish Express (which Ireland are we talking about here?).

A Burns supper (usually near or on the poet's birthday, January 25) is not a random event. The ceremony includes The Selkirk Grace, a piping-in of the haggis (savory pudding which people tend to love or loathe), recitation of Burns' Address to a Haggis, scotch, dinner, a talk about the poet, salutations to the "lassies",  and replies to the "laddies". Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper#Address_To_a_Haggis

The tickets are $55 for adults and $25 for children under 12. Email the above address to see what's included. Reserve by tomorrow.

RHODE ISLAND COOKING: CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP AT OCEAN HOUSE

Bill Collins, author of How to Make Chocolate Candies, gives a hands-on lesson at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, Saturday, February 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon. $95 price includes his book. Call 401-584-7000 to reserve.  oceanhouseevents.com

RHODE ISLAND COOKING: JANUARY 26, 2015 AT SIMONE'S

Sign up for class and tour Simone's new kitchen, hear about the design and the equipment, sip wine and sample the cooking while you learn to prepare carmelized cauliflower dip, roasted squash and onion salad, and chicken thighs with rosemary.  Monday, January 26 at Simone's (275 Child Street, Warren). $50 per person. Call 401-247-1200.  simonesri.com

2015 PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT WEEKS

First off, Providence Winter Restaurant Week(s) begins Sunday, January 18 and runs through Saturday, January 24. And, as usual, many restaurants in East Greenwich, Bristol, Barrington and other non-Prov locations are participating. Matunuck Oyster Bar offers a delicious deal (bring a serious appetite) and what better on a cold, sunny day in winter than a cozy lunch in Matunuck? Most downtown and East Side Providence restaurants (Cook & Brown, Gracie's, Hemenway's, Bacaro, New Rivers, Parkside, Mill's Tavern, etc. etc.) offer specials and again, per usual, Al Forno does not. Nor do the popular West Side (as in hip  west side, not Federal Hill) locations like Nick's, Broadway Bistro, etc. Eat out, it's January. Double the a.m. workout.