FOOD & DRINK
EUROPEAN
BAKERY Le Bec Sucré
French baker Belinda Quinn has fully manifested Europe in Middletown and it smells like a baguette . An amalgam of flaky , crunchy and delicate dough , Le Bec Sucré is meticulous in its renditions of pastries and bread , with Quinn paying homage to century-old traditions that prove French techniques are immortal . Croissants are sublime , but don ’ t overlook the savories : onion tarts , Kalamata bread and charcoal baguettes are what dreams are made of . 696 Aquidneck Ave ., Middletown , 662-0448 , instagram . com / lebec sucre _ ri
BABKA Navad Bakers
Twelve layers of laminated , butter-flecked dough are dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar , or swirled with waves of dark chocolate or lemon ricotta , and rolled into logs of dough . Babka is created mostly by hand ; each section sliced in half then weaved into a braid and baked in the oven . Biting into the Israeliinspired pastry is like a cross between a light and airy croissant and a sticky cinnamon bun , but even more memorable . instagram . com / navadbakers
CELEBRATION CAKES Whisk Me Away
Whether you need a small cake for a birthday or a giant tiered masterpiece for a wedding , baker Morgan Gray can make your layered fantasy come true . From fudgy dripwork on a s ’ mores cake to the naked beauty of the Funfetti Dream , each creation is the life of the party in frosting form . 400 Harris Ave ., Unit G ., Providence , whiskmeawayri . com
STRAWBERRY CRUNCH CAKE Syroya ’ s Bakery
One bite of this cake and you ’ ll be back in those lazy summer days when your biggest worry was eating the ice cream bar in your hand before it melted . Syroya Eugene , the first Black , female bakery owner in North Providence , opened her store on Mineral Spring Avenue last year to much acclaim for her simple-yetdelectable takes on childhood classics .
If a strawberry crunch cupcake or a slice of sweet potato pie doesn ’ t make your stomach grumble with nostalgia , we don ’ t know what will . 1860 Mineral Spring Ave ., North Providence , 516-0716 , syroyasbakery . com
JEW-ISH BAKERY Oak Bakeshop
Comfort is at the core of Oak Bakeshop , a cinnamon-scented enclave that rolls out rugelach , babka , challah , coffee cake , scones , rainbow cookies and plenty of steaming coffee . There ’ s a retro feel to the shiplap-style building , one that promises to unite humanity with warm , sweet dough . If your grandma ’ s hug took a bricks and mortar form , this would be it . 130 Cypress St ., Providence , oakbakeshop . com
PERSIAN CAFE Shish Kabob
Those in the know come to Shish Kabob for authentic , subtly spiced chicken , beef and lamb kabobs , grilled on skewers over an open flame and served with heaps of aromatic barberry saffron rice and roasted tomatoes . Iranian native Ali Joneidi is the driving force behind the state ’ s only Persian restaurant , where you can sip lovely cardamom-scented tea while nibbling on flaky baklava — try the chocolate ; it ’ s sublime . 555 Smithfield Ave ., Pawtucket , 725-9505 , instagram . com / shish kabobri
ARTFUL BON BONS Hawt Chocolate
Peering into a box of Hawt Chocolate ’ s bon bons is like opening up a box of treasures : Swaths of copper and peacock shimmer like gems atop the dark chocolate delicacies , while blonde and lime-colored shells only hint at the decadence inside ( think : luscious fillings like Butterbang croissants , smoky mezcal and tried-andtrue coffee milk .) Buy these for someone you love — or , even better — someone who will share . hawtchocolatepvd . com
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH COUNTER All Favorites Cafe
Owner and chef Berke Marye churns out good old breakfast and lunch favorites
58 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2023