Al Forno - Providence, RI

Dirty Steak, Anyone?

Two weeks ago was my wife's birthday. We’ve grown into a tradition of celebrating what we’ve termed the “Birthday Week” or “Weekend” at bare minimum. So in order to keep up the legacy, I planned a full 4 days of activities starting with an amazing birthday dinner at Al Forno in Providence. If you’ve ever been so lucky to eat there then you know what an absolute treasure it is. How lucky are we to have one of the best restaurants in the country in our own backyard? That’s not just my opinion - but the opinions of many of the country's best chefs and foodies alike.

When I got the idea to go there, I did what any responsible person would do... I tried getting a reservation. Don’t waste your time -they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. We went right after work - problem solved. Parking isn’t a major issue because the restaurant has their own lot and there is plenty of on street parking in the surrounding area. The building that houses the restaurant is a large brick structure with huge floor to ceiling mill windows that overlook the Providence River. On this particular night (...)

22 Bowen's - Newport, RI

Lunch over a three hour period usually means you’re working hard at the office on a huge proposal that absolutely needs to get done “today”. In fact in most cases, the legend of the three hour lunch is largely considered a myth. But for a select few, Saturday, September 12, 2009 was a lunch to rival all others. It was a lunch of such epic proportions that when it was over, we stared at each other in disbelief, wondering where the time went.

Ok, so maybe that was a little dramatic.

This past Saturday Melissa, my mother and my brother Justin and I dined at 22 Bowen’s in Newport, RI. Melissa and I decided that it would be a great idea

Antonio's Trattoria - Cranston, RI

Antonio’s Trattoria, located in the Knightsville section of Cranston, was the scene for our most recent dinner date. Melissa and I received a very generous gift certificate from the owners of my company in celebration of our engagement four weeks ago. I’ve lived in Rhode Island for most of my life and in Cranston for the majority of that time and this was the first time I’d been to Antonio’s. I can’t believe what I’ve been missing. Although the parking situation is a little dicey, once you step inside the restaurant the hustle and bustle of the everyday world is left behind.

We were greeted quickly and seated even faster. Our host seated us in the lounge area, which worked perfectly because it’s lined with half circle booths that have tall backs for the ultimate in privacy. Warm earthy tones and clean linens filled our view and soft lighting echoed a very romantic décor. Melissa and I have always been the adventurous type when it comes to cuisine and Antonio’s gave us the opportunity to keep up that trend. Zucchini flowers stuffed with roasted zucchini and goat cheese began the meal followed closely by heirloom tomato mozzarella fritti. Yeah, it was even better than it sounds.

Melissa’s main course was exceptional. She dined on pan-seared scallops, which sat on a bed of creamy spinach risotto with a pomegranate drizzle. Each of her bites was followed by, “Mmmmm, this is fantastic!” or “Mmmmm, this is so good baby, you have to try it.” And try it I did. If I were eating with anyone else, say my brother I would have used my Jedi Mind Trick to knock him out so I could quietly finish off his meal. But because I was sitting next to my fiancé, I decided against that approach. Wise choice I think.

I went in the “turf” direction for my main course. Perfectly cooked to a medium rare, I had filet mignon over a bed of grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes with a port wine reduction. While the potatoes needed a little seasoning to bring them to life, the rest of my meal couldn’t be beat. Although I wanted to rip into my filet and swallow it whole, I chose a more sophisticated style and made sure to get a little bit of everything in each bite. Again, I made a wise choice.

We finished the evening with dessert. Melissa opted for Limoncello cheesecake with tea. Being the chocoholic that I am, I chose the molten chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce. I don’t know what it is about eating at Italian restaurants, but I always end my meal with a double espresso. Maybe I’m testing each bartender’s espresso making skills, or maybe I just need the caffeine to wake me up after eating such a great meal. Antonio’s Trattoria was just the place for romance combined with amazing food and service. Make Antonio’s Trattoria a stop on your list of great restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Lunch at Iggy's

Iggy’s Doughboy’s and Clam Shack was the destination on our radar this morning. The TV Maitre d' was reviewing Iggy’s in Point Judith, and after his gleaming assessment I decided that we’d be packing up the dog and heading south for the day. Being a borderline dreary day, it turned out to be a great idea. With Grux loaded into the Camry off we went on our Saturday mission to find a little Rhody magic.

