Food happenings in RI you don't want to miss: Taste of Thayer, Trap Fall Fest, doughnuts
Are your fall taste buds satisfied? Is your calendar crying out for some fun?
We've got you covered with a variety of fun food things to do.
If like me, you think apple cider doughnuts are the perfect taste of fall, you are in luck. In addition to all the farms where you buy your cider and apples, there are more places to find them. Knead Doughnuts, PVDonuts and the gluten and nut-free bakery Three Wishes in Johnston all have them this month. Don't wait too long to try them.
The annual Taste of Thayer is this week and well worth the inexpensive ticket to try a variety of food and drink on eclectic College Hill. But the event is Wednesday, so make those plans quickly or you'll miss out on so many excellent ethnic foods.
Farm Fresh RI has a special Halloween alternative to trick-or-treat. A local restaurant group has three special events planned, including a costume contest.
Taste of Thayer Street
There's a fun event that will shut down traffic from Bowen to Angel on Thayer Street in Providence on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. It's the Taste of Thayer, a walking dine-around for all the flavors of this eclectic college neighborhood. Ticket holders access food samples at participating restaurants, get two free drink tickets and special event discounts at participating retail locations. Adding to the mood, there will be music at multiple locations on the street by local Brown University student musicians and tables with Brown University student artists and makers.
Ticket prices cost $23 for adults, $7 for children ages 10 and under and $15 for high school and college students. Get tickets online at thayerstreetpvd.com, then pick up wristbands and an event map in front of the Brown Bookstore. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank will benefit from the event, receiving 20% of each ticket purchase.
Participating businesses include Andreas, Aroma Joes, Avon Cinema, Bagel Gourmet, Baja’s Taqueria, Baja’s TexMex, Berk’s Shoes and Clothing, Caliente, Ceremony, Chinatown, Den Den Fried Chicken, Feed the Cheeks Cookies, Heng Thai and Rotisserie, In the Pink, Insomnia Cookies, Kabob and Curry, La Creperie, Maha Heng Hot Pot & Bowl, Mala Noodles, Metro Mart & Deli, Mighty Mike’s Pizza, Mike’s Calzones, Pokeworks, Sydney Cafe, Tiger Suger, Zinneken’s Belgian Waffles and Cafe.
There's a lot to eat and enjoy on Thayer Street. Here's my story on the food scene there from earlier this year.
Apple cider doughnuts
Looking for a gluten-free apple cider doughnut? Look no further than Three Wishes Bakery at 39 Greenville Ave. in Johnston. They have some beauties. This is a gluten- and nut-free bakery. It's owned by chef Brian Meier and Linda Kirshkaln. Meier is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and has worked for some 25 years at restaurants, most recently at Bar & Board in Newport. He runs the shop by day and bakes.
Phantom Farms at 2920 Diamond Hill Rd. in Cumberland has apple cider doughnuts this year. The farm has been revitalized by new owner Jason Macari and his family. He bought the farm in August 2022. The cafe is open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at phantomfarms.com or call (401) 333-2240.
You can also find seasonal apple cider doughnuts at Knead. They are made with Jaswell Farm apple cider and buttermilk. Find them at locations 139 Elmgrove St. and 900 Smith St., both in Providence; at 133 Main St., East Greenwich; and in Westerly at 16 Broad St., with limited hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday,
Bonus: They also serve hot donuts every Saturday night from 5 to 9 p.m. at the 139 Elmgrove Ave. location. For more information, visit kneaddoughnuts.com.
Another artisan cafe, PVDonuts at 158 Wickenden St. in Providence, also features an apple cider cake doughnut on their October menu.
Drink it in: Rhode Island only a has a few local hard apple cideries, but they're worth a visit
More fun west and north
The Martucci Group is hosting Fall Fest Weekend events later this month at both of their Trap restaurants.
There will be a Harvest Fest at The Trap, 195 Old Forge Rd., East Greenwich, on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 9 p.m. with family friendly events outdoors, including live music, pumpkin painting, cornhole and games for the kids, with comfort food for sale.
They will host an Afterdark Halloween Party on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be a costume contest, drink specials and giveaways. It will be at The Trap in East Greenwich and at The Trap North, 10 Smith Ave., Smithfield.
On Sunday, Oct. 22, Traptoberfest, with comfort food, live music and beers from local breweries, will be held at The Trap North in Smithfield from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30 online at Eventbrite or $40 cash at the door and include beer tasting and food for the age 21-plus event. Dogs are welcome.
Alternative to trick-or-treat
On Saturday, Oct. 28, Farm Fresh RI will host a free Trick-or-Treat event at their farmers market at 10 Sims Ave. in Providence. The event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will offer fun options, including Halloween activities for the kids while parents browse the locally grown foods and the local businesses in the Farm Fresh building, including Wright’s Creamery, Anchor Toffee, Robin Hollow Flowers, Tallulah’s Taqueria, New Harvest Coffee + Spirits, Providence Brewing Co. and Rhed’s Hot Sauce. Youths under the age of 14 are invited to participate in the free costume contest. About 20 local businesses will be on hand to offer free treats to the costumed kids. There will also be cookie decorating, live music and festive decorations.
Save the date
St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church's annual Bazaar is set for Nov. 3-5 at 1 St. Mary's Way in Pawtucket. It will be filled with delicious Syrian foods and more.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Food happenings on Thayer, at fall festivals, with apple cider donuts
