Events ~ Grill to Give, Eastside Marketplace, Providence

Eastside Marketplace
165 Pitman St.
Providence, Rhode Island

Bear and I stopped in at Eastside Marketplace's Grill to Give event last night. Before we went over to the outdoor grill, we decided to check out the market itself.

Bear was impressed with the diversity of the magazine rack. We both loved the layout of the store, with so many specialty areas. The produce looked fresh and of better quality than we see in our local chain store. The prices were comparable to Stop & Shop's regular prices, however very little produce was on sale, which makes S&S more affordable on a regular basis.

                     

We were very impressed by the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness of the store, and the selection. There also seemed to be plenty of staff available if we needed help. Bear insists that we start doing our weekly grocery shopping here, despite the distance.

The market is local family-owned, and the owner lives in the Providence East Side neighborhood. Eastside is very active in the community, and partners with a long list of organizations as part of its "Friendship Fund." Those organizations are listed around the perimeter of the store as well.

We came for "Grill to Give," a weekly event where you buy a plate of themed barbecue dinner for $4, and the proceeds benefit the Rhode Island Food Bank.

This week's meal was "Mediterranean: Grilled Chicken Kabobs, Watermelon and Cucumber Salad, Ice Cold Beverages & Dessert." There was also dipping sauces includng tahini and cucumber dip. Again, the staff was very friendly, and the food was plentiful and delicious. The $4 price tag is a bargain anyway, and having proceeds benefit the Food Bank makes it a win-win.