News Bites

A BRUSH AND A DRINK
I’ve been known to drink and dribble, but I’ve never had the chance to Drink and Dabble, which is just what the very funny Charlie Hall is bringing to the Ocean State. This type of “cocktail and canvas” event is all the rage in Boston, New York and Chicago. It’s a night out where folks sip on cocktails while they try their hand at painting.

No experience is necessary. You’ll be guided through the painting class step by step with an instructor, and you’ll be provided with all the supplies you will need – a blank stretched canvas, brushes, palette, acrylic paints, apron and easel. At the end of the night you take home your original 16x20-inch canvas. The cost for the class is $40.

In southern Rhode Island, Drink and Dabble is scheduled this month at the Eleven Forty Nine Restaurant in Warwick on November 12, starting at 6:30pm. For details, visit www.drinkanddabble.com.

CONGRATULATIONS

Laura Hebert of Wakefield was a finalist in the second annual Build Your Own Burger Contest held at Luxe Burger Bar in Providence. She was one of more than 200 entrants, and she made it to the top five with her Chicken-N-Waffle Burger, consisting of fried chicken breast, aged cheddar, iceberg lettuce, fried egg, chipotle aioli and maple syrup between two waffles. The best burger prize went to Camron Parker of Providence with his Benefit Street Burger, made with grilled chicken breast, sharp provolone, baby lettuce, caramelized onions, prosciutto, pear and ginger chutney on a wheat bun.

THANKSGIVING AT 1149

A stress-free Thanksgiving can be yours, thanks to Eleven Forty Nine Restaurant at 1149 Division Street in Warwick. Executive Chef Jules Ramos and his team have put together a dinner package that comes in three sizes, enough to feed four, eight or 12 people at your holiday table. The fully cooked Thanksgiving dinner includes a turkey breast, red bliss mashed potatoes, stuffing made with grilled peasant bread, green beans with melted butter and slivered almonds, candied yams, giblet gravy, cranberry and apple chutney, roasted pumpkin bisque and 1149’s signature corn bread.The packages are priced at $89.99, $149.99 and $179.99, respectively. Orders must be placed and pre-paid by November 14. Orders are to be picked up on Wednesday, November 21. Detailed heating instructions and cooking tips will be included with every order. For an additional $20, delivery can be arranged within 15 miles of the restaurant. An array of appetizers can be added to each order at an additional cost.

RESTAURANT NEWS
Café Longo in Providence closed a few months ago, and the business has moved to 12 Canal Street in Westerly (where Bruna’s Table used to be located). Its new name is Trattoria Longo Meatballs & Martinis. It’s open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.

The Twisted Vine at 3 Canal Street is Westerly’s newest wine and martini bar. Good news – La Strada Café & Pizzeria at 920 Matunuck Beach Road in Matunuck will be open on weekends this winter. Right now it’s open Monday, Thursday and Friday nights, and from noon to approximately 9pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Gourmet dinners and wine tastings are held every month at the Shelter Harbor Inn, 10 Wagner Road, Westerly. The next two are scheduled for November 16 and December 14. Always held on Friday nights starting at 6:45pm, the dinners cost $60 per person. For menu details and reservations, call 322-8883.

OCEAN HOUSE NEWS
Ocean House sommelier Jonathan Feiler will host a weekend focused on holiday wines November 23-24. A wine and cheese reception takes place on Friday night, with a lecture and tastings set for Saturday. The cost is $38 per person. For reservations, call 584-7000.

DELICIOUS DEALS
The focus is on food at Tara’s Tipperary Tavern, 907 Matunuck Beach Road in Matunuck. The kitchen is open daily for lunch and dinner with $5 lunch specials, and Sunday breakfast from 8am to 12:30pm. On Monday from 5 to 9pm, appetizers are half price. Home cooking specials are offered on Tuesday nights. Wednesday is family night with pasta specials, and everything on the children‘s menu is $3. On Thursday night, a burger and brew special for $10 is offered. Seafood specials are on tap every Friday. Tara’s is Rhode Island’s oldest Irish pub and well known for its live music.