Adventures In Rhode Island Dining

Pandemic Eats - Supporting Your Local Restaurants in the Time of COVID-19

2020-08-08T12:59:00.000-04:00

On March 15, 2020, for one last time, I sat at my favorite table in one of my favorite restaurants (Cook and Dagger), enjoying some fish tacos and a couple of draft beers. From my table, I could hear the governor’s address playing from the television. She was suggesting it was time to stop eating in restaurants. Two days prior, I had been sent home from school with all of my belongings with the words “distance learning” floating in my head. I didn’t realize how quickly everything would change. But change it did. No more lazy brunches with my peeps at Bayberry Beer Hall. No more runs to the Tilted Barn on Friday after school with my teacher friends. No celebratory meals at the kitchen counter at Nick’s on Broadway. Thinking about the way things used to be makes long for those times, but when a pandemic hits we have to adapt.

We have all heard the dire news reports which are predicting that as many as 75% of restaurants nationwide won’t be able to reopen after the pandemic has ended. It’s so incredibly sad. Yet, there are ways that you can go out and support your favorite restaurants, and here is my list!

1) Do your research ahead of time. Before you order takeout, before you make a trip to a restaurant, before you do anything, look up the restaurant’s COVID-19 plan. If you can’t find the plan on-line, call them up and ask about it. Restaurants are in a tough spot; they really want to be open, but they are also very concerned about the safety of their staff and customers. Some require that you wear masks any time you aren’t actively eating and drinking. Some require your email address when you’re making a reservation (so they can email you their COVID-19 policy). Some may take your temperature before you are allowed to enter. Some will run your takeout to the curb and some will ask you to come inside one person at a time.

2) Follow the Rules. This goes hand and hand with #1. If you do your research and you know what to expect, there is no reason you shouldn’t be following the rules. If you can’t follow the restaurant’s rules, go somewhere else or just don’t go out.

Follow the Rules

3) Support Your Favorite Restaurants. You have to decide for yourself what your comfort level for dining out is. At this point, I would go to a restaurant and sit outside if it wasn’t for the heat, so until it cools off, I’ve been enjoying takeout from my favorite restaurants. It’s been fun to me (I know I’m weird) to look up the restaurant takeout menus and decide each week what I feel like eating. Is it the same food as what you would get at the restaurant? Not exactly, but takeout risotto from Nick’s on Broadway is still 10x better than any risotto you will get at other Providence restaurants. I’ve had frozen pineapple jalapeno margaritas, striped bass crudo, the best fried chicken sandwich I ever had in my life and those are just the first three things that popped into my head. For some people, going out has worked great for them. For other people, they have bought gift cards from their favorite restaurants.

Frozen Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

4) Order Directly from the Restaurant. I know it’s not always possible. You want delivery and the restaurant doesn’t deliver. You need your food at a specific time and you’re going to be out of cell phone range. Just remember the 3^rd party apps like Grub Hub, Uber Eats and Postmates can collect up to 30% of your order’s total. When we are trying to support local restaurants, this cuts a good amount of their profits.

5) Tip Well. Servers, cooks, hostesses and dishwashers are working hard to provide you with a safe, enjoyable meal. The volume of business they usually see has dwindled down; even at the most popular spots. Now is not the time to be cheap.

6) Be Patient. We are all just starting to figure out how this “new normal works”. Sometimes orders are going to take longer than they normally would have. Sometimes restaurants will only allow one person in at a time to pickup their takeout. Just go with it. Now is not the time to post an angry review on Yelp because your order took an extra ten minutes to come out or because the person talking to you on the phone kept you on hold for 5 minutes.

7) Be Kind. I get it. People are angry. You had to cancel your Alaskan cruise. Your kids are driving you crazy, because you won’t let them go to a party at a friend’s house. Your president’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA. I think we all feel a little angry. But do not take your anger out on people who are just trying to do their jobs. Over and over again, my friends in the restaurant/food industry keep reporting how they are being verbally abused. As Gina Raimondo would say, “knock it off!” Really. There is no reason to scream or swear at anyone. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that these are difficult times, for everyone.

We are all a little angry. Just be NICE!!!

My Top 5 Spots for Brunch in Providence

2019-12-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

What is it about brunch that makes it so amazing? Is it because brunch dishes tend to be rich and decadent, but the calories don’t count because it’s brunch? Is it the fact that you can have a cocktail in the morning and it is perfectly acceptable because it’s brunch? Is it because of the casual vibe and the fact that you can linger for hours over your coffee and cocktails? Whatever the reason, brunch is something that just about everyone can agree is awesome. In fact, it’s my favorite meal to have out. When I’m going out for brunch in Providence, I’ve narrowed down my favorites to these top five spots.

Nick's On Westminster - The Best Eggs Benedict I've Ever Eaten

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1) Nick’s on Broadway and Nick’s on Westminster – I wasn’t sure whether to count these spots as two separate entries or not. The truth is no matter which one you pick; Nick’s is my number one spot for brunch in Providence. In fact, I have a hard fast rule to never order Eggs Benedict at any other restaurant, because non-Nick’s Benedicts always disappoints. Nick’s on Broadway is the original and for me it feels like home. I know the waitstaff, I’m comfortable with the wait (30 minutes to an hour) on the weekend, and I love sitting at the chef’s counter watching Derek Wagner whip up my brunch faves. Nick’s on Westminster is a bit more upscale, you can make reservations, and the food is just as good.
What to Order – Eggs Benedict, Cassoulet (perfect for the cold weather), Breakfast Sandwiches (on a homemade biscuit), Polenta and Eggs
Addresses - 500 Broadway, Providence and 100 Westminster St, Providence
What to Order – Eggs Benedict, Cassoulet (perfect for the cold weather), Breakfast Sandwiches (on a homemade biscuit), Polenta and Eggs
Addresses - 500 Broadway, Providence and 100 Westminster St, Providence

2) Bayberry Beer Hall- Despite its name, you do not have to be a beer lover to enjoy this brunch. They do have an amazing beer list (though a little pricy), but in addition, the brunch food is always fresh and tasty and the service is friendly and efficient. There was a time this past winter when I was there almost every Sunday. I didn’t realize it until I looked at my credit card receipts and saw how many entries were for Bayberry. What to Order – Banofee Pancakes (the best pancakes I’ve ever had), Burrata Toast, Burger, Any of their interesting Breakfast SpecialsAddress - 381 W Fountain St, Providence

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Fried Chicken Sandwich at Bayberry Beer Hall

3) Ogie’s Trailer Park – Ogie’s is serious about getting its drink on, so it doesn’t open for brunch on Sundays until 12 noon. Perfect for late risers. While you dine, there is a jazz pianist playing some tunes which is especially nice at Christmastime. The tvs in the bar area are usually playing something odd, but if you ask nicely, the bartenders will put on the Patriots game for you. You order your food from the trailer, and when it is ready you will be called to pick it up. The food is casual and served in paper boats, but it’s hearty and delicious.

--> What to Order – Eggs “Ogie” with pulled pork and hollandaise served over a housemade biscuit, Breakfast Tots, Grannie Boo’s Favorite (aka biscuits and gravy)
Address - 1155 Westminster St, Providence

Once A Month Brunch at Persimmon

4) Persimmon – Persimmon offers brunch on the first Sunday of the month and accepts reservations. I enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting with the knowledgeable (about all things on the Rhode Island food scene) bartender. The menu doesn’t change much from month to month, but that’s okay with me. What to Order – Walrus and the Carpenter Oysters, Croque Madame, Persimmon Burger, Smoked Trout Deviled EggsAddress - 99 Hope St, Providence

Breakfast In A Jar at Cook & Dagger

5) Cook & Dagger- This spot is not exactly in Providence, but it is close by. Sometimes when there is a big event in Providence or the weather is bad, it is just easier to stay in the suburbs. Cook & Dagger has a limited parking lot plus free off street parking next door. The food is always excellent, the servers are super nice, and there is never a wait for a table. It’s definitely worth the trip.What to Order – Egg & Cheddar “Sammie”, Breakfast in a Jar, Fish Tacos, Breakfast BurgerAddress - 566 Putnam Pike, Greenville

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Holiday Gifts Every Rhode Island Foodie Will Love

2019-11-23T09:57:00.000-05:00

Holiday gift buying is tough. Picking out the right gifts for family, friends and co-workers is a tough job, and no one wants to be the person who’s thought of as the “terrible gift buyer.” I consider myself to be fairly good at gift buying, but every once in a while, a gift I assume is the perfect choice turns out not to be. There was the sushi puzzle that was too difficult for my family to put together. There were frozen croissants from France that arrived in Florida completely defrosted. There was the year all of the specialists in my school pooled together our money to buy the support staff platters of wandies only to discover they don’t like them. To try and help you out this year, here is my list of gifts every Rhode Island foodie would love to unwrap at the holidays. They are listed in no particular order.

1. The Chezpron ($80) – Matt Genuso, owner and chef of Chez Pascal on Providence’s East Side, invented an apron that is actually comfortable! Conventional aprons are quite literally a pain in the neck, and the Chezpron is designed to take the pressure off of your neck. I’ve had one for a couple of years, and it is the only apron I will ever use. It looks different, but it is the most comfortable apron you can buy for the home cook/chef in your life.

https://www.chezpron.com/

2. Tickets to the 2020 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival ($140-$750) – Food & Wine Magazine sponsors one of the best food events in Rhode Island every September. Events range from a pricy $750 per person (Bordeaux dinner at the Elms) to the more affordable but no less fun Grand Tasting held on the back lawn of Marble House. With stunning fall weather, fantastic wines to taste and luxe food to try, your foodie friends will be in heaven. Tickets sell out close to the events but are available for purchase now. http://bit.ly/newportfw

3. Lord of the Wings Passport ($25) – Rhode Island Food Fights not only offers live state-wide food competitions (think best ice cream, best donuts . . .) several times a year, they also offer virtual competitions. You buy a passport that includes coupons for 15-20 different restaurants to sample the competing foods. In January 2020, it’s all about wings, and each coupon will get your foodie 6 wings to sample. After they have tried them all, they can go online to vote for which ones they liked best.
http://bit.ly/lordofwings

4. Revival Brewing Shirt ($20-$30) – Revival Brewing turns out some great beer. My favorite summer beer this year was their HAMR, a nice light drinking Pale Ale. It was perfect for a day at the beach. Their designs are legendary and Revival conveniently allows you to order their shirts online. I love my Rocky Point Red Shirt.
http://shop.revivalbrewing.com/

5. Newport Restaurant Group Gift Card ($10-??) – With eleven restaurants scattered across the state, and encompassing a wide variety of cuisines, there’s sure to be one your foodie will love. From the exclusive Castle Hill Inn in Newport to the casual Iron Works in Warwick to the iconic Hemenway’s in Providence, this gift card is sure to please. If you’re going all out, every $500 worth of gift cards you buy will earn you one free $100 gift card. The company donates $1 from every gift card sold to local charities.
http://bit.ly/nrggc

6. Grub Hub Gift Card ($10-??) – Grub Hub, Postmates, Uber Eats and Door Dash are all new ways to get food delivered to your house. You log onto their website or app, place your order from your favorite restaurant, and it’s delivered right to your door. It’s perfect for after a long day at work or for when you’re not feeling well enough to leave the house. People who live in urban areas have the biggest choice of restaurants, and unfortunately for those who live in most rural areas (sorry friend who live in West Greenwich), this convenience is not offered. Just a few of the restaurants included with the Grub Hub app include Shake Shack, Sicilia’s Pizza, Venda Ravioli, Wara Wara and Rasoi.
http://bit.ly/grubhubgc

7. Subscription to New Harvest Coffee of the Month Club ($120-$240) - Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee? New Harvest is my favorite source for freshly roasted coffee in Rhode Island. With their Coffee of the Month Club, on the 3^rd Monday of each month, they ship out a selected coffee to your recipient. You can sign up for 6 or 12 months and the 12 month plan offers an organic option too (for an extra cost).
https://newharvestcoffee.com/pages/subscriptions

8. Del’s Lemonade Ornament ($19.99) – As a former Del’s Lemonade employee (we won’t mention how I crashed my truck into a tree), I may be biased, but I think Del’s should be the Rhode Island State beverage. My Little Town offers ornaments of both a Del’s cup and a Del’s Truck. They are super cute and would look great on anyone’s Christmas tree.
http://bit.ly/delsornament

