Food tour at Federal Hill highlights crime and cuisine
There’s a food tour with a felonious twist on Federal Hill.
The Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill tour has been bringing in tourists for about three years now.
However, some people may wonder if it’s painting the iconic Providence neighborhood in a bad light.
There’s a food tour with a felonious twist on Federal Hill. (WJAR)
The tour, starting at Girbaldi Park, which was the former bath house for the growing Italian immigrant population.
It makes several stops along the way, five different restaurants and other historic buildings, including the former headquarters of the New England Mafia, which is now an Indian Fusion Restaurant, Cilanter.
The outdoor seating at Cilanter was once where Raymond Patriarca sat, in front of his cash-only tobacco vending business called Coin-O-Matic.
The tour makes several stops along the way, including the former headquarters of the New England Mafia, which is now an Indian Fusion Restaurant, Cilanter. (WJAR)
History proved that was a money laundering front for more sinister operations.
“Is it a little edgy that people think ‘OK, they’re going to talk about past crime on Federal Hill?’ Sure… But that’s the history of the Hill and we can’t erase our past, we can’t sweep it under the rug,” said the President of the Federal Hill Association Rick Simone.
Simone responded to those who may think this highlights crime and brings outdated stereotypes to Federal Hill.
There’s a food tour with a felonious twist on Federal Hill.
The Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill tour has been bringing in tourists for about three years now.
However, some people may wonder if it’s painting the iconic Providence neighborhood in a bad light.
There’s a food tour with a felonious twist on Federal Hill. (WJAR)
The tour, starting at Girbaldi Park, which was the former bath house for the growing Italian immigrant population.
It makes several stops along the way, five different restaurants and other historic buildings, including the former headquarters of the New England Mafia, which is now an Indian Fusion Restaurant, Cilanter.
The outdoor seating at Cilanter was once where Raymond Patriarca sat, in front of his cash-only tobacco vending business called Coin-O-Matic.
The tour makes several stops along the way, including the former headquarters of the New England Mafia, which is now an Indian Fusion Restaurant, Cilanter. (WJAR)
History proved that was a money laundering front for more sinister operations.
“Is it a little edgy that people think ‘OK, they’re going to talk about past crime on Federal Hill?’ Sure… But that’s the history of the Hill and we can’t erase our past, we can’t sweep it under the rug,” said the President of the Federal Hill Association Rick Simone.
Simone responded to those who may think this highlights crime and brings outdated stereotypes to Federal Hill.
“I don’t think it’s bringing a hyper focus to anything that’s of recent incidents,” he said. “If anything, it’s bringing that history that’s the past… And truth be told, in the past, there were a lot of people that relished it,” said Simone. “There were a lot of people that felt comfortable with these people, their relationships, and how things were run,” he said.
NBC 10 News talked with a family who decided to stop at Venda Thursday while on their way to Cape Cod for vacation and asked them if the history would ever deter them from visiting.
“We know there is a history there which is kind of intriguing,” said Eric Cavoli of Connecticut. “Of course we figure it’s much smaller than it was back in the day and if it’s still present, it’s very hard to detect for the visitor.”