As kids, the extensive convincing Mom and Dad would go through to get us to eat our veggies included but were not limited to; mild threats of sleeping at the dinner table, nearly on the knees begging, bribery with the sorts of candy and other sweet confections, or heavier threats of going to bed without dinner whatsoever, the likes of Max from Where The Wild Things Are. Well mom n’ pop, the day has come, the tables have turned. No longer are turning a nose up at a brussel sprout, but actually seeing it listed as an ingredient and being the decision maker. Those years of veggie tirades seem so obscure with our head-over-heels love for the fully vegetarian menu at The Garden Grille, located at the tail end of Blackstone Blvd in Pawtucket. ​

We started out with an appetizer that everyone can love; Korean Tacos. Two soft flour tortillas hug a slice of nutty tempeh marinated in a sweet chili glaze, shrouded by a colorful purple cabbage, creamy avocado, and a tangy chipotle aioli. These tacos can do no wrong in my eyes. They are flavorful, bright, and the best addition to your taco Tuesday rotation. ​

Salads are a summer time favorite, but a word of advice, never settle for a basic salad. Cukes and tomatoes are all well and good, but when you have fresh, in-season fruits and veggies to decorate your bowl of green, there is no room for entry level veggies. The Reggies Raw Heaven is an absolute go-to, so much that if I ever meet Reggie, I’d have to shake his hand. The curt bitterness of leafy arugula is cut with a sweet pomegranate dressing, and piled with beet infused jicama, tart grapefruit segments, lush and sweet mango slices, buttery avocado and crushed cashews for a nutty crunch. Like I said, no basic salads allowed. If you can fit all of that onto one forkfull, you will be in juicy green paradise. ​

​Although I had mentioned, I feel the need to stress this point; Garden Grille is one of my all time favorite restaurants. It is the absolute go-to, the fall back, the treat yo self, the special night out, the casual take out at home, the “I want to show off to my out of town friends”. It is whatever you want or need it to be! The place has been around for decades and is recognized in the community as a staple.

I want to make one final point. When speaking about a vegetarian place, it is easy to get lost in making comparison to meat based dishes, saying things like ‘the Reuben tastes just like real meat!” (Don’t get me wrong, it totally does), or "get your meat lover friends to try it!". I think there is something to be said about creating a space where meat has no place at the table. So much, that meat is not worth mentioning. It is completely irrelevant and not needed to showcase how incredible the the meals are in it’s absence. That being said, Meat, you are not missed here. ​

Thank you to the Garden Grille, for always being there for us, and to the staff who is always warm and welcoming, even when you are over flowing with a bustling crowd of people knocking the door down for some damn good vegetarian cuisine. Love yall! ​

Photos: Emily Homonoff
Braceletes: Marianna Mae Designs - handmade in RI 

What does your breakfast look like? If it's not like this, it's not good enough. 

For another sweet confection, you might want to sit down for this, we had Allie’s Donut French Toast. One of my all time favorite donuts ever, sliced down the middle, egg dipped and griddled to sizzling sweet perfection. Powdered sugar flurried on top and topped with a dollop of whipped cream. It may be indulgent, but it is worth every sugary sweet bite. ​

An Allie's Donut swiped right on Tinder and met a real nice guy named French Toast. This is their delicious baby. 

​We ended our meal savory, with the breakfast quesadilla. Two corn tortillas hugging together black beans and melted cheese, tucked beneath two sunny side up eggs, salsa verde and a sprinkling of cilantro. Bust open one of those yolks and get the full flavorful effect in each bite. My favorite part was the colorful and bright salsa verde, to spice up with classic dish.

