Nordica Speedmachine

Mangia! Rhode Island-style for many locals and visitors, is a trip to Federal Hill, Providence's "Little Italy" neighborhood, which is right off Route 95 and steps from downtown. Since the early 1900s when 54,000 Italian immigrants landed in the tiny state and pushcarts lined Atwells Avenue, Federal Hill has no rival for authentic Italian dining. Today, many of the area's merchants grew up on "The Hill" in Italian families where recipes were handed down through generations, finally ending up in the showcases of several stores.

A top-notch, behind-the-scenes glimpse of some shops and to meet the merchants is Cindy Salvato's "Shopping Federal Hill: An Insider's Tour." She has a flowery gift of gab and knows her stuff, having been a pastry-chef instructor at Providence's Johnson & Wales Culinary School in addition to other accolades. Rain or shine, every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Cindy awaits her tour participants in DePasquale Square, which is the iconic heartbeat of The Hill. For three hours (price is $50), they follow her through several stores, sample food, sip wine and learn about countless Italian products. The shopkeepers step in for more in-depth explanations about their shop and its family's Italian ties.

• Nord Videos

• Les Associes Du Nord

• Basse Cote Nord

• Skibec Nordique

• Nordlead