Spiced Pear

from left to right: Gracie's Director of Special Events Brendan Chipley Roane, Gracie's Owner Ellen Gracyalny and AAA Southern New England Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Lloyd Albert

Gracie’s

Congratulations to Gracie’s restaurant in Providence on receiving the AAA Four Diamond Award. Gracie’s is one of only three restaurants in Rhode Island to earn the award in 2011 and one of only 754 restaurants in the nation to hold the AAA Four Diamond rating. The AAA Four Diamond Award was presented to Gracie’s and other Rhode Island recipients earlier this month at a luncheon hosted by AAA Southern New England at the Ocean House in Westerly. Gracie’s owner Ellen Gracyalny said, “We are thrilled to receive this award and honored to be recognized for the execution of our philosophy. The entire Gracie’s team believes deeply in our mission of educating and enhancing the palate with fresh ingredients inspired by the seasons and to do so with extraordinary service and attention to detail. I am so proud of our incredible team and grateful to all of our loyal guests and dedicated purveyors who helped Gracie’s achieve this wonderful recognition by AAA.”

AAA’s rating process system is aimed at providing restaurant-goers with guidance on good, basic food or an extraordinary dining experience. The AAA Four Diamond Award is presented to restaurants focused on a menu marked by a high degree of creativity and complexity and delivered upon by an executive chef and accomplished staff who use imaginative presentations to enhance high quality, market-fresh ingredients. The award also reflects a proficient service staff that demonstrates a strong desire to meet or exceed guest expectations, a wine steward who provides menu-specific knowledge on wine selection and a highly refined, comfortable and well-coordinated ambiance.

Seasons at the Ocean House and the Spiced Pear at The Chanler at Cliff Walk were the two other Rhode Island restaurants who received the AAA Four Diamond rating.

Gracie’s, 194 Washington St., Providence, RI 02903. 401-272-7811

The Capital Grille Artist Series Wine with winning artwork by Julie Agee

The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille Artist Series Wine Event is returning for its third year beginning March 19. This annual event gives guests at The Capital Grille the opportunity to purchase an exclusive, limited allocation wine adorned with a unique piece of original artwork as its label, while supporting Share Our Strength and their mission to end childhood hunger in America. The restaurant will once again donate $25 to Share Our Strength for every limited-edition bottle sold.

This year’s Artist Series wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon hand-selected by The Capital Grille’s own Master Sommelier, George Miliotes.”We are extremely pleased to bring back the Artist Series Wine Event for a third consecutive year. As always, we are thrilled to support a worthy cause like Share Our Strength, which helps feed hungry children in America. The Capital Grille has donated nearly $1 million to Share Our Strength over the past four years, and we look forward to reaching and exceeding that milestone this year,” said John Martin, President of The Capital Grille. The Capital Grille Artist Series Cabernet was hand-crafted at Napa Valley’s Freemark Abbey Winery by Ted Edwards, in collaboration with George Miliotes. Fewer than 1,000 cases of the wine, blended solely for The Capital Grille, were produced. To match the work of art inside the bottle, The Capital Grille invited artists and wine lovers to submit original art for the bottle’s label, during a competition held last fall. The winning painting, Complexity, by Missouri-based artist Julie Agee, was chosen for the way the vibrant colors and abstract lines perfectly complement the robust flavors and subtle undertones of the wine.  The artwork will appear on every individually numbered bottle of The Capital Grille Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Capital Grille, 1 Union Station, Providence, RI 02903. 401-521-5600

Mama Kim's Korean BBQ Banchan Menu

Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ

Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ truck has opened their extensive banchan (“side dish”) menu to the public, twice-a-week, via pre-order only. Each banchan will be cooked fresh and packaged individually, and comes with Mama Kim’s Five-Grain Rice, which uses premium mochi rice. You can order either in person at the truck—follow Mama Kim’s Twitter feed or Facebook page to find where the trucks are located—or by email at chef@mamakims.us. Order by Wednesday, and they’ll have it ready for pick-up Friday; order by Friday, they’ll have it ready for pick-up Wednesday. Click the menu to the right for a large version of the full menu.

Temple Downtown Restaurant and Lounge

Temple Downtown Restaurant and Lounge now offers $5 flatbreads in the lounge every day from 3 to 6 p.m.. The 10-inch thin-crust flatbreads include three toppings. Additional toppings will cost 25 cents each. The flatbreads feature a variety of sauces—white, oil and garlic, tomato and pesto. The cheeses include feta, taleggio, Gorgonzola dolce, fresh mozzarella, manchego, reggiano and ricotta. The possible toppings are extensive—sausage, pepperoni, chorizo, bacon, Serrano ham, anchovies, calamari, littleneck clams, shrimp, basil, sliced tomatoes, kalamata olives, asparagus, sliced red onions, roasted peppers, mushrooms, arugula, spinach, garlic, oregano and fines herbes.

Temple Downtown Restaurant and Lounge, 120 Francis St., Providence, RI 02903. 401-919-5050