In 1777, Newport was occupied by British troops and a blockade prevented trade to the island. A population with a sophisticated palate, used to trade goods from all over the word, was now forced to eat local. What did people eat 240 years ago to survive the harsh winter and war-torn environment?

On Saturday February 18, 2017 at 10 am, the Newport Historical Society will host costumed interpreters for Colonial Food for Thought: A Newport Eats Living History Event. They will share insight on what foods were eaten, when, and why, from tea to pickling, oysters to chocolate, and soldiers’ rations to spices!

This event, part of the Newport Historical Society’s Newport Eats history of food programming initiative, is offered on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 10am-1pm at the Colony House on Washington Square. Admission is free. Try your hand at a colonial-inspired stamping craft. Flour sack towels yours to keep, $5 each.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...