To say that Providence, Rhode Island, has some of the best restaurants in the country is by no means an overstatement. The incredible meals I ate when I lived there (before leaving in 2008) have me yearning perpetually to return. Everyone asks me, how could Providence, a city of less than 175,000 people, have such good restaurants? Though the city hosts the largest campus of the Johnson & Wales culinary empire, I'd say the proliferation of exceptional eateries has more to do with the number of nearby farms, all within an hour's drive from the capitol. Here are the five most unforgettable dishes at my top five Providence restaurants. More

Rhode Island is an agricultural state. There are hundreds of family-owned and operated farms, dozens of farmers' markets, and a strong regional food culture. Yet for a long time, the local agricultural community didn't quite have the means to connect with one another. Then in 2004, Farm Fresh Rhode Island was born. Over the past five years, Farm Fresh has greatly expanded, growing connections between farmers and chefs and local eaters. I chatted with executive director Noah Fulmer to hear a bit more about the wonderful work that Farm Fresh is doing. More

The area surrounding Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design in downtown Providence is dubbed "College Hill." The name primarily references Thayer Street, a main hang-out for local college and high school students. However, good eats can be found in the surrounding areas as well. I've found that students on the Hill are willing to cast their nets far and wide to seek out some good food. Here's just a small selection of some of the best places to eat in this fun college town. More

Coffee milk is the state drink of Rhode Island. But so few consume it outside of this little state! After failing to explain the drink's importance to non-Rhode-Islanders, I decided it was time for a definitive answer. That's right—it was time for a taste test. I tried three brands of syrup side-by-side to find the yummiest: the two classics (Autocrat and Eclipse) and a newcomer (Morning Glory). More

The last 20 years has seen leaps and bounds made in the theory and practice of low-impact, sustainably farmed seafood, oysters included. Perry Raso is one of these pioneering aqua-farmers; he tends a seven-acre shellfish farm in East Matunuck, Rhode Island, and runs a wildly popular local restaurant, Matunuck Oyster Bar, that overlooks the estuary and inlet that make up his farm. I spoke with Perry on the morning of Easter Sunday as he shucked oysters and prepared for the inevitable influx of locals at his restaurant. More

Alaina and I cruised out of Boston at around 11:30. Our plan: head to Providence for a sandwich tour—the food store-cum-cheese shop Farmstead, by husband and wife chef team Matt and Kate Jennings, and Hewtin's Mobile Hot Dog Truck, owned by Matthew and Kristin Gennuso of Chez Pascal. What better time to visit a food truck in New England than on a sunny day in mid-March, with wheels at your disposal? More

The state of Rhode Island may be small but it doesn't lack for food activities. One distinctive characteristic is the state's abundance of farmers' markets. With more than 1,200 farms across the state, residents don't have to travel far to get seasonal produce. During winter, options are naturally more limited. But the marvelous Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers' Market becomes the focal point of locavorism from November to May. More

Ask anyone from Rhode Island about the most delicious falafel they've ever eaten, and they will surely get a dreamy, faraway look in their eyes and recall the best stuffed pita they've ever had—the one at East Side Pockets on Thayer Street in Providence. When I was in high school I went late in the afternoons, in between classes and play rehearsals. My order never changed: a falafel pocket with all the trimmings—hot sauce, hummus, lettuce, tomato, hot peppers, onions, pickles, tabouleh, tahini, and cucumber yogurt sauce. I've lived in New York City for six years now, and I've sampled falafel far and wide. While there are certainly some terrific options (my favorite is Bedouin Tent on Atlantic Avenue... More