In life, timing is everything… and at Iggy’s this couldn’t be more true. With walkup service that had us greeted with a welcoming smile it only took us a few minutes to figure out what to order. Besides, after watching the show this morning I basically had it all planned out. Melissa and Grux went off to sit at one of the many outdoor picnic tables. Grux was the star of the show, with children swarming around to pet him.

I anxiously stood there waiting for my number to be called. I felt like the kid waiting to be picked for kickball at recess. Because every order is made fresh, the numbers called are all over the place depending on how complicated your order is. Then… the magic words, “number 67 ready for pick-up”. Good times my friends, good times.

I rushed the hot food over to our table and we had at it. Doughboys, clam cakes, clam chowder and root beer floats made with Iggy’s own bottled root beer. Simply delicious. It may not have been the picture perfect summer day in Rhode Island, but it was a perfect day for Iggy’s.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Rasoi - Pawtucket, RI

Delicious is just one way to describe the food at what I feel is one of the biggest culinary secrets in the state. Rasoi, which is Hindi for kitchen, is located in a busy shopping plaza at 727 East Ave in Pawtucket. It’s just over the Providence line as you head north on either Hope St or Blackstone Blvd. Oddly enough, it’s located between The Garden Grill , which is one of our favorite vegetarian dining spots, and LJ’s BBQ - which I find incredibly ironic.

My first time trying authentic Indian was in Seattle with Melissa. Having never tried it, we had no idea what to order - but managed to put together a tasty meal that only furthered our interest in Indian cuisine. When we discovered Rasoi it was like finding the lost city of Atlantis. We knew it was there but never knew what was beyond the doors; in fact we had seen it often because we frequent The Garden Grill. What we didn’t know was how amazing the food is or how beautiful it is inside.

Recently, Melissa and I went for lunch and as can be expected they did not disappoint. We started with Masala Uttapam, which is a grilled rice and lentil pancake topped with onion, tomato and green chili served with multiple dipping sauces- oh, how I love dipping sauces. We didn’t realize that the green chili and onion were cooked into the pancakes so I ended up eating most of this tasty starter.

I love that Melissa doesn’t like some foods and that she only has a limited capacity because I always get to eat a little more. I know that sounds piggish but growing up my mother always told me that there were starving kids in Africa and I shouldn’t take food for granted. Thankfully, I was a very active kid and could burn those calories off, not so much now.

As lunch arrived, Melissa realized that she did in fact want the mango lassi that we spoke about all through the appetizer and judging by the look on her face, it was amazing. We both ordered a Satvic, which is a combination of four specific dishes served with either rice or naan. The four mini dishes that come standard are incredible on their own but when combined they work so well to compliment each other. I wouldn’t bother to change any of them.

Vegetable mango curry was the headliner of my Satvic. It’s a mouth-watering collection of fresh vegetables stewed in a mango curry infused with jaggery and garam masala. Next was saag with paneer, which is a creamy spinach puree that has out of this world flavor. The paneer is a homemade cheese that’s reminiscent of a high quality feta. The third dish is cauliflower 65, which is spicy, marinated cauliflower florets, golden fried and served steaming hot. This is my absolute favorite; I could eat this dish alone everyday for the rest of my life. Rounding out the collection is sprouted moong bean salad. It’s chopped cucumber, tomatoes, white radish and bean sprouts tossed with lemon juice and chaat masala, fantastic for cleansing the palette from the complex flavors that the other dishes provide.

Our server was more than attentive, being sure to keep our water filled and clearing any unnecessary plates or glasses. Because all of the food is prepared fresh for each meal, we always make sure to leave ourselves with a little extra time during lunch. The next time you are looking for something new... try Rasoi, it’s an absolute "must-try" in Rhode Island.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Top of the Bay

I know that most people celebrate a birthday or anniversary for just one day. Well, that’s not the case with Melissa and me. We have decided to make every occasion a weeklong celebration. You’re probably wondering why - and that’s a good question. We look at it this way, in the grand scheme of things life is short so we should enjoy every moment we have and what better way than to celebrate for a week. Besides who says we can’t? There’s no written rule stopping us from doing so, unless you live in China then you’re shit out of luck.

