Rhode Island Food Crawls West End Book Excerpt

I wrote a book! Yes, I checked off one more goal on my bucket list of life. To put together Rhode Island Food Crawls, published by Globe Pequot in Connecticut, I tapped into my fourteen years of dining experience as an editor at Rhode Island Monthly. I’ve covered restaurants for our food newsletter, The Dish, and food features for the magazine since 2011. While the book is a separate project from my daily full-time gig as the editor-in-chief at this statewide publication, I am proud I stayed disciplined and worked nights and weekends to get it done.

Rhode Island Food Crawls is an exciting culinary tour through the Ocean State, from Providence to Newport to South County and Block Island. Discover hidden gems with the freshest seafood, hottest cocktail bars, and the best seaside views around. Each crawl is the complete recipe for a great night out, the perfect tourist day, a new way to experience your own city, or simply indulging in some eye candy from home.

Funny story: The job came to me from a former Rhode Island Monthly intern, Kate Ayers. She got a job in publishing at Globe Pequot and turned the tables by asking me if I wanted to produce their Rhode Island Food Crawls guide. The publishing company has books for most major cities in the United States, including Boston, New York and Chicago, but they had yet to produce a Rhode Island version. I said yes — without really considering the how — then I got to work and figured it out as I tapped away on my computer, carving out time whenever I could while also raising two children, ages eight and eleven at the time. Now, I had to stick to my deadlines to practice what I preached during her internship. Let me just say, there’s nothing like having your former intern become your boss to put you in the hot seat.

Well, I did it, and it’s now available on the Globe Pequot website, at local book stores and on Amazon (gasp!). I have several book signings and events coming up, and I also collaborated with Rhode Island Red Food Tours, which conducts food tours at local restaurants and bars in Providence and Newport. Sign up for one of the tasting experiences, and you’ll also get a copy of my book with your ticket.

The Beatrice hotel in Providence has also included a copy of my book in one of their getaway packages. The “Choose Your Own Providence” package includes a picnic with prosecco and cheese. Culture seekers can opt for a private gondola ride along Providence’s picturesque waterways, or foodies can enjoy a $75 dining credit and a copy of the book Rhode Island Food Crawls to explore the local culinary scene.

Here is my “Book Tour” schedule:

📗 Sat. Sept. 6, noon-2 p.m. Book signing at Track 15 @track15ri food hall in Providence! I’ll have books on hand for purchase. Track 15 restaurants featured in my book include Dolores, Giusto/Mother, There/There and Rasoi/Little Chaska.

📚 Wed. Sept. 10, 6-7 p.m. I have a book talk at Track 15 @track15ri, where I will explain how Rhode Island Food Crawls came to be and tell you all about Rhode Island’s fantastic restaurants. Books available for purchase.

📕 Sat. Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2p.m I will have a table at the Barrington Public Library @barringtonplri Local Authors Book Expo, featuring diverse authors from around the state.

📘 Fri. Sept. 19, 4-6 p.m. Book signing at Stock Culinary Goods in Providence @stockpvd. Come meet me in person and purchase books through the culinary goods store!

📖 Mon. Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m. Visit Books on the Square @booksonthesq in Providence’s Wayland Square to purchase a book and I’ll sign it!

📗 Sat. Oct. 11, noon-1 p.m. at Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 25 Pier Market Pl., Narragansett. I’ll talk all about Rhode Island Food Crawls and have books available for purchase.

 

And here is an excerpt from the book, spotlighting the West End of Providence:

You’ll often hear people who love the West End of Providence say, “West Side is the best side.” Whether you prefer the more classic restaurants of the East Side or the quirky hotspots of the West Side, the topic is up for debate. The walkable West End is known for the Italian neighborhood of Federal Hill, lined with restaurants and small food markets, but it more recently welcomed a growing number of trendier new businesses from a no-reservations noodle and cocktail bar and a quirky ice cream sandwich shop to a dive with a 1980’s and ‘90s schtick and a bar with its own trailer park-themed patio with fire pits. The restaurants are some of the most popular in the city, gaining notoriety from Eater and other big-time media outlets. From an award-winning restaurant that serves up a brunch of farm eggs and housemade bread to the historic music venue the Columbus Theatre (now the Uptown Theater) that once welcomed both local indie bands and national acts, the West End is the section of town where you can hang out from sun up until long after the sun goes down, then get hot wieners to cap off the night.