9. Feast &Fettle Gift Card ($64.99-$199.99) – Feast&Fettle is a business that delivers chef created prepared meals to hungry, but busy diners (think people who want quality meals but don’t have time to cook). The meals are prepared in a commercial kitchen and then packed to be delivered the next day. They prepare everything from scratch (including dressings and sauces), and everything is fresh - nothing is frozen! They try to procure as many ingredients as possible from local sources and choose organic ingredients whenever possible. Some sample dishes they provide are Grilled Pesto Chicken Breast with Roasted Tomatoes, Pistachio Crusted Cod and Sesame Seared Tuna with Cold Pea Salad.

https://www.feastandfettle.com/gifts

10. Olneyville New York System Weiner Spice Mix ($5.99) - Did you know that in 2014, the James Beard Foundation named Rhode Island’s favorite wieners an American Classic? With this spice mix, your foodie friends can whip up their own wiener sauce. Each packet of spice is enough to season 3 lbs. of ground beef. Wieners for days!

http://bit.ly/oonysw

Providence's Hottest New Restaurant - Aleppo Sweets

2019-10-20T11:23:00.000-04:00

This past summer, I read a book called Refugee, written by Alan Gratz. In the book, three children flee their homelands in search of safety. One of the characters, Mahamoud, leaves his home in Aleppo, Syria bound for Europe after surviving life in his war torn city. The book is written for kids, but I highly recommend it to everyone. Hearing about a new restaurant in Providence called Aleppo Sweets, I immediately made a connection with the book. Before I even knew the story of Youssef Akhtarini, the owner of Aleppo Sweets, my mind immediately went back to the violence of Aleppo I read about. Aleppo Sweets is more than a restaurant on the East Side of Providence. It’s the story of a hard working refugee who made his dreams come true here in the United States.

I’m a regular reader of Bon Apetit Magazine and was delighted to see Providence featured in its October 2019 America’s Best New Restaurant’s issue. The article was about Aleppo Sweets, one of the top 50 new restaurants in the whole United States. The article centered on Youssef Akhtarini and told the tale of him training as a baker in Syria at the age of 15. He then fled his country after the Civil War broke out and made it to Turkey with his wife and six kids. He filed for refugee status and was granted asylum in the United States. He settled his family in Providence, and through the help of the people at Dorcas International, his family landed on their feet. He immediately sought out work and a place to make his delicious sweets. He began baking in a local pizza restaurant, but with help from friends at Dorcas International, he was able to open his own restaurant, and the rest is history.

Aleppo Sweets is located on the East Side, just off Wickenden Street on Ives Street, which appears to be a thriving place for restaurants. Ives St is also home to Tallulah’s Taqueria, PVDonuts and a soon to be opening outpost of the Warren burger heaven Chomp. The restaurant was designed by local interior designer, Kyla Coburn. Once you enter the restaurant, you immediately feel like you’re dining in a Syrian home. Mosaic windows, a stone fountain and comfortable seating all provide that homey feel. The restaurant is quick service, meaning you place your order at the counter and then a server brings it to you. The Sunday my family visited, we arrived early after my brother read reports online that later in the day it would be very crowded. By 1:00, the restaurant was bustling with a long line to order and people staking out tables. That’s what a feature in Bon Apetit does for a restaurant!

Arabic Coffee

My family ordered a variety of drinks. The hot ginger cardamom mint tea, Arabic coffee (with milk, cardamom and a bit of sugar), iced hibiscus tea and blackberry drinks were all good. I insisted that we split 3 of the Mezze (appetizers) to start. We sampled the hummus, the baba ghanoush and the tabbouleh salad. The winner in the mezze category was definitely the hummus. It was creamy, rich and served with a drizzle of good olive oil. I also really enjoyed the baba ghanoush (roasted eggplant dip). It had a nice smoky flavor but wasn’t overly seasoned, which really let the eggplant flavor shine through. I am spoiled because a Lebanese friend makes the most incredible tabbouleh salad, and Aleppo’s version wasn’t as good, but it had some stiff completion. The Mezze were served with warm Syrian bread, and it wasn’t quite enough for all the dips we ordered.

For our main courses, we chose to share a number of dishes. The best of the lot were the foule and the musabaha. Since these dishes are unfamiliar, they might be overlooked but shouldn’t be. In the Middle East, foule is generally a breakfast dish consisting of fava beans, tahini, lemon, garlic, olive oil and spices. It was super tasty and enjoyable at lunch. Musabaha is another breakfast dish made with whole chickpeas, tahini, tomatoes, olive oil, parsley and topped with fried Syrian bread. We also ordered chicken kabobs, a chicken shawarma wrap and falafel. They were all good, but not quite as good as the foule and musabaha.

Foule

Since the restaurant is called Aleppo Sweets, we knew we wanted to try some desserts. Unfortunately, by this time, the line to order was quite long. I waited a good 15 minutes to place my order and another 15 minutes to get it. It was hard to believe that the baklava was going to worth the wait, but it was!!! Syrian baklava is made with phyllo dough, sugar (rather than honey) clarified butter, chopped walnuts or pistachios and orange blossom water. Akhtarini’s version is very buttery and very crispy. We tried the pistachio, walnut and the chocolate/pistachio varieties. All were equally delicious and make Aleppo Sweets worth the trip.

It’s been said that “to be called a refugee is the opposite of being an insult; it is a badge of strength, courage and victory.” To leave the homeland you know, in search of safety and peace takes great courage. Pulling up a chair at Aleppo Sweets, you are reminded of the resiliency of the human spirit. Youssef Akhtarini has created an ode to his homeland on the East Side of Providence, and we are lucky enough to be allowed to partake in his tribute.

Oberlin Is Everything I Want

2019-10-05T15:04:00.001-04:00

Providence is a great food city. There’s an eclectic mix of restaurants from high brow to low brow and everything in between. Visitors to Providence are often surprised by the quality of our restaurants, and one reason for this bounty of restaurants is our legit culinary school, Johnson & Wales University. Famous alumni from Johnson & Wales include Emeril Lagasse, Graham Eliot and Chris Cosentino. Some chefs who attend Johnson & Wales fall in love with the city and end up making their homes there. Benjamin Sukle, a James Beard Award Nominee, is one of those chefs. His two Providence area restaurants, Birch and Oberlin, are two of the best in the city. I visited Oberlin recently and it was fantastic.

Sukle graduated from Johnson & Wales, completed a stage at one of the world’s best restaurants, Noma in Demark. He then went on to work at the Farmstead (with Matthew Jennings) in Providence and then at the Dorrance before opening Birch in 2013. I first ran into Sukle’s work at the Dorrance, and I still talk about a meal I had there in 2012; it was that good.

Oberlin is everything I want in a restaurant. The atmosphere is casual, and the easy going staff makes you feel comfortable the minute you walk in. Though the staff is not pretentious, they know the menu inside and out, offer great recommendations and manage your meal perfectly. The wine, beer, sake and cocktail list isn’t extensive, but there are some really interesting choices to be had. I had an interesting, natural, orange Slovenian wine. My friend had a pale ale from the Maine Beer Company.

The menu is filled with everything I want to eat. All of the food is seasonal, fresh and creative. The best way to describe it is to call it deceptively simple. When you have the freshest ingredients, you don’t have to do much with them to create a winning dish, yet Sukle manages to coax the ingredients into their absolute finest form. It’s like the difference between being a Pawsox player and the Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts.

Cobia

On the night I visited, there were nine different raw seafood selections. I wanted to try them all, and I could have for a mere $88. Deciding I wanted to enjoy some other choices, I settled on two: Winter Fluke with parsley, chili and soy; and Cobia with olive oil and lemon. Both were excellent. I preferred the Cobia with the subtle hints of lemon and the richness of good olive oil. My friend preferred the Winter Fluke. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the choices. Bigeye tuna, mahi mahi, scallops, black bass, etc… would all be good. Before our pasta courses, we also ordered the Local Grain Sourdough Focaccia alla Pizzaiolo. It was delicious, especially dipped in the olive oil on the side.

Winter Fluke

When it comes to entrées, Oberlin has it covered too. The night we were there, they featured a whole grilled scup or a whole roasted fluke. I am sure they were delicious, but the homemade pasta on the menu was calling us. I ordered the agnolotti stuffed with ricotta and served with corn, jalapenos and sunflower seeds. The agnolotti were perfect and the combination of accompaniments made me want to eat every last morsel from the bowl. My friend had the potato gnocchi and was surprised that the dish was soupy, but loved the how the braised duck, garlic chive scapes and crispy breadcrumbs complemented the pasta.

Agnolotti

Working for SO Rhode Island, I got to see some pretty remarkable restaurants in the southern half of Rhode Island. Yet, Providence is where Rhode Island’s dining scene really shines. Restaurants like Oberlin highlight what makes Rhode Island’s dining scene great – fresh seafood, local produce and chefs who know how to make those ingredients shine.

Oberlin is located at 186 Union Street in Providence, RI. https://oberlinrestaurant.com/

You Should Be Eating Here

2019-09-16T16:38:00.000-04:00

I love trying new restaurants, but there are several restaurants I find myself returning to time and time again. Nick’s on Broadway, Big King, Bayberry Beer Hall, Ogie’s Trailer Park, El Rancho Grande and Pizza J are all on my repeat list. If you can’t find me, try these places first. None are off the beaten path (unless you consider Olneyville an adventure). Yet, there is one I left off my list that I return to again and again and never have a bad meal. This one is off the beaten path and located in Smithfield of all places. Every time I visit, I shake my head and ask “why aren’t more people eating here?” I’m talking about Cook and Dagger. If you haven’t been, here is why you need to go.

First, Cook and Dagger is in the suburbs. It has a parking lot with free parking. Not a big deal in the suburbs, but have you ever tried to find parking in Luongo Square on a Saturday night? City folk really appreciate free parking. I’d have to say flat out that the atmosphere in Cook and Dagger is well . . . suburban. It doesn’t have an upscale vibe like Bayberry or an ironically trashy vibe like Ogie’s. Maybe that’s why people don’t eat here? That said; it is a very clean, very spacious and very welcoming restaurant. Plus, you don’t need a reservation! Need somewhere to go on the spur of the moment; this is your place!

Second, Cook and Dagger has an excellent cocktail list, a decent beer list and a quirky fun wine list. I’ve had several of their seasonal cocktails and they are all good. They’re reasonably priced too – between $10-$12. The last time I was there, I had the Tequila Mockingbird ($11) which was a mix of tequila, orange and basil shrub and muddled jalapeños. It was delicious. I am a complete craft beer snob and the beer list here provides a good variety of local (Whaler’s, Buttonwoods and Narragansett) and interesting beers from elsewhere (Collective Arts, 21^st Amendment, UFO). The wine list is quirky, which I love. No Kendall Jackson or Sutter Home to be found.

Most importantly, Cook and Dagger has amazing food. I have never had a bad meal, and if you know me, you know that’s saying a lot (I’m a bit picky and also bossy). For an appetizer, I usually order the Brussels Sprouts ($9). If you think Brussels Sprouts are last year’s appetizer, think again. These are seared in a cast iron skillet and topped with goat cheese, pickled onions and a lemon caper aioli. The last time I ate here, I threw caution to the wind and ordered a different appetizer. Dare I say a better appetizer? The Croquettes ($7) were melt in your mouth delicious. Their outsides were breaded and fried. The insides oozed with melted manchego cheese studded with bits of Serrano ham. The chipotle dipping sauce was amazing, but these croquettes would have stood on their own.

My favorite entrée is the Fish Tacos ($18). I’ve had fish tacos all over the state and these are the best I’ve had in Rhode Island. The fish is always fresh, cornmeal crusted and perfectly fried. They are topped with fresh pico de gallo and the pièce de résistance, buttermilk dill cole slaw. So damn good. They are served with freshly fried chips and a tasty guacamole. Another favorite is the Pork Bahn Mi ($14). This started as a special and has now made it onto the regular menu. The sandwich starts with a grilled baguette that’s topped with shaved pork, pate, fresno peppers, pickled carrots, spicy mayo and cilantro. It is fantastic and not shy with its spiciness. It is served with hand cut fries that are well seasoned and hard to stop eating. I’ve had the burger, the Bolognese, the fried chicken sandwich, the salmon, and it is literally all good.

