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01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 18, 2007
New Rivers Bistro in Providence probably will be closed for a month while repairs are made to the kitchen, the site of a fire last week, owner Bruce Tillinghast reported. The fire on April 9 did relatively little damage to the building at 7 Steeple St. but it will take time and money to restore things to normal in the restaurant, he said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said, though it seems to have begun in duct work and some of the kitchen’s hardwood charcoal used for cooking. Tillinghast wasn’t at the bistro at the time of the 8 p.m. fire. He said he had left the restaurant at 5:30 p.m., gone for a swim at the Y and was home making dinner at the time he was called by his staff who said the flames were quickly extinguished. The restaurant was serving dinner at the time.
Downcity will rise from the ashes of a fire last May 22 and reopen in a new home at 50 Weybosset St. Owners Abby Cabral and Rico Conforti hope to open in mid-June. They had owned the restaurant for a year when the fire occurred. They are dropping the Food + Cocktails from the name and calling it Downcity at 50 Weybosset. They will serve lunch and dinner as well as Saturday and Sunday brunch. The popular meatloaf will be on the menu as will calamari, crab cakes and breakfast burritos. There will be a creative martini list. Cabral reports that Merry, Downcity’s most famous server, will return.
Pascal Leffray, best known as the former owner of the restaurant that still bears his name Chez Pascal, has been named sous chef at the Rhode Island Convention Center. He will work with executive chef Anthony Haskins. Pascal, a native of France apprenticed at Nogent le Roi of Paris and later worked in restaurants in Paris, New York and Cancun. Also, Alicia Fay, formerly of Capital Grille, has been named sales manager for food and beverage at the center.
Carmine’s has officially opened at Twin River casino in Lincoln. The Italian restaurant seats 480 and serves antipasto, pastas, seafoods, and meat entrees in family-style portions with Carmine’s house wines. The restaurant includes dining rooms on three levels, a bar area, a bocce court and a glass wall overlooking the greyhound racing track. It is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Meals are also available for takeout, (401) 475-8600. This is the fifth Carmine’s with the others in New York City (two), Atlantic City, N.J. and Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Garrison Confections, 815 Hope St., Providence, (401) 490-2740, won the best chocolate award at the first ever Food Network Awards broadcast Sunday night. The category was called “Hot Chocolate” and nominees were artisan confectioners who have raised the bar creatively. Providence’s own Andrew Shotts beat out Joseph Whinney of the Theo Chocolate Company and Kristy Choo of Jin Patisserie.
Salve Regina University, Ochre Court, Point Street, holds its Wine Tasting & Auction tomorrow night at 6 . Admission is $45. Admission for the connoisseur level ($100 for tickets) is at 5 p.m. The event includes hors d’oeuvres, dessert and valet parking. The auction begins at 8 p.m. Reservations required by calling (401) 341-2608.
The Cold Stone Creamery at 1000 Division Rd. East Greenwich, (401) 884-0668, is under new ownership by Greg Fowler and will re-open on Saturday with festivities. The store will serve from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The RISD Museum hosts chef Haruki Kibe of Haruki Restaurant for a sushi demonstration on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at 224 Benefit St., Providence. The history of Japanese food and the significance of design and color on a typical serving plate will be discussed as well. The program is free with museum admission. Call (401) 454-6530 or visit www.risdmuseum.org.
The Providence Lions Club will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday from 7 to 11:30 a.m. at the East Providence Senior Center, 610 Waterman Ave., East Providence. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, muffins, coffee and juice. Admission at the door will be $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. For information, call (401) 334-5752.
Shape Up R.I., the Urban League of Rhode Island and the West End Community Center, will co-sponsor a workshop by Constance Brown Riggs on Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. at the William H. Hall Free Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston. The nutritionist, registered dietitian, and diabetes educator will discuss how to prepare and enjoy traditional ethnic fare from the American South and the Caribbean, while maintaining normal glucose levels and healthy food intake. The event is free. Riggs book Eating Soulfully and Healthfully with Diabetes will be available for purchase. For more information visit www.shapeupri.org or call (401) 421-0608.
Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth hosts a five-course wine dinner featuring Greenvale Vineyards wines on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (508) 336-8682, ext. 104.
