Scialo Bros. Bakery
257 Atwells Ave., Providence, RI
A gift horse goes to the glue factory
The oft cited proverb 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' confuses me. I think it means that if someone gives you a horse you shouldn't examine it too
closely as it might bite you in the nose.
At Scialo Brothers Bakery I was given a free slice of Double Chocolate Ganache cake. The woman behind the counter said it had been cut a little too small
to be saleable. Okay, what’s the real reason? Do I look too thin? Do I look like I need a handout? Is she hitting on me? Are they testing out a new
recipe? Is it poisoned? Is it a bomb?
After much consideration, hesitation, and consternation I sampled what turned out to be an excellent full flavored cake frosted and filled with a decadent chocolate ganache. Perhaps I should rethink my take on the ‘Gift Horse’ proverb.
As horses age their teeth continue to grow. The more prominent the choppers, the older the horse. So the advice actually given in the proverb is ‘Brush your teeth Snaggletooth.’ Okay, it’s ‘When given a present be grateful and don’t examine it to assess its value.’
I did not receive a ricotta tart as a gift and thereby feel obliged to assess its value through a thorough examination. It is a tender buttery crust filled
with a smooth sweetened ricotta filling and dusted in powdered sugar. If given the chance I will gratefully examine this pastry again.
Scialo Brothers Bakery, located on Providence’s Federal Hill (so named for a large land mass rising up out of the earth), has been family owned and operated since 1916.