By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

There's nothing like genuine Thai cuisine, which can be hard to find in the United States. Learning to make it is the best way, and learning to make Thai in Thailand is even better.

The Bangkok luxury hotel, the five-star Tower Club at lebua on the Praya River, is now offering guests an authentic Thai cooking-class package that includesa stay in a luxury Tower Club suite and learning how to cook a five-course Thai meal at the hotel's Cafe Mozu. The package, with rates starting at $769, includes two nights lodging, a five-percent discount card for Bangkok's Emporium and Paragon shopping centers, and a three-hour cooking class at the poolside Mozu. The cooking class is available for up to four guests when a two-bedroom suite is booked, and up to six when a three-bedroom suite is booked. The package is available through Nov. 30.

I stayed at the hotel last spring, and advise anyone going there to not miss the Sky Bar on the 63rd floor, reportedly the highest outdoor bar in the world. It's located just below Sirocco, a super-luxurious restaurant and the world's highest al fresco eatery. Both have jaw-dropping views of the city, especially at night. Try the signature "Hangovertini;" much of the movie "The Hangover Part II" was shot at the hotel, including at the Sky Bar.

Cafe Mozu is glorious as well, by the pool and serving one of the most comprehensively ethnic breakfast buffets I've ever seen. Sure, they cater to American tastes (think fried bacon, omelets, home fries and other tedious, caloric items) but on a small scale. Much more prevalent is food you may not recognize, but simply have to try, the things the Thai people eat for breakfast - which is what they eat for dinner or lunch, and can include many rice dishes, soups, chicken or fish. There is also a wide range of other international foods to satisfy the hotel's worldwide clientele, and it's all worth trying yourself.

For information on the culinary program, visit www.lebua.com, email towerclubresvn@lebua.com or call +66 2624 9999

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Eat well, or more appropriately, "mangia bene" at the 13th Annual Federal Hill Stroll in historical Federal Hill, Providence, June 5, when 30 galleries, shops and of course, restaurants open their doors to welcome the expected 1,000-plus patrons who usually come to walk around.

Stroll tickets are $30 plus tax, and included admission button, two free drinks, and a map of the venue. It starts at 4:30 p.m. and includes music. Participants also vote for their favorite venues and help crown the yearly "King of the Hill" and "Most Creative Venue." A winning voter in each category gets a dinner for two on Federal Hill. Tickets are limited and have to be bought in advance at www.federalhillstroll.com or by calling 401-456-0298.

Federal Hill is Providence's quintessentially Italian section, though over the years the culinary and cultural slant has been happily diversified to include restaurants of all flavor. The Hill, as it's known locally, has long been compared to Boston's North End, only smaller. But just as tasty.

Photo of Nancy's Fancies, which will be on the Stroll, by David Lyon for The Boston Globe

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

A variety of unusual and familiar events await wine and food lovers at the 16th annual Nantucket Wine Festival May 16-20. Former CBS newsman Bill Kurtis is scheduled to be on hand touting the virtues of Tallgrass Beef, why it's healthier than regular beef and more environmentally responsible and more humanely raised than other grass-fed beef. Verve Clicquot will be back this year offering champagne during the festival, and winemakers from that champagne house will conduct special seminars throughout.

The festival's signature event, "The Grand Tasting," will be held at the historic Nantucket Yacht Club, and back for that this year, after a one-year hiatus, will be fare from Duxbury's Island Creek Oysters.

In all, more than 200 wineries from the world over will attend the event, each represented by the winemaker or vineyard owner. Celeb chefs from Boston, Nantucket, Providence, Newport, New Jersey and New York. The festival's popular symposia, which organizers say is the equivalent of a graduate course in advanced wine philosophy, features hour-long tastings and discussions followed by lunch, paired with wines produced by participating vignerons.

The White Elephant hotel serves as the festival's home base and hosts many of the events, including the Harbor Gala and celebrity chef and winemaker auction dinners, along with most of the wine and food seminars.

For a complete description of events, prices, lodging and more, check out www.nantucketwinefestival.com, or call 508-228-1128.