Fish Tacos

Cook and Dagger might be slightly off the beaten path, but it definitely should be on your list of restaurants to check out. The chefs work hard to use local ingredients and to provide a diverse and interesting menu. They deserve to have more accolades and most of all more business. In fact, I better stop in this weekend. The fish tacos are calling my name.

Did I mention Cook and Dagger serves brunch?? Only on Sundays though. So many delicious choices, I’d have to write another article!

Cook and Dagger, 566 Putnam Pike, Greenville, 349-3927

https://www.cookanddagger.com/

Portland, Maine Getaway

2018-05-12T11:53:00.000-04:00

View from the Penthouse of the Press Hotel - Portland, Maine

Over my April vacation, a friend and I took a quick trip up to Portland, Maine. I’ve always wanted to go there because I heard they are known for two things – food and beer. Since those are two of my favorite things, I knew I was going to fall in love with the city. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal, I can still say the mission was accomplished.

Portland compares well with Providence. The city is small enough that you can practically walk everywhere, and the restaurants are amazing. The biggest difference we noticed right away was how friendly everyone was, and it took a minute to get used to. People were nice and went out of their way to be helpful. Providence could learn something from this. The other difference was its proximity to the ocean made the dining options seafood centric. You can get seafood in Providence, but it’s not the star of the show like it is in Portland, so this was another plus for us. I believe we only had one meal (other than breakfast) that wasn’t from the sea.

Since it was the off-season, we were able to snag a fabulous rate at the Press Hotel located in Downtown Portland. It is part of the Marriott chain’s Autograph collection. Our rate included accommodations in the Penthouse Suite, valet parking, breakfast each day in the hotel’s restaurant and a welcome bottle of Prosecco. The hotel is located in the historic Gannett Building – built in 1923 and was home of the Portland Press Herald, the city’s biggest newspaper. It has lots of aesthetic touches that stick with the theme of it being a former newspaper building. The building was extensively renovated and reopened in 2015, and it’s is within walking distance of everywhere you would want to go in Portland.

Our Penthouse Suit was spacious and comfortable. We enjoyed the 1000+ square feet of space, complete with a large bedroom, living area, small kitchenette, one and a half bathrooms and access to a private rooftop deck. The room was thoughtfully furnished for both comfort and function. One major plus was the bed was extremely comfortable. The kitchen came complete with a refrigerator that actually kept your drinks cool (a rarity in hotels) and a Keurig. The hotel also provided complimentary bottled water. We thought that was a small thing which made a huge difference in our stay. We couldn’t find anything to complain about but did agree the towels were not soft, and the gigantic shower could use more than one tiny shelf.

Living Area of the Penthouse Suite

The staff at the hotel was the essence of what a hotel staff should be. Before we even left for Portland, they reached out and offered to make dining reservations or answer any questions we had about our trip. Once there, the staff was always friendly and accommodating. There was a slight misunderstanding when I made my initial reservation inquiry, but it was nothing big, and I wasn’t upset about it at all. But to make up for the misunderstanding, the hotel delivered a huge bowl of fruit and a charcuterie plate to our room right after we checked in. The valet service was excellent and something we found to be very convenient was you could text to have your car brought to the front. Even when we checked out, they coordinated the bell service with the valet service to provide for a seamless experience.

Breakfast was served in Union Restaurant each morning, and they even provided free coffee in the front lobby. Our complimentary breakfast included one breakfast entrée, coffee and juice, and we enjoyed everything we ate. They had a varied menu which included eggs benedict, red flannel hash and eggs, omelets and avocado toast. It was really nice to start the morning with a full breakfast before we headed out on our Maine adventures.

Happy Hour Oysters at Scales - Portland, Maine

The restaurants in Portland are topnotch. The first night we dined at Scales located on the harbor. I will confess we were mostly there to take advantage of the $1 oysters off the happy hour menu. I also had a delicious cup of lobster stew, and the lobster was impossibly tender. Thursday night, we ate at Eventide Oyster Bar and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The tuna crudo was worth the trip. Friday, after unsuccessfully getting a table for lunch at Duckfat, we tried the High Roller Lobster Company near our hotel. We weren’t THAT hungry, but the lobster rolls were good, especially mine with lime mayo. Friday night we finally made it to Duckfat. The fries (as the restaurant name implies) are fried in duck fat. I thought they were so good they didn’t need any dipping sauce, but we sampled the truffle ketchup and Thai chili aioli just to be sure.

Eventide Oyster Bar - Portland, Maine

Because Portland is so walkable, it’s the perfect place to tour some breweries without having to drive. On Friday afternoon, we started at Oxbow Brewing. Their flagship brew is a farmhouse style saison and most of their beers are variations on that. My favorite was the Bowie which was a smoky flavored saison. From Oxbow, we walked a few blocks over and visited Rising Tide Brewing. Here, my favorite beer was the Pink Boots, an IPA brewed in honor of National Women’s Day. If we had more time and better weather, there were several other breweries we could have walked to as well.

Rising Tide Brewing - Portland, Maine

For us, Portland in the off season was prefect – no crowds and cooler temperatures meant no getting overheated. We were able to walk right into the Holy Donut, and I’ve heard some people stand in line for an hour during the summer months! I am definitely looking forward to return to this great city.

2018 Eat Drink RI Festival - This Is One Festival You Don't Want to Miss

2018-04-23T16:47:00.000-04:00

Eat Drink RI's own Katie Kleyla and David Dadekian

Are you ready for the 7th Annual Eat Drink RI Festival? It’s kicking off this week! Starting this Wednesday, you have the chance to join other Rhode Island food lovers for a celebration of all things Rhode Island! Farmers, chefs, bartenders and food & drink artisans from across the region will be making this year’s festival bigger and better than ever. This year they are offering a brand new wine tasting experience, the return of Dinner by Dames, the largest food truck event in the area, and finish the week with the Grand Tasting, an All-Local Tasting featuring a record number of vendors. Events run from Wednesday, April 25^th through Saturday April 28^th. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

Truck Stop Event to Benefit the Rhode Island Community Foodbank, April 27th

To get some insider information about this year’s festival, I interviewed Katie Kleyla, the director of development for Eat Drink RI.

Stacey Place: How did you get involved with the festival?

Katie Kleyla: Before I was working with Eat Drink RI full-time, David asked me to get involved with the Festival as the volunteer coordinator. I did a lot of work herding super excited JWU students and other really awesome people who were just as excited about food as I am.

SP: What's your favorite part of the festival?

KK: I adore Dinner by Dames, always. It's such a pleasure to work these incredibly talented women who are at the top of their field, and are also eager to motivate and encourage the next generation.

Dinner by Dames, April 26th

SP: Are there any new events this year people should get excited about?

KK: This year, we're launching the Sommelier Smackdown, so I'm super pumped about that. The Certified Sommeliers are going head to head in a series of competitions to prove who will reign supreme in RI's wine world. They are also doing a food & wine pairing with some of our favorite chefs. It's going to be awesome.

SP: Do you have any tips for people planning to attend this year's festival?

KK: If you can come to every event, please do! But if you're looking for an opportunity to get a little taste of everything, don't miss the Grand Tasting at the convention center. Over 50 vendors, including food, wine, beer, spirits, will be sampling their awesome products. In addition, there will be 6 cooking demos including meet & greets with chefs. It's a super social time, and a great way to spend the afternoon.

Grand Tasting, April 28th

SP: What are some upcoming food events (besides the festival) in Rhode Island that people shouldn't miss?

KK: Our summer farm dinners at Blackbird Farm are a gorgeous way to have a dinner outside in the field with friends with some incredible chefs. Global Eats to benefit Dorcas International Institute is coming up on May 17th; an international culinary celebration to support and honor the vibrancy of Rhode Island’s diverse community. The Newport Vineyards Spring Celebration is great, too.

SP: Are there any new restaurants Rhode Islanders should be checking out?

KK: We love Troop in Olneyville - really eclectic menu. Khao San in East Providence is awesome. Great little new Thai place.

SP: With summer on the horizon, what's your favorite way to spend a summer day in Rhode Island?

KK: My ultimate summer day is packing an amazing picnic and heading to the Breachway beach in Charlestown early. I love exhausting myself swimming the day away, and enjoying the picnic with friends. Picking up lobsters, heading home, and having a late lobster boil at home around the fire is heaven.

SP:What one word would you use to describe the Rhode Island food scene?

KK: Unlimited. :)

Dining in the Turks - Grace Bay Club

2018-03-04T11:31:00.001-05:00

On the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, there are many choices for your accommodations. There are hotels available for every budget, taste and size of your family. There are several all-inclusive options as well as a few adults-only choices. The most highly recommended hotel is the Grace Bay Club. Situated on a gorgeous stretch of Grace Bay Beach, this crown jewel of the Provo Hotel Scene provides luxurious accommodations, several dining options and attentive service.

Mai Tai in Paradise

One of the unique features of the Grace Bay Club is its structure, and there are three distinctive sections to the hotel: the Hotel Building is adults-only, complete with its adults-only pool; the Villa Suites section which is geared towards families; and the ultra-luxury Estate where 22 private residences await the most discerning travelers. Whichever option you choose, you can plan to have a lot of space to spread out. The smallest suite is 600 square feet and the largest is 7,000 square feet.

Even if you don’t stay in the hotel, you can still visit their public spaces and enjoy their hospitality and restaurants. On my recent week long vacation to Provo, I ate lunch at the hotel on three separate occasions, even though I was renting a house across the street. For lunch, you have two beach-front choices – the Grill, a casual spot with standard table seating, and the Infiniti Restaurant and Raw Bar, which is slightly more upscale. Here you can sit at the bar, tables, or even on comfortable couches. Both restaurants offer stunning views of the sea, tasty cocktails and a menu of freshly made food. The menu at the Grille is available at Infiniti, but not vice verse. At either restaurant, the staff will immediately make you feel like a welcomed guest.

Seated at the Infiniti Restaurant

One of the great joys of a Caribbean vacation is being able to enjoy a tropical cocktail by the sea. In Provo, cocktail making is hit or miss, but at Grace Bay Club, the cocktails were all hits. The rum punches were all expertly crafted with high-end liquor. My favorite was the Painkiller, but the Mai Tais were also stellar. I wish I taken the time to sample a pre-dinner cocktail here as well. The Pear Martini was highly recommended.

Painkiller with Lobster

On the Infiniti menu, seafood was definitely the main attraction. I was able to try the sampler of sushi; tuna tartar; chopped lobster with chipotle, Peruvian corn and quinoa; and a new menu item, the salmon tostada. Everything was fresh and tasty. The tuna tartar was so delicious, I ordered it on another lunch time visit. The prices were on the expensive side, but the portions were large and made for sharing. The Grill menu had something for everyone from pizzas to burgers to sandwiches. Our favorites from this menu included the Roasted Free Range Turkey Sandwich (the Balsamic onion marmalade was amazing) and the pizza.

Tuna Tartar

When vacationing in Provo, I encourage everyone to stop in and check out the Grace Bay Club, even if the accommodations are not in your budget. Infiniti will definitely remain in my list of favorite Provo lunch spots. If you go, order a Painkiller and the tuna tartar, enjoy the view and the celebrity level service and the stress of your every day life will fade away. I promise.

Dining in the Turks - Part 2

2017-04-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

My trip to the Turks and Caicos in February was wonderful (how could it not be). The island of Providenciales has a great vibe - very laid back and go with the flow. I know I’ve said this before, but Grace Bay is an unbelievable beach. The pictures really don’t do it justice. For me, the beach is the most important, but food quality comes in a close second, and the food in Provo was excellent. Other than Coco Bistro (you can read about that here), three other places really stood out to us - Caicos Bakery, Caicos Cafe and Le Bouchon du Village.

Grace Bay - The water really is this blue!