A large Italian sub is something seen on just about every sandwich menu in Rhode Island; if there’s bread, there’s an Italian sub. So how does Hudson’s sub stand out from the rest? Well, its about the size of a newborn baby, and weighs about the same, too. This mammoth sandwich is layered with fresh sliced cold cuts, shredded lettuce, cheese, Italian salsa, banana peppers, tomatoes, oil and vin, and mayo. Phew, that’s a mouthful (literally). ​

Another one for the plant lovers, and one of my favorite sandwiches of the day, Smash the Patriarchy, breaks all the rules. Served warm off the press on your choice of bread, smashed chickpea salad, feta cheese, onions, cranberry sauce, and spinach to make such a smooth, almost buttery taste. It reminded me of a tastier version of egg salad, but with yummy add ons and sweet and tart pops from the cranberry. So good that a meat lover might even try something vegetarian *gasps*. ​

And finally, something that is not between two slices of bread is the saute bowl! This is custom built, made to order. Pick what you want, whatever you’re in the mood for, and sauté it!  We went with an egg scramble, sauteed mushrooms, kale, carrots, zucchini and onions. We love this because sometimes, we are feeling like leaving the carbs out of the picture, but it’s hard to do at a sandwich shop! So if one of those sandwiches is calling your name, but you’ve promised yourself to skip the bread today, not to worry. ​

​Hudson Street Deli is truly admirable because they have something for everyone. A giant, Italian cold cut sandwich, vegetarian and vegan options, and every choices for our friends who are allergic to gluten. They are able to accommodate just about everyones dietary needs, wants, and desires. And to make you love them even more, they are super conscious of the footprint they leave behind. They work to minimize their food and paper product waste, and encourage customers to bring their own reusable containers. We can certainly get behind a business who is thoughtful enough to care about their environment and community!

Thank you to Hudson St. Deli for having us in, and being so wonderfully accommodating. You literally had us eating sandwiches for days (how many people does it really take to finish that massive grinder!?) We can’t wait to come back! ​

Living in the Ocean State, I think we might be programmed to have a weakness for the fruit of the sea. So naturally, we ordered the fish tacos. Golden panko crusted fried haddock, perfectly flakey with a light crunch. Wrapped up in flour tortillas and topped with crisp shredded cabbage, juicy tomatoes, and a chili lime crema. These tacos were so beautifully fresh, crispy and flavorful, served with a side of house made tortilla chips and salsa. Oh baby, squeeze some lime on em and call it a day! ​

OK so burgers, our favorite food with buns! We ordered the PBR, and no, it has nothing to do with the beer (it fooled us too!) P is for fried Pickles, B is for BACON, and R is for ranch (yee-haw!). This flavorful trio has us practically licking our fingers (ok not practically, literally). A tender, juicy burger, melty cheese, lettuce, tomato and then layered with crisped bacon, tangy ranch, and fried pickle chips.You get alladat in one bite, and the savory goodness will have you flying. ​

Le sigh, what a tasty meal we are having. But of course, it must be washed down with something equally yummy to match. We are eating tacos, so of course a couple of margaritas are in order. Sweet and spicy jalapeno margaritas, a creamy and nutty coconut margarita (yes, you heard right, complete with a crunchy coconut rim), and a blackberry whisky muddle. Sips between bites made for a completely blissful afternoon. ​

We would like to thank The Square Peg for welcoming us in! We can not wait to come back in for a visit once the weather is bright and warm, and enjoy the beautiful view (with one of those cocktails in hand). ​

If you’re thinking of Mexican for dinner, the first thing that pops into your mind are probably tacos. Followed by Burritos, tagging along with nachos and quesadillas, and probably a day dream consisting of margaritas with a salted rim. How often do we sit down and order one of the above, without so much as a wink in the direction of the rest of the menu? We went out for some authentic Mexican cuisine, and decided to stray from the norm  and try some dishes that aren’t in our usual rotation. At Chilango’s in Providence, you have all of these classics on the menu, as well as a variety of traditional Mexican dishes that you have just got to try. ​

Three adorable mini sandwiches called pambazos, were placed before us. They were almost too cute to eat. These little buns were stuffed with tinga chipotle chicken, shredded lettuce, and queso cotija. The pulled chicken was full of flavor, and super juicy. But what made these lil darlings so tasty were the buns! Of course. They are dipped in pepper sauce, fried, and then grilled before they are filled with the tinga chicken. The layers of taste that comes with a preparation like that is exceptional. ​

Speaking of cute appetizers, we also enjoyed the Mamelas Yucatecas; citrus marinated shredded pork, pickled red onions and cilantro all cradled in little fried corn bowls, and placed on top of a thick and spicy sauce. The corn bowls were thick and doughy but had a perfect crispy outside, holding all of the spiced flavor inside. ​

​The next dish we enjoyed was the Pollo en Mole; tender roasted chicken breast, that shreds when you sink a fork into it, smothered in an herb verde mole sauce. Mole is a traditional Mexican sauce that is flavored with garlic, onions, and typically with habanero or some type of pepper. Here, this smooth green sauce was thick, and had an underlying bite of spice. Served with a side of rice and warm flour tortillas, it’s everything you could want served in one dish.

