Food holidays coming up are Strawberries and Cream Day on May 21 and May 24 is National Asparagus Day. Strawberries might take a little longer around here to be in season, but check with Goodwin Brothers Farm Stand for their strawberries – people love ‘em. Right now you can get fresh-picked asparagus at Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield. Or you can stop by the Pawtucket Farmer’s Market, located at The Guild, to see what fresh produce they have. The Farmer’s Market happens on Fridays from 4:30 to 7:30 pm through October 27.  Other farmstands to check out in the Blackstone Valley are The Farm in Glocester for organic produce and more (open Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Saturday morning) and the Burrillville Summer Farmers Market (June through September on Saturday mornings), just to name a few. Click HERE for a list of farms and orchards in the Blackstone Valley.  

Crumbl Cookies

The Crossing at Smithfield

371 Putnam Pike, Smithfield

401-249-6002

Opening Friday, May 19!!! Welcome to the Blackstone Valley! We look forward to their weekly rotating menu of cookies, with chocolate chip and chilled pink sugar cookies being available each week!  In Smithfield, they’ll be open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday from 8 am to midnight (closed Sunday).   Stop in and welcome them. In the coming weeks, they will be able to offer delivery, catering and nationwide shipping.  

Atrium on Main – Café on Main

285 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 

401-335-5500

Big news from the folks at Atrium on Main – The Atrium on Main Café is open (Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm)!!! Located between the patio and the dining room, it’s a great place to relax or work with a beverage and a snack.  Check out their MENU

German-American Cultural Society of Rhode Island

78 Carter Avenue, Pawtucket 

401-726-9873

It’s Trachtenabend Time!  This Friday, May 19 at 7 pm – head to the Ratskeller at the German American Cultural Society to enjoy this month’s special menu – Hühnerfrikassee (Chicken Fricassee) with Spätzle and carrots for $15.00 per person. No reservations needed.  There will also be limited seating in the outdoor Biergarten (weather permitting).  

Johnny’s Victory Diner

2731 Victory Highway, Burrillville, RI 

401-765-2661

Barbecue season starts on Friday, May 19! Johnny’s getting the smoker ready! 

Remember there will be live entertainment on Friday evenings – 6 to 9 pm on the deck - during BBQ season. Click HERE to see the BBQ Music Series entertainment schedule.  

Rhode Island Spirits

40 Bayley Street, Pawtucket 

401-856-4111

Ready for some education? Let’s learn about how the team at Rhode Island Spirits makes gin and how you can help!  Read on for an excerpt from their newsletter:

“We know it’s not quite iris season yet, but we wanted to put a bug in your ear…

We use iris roots to make gin!!

That’s right, that mysterious orris root you see in our ingredient lists? It’s iris! Orris root is a term used for the roots of Iris germanica and Iris pallida. Once important in western herbal medicine, it is now used mainly as a fixative and base note in perfumery, the most widely used fixative for potpourri. Orris is also an important part of making tasty gins. 

Why are we telling you this? If you have irises that are more than two years old AND you might thin them after they flower this year, WAIT!   As long as your plants are organically grown, we can use them. To harvest the plant, dig out the root in early summer and e-mail us when this is happening, so we can come get them. From there we will cut the rhizome into small segmentsl. After drying them in the sun the pieces will be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge. The fragrance of the root does not develop until a year after drying and continues to increase in fragrance. Et voila! Fresh gin!”

Contact Rhode Island Spirits if you would like to help supply iris root and have any questions.  

Phantom Farms

2920 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland

401-333-2240

It’s time to plan how you’ll celebrate dads on Father’s Day! Phantom Farms is doing “Donuts with Dad” on Saturday, June 17 – two seatings – 8 to 10 am and 10 am to noon. For $8.00 per person, you’ll enjoy fresh donuts, coffee, tea and juice with your special guy! Seating is limited so call Phantom Farms soon to make a reservation.  

Mapleville Farm

544 Victory Highway, Mapleville, RI 

401-568-0544

The fifth annual “Feast on the Farm” for Father’s Day is happening on Saturday, June 17 at 11:30 am. No one leaves hungry after a breakfast of eggs, pancakes, waffles, potatoes, and meats from local farms. This has been a very popular event, so make your reservations soon HERE

10Rocks

1091 Main St., Pawtucket 02860

401-728-0800

On Sunday, May 21 from 5 to 9 pm, 10Rocks will be hosting a Paint & Sip Night with Cape Verdean muralist, Jaoquim Semedo. Your $35 ticket includes all paint materials needed to bring out your inner creativity! You’ll also enjoy wine and tapas specials. Jaoquim will be raffling off some of his masterpieces too.  Purchase tickets at 10Rocks or click HERE. 

Waterfall Café and Martini Bar

35 East Avenue, Suite B, Harrisville

401-567-7000

Like cornhole? Like the food at Waterfall Café? Then join the fun on Monday evenings (and support local businesses) at the Pavilion (behind the Waterfall Café, in front of the Jesse Smith Library). Grab something from the Monday Cornhole menu (see below) at the Waterfall Café – they’re open from 5-9 pm.  

For more Food and Beverage Events happening in the Blackstone Valley, click HERE