In continuing with our 3rd Anniversary Celebration Week we went to dinner at Top of The Bay, which is located on the water at Oakland Beach. For all true Rhode Islanders, it used to be Cherrystone’s. Being the middle of January it was frigid and windy but we’ve never let the elements slow us down before and we’re not about to start now. It’s an enormous building which I’m sure it feels even bigger in the summer when the upper deck is open. Melissa and I can’t wait to come back in the summer when the windows and doors are open and we can smell the sea air, even if it is Oakland Beach.

We could see the Jamestown Bridge from our seats. The official name is the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge but I’ve always known it as the Jamestown Bridge. The views, I’m sure are even better in the summer. The décor of the restaurant has an understandably nautical theme but it’s not over done nor is it tasteless. I think they kept is subdued because the focus here is on the food and seasonal views.

We found the menu to be varied and plentiful. I won’t get into an all out review of what they serve but let me tell you, it was delicious. They do offer a meal deal where you get one drink, a half order of an appetizer, soup or salad, an entrée and dessert for between $15 and $18 bucks. You can’t go wrong with this option, trust me! I had the grilled swordfish and Melissa had the baked stuffed shrimp. My swordfish was fantastic and it came with a side of rice pilaf and roasted butternut squash. I know right? We didn’t leave hungry that’s for sure.

Dinner at Timmy’s on the Bay was a wonderful way to continue the weeklong festivities. What’s next? Well that remains to be seen. I’ll be sure to fill you in soon.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Reali's Fine Italian Cuisine

We’ve lived in this house for almost a year now. There’s a restaurant on the corner that for some reason we hadn’t been to… and literally, it’s a 5-minute walk. The other night, we were out running around and worked up an appetite. Knowing we didn’t have much at home to pull together to create a meal, we had to decide where to go. Melissa suggested that we finally try Reali’s.

When we walked in, we were pleasantly surprised to find a warm, inviting atmosphere… the customers seemed to know the staff, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Reali’s has a $33.99 pre fixe dinner special that includes dinner for two and a bottle of wine. We asked for that menu and were quite impressed by the choices. I went with the chicken marsala, while Melissa chose the baked scrod. Our wine choice was a cabernet from Chile that was quite good. While we waited for our entrees, we enjoyed our wine and the delicious bread with rosemary olive oil that our server delivered. Out of curiosity, we took a look at the “regular” menu and were surprised at the wide selection of entrees and appetizers. Their bruschetta alone looked like it would be enough for an entrée.

When our meals arrived, we were again very pleased. My chicken was very tender and I remember commenting about how good the marsala was. Lots of garlic, and very tasty. Melissa enjoyed her very large piece of scrod as well, which also came with plenty of garlic! Her side dish was roasted potatoes, which she said reminded her of her Dad’s. I definitely felt that we got a good value for our money, and once again, were able to get a delicious, reasonably priced meal without heading to a chain restaurant.

We didn’t have room for dessert, but maybe next time! We’re looking forward to trying the other dishes… we’ll definitely be back.

Reali's Fine Italian Cuisine
79 Putnam Pike
Johnston, RI, 02919
(401) 231- 3004

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Providence Restaurant Weeks

It's back! Providence Restaurant Weeks is running from July 6-19th. Many Providence restaurants are participating, including Mediterraneo, Pane e Vino, Local 121, Hemenways... and many more! These restaurants are providing a three course price-fixed menu (lunch $12.95 and dinner is $29.95). Prices don't include tax, tip or beverages. This is a great way to get a sample of what the local restaurants offer. I know we'll be checking out some restaurants that are on our "to try" list!

Tazza Caffe and Providence Open Market

When I got home from my open house Saturday, we decided to head downtown and check out the Providence Open Market. The market is in its second year and includes art, food and antique vendors. I don't know if it's because we got there after 3pm or because setup for the PrideFest Providence Block party had begun, but there were many fewer vendors than I expected. We only saw one produce stand and the website advertises it as including a farmer's market. The spring series ends next weekend, and it returns in the Fall. I really had high hopes for this open market... we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and try again in the Fall.

It was a warm day and we had skipped lunch so we stopped into Tazza Caffe for a drink and a late lunch. We were pleased with the service, prices, food and drinks. Melissa got a mojito, which had plenty of mint and lime. Perfect for a warm summer day. I got a nice cold Gansett and we both got the portabella mushroom, spinach and herbed goat cheese panini with sweet potato fries. Whenever we have something we really like at a restaurant, we try to re-create it at home. I know this will be one to try!