Wednesday, April 29, 2015

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

Thursday, April 23, 2015

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

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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' Market9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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

Thursday, April 9, 2015

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