Nantucket's not an inexpensive place to be, but getting there is a little cheaper by ferry. the Steamship Authority's high-speed ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket has a discounted fare this year: $50, round-trip, for same-day travel, Monday through Thursday ($25 for kids five to 12). Wayne Lamson, general manager of the Steamship Authority, said the special midweek fare is for those travelers with the flexibility to travel at less-busy times. The fare is $17 less than usual, and will be in place through the rest of the year. If you do go and bring your car, plan ahead: Lamson said this year, car reservations are about six percent higher than last year and he expects that to continue all summer.

for information, visit www.steamshipauthority.com or call 508-477-8600.

Adam (sure I'll eat that Scotch bonnet-studded side of beef and that pound of curly fries) Richman is hosting a new Travel Channel show/contest called "Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America." And it works just like you'd think. He and his producers purportedly scoured the nation to find the 30 best sandwiches "from 27 cities in ten geographical regions.'' (Do we even have 10 geographic regions?)

OK, so what do they pick from New England? Maybe an old school lobster roll from Red's in Wiscasset, Maine? Or a roll from the Clam Box in Ipswich?

Or maybe they want a fresh take: How about the tuna club at Red Rock Bistro in Swampscott (seared fresh tuna, bacon, wasabi mayo with a side of Asian slaw tossed with ginger vinaigrette) or the Carpet Burger (beef burger tricked out with American cheese, fried oysters, and remoulade ) at The Gallows in the South End?

No. Instead, this is their idea of the best of New England: something called A Tale of Two Turkeys (either oven-roasted turkey with Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing or smoked bird with orange-cranberry chutney and mesclun greens) at Book Trader Cafe in New Haven, Conn., or, and this is not a joke, crab grilled cheese (lump crab meat and sharp cheddar) at Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe in Portsmouth, N.H. And finally the zesty lemon lobster roll (basically, a lobster roll with, wait for it, lemon pepper) at The Galley Restaurant & Pub in Naples, Maine.

Unbelievable. What is your favorite Boston sandwich? Need a reminder? Here's a list of the 45 best in Boston. Just in time for lunch.

And for the curious I've posted the rest of Richman's list below.

• Austin, Texas (The Noble Pig) - Seared Beef Tongue with Smoked Green Onions


• Baltimore (Faidley Seafood) - Crab Cake Sandwich


• Chapel Hill, N.C. (Time-Out Restaurant) - Chicken Cheddar Biscuit


• Chicago (The Fifty/50) - The 4-Courser Sandwich


• Chicago (Al's Italian Beef) - Al's Italian Beef


• Detroit (Slow's Bar-BQ) - The Yardbird


• Driftwood, Texas (The Salt Lick) - Sliced Beef Brisket Sandwich


• Green Bay, Wis. (Kroll's) - Prime Rib Sandwich


• Los Angeles (JR's BBQ) - Pulled Pork Sandwich


• Minneapolis (Tilia) - Fish Taco Torta


• Nashville, Tenn. (Mitchell's Delicatessen) - Asian Flank Steak Sandwich


• New Orleans (Domilise's Po-Boy and Bar) - Shrimp Po Boy


• New York (Katz's Deli) - Corned Beef & Pastrami Sandwich


• Pittsburgh (Primanti Brothers) - Cap & Egg Sandwich


• Philadelphia (DiNic's) - Roast Pork Sandwich


• Phoenix (Los Reyes de la Torta) - Torta Del Ray


• Portland, Ore. (Big Ass Sandwiches) - Big Ass Roast Beef Sandwich


• Portland, Ore. (Bunk Sandwiches) - Pork Belly Cubano


• Richmond, Va. (Blacksheep) - The CSS Virginia


• St. Louis (Crown Candy Kitchen) - Heart-Stopping BLT


• San Diego (Phil's BBQ) - El Toro


• San Francisco (Wexler's) - 'Pulled' Lamb Sandwich


• Savannah, Ga. (Zunzi's) - The Chicken Conquistador


• Seattle (Salumi) - The Oxtail Sandwich


• Tampa, Fla. (Aguila Sandwich Shop) - Media Noche


• Tampa, Fla. (Skipper's Smokehouse) - Grouper Reuben


• Washington (W Hotel) - Chicken Club Sandwich

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Atlantic City isn't just for gambling anymore, officials there say, as the city's culinary scene continues to evolve with more restaurants, high-profile events, wine tastings, cooking classes and more.