Mark Gasbarro’s fifth Wine Tasting to benefit The American Cancer Society will be held Monday, May 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Marriott Providence, One Orms St. All proceeds go to the Cancer Society in honor of the late Lombard Gasbarro. Italian, California and French wines, signatures of the Federal Hill shop, will be featured as will wines from Argentina and Australia. In all there will be more than 100 wines to sample along with a silent auction with wine connoisseurs in mind. Tickets cost $75. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, May 2. In the previous four years, more than $175,000 has been raised by the event. Tickets are available by visiting Gasbarro’s Fine Wines, 361 Atwells Ave., Providence; the American Cancer Society at 931 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 3004, Warwick (401) 243-2600; City Ticket, 50 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, (401) 421-4600; Dugan Jewelers, 164 Main St., East Greenwich, (401) 884-6800; or by calling (401) 421-4170.
Napa Valley Grille, Providence Place, (401) 270-6272, celebrates Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 25, with a fixed price, three-course lunch for $32. Proceeds benefit Junior Achievement of Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Chef SmackDown will be held Monday, May 7, at 6 p.m. at Belle Mer, Goat Island, Newport. This event pits Newport chefs against Providence chefs. The Providence team includes Matt Gennuso, Chez Pascal; Joey Gracyalny and Tori Schumacher, Gracie’s; Matt Jennings, LaLaiterie at Farmstead; Beau Vestal, New Rivers; and Derek Wagner, Nick’s on Broadway. The Newport team has Robert Smith, Belle Mer; Jay Bourassa, Bliss Natural Market and Café; John Philcox, Café Zelda; Kevin Thiele, One Bellevue at the Hotel Viking; and Peter Lach, Vanderbilt Hall. A 10-course dinner with wine will be served. The cost is $125 which includes a $50 tax deductible donation to American Institute of Wine and Food Rhode Island Chapter’s Days of Taste program. Reservation deadline is May 4. To reserve, visit www.aiwf.org/rhodeisland or call Kelly Kane at (401) 369-7260.
Smith-Appleby House Museum, 220 Stillwater Rd., Smithfield, will hold its May breakfast, Sunday, May 6, at 11 a.m. Breakfast will include ham, eggs, Johnnycakes, home fries, muffins and juice, served with coffee, tea or milk. The cost is $8. Reservations are required. For more information, or to reserve a seat, call (401) 231-7363.
Twist on Angell, 500 Angell St., Providence, (401) 831-4500, will be showing the art work of Mike Bryce on Thursday, May 17, at 6 p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be served along with a full beverage menu including a $20 culinary treat including a Valentini cocktail, specialty entrée and dessert. Twist is part of the Eastside bus loop for Renaissance City’s Gallery Night.
The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island hosts a Wine and Microbrew Tasting, Thursday, May 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Westerly Yacht Club, Watch Hill Road. Tickets are $25. Call Beverly Lavallee at (401) 364-8785 or Sally Hansen at (401) 348-9109 to reserve.
The LPC Wine Tasting will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain St., Providence, (401) 453-2337. Featured wines by Campus Fine Wines, Slocum & Sons, and Standard Liquor will be paired with a buffet by chef Tony Goncalves. Tickets are $35 and are available at Trinity Brewhouse, Campus Fine Wines, (401) 621-9650, and Standard Liquors, (401) 941-9605. All proceeds benefit Lueithi-Peterson Camps.
The Great International Beer Festival comes to town, Saturday, May 5, with two separate admission sessions at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The first session, featuring the music of Ghost Town, will be 1 to 4:30 p.m. The evening’s event runs from 6:30-10 with The Wrong Reasons performing. The event offers the chance to taste 250 brews from 120 brewers who craft their macro and micro brews around the globe including Belgium, Russia, Ireland, and South America. Ticket price is $36 for unlimited sampling. Tickets may be ordered online at www.beerfestamerica.com or at the Convention Center ticket office Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Call (401) 274-3234 or visit www.beerfestamerica.com.
The Celiac Support Group for Children will hold a gluten-free dine-out on Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m., at Twist on Angell, 500 Angell St., Providence. The event will feature both the gluten-free and standard menus. Gluten-free selections include pizza, calamari, buffalo chicken tenders, and more. Reserve by Friday, April 27, with Jeanne Rotatori at (401) 885-2368.
Afternoon Tea will be held Sunday, April 29, at 1 and 3 p.m., at Hearthside Mansion, Great Road, Lincoln. The theme is Language of Flowers. Tickets are $20. Reservation deadline is Friday. Call (401) 726-0597.
