5 Fun Ways to Enjoy National Apple Month
Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors
5 Fun Ways to Enjoy National Apple Month
5 Fun Ways to Enjoy National Apple Month
Barden Family Orchard, North Scituate
Barden Family Orchard was founded in 1930 by John and Hazel Barden. They planted a few trees that--quite literally--became a farm. Today they produce in the neighborhood of two dozen varieties of apples. You can pick your own or enjoy a bag that they pick daily. It's a full service farm so you can always get the freshest vegetables while you are there, but the real stars are the apples. The farm market features pies or homemade apple sauce, depending on the day. Their website features a terrific chart of their apples and when they are ready to pick. They also offer ideas for each variety. 56 Elmdale Rd. 934-1413.
Jaswell's Farm, Smithfield
Jaswell's Farm, in Smithfield, is the perfect place to take the family on a Sunday afternoon for sunshine and foliage and laughter and...of course...apples. This farm is located in the heart of “apple valley” in the beautiful and historic town of Smithfield. Jaswell’s Farm is the oldest operating apple orchard in Smithfield and currently being run by the fourth generation of the Jaswell family. A recent trip with our nieces and nephews found everything from apples we picked to fresh pressed cider to the utterly addictive apple cider donuts. We were stopped in our tracks, however, by the candy apples. About 12 versions will keep your family busy! 50 Swan Rd. 231-9043.
White Horse Tavern, Newport
If you want a Colonial era fruit, why not head to a Colonial era tavern? The White Horse has been serving hungry patrons since those patrons were the like of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Today, Chef Richard Silvia and his team are serving some of the best food anywhere in the state. His seasonal offerings feature local apples as both sweet and savory dishes. On the lunch menu, Silvia features a grilled shrimp with black barley, red and brown rice and an addictive local apple and onion slaw. The apples really sing here. Sweet and slightly acidic at the same time, it became the star of the dish for us. A new addition to the dessert menu is an apple tart with salted caramel ice cream. So good. 26 Marlborough St. 849-3600.
Chez Pascal, Providence
Our favorite French spot on the East Side is Chez Pascal. Chef/Owner Matt Gennuso has been doing it as long as anybody in Providence and he's been at the top the whole time. If you want a perfect French onion soup, this is the place to go. But we are here for a taste of apple. We arrive at a pretty perfect dessert: apple, bacon and cheddar cheese custard tart with apple compote and cinnamon ice cream. Let those flavors sink in for a second. Apple, cinnamon, bacon, cheddar. Oh my. It's pretty much fall on a plate. Get there for dinner, but make sure you save room for this dish! 960 Hope St. 421-4422.
Al Forno, Providence
There is something about the original. There is a comfort in knowing where something came from. In Rhode Island, the original spot for upscale, seasonal food was Al Forno. George Germon and Johanne Killeen set the bar with made to order desserts in Providence. We remember the first time we were asked to order dessert first and what we got was the warm apple tart. All these years later, this dessert still rings true. Perfect, buttery pastry dough is folded around fresh, local apples and baked in their high heat ovens. The caramelized apples...the burnt little edge of dough...the minimal additions that allow the apples to shine through. All still perfect! 577 South Main St. 273-9760.
