Restaurants

Experience the sizzle at Keep the Fires Burning, a fundraising reception for WaterFire Providence, at Ruth's Chris Steak House located in the G-Tech Center, 10 Memorial Blvd., Providence RI, on Wednesday, October 17 from 6-9 p.m. The event will include a partial WaterFire lighting in Waterplace basin from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Keep the Fires Burning will be held outdoors on the heated patio at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Providence overlooking WaterFire. Tickets are $150 each and include a variety of heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. VIP boat rides will be available during the WaterFire lighting.

Cindy's Cooking Studio with Cindy Salvato is offering new fall classes. On Wednesday October 3, 2007 from 6-8 p.m., “Summer Flavor, Winter Choices: Which Canned Tomatoes to Buy.” Venture down the aisle of canned tomatoes, and take a mini trip around the world of sun-drenched farms. Blind taste and rate the top brands of crushed, whole, diced, regular and San Marzano tomatoes. The class will conclude with a lesson on making the perfect marinara sauce. Cost: $35. On Wednesday October 17, 2007 from 6-8 p.m., “Restaurant Desserts Made Easy.” In this demonstration style class, you'll learn how easy it is to make fabulous desserts — Molten Chocolate Cake, Tart Tatin and the famous Crème Brulée — with ease. Cost: $40. Sign up for classes at www.cindyscookingstudio.com or www.RIMarketTours.com. Classes are held in Johnston. Directions will be sent when your registration is complete.

Chef Walter's International Cooking School has announced its lineup of classes for the upcoming season. “Essentials of Tuscan Cooking” will be held in October; and in November, “Sauce Workshop: The Classics.” Maximum enrollment for each hands-on class is eight students. Classes are held on Tuesdays. For a complete listing of classes please visit www.chefwalter.com. Call 401-273-2652.

The winner of the 2007 Great Dynamite Cook Off, sponsored last month by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, is Michelle Schiavo of Woonsocket. She captured the title in a cook-off intended to find the best dynamite sandwich recipe in the state. Schiavo said she tweaked a family recipe to come up with her own version of dynamites, which include red pepper relish, American cheese, and steak as well as hamburger. She won a $200 cash prize and her dynamite sauce will be bottled and sold in Rhode Island supermarkets. The sale of the sauce will benefit the nonprofit Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.


LJ's BBQ, 727 East Avenue in Pawtucket has added a $14.99 fixed price menu on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 p.m. until closing. Dinner includes a choice of wine, beer, or soft drink, choice of soup or salad, choice of selected entrées with sides, and dessert. Call 401-305-5255 or visit www.LJsBBQ.com.

Nicola's Uptown Cafe, 2 Tower Street in Westerly announces new hours. They will now be closed on Sundays and Mondays and open Tuesday through Saturday at 3 p.m. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, dinner for two is $30 and includes salad, entrée, and house bottle of wine or sangria. Call 401-315-2922.

The Bristol County Lions Club will hold its Wine/Beer Festival and East Bay Pizza Challenge on Friday, October 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Linden Place, 500 Hope Street in Bristol. Local wines as well as selections from the West Coast, South America and Europe will be available for tasting. Rhode Island brewers will also be sampling their latest beers. There will be a silent auction. Advance tickets are $35 with a limited number sold at the door for $40. Tickets are available at Panache in Bristol and from any East Bay Lions Club member. Call 401-253-0040 for information.

Mill's Tavern, 101 North Main Street in Providence is now offering $1 happy hour oysters at the bar only from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 401-272-3331 or visit www.millstavernrestaurant.com.

il Piccolo Restaurant, 1450 Atwood Avenue in Johnston is now open Monday night for dinner from 5 p.m. until closing. Call 401-421-9843.

The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association named chef John Philcox of Cafe Zelda in Newport as the Rhode Island Cornerstone Humanitarian and Lombardi's 1025 Club in Johnston as the Restaurant Small Business honoree. Both awards are part of the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award. Philcox is the president of the American Institute of Wine and Food, Rhode Island Chapter, and works to educate young people on the benefits of good nutrition. With the “Days of Taste” program, Philcox and other chefs visit schools to teach nutrition and the origins of good food to children. Philcox also organizes field trips to local farms where children pick fresh vegetables and then go back to the restaurant's kitchen to prepare meals from them. Lombardi's 1025 Club outreach commitment includes a community relations program called the Caring and Sharing project in which the company provides nonprofit and civic organizations fundraising and event consultation, management and marketing services, as well as donates a portion of their costs to those specific organizations. Last year Lombardi's organized a Valentine's Day event for the families of military serving overseas, with the proceeds benefitting the Rhode Island National Guard Family Readiness program, and the Boutique Ball, an event to provide prom and wedding dresses to women who otherwise could not afford them.

Downcity @ 50 Weybosset, Providence has opened its doors after a fire more than a year ago at their former location. The new restaurant is open seven days a week serving lunch Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.; dinner nightly until 10 p.m.; a late-night menu Friday and Saturday until midnight and brunch on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. The menu is chock full of familiar favorites like the meatloaf and crab cakes and specials of fried chicken and fish and chips and brunch selections include a breakfast pizza. Call 401-331-9217 or visit www.downcityfood.com.