Projo Food Blog

Katie Lee Joel writes cookbooks and appears regularly to cook on CBS's The Early Show. She was also married to Billy Joel.

When I interviewed her for her last cookbook, it was the first time a publicist stayed on the phone to listen to my questions.

She speaks out in an interview and shares Thanksgiving recipes here.

A new, no-name restaurant with all food priced $8 or less opens at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. It will spotlight local artisan and farm food.

"In light of our mission to support local artists and entrepreneurs, we look to our local New England farms and food artisans to provide the quality ingredients for our cuisine," said Cheryl Kaminsky, communications director.

"All of our menu items are created using the freshest local ingredients available and as the seasons change our daily specials and menu also change to reflect what is in season."

Guy Michaud, formerly of Napa Valley Grille, is the manager and Justin Earsing is the new chef. He specializes in vegetarian dishes and comes from the Local 121 kitchen on Washington Street.

For every chicken or pork dish, there is a vegetarian option. For example, there is a roasted chicken sandwich as well as a grilled cheese and ham one. But there is also a grilled seitan with spicy tomato chutney sandwich and tandori tofu with mango spread.

AS220's restaurant also provides three six month positions at a time for youth involved in the Broad Street Studio program and/or the RI Training School's culinary arts program.

The restaurant replaces the Taqueria Pacifica. The kitchen has been updated and the restaurant painted.

Hours are Mon-Thurs 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11
Phone: 401-831-FOOD (3663)

Gasbarro's Wines, 361 Atwells Ave., on Federal Hill in Providence will have a free wine tasting event tomorrow night, Friday, Nov. 6 between 5:30 and 8:30 PM with wines from producer Marchesi di Barolo.

Marchesi di Barolo is a family business under the direction of Ernesto and Anna Abbona. Gasbarro's will welcome Anna to the store to personally guide everyone through eight of her signature wines including her 2004 Barolo Cannubi.

Any Marchesi di Barolo wines purchased the evening of the tasting will be discounted 15 percent off the list price.

The Marchesi di Barolo estate encompasses approximately 100 acres of vineyard in the Langhe - some of the finest in Piedmont. The cellars are located in the village of Barolo, overlooking the Renaissance castle of the Marquis Falletti. Distributed in over 45 markets, the Abbona's have won many awards.

Food Network stars Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse will travel to the White House for a two-hour episode of "Iron Chef America" to air Jan. 3 at 8 p.m.

This culinary competition is being called a Super Chef Battle. It includes the chefs being greeted to the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama.

The big three are joined by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford to receive their challenge which is to create a meal for America using the White House Kitchen Garden's produce as their secret ingredients.

Narragansett Fest, Narragansett Beer's Oktoberfest selection, will only be available a few more weeks if you haven't had a taste. This seasonal craft brew is only on tap in at a handful of spots including:
The Wild Colonial Tavern and The Avery - both in Providence
Doherty's East Avenue Café - Pawtucket
East Providence Sons of Italy and The Watchemoket Bar - both in East Providence
Mews Tavern - Wakefield
Up River Café - Westerly

A little about the beer: it's 5.5% alcohol and made with Light Munich, Dark Munich, and Vienna malts; bittered with Northern Brewers and Tettnanger hops.

Next up from Narragansett is a porter. Stay tuned.

The list of local restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner is now online.

Perhaps it was because I got an endless stream of Emails from the public relations team for Pollo Campero for the past week that made me hungry; or because I wanted to confirm the East Providence roads weren't closed due to lines for the new fast food restaurant that I found my car heading down Newport Avenue earlier tonight to Pollo Campero.

It is the world's largest Latin American chicken restaurant chain and Guatemalan-based and I wanted to learn more about this first Rhode Island franchise. The most recent missive from the company said there was such traffic through drive thru this weekend, they had to shut it down.

My report: The drive-thru is crazy slow as you would expect with any new restaurant. But I was only behind one car at just before 5 p.m.

As for the food, the side dishes are outstanding. I tried the Campero beans which were blended with bits of bacon and veggies and a meal in itself. The Campero rice was also outstanding with peas and carrots and spices mild yet pleasing.

The fried chicken is a great cut above what we are used to here in America. The flavor is layered and the breading, that's hand-breading, minimal. It's slowly pressure-cooked without trans-fats and there's very little grease left behind and no trans fats. Moist and meaty to be sure.

I'll try the grilled chicken next time. That is marinated for 12 hours before cooking.

The food is not inexpensive. An eight piece meal with dark meat (4 drumsticks and 4 thighs) cost $18.99 (more than for white meat) and included the two sides and rolls or torillas. I asked for tortillas and got the rolls but it was okay.

A kids meal of two chicken strips, with the same wonderful seasoning, includes a small fry and soda and costs $3.39.

The bargain of the place was a good size Caesar Salad for a mere $2.19.

Founded in 1971 by the Gutierrez family in Guatemala, Pollo Campero opened its first United States restaurant in Los Angeles in April 2002. Campero USA Corporation headquarters are in Dallas, Texas.