A half dozen restaurants from Cranston and Warwick were part of the over 30 participants in this year’s “Empty Bowls” fundraiser, leading the way in raising over $200,000 for the Rhode Island Food Bank.

Leading the way was Warwick’s LEMONGRASS which drew long lines for their offerings of four of their favorite appetizers.

New to the cause this year was KEANE’S WOOD-FIRED, the growing catering and take-out BBQ business on Warwick Ave., near the Warwick/Cranston line, offering their famous pulled pork sandwiches.

Warwick’s GREGG’S provided their humongous cookies and pastries.

Cranston’s LEGAL SEAFOODS provided cups of their patented clam chowder, known for being loaded with the tender chunks of clams.

MING’S, which recently opened to record crowds in Edgewood, offered their Asian chicken sandwiches, cooking them outside the Waterfire building and attracting crowds that gobbled them up as soon as they reached their inside booth.

Also from Edgewood was the EDGEWOOD CHEESE SHOP, offering a variety of cheese samples.

Othe favorites included the Coast Guard House, Ethiopian Foods, and the Exeter Job Corps.

“Empty Bowls” is our favorite charity event of the year. Participants/contributors receive some of the finest cuisine from some of the top Rhode Island restaurants, while making generous contributions to help fill the empty bowls in Rhode Island.

In addition to the wonderful food, each contributor takes home an attractive ceramic bowl made by an R.I. artisan.