The house my friend and I rented was centrally located in Grace Bay. We were close to the grocery store to pick up staples, and more importantly we were close to Caicos Bakery. This unassuming bakery, located in a strip mall across from the Seven Stars Resort, was everything you want a French Bakery to be. Baker and bakery owner, Eric Cuvillon takes great pride in his products and the results speak for themselves. Every day we made at least one stop at the bakery. Everything was delicious and fresh from the oven. Often times, our pastries were still warm. Our favorite breakfast pastries included chocolate croissants and the beignets (fancy French word for doughnuts). For a heartier option, we also tried the quiche and found it to be very tasty. For lunch, we didn’t love the pizza, but the pre-made sandwiches on the fresh baked rolls ended up being our daily lunch. The prices were reasonable and service was friendly and quick.

Pastries from the Caicos Bakery

Caicos Cafe is located in the same plaza as the Caicos Bakery. The open air dining room wraps around an enormous tree. When I was researching where to dine in Provo, Caicos Cafe was on everyone’s list of top restaurants. The meal didn’t start well. We ordered mojitos, and they were of poor quality. I was very excited to order the Conch Chowder for my starter. It was awesome. The conch was so tender and the flavor of the soup had an ocean’s worth of depth to it. Unfortunately, it was a humid night and about ½ way through this very hearty bowl of piping hot soup, I started to overheat. I absolutely loved it, but would definitely wait for a cooler night to order it next time. For my main course, I went with the highly recommended Lobster Fra Diablo. I’m from Rhode Island, which is a state that knows how to make pasta, and the pasta in this dish was awesome. You could tell it was homemade. There was plenty of lobster meat, but the real stars of the dish were the pasta and the flavorful (yet not quite spicy enough for my taste) sauce.

Lobster Fra Diablo from the Caicos Cafe

Le Bouchon du Village is located in the Regent Village Shopping Center. I’m not a big fan of dining al fresco so close to a parking lot, but I have to say the restaurant has a really nice ambiance to it. With the white lights hanging in the trees, you can almost forget you’re in a parking lot. The service at Le Bouchon was extremely professional. You almost felt like you were being served by a “big city” waitstaff, compared with other places on Provo where we felt like the staff was too laissez faire. As expected at a French restaurant, the bread was fantastic. I had a cocktail called the Hendrick’s Experience and it was super tasty and refreshing made with Henderick’s Gin, Lime and soda. For an appetizer, I went with the conch ceviche (I wouldn’t be tricked by hot soup again). The conch was thinly sliced and simply seasoned with olive oil, garlic and a sprinkling of parsley. The olive oil was amazing; I couldn’t get enough of it. Sometimes olive oil is just olive oil, but this olive oil knocked my socks off. For my entree, since it was the last night of my time in Provo, I went with the grilled lobster tail. It was amazing. The lobster was very fresh and it was grilled perfectly with just enough char on it to give it character. It was served with rice topped with stewed tomatoes and a medley of vegetables. Honestly, if you’re on Provo during lobster season and you like lobster, you are in for a real treat. Again, it was a humid night and we were very hot (and maybe a bit sunburned). We skipped dessert, but the profiteroles at the next table looked amazing.

Le Bouchon

As someone who cares about and writes about food, the food in Provo exceeded my expectations. Provo is certainly not for everyone. There is little to no nightlife. Other than water sports, there aren’t many other activities. Prices for food are on the high side - even compared with other tourist destinations. Yet, for me, Provo was exactly what I wanted. I liked it so much, I already have a house rented for next February. I’m very much looking forward to another week in paradise.

Lobster from Le Bouchon

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Celebrate Rhode Island's Food and Drink at the Eat Drink RI Festival!

2017-04-11T17:13:00.002-04:00

Rhode Island is a little state with much to offer. From April 26-29, the Eat Drink RI Festival will be showcasing the best of Rhode Island’s food scene. The Festival is chockablock full of everything that there is to love about food in our state. The festival kicks off with a VIP Reception on April 26th at Easy Entertaining featuring the unveiling of The Backyard Food Company’s latest product line, small bites and cocktails! On April 27th, the brand new Skyline at Waterplace will be hosting Dinner By Dames featuring five dynamic, local, female chefs for a multi-course dinner extravaganza. On April 28th, there will be a Truck Stop (picture all of your favorite food trucks together in one place) held at and benefitting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. On Saturday, April 29th, the Grand Tasting will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center with samples of dozens of local products and presentations by some of Rhode Island’s food dignitaries. You can find all of the details for the festival and buy tickets at http://eatdrinkri.com/festival/.

2016 Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting, in foreground Narragansett Creamery table with co-owner Mark Federico. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photography

I had the opportunity to check in with festival founder and Rhode Island food champion, David Dadekian. When you talk to David, you can’t help but get excited about Rhode Island’s food scene!

Stacey Place: How did the Eat Drink RI Festival come about?

David Dadekian: In a nutshell, several years ago while talking about other food and wine events and festivals around the country, people kept saying, why don't we have one dedicated to local food and drink? And then, more specifically to me, why don't you produce one? So we did. And now we're producing a sixth one.

SP: What's your favorite part of the festival?

DD: That's a tough question. Dinner by Dames is one of my favorite things that I've ever been part of. Working with those ladies is a joy and a privilege. However, the Truck Stop has become a big fundraiser for the RI Community Food Bank (we raised a little over $132K last year), so that's very important to me. The Tasting is a great big party and I really love seeing how happy both the attendees and the exhibitors are at that event. It's a blast.

Plating dessert at the 2016 Eat Drink RI Festival Dinner by Dames, at center Chef Sara Reilly, at right Chef Melissa Denmark. Photo by Stacey Doyle Photograph

SP: Are there any new events this year people should get excited about?

DD: This year we've got a new event on the first night, Wednesday the 26th, where we're helping The Backyard Food Company launch a whole new product line. It's pretty exciting as food and drink has shown itself to be a huge part of the RI economy. If you know want to know what the product is first you've got to be at Easy Entertaining that night!

SP: Do you have any tips for people planning to attend this year's festival?

DD: Start fasting now! Honestly, I think pacing yourself for four days full of spectacular local food and drink is my best advice.

SP: What are some upcoming food events (besides the festival) in Rhode Island that people shouldn't miss?

DD: So we also produce a number of dining experiences throughout the year that I think are very special. There will be some new ones this year that we're doing at unique farm locations that no one has done before. Besides Eat Drink RI events, I always enjoy heading to Food Truck Friday by the Roger Williams Park Carousel. If you like to try a lot of different local restaurants, you can't go wrong with checking out RI Food Fights's monthly deals. On the opposite end of the Festival world from ours, I never miss the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival in September. There's so much here!

SP: Are there any new restaurants Rhode Islanders should be checking out?

DD: Always! In the last few months we've seen Knead Doughnuts, Federal Hill Pizza, Durk's Bar B Q, Den Den Korean Fried Chicken--and that's just recently!

SP: With summer on the horizon, what's your favorite way to spend a summer day in Rhode Island?

DD: What else? Aunt Carrie's down by Point Judith!

SP: What one word would you use to describe the Rhode Island food scene?

DD: (Wicked) Awesome!

Dining Out in the Turks - Coco Bistro

2017-03-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

Every year, I am lucky to go away for a week in February. I love getting out of the cold of winter in the Northeast. In the past, visiting an all-inclusive resort was my M.O. The resorts were nice, the food was usually pretty good, and who can resist all you can drink Don Julio margaritas? This year I decided to try something different and headed to the Turks and Caicos. More specifically, I headed to the island of Providenciales.

A View of Providenciales from the Air

The island of Providenciales (known as Provo) is located a quick 3-hour direct flight from Boston, and the weather in February is a balmy 80 degrees. My friend and I rented a house in the center of the action - close to Grace Bay (recently ranked by Trip Advisor as the #2 beach in the world) and a collection of world class restaurants. We did miss some things about an all-inclusive resort (mostly the buffet breakfast, unlimited frozen drinks and not having to worry about money) but felt the independence and privacy we gained by staying on our own outweighed the negatives. As someone who loves good food, being able to visit any restaurant in Provo was a dream come true. We had many good meals and after a quick accounting of our expenses, we came out spending less money than if we had visited an all-inclusive resort.

Grace Bay Beach

Of all the great meals we sampled while in Provo, our favorite was Coco Bistro. One of the great treats of vacationing in a warm weather destination is being able to enjoy al fresco dining, and the layout of Coco Bistro is conducive to it. Though not located by the ocean, the restaurant is tucked into a grove of coconut palm trees. Even being located on a busy street, the restaurant feels secluded. The restaurant has a resident cat named Coco who can be found roaming the grounds. In general, the service in the Turks is slower paced than what we are used to in the United States. The service at Coco Bistro (and Le Bouchon) was a step above the other island restaurants.

Dining Out at Coco Bistro

We started our meal with some drinks off of the cocktail menu. I ordered a mojito, and it was the best mojito I’ve ever had. The waiter came over shortly after I placed my order to say it would be a bit longer because it took the bartender some extra time to muddle. He wasn’t exaggerating. This was one well made (and muddled) drink. My friend had a Caipiroska, which is made with vodka, lime and sugar, and she thought it was excellent as well. With our drinks, we devoured the restaurant’s bread, which was a warm loaf stuffed with parmesan and pesto. It was delicious.

Mojito

The problem with Coco Bistro’s menu was I literally wanted to try everything on it. My friend and I both commented that we could even make a meal just eating appetizers. The seafood in Provo is the highlight of any meal. Because the island is small, most things have to be imported (meats, vegetables and staples like flour and sugar). Seafood is the one local product you can depend on, and it’s some of the best seafood I’ve ever had. We started by sharing an order of the Tuna Tataki. The freshly diced tuna was served on a housemade crispy tortilla chip and garnished with tobiko caviar, red onion, scallions, cilantro from the restaurant’s herb garden and wasabi mayo. Altogether, it was a fabulous dish; full of flavor and bursting with freshness.

Tuna Tataki

One thing to keep in mind when booking a vacation to Provo is the fact that lobster season lasts from August 1st until approximately March 31st. Caribbean lobster is different from what New Englanders are usually used to. In the case of what I ate in Provo, what stood out to me was how super fresh it was. Four out of seven nights on my trip, I ordered lobster. It was all good, but my lobster at Coco Bistro was the best of the trip. It was simply grilled and served with a large crock of clarified butter. Grilling lobster can be tricky, but this was grilled perfection. My huge lobster tail was cut in half and served with a helping of buttery jasmine rice and a small helping of snap peas. The meal was deceptively rich, but it must be all of the butter! My friend ordered a mahi mahi special. She too loved her meal and said “why is the mahi mahi here so much better than in Florida?” I think it’s a freshness factor. One day while swimming in Grace Bay, an enormous grouper swam by us. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!

Grilled Lobster Tail

When it came time for dessert, we were both pretty full, but in the interest of good journalism, I soldiered on. We split an order of key lime pie. It was fabulous. It was served more like an ice cream sundae or parfait. There was a graham cracker base, key lime layer, whipped cream layer and then topped with shaved chocolate graham cracker crumble. Again, this was a very rich dish. I found the recipe on line when I got home, and for four servings, there was an entire quart of heavy cream. Even splitting this dessert between two people, it was a struggle to finish.

Key Lime Pie

After dinner, we both said we wished we had booked two nights at the Coco Bistro. Luckily, the restaurant also offers a food truck experience called Coco Van, so we were able to check that out on another night. The kitchen is inside a restored Airstream Trailer, so it’s very cool looking. Reservations aren’t necessary at Coco Van, and everything is very casual (think picnic tables and plastic forks). The menu is small and reasonably priced with tapas type dishes. We sampled some really good lamb slider flat breads, beef tacos and gorgonzola cheese fries. This is a great option for nights you don’t want to spend a ton of time eating, but you’re still looking for good food.

Coco Van

Overall, we enjoyed all of our meals in Provo. We loved being able to dine outdoors every night and several places were right on the beach with a view of the impossibly blue water. We’re already planning a return trip to Provo next February which will include two meals at Coco Bistro and at least one stop at the Coco Van. If it’s wrong to pick where we are staying based on proximity to Coco Bistro, I don’t want to be right.

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A Perfect Day at Disneyland

2016-11-08T15:14:00.002-05:00

Planning a day at Disneyland should always start with making a list (even just mentally) of your priorities. What are the activities that mean the most to you and your family? Some families are all about the rides. It doesn’t matter what they eat or what shows they see as long as they get in all of their favorite rides. I can’t lie; I do like the rides. But when push comes to shove, I plan my day around the food. After all, I can’t enjoy the rides if I’m hungry. So what follows is my perfect day of eating at the Disneyland Resort.