The 9th Annual Chefs at the Shore runs June 21,a benefit at the Atlantic City Aquarium with live cooking demonstrations of signature dishes from area restaurants. All ticket proceeds benefit the aquarium and the Professional Chefs Association. For info, visit www.acaquarium.com

Four days of great grub and vino is the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival July 26-29, the showcase event of the year for the city's culinary scene that highlights the city's culinary offerings. Check it out at www.acfoodandwine.com

There's also regular stuff going on in the culinary world in Atlantic city, including pizza-making classes every Saturday morning at Tony Boloney's, where the owner takes guests through a brief history of the area and then teaches how to make a pizza from scratch. Cost is $60 per person, and for more info, visit www.tonyboloneys.com. The Viking Cook School at Harrah's Resort offers culinary classes, such as those in bayou-country cuisine. Check it out at www.vikingcookingschool.com

In the past year, Atlantic City has seen more than 15 restaurants open, from traditional seafood and Mexican fare, to steak and Asian fusion. For information on all that, and the whole Atlantic City scene, check out www.atlanticcitynj.com

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

New Haven hosts the eighth installment of its popular biannual New Haven Restaurant Week, April 15-20, in which participating restaurants offer prix fixe, three-course lunch and dinner menus comprised of appetizer, entree and dessert. Cost for lunch is $18 per person, and $32 for dinner, which does not include beverage, tax or gratuity. Due to the event's popularity, reservations are urged.In all, 34 restaurants are taking part in the event, including 116 Crown, Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar, Cafe Goodfellas, Central Steakhouse, Soul de Cuba Cafe, The Cask Republic and Zinc. For a complete list and more information, visit www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek, and follow it on Twitter, using hashtag: #NHRW

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

By popular demand, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council in Rhode Island is again sponsoring the "Secret Ingredient Food Tour," with spring venues featuring weekly behind-the-scenes events for the public at a number of eateries in the historic Blackstone Valley. The weekly tours, held on Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m., give participants a chance to sample a wide range of ethnic food and cultural cuisine of the valley, through live demos and meals. Cost for most is $19.50 per person, not counting tax and tip. The tour kicks off April 4 and runs through June 27, and will teach stuff like how to make chicken piccata, Japanese hibachi treats, Mexican fare, French puff pastry, Greek spanikopita, oven-grilled pizza, Irish egg roll and more. On July 13, the making of A & W Root Beer will be explained at a great old-fashioned root-beer stand up in Greenville, and on June 27, the tour wraps up with a sunset cruise on the Blackstone Valley Explorer, where participants can munch on clam cakes and chowder. Spots fill quickly and reservations are urged. To do so, and for more info, visit www.blackstoneculinaria.com or call 401-724-2200.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine, hosts some of New York's hottest chefs during its sixth annual Guest Chef Series this spring. White Barn's Grand Chef Relais and Chateaux Jonathan Cartwright joins culinary forces with Little owl's Joey Campanaro March 23-25, Recette's Jesse Schenker April 20-22 and Gramercy Tavern's Howard Kalachnikoff May 4-6. In addition to hosting the chefs, the White Barn Inn Restaurant, one of three restaurants in the country maintaining an AAA Five Diamond rating for 20 or more straight years, offers a package starting at $649 a night, in which guests can learn from the chefs during a hands-on cooking class and private culinary demonstration. Guests mingle with chefs at a welcome reception and get rooms for the duration of the weekend, which also includes daily breakfast, afternoon tea, and a nine-course tasting menu dinner for two at the restaurant. For more information, visit www.whitebarninn.com/kennebunkport-maine-restaurants/package04/

By Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

In case our coverage of the pintxos scene in Spain's San Sebastian in Sunday's Travel section piqued your appetite for visiting the best eating city of its size in Europe (our not-so unbiased opinion), we just learned that San Sebastian will be holding its first San Sebastian Restaurant Week on April 10-22. More than 20 city restaurants are offering a set menu costing 25 euros (about $33), and reservations can be made online after April 1 at the San Sebastian Tourism Booking Center (www.sansebastianreservas.com). That same web site will also start offering a series of six Gastro Breaks after Easter. The mini-vacations include two nights' accommodation, a gastronomic activity, a guided tour, and San Sebastian welcome pack. They will cover six different gastronomic themes: txakoli (the tangy Basque white wine), pintxos, traditional Basque gastronomy, New Basque cooking, secrets of culinary techniques, and cider houses. Prices vary. Book them all for a gastronomic feast.

--Patricia Harris & David Lyon

Photo by Patricia Harris for the Boston Globe

Patricia Borns, Globe Correspondent

Ironically for a city founded by Bahamians, Miami hasn't had a great conch kitchen -- unless you count the ones in peoples' homes -- until now. Recently, I followed church goers in Coconut Grove's historic African American community to the vacant lot at the corner of Douglas and Grand Ave. where Beau's Cafe On Wheels dishes conch fritters, fried fish and the best pork souse this side of the Caribbean Sea. The truck is the brainchild of police officer Beau Leonard, whose neighborhood jazz festival last year was another inspired idea bringing the storied community together. No dainty bites or trendy sliders here. My plate of conch fritters ($10) came mounded with steaming rice and peas and crisp homemade cole slaw -- enough food for two people. With just one chef serving the masses, I waited an hour with my fellow eaters for the fryolator to come on line. But on a lazy Sunday with the Miami sun streaming down, it was worth it.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Connecticut's second-largest city has a pretty big culinary and theater scene, and this month is offering "Make a Night of It in New Haven," with deals combining both.

At the Long Wharf Theatre, from March 7-13, $70 per person gets you tickets to "Bell, Book & Candle," and a three-course prix fixe at Thali, L'Orcio or Sage American Grill & Oyster Bar. For show tickets and dinner reservations, call the box office at 203-787-4282. For show info, visit http://www.longwharf.org/

Buy a ticket to "South Pacific" at the Shubert Theater from March 8-12 (ticket prices from $15-$78), and for another $32 per person, you get a prix-fixe dinner at Pacifico, Zinc or Oaxaca Kitchen. Diners must show their "South Pacific" ticket stubs for the deal, which is only valid for the same night of the show you attend, and dinner reservations must be made prior to the show. The Shubert box office can be reached at 203-562-5666 or http://www.shubert.com/.

A prix-fixe dinner at Union League Cafe or Ibiza, is available for $32 per person with ticket purchase ($20) to Yale Repertory Theatre's "The Winter Tale," March 19-21. As in the Shubert offer, diners must show their Yale Rep ticket stubs and the deal is only valid for the same night you attend the show. Also part of the deal: A coupon to park for $5 at the York and Chapel Street garage. Call Yale Rep at 203-432-1234 or visit http://www.yalerep.org

All dinner deals are for appetizer, entree and dessert. Beverages, taxes and tip are not included. For more info on New Haven by night, visit www.infonewhaven.com/makeanightofitNH

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

March in Maine is a time when business is usually slow, especially this snow-light winter. The fourth annual Maine Restaurant Week, March 1-10, aims to pick up the economic pace while highlighting the state's laudable food scene and helping out local charities, which receive a portion of the proceeds. More than 75 restaurants are taking part in the event, serving three-course dinners for $20, $30 and $40, depending on the restaurant. Some are also serving prix fixe lunches for $15. For a complete list, check out http://www.mainerestaurantweek.com/

Many hotels are offering specials, including the Camden Harbour Inn, where $109 per person gets you a night's lodging, glass of Prosecco in the bar, a welcome gift and a three-course Maine Restaurant Week dinner at Natalie's Restaurant, where Chef Geoffroy Deconinck was nominated by Food & Wine for the People's Best New Chef Award 2011. Also included is nightly turndown with chocolates, the hotel's signature champagne breakfast and free room upgrade on check in, when available. Check it out at http://www.camdenharbourinn.com/ or call 800-236-4266.

