Bristol House of Pizza will be celebrating 35 years of serving the community on Monday, April 30. To thank their customers for their continued support and patronage, they will be selling pizzas at half price and giving away prizes all day. In addition, with every purchase made in the restaurant on the 30th, you can enter into a raffle to win Red Sox tickets. The drawing will be held at 6pm (presence not necessary to win). It's a good excuse to check our their newly expanded restaurant space and enjoy some of the food that's kept them in business for decades.More

This Saturday, April 7, legendary chef, cookbook author, TV personality and all-around quintessentail French dude Jacques Pépin comes to Barrington Books to sign copies of his latest, Essential Pépin. The book collects more than 700 of his favorite dishes and recipes from the six decades of his career. Pépin is one of the grand, old wisemen of the culinary world, a contemporary of Julia Child, with whom he co-hosted a PBS show, and one of the most decorated chefs in the world. He currently hosts a public television series also called Essential Pépin. This is a rare chance to meet and greet one of the towering figures of French cookery. In the meantime, let the man himself show you how to prepare an omelette (trust us, you're not doing it as well as he can):More

The semifinalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards (sort of like the Oscars of the food world) have been announced and two Bristol restaurants are in the running. Chef Sai Viswanath of DeWolf Tavern and Chef Champe Speidel of Persimmon are both nominated in the Best Chef: Northeast category. Finalists will be announced on March 19, and the awards ceremony takes place on May 7. Best of luck to our two hometown culinary celebrities.More

The British Are Coming

A new restaurant is open on State Street in Bristol. The British Beer Company, a local chain with a dozen or so locations throughout Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts, is set to open in the old location of The Anchor (29 State Street). BBC serves good quality pub food with some authentically English flair. When they open sometime in February or March, make sure to try the Guinness Stout Onion Soup, Bangers and Mash or their Pasty Pies.

That's Cheesy

The owners of Tortilla Flats in Providence have taken over The Cheese Plate (54 State Street, Warren). Stay tuned for more developments.

Get In the Spirit

The Newport Restaurant Group has two unmissable special dinners coming up this month. On February 9, 22 Bowen’s Wharf is hosting a Pacific Northwest Wine Dinner. The four-course dinner will be paired with wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Erath, Col Solare, Northstar and Snoqualmie wineries, and a winemaker from Chateau Ste. Michelle will be there to discuss the pairings. Then, on February 21 and 22, The Mooring will be hosing a Samuel Adams Beer Dinner, when a brewmaster from Sam Adams will pair their beers with a four-course meal.More

Starting this weekend, and continuing every weekend throughout February except February 11, you can warm up and enjoy some wine at a great price. Sakonnet Vineyards presents "Wine and Soup Weekends," offering your choice of two soups from Blount Fine Foods with the purchase of a glass of wine. Soups and pairing suggestions will change weekly, and best of all, it's only $5. Check Sakonnet's website for more details, or call 401-635-8486 ext. 116 for reservations.More