Hope & Thyme is a package free market and cafe, offering local produce, bulk goods, coffee, smoothies and snacks. Think about all of the plastic packaging and boxes that hold the food we buy at the grocery store; cereal, pasta, beans, granola bars, the list literally could go on to infinity. All of that waste ends up in the landfills and eventually in our oceans. And none of us want that! But shopping at a local market like Hope & Thyme not only supports local businesses, but also eliminates a lot of the waste we leave behind! Bring your own jar or container to fill up, or event rent one from Hope & Thyme. ​

​The cafe counter always has something yummy cooking or baking, like vegan and gluten free treats, soups and rice bowls. We snacked on little Thyme Bombs, which are little heart shaped Lara Bar style bites, without the wrapped that would get thrown in the trash! Plus, homemade is always best!

To get us warmed up, we of course had some chips and salsa. House made tortillas, deep fried to a crisped gold. Dipped into the mild salsa verde for a refreshing and tangy bite. I don’t know about you, but when I have chips and salsa, I always want to upgrade to everyone's favorite smooth operator, guacamole. If vegetables were to have a soiree, avocados would definitely be the life of the party! Loved by all, guacamole is the ultimate dip. Xaco does it up with fresh lime juice, cilantro, jalapenos, and charred salsa verde. Smokey, spicy and creamy. ​

After all of the food and the drinks, our sweet tooth started giving us the elbow nudge. We went with some adorable little churro donut holes. Think munchkins, but with a sweeter fluffier dough, rolled in cinnamon sugar and then served with a side of warm melted chocolate. My oh my, this was certainly a way to end a meal. ​

Thank you to the staff at Xaco Taco, for having us in and taking wonderful care of us. The food was outstanding, the cocktails were incredible. Forget what I said about Tuesdays, we will be back any of the seven days a week! ​

​Chomp boasts a scratch kitchen, two words that make my ears perk right up! I am such a sucker for scratch kitchens because it is like a guaranteed home-cooked style cooking. It is like comparing break & bake cookies to your grandma’s 65 year old secret choco chip recipe. AKA, a no brainer!

So naturally, we needed some Chomp style comfort food to really experience this little gem in East Bay. We started out with the House Burger; the signature succulent Chomp beef patty, smoked gouda (our favorite kind of cheese to put on any sandwich or burger), house cured bacon that was perfectly crisped, lettuce, tomato, pickles and the Chomp Sauce. Being the “House Burger”, it sets the standard for every other burger on the menu and shows that there is  no room for boring or plain here. ​

For the finale, we had The STACK. Judging by it’s name, you can probably guess what monstrous beauty is coming. A three story burger sandwich mashup that was just oozing with cheeses and sauces, daring you to bite it without a fork and knife. We recommend a napkin in the lap, as well as one tucked in the shirt collar, just for safety precautions. OK SO, resting right below the shining sesame up on the tippity top was a classic beef patty, followed by that crispy bacon, pickled jalapeños, dill pickles, and that tangy yummy Chomp sauce. On the second floor, we have the smoky pork and beef patty. Combining two types of meat into a burger adds flavor components that you just can’t get from a solo meat. American cheese, caramelized onions, and tomato jam served as in-betweeners before making it to the final stop. A fat piece of Mozambique fried chicken over the classic lettuce and tomato. If you don’t know. Mozambique sauce is a traditionally found in Portuguese cooking, comprised of garlic, Piri Piri sauce and spices, so it added a hot kick of flavor to the final layer. There was so many important components, it is hard to describe how they tasted all together. That being said, we recommend trying it for yourself. ​

We would like to thank the whole crew at Chomp for welcoming us in, taking great care of us, and feeling us extremely well. We certainly left feeling spoiled. We definitely can agree that the burgers, sandwiches, etc. are worth a drive to East Bay. Thank you!