The Portland Harbor Hotel in the heart of the Old Port section of Portland, has a few packages to offer, including one for $140 a night that includes free Lincoln Town Car service; another for $170 per night that includes cocktails for two, an amuse bouche upon arrival and breakfast for two; and another for $230 per room that includes dinner at Eve's, at the hotel. Check it out at http://www.portlandharborhotel.com/ or call 888-798-9090.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Valentine's Day is approaching, which reminds of us two things: It's time to be romantic, and winter is half over. There are a number of places, far and near, to warm up to the romantic cause with Valentine packages, and here are some: 

The White Barn Inn up in Kennebunk Beach, Maine, is running a romance package for the romantic month of February, which includes a night's stay in a deluxe room adorned with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne to wash them down with. Included is continental breakfast, afternoon tea and a romantic dinner for two. Rates are $600 for one night, dropping to $565 if staying more than one night. Check it out at http://www.whitebarninn.com/ or call 207-967-2321.

The Opus Vancouver has a "Cupid Concierge" deal for $295 a night, getting you a room, sparkling wine at check-in, a half-dozen roses or orchids delivered to your room before arrival, a half-bottle of Veuve Clicquot, a framed photo of your choice and a handwritten message from you delivered to your room before arrival, breakfast in bed and late check out. Upgrade to a suite for $100 more. See more at http://www.opushotel.com/vancouver.html

Also in Canada, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal has a "Bare Your Heart Package" for the romantic in you, which includes a one-night stay and breakfast in bed, with rates from $219 in Canadian dollars (the exchange rate is nearly even these days), available throughout February (except Feb. 24 and 25). A $10 donation per package sold will be made to Fondation En Coeur, a Quebec-based agency that helps kids with heart disease and their families with support services and information, and helping improve medical services in pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease. Visit http://www.fairmont.com/queenelizabeth for more information.

Go west and get warmer with the "Back in the Saddle Package" at the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., which offers 20 percent off room nights (their rates are all inclusive, with meals and activities) for anyone booking three or more nights from Feb. 10-19. Rates start at $225 per night, not counting the discount. The resort is a working horse ranch with 180 horses on 60,000 acres of desert landscape between the Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest, where couples can horseback ride, hike, mountain bike, swim, fish, enjoy the spa and relax in a room - that has no television. This is about romance, not what's on cable. Visit http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

Wine is romantic, and the Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, Calif., unwraps its "Romance in Wine Country Package," with a room, two one-hour spa treatments, sparkling wine and a chocolate strawberry amenity, rose-petal turndown and sparkling wine tasting passes at Gloria Ferrer Winery. Packages are priced from $429 per night, and the special runs Feb. 10-19. The hotel serves what it calls a food lover's "aphrodisiac menu" for $125 per person. Check it out at http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma

Another Arizona resort, L'Auberge de Sedona, offers its "Sedona Snowmance" package for two that highlights skiing and getting warm and cozy later in new guest rooms with mountain views. The package includes two nights, two lift tickets to Flagstaff Snowbowl per day booked, a $75 food and beverage or spa credit per day booked and free winter drinks by the fire, ciders, teas and cocoas (the hard stuff is available but not free). Package savings are 40 percent with rates starting at $265 for guest rooms and $320 for cottages. The deal is valid through March 15. Check it out at http://www.lauberge.com/

Sunsets on the Pacific are pretty romantic, and the "Stay, Spa & Splashes" packages at Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, Calif., allow you to enjoy them. The deals, with 30 percent off rates starting at $625 a night, include a one-night stay, spa treatment for two, three-course dinner for two at the resort's signature Splashes restaurant, and gourmet breakfast in room (or the restaurant). Check it out at http://www.surfandsandresort.com/

By Patricia Harris & David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

You know the old saying, “If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” The Bedford Village Inn's executive chef Benjamin Knack (formerly of Beacon Hill Bistro and a finalist on “Hell's Kitchen”) is doing just that for the evenings of Jan. 24-28, as he runs the “Chillin' and Grillin'” area on the inn's patio, just a few feet from what promises to be the world's largest ice bar. The festivities are part of New Hampshire Wine Week.

