Food & Drink
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The latest Rhode Island food and dining news.
Compiled by Allison Palombo and Christine Pavao
February-May 2013
Culinary Calendar
2/1–2/28
For the month of February, Bristol House Bed and Breakfast will be running a “Romance for Two” special. The getaway includes a two-night stay in a deluxe guest room, your choice of two spa treatments at Alayne White Spa ($100 maximum value each), a bottle of champagne and chocolate truffles in room at check-in, a gourmet breakfast each morning and a $20 shopping certificate to Revival Boutique for the price of $549.
2/21-2/24
The Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show will take place Feb. 21–24 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, and there will also be a Food and Wine Festival from 1-6 p.m. each day. Chef demonstrations will be given by “Top Chef” Tiffani Faison; Sara Moulton of public television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals;” Nemo Bolin, chef-proprietor of Cook and Brown Public House in Providence and Johnson and Wales University chef educators Frank Terranova, Neath Pal and Ciril Hitz. Wines from all over the world will be available for sampling.
2/23
The Hyatt Regency Newport will host the third annual Chicken Wing Cook-Off on Feb. 23 from 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Local restaurants and last year’s winner, Nikolas Pizza, will compete to win over taste buds of attendees. With flavors ranging from spicy to sweet, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Adult admission is $10, or $8 with a Newport Winter Festival button; admission for children ages five to ten is $5, or $3 with button, and children under five are admitted free.
2/24
On Feb. 24, the beautiful and historic Vanderbilt Grace in Newport will host an Oscar-themed party in honor of the eighty-fifth Academy Awards. The soiree will be held inside Muse, the hotel’s restaurant, and will feature themed cocktails such as the Life of Apple Pi, as well as gold popcorn and Oscar statuette-shaped canapes and cookies. Guests will be able to view the ceremony inside the restaurant and participate in Oscars trivia. Reservations are required, please call 846-6200.
2/24
The 2013 Tasting Series begins Feb. 24 with A Taste of Burgundy at the Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport. Guests will sample fine wines from Maison Louis Latour while benefiting from the knowledge of wine expert Andy Fruzzetti. The event will take place from 1–4 p.m. at Spiced Pear restaurant. Tickets are $95. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. Call 847-2244 or visit thechanler.com.
2/25
Seafood goes sustainable at the Boat House in Tiverton on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. The restaurant hosts the first event in the spring 2013 Eating with the Ecosystem series, a program that seeks to base the commercial harvesting of seafood on an understanding of the environment from which it comes. The series was organized by fisherwoman/environmental activist Sarah Schumann, and this particular dinner will be narrated by scientist Jeremy Collie and fisherman Billy Silvia. Chef Jonathan Cambra will prepare the meal, rounding out an evening of delicious food with a message of ecological awareness. Tickets are $60 and include drinks. Donations are encouraged, but not required. To make a reservation, call 624-6300. For more information, visit eatingwiththeecosystem.org.
2/26
Champe and Lisa Speidel of Persimmon in Bristol will return to the James Beard Foundation’s Beard House on Feb. 26 to cook an American Elegance dinner. Starting at 7 p.m., guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres followed by carefully crafted seasonal dinner selections featuring a pork terrine with pickled and raw vegetables; crisp Point Judith fluke with lobster, octopus, sea urchin and scallop ragout and saffron; Vermont rabbit three ways; slow-roasted Texas Axis venison sirloin and shank rillettes; and frozen peanut butter mousse with dark chocolate ganache. Fine wines will be paired with the dinner. For bookings, call 212-627-2308, and for more information, visit jamesbeard.org.
2/28
DeWolf Tavern in Bristol, in partnership with Blackbird Farm and Farm Fresh Rhode Island, will host the Nose to Tail Pork dinner on Feb. 28. Diners will be served choice cuts from a whole pig and enjoy fine cocktails from a local distillery while learning about the relationship between farm and restaurant. Tickets are $70 and reservations are required. For more information, call the restaurant at 254-2005.
3/7
On March 7, XO Cafe presents the Little Black Dress Wine Dinner, a four-course meal paired with meticulously chosen wines at $65 per person. Reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. Little black dress optional. Space is limited; for more information, call 273-9090 or visit xocafe.com.
3/10
Farmstead, Inc. will hold a Celtic Cheese and Whiskey class on March 10. The staff will provide guidance and instruction as to the pairing of fine cheese and whiskey while providing samples of each. The class runs 4:30–5:30 p.m. at $65 per person. For more information or registration, call 274-7177 or visit farmsteadinc.com.
3/10
Area Four in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will host the Trash Fish Dinner: The Best New England Seafood You’ve Never Tried on March 10. This unconventional multi-course seafood dinner, prepared by skilled local chefs Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway and Jake Rojas of Tallulah on Thames among others, will also feature guest speaker Barton Seaver of the New England Aquarium and National Geographic. Event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $125 and include wine. For more information, call the restaurant at 617-658-4444 or visit chefscollaborative.org.
