Caleb & Broad. Credit: Caleb & Broad Facebook Page

Caleb & Broad claimed first place Saturday at the 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off, held as part of the 38th Annual Newport Winter Festival at the Newport Marriott.

Skiff Bar at the Marriott finished second, and Jo’s American Bistro rounded out the top three in the competition, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Area restaurants and caterers competed as attendees sampled and voted for their favorites.

Diego’s won the best decorated award.

The Newport Fire Department was inducted into the Chili Cook-Off Hall of Fame.

The cook-off is one of several culinary competitions featured during the festival, which runs Feb. 13–22. Remaining events include the Best Hot Drink Contest on Thursday and the Mac & Cheese Smackdown on Feb. 22.

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.