Breakfast at Disneyland means one thing to me . . . Mickey Waffles. They don’t just look cool; they taste great too. My favorite spot to order Mickey waffles is at Steakhouse 55 located in the Disneyland Hotel. This might not be a great place to bring kids (especially when Goofy’s Kitchen is located right next door), but for adults this is the place to start your day. The restaurant is quiet and elegant. The service is timely, but not rushed. Here the Mickey Waffles ($16) are served with your choice of warm berries or bananas foster and bacon or sausage. A Disney vacation is not a place to watch your weight, so just go for the gusto and get the excellent bananas foster. I prefer the bacon, but the sausage is good too.

Mickey Waffles at Steakhouse 55

After breakfast, I head to Disneyland, take in some attractions and get myself hungry again for Mickey Beignets. If you don’t know, beignets are a cross between a doughnut and fried dough. French colonists brought them to New Orleans (in Louisiana not Disneyland) in the 18th century. I buy my Mickey Beignets (6 for $7.49) at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square. Though not up to what you would find in the real New Orleans, these are quite good. You may or may not want to grab a Mint Julep ($3.59) to go with them.

To park hop or to not park hop, that is the question. For my perfect dining day, I go for the park hopping. Once I get to California Adventure, I take a quick ride on Radiator Springs Racers (using the single riders line) and then head to lunch. My favorite lunch place to beat the heat is the Carthay Circle Lounge. I enjoy relaxing in the air-conditioned comfort of the elegant Carthay Circle Lounge. It’s so comfortable; you don’t even feel like you are in a theme park. The cocktails are excellent and expertly crafted. I like the Carthay Club Mojito with Bacardi Superior Rum, mint, lime juice and agave nectar. On a hot day, it really hits the spot. The small plates offered don’t provide a lot of food for lunch, but that’s okay – you’ll have room for another snack later. I especially like the Vietnamese Twice-Cooked Beef Tacos ($16) and the Lobster Pad Thai Imperial Roll ($19) served with a ridiculously good cashew-tamarind sauce.

Lobster Pad Thai Imperial Rolls at the Carthay Circle Lounge

After lunch, I like to enjoy some of the lesser known attractions in the park like Monsters Inc. and the Little Mermaid. Before I can head back to my hotel, I have to stop at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain in Pacific Wharf. Their sundaes are outrageously good. I tend to split a sundae like the Gold Rush ($7.95) with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and melted peanut butter topped with whipped cream, chopped nuts, a cherry and a peanut butter filled Ghirardelli square. I would like to say we don’t finish the whole thing, but we always do. It’s so good.

Ghirardelli Ice Cream Goodness in Disney's California Adventure

My dinner choice is probably the most controversial. I know the Blue Bayou gets mixed reviews and that most people don’t like the Blue Bayou Paint the Night Dinner Package. I like both. Blue Bayou seems like the kind of place you either love or hate. I think the quiet, cool atmosphere inside one of my favorite attractions (Pirates of the Caribbean) is relaxing and neat. It’s like dining outside in New Orleans only not being covered in sweat and there are no alcoholic drinks. I have found the food to be very good. The package is $62 a person and includes an overflowing bread basket, non-alcoholic drinks and three courses. I wouldn’t say I could drink $62 worth of Diet Coke, but I may have had four servings. The bread basket contained sourdough rolls and sweet potato biscuits. I stick with the Blue Bayou Salad for my starter - lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized pecans and bleu cheese. How bad could that be? The cajun spiced salmon is very good with corn risotto, citrus foam and salsa verde. The filet mignon is also very flavorful especially topped with rich bearnaise sauce and served with really good au gratin potatoes. At this point I’m usually too full to enjoy dessert, but somehow manage to snarf down a helping of crème brûlée. At the end of the meal, they give you your ticket for preferred seating at Paint the Night. I am not a parade person, not in the slightest bit, but I LOVE Paint the Night. I let all the pushy people push their way to a spot in the reserved section on the curb. I’m perfectly happy to just stand behind them. Could I find a spot this good on my own? Probably, but I will be honest, to me it’s not worth the hassle. If I’m going to eat at Blue Bayou anyway, I might as well take advantage of the parade seating.

Dining in the ambiance of Pirates of the Caribbean

After Paint the Night and Disneyland Forever, I am too stuffed for a late night snack. I waddle back to the Disneyland Hotel and plan my meals for the next day. Dining at Disneyland might not be a priority for everyone, but I can promise it will be a highlight. You can wait until your vacation is over to watch your weight.

Is a Day at Discovery Cove Worth the Hefty Price Tag?

2016-11-08T15:01:00.001-05:00

If you enjoy theme parks, Orlando is the place to be. Whether you like thrill rides, meeting characters or simply being immersed in a land of make believe, there are multiple options for how to spend your vacation dollars. One of the more expensive theme park offerings in Orlando is Discovery Cove. The admission cost for a day in this expensive park ranges from $169 for a day pass without the dolphin swim in the off season to $429 for a day pass including the dolphin swim in the high season. I visited Discovery Cove on a hot day in late July determined to find out if it was worth the money. Here are my top five reasons why it is worth the money.

1) A day at Discovery Cove is all-inclusive. Other than buying photos from your dolphin swim or tchotchkes in the gift shop, you won’t need money for anything.

All of your food and beverage needs are covered. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style and though not gourmet, there are plenty of options for everyone. Snacks are available at kiosks throughout the park – soft pretzels, cookies, chips, fruit and more. Simply grab a snack as you walk by. There are plenty of options for drinks as well – Coke products, frozen slushies for the kids, beer, mango daiquiris and pina coladas for the adults and plenty of water to hydrate everyone in the hot Orlando sun.

All of the equipment you need for the day is there for the taking. The park provides masks (including prescription masks for glasses wearers like me) and snorkels, wet suits or swim vests, animal friendly sunscreen, towels, life jackets and noodles for the lazy river (though not enough noodles for a crowded day).

2) Discovery Cove limits the number of people who can enter the park to 1200. On the day I was there, the park was definitely at capacity, yet it never felt crowded. There were plenty of places to set up your camp for the day. Though the line for the buffet wouldn’t have been considered short, once you had your food, there were always plenty of tables in the shade. There was always a staff member close by when you had a question or problem.

3) Discovery Cove provides a full day’s worth of activities. Other than short breaks to sit and grab a snack, we were on the go from the moment we checked in at 7:30am until we exited the park at 5:15pm. We started the day with breakfast, procuring our equipment and settling into our private cabana.

We spent hours swimming in the grand reef enjoying the hundreds of tropical fish and manta rays. I am a strong swimmer, but others in my party who are not still enjoyed wading in the reef, looking at the fish from above and even sitting on strategically placed rocks to enjoy the wonders of the sea creatures below.

We all managed a circuit through the lazy river. One problem we ran into was a shortage of swim noodles to float through the river on. People must have claimed them all early in the day and then hoarded them by their seats rather than giving others the chance to use them. The river passes through the aviary, by the otters and marmosets and through two waterfalls (keep this in mind if you don’t like getting wet).

The park in its entirety is beautiful and well maintained. It’s hard to believe the chaos of International Drive is just outside of the park’s borders. The bathrooms were spotless, not an easy feat with wet, sand-covered park goers tromping through them all day long.

4) Swimming with the Dolphins could be a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity. Up until my dolphin swim, I wasn’t too sure that swimming with the dolphins was going to be worth its huge price tag. Brandon, the dolphin trainer we worked with made the experience enjoyable and educational. We were in the water for longer than 30 minutes and got to see and interact with three dolphins (though they begged us not to tell anyone that we got to see three, since two is the norm). The best part for me was seeing how happy they were and how much they seemed to enjoy interacting with the guests. In fact, one was having so much fun; she didn’t want to leave. After our swim, they brought us to a computer kiosk to show us the pictures taken during our swim. We were not pressured in anyway to buy the pictures, but chose to buy a small package because they had turned out so well.

5) One day tickets for Discovery Cove include 14 days admission to Sea World and Aquatica. We took advantage of our free admission to Sea World and despite it being a 100-degree day, had a great time. We stayed until 2pm and got to enjoy all of the rides, plus see all of the animal exhibits.

Yes, a day at Discovery Cove comes at a substantial cost, but you can definitely get your money’s worth, especially if you take advantage of admission to Sea World or Aquatica. If you’ve been craving a unique theme park option, this should be your next destination.

Drink Local with Bully Boy

2016-08-17T12:47:00.003-04:00

If you have followed my food writing over the years, you know I love to support local businesses. I love going to the Hope Street Farmer’s Market and loading up my shopping bags with local produce, fish and meat. It tastes better, and I’m helping local businesses. That’s a win-win. Rhode Island’s craft beer is thriving, and I enjoy trying out all of our local brewer’s creations. We even have a distillery down in South Kingstown, the Sons of Liberty, that’s turning out some great things. About an hour north of Rhode Island, Bully Boy Distillers is crafting some fantastic spirits.

I first ran into Dave and Will Willis (owners of Bully Boy) at the Eat Drink RI Festival. They were so passionate about their products, and their products were so good! I put away quite a few shots of rum and whiskey that day. I distinctly remember having to walk laps around the city before I could drive home. Since then, anytime I see Bully Boy on the menu, I usually order it. Dave is more involved in the production side of the business where as Will spearheads the sales operations. They are the fourth generation caretakers of Charlescote Farm in Sherborn. On the farm, they got their start creating beverages – first cider, then hard cider and eventually apple brandy.

Bully Boy Estate Gin

Bully Boy’s newest product is their Estate Gin made with ingredients sourced from the family farm. Most gins are made using a pure grain base, but the Willis brothers have incorporated apples into the mix. On top of the base, there is blended Juniper Virginiana, coriander, lemon, hibiscus, lavender and pink peppercorn. The flavor is well-balanced and smooth. From experience, I can tell you that this gin makes one heck of a gin and tonic. Here’s what Dave has to say about it: “Everyone associates limes or lemons with gin and tonic, but a lot of gins already use lime and lemon as part of the botanical charge. If you are looking to supplement the taste and not simply enhance a preexisting flavor note, try muddling an orange wheel in the bottom of a glass before adding ice, gin, and tonic. The Estate Gin's floral and citrus notes really pop with the addition of tonic, and the orange is a really nice complement.” Orange works great, but a lime works in a pinch! Here is Dave’s exact recipe: Muddle an orange wheel. Add 1.5 oz. Estate Gin and 4 oz. tonic (I prefer Fever Tree). You can also rim the glass with an orange peel.

Grace Under Pressure

Coincidentally, I also recently won a cocktail naming contest at Providence’s Gracie’s restaurant. The cocktail created by bar manager, Kristi Dukoff, was a take on the classic daiquiri cocktail. Seeing how Ernest Hemingway loved himself some daiquiris, I named the drink “Grace Under Pressure.” The name comes from the famous Hemingway quote “courage is grace under pressure.” Here is recipe for the cocktail:

Grace Under Pressure

2oz Bully Boy aged rum

1oz Cane Syrup

1oz Fresh Lime Juice

5 Ginger mint leaves

Shake, strain, coupe glass and ginger mint garnish.

Cheers!

Celebrate Mother's Day at Garde de la Mer

2016-05-01T19:43:00.001-04:00

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time with Mother’s Day. My mother is fantastic and there are so many things she deserves, but trying to find just the right gift never seems to work out. I’ve decided a nice day out for brunch is the best option and because reservations are a must this Sunday, I’m going all out and taking her to Garde de la Mer.

Local Rhode Island Oysters

Garde de la Mer is located in the Providence G Development in Downtown Providence. The development features luxury apartments, 3 restaurants and a coffee shop. Garde de la Mer is the more upscale dining venue, G Pub is a casual eatery located on the basement level, and The Rooftop features a bar with high-end cocktails, bar snacks and stunning views.

Executive Chef, Robert Sisca

Garde de la Mer hired a new hotshot chef, Robert Sisca, and Chef Sisca comes from his award winning stint at Boston’s Bistro du Midi. While there, he won awards from Boston Magazine, Food & Wine Magazine and the Boston Globe. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University and makes his home here in Rhode Island. Just out of college, he worked at acclaimed Providence restaurant, Gracie’s, before moving on to New York City. In New York, he started at One if by Land Two if by Sea, before becoming Sous Chef at Le Bernardin, quite possibly the best seafood restaurant in the United States.

