This Weekend

Star Lodge No. 56, Vasa Order of America will hold its Scandinavian brunch Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vasa Hall, 43 Bald Hill Rd., Cranston. The brunch includes Swedish pancakes, meatballs and breads. Adults $10, children under 12, $5. Limited seating; call (401) 944-5525 for reservations.

Second Church, 50 Park Ave., Attleboro, Mass. will hold a Fall Fair Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Homemade cinnamon buns, meatballs subs, beef barley soup and made-from-scratch desserts will be available, as well as jams, candy, pickles and apple pies.

Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church, 70 Jefferson St., Providence, (401) 272-7712, holds the annual Food Festival and Bazaar Friday through Sunday, Nov. 13 to 15. Friday’s family-night program opens at 5 p.m. with a dinner choice of Kheyma or Losh Kebob and a kids’ menu. Lunch will be served on Saturday from 11:30 to 3:30 and dinner from 4 to 9. Sunday dinner will be served from noon until early evening.

Wine and beer events

Pot au Feu, 44 Custom House St., Providence, (401) 273-8953, potaufeuri.com, opens the 2009 Beaujolois Nouveau with an event Wednesday, Nov. 18, that begins at 10 p.m. There will be a tasting tour of the famous wines of France’s Beaujolais region, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres; corks on the new nouveau will be pulled at midnight. Tickets are $25. On Thursday, Nov. 19, teams from area restaurants will participate in a Wheelbarrow Race to be the first to bring the wine to downtown Providence at 10 a.m. on the River Promenade at the Crawford Street Bridge. Prizes are given for the best decorated wheelbarrows.

Café Noir, 125 North Main St., Providence, (401) 272-2116, cafenoirri.com invites guests to enjoy a complimentary glass of Beaujolais Nouveau for a limited time only beginning Thursday, Nov. 19 –– no purchase necessary. Executive chef Ben Lloyd has created an array of seasonal hors d’oeuvres (priced at an average of $6) and entrees to pair with the wine.

St. Pius V School, Providence celebrates its 80th anniversary with an Around the World Wine Tasting on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at La Salle Academy. Mark Gasbarro of Gasbarro’s Wines, Federal Hill, selects wines from the U.S., Italy, Argentina, Spain and Australia. The cost is $30; $50 per couple. Call (401) 421-9750 to order tickets.

On the menu

The Parkside Rotisserie, 76 South Main St., Providence, (401) 331-0003, Parksideprovidence.com, serves special “Rotisserie Sundays” from 4 to 9 p.m. It includes rotisserie chicken served family style with sides of mashed potatoes, pommes frites, sauteed vegetables and pasta pomodoro. The cost is $12.95 per person. For meat lovers, add prime rib for $14.95 per person.

Wayland Bakery, 138 Wayland Ave Providence, (401) 421-2900, waylandbakery.com, now offers sugar-free pies and challah every Friday.

Cactus Grille, 800 Allens Ave., Providence, (401) 941-0004, cactus-grille.com is now offering breakfast, both Mexican and traditional American fare, on weekends. Cactus Grille also offers customized catering menus for holiday functions and other events.

Cater To You Bakery, 233 Child St., Warren, (401) 245-3055 has a Thanksgiving pie special now through Saturday, Nov. 14. Order two pies and get a 10-inch pumpkin pie for $5.

The Coast Guard House, 40 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, (401) 789-0700 is offering 2 for 1 dinner specials Sundays through Thursdays from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Purchase one dinner entrée from the menu with an appetizer and get the lesser-priced entrée free. A half-price bar menu is featured every day from 4 to 6 p.m.

d. Carlo Trattoria, 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, (401) 349-4979 added new dishes to its winter menu, including prosciutto-wrapped grilled asparagus, roasted beet salad, butternut squash ravioli with duck confit and braised oxtail risotto. It also introduced a new wine list with about 18 by-the-glass options priced between $6.50 and $9.

Don Jose Tequilas, 351 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 454-8951, donjosetequilas.com, is offering special brunch items on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. They include a traditional Mexican breakfast (Mexican omelet and French toast with fresh fruits and caramel sauce), Mexican Mimosas, sangria and more priced from $7.95 to $12.95.

Bravo Brasserie, 123 Empire St., Providence, (401) 490-5112, bravobrasserie.com is reserving seats for its Dec. 4, 5, 16, 18 and 26 performances of “Deadly Christmas Carol” Mystery Dinner hosted by Murder on Us. Complimentary valet parking is offered. Call for reservations.

Ferns and Flowers Bistro, 1094 Centerville Rd., Warwick, (401) 821-1447, fernsandflowers.com announced its new fall specials, including French meat pie, grilled duck l’orange and stuffed acorn squash. Apple cobbler, poached pears, miniature pumpkin pies, warm mulled wine and spiced rum cider are also featured.

