Eli Dunn’s large local fan base will be delighted to know that he and his fiancee and business partner, Rachel Lopes Almeida, will be opening a cafe, Folklore Provisions, at 301 Hope St. They appeared before the Town Council at the Wednesday, Jan. 17 meeting, requesting a class B liquor license.

Dunn, who has become a bit of a Food Network veteran with three appearances on “Chopped” and one on “Beat Bobby Flay”, learned his trade from the best — his mother was the proprietor of Phoebe’s in Seekonk for many years. Dunn cooked at Warren’s late Three Rivers Cafe and the Beehive Cafe in Bristol, before opening Eli’s Kitchen, his much-loved establishment on Market Street in Warren.

He closed Eli’s in late 2020, selling the business to Sam Duling and Joanna Ray. They opened Hunky Dory on the site, which quickly grew to be a popular and successful restaurant in its own right, featuring local food with a southern influence.

Since closing Eli’s, Dunn shifted focus to private cheffing, an endeavor that kept him busy, and ultimately, reminded him why he loves cooking. He always suggested he was not done with the restaurant business, and it looks like 2024 will be the year he returns.

“So I'm coming out of retirement,” he said to the Council, “And we're going to open a European style cafe at 301 Hope Street, the former Angelina’s, and Roberto's before that.”

As Dunn described it, Folklore Provisions will be a daytime concept European style cafe inspired by Almeida’s Azorian heritage; a fusion of Dunn’s coastal New England culinary background and Almeida’s Azorian culinary background. “Really good espresso, sandwiches, salads, and a Sunday brunch,” he said.

The plan, for now at least, is to only serve alcohol for Sunday Brunch, so they can offer mimosas, Bloody Marys, and other brunch cocktails.

As is standard, the Council will hold a public hearing at their next meeting, and the license, if granted at that time, will be a 6-month provisional beer and wine license that will be expanded if there are no negative incidents in the provisional period. So, initially, mimosas may be offered, but the bloodies will have to wait.

“I’m very happy to to see you back in town,” said Councilor Mary Parella. Councilor Tim Sweeney concurred. “I’m super excited to have you, and have you occupying that empty cafe,” he said. “It’s been empty for a while, so it’ll be nice to see the lights on.”