March 19 , St . Joseph ’ s Day , is a very big deal in Rhode Island . Every season between February 1 and Easter , LaSalle Bakery turns out thousands of zeppoles from its kitchen . Though the equipment has changed , the bakery still uses the same recipe from the 1930s that Michael Manni Sr . learned from the original owners when he worked there as a kid . Brothers Michael and John Manni bought the business from their dad in 2013 . Zeppole come in flavors like original , chocolate mousse and Bailey ’ s Irish cream , which is popular around St . Patrick ’ s Day , as well as a fried version of the original Italian treat . They are one of the few Italian bakeries in Rhode Island that holds true to tradition , by only making zeppoles within a specific window of time , usually from the Super Bowl through Easter . “ People ask for them all year long ,” Michael Manni says . “ But we feel that we keep the product special by having it stay seasonal .” 993 Smith St ., Providence , 831-9563 ; 685 Admiral St ., Providence , 228-0081 , lasalle bakery . net – J . C .
FOR MORE BAKERIES FOR ZEPPOLE :
A and J Bakery 1458 Park Ave ., Cranston , 228-8696 , aandjbakery . net . SEASONAL Antonio ’ s Bakery 2448 West Shore Rd ., Warwick , 738-3727 , antoniosbakery . net . SEASONAL
Borrelli ’ s Pastry 765 Tiogue Ave ., Coventry , 821-0130 , facebook . com / borrellis pastryshop . SEASONAL Calvitto ’ s Pizza and Bakery 1401 Park Ave ., Cranston , 464-4200 , facebook . com / CalvittosBakery . SEASONAL Colvitto ’ s 91 Point Judith Rd ., Narragansett , 783-8086 , colvittospizza . com YEAR-ROUND
DeLuise Bakery 701 Oaklawn Ave ., Cranston , 943-4567 ; 1251 Chalkstone Ave ., Providence , 351-5826 , deluisebakery cranston . wordpress . com . YEAR-ROUND D . Palmieri ’ s Bakery 624 Killingly St ., Johnston , 621-9357 , dpalmierisbakery . com . YEAR-ROUND
Felicia ’ s Coffee 5757 Post Rd ., East Greenwich , 886-4141 , feliciascoffee . com . SEASONAL
Le Favorite Bakery 951 Namquid Dr ., Warwick , 463-3133 , lefavoritebakery . com . SEASONAL
Original Italian Bakery 915 Atwood Ave ., Johnston , 919-5777 , theoriginalitalianbakery . com . Year-round ( traditional ), SEASONAL : pistachio , Irish cream , chocolate , raspberry
Pastryland Bakery 19 Sanderson Rd ., Smithfield , 949-0630 , facebook . com / PastrylandBakery . SEASONAL Solitro ’ s Bakery 1594 Cranston St ., Cranston , 942-9840 , solitrosbakery . wixsite . com / solitrosbakery . SEASONAL Vesta Bakery 47 Railroad Ave ., Westerly , 348-7055 , vestabakery . com . SEASONAL Vienna Bakery 110 Maple Ave ., Barrington , 245-2355 , viennabakery ri . com . SEASONAL Zaccagnini ’ s Pastry Shoppe 546 Smithfield Ave ., Pawtucket ,
723-2699 YEAR-ROUND
Zeppole from DeLuise Bakery in
Cranston .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l FEBRUARY 2022 49