There are plenty of icons that represent the quirky side of Rhode Island: sweet caffeine-spiked milk, a massive termite on the interstate, platters of deep-fried squid punctuated by banana peppers. But it was Al Forno, forty-three years ago, that told a different story of this small state: one that was deeply rooted in the arts and which made an impact, not only on local culture but international eating. 

The history is well-documented: Johanne Killeen and George Germon, two RISD students, fell in love with each other and with the rustic food of Italy. You could say the rest is history, but that would leave the accomplishments of the iconic Providence restaurant in the past, which misses, entirely, its ongoing influence.