This week and weekend

Kenyon’s Grist Mill, 21 Glen Rock Rd., West Kingston, has an End of Summer open house this weekend, Aug. 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to free parking and admission, there will be free, narrated tours of the historic grist mill, where it has been grinding grains since 1696. Learn about the traditional techniques and the mill’s history and legacy. Free will be kayaking on the Queen’s River, Jonnycakes, local coffee, soupy and sausage samples, local ice cream samples, Rhode Island oyster samples and coffee milk. There will also be items available for purchase. Participants include: Fortuna’s Sausage Co., Daddy’s Bread, Matunuck Oyster Farm, Meadow Brook Gardens, Trail’s End Farm, Kenyon Farm, Updike’s Newtowne Coffee Coffee Roasting Co., The Farmer’s Daughter, Sophie’s Ice Cream, Forge River Farm, Rhody Fresh, Stagecoach House Inn, Ice Pond Farm Alpacas, Stony Hill Cattle Co., Normand J. Leclair, Tomaqaug Indian Memorial Museum, Wampum Jewelry from Craig Spears & Allen L. Hazard Sr., Border’s Farm Preservation, Pinecrest Farm and the Audubon Society of R.I. Guests are asked to bring a food donation for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank or clothing donation for the Jonnycake Center.

Fluke Wine, Bar & Kitchen, 41 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, (401) 849-7778, flukewinebar.com, hosts a wine event Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 9 p.m. with Van Williamson, winemaker at Mendocino County Edmeades Winery. The late night Zinfandel and small plates pairing includes Spicy Lamb Meatballs with Edmeades Mendocino County 2007; Indian Spiced Pork Belly with Caraway Braised Red Cabbage with Edmeades Perli Vineyard 2004; grilled Ribeye with a Zinfandel glaze with Edmeades Piffero Vineyard 2004; and Chocolate and Orange Almond Biscotti for dessert. The cost is $45.

Ebisu, 38 Pontiac Ave., Providence, (401) 270-7500, ebisuri.com, features Saketini Night on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. Saketinis are cold mixed drinks that combine premium cold sakes with other liquors using fresh fruit and juice. Kazu of Ebisu is mixing his original creations, $6 each, with names like Hello Kitty, Dancing Dragon and Tropical Cloud. Also featured at the same time are $3 appetizers featuring shumai (steamed or fried shrimp dumplings), yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), gyoza (pork seared dumpling) and more. Providence Newcomers will be meeting at Ebisu at the same time.

Gallery Z, 259 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 454-8844, hosts Art, Food & Wine to Create Awareness for a Cause event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, partnering with Artists’ Exchange. The event is free and features cuisine from The Blue Grotto Restaurant and wines selected by Mark Gasbarro of Gasbarro’s Wines, Federal Hill, Providence.

Royal Gallery, 298 Atwells Ave., Providence, offers A Royal Taste of Art event on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Pizzico Ristorante and their catering company Decadent Catering provide hors d’oeuvres to compliment a tasting of a variety of wines. The event is free. Royal Gallery director Munir Rihani offers tours of the gallery.

East Side Prescription Center, 632 Hope St., Providence, (401) 751-1430, hosts a Wine Tasting Thursday, Aug. 27, 5 to 7 p.m. including 2007 Pampano from Agricola Castellano Vineyards, a blended white from Rueda, Spain; 2007 Lois Gruner Veltliner from Fred Loimer, a “green” white wine from the Austria-Kamptal region; 2006 Salneval Albarino fom the Rias Baixas region in Spain; and 2007 Hobnob Pinot Noir from France.

Ritacco’s Market, 84 Oak St., Westerly, (401) 596-1835, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 10 honoring Umile and Maria Ritacco for their business’s longevity.

McFadden’s, 52 Pine St., Providence, (401) 861-1782, mcfaddensprovidence.com, holds its annual Beer Lovers Clambake on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. Dinner will include passed appetizers, clam chowder, lobster, steamers, corn, onions, potatoes, saugys and blueberry cobbler for dessert. Cocktail hour includes sampling of Sam Adams new flavors, and dinner comes with a Sam Light, Sam Lager and Sam Blackberry Witbier. Tickets are $50, tax and tip included. Reservations required.

Coming up

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, of East Providence, holds a clam boil/steak fry at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at the South Seekonk Gun Club, Reed Street, Rehoboth. The cost is $25 ($12.50 for ages 7 to 12) for the clams; and $20 ($20 for ages 7 to 12). Gather anytime after 3 p.m. Purchase tickets by Sept. 1 by calling Ken Bridge at (508) 336-6691.

The Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale holds a breakfast fundraiser 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Elks Lodge, 60 Belmont Ave., Wakefield. The meal includes jonnycakes, pancakes, eggs, bacon and more. The cost is $7 and children under 6 eat free. There will be a silent auction. For tickets or more information, contact the Jonnycake Center, 1231 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale, (401) 789-1559 ext. 14, or visit jonnycakecenter.org.

Hillside Country Club by Lombardi’s, 82 Hillside Ave., Rehoboth, (508) 252-9761, holds a fundraiser concert event under the Big Tent, Friday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m.to benefit Christine’s Kitchen. Music by The Bay City Rollers featuring Ian Mitchell as well as performance by Matt Kabus. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. Complimentary food stations and cash bar with tickets $20.

