HOUSES & GARDENS TO TOUR IN AND AROUND PROVIDENCE

This has nothing to do with food or restaurants but food people do like to nose around other peoples' houses and gardens. Three local and semi-local opportunities:

Westport Art Group's Artists in the Garden tour: See lovely gardens, artists at work, eat a terrific boxed lunch at one of the gardens, and maybe buy a painting. This is a mid-week event, Wednesday, June 11. http://www.westportartgroup.com/

Stonington Garden Club tour: Visit the astoundingly beautiful town of Stonington, CT and tour local gardens June 13th and 14th, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. stoningtongardenclub.org

Providence Preservation Society's annual house and loft tour: On Saturday June 13th, visit historic homes around Cooke Street on the East Side. Take a look at Cooke Street and you'll see why this could be a great tour. The Preservation tours are always a mixed bag, i.e., one house may be over-the-top interesting to see (and give you shelter envy) and another will be an artsy mish-mosh (and give you solace), but worth the ticket. On Sunday, June 14th, tour the Pearl Street lofts and see amazing spaces. http://www.ppsri.org/events/2014-festival-of-historic-houses

GO WEST TO LOIE FULLER'S: BISTRO MENU IN DECO SETTING

For Rhode Islanders West Side usually means Federal Hill. If you're young, or reasonably hip, or a foodie, West Side means Broadway. Venture farther still and try Loie Fuller's (1455 Westminster Street, Providence  401-273-4375), a bar resplendent with Art Deco woodwork and painting.

Dinner here is bistro fare featuring about ten main courses: a couple of steaks, duck, maybe bass,  scallops, something with chicken and always vegetarian choices. Small plates include excellent salads (lardon aplenty), snails, mussels and frites. A little high in the calorie count but that's comfort food. And it's good comfort. The dining room, open to the bar, is just a fraction up the dress scale from neighborhood bar - casual, it just happens to evoke Piaf and give the sense that it's okay to linger.

You see all kinds of people here, young to old (no tots). Prices are reasonable, main courses range from $15 to $21, but it's common to see a table of "graduate student types" (my, probably totally inaccurate, catch-all phrases for young, interesting-looking persons who don't look rich) eating appetizers and drinking beer.

A plus for me is that the bartender knows what he's doing and can mix modern no-nonsense cocktails (i.e., not the sweet trash served at 95% of local venues).

www.loiefullers.com/index.html

MOTHER'S DAY 2014: CAV

Mother's Day brunch is not exactly a perfect idea.  As the recipient of a holiday gesture I think I'd prefer to be outdoors, nibble croissants and such (http://www.frenchtarte.com/), drink a gin and tonic, and watch other people weed my garden.

But brunch is what we've come to favor and since breakfast food may be the only fare that  opinionated groups (offspring/in-laws/small ones) can agree on, brunch is kind of a sane idea.

Here's a venue with a celebratory feel to it: CAV (1414 Imperial Place, Providence). It's pretty, a bit quirky, and is so hidden-around-the-corner that East Siders and non-Providence people often overlook it. Brunch begins at 10:00 a.m. and runs to 4:00 p.m. (when dinner menu begins). Nice place. Reserve ahead.


cavrestaurant.com   401-751-9164

MOTHER'S DAY - GARRISON CONFECTIONS

Mother's Day is May 11th. Do not buy supermarket chocolates for your mother. When she sees the Lake Champlain tag she'll know you ran out to Whole Foods at the last minute. And unless you plan to dig the hole yourself don't buy a lilac bush either. Instead, drive up to Garrison Confections Factory Store in Central Falls (72 Ledge Street) and spend some money on a box of tiny perfect chocolates. Be generous, buy a big box. Or treat her to Garrison's delicious chocolate-covered ginger.

Garrison is open now through May 10, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except Sunday. It's wise to call first so you are not left knocking at the door.  401-725-0790

VINTAGE BEER AT JULIANS

not rare just old ... photo by Visitor7

Julians (318 Broadway, Providence  401-861-1770) is holding a vintage beer dinner Sunday, April 20, 6:00 p.m. They'll pair courses with "rare" (their word) beers. Price is $99 plus tax and tip. Must reserve!  juliansprovidence.com

OLD-FASHION SUGAR EASTER EGGS

Decorations are better than ever on the sugar view-eggs available at Simple Pleasures (6 Richmond Square, Providence  401-331-4120) this year. The little rodents are especially cute but there's a  knockout frog egg too and some traditional flowery ones. Yes, expensive, and who but an insane eight-year-old would actually want to eat one, but sooo much fun to behold. Also for sale: fancy jelly beans, chocolate eggs and caramels. simplepleasuresprovidence.com

PROVIDENCE FOOD FESTIVAL STARTS 4/24/14

The Eat Drink RI Festival runs four days, starting Thursday, April 24 with a multi-course dinner created by eight top Rhode Island chefs who are Johnson & Wales graduates along with eight faculty members. This takes place at Gracie's (host/owner Ellen Slattery). Then on Friday the action moves to the Bank of America Center at Kennedy Plaza (think ice rink) where the Rhode Island Community Food Bank holds a Truck Stop benefit. On Saturday the Grand Tasting at the Biltmore is a party with seminars and over forty tasting "vendors." The event closes on Sunday with a two-seating brunch, also at the Biltmore.

Go to eatdrinkri.com/festival or to Facebook for the time and cost details of each event.

It's all about Rhode Island chefs who are featured throughout. The truck list for the Food Bank's party is terrific and this is a good cause. Think about it!