Pinelli’s Deli by Day, 701 Quaker Lane (Route 2), West Warwick, (401) 821-8828, will offer all hot items for $4.95 on Saturdays, including pasta items such as lasagna, stuffed shells and manicotti. Also featured will be a menu of chicken dishes, stuffed peppers, eggplant rollantini, spaghetti pie, frittata, and four “old school” Italian-style sandwiches in addition to the deli sandwich menu.

Spiced Pear Restaurant at The Chanler, 117 Memorial Blvd., Newport, (401) 847-2244, spicedpear.com offers Sunday supper featuring Chef Kyle Ketchum’s take on traditional New England “comfort food” from noon to 8 p.m. The three-course fixed price is $27 ($14.95 for children 5 to 12).

Wildfire Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar, 1874 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence, (401) 353-7110, wildfirenp.com is introducing an Early Bird menu Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring items such as Veal Spezzardo and mixed grill plate. All entrees are under $12.95 and include a choice of soup plus coffee, tea and selected desserts. An all-you-can-eat Tuscan-style family chicken dinner, cooked in the Alforno oven, is $10.95 every Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. Endless Pasta Mondays ($10.95) includes a house salad and unlimited brick oven rolls. On Tuesdays order a large specialty pizza for half off (dine-in only). On weekdays the wine bar offers drink specials and half off appetizers and pizza selections from 4 to 6 p.m.

Tony’s Colonial Food, 311 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 621-8675, tonyscolonial.com has a 100-pound mortadella with pistachios on display Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15. Samples can be obtained Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

News

Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees throughout Rhode Island and Bristol County, Mass., partners with the Special Olympics for the Pound of Coffee promotion. Now through Dec. 31, the franchisees will donate 25 cents for every pound of coffee sold to Special Olympics Rhode Island and Special Olympics Massachusetts South Section. Beginning Nov. 22, Dunkin’ Donuts will offer two pounds of coffee for $11.99, three pounds for $15.99 and four pounds for $19.99.

Peapod, the online grocery service, announced the launch of its Refer-a-Friend Charity Program, a holiday-giving initiative that will help customers save money on their groceries while making a donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Through Refer-a-Friend, current and new customers can log onto Peapod.com to refer family and friends to the Peapod service and give them a $10 discount on their first grocery order. Once the recipient places an order, the Food Bank will receive a $10 donation. For more, Peapod.com.

Coming Up

The Celiac Support Group of R.I. will hold a dine-out at the Greenville Inn, 36 Smith Ave., Greenville, on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. Participants can order from the menu.

The Bristol County Lions Club will hold its annual all-you-can-eat pasta and meatball supper Friday, Nov. 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in St. Michael’s Parish Hall, 399 Hope St., Bristol. Adults $10, children $5, youngsters under 4 free. The Bristol Police Department will conduct Kid Print Program, a child-identification program, in conjunction with the event. Call (401) 253-5311 for tickets.

International House of Rhode Island, 8 Stimson Ave., Providence, (401) 421-7181 will offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Friday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. Members $15, non-members $20, students $10. Reservations must be made by Nov. 16.

Garden Grille, 727 East Ave., Pawtucket, (401) 726-2826, gardengrillecafe.com will host its annual Vegan Harvest Dinner Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The fixed-priced ($45) meal includes five courses, with an option of two offerings per course. Call for reservations.

Langworthy Farm Winery, Route 1A, Westerly, (401) 322-7791, langworthyfarmwinery.com will hold an Olive Fest featuring olives and olive oils from around the world Friday to Sunday, Nov. 27 to 29, from noon to 5 p.m. A fee of $10 includes a logo glass.

Inn to Inn Cookie & Candy Tour features 15 inns in Mount Washington Valley, N.H., for two days, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The decorated inns offer holiday cookies and candies, gingerbread sculptures, collector’s ornaments and recipe collections. No inn is more than 15 minutes from the next; each will offer two tickets (a $54 value) with their cookie tour package, including a two-night stay and breakfast for two each day. For a complete list of cookie tour packages visit countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com. Those not wishing to reserve an overnight package may purchase tickets from Dec. 1 to 8 for $27 by calling (800) 233-8309.

Thanksgiving openings

Post Office Café, 11 Main St., East Greenwich, (401) 885-4444, pinellimarrarestaurants.com. Open noon to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving special ($15.95) and regular menu.

Redlefsen’s Rotisserie & Grill, 444 Thames St., Bristol, serves a Thanksgiving buffet dinner including turkey, ham, crab-stuffed sole and all the trimmings from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $27.95, children under 10 $11.95.

