This Food Scene in Rhode Island - March 24

Brunch at Garde

The ProvidenceG and Corporate Executive Chef Robert Sisca Unveil New Menus and Launch of Weekend Brunch Beginning on Easter

"Inspiring new culinary creations" are unveiled at the ProvidenceG,​ as part of the launch of a Saturday and Sunday brunch series starting this Easter weekend.

Weekend Brunch Series at Garde Begins Easter Sunday

Garde is offering a brunch feast on Easter Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, guests can select from a three-course prix fixe brunch menu featuring exclusive Easter fare in addition to new menu items for $29. A preview of Garde’s weekend brunch series begins next Saturday, April 2. The selection includes smoked white asparagus soup followed by duck confit French toast and a luscious salted caramel cheesecake. With nine entrées to choose from, additional brunch sides like house smoked bacon and savory duck fat potatoes available, and special cocktails like Bloody Marys, Bellinis and Mimosas, Garde offers a wide range of treats to enjoy on Easter Sunday.

Chef’s secret for the Easter holiday? “I think of lamb when I think of Easter so I created a number of ways for guests to enjoy it during our brunch,” said Sisca. “Our brisket burger, for example, comes with lamb bacon while our rye cavatelli is prepared with a lamb neck ragout. We also offer lamb tartare as a first course item.”

To make reservation , call (401) 6​32-4799​ or reserve online for Easter Brunch or upcoming brunches offered every Saturday and Sunday, beginning on April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Million Dollar Burger

On “The Road to the Millionth Burger” sold, Luxe Burger Bar gives one guest a chance to win $1 million dollars

Luxe Burger Bar says that they are on the road to selling their 1 millionth burger.

 The Build Your Own Burger concept started in 2008 and it gives guests the ability to create their own burger with over 400,000 options.  “If you can dream it, we can build it,” said John Elkhay of Luxe Burger Bar, “Burger Customization allows our guests to create the burger of their dreams, which has proven to be an overwhelming success”.

In honor of this huge milestone, Luxe Burger Bar is giving one lucky guest a chance to win 1 million dollars.  Between February and May, guests are able to enter into the drawing by filling out an entry form at the restaurant .  The lucky guest that is chosen will try their luck at the million dollar prize on Saturday, May 21st at Luxe Burger Bar!  The individual that is picked in the drawing will have 2 chances to roll the set of 4 dice and if all four dice land on the Luxe logo then they win 1 million dollars!

“I believed from the beginning that we had a winning concept but selling a million burgers is above our wildest expectations”, said John Elkhay. 

GMO Battle

Farm Bureau in RI Rejects GMO Labeling -- claims it will cost consumers, farmers, biotech industry in the state

Proposed legislation in Rhode Island that would force mandatory labeling of foods and products that contain genetically engineered ingredients threatens to drive up costs and mislead consumers, puts undue burdens on local food producers and farmers and casts the safety and nutritional value of these products in a negative light.

“Farmers in our state want nothing more than to bring good, quality products to market for their friends and neighbors,” said Henry Wright, President of Rhode Island Farm Bureau. 

“Consumers in Rhode Island already have a choice at the market.  Some of our farmers use GE seeds in their crops, some choose to grow organic.  The organic products are marketed as such, and therefore mandated GMO labeling is unnecessary.”

During a meeting this week of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, members of the farming community, the biotech industry and scientists testified against Rhode Island mandating GMO labeling and worked to educate the committee members on the numerous benefits that genetic engineering has played in benefiting the food supplies of Rhode Island, the United States and the world. 

“The advancements that science has achieved to make food production more efficient with reduced need for pesticides and water is nothing short of remarkable,” said Paul Pescatello, President and CEO of New England BIO.  “We can’t continue to put undue stigmas on these products, which is very much the intention of these labeling initiatives.  The way we will feed the world in the future is with the aid of genetic engineering.”

“Implementation of state by state labeling initiatives is unrealistic and has the potential to cause chaos for manufacturers and distributors,” said Gene Harrington, Director of Food and Agriculture, Biotech Industry Organization.    “The federal government is close to coming to a national solution to the GMO labeling debate.  States need to let that play out before jumping the gun and imposing costly requirements on their own.”

It's Back

Narragansett Del’s Shandy is Back. You’re Welcome, Neighbors

Narragansett’s signature “Hi Neighbor Mash Up” rolls out this week in New England, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Portland, Oregon and for the first time, Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina.

Del’s Shandy is available in six packs of 16-ounce tallboy cans and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Food Drive

The Residential Properties Ltd. Food Drive Collected over 5,500 meals for the Rhode Island Food Bank

702 pounds of food was collected, including a variety of canned goods, boxed items, peanut butter, tuna fish, rice, beans, and other essential, high protein foods. In addition, Residential Properties was happy to donate over $1,600 to the worthy cause.

“I am thrilled that our food drive was a huge success and will benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank,” says RPL President & CEO, Sally Lapides.

RPL, which will celebrate its 35th Anniversary this November, has always been active in supporting the needs of those in Rhode Island. “One of the core values of Residential Properties is giving back to the community,” explains Lapides. “I would like to thank all of our colleagues and clients who participated.”  

According to food banks, this time of year is particularly slow for donations, making local support all that more important for the Rhode Island Food Bank.

With 167 member agency food programs across Rhode Island, the organization has distributed millions of pounds of food and household items to local communities. To learn more about the RI Food Bank and how you can contribute, please visit RIFoodBank.org.