The Dish, a food and dining e-newsletter from Rhode Island Monthly

Budget Bites
One upside to the downward spiraling economy is the special deals restaurants have been rolling out to lure diners. Below, a few of our favorites. And to find out where you can score the best cheap grub year-round, check out our November feature Cheap Eats.

Salvation Café: This colorful, kitschy restaurant on Broadway in Newport is the place to go to shed a case of the bailout blues. Salvation has been offering several of its dishes for half price on Sunday nights, and during the week (Mon. through Thurs.) before 7 p.m., you can score an entree —choice of mac and cheese, fish tacos or tofu pad Thai — and a glass of Narragansett or sangria for just $9.

Rue de L’Espoir: On Wednesdays, the Rue serves up its Burgers and a Beer special. Twelve bucks will get you a draft beer, hand-cut fries and a “build your own burger.” Choose from a veggie, tuna, lamb, turkey or beef burger slathered with your choice of cheese and gourmet toppings including carrot and fennel slaw and oven-roasted tomato and black olive pesto.

DeWolf Tavern: The elegantly rustic Bristol restaurant has been running a “Recession-Beater” coupon in several local publications that’s good through June. It offers 50 percent off your second entree — try the naan "Philly" filet mignon sandwich or anything roasted in the tandoor oven — when you order one regularly priced meal (Sunday through Thursday only).

Trader Joe’s 101
For the last few months we’ve been anxiously awaiting the opening of Rhode Island’s first Trader Joe's location on Bald Hill Road in Warwick. When the budget gourmet grocery chain finally opened on Halloween (as sweet a treat as any), we joined the throngs of T.J.’s fans who flocked to the store. Haven’t been yet? Consult our cheat sheet for the uninitiated, which comes with a warning: The place is addictive.

1. Don't expect to find lots of brand names. Most of the products are Trader Joe’s label, so while you can count on finding Joe’s O’s and Trader Joe’s Berry Mango Muffin mix, there’s not a Cheerios or Betty Crocker box in sight. They do, however, carry a few mainstream brands, including Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Clif Bars.

2. The deals are delivered differently. T.J.’s doesn’t do sales or coupons, but you will find surprisingly low prices on both everyday items and on gourmet-style fare.

3. Go ahead, try something new. You’re almost guaranteed to discover exotic foods from all corners of the globe. For example, on a recent trip we picked up a bag of freeze-dried mangosteen, a South East Asian fruit that’s difficult to find in the States.

4. You may experience produce issues. While there are deals to be had on fruits and veggies, be aware that T.J.’s produce often comes prepackaged. Instead of being able to, say, buy a small piece of ginger to use in tonight’s stir fry, you’ll probably have to buy a plastic container of three large pre-selected pieces.

5. Look for the products they’re known for. Trader Joe’s fans frequently cite dairy products, olive oil, pasta, frozen hors d’oeuvres, and chips and salsa as some of the chain’s go-to items.

Thanksgiving FAQ
Preparing a Turkey Day spread is no small feat. We’re here to help, with answers to some common questions.

What wines pair well with Thanksgiving dinner?
“You need something that’s going to be round enough to go with everything,” says Elizabeth Moniz, sommelier and general manager at Campus Fine Wines in Providence. “For reds, choose a wine that’s lighter and not tannic [think pinot noir or gamay], and for whites go with something with good acidity that’s easy to drink [consider Riesling or pinot grigio].”

Is it possible to prepare a 100 percent local meal?
Almost. You can source about 95 percent of your holiday meal locally, says Jessica Knapp of Farm Fresh Rhode Island, but it’s difficult to find flour and butter produced in Rhode Island. Visit these upcoming farmers’ markets to stock up on Turkey Day staples including squash, apples, cheese and greens.

-Hope High Farmers’ Market: Saturday, November 22, Hope High School, Corner of Hope and Olney streets, Providence, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-Aquidneck Growers’ Holiday Market: Saturday, November 22, Newport Vineyards & Winery, 909 East Main Road, Middletown, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-Coastal Growers’ Holiday Market: Sunday, November 23, Coastal Growers’ Holiday Market, Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

Where can I get a fresh, locally raised turkey?
Belwing Turkey Farm (508-336-9142, 773 Taunton Ave., Seekonk) is still accepting orders for Thanksgiving turkeys, as is Helger’s Turkey Ranch (624-4087, 2554 Main Road, Tiverton), which has birds ranging from fourteen to thirty pounds.

Diner's Update
The latest restaurant news.

Al Forno chef/owners George Germon and Johanne Killeen recently opened their latest venture, Tini. Housed in the former location of the New Yorker at 200 Washington Street in Providence, the twenty-seat, bar-style eatery features casual, affordable small plates and cocktails, including a mini hot dog dubbed the tini wini, fries with hot sauce and a trio of panna cotta served in shot glasses.

Palmeri’s Bakery and Caffe has established a second location in DePasquale Plaza on Federal Hill. Menu items include espresso, desserts, panini, gelato and salads served in a romantic Kyla Coburn-designed interior.

The Providence Wintertime Farmers’ Market, formerly held at AS220, is moving to Pawtucket’s Hope Artiste Village (1005 Main St.) this year. Available items include maple syrup, greens, apples, potatoes, herbs, beets, eggs and Narragansett Creamery cheese. The market opens Dec. 6. and will run through the end of April.

Benders Caffe, which opened on Providence’s Weybosset Street in July, just became the first restaurant in the state certified by the Green Restaurant Association. As part of its earth-friendly efforts, Benders composts, has outfitted its walk-in refrigerators with energy saving strip curtains, uses biodegradable bags, to-go cups and containers, and sources products that are local and organic.

Temple Downtown recently hired Michael Blydenstein as executive chef. His previous gig was chef de cuisine at Emeril’s in Atlanta.

Taste of Newport, a new cookbook commissioned as a fundraiser for the non-profit social service agency Child & Family, features recipes from nearly fifty area restaurants, including Asterisk, Fluke Wine Bar & Kitchen, Norey’s and Castle Hill Inn. The book is available for $47 including shipping and $39.95 without shipping, and can be ordered online, by phone or in person at the Child & Family office on School Street in Newport.