Howdy do, which is short for how-do-you do?

While the two words "restaurant weeks" stumbles off the tongue, these two places are shining examples of what makes this food event so incredibly good. We tried Chez Pascal last week and New Rivers just last evening and can claim without hesitation that $30 bucks a person for such wonderful food should not be missed. Skip Boston and NYC is just not worth the travel headaches when you have such food venues right here.

You can read my review notes on Chez Pascal,… Continue

Look, I don't need to say much about this place -- at the very least it deserves a little of your time and maybe a little of your money; certainly some of your food. Anyway, I've dropped food off at their HQ on Niantic Street
in Providence twice now and have to say their front desk -- the front line so to speak -- is staffed by the friendliest, nicest people you'll probably ever meet in this life.

They also have a great website: http://www.rifoodbank.org/matriarch/default.asp. Give them a hand… Continue

This place has been around for nearly 20 years and is still offering the same incredibly delicious food and outstanding service.

Located along Steeple Street, literally a stone's throw from the hubs of Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design, New Rivers, run by Bruce Tillinghast and his phenomenal chef Beau Vestal, this place feels like a slice of rural France brought to the Ocean State.

If you think Susie and I liked this place you would be absolutely right. And obviously lots of o… Continue

Although there's a noticeable slowdown in restaurant activity during the middle of the work week, a number of restaurants downcity still manage to draw a few interested parties in search of expanding their knowledge of wine.

On one recent Wednesday night my wife and I dropped by Gracie's -- well, OK she was just turning around and going back -- and spent a pleasant hour or so chatting with Anter Thakur, the resident wine guru, about a couple of wines he's suggesting for Thanksgiving: a chardonn… Continue

Tini's is the latest concept from George Germon and Johanne Kileen, owners of Al Forno in Providence, and one of the driving forces behind the city's incredibly successful food revolution.

Quick review: space a bit cramped, the starters were quite good (ask for the french fries' sauces on the side), service friendly but sloppy, and the electronic menu we found discomfiting and tiresome after the first ten minutes.

Long-winded review: Wedged between Gracie's at one corner and Brav… Continue