Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases

IGGY'S CHOWDER & CLAMCAKES ~ FISH & CHIPS ~ DOUGHBOY'S ~ WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND

                                                                            
IGGY'S Chowderhouse, Warwick, Rhode Island
There's this place......A wonderful place, that serves Chowdah & Clam Cakes, Fish & Chips and the most delicious Doughboys in the state of Rhode Island. Iggy's "clam shack" is a true RI institution. Established in 1989, it's located at 889 Oakland Beach Avenue in Warwick, RI. (401)737-9459. They're open 7 days a week all year round, even during the dead of winter. It's rather odd, sitting at a window table eating Fish & Chips and looking out over Narragansett Bay in January! Oh, how it makes us long for summer when we can eat outside and have the seagulls swoop down and try to steal our french fries!

 
"Classy Clam-Shack"
Iggy's recently reopened after extensive renovations. It looks like they totally gutted the old building, did the kitchen over completely and built a second story on top. All new cushions, chairs and table tops inside the dining room gives it a "classy clam-shack" sort of feel. What did stay the same is the incredible menu they've had all these years. They started out 19 years ago with Chowder & Clam Cakes and their famous Doughboys. Today, they have a full menu with the most tender, flaky Fish & Chips, seafood platters, burgers and their own Root Beer Floats. They've even bottled the root beer, so you can take a 4-pack home with you! This is not a china and sliverware sort of restaurant. There is no waitstaff. You order at the counter, take a number and then wait..... Expect styrofoam take out containers, plastic forks and knives and to-go packets of condiments.  I have to admit, that's part of Iggy's charm!

IGGY'S Doughboys
We call Iggy's doughboys Belly-Bombs, and I can easily eat four of them in one sitting! Made of fried dough and rolled hot in white sugar, they are the things childhood dreams are made of! There's usually a good 1/2 cup of sugar at the bottom of the stained paper bag and enough sugar on all of us to keep Domino in business forever! The staff is wise to include 10-12 napkins with each bag!

We weren't that hungry one day last fall and decided to go to Iggy's for a quick bite to eat. We ended up with a dozen doughboys and 2 cups of Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut coffee for supper. We parked in front of the seawall watching fishermen fish and seagulls diving. All this AND a great view looking out over Narragansett Bay with the Jamestown and Newport Bridges in our sites. By the time we were done, we were sugar-coated as well! What more can I say? They are simply to die for!

Coupons, Coupons & Coupons!
We frequent Iggy's about once a month, more during the summer and fall. Here's a link that will give you the option to print off six different coupons and save some money. Our coupon of choice is for 2 orders of Fish & Chips, 2 cups of red or white Chowder and 6 heavenly Clam Cakes. With tax, it set us back a whopping $17.23! That's for 2 people! AND, if you go on a Tuesday, you get a double treat. There's a classic car rally in the park every Tuesday night during the summer season. A local radio station DJ is set up to play the rockin' oldies. Young children all the way up to the "real" golden oldies visit each other on lawn chairs, dance to the music and of course, eat their chowder & clam cakes.

                                                                            

There is another location at 1157 Point Judith Road in Narragansett (401)783-5608, but that's only opened seasonally from April to October. Oh, wait! It IS April! Well by all means, get yourself down there and have a dozen doughboys. You know you want to!

ZEPPOLE MADNESS! ~ Happy St. Joseph's Day!

                                                         
St. Joseph's Day ~ Another March Holiday!
March 19th is St. Joseph's Day! I realize this holiday has religious roots, but I'm going to focus on the food instead! I know, I know. It shouldn't always be about the food, but I just can't help it! I LOVE pastries. And I'm so happy for religious holidays, because they always focus around the most awesome ethnic foods!

St. Joseph's Day comes just two days after St. Patrick's Day and most people don't even know the holiday exists. I don't know about your calendar, but mine is a Rhode Island calendar and St. Joseph's Day is right there, reminding me that RI Italians are celebrating today. Maybe it's a Rhode Island thing?
                                                                                 
Zeppole Insanity!
Being an Italian holiday, the favorite pastry is Zeppole (pronounced ZAY-poe-lay). Most people have no idea what a Zeppole is. I never really gave it much thought before. They just show up in all the bakeries on the same day! Kind of like an Italian Santa Claus bringing Thousands upon Thousands of Zeppole! These were purchased at Antonio's ~ our favorite Italian bakery. They're located on West Shore Rd in Warwick, RI (401-738-3727). I couldn't really tell you how much they were. I really didn't care as long as I had one!
                                                                                    
Zeppole ~ So Addictive!
A sinfully rich pastry, the Zeppole seems to be a cross between a cream puff and donut of baked or fried dough filled with a delicious custard (although it can also be made with cannoli or ricotta filling) and topped with a piece of candied cherry. They are so addictive, you could easily put down 2 or 3 of these Belly-Bombs! You have to order them early or you'll be out of luck. I got mine just in time and MAN, they were good! We ripped open the box and ate them right there in the car with a plastic fork! A cup of Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut coffee was the beverage of choice. I got a traditional Zeppole and John got an Irish Cream Zeppole. I guess the bakery figured they may as well exploit the two saints, blend them together and come up with another unbelievably wicked-good treat!
I've included some photos to make you drool.