Work and Food in Providence

My, how things have changed. The big news here is, of course, that I spent all of last week at work. That's right, at work, can you believe it?

I'm working as a freelance web editor at Johnson & Wales University, right here in Providence. The school is in the process of totally overhauling it's website -- and with four separate campuses scattered around the U.S., that's no small undertaking. Anyway, it's a challenge for me to be sure but frankly I am enjoying myself immensely. I'm editing, which I like, for the web, which I am equally fond of, and I'm learning so much along the way! And the office is just a 20 minute walk from home! Tres cool, eh?

Susie worked several long days last week -- in addition to planning the next batch of new desserts and experimenting for the future (see the photo of chocolate zabaglione below) she's also working on the little confections for the restaurant's line of sweets to be sold at the local farmer's market this summer. More on that in the next few weeks.

And the weather was really quite atrocious for much of last week as well. One would have thought March had returned with a vengeance.

But the weather didn't keep us from spending a little quality time at Gracie's for the Wednesday wine flights: last week it was white wines for picnicking -- and they were good as usual, but Chef Joe's accompanying treats were incredible: a sunchoke soup with fennel, deviled quail's egg and roasted grapes -- I mean roasted grapes!

Anyway, Wednesday evening got away from us so we just walked out of Gracie's and went next door to Cuban Revolution to grab a sandwich before heading home. It was quite a radical change from the Gracie's atmosphere of smooth jazz and warm vibes to very loud noise, lots of energy and marginally controlled chaos.

In a nutshell the restaurant was a big disappointment. Food was so-so, skimpy "Cuban" sandwich that seemed to lack all of the ingredients, whereas Susan's wrap seemed to have been stuffed with just about everything imaginable. Sweet potato fries were soft and mushy, and, we thought, quite overpriced ($4 for a small dish).

But it was the service that was by far and away the worst part of the dinner. Our server was a young woman who had no idea what she was doing or how to do it -- capping the dinner off at presenting us with two different bills! The check itself was for $27 and change, while the credit card receipt was for more than $44. Hmmm, that was curious I thought. Still, I'm not sure who to blame here: the poor server working her tail off, blissfully unaware of how she is botching so much along the way, or the management that put her there in the first place. Odd. (photo below: Susie's cherry mascarpone tartlets.)

It was quite a different story Friday night. After another long day for Susie and after an aperitif at Gracie's we thought we'd try MuMu's, a Chinese restaurant on Atwell's on Federal Hill. Chef Joe Hafner and several others at Gracie's raved about how good the food is at this place -- and they were right. No doubt about it, this was some of the best Chinese food either one of us have ever tasted. Spring rolls were perfectly crisp with a light wrap and fresh ingredients inside, and the entrees were equally scrumptious: very tasty, lots of flavor and heat as advertised. Priced right as well.

From MuMu's we walked over to Pastiche, almost around the corner, and grabbed a table by the front window. The desserts were nice and the coffee perfect. Service outstanding and prices a bit high -- but hey, life's full of tradeoffs.

We finished the week with yet another outstanding dinner, this time on Jamestown Island, south of Providence smack in the middle of Narragansett Bay. Friends of Dick and Dorothy's, Jeff and Janice, invited the four of us down to dinner at their home on Jamestown Island, across the bay from Newport. After a glass of wine at our place the four of us drove down -- it took all of about 30 minutes probably -- and found ourselves out in the quiet Rhode island countryside, away from the sirens and car alarms.

All we brought were four hearty appetites, and we all left stuffed. Homemade hummus to start capped off by homemade angel food cake -- with an incredible rack of lamb and potato gratin wedged in the middle. And the carrots! Whoa! Naturally I forgot to ask how they fixes these but they were sauteed (?) to perfect with a nice firmness to the bite and a little something that I couldn't quite pin down tucked away in the back of the flavors. The best meal of the week to be sure. (photo below: Susie's daquoise lime bites.)

Sunday was a day of rest -- well not really. It was Mother's Day of course, although frankly I'm a firm believer in the notion that we should be treating our Mothers to a special day every day. But hey, my mother's gone so I suppose that's my perspective a bit.

Anyway we spent Sunday working at home, household chores, baking for Susie as well and me upgrading the Mac to the new Leopard operating system. Very exciting stuff.

Wish you had been here,

Steve