Pancakes with Fresh Berries

For Mother’s Day, Garde de la Mer is serving brunch from 10am-3pm and dinner beginning at 5pm. Brunch will feature dishes such as yellowtail tuna crudo topped with Asian pear, almonds, green garlic and a black vinegar-ink crisp; smoked white asparagus soup with a two-hour poached farm egg, prosciutto and fresh frisée; earl grey cured salmon Benedict served with poached eggs and house-made hollandaise sauce atop an English muffin; pancakes topped with fresh berries, sea salt butter and Vermont maple syrup; quiche with native mushrooms, zesty “cool ranch” crispy potatoes and Monterey Jack cheddar cheese; and a brisket burger topped with Morbier cheese, Berkshire pancetta, house-made aioli and a fried egg. My mother is going to love it! Reservations can be made by calling (401) 632-4799 or online at opentable.com/garde-de-la-mer.

Twin Oaks - Quintessential Rhode Island Landmark

2015-06-13T16:35:00.001-04:00

In recent years, Rhode Island has become known as a vacation destination for foodies. I get a lot of e-mail from visitors asking where they should eat. I recommend they stop on Federal Hill, visit the Matunuck Oyster Bar, have brunch at Nick’s on Broadway and grab some clamcakes at Iggy’s. Yet, there really is only one quintessential Rhode Island restaurant, and I never recommend it. Yet, it is really where Rhode Islanders love to eat, and that is Twin Oaks.

My family, like a lot of Rhode Island families, has been going to the Twin Oaks for generations. As a kid, there wasn’t much better than platters of mozzarella sticks and what seemed like bottomless Shirley Temples. For many years, it wasn’t Christmas Eve without waiting two hours for dinner. If Christmas Eve was on a Monday, the day Twin Oaks is closed, it was almost like we should have just skipped Christmas altogether. On my father’s side of the family, when someone dies, they invariably leave money to treat everyone to a meal there. Twin Oaks is a Place family tradition.

After the speakeasy he ran during Prohibition was raided by the feds, and his whiskey still was shut down, William DeAngelus Sr. founded Twin Oaks in 1933. It opened with two small dining rooms which could hold up to 56 people. Then in 1980, the restaurant was completely destroyed by a fire but luckily reopened in 1981. I was eight and remember it well. Today, the restaurant contains six dining rooms and can hold a whopping 650 people. In its heyday, even with so many seats, there was always a wait to get in. Twin Oaks is located in a residential neighborhood in Cranston and overlooks Spectacle Lake. The staff is exclusively male with the exception of the coat check girl and the woman who sells the lottery tickets. The maître d’ is always dressed in a sports coat and takes good care of his regular customers.

Last Christmas my family visited my brother in Chicago, so we weren’t able to spend the holidays with Grandma P. We offered to take her anywhere she wanted, and the only place she wanted to go was Twin Oaks. When my father brought her into the restaurant in her wheelchair, out of nowhere her favorite waiter, Gene Blair, appeared and whisked her to her favorite table overlooking the lake. Gene was amazing, as always. He didn’t rush us, saying only we had to leave by 5:00 when his shift ended. As all the waiters do, Gene didn’t need an order pad, he memorized everything.

A Twin Oaks Whiskey Sour

For some reason, whiskey sours are my family’s drinks of choice at the Twin Oaks. For $5, it isn’t a bad drink, and we like that it comes with a sidecar, so it’s like two drinks in one. If you’re looking for a classic cocktail, the Twin Oaks does them particularly well (martinis, manhattans and the like). With our drinks, we ate our cold white rolls. They were fine, tasted just like they did when I was six years old, complete with little plastic packets of butter. My parents both had salads with their meals, and they were just as I remembered too (right down to the two black olives). As a kid, I had always enjoyed their house dressing – a sweet tasting creamy Italian.

Lobster Club

My parents both turned their noses up when I ordered the Lobster Salad Club for lunch, but I rather enjoyed it. There was plenty of lobster meat, and it wasn’t muddled with much filler, just a dab of mayonnaise. I think the lobster was frozen, but it was tasty. The fries at the Twin Oaks are actually good. They’re not hand cut or fried in duck fat, but they are always crisp and full of potato flavor. My Grandmother and my mother both ordered the Veal Parmesan. If there’s a quintessential dish at this quintessential restaurant, it’s Veal Parmesan. The portion of veal is the size of a frisbee covered in marinara sauce with a plate of ziti the size of a football. Grandma P. loved every bite. Since the restaurant does cater to an older crowd, they offer smaller plates which was just enough for Grandma. My dad went with the Baked Stuffed Shrimp, another Twin Oaks classic. The dish is deceptively filling for only having five shrimp, but that’s what a stack of Ritz Crackers and a couple of sticks of butter do to you. My father has always been enamored with the mashed potatoes at Twin Oaks. I asked what was so great about them and he said “they’re part instant potato, part whole potato.” Interesting. I attribute his love for the mashed potatoes to more sticks of butter. At the Twin Oaks, you go big or you go home.

Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Already full, we declined Gene’s offers to bring us coffee, mud pie, parfaits or Jello (as he said, “there’s always room for Jello.”) My father had to order the spumoni with claret sauce, because much like ordering whiskey sours to drink, that’s what you get for dessert at Twin Oaks.

Grandma P. and I

Sometimes when dining out, it’s not about the food; it’s about the company you’re with and reliving the old days, when it took nothing more than extra cherries in your Shirley Temple to make the meal five stars. The day we were at Twin Oaks, my grandmother was as happy as I’ve seen her in quite some time. She’s 85 and doesn’t get out very often. The smile on her face when she sipped her whiskey sour was enough to make the experience worthwhile. If you’re a Rhode Islander who has never experienced Twin Oaks, you’ve just got to do it. There is no restaurant that is more Rhode Island.

This blog is dedicated to Grandma P. She's a feisty 85 years old (soon to be 86). She makes a damn good pie.

Sons of Liberty Launches New Gin Line

2015-06-09T17:24:00.004-04:00

Summertime is finally here! After the winter we experienced in New England, this summer is one of the more highly anticipated. Rhode Islanders are already hitting the beach, feasting on clamcakes and lining up at their local Del’s Lemonade stands. When summer arrives, one of the first things I do is buy myself a bottle of local Sons of Liberty, Hop Flavored Whiskey. Mixed with nothing more than a squeeze of lemon juice and a splash of club soda, this whiskey takes any cookout to the next level. This summer, the Sons of Liberty are rolling out a new product line, their True Born Gin.

The Sons of Liberty Spirits Company was founded by Narragansett native and resident, Michael Reppucci. He left a successful job at an investment firm with a quest to create the first ever great American single malt whiskey. Mike’s cousin, Chris Guillette, shared his passion, and they joined forces. First, the pair took a seminar in distillation at Cornell University. Then, the cousins teamed up with Master Distiller David Pickerell (14 year employee from Maker’s Mark) to refine the craft of creating spirits. They opened their distillery in South Kingstown in 2009 and have been winning over customers and winning awards ever since.

Uprising American Whiskey is the company’s signature product and is crafted using stout beer. Many people don’t realize all whiskey is distilled from beer, but generally it’s from flavorless beer, not a hearty stout. Mike and Chris brew their own stout beer from a malted barley recipe and then double distill it to 130-140 proof in a Vendome Copper Still. It’s then aged in American Oak Barrels and finished with oak staves. Mike says the resulting product is a “smooth, beer-forward whiskey.” Uprising Whiskey mixed with North Providence’s Yacht Club Ginger Beer makes one heck of a cocktail for a summer party.

Their latest product, The Belgian Wheat Act Gin, is distilled from Belgian Wheat Beer. It is a Genever Style Gin. Juniper, a botanical found in all gins, is usually the dominant flavor. However, The Sons of Liberty started with brewing a Belgian Wheat beer composed of barley, wheat and oats and infused that mash with coriander, sweet orange peel, lemongrass, cascade and chinook hops. The Belgian Wheat Act is distilled four times, but never over 160 proof – providing an amazingly full body and rich flavor.

This summer when you visit your local liquor store, instead of reaching for Bombay Sapphire to make your gin and tonics, check out this new locally produced gin. I always try to support local businesses whenever I have an opportunity, and the Sons of Liberty make it easy because their products are excellent. Adding to my summer repertoire, I see The Belgian Wheat Act Tom Collins in my future.

The Caribbean Grill - Fine Dining at El Dorado Maroma

2015-03-22T15:30:00.000-04:00

All-inclusive resort vacations are a great way travel to Mexico and the Caribbean. For one price, you have all your food (including room service), drinks (including bottled water and drinks from the minibar), lodging and non-motorized activities paid for. It’s a luxury to sit on the beach and not worry about how much each Don Julio margarita is costing you. The food and drinks are generally pretty good, but we’re not talking James Beard award winning food here. If you have some tasty tacos and a fresh margarita (not a mix!), you’re usually doing pretty well. It is extremely rare to find a restaurant at an all-inclusive resort that could stand on its own, yet this year I did.

This past February I visited El Dorado Maroma. They tout themselves as being a “gourmet inclusive” resort, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect since gourmet is such a subjective word. Overall, I thought the food was very good, and although I have read a lot of reviews about the resort’s portions being small, I respectfully disagree. I ordered an appetizer, entree and dessert at dinnertime, and I was always pleasantly full. The week I visited, they unveiled their new flagship restaurant, the Caribbean Grill. From the moment we ascended the stairs to this new dining oasis, we knew we were in for a treat.

The Caribbean Grill is located on the second floor of the building that houses Mio, the resort’s Italian restaurant. The stairs are steep with no railings, so be careful. Walking into the restaurant, we couldn’t stop gushing over the beautifully designed interior. The design was Caribbean chic with muted Caribbean colors, beautiful large tiled floors and contemporary wooden furnishings. There was a live herb garden in the center of the restaurant, and every table had an herb plant on it. The restaurant also features a large bar area with plenty of seating and friendly bartender, Jorge, to whip you up some of his fabulous drinks. The dishware and glassware was all carefully selected and added an extra je ne sais quoi to the experience.

The Caribbean Grill's Interior

We were lucky enough to dine at the Caribbean Grill twice during our stay, and both times the service was excellent. I’d give an edge to our first night when Jose was our server. He was the best dinner waiter we had all week and not just because he was a huge Red Sox fan. He was friendly and outgoing and paced our meal out exactly right. The restaurant’s manager, Pablo, was constantly on the floor and made sure everything was running smoothly. Considering this was the restaurant’s first week open, he was doing a fantastic job. We had the opportunity to talk with Chef Julio Gomez several times during our stay, and he was enthusiastic about the restaurant and the resort’s food in general. He’s an incredible asset for El Dorado Maroma, and they are lucky to have him.

Frozen Margarita

Starting our meal with cocktails, I was immediately blown away when my perfectly mixed Bombay Sapphire martini arrived because it was served in the most incredible glass I have ever seen. The martini glass sat in a bowl of ice water (see picture) which was both visually stunning and had the added benefit of keeping my drink cold. The martini was perfect, which is saying something because getting a perfectly mixed martini in Mexico isn’t as easy as it sounds. On the second night, our frozen margaritas were also served in these glasses, preventing them from melting too quickly. To go along with our drinks, we started with some bread, and the bread service at the Caribbean Grill is a cut above the norm. The grilled bread is accompanied by oven dried tomatoes, roasted sweet peppers, eggplant hummus and the most delicious soft garlic butter.

Bread Service

To start, Jose recommended we share a few small plates from the “Pica Pica” section of the menu. Our favorite starter was the Caribbean Style Tuna Tostadas. The raw tuna was off-the-boat fresh and simply garnished with a light beer sauce, fried onion straws and ancho chili. If I had only ordered a platter of these, my experience at the Caribbean Grill would have been worth it. The Plantain Tostones were very good as well and served with a black bean sauce. We also tried Crispy Pork Rinds which were highlighted by the excellent relish and avocado sauce they were served with.

