DINING

The tastiest celebration of food and drink

Gail Ciampa
The Providence Journal

Oh what a night.

After two pandemic years, the Providence Journal's Critic's Choice Food & Drink Event returned to celebrate food and drink in Rhode Island on Nov. 17 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

There were 769 ticket holders eating and sipping their way through samples from 68 restaurants, bakeries, breweries, wineries, distilleries, caterers, farms, ice cream makers and specialty shops. Another dozen food artisans from Hope & Main, sampled everything from drink syrups to panettone at a Marketplace corner where they could also buy gifts.

A guest at The Journal's Critic's Choice savors a freshly made waffle cone and ice cream from The Sweet Spot in Galilee.

That's 80 wonderful small businesses bringing their best to share. They did it with enthusiasm and style.

The guests ate with just as much enthusiasm as they explored what was both familiar and novel. There were plenty of new restaurants and old friends. Music and selfies helped set a mood that was as happy as it gets. Not only were the guests ready to enjoy a smorgasbord of treats, the chefs and business owners were thrilled to catch up with each other.

The best part was Amos House received a generous donation from ticket buyers and a portion of the night's proceeds from The Journal. It will aid in their mission not only to nourish the hungry but to train those looking for new skills.

More:It takes a village to host Critic's Choice. Here's who's helping us host it.

More:The Providence Journal Critic's Choice will feature new restaurants and old friends

The /ballroom at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick was the airy setting needed for the Journal's 5th Critic's Choice

This was also a chance for restaurants that opened during the two year pandemic, to introduce themselves. And did they ever.

Res American Bistro, which opened last year across the street from Trinity Repertory Company, drew a crowd. The aroma of their Moroccan-Spiced Lamb served with sweet potato puree and a golden raisin salsa verde was ntoxicating.

Res American Bistro in Providence introduced itself to the Critic's Choice crowd with Moroccan Lamb atop a sweet potato puree.

Kin Southern Table + Bar was opened when Julia Broome lost her banquet manager job at a casino in the early days of the pandemic. Now she is delighting diners with her soul food and cocktails like the Juju Juice she served at Critic's Choice.

Julia Broome opened Kin PVD during the pandemic after being laid off from a job as a banquet manager at a casino. Her Providence restaurant serves great fried chicken and cocktails.

Wally's Wieners delighted with their Saugy dogs that tapped nostalgia in some and created new fans, too. The new restaurant on Thames Street in Newport served their Saugy topped with bacon, pepper and onions and Wally Sauce.  

Wally’s Wieners from Newport was a huge hit in their first Critic’s Choice appearance.

Also from Newport was Katie Potter who founded the Newport Chowder Company using her mother's prize-winning recipe from Muriel's, a now-gone Newport restaurant. With Barclay de Tolly's recipe, Potter has started a catering business. She produces starter packets for making the chowder that are popular as wedding favors. 

Katie Potter of the Newport Chowder Company was a big hit at Critic's Choice and had her food truck on-site to keep the hot chowder coming.

Rhodium from Rhode Island Spirits, the Pawtucket distillery owned by Cathy Plourde and Kara Larson, made their first appearance making a special cocktail for the VIP guests. It featured their Rhodium Red Vodka which is flavored with tart cherries and regional cranberries. A touch of fragrant hibiscus and rosemary and pure cane sugar make it unique. They paired it with Prosecco for a perfect cocktail for the holidays that is so easy to make.

Dolores, which opened at the end of 2019, was a hit thanks to family matriarch Maria Meza who brings her best to everything she does. The family opened El Rancho Grande and now runs Dolores on the East Side of Providence.

That's the team from Providence's Dolores restaurant with matriarch and chef Maria Meza serving her Mole Coloradito. It got rave reviews.

Otra, the new restaurant from Bacaro owners Brian Kingsford and Jen Matta, served Spanish tapas.

The Crow's Nest in Warwick, served Lobster Bisque. The restaurant was recently purchased and reopened by Esther and Joe DeQuattro, owners of Pane e Vino and Il Massimo,

Also on hand were many restaurants and businesses who have been at all five Critic's Choice events including Twin Oaks, Avenue N, Persimmon, CAV, Chapel Grille and Jaswell's Farm, among others.

The Twin Oaks team, led by owner Susan DeAngelus Valles, served a delicious Bolognese.

Of course, Critic's Choice sponsors Johnson & Wales University and Warwick Tourism brought treats to share and The Lot, the Rhode Island Lottery, gave each guest a scratch ticket to go in their commemorative Critic's Choice 2022 wine glass.

You can find all the photos from the event on the Critic's Choice website at ProvidenceJournal.com/CriticsChoice.