Comfort Food Fixes for February in Rhode Island
There’s a reason why winter is known for indulging.
Brunch at Kaffeology. Photo by Liv Audino/The Auric Creative, Courtesy of Kaffeology.
Best Brunches
Here’s where to get your fill on Sunday funday.
The Patio on Broadway
Providence, thepatiori.com
The Vibe: The cozy yet elegant spot in Providence’s West End has a menu of sweet and savory optons, including: pancakes loaded with Vermont maple syrup and fresh baked apples and eggs Benedict.
Order: Crispy chicken eggs Benedict with a side of home fries.
Pair it with: A spiked peanut butter cup coffee.
Black Sheep
Providence, blacksheepri.com
The Vibe: Don’t miss the chance to experience the Black Sheep Babes’ Taylor Swift- and Valentine’s Day-themed drag brunch buffets.
Order: Kick off the morning with loaded breakfast nachos and the pulled pork hash bowl.
Pair it with: A cold brew cocktail.
Blackstone
East Greenwich, blackstoneeastgreenwich.com
The Vibe: There are endless options of custom-made, shareable food and drink flights — we’re talking seafood, steak, Mediterranean, pasta, espresso martini, mimosa, wine and more.
Order: The juicy Blackstone Burger with an egg side and a flight of fries.
Pair it with: A margarita flight.
The Eatery
Westerly, instagram.com/theeaterywesterly
The Vibe: Weekly specials feature classic favorites and fun creations such as the Irish eggs Benedict. The Eatery also holds a comfort food event every first Monday of the month where guests can pick among three different homey meals for a bargain.
Order: The cinnamon swirl French toast.
Pair it with: A creamy hot chocolate.
Kaffeology
Cranston, kaffeologycafe.com
The Vibe: You can savor fresh-from-scratch cuisine between shopping stops in Garden City Center, plus the venue hosts fun workshops for candle making, pottery and bouquet bundling.
Order: The breakfast burrito with bacon and a side of seasoned potatoes.
Pair it with: The pistachio Amaretto latte topped with cold foam and fresh orange zest.
Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard House.
Igloos at the Coast Guard House
Dine in warmth and style inside custom-designed igloos nestled by the sea at the Coast Guard House. Each igloo provides an intimate setting for two to eight guests, complete with cozy comforts like a Bluetooth speaker and a fireplace and heater to keep the chill at bay. Narragansett, thecoastguardhouse.com
Get the (Baked) Goods
Craving carbs? We’ve got you covered.
Artisan Breads
For chewy sourdough and fresh-from-the-oven baguettes, check out Seven Stars Bakery on the mainland or Provencal Bakery & Cafe on Aquidneck Island. Providence, Rumford, Cranston and
East Greenwich, sevenstarsbakery.com; Newport and Middletown, provencalbakery.com
Pastéis de Nata
Find these eggy custard tarts at Taunton Avenue Bakery and other Portuguese bakeries around the state. East Providence, tauntonavebakery.com
Cow Cake
Available only at Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery, this chocolate mousse cake is topped with real whipped cream from the farm’s own cows. North Smithfield, wrightsri.com
Baklava
Pick up this traditional Syrian pastry made with walnuts or pistachios and crispy phyllo dough at Aleppo Sweets. Providence, alepposweets.com
Vegan and Gluten-Free Treats
Whether it’s an oat milk latte or a gluten-free scone, Wildflour Vegan Bakery & Cafe can meet all your special (and delicious) dietary cravings. Pawtucket, wildflourbakerycafe.com
Apple Pie
South County residents know the family-run Pelloni Farm is the spot to hit up for buttery, flaky pies with both traditional and Dutch crumb toppings. Hopkinton, Pelloni Farm RI on Facebook
Photo by Angel Tucker
Pizza Strips
Sure, the custom-designed pizza art is incredible, but there’s nothing like an old-fashioned pizza strip from D. Palmieri’s Bakery to make things right. Johnston, dpalmierisbakery.com
Empanadas
There’s a reason the family-run Colombian bakery Caprichos Antioqueños has a line out the door every morning — pick up some empanadas and discover for yourself. Pawtucket, caprichosantioquenos.com
Share some oysters at the Rooftop at the Providence G. Photo courtesy of Go Providence/Jules Nguyen.
Date-Night Destinations
Get gussied up and grab your Valentine for a night out on the town.
Chapel Grille
Cranston, chapelgrilleri.com
Order: Start off with a cheese board and finish with filet mignon.
Pair it with: The Fireside Sipper (Johnny Red, Kijafa cherry wine liqueur, maple syrup and walnut bitters) or a Mid-Winter Cider Mule (exactly how it sounds).
The romance factor: Fine dining by a cozy fireplace with a glass of wine by the cathedral bar.
Trattoria Romana
Lincoln, trattoria-romana.com
Order: Tagolini Positano, aka homemade tagolini pasta sauteed with eggplant, fresh San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, basil and buffalo mozzarella cheese.
Pair it with: A rich red wine.
The romance factor: From the imported fresh ingredients to the Roman atmosphere, Trattoria is a perfect destination for Valentine’s Day.
The Rooftop at the Providence G
Providence, rooftopattheg.com
Order: Seared yellowfin tuna with yucca fries.
Pair it with: A Lovelace martini (vanilla vodka meets passionfruit, blood orange and prosecco).
The romance factor: Let live entertainment set the mood as you gaze out over Providence’s skyline.
Spain Restaurant
Cranston, spaincranston.com
Order: Begin with chicken or shrimp empanadas and follow up with the Veal Spain — bone-in veal chop stuffed with lobster, shrimp, smoked ham, panko breadcrumbs and Castilian cheese, topped with a roasted mushroom Malaga wine sauce.
Pair it with: A mango mojito and a slice of tres leches cake.
The romance factor: A Spanish dining experience complete with romantic lighting and beautiful artwork.
The District
Providence, thedistrictri.com
Order: Share the Buffalo chicken pizza and satisfy your sweet tooth with a cheesecake brownie.
Pair it with: A pitcher of white or red sangria.
The romance factor: Book this homey space for a more casual night out.
Blackie’s
Smithfield, eatatblackies.com
Order: Cheeseburger Rangoons to start, followed by the Tuscan turkey sandwich served with housemade chips.
Pair it with: A local brew from Whalers or Proclamation Ale.
The romance factor: The retro, upbeat vibe makes for a fun night out.
Alecia Milot of Sakonnet Candle Co. at the Tiverton Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Tiverton Farmers Market.
Keep it Fresh
Stock up on local produce and other handcrafted goods at indoor farmers markets this winter, including the Tiverton Farmers Market’s winter location; the corner of Kinsley and Sims Avenues where Farm Fresh stands with open arms in Providence; the scenic location of Mount Hope Farm in Bristol; or the longest running farmers market, Kingston Farm Collaborative, in South Kingstown. tivertonfarmersmarket.com; farmfreshri.org; mounthopefarm.org; southkingstownfarmersmarket.org
Tea Time
Choose from more than sixty premium loose-leaf teas meticulously sourced from all corners of the globe at Schasteâ in Providence. Catch up with friends during a private tea tasting (featuring leaves from China, Taiwan and Japan) at Ceremony Providence. Treat yourself to a full afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches, sweets, scones and black tea flavors at Sweet Marie’s Tea Cottage in Wickford. schastea.com; ceremonypvd.com; sweetmariestea.com