Tuna Tostadas

One the first night, I daringly ordered the Pork Belly and was pleasantly surprised to find it expertly prepared. I wasn’t anticipating being able to finish the whole portion, but it was so good, I couldn’t stop eating it. On my second night, I tried the Braised Beef Rib, and though it was good, it didn’t match the Pork Belly in terms of flavor and quality. My friend ordered the Salmon with Chipotle and Orange on her first night and enjoyed it. On the second night, she ordered the Fried Catch of the Day, which was Mahi Mahi. The fish was very good, but she wished they offered it with a lighter preparation.

Pork Belly

Much like fine steakhouses in the United States, the Caribbean Grill offers a variety of side dishes. Jose recommended we order a few to share, but truth be told, the portions were pretty tiny for sharing. If you go, you must order the Truffled Mashed Potatoes. Unlike most restaurants whose truffle flavor comes from truffle oil, these potatoes were topped with actual grated truffles. They were so good, I didn’t want to share. The Grilled Asparagus was also fantastic and worth getting your own portion. The Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese were tasty, but a tad undercooked for my taste. On our second night, we tried the Mashed Sweet Potatoes. They were good, but we both preferred the Truffled Mashed Potatoes.

Side Dishes

When it came time for dessert, we were stuffed but didn’t want to leave without sampling at least one thing from the dessert menu. The first night, I had the most amazing Papaya Tart. The fresh papaya was drizzled with honey and sprinkled with lime zest. The crust was more of a sponge cake-like texture and was perfectly delicious. I ate every bite. On the second night, I tried the Apple Crumble which was baked in the restaurant’s wood burning oven. It was just okay, and I wished I had ordered the Papaya Tart again.

Papaya Tart

By the time you read this, the Caribbean Grill will be out of its “soft opening” stage, so I imagine it will be just hitting its stride. At this time, this is the only restaurant on the resort’s property that requires reservations. I know people grumble about making reservations, but it’s worth the hassle. The resort will be opening another new restaurant in a few weeks called Lima-Limon and will specialize in Peruvian seafood, and I would love to be there to check it. If the Caribbean Grill is any barometer of the resort’s future food endeavors, it is just going to keep getting better. Chef Julio Gomez has certainly set the bar high for all-inclusive resort restaurants, and in the case of the Caribbean Grill, I would say “gourmet inclusive” has been achieved. Mission accomplished.

Escaping Winter at El Dorado Maroma

2015-03-01T18:50:00.000-05:00

This has been a particularly brutal winter in the Northeast. Starting in mid-January, the snow has been coming down incessantly, and there hasn’t been much of a break in the freezing cold temperatures. So this year, my February vacation to warmer weather couldn’t have come at a better time. There’s a line from a Kenny Chesney song that says “ain’t never been a time like now for Mexico,” and on February 14th, I woke up singing it. There was a blizzard warning in effect for later in the day, but I was off to Maroma Beach with the biggest smile on my face.

Maroma Beach

I’ve stayed at many resorts in the Mayan Riviera, and I have yet to find the perfect resort. This year, I stayed at El Dorado Maroma, which is located a quick 30 minute van ride from the Cancun Airport. The resort is small, by all-inclusive resort standards, with a variety of 100 rooms. You can book anything from a standard hotel sized room to mammoth presidential suites. The resort boasts having a “Gourmet Inclusive” concept, which is one of the reasons I chose to book there. It also sits on Maroma Beach, one of the top rated beaches in the world. Though not a cheap destination by any stretch of the imagination, for everything included in your room rate, it is a decent value.

Mudslides and Potato Chips by the Sea

The Good

1. The Staff - In all my years of travelling to Mexico, the people working at the resorts have always been exceedingly kind and hard working. However, the staff at El Dorado Maroma took it a step further. The staff was on top of everything. Anytime we wanted a drink on the beach, Juan Luis or Diego would be right there to take our order. Gaby provided “bites” (like melon dipped in yogurt and sprinkled with granola) while you lounged and always had a smile on her face. Armando, one of the beach butlers, was a real treasure - always there to assist or tell a joke. Our waiters (especially Adrian at Mio and Jose at the Caribbean Grill) became our friends and brought us refills on our drinks without having to ask. Housekeeping always had our room cleaned in the morning and left plenty of extra towels. The concierges for our section of rooms were great, and if they had a message to deliver, they would literally run after us to make sure we got it. The activities staff was nice but not bothersome. They always invited you personally to the activities but never pestered you to join in on the fun.

Lunchtime Treats at Mio

2. The Food - For the most part, we did really enjoy the food. Coming from winter in the Northeast, it was a welcome change to have fresh fruits and vegetables. I really liked that the chefs did not overcomplicate their dishes. Simple and fresh is a concept a lot of all-inclusive resorts don’t get. In particular, the sauces were exceptional. The pesto was so fresh and tasty, we couldn’t get enough. The variety of sauces available for tacos was incredible, and they were all delicious. We liked Mio best for breakfast and lunch. This a la carte restaurant has both indoor and outdoor tables, the best breakfast entree (chiaquiles, which I had three mornings in a row) and a really nice taco menu at lunch. They don’t bring you a pastry basket to start at breakfast. However, if you ask for croissants, and they will bring them. Dinner at Mio was decent, but our favorite part of the meal was the all-you-can-eat wheel of Grana Padano Cheese. They also serve breakfast and lunch at Pepitos. We aren’t buffet people so only ate breakfast here a couple of mornings, but it seemed most people had their breakfast at this restaurant, enjoying the cook to order egg station and abundance of pastries. Each day, Peptios has a specific lunch theme. We enjoyed their Gourmet Burger Day (with 14 different kinds of burgers, what’s not to like) and Taco Day. We didn’t find the dinners to be quite as good as the breakfasts and lunches. Dinner at Sabores and Kiyoko were fine, and we enjoyed a few dishes here and there but nothing exceptional or gourmet. The exception to this was the new Caribbean Grill Restaurant, which I am writing a more detailed review in a separate post. The food at the Caribbean Grill Restaurant was excellent, and the atmosphere very upscale.

Chiaquiles

3. The Drinks - Having been to many all-inclusive resorts in the past, I know drink quality can be hit or miss. I’ve been to resorts in Mexico that can’t even make a decent margarita (looking at you Iberostar). At El Dorado Maroma, the drinks were all good. Everything tasted fresh, and there was a wide variety of top shelf alcohols to pick from (Grey Goose, Ketel One, Don Julio, Bombay Sapphire, Havana Club). Some of our favorite drinks included watermelon and papaya mojitos, Don Julio margaritas frozen and on the rocks, perfectly made martinis (the first time ever in Mexico) and the bottomless supply of Tecate Light. Our pal Adrian from Mio told us Tecate Light is his favorite and doesn’t leave you with a hangover, so we went with his expert opinion, and he didn’t steer us wrong! I didn’t sample many of the house wines, but what I had was serviceable, and the Mexican sparkling wine was perfect for mimosas. We did find it curious that Modelo Especial wasn’t available, but we didn’t really miss it.

Perfect Martini in an Amazing Glass

4. The Room- We had booked a Honeymoon Suite mostly because we didn’t care about having an infinity pool and loved the fact that the Honeymoon Suites were on the top floor. When we arrived, we were upgraded to a ground floor swim out room. I hate being on the ground floor. To me it doesn’t seem particularly safe or private. I asked if we could just have the room we had originally booked, and they didn’t have one of them available. I will give them credit, they saw I was unhappy and offered to move me up to the second floor to an Infinity Pool Suite. It was a perfectly nice room. There was a ton of storage - lots of drawers and two big closets. The bathroom wasn’t huge, but it was adequate. We loved the shower pressure was always strong, and you could get nice hot water 24 hours a day (something not always found in Mexico). The outdoor shower was handy, but with it being a cooler week, we didn’t use it very much. The pool on our patio was really pretty, and we enjoyed soaking our feet and enjoying a drink after a day at the beach. The minibar was always restocked, and they would bring you pretty much anything you wanted from tonic water to energy drinks to endless cans of Sol (just leave a note). Our one complaint about the room was that it was very dark, especially the bathroom. The large patio windows did not let in very much light because all of the palm trees blocked the sun. However, if you’re one complaint is the room is too dark, you are doing pretty good!

Infinity Pool Suite

The Middle of the Road

1. The Peace and the Noise - For the most part, this was a very quiet resort. The adults-only concept is what sold us on staying here. There were no screaming kids to worry about, and that was a huge plus. We found dinners and breakfasts to generally be quiet but lunch was not peaceful. We were not expecting the pool to have so many activities that required a microphone. Eating lunch at Mio during Bingo was less than ideal. There were a few larger sized groups the week we were there, and they tended to be louder and seemed to have little regard for disturbing others. At a small resort, large groups can seem to take over the space. Since we didn’t get our top floor room, the sounds of dragging chairs across the tile and slamming drawers echoed throughout the night. I am not sure how the people above us could be awake and moving things from midnight to 6am!

Sunrise Over the Lagoon

2. The Grounds - The grounds were very well maintained and were always meticulously clean. There just wasn’t a “wow” factor that other all-inclusive resorts have had for me. The beach (see below) had a lot to do with this rating. I also missed being able to see the ocean from my room and having the crashing of the waves lull me to sleep at night. It was also interesting that there were no iguanas anywhere to be seen, but maybe it was too cold. Coming back from El Dorado Maroma, I didn’t have many pictures because not much seemed picture worthy.

The Bad

1. The Beach - Honestly, the beach is what killed this vacation for us. On our first day, we walked out to the beach, and it was ugly. The water in front of the resort was murky, gross looking and full of seaweed. Worse than how it looked, the water smelled like sewage. Due to a hurricane, it’s now a lagoon, so the water is stagnant and there are no waves. It did, however, change every day. Some days were clearer than others, and some days there was no smell at all. On one of the clearer days, we managed to find a path clean enough to wade through and made it out to the “island” that separated the lagoon from the actual sea, and it was gorgeous on the other side of the island. We waded and swam in the bright blue water and joked we should ask the staff to put our chairs on the island. We took a long walk down Maroma Beach towards Secrets every day, and it was a nice walk (just be careful of the nude picnic on Wednesday afternoons - it can be startling). On a positive note, there were plenty of lounge chairs (albeit very uncomfortable lounge chairs) and umbrellas available at any time of the day. We did not have to sneak out early in the morning to reserve our spot, which was a HUGE plus. One day when our quiet oasis was overtaken by a large group of loud people, we easily moved to another part of the beach.

The Beach

2. The Wireless - When you pay so much for your vacation, it seems pretty stingy to not include wireless internet with your room rate. The fees to use it weren’t terrible, but come on, the resort is called “all-inclusive,” so include the internet! We did use it on several of our devices and thought it was generally pretty good. At certain times of the day, it was bad, dropping you off the network consistently without warning.

3. The Spa Folks - I understand they were trying to drum up business, but I don’t understand why they needed to ask us multiple times a day if we had our massages scheduled. They not only bothered us on our beach chairs, but also ran out of the spa to ask us if we were ready for a massage as we returned to our room after a long day on the beach. We did not like being bothered and harassed.

Overall, I had a great time at El Dorado Maroma. Knowing it felt like -30 degrees at home, it would have taken a lot to make me not enjoy myself. We really loved the staff members we encountered and felt like there was always plenty to eat and drink (we didn’t love all the food, but we don’t always at restaurants in Providence either). The biggest drawback for us was the beach - why we won’t be back next year. They are working to improve the beach, and in a few years time, I have no doubt it will be back to its original splendor. In 6 weeks, they’re opening a new Peruvian Restaurant and plan to build a new “over the water” Mexican Restaurant. So, the resort is moving in the right direction. I would give anything to be there today sitting in my beach chair with Juan Luis bringing me a margarita. A girl can dream.

Excellent Margarita

Don't Miss This Event!!!!

2014-10-29T14:21:00.001-04:00

This is a great event and supports a great cause. Two years ago, I was able to attend and was blown away by it. It's more intimate than some of the food events we're used to seeing in Providence - a good thing (in my opinion). It's a pleasure to meet and talk with the chefs and food artisans. Look at the restaurants represented; they are some of the best in the city. I hope to see you there!!

