Oyster Monday
This is my favorite home away from home.Every Monday night, the DeWolf Tavern offers oysters at the bar for $1.00 each. I usually eat a dozen, along with a shaken Hangar One keffir lime vodka.Their oysters are always fresh, and they usually have at least three varieties available, sometimes more. About a year ago they decided to keep the focus on east coast varieties, which was fine with me, for I have always preferred the briny crispness of Atlantic oysters to the mud and grassy undertones of the west coast! But wait! I will tell you about DeWolf Tavern now, and then create a new post to
wax poetic over my beloved oysters.
If you find yourself in Rhode Island, it is worth visiting the town of Bristol, and most definitely worth stopping in at the DeWolf Tavern for lunch or dinner. Built in 1818, used the building was a warehouse used by the DeWolf brothers as they shipped goods and humans for "triangle trade". years ago, when I first came to Rhode Island, the building was a hardware store. In the very back of the store's warehouse area it was possible to see the remains of what had been a holding area for humans. A very sad and despicable history, yes, but a part of our American history that must be acknowledged. The DeWolf Tavern does not hide the building's past, but neither does it exploit it. During renovations, 19th century graffiti were discovered etched onto the stonewalls of the building. These have been preserved and can be seen in the lobby and in the upstairs restaurant.
The drinks are somewhat expensive, and so are some of the emtrees' but they offer a variety of small plates, and from Monday through Thursday there is a $19.95 Prix Fixe 3-Course Dinner that includes a glass of beer or house wine. Most definitely a bargain. Taki and Thierry usually get the dinner, sweet fresh oysters are enough for me. But I usually get to taste a bit of everything and everything at this establishment is superb! (and no, I have no connection to them nor am I paid to say this!!!. Their homemade sorbets and ice creams are out of this world! I adore the blood orange sorbet, and that is the only one I cannot resist. I am not compelled to eat ice cream but some of the flavors are rather interesting- cardamom lavendar, fig port, even bacon toffee!
(I've linked the title of this post to their website, so you can see the menu!)
Skopelos and Virgin
-by Skorda
when first you see it
across the water,
rising round and new above the mountain.
Open your mouth and swallow
while youth holds its roundness near,
and you are running fearless in the dark.
Hold it inside, it is still warm
and you will need its light,
there, inside you.
Down the road of time, somewhere
after you’ve aged, traveled,
Explored, discovered.
And the dust around your doorway
has been pounded hard and smooth under your feet.
When you find yourself growing weary and bored,
when your eyes see only ruins,
and your heart is empty.
You may believe, in your exhaustion,
that this is truth, at last.
That the mystery has unraveled,
leaving no wilderness to explore or tame.
All secrets have been shared,
the frontier has dissolved.
Know then, with these thoughts,
you have been swallowed.
The warm belly of the beast
comforts with confining darkness
and lulls with rhythmic sounds
Murmuring to you,
Curl up and sleep,
just go to sleep.
Shake your head,
stretch your legs,
do not sleep now.
Remember what you know.
You swallowed the moon,
you hold it inside you.
Not as a magpie hoarding shiny things,
or wearing the moon for beauty
or bartering the moon for wealth.
You swallowed the moon for this moment.
When you will walk to the water’s edge,
open your mouth, release the moon
and let its light build you a pathway
across the wine dark sea.
©Skorda 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
DeWolf Tavern
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