Thank you to our Photographer Nigel @zoomedia and our model @a_worthy9

We settled into a bar stool and felt at home, surrounded by candle light and earth tones and ordered a craft cocktail. The cactus margarita looked like an Arizona summer, with a snowy salt rim. Sweet and tart, we puckered up with the waves with pear and cactus juice swirling with the tequila. It may be February, but one sip and we would be fooled into feeling like July. ​

Providence may have a lot of pizza places, but in all of our travels throughout the city, we have not met a pizza anything like this one. The simplicity of the right seasoning and fresh ingredients paired with the flavors of the wood oven and of course, the love that goes into it, sets it aside. If we are being honest, the last time we had pizza that tasted like this, was in Italy itself. You know, THE Italy! (So we're saying it's the real deal).  ​

We would like to thank Figidini for being so welcoming, and accommodating. We can not wait to join you on a warm summer night outside, for pizza and a cocktail. We know we’ll be back before it gets warm, but we are just dreaming here! ​

​Ah, Historic Federal Hill. A staple in Providence’s foodscape bustling with culture and seemingly endless classic Italian eateries. The archway adorned with the oversized pinecone (some of yall think its a pineapple, and you are incorrect) stands as a welcome sign, to all of those who are hungry. While we love a good ol’ spaghetti and marinara, we were looking for Italian cuisine that pushes the traditional boundaries and explores a variety of the deeper flavors of Italy. Enter, Massimo.

The vibes upon walking in the door at Massimo are that of an eclectic, Euro-retro style eatery. The familiar red checkered tablecloth that marks a typical American-Italian style dining is nowhere in sight. And we are relieved. Refreshingly enough, Massimo stands out on Atwells not just because of the menu, but also the atmosphere. The walls are adorned with the iconic pasta lover, Sophia Loren. The space is welcoming, yet romantic. When the sun dips down, twinkling lights make constellations in the windows and the dim lighting draws you in. My favorite part of the space? The long farmers table at the center of the dining room, spread with olive tapenade, whole wheels of cheese, a cured leg of prosciutto, and freshly baked breads. Servers use this table to provide pre-dinner snacks to their guests, and it becomes the focal point of the room. If just the bread is a signifier of how dinner is going to unravel, it is looking as lovely as Ms. Loren. ​

​As our next appetizer arrived, we bowed our heads and had a moment of silence for our friends and family members who are lactose intolerant. It is an honest travesty that they are held back from enjoying one of life's greatest pleasures; cheese. The rustic slice of wood displayed rolls of thin sliced salami, capicola, and imported prosciutto di parma to be paired with a semi-hard sheep's milk cheese and a creamy gorgonzola that I assume was churned by angels in the heavens. To pair, we noshed on stuffed cherry and banana peppers, queen and kalamata olives, pickled artichoke hearts, and crispy slices of toast. The flavor combinations were seemingly endless, giving the feel of a new taste with every bite.

While I adore any and all savory foods, my heart truly belongs to sugar. So no matter how full my body may feel, my mind shh’s it and responds with a “yes, we will see a dessert menu”. Cannoli’s are an Italian dessert that really hit all the marks, crispy fried pastry folded around lusciously thick and creamy filling and rolled in candied pistachios. Of course, the star here is the sweet filling, which may have been some of the best we’ve ever tasted. It was heavy, but also fluffy and so wonderfully sweet, and the touch of candied nuts really sent us over the edge. Some people clink their glasses together to raise a toast, we cheers with cannolis. ​

Of course Federal Hill is home to Providence’s historic Italian lineage, so the cooking is always bellissimo. But we feel that Massimo is above average for a number of reasons. You can find the classic staples like chicken marsala and bolognese, while also having a wide selection of fresh seafood options and eclectic Italian inspired dishes such as our squid ink lobster dish. Our celiac friends who normally are left out of the pasta and bread conversation rejoice. Seriously, we took out celiac friend to dinner and she actually celebrated upon finding the extensive gluten free menu including pasta and even yummy dinner rolls! It’s the small stuff that matters. Oh did we mention they serve brunch? We will save that for another visit, which we are already looking forward to. ​