Hidden gems can be found anywhere. There's a place that's a bit hard to find in Providence, RI, but it's definitely worth seeking out. I first discovered it over 10 years ago while shopping at an art store. There's a group of buildings that use to be old mills. They form a semi-circle & to reach their entrances you must walk through a beautiful red brick courtyard that has trees, flowers & benches scattered about. Nestled in there is CAV.

Ten years ago CAV was unlike anything I'd ever seen in R.I. It was an elegantly lit small restaurant that had a shabby chic feel to it. The tables were made of different woods that were skillfully crafted together. The plates & glassware were handmade & painted. No two were alike. A small stage sat in one corner where a jazz trio was performing. The bar was just for service. It was too tiny to sit at & enjoy a drink. Towards the back of the restaurant was an antique/artifact shop. I can't tell you what an amazing experience it was to walk through and view objects from all over the world with a glass of wine in hand, while sexy jazz music floated around you. And we can not overlook the food! The menu was one page & it changed from one week to the next. On my first visit, I had handmade ravioli in a squid ink sauce. I remember it to this day!

Fast forward to Friday, July 22, 2005. I stepped into CAV for the first time in 5 years. My how it has changed! It got even better! Crystal chandeliers light the dining room. The tables are now covered with hand woven blankets from Indonesia. Built in bookcases throughout the space display the antiques. The bar has been expanded. Now you can sit & sip a nice glass of vino while enjoying musicians from all over the world. The back room is no longer an antique shop. More tables have been added as well as a comfy lounge area. The menu is larger & changes seasonally. The food is still outstanding. My brother was the only one eating since Tom & I had just come from the food tasting. He ordered the salmon served over herb polenta & said it was the best he'd ever had. That's major coming from Stephen, because he's a tough food critic indeed.

We thought our night couldn't get any better, but the owner Sylvia came out to chat with us. She saw me admiring a Buddha that was about 500 yrs old. She was a hoot! She told us stories about the opening of her place. They didn't have enough money for fancy tables so her friends scavenged through the state picking up scraps of wood & made the tables themselves. All of that hand-crafted dish & glassware was also made by Sylvia & friends. She soon realize that customers loved the place settings so much that they were taking them home! By the end of 2 years most of the dishes, glasses & even the salt & pepper shakers were gone! Just one of the lessons she had to learn. She was an antique dealer by day, hence the store in the back.

It took Sylvia ten years to make CAV the way she envisioned it in her mind. She did it a little at a time when time & money allotted. And she said she wouldn't have done it any other way. She's grown so much over the years & her place is a reflection of that. This women has taken all of her loves and passions & made them into a business. Her love of travel & antiquing is fulfilled when she ventures out several times a year, all over the globe, hunting for goods to sell in the restaurant. The bands that play on the weekends fills her life with music. The food & wine part are obvious. She also loves to garden & found a way to incorporate that into her daily life. Right outside of the entrance is a hand carved stone bench & just beyond it is her herb & tomato garden. The parsley that garnishes the dishes is picked daily. Sylvia is a great example of how you can make you passions work for you & have them in your life daily. Her energy was truly magical. It must come from her deep love of the life she created for herself. So, if you are ever in RI or are driving through it, please stop by CAV & say hi to Sylvia. You will not be disappointed.

CAV
14 Imperial Pl.
Providence, RI 02903
(401)751-9164 - Sylvia said to call the restaurant directly for directions. You'll find it much faster & easier that way.

Posted by Dawn Falcone @ 4:46 PM 5 comments

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