Last year the inn set up an ice bar that weighed in at 10,000 pounds. This year the Stoli Ice Bar will pump up the volume to 50,000 pounds. In fact, the inn's courtyard will be filled with three ice bars, a martini luge, free-standing ice carvings, and lights and music.

Guest DJs provide tunes on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and the Josh Logan Band plays live Thursday through Saturday nights. Festivities at the inn, just off Route 101 outside Manchester, are scheduled for 5:30-10 each night. Part of the $3 admission will benefit local charities.

For more information, see the inn's web site at www.bedfordvillageinn.com.

Photo courtesy of Bedford Village Inn

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

They call it Bermuda's first-ever Restaurant Week, but it's actually three: From Jan. 16-Feb. 6, the Department of Tourism, with 31 of the island's top restaurants, are showcasing Bermuda's culinary scene that includes island fare and international dishes. Prices for three-course prix fixe dinners fall into three tiers, depending on the participating restaurant: $29, $39 or $49, per person, not including drinks, tax or tip. Wine pairings are offered at the same prices, per bottle.

"Bermuda's reputation as a culinary destination continues to grow and as such, we are excited to offer diners a great incentive to experience our culinary diversity through our first-ever Restaurant Week," said Wayne L. Furbert, minister of business development and tourism.

Some of the participating restaurants include Beau Rivage, The Point Restaurant at Rosewood's Tucker's Point, Bacci, Victoria Grill, Bone Fish Bar and Grill, Flanagan's Irish Pub and Wahoo's Bistro and Pub. Bermuda chefs import a lot of food but also use surrounding waters and local farms for fresh fish, fruit and veggies. Many dishes, including Bermuda's fish chowder, are paired with enhancing dashes of Bermuda-made Goslings Dark Rum.

For more information or to book a stay, visit www.gotobermuda.com

If you like pie, you’ll love Pies on Parade, Sunday, Jan. 22, 1-5 p.m., in Rockland, Maine, dubbed Pie Town USA by the Food Network. The annual Pies on Parade Pie Tour, sponsored by the Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, is a double treat: Not only do participants get to eat every type of pie imaginable, but they also help support the local Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry.

Here's how it works. Purchase a $25 ticket (or take advantage of one of the packages offered by the inns), arm yourself with a fork, then visit more than 20 downtown venues for sampling portions of 45 different pies: sweet and savory traditional pies, as well as galettes, tarts, pot pies, pizza pies, seafood pies, quiches, and more. You can walk site to site or hop on and off the free trolley. Rain, snow, ice, sleet, nothing stops this event from happening: Hundreds of pies have been baked. Since its inception, nearly $50,000 has been raised to help feed the hungry.

Tickets for the tour alone sell out quickly; $25 adults, $10 kid 10 and younger. To order tickets in advance, call 1-877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667).

Two-night packages available at the sponsoring inns range $345-495 per double room and include lodging, daily breakfasts, event tickets, two personal-sized pies, a $50 voucher for dinner valid at a number of area restaurants, admission and exclusive tour of the Owls Head Transportation Museum, and more. One-night packages begin at $185.

The four member inns—The Berry Manor, Captain Lindsey, Granite Inn, and Limerock Inn—were all built between 1835 and 1898 and are located intown. These aren’t home-stay B&BS, all are historic homes turned into boutique inns, complete with all the whistles and bells: private rooms, private baths, common areas, Wifi, abundant breakfasts. Some have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. One is especially kid and pet friendly.

Photo of lobster quiche at 2011 Pies on Parade event/Hilary Nangle for The Boston Globe

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Providence is a pretty chilly place in the dead of winter, but warming it up considerably will be the 2nd Annual Restaurant Week, Jan. 15-28, with more than 80 restaurants featuring three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus for $14.95 and $29.95, respectively, per person. Restaurants in the event include fine dining eateries like Mediterraneo, CAV, Mill's Tavern and Gracies, Italian restaurants such as Amici Bar and Grille, Caffe Dolce Vita, Pizzico Ristorante and Bacaro; French favorites Hourglass Brasserie, Chez Pascal and Rue de L'Espoir, and classic American fare at Vintage Restaurant, The Dorrance, Red Stripe and The Red Fez.

