December Is Here!
Sure this year seems like it went by in a flash, but let's try to slow down and enjoy the holidays.
I’m planning on coming to you a couple of times this month so I’m going to keep my intro short and dive into the first event that I want to tell you about. Unless you don’t have any email, social media, etc. (and if you don’t I’m not sure how you’re reading this—did someone print it out and hand it to you? 😀) then you may have received an email or two yesterday for Giving Tuesday. Maybe you gave all you could yesterday? Well I’ve got a free event for you this coming Sunday, and it’s a shopping event if you choose to spend some money. So you could get something in return. Plus, with anything you buy, all proceeds go to ecoRI News! Please RSVP for free if you can join us.
If you just can’t spend anything, you can also bring some lightly used “junk” and donate it to be purchased, which will help ecoRI News as well. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. RSVP, come enjoy some thrifting and maybe you can get a photo with an ecoRI News board member wearing a ridiculous Christmas suit.
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Looking for a gift for someone who loves to eat on Federal Hill in Providence, or want a fun night of strolling and dining for yourself? Last month, Brenda and I were invited to experience Providence Tour Company’s Federal Hill Dinner Stroll and we had a wonderful time. I was asked to share the evening with you here.
The Federal Hill Dinner Stroll, one of many tours the Providence Tour Company has put together, is a guided Italian dinner experience with a three-course meal and some storytelling from your hosts during the dining and along your walk down Atwells Avenue. Food, tax and tip are included in the $100 ticket price.
Each diner can purchase cocktails, wine or any beverage off the menu at each location. If you choose to valet your car at Cassarino’s, the Stroll’s first location, it’s complimentary. But please remember to tip at the end of evening as you walk back from your last destination.
As mentioned above, we began our evening at Cassarino’s where we were welcomed by our two Providence Tour Company hosts and led upstairs for our first course, which of course was a platter of antipasti. All the dishes at our stops were served family style, except for dessert, and there was enough food for everyone in the party to enjoy. We were in a group of ten, Brenda and I, and two groups of four that we met that evening for the first time, which made for a lot of new conversations.
Our hosts talked a bit about Federal Hill and the landmarks we’d see like La Pigna. They were nice, informative, fun and not obtrusive, which is what you’d want in a guide where the focus is the food and not so much a historical tour. Providence Tour Company does offer a Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill Tour if you’re more interested in the guns more than the cannoli (sorry, I couldn’t resist!).
Our next stop was a short walk away at Trattoria Appia where we were served four excellent pastas, along with some meatballs and sausage. It was a particularly busy night at Trattoria Appia that evening but they had a table for 10 set for us and we were in without a delay. The bar was very busy, so knowing that you’ll want a beverage wouldn’t be a bad idea. Personally, I like a glass of wine with food, so at every stop I was prepared.
Next we walked further down the Hill to Pane e Vino where we were served a spectacularly perfect eggplant rollatini. Even if you don’t go on a tour I’d recommend getting this dish there! Everyone in the group loved it and the staff at Pane e Vino were kind enough to give us all to-go boxes of it before we departed for our final spot and dessert.
We had cannoli and coffee at Anthony’s Authentic Italian Cuisine to end the evening and was a great finale to the Federal Hill Dinner Stroll. One note, while the Federal Hill Dinner Stroll continues to begin at Cassarino’s, they do switch the places up a bit depending on when you tour, so check their website ticketing page for the most current restaurant information.
You can purchase tickets for upcoming Federal Hill Dinner Strolls or any of their tours at pvdtourco.com. The Dinner Strolls are currently running every Thursday at 6 p.m., except on holidays. As I mentioned at the beginning, these tours would make a great gift and if you’re unsure of when to book a tour as a gift, Providence Tour Company also offers gift cards.
Thank you again to the Providence Tour Company for the experience that evening.
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That’s it for this one. I hope you’re following me on FaceInstaTokTube (links below) as I’m always sharing lots of great local places that you should show some love to during this holiday season—and all year-round—and of course there’s all that Thanksgiving content.
As always, thank you for reading. There’s news and updates on eatdrinkri.com in addition to stories, links, reels, posts, liquor scores, etc. on my media:
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I appreciate the support and all the new subscribers that keep joining here. Please be kind to each other and to yourselves. Thank you again and be well.