West End Bar and Snack Crawl

1. Start the day with a biscuit sandwich at Irregardless.

94 Carpenter St., Providence, Instagram.com/IrregardlessBiscuit

2. Get in with the regulars at Kimi’s.

373 Washington St., Providence, Instagram.com/kimis_bar

3. Drink simple cocktails and beers amongst ‘90s nostalgia at Deadbeats.

289 Knight St., Providence, 401-383-1489, Instagram.com/deadbeats_pvd

4. Bite into a Dream Burger or fried chicken sandwich at There, There.

471 W Fountain St., Providence, theretherepvd.com

5. Grab a classic Cosmo at the OG West End Bar, The Avery.

18 Luongo Memorial Square, Providence, 401-262-9009, instagram.com/theaverypvd

6. Sip a crisp lager at Moniker Brewery.

432 W Fountain St., Providence, 401-648-0150, monikerbrewery.com

7. Try unusual ice cream sandwich flavors at Tricycle Ice Cream.

70 Battey St., Providence, 401-741-3549, tricycleicecream.com

1. Start the day with a biscuit sandwich at Irregardless.

Irregardless began as a popup food business in 2020, serving crisp and buttery biscuits around town at various locations. It later graduated to a commissary kitchen on Broadway, and now runs its own permanent restaurant. “The name started as a joke because everyone says irregardless is not a real word, and at the time, it wasn’t a real business, so it just stuck,” says owner James Dean. The biscuits are based on Dean’s grandmother’s recipe, and he travels to North Carolina two or three times a year to load up his truck with the same flour that his grandparents used to make their biscuits. Irregardless is located inside what was once the legendary Kitchen breakfast nook, operated by Howard Croft, who unfortunately passed away after battling cancer.  But there’s a biscuit on the menu that’s named after him and stacked with thick-cut bacon that’s similar to the slabs for which Howard was known. Irregardless is mostly takeout, but there are twelve seats for dining in, including four small tables and three or four counter seats. Dean is proud to have partner Joe Hafner at the helm running the business every day and Erin Richer has taken over as the manager and head baker. The team even launched creative taco nights on specific weekdays, offering Southern-inspired takes on tacos.

2. Get in with the regulars at Kimi’s.

Named after the owner and sassiest bartender in the city Kimi Rich, this woman-owned bar is like going to a house party where you actually like the guests (most of them anyway). It’s one of the most inclusive bars in the whole city, welcoming of everyone who walks through the door. The hand-painted emerald green-tiled bar creates a magical backdrop with an industrial woodland theme, like an abandoned warehouse that’s been taken over by nature. There’s industrial sawhorse benches made into communal tables and former church pews for seating with mood-controlled colored lighting in booths. Even the bar was made from a repurposed bowling alley lane. The garage doors come up in the summer in front of a patio area of picnic tables and a firepit. Theme nights run the gamut from soul-spinning and “Psychedelic Dreams” deejay sets to QueeriosityPVD Trivia, plus they have the coolest Brimfield-gathered decor and cheeky bartenders to banter with over shotskis and inappropriate board games. A pretty powder room selfie is a must in the serpent- and skull-themed restroom with an antique mirror and sink. Try the Brown Bird espresso martini with Rhodium black walnut and espresso vodka, Bolt coffee cold brew and Bailey’s. They also have a curated craft beer selection with brews from all over New England as well as a non-alcoholic margarita made with a tequila alternative.

3. Drink simple cocktails and beers amongst ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia at Deadbeats.

The former E&O Tap sat decrepit and graffitied for years until owners and husband-and-wife team Jeff and Courtney Angell rose it from the dead as Deadbeats. They stayed true to the original layout while freshening up the bar, and brought in quirky attractions like a fiberglass Ronald McDonald statue – now the luckiest guy in town (check Instagram for proof). There’s a “Beetlejuice” and campy horror film theme, an extensive craft beer list and simple cocktails; in other words, don’t get too fancy on the bartenders and order the classics. A beer and a shot might be best, IMHO. Usually, there’s an ‘80s or ‘90s movie playing overhead, or maybe a nostalgic music video from the days when MTV actually played music videos. The lively scene in this dog-friendly bar also includes free pinball, a digital jukebox and a neon sign featuring an expletive that explains exactly how we feel when we walk through the door.