The Tavern on Main, 1157 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, (401) 710-9788, tavernonmainri.com will serve a limited menu with holiday favorites in an 1800s atmosphere from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All dinners include soup, the bread bar, potato, vegetable and dessert.

Twist on Angell, 500 Angell St., Providence, (401) 831-4500, pinellimarrarestaurants.com. Open noon to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving special ($15.95) and regular menu.

Venice Restaurant, 165 Shore Rd., Westerly, (401) 348-0055, winnapauginn.com offers its full dinner menu and a family-style roast turkey special from noon to 6 p.m. Whole turkey dinners to go, serving 8 to 10, for $119 plus tax must be reserved by Nov. 24.

Waterplace Restaurant, 1 Finance Way, Providence, (401) 272-1040, pinellimarrarestaurants.com. Open noon to 6 p.m. Turkey dinner for $15.95 and regular menu.

Fathoms Restaurant at the Newport Marriott, 25 America’s Cup Ave., Newport, (401) 849-7788, have a dinner buffet from noon to 4 p.m. Dishes include traditional Thanksgiving fare with seafood raw bar, sirloin and pork loin. The cost is $39; $34 for seniors; $15 for children 5 to 12. Reservations required.

Andrew’s Bistro, 3755 Mendon Rd., Cumberland, (401) 658-1515, andrewsbistro.com, will feature à la carte specials from noon to 5 p.m.

Cricket’s Restaurant, 280 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, (401) 232-0300, offers a complete Thanksgiving meal for $18.95 including soup, pumpkin pie and coffee. Baked stuffed jumbo shrimp, prime rib, veal Parmigiana, stuffed scrod and roast pork will also be offered.

Hillside Country Club by Lombardi’s, 82 Hillside Ave, Rehoboth, (508) 252-9761, hosts a family-style dinner at 1 p.m. featuring tossed salad, penne pasta, roast turkey with all the fixings and pies. Reservations required. The cost is $21.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 6 to 10. E-mail for more at info@hillsidecountryclub.com.

Thanksgiving to go

Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs, Greggsusa.com, features pumpkin cheesecake for the month for $5.45 a slice or $32.95 for a whole cake. Apple bread pudding ($5.95 per serving, $32.95 per pan) is also available at all four Gregg’s locations and can be ordered for Thanksgiving.

Belmont Market, 600 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, (401) 783-4656, Belmontmarket.com, is offering native organic free range turkeys, all the sides, artisan breads, pastry trays and pies. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23. Pick-up is Wednesday, Nov. 25, before 7 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 26, 7 to 9 a.m.

Il Piccolo, 1450 Atwood Ave., Johnston (401) 421-9843 is again offering Pumpkin Tiramisu at $6.95 per serving or $32 for a pan which serves 8 to 12. Other sizes are available upon request.

Pinelli Marra Fine Caterers, 50 Main St., East Greenwich, pinellimarrarestaurants.com (401) 885-5956 offers a “Joy of Not Cooking” Thanksgiving packaged dinner, serving 10 to 12, for $179.95. The menu includes chicken soup, salad, assorted rolls, sliced turkey with pan gravy, four sides, including sage-scented home-style stuffing and whipped butternut squash, and a choice of pumpkin or apple pie.

Classes and seminars

Johnson & Wales University, jwu.edu is offering five programs for wine enthusiasts and hospitality professionals in 2010: a nine-week WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Intermediate Certificate Program; a 15-week WSET Advanced Certificate Program; a seven-week Professional Spirits program; a four-week Bordeaux Wine Certificate program and a two-day Sherry Wine Course. The programs will take place at the university’s Harborside Campus in the David Friedman Center, 1 Washington Ave., Providence. For more information on all the programs, call (401) 598-2336.

All That Matters, 315 Main St., Wakefield, (401) 782-2126, allthatmatters.com hosts a “Making Peace With Food and Your Body” workshop conducted by author Barbara Holtzman Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $95.

Winners

Katherine Stetson of Bath, N.H., outlasted 29 other amateur cooks from across New England on Nov. 1 to take home the $10,000 Grand Prize in the first-ever New England Dairy Cook-Off presented by Hood sour cream. Katherine won with her recipe for Apple Butter Aebleskivers with Maple Chantilly, which are traditional Danish puff pancakes. The four other finalists were from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine.

On radio

Dining Out with Bruce Newbury broadcasts live Saturday, Nov. 14, from the new Dave’s Marketplace at Smithfield Crossing on Route 44 in Greenville. During the broadcast, which will begin at noon, Bruce will speak with Dave Stearns of Creekstone Farms Black Angus Beef, featured in one of several cooking demos at the store. The show is streamed live at 920WHJJ.com.; 920 WHJJ-AM will pick up the show at 3:30 p.m.

— GAIL CIAMPA

gciampa@projo.com