Coming in 2022 and people who matter

Good day dear readers. I'm Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal Dining Editor. You getting used to that new title yet?

Why did Betty White matter? That's what I'm thinking about today.

Someone on social media asked that question when she died last weekend. I knew what they were getting at. Why such an ache for a 99 year old entertainer? She had a run better than most.

But to me, there is another layer to her story; the one that made her a role model.

Betty White changed with the times, endured and practiced her craft at a high level. And she made it look easy.

Those are things many people find challenging.

Cultural norms have blazed great new trails, but left some wondering where they fit in. They have to reinvent themselves or how they deal with others.

New technology has added layers of work. Yes, it's made it easy for other things, too, but only after mastering new skills. In my lifetime, I've known people who dropped out of the workforce rather than contend with changes. Maybe it's worked for them, maybe not. It sure changed their journey.

Showing up every day can be a victory, never mind doing it for decades and decades of living and working.

Imagine doing everything so effortlessly that everyone assumes they are easy for you?

We should celebrate people in all walks of life that do those things. Betty's just a high profile one who did.

It's time to look ahead to what the new year will look like in dining in Rhode Island.

There are so many exciting things happening. Bristol is leading the way with five new food and drink businesses in Unity Park, the Wood Street development in a repurposed mill.

Pivotal Brewing opened Thanksgiving week and Brick Pizza Co. will open soon. So too will the new Borealis Coffee and a new kombucha brewery. A vegan restaurant will follow, as will the state's newest distillery. Imagine all that under one very high roof? How fun.

The first opening is Saturday at the new Farm Fresh Food Hub on Sims Street where Providence Brewing Co. will open with 16 taps. Beer is in owner Efren Hidalgo's DNA as his dad worked in the business in Cuba back in the early 1950s.

Later openings include a Western African restaurant in Providence, where Tom's Bao Bao formerly was.

Also exciting is an out of the way spot in Smithfield called The Pines which is being resurrected.

.I got the info after press time, but the rebuilding of the Duck & Bunny on Wickenden Street is also beginning. Might be a 2023 opening though. And that is the year when Providence's still unnamed food hall will open on March 1. Local businesses and restaurants will have spots inside, but nothing has been revealed yet.

More: 19 new restaurants, cafes and distilleries planning to open in 2022 you'll have to try

Opening in Boston this winter is New York City's Levain Bakery. It will be on Newbury Street as the tenth (maybe) outpost of this artisan spot.

Their public relations company sent out some cookies to try before Christmas, and they were enormous and delicious. They regularly do mail order and all you do is heat them up and eat. They come in chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip.

Providence Restaurant Weeks begin on Sunday and I just finished my story on 9 places to enjoy the dining deals. I think Hemenway's has an outstanding deal but you'll have to wait until Thursday online and Sunday in print, to learn more. Sorry.

Or you can visit goprovidence.com/rw/ and see what restaurants are participating and what their special deals are.

Two more restaurants, Chez Pascal and Res American Bistro, are now requiring proof of vaccination.

More: Updated: 7 Providence restaurants now requiring proof of vaccination

That's all for now dear readers. See you next week and be well.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: An appreciation of Betty White and news about restaurant openings in 2022