In this week’s blog we share some of our Blackstone Valley holiday food traditions, where to find those cookies for Santa and where to get some holiday sustenance whether you’re out shopping or meeting friends for some holiday cheer!

Food plays an important role in some Holiday traditions from baking cookies to leave out for Santa at Christmas, to making Latkes for the Hanukkah celebration.  Perhaps you make tamales or Bûche De Noël (Yule log) in your home. A  Greek household may include the  sweet treats of baklava or finikia cookies, both made with honey and nuts. 

Most of our food traditions at the holidays were probably brought over with immigrants that settled in New England to work in  factories including in the Blackstone Valley.

Yule Log

Making a La Buche De Noel is a holiday tradition of the French, Scandinavians and the Swiss.    The Buche is a Christmas dessert. Made in the shape of a log, it represents the Yule Log that goes back to medieval times. The pagans would burn the log to bring comfort in winter and symbolize the return of daylight (see last week’s blog). When fireplaces were replaced by wood stoves the Yule log lost its prominence and was eventually replaced by a dessert especially popular in France, Canada and Britain. It is traditionally a family-time experience to make La Buche De Noel; but if time is of essence, this dessert can be purchased in some of our local bakeries including Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery, North Smithfield,  Ivy and Lace  Bakeshop, Greenville and Under the Willow Bakery in Cumberland Hmm! We’ll have to try one this year. 

Similarly in the Latin American home making tamales is a holiday tradition shared among the families.  Tamales are a Mesoamerican dish made of masa (dough), usually corn-based and steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf filled with meats, cheeses or fruit. The outer layer may be used as a plate or discarded. Making tamales with families or extended families especially during Christmas helps to develop a sense of community. Read more

If you looking to leave cookies and milk for Santa our bakeries:  Wrights, Ivy & Lace along with Gingersnaps in Lincoln,  Bake My Day in Pawtucket and Mapleville Farm in Mapleville have a variety of Christmas cakes and othe baked goodies for the family as well as Christmas cookies to leave out with milk for Santa. 

We wondered how that tradition began. According to History.com, the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa and perhaps a few carrots for the reindeer started during the great depression as a way for parents to teach the importance of giving to others.  This lesson is an important lesson for today as well.  Below we list a few places where you can donate this holiday season. 

To make it a family-fun time, you may pick up DIY cookie kits and gingerbread house kits, which are also available at the aforementioned bakeries. Create an amazing Gingerbread house or bake cookies to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. 

Don’t forget the eggnog. You can get freshly-made eggnog from Wright’s Dairy Farm or Munroe Dairy’s Sacred Cow Ice Cream Shop. Speaking of the Sacred Cow did you know you can find other local products for the holiday table or for a special gift  basket? Some of the items in the shop include Willow Tree turkey gravy, Del’s lemonade and homemade lollipops as well as  treats for your pet pup!

Here are a few restaurants to visit this Holiday Season

• Andrew’s Bistro, Cumberland, will be open Christmas Eve from 4 – 9 pm. Be sure to make your reservations by calling 401-658-1515.  Gift cards make the perfect gift – special sale through December 31st. 
• Wright’s Farm in Harriville may not be open for Christmas, but it  is the perfect place  to combine dining with your holiday shopping by visiting their extensive gift shop before or after savoring a Blackstone Valley tradition of Chicken Family Style.
• The Lodge Pub & Eatery is a great place for casual dining after holiday shopping or to catch a football game.  They will be open Christmas Eve until 5 pm, and have gift cards available for sale.
• GottaQ BBQ in Cumberland will be serving breakfast starting December 17th. Why not head over and try a brisket hash omelette and grab a couple of gift cards for the BBQ lover on your list!
• The Madeira Restaurant in East Providence is taking pre-orders for Christmas. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, December 22nd for pick up on Christmas Eve from 11 am to 5 pm
• If you want a wine to go with your meal or perhaps send as a gift visit Diamond Hill Vineyard or Mulberry Vineyards for some Holiday flavors and gift baskets.
• Maybe it’s beer or cocktails you fancy, then check out RI Spirits, Foolproof in Pawtucket for some holiday mixes/brews. Pick up a Holli Mule cocktail kit from White Dog Distilling  or pick up an Eggnog Milk Stout from Crooked  Current. Both White Dog and Crooked Current are located at 560 Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket.  Lops Brewing in Woonsocket is also offering up a holiday brew, a Marshmallow Imperial Stout.

Holli Mule by White Dog Distilling

Local Food Charities

• • Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, Walcott Street, Pawtucket
  • Community Care Alliance, Woonsocket.  Listen to Woonsocket Radio, WOON AM & FM weekdays from 4-5 pm or weekends, 6-9 am for the on-air auction raising funds for Community Care’s Milk Fund 
  • Rhode Island Food Bank, Providence 

Image: Cookies by Gingersnaps