Tomato Soup

Soy Latte's

I really love the soy latte. I don't drink very much coffee, and when I do grab a quick cup, I usually drink it black. I don't like sweetening my drinks (tea or coffee) and find that the soy in a latte adds a nice natural sweetness and creamy texture, without the heaviness and calories of whole milk or cream.

Recently, I had a very beautiful soy latte at Seven Stars Bakery on Hope Street:

I personally don't find the coffee at Seven Stars to be strong enough to my liking, but I did enjoy sitting in the bustling bakery on a cold Saturday morning. The place really comes alive on the weekends, and it feels like a cozy neighborhood spot. I've also been really tempted to try the breakfast pastries. The raisin walnut bread is outstanding and I can imagine that most of the other baked goods hit this high bar!

Cure for the Cold

I am holding off on the Gracie's post because I am waiting for the email with the details of the 7-course tasting I participated in with Andy and my parents. I remember most of the courses, but I want to do the whole meal justice by providing what I think are the crucial small details of each small plate!

With that said, this is a post about the pre-Gracie's cocktail I enjoyed at Local 121 with my visiting parents. It was very hard to be at Local 121 and not order any food. We were surrounded by all the fantastic smells and presentations of the great menu- none of which I've had the opportunity to try yet! The place inside is beautiful and warm and I can't wait to go back for a meal. It was also very hard to decide what cocktail I wanted because the cocktail menu is as interesting as the food. With options like the Coriander Blood-Orange Martini and a St. Germain (with champagne and elderflower liquer) your pre-dinner drink can be as exciting as your entree. However, I was feeling quite under the weather due to the cold and allergies, so I decided to go for the classic hot toddy:

The Local 121 Hot Toddy was a mixture of bourbon, hot water, honey, and a lemon wedge studded with cloves. I don't usually like sweet cocktails- but this hit the spot. It really wasn't too sweet, but the honey soothed my throat and the bourbon helped open up my sinuses. I highly suggest this forgotten-about cocktail, especially the Local 121 version. I also suggest following your cocktail with dinner at Local 121- because everything look really good!~

Tea Days

I added a new category to my blog, and this post will be its first archive: Drinking Out: Providence. And no, it is not just going to be a tribute to alcoholic libations (can a libation even be non-alcoholic?)- although those certainly will make an appearance, but rather any place I go and just enjoy a beverage. There are many great coffee and tea houses in Providence, as well as great bars serving up local brews and original cocktails.

But right now, my beverage of choice is tea. With this wildly unpredictable weather, and impending hurricane winds this weekend, hot tea has not yet left my menu of daily drinks:

This beautiful cup of loose-leaf seeping is from Tealuxe on Thayer Street. In the fall, I love their Pumpkin Spice Chai. In the winter, I love their Irish Breakfast. And then their are the times I need a soothing cup to relax me, and the cup of tea pictured is perfect: Ginger Ginseng. It is an herbal decaf (almost all herbals are decaf, unless they are blends) that does the trick for whatever ails me: stomach aches, colds, the blues. Tea just does that for me. And no sugar or milk added please!