Sardella's
Sardella's Italian Restaurant.

Sardella’s Italian Restaurant will be honored at the 41st Annual Taste of Newport on October 27th for their support of Child & Family by being inducted as the first member of the Taste of Newport Hall of Fame, commemorating their participation as a tasting station for all 41 years the event has been running. ​

Sardella’s Italian Restaurant’s commitment to the Taste of Newport is Richard and Patrick’s recognition of not only the work we do at Child & Family but also how important the local community is to the hospitality industry in Newport,” said Dana DiMarco, Vice President of Development, and Communications at Child & Family.

The Taste of Newport is one of Newport County’s longest-standing events. This year 26 spectacular purveyors will come together in the atrium at the Newport Marriott so attendees can sample sips, bits, culinary sweets, and savories while mingling and bidding on a curated collection of silent auction items.​

The event will take place at the Newport Marriott. To purchase tickets and join Child & Family in recognizing Richard Sardella and Patrick Fitzgerald visit Child & Family – Taste of Newport 2024.

Child & Family Services of Rhode Island operates community centers in Middletown and Providence, a residential home for youth, an early learning center, and various support programs for families and individuals.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.

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 is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.

In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.

In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.

Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.