Feast in the Field, a culinary experience celebrating locally produced seasonal foods, native wines and a coastal New England setting is set for Friday, Sept. 11, at Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Rd., Portsmouth. The event benefits New England FarmWays. At 6 p.m. there will be a Vineyard tour, hors d’ oeuvres and wine pairings in the Chardonnay Vineyard overlooking the Sakonnet River. At 7:15 p.m. there will be a three-course tasting dinner and wine pairings in the Stable Tasting Room prepared by Jonathan Cambra of Castle Hill Inn & Resort, Mike Conetta of Waterman Grille, Casey Riley of the Newport Restaurant Group and Backstone Caterers. Wine pairings will be from the Coastal Wine Trail. The cost is $125 and tickets will be sold in advance only; purchase by Sept. 4. Mail checks to Greenvale Vineyards, Feast in the Field, 582 Wapping Rd., Portsmouth, RI 02871. Call (401) 742-5344 for more information.

22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, presents a wine dinner featuring Napa Valley’s Shafer Vineyards on Monday, Sept. 14. Andrew Wesson, national sales manager for Shafer Vineyards will lead guests through each selection of wine as they are paired with chef de cuisine Matthew Preble’s four-course dinner including Lobster Popover (paired with the 2007 Shafer “Red Shoulder Ranch” Chardonnay) and Kobe Eye of Rib en Croûte (paired with Shafer 2005 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon). A reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30. The cost is $150. Reserve at (401) 841-8884.

On the menu

Custom House Coffee, 796 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, (401) 842-0008, offers regularly scheduled tastings and roastery tours every Saturday, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event starts with a tour of the roastery and a roasting demonstration, and concludes with a coffee tasting. The $10 fee includes one pound of fresh-roasted coffee. The coffee varietals come from all corners of the world, from Indonesia to Africa to South and Central America. The degree of roast ranges from medium to dark, depending on the bean. Anyone planning to attend should meet at the coffeehouse at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Bugaboo Creek Steak House, 30 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, (401) 781-1400, and 1125 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, (508) 336-2200, rolled out new lunch and dinner menus. Among the new dinner items are Bugaboo Wings coated in Buffalo or hickory Bourbon sauce, roasted garlic and Parmesan-crusted prime rib and Woodlands Grilled Chicken with herb-roasted mushrooms and grilled onions. There’s also a “Build Your Own Lodge Combo” section so guests can customize their perfect entrée from a list of five options, including Bourbon-grilled shrimp skewers and barbecue smokehouse chicken breast. The lunch menu has new shareable starters, specials and sandwiches, such as Lumberjack Fries loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crisp chopped bacon and chives and grilled rainbow trout.

The Brown Faculty Club, One Magee St., Providence, features Surf n’ Turf on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for members and their guests. Call for reservations at (401) 863-3023.

IHOP, 45 Pleasant Valley Pkwy., Providence, offers a Kids Eat Free dinner promotion through Sept. 13. Families who dine in at IHOP from 4 to 10 p.m. daily will receive one free Kid’s Meal with each adult entrée purchase. The free meal is for kids 12 and under.

DownCity, 50 Weybosset St., Providence, (401) 331-9217, downcityfood.com, celebrates Meatloaf Monday each week with the meatloaf entree served with a glass of your favorite varietal for $15.50. Dinner Jazz and Drag every Friday night at 8 p.m. Live jazz, no cover and free valet offered to try out the new dinner menu.

Cater To You Bakery, 233 Child St., Warren, (401) 245-3055, has specials through Sept. 2. Back to school specials include buy three muffins get three free and buy one brownie or fruit square and get one free. Also 6-inch lobster roll special with chips, coleslaw and drink for $6.50 each or two for $12.

Pinelli’s Café at Night, 701 Quaker Lane, West Warwick, (401) 821-8828, is extending its Kids Eat Free special from Wednesday, Aug. 26, and Thursday, Aug. 27, and continuing Monday, Aug. 31, through Thursday, Sept. 3, from 6 p.m. to closing. Kids, age 12 and under, eat free when an accompanying adult orders an entree at the regular price. Kids order from their own menu.

News

Sherri Johnson of Portsmouth won the Oscar Mayer “Search For The Best-Dressed Dog Sweepstakes.” To celebrate the win, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile vehicle will visit her to host a Labor Day grill-out with all the fixings for her family and friends. She also receives a grill and $1,000 cash.

Foxwoods Resort Casino has organized a new culinary series called “Celebrity Chef Sundays” featuring Tyler Florence, Rocco DiSpirito, and Pat and Gina Neely. Beginning on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. and continuing for three consecutive weekends, Celebrity Chef Sundays will feature the celebrity chefs offering one-hour cooking demonstrations of their favorite recipes, followed by book signings. The chefs’ cookbooks will be available for purchase outside the theater. Tickets range from $25 to $99. The $99 Golden Gourmand tickets include preferred seating, an autographed cookbook and a gift. Tickets are available at (800) 200-2882, or at foxwoods.com (click “Entertainment” and then “Headliners”).

Save the date

Napa Valley Grille, Providence Place, Providence, says the annual Bacchanalia event will be bigger than ever and is set for Oct. 9 from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are available now for purchase or available the night of the event for $100. It will benefit the Rhode Island Breast Care Coalition. For more information, call (401) 270-6272.

gciampa@projo.com