St. Augustine’s Church, The Episcopal Center at URI, 35 Lower College Rd., (401) 874-2739, is holding its Chicken Barbecue Fundraiser on Saturday, April 28, noon to 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity and other programs of St. Augustine’s. Meals are available for take-out or may be eaten in. Half barbecue chickens are $5 and dinners are $9. Dinners include a half barbecue chicken, coleslaw, roll, chips, applesauce, cookie and beverage. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $4.50 and $8.50. For information, visit www.staugustineuri.com/bbq.html or e-mail info@staugustineuri.com.
Walter’s Restaurant, 286 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 273-2652, will hold its next Sagra on the food of the Marche region, Thursday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. Call to reserve and see the menu at www.chefwalter.com.
The Up River Café, 37 Main St., Westerly, (401) 348-9700, www.uprivercafe.net, hosts a Honig Vineyards wine dinner on Wednesday, April 25 featuring Elaine Honig. The four-course dinner includes a main course with roasted mint leg of lamb with mashed purple potatoes paired with Honig Cabernet Sauvignon Bartolucci Vineyard 2003. The cost is $65.
Chez Pascal, 960 Hope St., Providence, (401) 421-4422, hosts a wine dinner on Thursday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. Martin Meinert of Martin Meinert Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa, will be on hand to discuss the wines presented during the four-course dinner.
Hotel Manisses, Block Island, (401) 466-2421, will hold its 2007 Spring Wine dinner, Saturday, April 28, at 6 . The dinner will feature the wines of Trefethen Vineyard presented by David Whitehouse Jr., wine master. The cost is $85 for resort guests and $95 for non-guests.
Z Bar& Grille, 244 Wickenden St., Providence, (401) 831-1566, hosts a wine tasting featuring Penfolds Winery of Australia, on Wednesday, April 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Peter Curry will be representing Penfolds speaking on the Thomas Hyland Range collection along with the history of the Penfolds winemaking. The cost is $10.
3 Steeple Street, 125 Canal St., Providence, (401) 272-3620, hosts a wine dinner, Taste of Spain, on Friday at 6:30 . The cost is $40 and includes regional Spanish wines and sherry.
Crave, 333 Main St., Wakefield, (401) 789-0914, will hold a wine dinner, Wednesday, May 2. Wines from Chile and Argentina will be paired with food prepared by chef Stephen Lima. The cost is $65.
Bruce Newbury will host two dinners next week. The first is a wine dinner at The Spiced Pear, 117 Memorial Blvd., Newport, (401) 847-2244, on Thursday, April 26, at 6:30. The cost is $85. The second is a spring preview at The Lobster Pot, 119 Hope St., Bristol, (401) 253-9100, Friday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. The menu includes new South Beach seafood selections and wine paired with each course. The cost is $60.
22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, (401) 841-8884, will host a Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Dinner on Thursday, May 10, at 6:30. Bob Bertheau, winemaker, Chateau Ste. Michelle, will take guests through each selection of wines as they are paired with a four-course menu. The cost is $75.22.
The Nat Porter Restaurant, 125 Water St., Warren, (401) 289-0373, has a new spring menu. Menu items focus on fresh local greens, porter hummus with smoked poblanos, and light fare entree selections. The spring hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Bar open nightly until 1a.m.
22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, (401) 841-8884, has revived a few of its classic steakhouse selections and added several new menus under the direction of new executive chef Kevin DiLibero. DiLibero came to 22 Bowen’s from sister restaurant Castle Hill Inn & Resort, where he served as executive sous chef. The restaurant is offering a Sunday brunch with traditional breakfast style items with a steak house twist, such as Prime Steak Benedict served with truffle hollandaise and 22 Bowen’s Omelet with smoked ham, feta, baby spinach, diced tomatoes and toasted Pullman. Brunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Also on Wednesday nights there is a three-course prime rib special. The three-course menu with the 16 ounce cut is $32.95 and 20 ounce, $37.95. Lunch offers its Two for $22 menu, seven days a week.
Raphael Bar Risto, 1 Union Station, Providence, (401) 421-4646, has named Angel Cardona the new chef de cuisine working with owner Ralph Conte. He has been promoted from sous chef and Mike Gonzalez has assumed that position.
Pinelli’s Gourmet Deli, 701 Quaker Lane, Route 2, West Warwick, (401) 821-8828, has new luncheon choices such as a new salad station, a panini sandwich menu featuring hot pressed sandwiches and daily luncheon specials cooked to order from the restaurant’s Café At Night menu.
Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, 55 Pine St., Providence, (401) 453-2333, offers a Daisuke Matsuzaka sushi roll. Handrolled by sushi chef Nino Elgheryany, the Dice-K Roll features fresh salmon, cucumber, and micro greens, wrapped with eel and avocado and drizzled with Uzu sauce.
