Yank Sing 49 Stevenson Street – Dim Sum. They have a take-out counter or eat-in restaurant. The take-out is especially quick and affordable, with combo platters ranging from about $5 – $9. Lunch goers will find all the likely suspects, such as potstickers, siu mye, chow mein, and BBQ pork buns. I usually grab a sesame ball for dessert. There’s a large patio for the take-out crowd.

The Sentinel 37 New Montgomery Street – Sandwiches/soup. To say that The Sentinel serves sandwiches is an understatement. They offer some of the tastiest meals I’ve ever eaten between two pieces of bread.  I love that Chef Dennis Leary (also of Canteen) hands me my freshly prepared lunch. Menu changes seasonally, as does the soup selection. The house-made pickle is an extra special treat. $8 – $11.50.

Mixt Greens several locations – Salad shop. Yes, the salads are pricey, but they are also quite large and filling. The ingredients are always super-fresh and the salads are made on the spot to your exact specifications–they even ask you how much dressing to apply. One word of caution: the line can be quite long by 12:30, but on most days moves quite quickly. I adore the Fusion salad. The sesame soy vinaigrette is addicting! Most salads in the $7 -12$ range.

Flames Mediterranean & Burgers 88 2nd Street – Burgers & stuff. When I need a greasy (in a good way) burger, or super gooey grilled cheese & tomato for lunch this is where I go–hands down.  They offer an array of sandwiches, such as tuna melts and veggie burgers as well as typical Mediterranean offerings such as shawarma, hummus and gyros. Also, the fries are hand-cut on the premises. Prices around $5-$10.

Our weekend in Portland was filled with so much delicious food, but the doughnuts were my favorite. We visited Voodoo Doughnuts–the hipster hole in the wall doughnut shop with flavors including grape ape, bacon maple bar and captain crunch. I had the old dirty bastard (above) which was a freshly baked yeast doughnut topped with chocolate glaze, crushed Oreos and peanut butter. It was the peanut butter that truly made me want to eat a second.

Clearly the west coast is serious about high-quality doughnuts. East coast, how will you redeem yourself?

I started off with the soft shell crab sandwich from the Hayes Street Grill stand. The perfectly grilled bread really made this sandwich exquisite–that and small smear of mayo.

And because I’m sucker for spiced, cured pork I picked up the sampler cone from Boccalone. While I love the capacolla and soppressata, I’ve never acquired a taste for guanciale-salt-cured pork jowl.

To finish it off there was an ‘old fashioned’ (chocolate cake with boiled icing) cupcake from Miette.

Not being a fan of New England clam chowder, I prefer to eat my quahogs stuffed–aka stuffies. It’s prepared much like a turkey stuffing, with quahogs, bread, spices and my favorite way–with bacon. The mixture is combined and then placed back in the empty shell to bake. The very best are crispy on the outside from the oven, and quite moist and soft in the inside.

So on my quick trip back to Rhode Island for the weekend we hit Iggy’s and dug into stuffies, whole-belly fried clams and doughboys–that’s fried dough to the rest of the country.

Here are some recipes for stuffies, lobster, clamcakes and more from the Providence Journal. Enjoy the food!

But one meal was not enough and we opted for burgers and fries the next day from Stanley’s. For me: cheeseburger and ‘Quebec style’ fries. The gravy wasn’t as rich as more authentic Poutine I’ve tasted, but the smothered fries are still a great snack choice–especially after a few beers.

We hit Burma Superstar as soon as it opened at 5pm to avoid the dreaded long line, but the strict time planning was soo worth it. The eggplant was spicy, but not too hot. I took home the extras, but nibbled on the leftovers all night long. Lance had the sesame chicken, which was slightly too sweet for me, but perfectly lightly battered and not oily or sticky.

I had planned to have the mac & cheese at Q, but when I saw pork spareribs as the special for the night, I couldn’t resist–I’ve been on a pork kick lately. While the ribs were good, they weren’t the very best I’ve ever had–they were tender, but not quite as soft as I’d like. But I did like the fact that the bbq sauce was tangy & smoky and not overly sweet.  The garlic fries are tasty too, and quite filling.

As a result I’m eating (and very much enjoying) more sweet, fried pastries than my 5’2” frame can probably handle. Then again, if I eat them while walking through the city the calories don’t count, right?

Here’s my snack today: chocolate cake w/chocolate icing from All Star Donuts on Clement St. I’d rate about an 8 out of 10. The icing was fresh, but the doughnut was slightly too dry for my liking, not stale, just not overly moist. From what I’ve read these are good, but not the best in the city–keep in mind, I’m working my way up from tasteless, shortening-laden, stale bricks.

I plan on sampling at least one doughnut each week from varying locations. I’ll try to keep it to one a week, but that’s a promise I simply can’t make.

(1) I find it fitting and amusing that the DD, with their crappy ‘dounuts’ chose Rachael Ray as their spokesperson.

(Photo: Farmstead Lunch)

They offer a selection of sandwiches, salads, tortas, cured meats, cheeses and baked goods and the entire menu is 100% American made artisanal food. It’s located down the block from last year’s Craftland. Alas, I left Providence for San Francisco before they opened, but it’s on the itinerary the next time I’m back in town.

Farmstead Lunch
225A Westminster Street
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903
www.farmsteadinc.com

hours: Tuesday-Saturday, from 10am-7pm

I love my new neighborhood in the inner richmond. It’s full of restaurants, shops and plenty of produce stands. There is also a crepe shop — Genki Crepes & Mini Mart. They offer everything from Nutella crepes (above) to beef and cheese crepes. I’m afraid this might become a habit, they are quite tasty, though crisper than the crepes you’d find on the streets of Paris. Besides the crepes there are also two aisles of mostly Japanese candy. Now if only I craved bok choy as much as chocolate I might not develop a weight problem!

Dinner at the Cherokee restaurant and trading post in Clinton, Oklahoma. A little too much breading for my taste.

Finished my breakfast with a giant cup of English Breakfast tea I as packed the last of the studio.

Btw, the posts will be sporadic until I’m settled on the west coast.