4. Bite into a Dream Burger or fried chicken sandwich at There, There.

It’s perfectly acceptable to eat a burger or fried chicken sandwich the size of your face. The plates at There, There are barely big enough to hold the goods, including the Dream Burger, stacked with two grass-fed beef patties, cheese, special sauce, “shredduce” and onion jam, or the T.T. Bird with buttermilk fried chicken, mayo, honey gold sauce, and pickled onion, both served on griddled sesame seed buns. Named for that comforting feeling you get accompanied by a good hug and a tap on the back, There, There’s strengths lie in stacked sandwiches and burgers, as well as the CNY salt potatoes. The counter service restaurant’s cult-favorite savory, crispy, brined baby Yukon Gold potatoes are doused in pepperoncini butter. There, There is also now serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, featuring the tastiest egg sammies around, stuffed with thick-cut bacon and cheese. There, There recently earned press from Eater’s “Best New Restaurants in America 2023,” which named it one of the top twelve new spots in the country to dine. The secret’s out and we’re happy to help spread the word like aioli.

5. Grab a classic Cosmo at the OG West End Bar, The Avery.

The Avery is the OG West End secret bar that preceded all the trendy speakeasies in Providence. The first time I tried to find it back in 2010, I failed and ended up on the wrong side of Westminster Street across the highway. It’s located in what looks to be a house, but back then there was no sign, and dark, heavy curtains were drawn over the windows. These days, it more readily accepts its existence. It now has a beautiful hand-painted sign on the window, and it embraces its patio out in the open instead of hiding it like a mistress in a dark corner of the bar. The twinkle lights and fountain make Luongo Square a magical spot to sip classic cocktails and rare bottles of craft beer outdoors, but the dark and moody interior with tin ceilings and a spectacularly carved wooden bar that resembles the interior of the Titanic make it the ultimate atmosphere for quiet conversation. Ask for a peek inside the secret whiskey cabinet. At least some things are still hush-hush.

6. Sip a crisp lager at Moniker Brewery. 

The West End is a craft beer haven with Moniker Brewery and Origin Beer Project across the street. Moniker has a contemporary indoor space designed with beautiful wood murals, local art on the walls and sliding garage doors alongside both communal and intimate seating nooks. Outdoors, the front and side beer garden crosses all seasons with outdoor heaters, picnic tables and takeout dining options, often available on site through mobile ordering at There, There (or you can order takeout and delivery from anywhere you choose and bring your own food). The Czech lagers and pilsners are sessionable and strong (in quality not potency; they clock in at 4.7 and 5.5 percent ABV, respectively). These German classics rotate along with hoppy IPAs and NEIPAs, but Moniker also offers seasonal beers including a gose German-style tart ale and an American sparkling ale made with sauvignon blanc grapes and aged on gin staves.

Moniker Brewery. Photo by Photos by Tim Lovejoy, courtesy of Moniker.7. Try unusual ice cream sandwich flavors at Tricycle Ice Cream.

Tricycle Ice Cream first became popular in 2014 for peddling ice cream sandwiches while pedaling a tricycle at farmers markets and events around town. Soon after, the business opened a bricks and mortar shop selling its beloved ice cream sandwiches on fresh baked cookies alongside ice cream chocolate-dipped tacos, ice cream cones and sorbet push pops. The usual ice cream sandwich flavors include Madagascar vanilla ice cream on espresso shortbread cookies, creamy peanut butter and chocolate chip ice cream on Ghirardelli cocoa cookies, and caramelized Fruity Pebbles and sweet cream ice cream on Fruity Pebbles cookies. But things really get fun with the purple ube (Japanese sweet potato) ice cream sandwich, Thai ice cream on coconut cookies sandwich, and red velvet cake batter ice cream sandwiches. Tricycle takes bulk orders for birthday parties and celebrations, but you can stop by the shop during open hours to get your singular ice cream sandwich fix anytime.