3/11–3/17
Newport Storm has teamed up with the Newport Parade Committee to host Pint Night fundraisers March 11–17 at Newport bars the week before St. Patrick’s Day. When a patron visits a participating venue and orders a Spring Irish Red Ale, the glass is theirs to keep and $2 of that purchase goes toward the parade. Pints will also be on sale for $5, which will also benefit the parade. Visit Newport Storm's events page for a list of participating venues.
4/19–4/21
The Eat Drink RI Festival will take place April 19-21, and tickets are now available. A celebration of all things food and drink in Rhode Island, the event will feature a Food Truck Stop, a Cocktail Couture event, Eat Local and Taste of Terroir panels, a Brewing in New England panel, a Grand Tasting and Grand Brunch, as well as prix fixe dining at restaurants around the state.
5/1
Providence Performing Arts Center presents the Good vs. Evil tour on May 2 at 7:30 p.m., including Anthony Bourdain, former host of the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations,” and Eric Ripert, renowned chef of Le Bernadin, for a night of food-centric storytelling. Tickets to this event range from $25–$150.
ONGOING
The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market continues through May 11 at the Hope Artiste Village. The market is open every Saturday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and features numerous vendors including Hickory Hill Farm, Rhody Fresh Milk and various food trucks. Every week you can bring small electronic waste to the market for pickup as well as veggie scraps that will be composted. See the Farm Fresh RI website for more information about weekly specials and vendor schedules.
Check out the Weekly Winedown at Aspire Seasonal Kitchen in Providence, Mon.–Fri. from 5–7 p.m. Bar menu prices are cut in half and select glasses of wine are 50 percent off. This offer is not valid on PPAC show nights.
Chow Fun Food Group is offering Lenten specials through March 29. Participating restaurants include XO Cafe, 10 Prime Steak and Sushi, Rick’s Roadhouse, Harry’s Bar and Burger and Luxe Burger Bar, all in Providence. For a list of specials and more information, call 453-2077 or visit chowfunfoodgroup.com.
LAUNCHES
Ten Prime Steak and Sushi in Providence revamped its menu and interior. Along with new furniture and a repainted bar, done by Libby Slader Interior Design, the building also installed new A/V equipment for corporate patrons. The new menu features items such as beet carpaccio (pictured) and lobster pot stickers. Ten is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., and for dinner on Saturday 4–11 p.m. and Sunday 4–10 p.m.
Teas and Javas, owned by Alex and Ani, is replacing People’s Cafe at 282 Thames St. in Newport. The new location, which will open around Memorial Day, will be the third Teas and Javas in Rhode Island. Alex and Ani CEO Giovanni Feroce and designer/founder Carolyn Rafaelian will preserve the historical exterior of the building while updating the interior.
Luxe Burger Bar is opening its second location in Springfield, Massachusetts. The new branch, located at 1200 Hall of Fame Ave., will join the original Providence venue in offering the creative fare that Rhode Island has come to know and love.
Farmstead, Inc. in Providence will offer brunch on the first Sunday of each month beginning March 3 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Guests will enjoy new twists on classic brunch favorites, such as boudin noir sausage with biscuits and gravy. Reservations are accepted, but not required.
Daniele Inc. introduces a new and completely local charcuterie line. All of the meat comes from hogs raised on Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut farms, the recipes were developed by Johnson and Wales faculty and the labels are designed by RISD students.
Asia Grille in Lincoln underwent renovations over the summer, and Chayenne Chin, Bryant University graduate and daughter of Asia Grille owner Charles Chin, was named vice president of the restaurant.
NOTABLES
The James Beard Foundation announced the 2013 Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists. Both Matthew Jennings of Farmstead, Inc., and Champe Speidel of Persimmon have been nominated for the third time for Best Chef: Northeast, and Persimmon earned a semifinalist spot for Outstanding Service. Cook and Brown also earned a semifinalist nod for its Outstanding Bar Program. Finalist nominations will be announced on the site on March 18, and awards will be presented May 6 in New York City.
Watch Hill’s Ocean House has been nominated again as a finalist in Travel and Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Awards. In 2012, they ranked as the number four Top Resort in the continental United States and the number sixty Top Hotel in the World. Vote for them and you can also enter for a chance to win a $10,000 dream trip. First and second place winners will also receive vacations planned by a Travel and Leisure travel agent and two third prize winners will each receive $1,000. The survey is open through April 1 and winners will be announced in the magazine’s August issue.
Farmstead bar manager Dave Mangiantine featured a drink called the Kentucky Flower in Spirit magazine.
The Daily Meal chose Al Forno in Providence as one of its 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2013.
Copyright 2013 Rhode Island Monthly