Providence Monthly Sponsors Coats for Coffee Drive

2014-10-08T16:53:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the End of Summer at Lola's Tequila Bar & Cantina

2014-08-28T16:53:00.001-04:00

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I love dining outside in the summer. You also know I’m very picky about where I choose to dine outside. One of my biggest pet peeves is sitting on a narrow sidewalk with people almost grazing my table as they walk by. When Lola’s Tequila Bar & Cantina sent me a press release about their new chef, Cara Marie Duskin, I jumped on the chance to dine here. They have a huge outdoor patio with lots of tables and bar seating, plus a view of the Providence River and Marina. As a bonus, there’s free dock space for anyone arriving by boat.

Ceviche with a View

Arriving early on a Monday night, Bridget and I weren’t surprised to find an empty restaurant. We grabbed a picnic table by the water and settled in for the night. While we perused the menu, our waitress brought over some chips and fresh salsa. Bartender and drink creator, Christina Cook, whipped us up some fresh, seasonal cocktails. My Veracruzana (gold tequila, muddled pineapple and basil, agave nectar and lime) was really good. It tasted like summer in a glass. Bridget’s spiked Agua Fresca (watermelon, cucumber, moscato, triple sec, pinapple and soda water) was a hit with her too.

Chef Cara Marie Duskin

Lola’s is in the midst of a transition. Chef Duskin took over the reins a few months ago and is now in the process of revamping the restaurant’s menu. Originally from Naples, Florida, Chef Duskin came to Rhode Island 6 years ago and loves her new home. In Florida, she attended the Culinary Institute of Fort Lauderdale before working for a catering company and Hilton Hotels (while there she was named Hilton Employee of the Year for her leadership and work ethic). Here in Rhode Island, she has worked at Andrew’s Bistro and the Nordstrom Café Marketplace. At Lola’s, she hopes to bring a healthier flair to Mexican cuisine. She has started out with bang, immediately creating Lola’s signature item, housemade queso fresco. It goes perfectly on tacos, in burritos and I found it really makes whatever dish it sits on. She will also be adding lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options to the new menu.

Stuffed Peppers

For appetizers, we sampled a variety of items. We had a tasty, classic guacamole and a huge portion of ceviche which would be perfect for sharing. We also tried an al pastor taco (the pork was braised in pineapple and chiles) and agreed it was the best thing we sampled all night. It was super flavorful, and we would have gladly eaten more of these. On Tuesday nights, Lola’s runs a Taco Tuesday promotion, and all tacos are just $2 a piece – a bargain! We also sampled a salad off the new menu which consisted of baby spinach, quinoa, jicama and queso fresco. All of the ingredients were fresh, and we couldn’t get enough of the jicama.

Baby Spinach Salad

After all of our appetizers and chips and salsa, we went light on the entrées. We split a ground chorizo torta (Mexican sandwich) topped with queso fresco (so damn good) and my favorite, pickled onions. From the new menu, we also tried a quinoa and grilled corn stuffed pepper. For not having any meat in it, the stuffed pepper was very filling and satisfying. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Chef Duskin has up her sleeve . . . stay tuned for her new menu premiering in September.

Lola’s is a great spot for dining al fresco in Providence. With the addition of Chef Duskin, they’re setting out to prove it’s not just a place to enjoy the view – it’s a place to enjoy the food and drinks too. By the time we left that Monday night, the restaurant had filled up, and everyone seemed to have the same idea we did. Enjoy the weather and outdoor dining while you can . . . winter will be here before we know it.

Savoring Summer at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar in Sarasota

2014-08-08T15:42:00.001-04:00

Every summer, I’m lucky enough to spend a relaxing week in Sarasota, Florida. Because I stay with friends, it’s a cheap trip for me. Southwest flies directly to Tampa for a relatively low fare, my room and board is covered by my friends, and the beaches in Florida are FREE (even for out of state guests). I always enjoy my week, and although people think I’m crazy to go to the heat of Florida; let’s face it, it’s just as hot and humid in Rhode Island in July.

One of my favorite parts of Sarasota is the Lido Key area. The beach is wide, and the Gulf water is clear and warm. There’s a great concession stand right on the beach that sells ice cold Stella Artois for $5, and you don’t want to miss their Thursday special – chicken fajitas. Within walking distance of the beach, there is an upscale shopping district known as St. Armand’s Circle. This area is filled with a variety of shops ranging from expensive art and jewelry to kitschy stores filled with Sarasota t-shirts, and a new popular Tervis store. There is also a variety of restaurants from upscale to casual, and a few ice cream shops too (my favorite being Kilwin’s Ice Cream). On this trip, my friends and I tried out the Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar.

The night we dined at Tommy Bahama’s, it was much too warm and humid to enjoy dining outside, but on a cooler night, you would definitely want to be outside enjoying the people watching and salt air breeze. We were seated upstairs in the large dining room, but seating is also available downstairs either in a smaller dining room or at the large bar. Live music was set up downstairs, so the atmosphere was a bit livelier. We all started out with cocktails and agreed they were all well-prepared and didn’t skimp on the top-shelf liquor. I had the Hibiscus Lime Cooler ($11) - Ketel One, Cointreau, Pineapple, Hibiscus Syrup and Lime. It was excellent – very tart, well balanced and perfectly refreshing on a hot Florida day. Bridget had the Blood Orange Margarita ($11) - Sauza, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Blood Orange and Scratch Sour. She loved it, but it was so strong, she only needed one. Bill enjoyed the Rum Babalu ($12) - Kirk & Sweeney 12 year, Lime, Maple, Ginger Beer and Angostura Bitters, and Sandy loved her Pina Colada ($9). With our cocktails, we enjoyed the fresh warm sourdough bread with cinnamon butter. After we devoured the first basket, our waiter was nice enough to bring us more. Sandy is such a bread fiend, if it weren’t for the pina colada cake, the bread would have been the highlight of her meal.

Hibiscus Lime Cooler

After a full day of swimming in the pool, we were hungry and tried a variety of appetizers. My favorite was the Seared Scallop Sliders ($14.50) with chipotle aïoli, basil, romas, crispy onions and asian slaw. Seeing the list of ingredients, I thought it all seemed like too much, but the flavors pulled together nicely. The Seared Ahi Tuna and Kale Salad ($18) was my second favorite appetizer. The tuna was seasoned with lemongrass and then flash-seared to give it a nice crust while retaining a rare center. The salad was super yummy with hearts of palm, fresh corn and mushrooms. It had some crunch to it from the pine nuts and was finished with an addicting tahini miso dressing. The Blackened Fish Tacos ($16.50) were also good, but be careful, they are VERY messy. The chipotle aioli and asian slaw made a return appearance on the tacos, but my favorite part of them was the tangy lime sour cream. Bridget easily ate her way through the Macadamia Crusted Goat Cheese ($12.50) making special mention of the tasty soy glaze. Bill and Sandy split the enjoyable Bungalow Salad ($8) which was filled with toasted almonds & macadamia nuts, dried blueberries, feta, pepitas, vine-ripe tomatoes and topped with a meyer lemon vinaigrette.

Seared Ahi Tuna and Kale Salad

Somehow, even after eating all of the appetizers and the bread, we were still a little hungry for dinner. Luckily, my portion of Jerk Pork Tenderloin ($25) wasn’t huge, but it was delicious! The pork was just bordering on overcooked, but it was still very moist and contained a huge amount of flavor for such a lean cut of meat. It certainly didn’t need extra flavor, but both the mango salsa and pineapple rum sauces were appreciated. The pork was served over a sweet potato mofongo. The sweet potatoes were a nice riff on the usual plantain based dish. I’m embarrassed to say I ate every bite on my plate – it was that good. Bridget and Bill had the Macadamia Nut Encrusted Snapper ($29.50) and both raved about it. The fish was very fresh and topped with wasabi soy butter for a kick. The fish was served with almond rice and well cooked asparagus. Sandy ordered a Fish Sandwich ($14.50) and WHAT a fish sandwich she got. This sandwich was enormous. The beer batter fish was crisp, flakey and literally falling out of the bun. The fries on the side were good too.

Jerk Pork Tenderloin

At this point, we were all stuffed. We were holding our stomachs and trying to figure out how far we needed to walk to burn off the calories we had consumed (in my case, probably back to RI). Then our waiter brought over the dessert tray and suddenly, we were so enticed, we ordered two desserts to split. It is good to know the cakes come in two sizes, so don’t think you have to have a giant slice. Sandy who loves pina coladas HAD to have the Pina Colada Cake ($10/$6). The base vanilla cake was soaked in dark rum and layered with crushed pineapple and white chocolate mousse, then topped with toasted coconut. She loved it, and the small slice was gone before I could get a picture. I was enamored with the Crème Brulee ($9) that was baked into the hallowed out shell of a pineapple. The crème brulee was decent, but you can’t really beat the novelty presentation.

Crème Brulee

We really enjoyed our meal at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar. The menu offered a nice variety of items with something for everyone, and the prices could please anyone’s budget. Our waiter was friendly and laidback, and he spaced the meal out very well, giving us plenty of time between courses. We’ve eaten in other restaurants in St. Armand’s Circle, and this is our favorite so far.

Seared Scallop Sliders

Rocco's Pub & Grub - My Favorite Neighborhood Spot

2014-05-10T11:50:00.001-04:00

As you know from reading this blog, I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of really incredible meals in some of the best restaurants in Providence and in the cities I visit. Sometimes though, I am looking for food that’s convenient and more “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” than “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Lately, when that feeling strikes me, my go to restaurant has been Rocco’s Pub & Grub on Douglas Pike in Smithfield, RI.

3 Varieties of Rocco's Wings

One of my favorite writing clichés is “this is the sort of neighborhood restaurant you long to have in your neighborhood.” Generally, when writing that sentence, I am longing about a spot I wish was in MY neighborhood. Luckily, Rocco’s is both actually in my neighborhood AND a place I long to have in my neighborhood. It’s located in an unassuming strip mall close to the North Providence/Smithfield line. It’s a small spot with only a dozen or so tables and a bar area which is often very crowded (especially on weekdays after work). There’s plenty of big screen tvs to catch the Bruins play-off games and a friendly bar staff to take care of you. They offer a decent beer selection, though I wish they had a few more local options, and although the cocktail list isn’t exactly upscale, they have some fun options.
Rocco’s website advertises the food as “swanky grub.” I’m not sure swanky is the word for it, but the food is damn good. I’ve sampled a good many of their appetizers and have been impressed. The chicken wings come with a choice of 50 sauces, and all the ones I’ve tried so far are good. My favorites include bacon bourbon (real hunks of bacon, not crappy bacon bits), avocado chipotle and honey mustard. In my younger days, I wouldn’t have stopped until I tried all 50 sauces. Oh who am I kidding, I do want to try all 50 sauces. Food blogger vs. Food Challenge #1. On Thursday nights, all wings are 35 cents each, so it’s even affordable to try all 50 sauces! I also really enjoy their flatbreads. My favorite is the arrabiata with tomato sauce, mozzarella, hot peppers, Italian sausage and pepperoni. They also make a really good Buffalo Bill flatbread with hot sauce, gorgonzola, grilled chicken, bacon and scallions with blue cheese dressing on the side.

50 Wing Sauces

The hamburgers are huge (man sized), as well as super juicy and flavorful. The bacon avocado burger is my favorite. It’s topped with smoky bacon, avocado, mozzarella, pickled onions and a ridiculous avocado chipotle aioli. The cheesesteak is the best I’ve had north of Philadelphia with caramelized onions, cheese sauce and a little extra tang from Dijon mustard. The Rocco’s tacos come with potato crusted cod, grilled chicken or steak tips. The potato crusted cod is delish, and the toppings include picked onions (I’m a sucker for pickled onions), jalapenos, cherry tomatoes and a spicy aioli. The fries are okay but not great, and I’d save your money and skip the Rocco’s fries upgrade. They sound good but don’t pack any punch in my opinion.

Fish Tacos with Fries

There’s always a good selection of specials on the chalkboard – striped bass in season, lobster wontons, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, shrimp fra diavlo . . . During the week, Rocco’s hosts a trivia night on Tuesdays, $4 martini night on Wednesdays and the aforementioned 35 cent wing night on Thursday.

I don’t go to Rocco’s every week but at least a couple of times a month when the wing, flatbread or burger craving hits me. It’s not a place you go out of your way to try but a place you’re glad to have in your neighborhood. I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing on the 50 wing sauce list.