The Rhode Island Edition

Great weekends require nothing more than good friends, good food, good weather, and maybe a bottle of wine or two thrown in for good measure.

With my Virginian companion by my side, we took full advantage of everything this tiny state of Rhode Island has to offer two girls looking for a good time. The Hope Street Farmer's Market Saturday morning was a great way to start the day, as we sampled and oogled food all grown right here in Rhode Island by our local farmers. A trip to Narragansett Beach was next; a visit that wasn't complete until my friend had tasted her first piece of "party pizza" (cold pizza, pizza strips, whatever you choose to call it). Walking in to Calvitto's little Italian Bakery, the smell of fresh Italian bread and spinach pies was overwhelming; as was the flow of people in and out with their trays of Rhode Island pizza. We also indulged in an ice cream from Nana's in the Pier Marketplace and then took the scenic route home. Along the drive my friend's comment that "Wow, Del's lemonade really is everywhere," made me smile.

Dinner that night was accompanied by Trinity IPA from Trinity Brewhouse in Providence and Newport Storm Amber Ale.

Sunday was spent sampling the fruit of the vines from Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton. We enjoyed a gorgeous drive along the coast, and followed it with the Sakonnet wine tasting. I highly recommend visiting the vineyard whose white wines are particularly good. We followed up the generous wine samples with a bottle of the Petite White (a mixture of Vidal Blanc and Gewurztraminer) on the front lawn over looking the vineyard.

All in all, a great weekend with great friends, great food, great weather (finally!) and our fair share of great wines and beers all from little Rhody.

Tasty Bits:
Rhode Island clam chowder is considered the clear- but we all know the white is better. Among other great Rhode Island treats- coffee milk, Del's, party pizza, Allie's Donuts, and the Newport Creamery Awful Awful. (The Big Blue Bug can currently be seen sipping a giant one!)

Pearl of Useless Knowledge:
Rhode Island is the smallest state with the longest name- The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Also, we are one of the few states where alcohol can not be purchased in the same store as groceries, but prostitution is not illegal indoors...