St. Patty’s kind of snuck up on me this year.

I mean, don’t pinch me because I am taking notes right now with a green Flair pen.

In a more perfect world, I’d have, at the very least, a professional photo in a cable knit or a fisherman cardigan and a shamrock headband.

Speaking of which the girlfriend of one of my deceased Irish American uncles had promised me a traditional Aran jumper (aka, Irish sweater) that he had apparently brought back from one of his many trips to the Emerald Isles and I’m still waiting. Guess it’s NOT happening…

What I do have is a list of a few of the tastiest local eats to put you in the spirit of today:

1. Of course PVDonuts has a holiday special! They have teamed up again with their old pals from Long Live Beer Works on a donut with stout chocolate mousse filling and stout based toppings. They are open until 3pm sharp, so you’ll need the luck of the Irish and to make haste to Fox Point if you want to get your hands on one or two.

2. Providence Bagel is rolling out their much-anticipated green and white bagels for St. Paddy’s. And don’t forget a schmear of their (!!!) Shamrock Shake Cream Cheese. (Whilst in Providence, you’ll also want to see the Irish Famine Memorial situated on the Providence River Walk. After being desecrated in 2018, it was repaired and subsequently re-dedicated in a public ceremony in 2019.)

3. I don’t eat meat, but if you do, starting at 4pm this evening, The Shanty in Warwick has corned beef and Guinness. (Psssst…We LOVE their burritos fo brunch or lunch.)

4. Friskie Fries also has their St. Pat-tato fries made with — you guessed it — corned beef and cabbage. If you want something meat free (I hear youuu), order the classic plain ones that have just a dusting of sea salt. In my book, they are some of the best fries on the planet. Seriously.

5. Finally, why not pick up some St. Patrick’s zeppole? One thing I learned after writing about the Italian pastries for Hey Rhody recently is that just about every bakery in Rhode Island offering them also probably has an Irish-ified version with Bailey’s flavored filling. Frankly I think they are PERFECT for those of us who are half Irish and half Italian American.