Travel + Leisure recently ranked Providence as a top culinary destination, a city home to well-regarded culinary institution, Johnson & Wales University. The city is said to have more degreed chefs per capita than any other US city. Which means restaurant weeks should be pretty tasty. Check it out at http://www.goprovidence.com/RW 

By Patricia Borns, Globe Correspondent

A lot has happened since I last reported on Miami's food truck scene: More trucks, more events, even their own free app so you can keep track of them all by iPhone or Droid courtesy of the trucks' original blogger-stalker Seth Gonzalez, a.k.a. Burger Beast.

At a recent rally in Tropical Park, I was thrilled to discover some 20 new trucks, as well as the good news that most of my old faves are cruising the streets. Slow Food Truck (SFT) was a standout with juicy short ribs, shallots, and watercress in a squishy bun (a little pricey at $8).

Gonzalez, who's been a terrific booster for Miami's mobile gourmets, has turned his passion into a career as a food event organizer, reviewer and caterer with his own shiny black monster of a truck. The Burger Beast mobile is a moveable feast of Gonzalez's favorite local chefs who guest in his kitchen.

The new Burger Beast website and twitter feed are two ways to catch the local food truck buzz, and a rival site, Miami Food Trucks, is coming on strong with nifty features of its own.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Certified Angus Beef is introducing “The Flavors of Flay Sweepstakes,” which consumers can enter for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Miami Beach Feb. 23-26, for the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. The Flavors of Flay is one of the events at the festival, which is presented by Food & Wine magazine. Certified Angus Beef is the presenting sponsor of the contest, and is in partnership with star chef Bobby Flay and Bobby’s Burger Palace restaurants. At The Flavor of Flay event, which takes place at The Raleigh Hotel’s pool deck overlooking the Atlantic, Flay brings chefs from all of his restaurants for a walk-around tasting evening.
The trip is worth just under $5,000 and includes airfare for two to Miami, hotel for three nights on Miami Beach, entrance to some of the festival’s hottest events, including The Flavor of Flay, Paula Deen’s Sunday brunch, and Whole Foods Market’s Grand Tasting Village, as well as dinner for two at Red, the Steakhouse in South Beach, and a $500 VISA gift card.
Entry in the contest can be made through Jan. 16 at www.certifiedangusbeef.com. For information on the festival, visit http://2012.sobefest.com and for the lowdown on culinary throw-down specialist Flay, visit www.bobbyflay.com

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Fancy tea? This Saturday, Nov. 12, Fairmont hotels are celebrating it by paying tribute to all things tea. In Boston, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is recreating its Tea Court for in the lobby from 2-4 p.m. for afternoon tea. Guests will be treated to a three-tiered tray filled with finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and fruit preserves, and mini pastries along with tea from the Fairmont tea menu. The special tea is $45 per person, and reservations are recommended; call 617-267-5300 ext. 1064. Those who prefer something a bit stronger can order tea-infused cocktails, such as organic green or royal marTEAnis or an orange tranquiliTEA in the Oak Bar.

Other Fairmont hotels participating in the Get Steeped promotion include the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which will be serving High Tea on Ice, comprising freshly brewed ice teas prepared tableside along with a trio of Southwestern-inspired treats; the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, which is offering tea demonstrations and utilizing tea in its spa treatments; the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, which will serve a special Afternoon Tea a la Montreal highlighting local foods, such as finger sandwiches made with Laurentian hay-flavored ham, Brome lake duckling prosciutto, and Willow Stream-cured Quebec Arctic char; and the Fairmont Dallas, which will be mixing Tea-quila cocktails.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Contemporary British art is on display through Jan. 8 at the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design. "Made in the UK: Contemporary Art from the Richard Brown Baker Collection," showcases more than 100 paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures demonstrating the British contribution to a variety of movements, including Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and Photorealism. With one of the largest collections of contemporary British art in the world, RISD’s exhibition features the work of John Parks, Jim Lambie, Bridget Riley, Yinka Shonibare, David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and Rachel Whitehead. Providence native Richard Brown Baker, who died in 2002 at the age of 89, donated a multitude of British works to the museum, and established the Richard Brown Baker Fund for Contemporary British Art to allow the museum to acquire new works by living British artists. Many of the exhibit’s artists are represented at the Tate and other important collections, but are not seen in depth at American museums, RISD officials said.

