CityState : Current
Branching Out
Providence ’ s newest restaurant serves up international fare from inside the Providence Public Library . By Lauren Clem
PHOTOGRAPHY : LAUREN CLEM .
They say books are good for the soul , and now , they can be good for the stomach , too .
Culinary Hub of Providence is the newest addition to the city ’ s buzzing restaurant scene , a sleek , warm-hued space that delivers international cuisine in a cafe setting . Located inside the Providence Public Library with a separate entrance , the restaurant is a project of Genesis Center , the long-established nonprofit that provides services for Rhode Island ’ s immigrant community . Students work at the restaurant as part of the center ’ s culinary training program , serving up dishes that often defy expectations .
“ People are really surprised because they think it ’ s going to be more like a sandwich shop ,” says Shannon Carroll , Genesis Center ’ s president and chief executive officer .
The restaurant opened its doors in July for a soft rollout that includes weekday lunch service along with a bar , pastry case and coffee counter . The restaurant eventually plans to add dinner service with wait staff , according to CHOP chief operating officer and chef Joshua Riazi .
The menu has an international flavor , from a Korean cauliflower sandwich to shakshuka with housemade focaccia . Even common lunchtime standards take on multicultural flair , like a Cobb salad served with jerk chicken and jicama and eggplant Parm topped with Bombay-style roasted red pepper curry . The menu , according to Riazi , reflects the heritage of Genesis Center ’ s students , who come from forty different countries .
“ Genesis Center as a whole has really represented the cultural diversity of Providence ,” he says . “ There ’ s a lot of Southeast Asian , Caribbean [ and ] Latin American students , and our menu is designed to reflect cooking processes and also flavor profiles and ingredients from those countries .”
Genesis Center has two main job training tracks , health care and culinary . The culinary program operates out of a commercial kitchen on Potters Avenue , where Riazi serves as culinary director . With the opening of CHOP , students will be able to spend time in the restaurant ’ s kitchen and apply for a paid apprenticeship upon completion of the culinary program .
Hiring for the new restaurant has been a process , as chefs must
Riazi and Carroll at the CHOP bar .
have both expertise in the kitchen as well as the willingness to serve as mentors to trainees . Eventually , Riazi says , they plan to host visiting chefs and offer workshops in a demonstration area . For now , the restaurant is focused on brunch and lunch as students get up to speed in the new environment . Among the international menu items are several vegetarian dishes as well as gluten-friendly offerings .
“ We ’ ve thought a lot about what makes a restaurant great in the first place , and I think quite a lot of it is hospitality ,” Riazi says .
“ We want people to come for our mission but come back for the food ,” Carroll adds .
Culinary Hub of Providence is currently open Monday through Friday , 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . Check the website for updated hours and a menu . culinaryhubpvd . com
18 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024