Siena Restaurant, 238 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 521-3311, has introduced new menu items. They include Tonno Carpaccio, Pepe con Vitello (Veal Stuffed Peppers), Insalata Spinachi and Garganelli con Tartufo (Semolina Egg Pasta tossed with a white truffle butter, Prosciutto di Parma, mascarpone cheese and cream sauce).
Valerie Giguere will host a Gourmet Traveler Tour on Sunday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 8p.m. to Connecticut. The trip will include stops at The Silo and vineyards Haight and DiGrazia. There will be bread, olive and wine tastings. A box lunch will be served. The cost is $86. Call (401) 823-9620 or visit www.gourmettravelertours.com for information.
The Sakonnet Master Chefs Series features chef Angie Armenise of Twist on Angell, Providence, on Sunday, May 6, at the Sakonnet Vineyard, Little Compton. The class fee is $125 with a $50 fee for a dinner guest and includes lunch and dinner. To reserve, call (401) 635-8486 ext. 112.
A Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking class will be held Tuesday, May 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Burrillville Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 845 Old Victory Hwy., Mapleville. The class is sponsored by The Cancer Project and is free.
Shape Up R.I. will hold a cooking demonstration, Cooking Healthy, exploring the health benefits of olive oil, Tuesday, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 East Main Rd. Mary Flynn of Brown University will prepare Whole Wheat Vegetable Pasta and discuss her research on the longevity of Mediterranean women who cook with olive oil. This session is free and open to the public. To sign up for the workshop, go to www.shapeupri.org, click upcoming events.
Rhode Island Vegan Awareness (RIVA) will hold its first annual Honoring ALL Mothers, a special Mother’s Day event, on Sunday, May 13, at noon in the banquet room at India, 520 Main St., Warren. The event will feature an vegan buffet with guest speaker, Rae Sikora, a spokesperson for animals, the environment and human rights for over 27 years. A full cash bar will be available. Tickets are $25 per person. To reserve, call (401) 934-2233.
The Johnson & Wales Inn, 213 Taunton Ave., Seekonk, will feature a hot and cold buffet in its Regency Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults are $23.95, seniors $21.95, children 5 to 12 are $13.95, and children 4 and younger $5.95, plus tax and gratuity. Reservation deadline is Friday, May 11, at noon. The Inn also offers a breakfast buffet from 7:30 to 10 a.m. for $13.95 and dinner from noon to 6 at Audrey’s Restaurant. Reservations for the Johnson & Wales Inn can be made by calling (508) 336-8700, and Audrey’s at (508) 336-4636.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 11 Dorrance St., Providence, hosts breakfast at 6:30 a.m., brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner menu beginning at 2 p.m., with prime rib and stuffed shrimp added to both the brunch and dinner menus.
Radisson Airport Hotel, Warwick, will offer a hot and cold buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost for adults is $23.95, seniors $21.95, children under 12 eat for $13.95, plus tax and gratuity. Reserve by calling (401) 739-3000.
The Mixing Table, 1165 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, Mass., has a Mother’s Day special available Wednesday, May 9, to Wednesday, May 16. They will waive the assembly fee for pick-up dinner orders and the additional $18 fee for the minimum of six meals. Chosen meals should be pre-ordered from the menu online, www.themixingtable.com, and picked up during the promotional period. There is also a new program, Stork and Ladybug, for new moms. This ongoing program waives the fee for assembling as minimum of six meals, during a two-month period.
TV Maitre d’ with Joe Zito, has a Mother’s Day edition Sundays at 11 a.m. on Channel 64 and at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 12. It features Rasoi Restaurant, Mill’s Tavern, Tony Papa’s, Venda Ravioli chef Salvatore Cefaliello, Cafe Fresco and Lucce Italian Bistro chef/owner Tony Morales prepares a fresh fruit tart and Mark Gasbarro discusses wines with Mom in mind at Twin Oaks. The show also airs Saturday at 7 a.m. on Channel 64. Visit www.tvmaitred.com.
Cooking with Class, Chef Frank Terranova, an associate instructor at Johnson & Wales University, cooks up pasta next week during the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts on Channel 10.
Jen Huntley-Corbin will talk to Johanne Killeen & George Germon of Al Forno about their cookbook, On Top of Spaghetti during her radio show Jen’s Dish this morning from 9-10 on WNRI 1380 or listen online at www.wnri.com.
The Waterman Grille has opened at 4 Richmond Square, Providence, (401) 521-9229, www.watermangrille.com.
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