Those harboring a love of the all things British and edible, the Duck & Bunny, a restaurant on Wickenden Street, is offering a "Made in the UK" promotion, where $18 gets you a traditional afternoon tea, any time of the day, which includes five finger sandwiches, a homemade scone with jams and imported Devonshire cream, mini-cupcakes, sweets and an individual pot of one of the eatery’s 25 locally blended teas. For information, visit http://www.theduckandbunny.com/, or call 401-270-3300.

Admission to the RISD exhibit is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for college students and youths ages five to 18. For more information, visit http://www.risdmuseum.org/

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Thanksgiving time of year can be pretty dismal in New England, that shoulder season of gray days waiting for snow you know is coming sooner or later. For something decidedly different, Cotton Tree, a boutique hotel on Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, is offering a Thanksgiving special, which includes a free dinner prepared by your own personal chef, with a four-night reservation. The package dates are Nov. 23-26.

Included in the $890 per night special rate are accommodations in a Cayman-inspired beach cottage, with full kitchen, free Wi-Fi and roomy living spaces; the option of booking a spa treatment in an open-air pavilion surrounded by sea grape trees; pre-stocked selection of coffees, water, tea, milk, juice and assorted cereals; use of the swimming pool, fitness center, yoga, bicycles, media library, water sports, hiking, and culinary and art classes; and one-way airport transfer. Concierge, in-cottage catering, sommelier and wedding and business services are also available, at extra cost, to further customize a holiday.

 

Cotton Tree is on the northernmost point of Grand Cayman, 10 minutes from the island’s fabled Seven Mile Beach. To make a reservation or for more information, visit http://www.caymancottontree.com/ and mention promotion code CT375 when booking the Thanksgiving special.

(Photo courtesy of Cotton Tree)

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The popular bi-annual New Haven Restaurant week runs Nov. 6-11, and new this go-round is an opportunity for patrons to help out the Connecticut Food Bank. During the week, 35 of the city's eateries will take part in the event offering prix fixe lunch menus starting at $16.38 - for the year the city was founded - and $29 for dinners, which includes appetizer, entree and dessert. At each restaurant diners can add $1 to their tab, which will benefit the food bank. New Haven Restaurant Week is sponsored by Citizens Bank, which along with Market New Haven, is making a $5,000 donation to kick-start the fund-raising campaign, dubbed "Thanksgiving for All." Between-meal events during the week include cultural activities, and merchants in the Audubon, Broadway and Chapel districts of New Haven will be collecting donations from shoppers for the food bank as well. For information, including a list of participating restaurants, visit www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Ghouls, goblins, and ghosts are on the menu, Oct. 29, when The Kennebunk Inn presents A Spirited Evening Harvest Dinner, with psychic medium and spirit messenger Vicki Monroe, in its bistro-style restaurant, Academe.

Locals say the building, built in 1799 in downtown Kennebunk, Maine, is haunted by Silas Perkins, an inn clerk who passed away in the mid-20th century, who occasionally makes his spirit known by sending wine glasses flying off the shelves. Monroe will reveal details about the inn's paranormal activities as well as her experiences engaging with those who've crossed over to another life. Guests will have an opportunity to enter for a chance to receive a personal reading from Monroe during the program.

For the event, innkeeper/chefs Brian and Shanna O’Hea, who met at the Culinary Institute of America, plan a three-course dinner comprising an appetizer, choice from three entrees, and dessert for $45; tax, gratuity, and beverages are additional. Reservations are required (207-985-3351) and space is limited.