Ninecooks

Registration opens July 27 for Lydia's RISD classes

Thanks to the many of you who've inquired about my Fall classes.

Registration opens on Monday, July 27 (www.risd.edu) for the following October classes at Rhode Island School of Design, in Providence, and in the Ninecooks kitchen:

Saturday, October 3
Cooking Your Book: How to Create + Publish Your Own Cookbook
10 am - 2 pm
Course code: CULIN-4298
This class meets at RISD in Providence (wheelchair accessible).
Class description here.

Tapas: The Popular Little Dishes of Spain
CULIN-3314
Saturday, October 17, Section 01: Vegetarian tapas, including eggs and cheese
Saturday, October 24, Section 02: Tapas made with fish/shellfish, meats and vegetables
10 am - 1 pm
Course code: CULIN-3314
(You can register for one session, or for both sessions; the menu for the two sessions will be different, but each session will feature some dishes that were included in the April tapas classes.)
This class meets at the Ninecooks kitchen* in Glocester, Rhode Island.

*Please note that we now have two adorable cats in residence; folks with cat allergies please take note.

All registration for these classes is handled through the RISD Continuing Education office and web site. Space is limited; for the tapas class, a maximum of 8 students in each session, and for the cookbook class, a maximum of 12 students.

Gourmet Heaven comes to Providence

If there is such a thing as heaven on Earth, this could be it. The shop will carry organic snacks and meals, imported candies and nuts, grocery essentials and gourmet food.

Opening today!

Gourmet Heaven
173 Weybosset Street
Providence RI
www.gourmetheaven.com

New season, new look

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme: can you find them all in this photo of part of the Ninecooks herb garden?

When the sun was shining oh-so-briefly last week, with the help of two dear friends we planted, mulched, transplanted, and mulched a bit more. By the time I took these photos, we'd cut down the first blossoms of the chives, to allow them to regroup and bloom again.

However, an abundance of rain here in Rhode Island in the week since this photo was taken not only watered in the garden, but also gave me time to tend to a bit of necessary "clean up" on this site, too.

Here's what's new:

1. The web address www.ninecooks.com now points here, and though our old web site will remain as an archive, it will no longer be updated. This is the place to look for information about cooking classes and other activities; if you click on "Cooking classes" above, right under the Ninecooks dancing whisks, you'll find everything you need to know about RISD and private classes, and registration info.

2. Drop In & Decorate now has its own web site, linked above: www.dropinanddecorate.org. Please visit, if you haven't been there recently, to see what's been happening in the cookies-for-donation world. There are two great events coming up, both open to the public: a Drop In & Decorate® cookie decorating party at the Harmony Library in Glocester, Rhode Island on July 7, as part of their summer Express Yourself program (for kids 4th grade and older), and a wine-and-cookies party at Gallery Z on Federal Hill in Providence on September 24.

I'll still post the occasional recipe here, though you're more likely to find recipes (and sometimes yummy photos) on The Perfect Pantry. You can sign up to receive free recipes if you go to www.theperfectpantry.com.

Remember, farmers' markets are open! Please support local farmers and artisan food producers who sell their bounty at the markets.

Southside Community Land Trust plant sale May 16-17

If you're a gardener within hailing distance of Providence, Rhode Island, you'll want to check out the famous Southside Community Land Trust 17th annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, next weekend, May 16-17, 10am – 2pm at City Farm, West Clifford and Dudley Streets in South Providence.

Learn more about this amazing community gardening program, and the event, here.

Hidden Kitchens tour tomorrow

The Hidden Kitchens of Portsmouth tour features seven private kitchens in Portsmouth (Rhode Island) enclaves, including Wapping Road, Eastover, Hamilton Drive, Peggy Lane, and three kitchens at Carnegie Abbey’s Harbor Drive and in the Tower.

At each kitchen there will be a tasting, compliments of local catering companies, wineries, breweries and bakeries. This year’s kitchens offer inspirations ranging from a pizza oven that doubles as a high-efficiency home heating system to a state-of-the-art kitchen overlooking Narragansett Bay.

Proceeds benefit the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation.

This tour is tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket pick-up at Clements Market, 2575 East Main Road, Portsmouth. $25 per person. Guided tours and information will start from Clements Market. For more information or tickets, call (800) 929-1738.

For more info, visit www.portsmouthkitchentour.org.