Heritage Restaurant Group announced Monday it has entered into an agreement to acquire Jo’s American Bistro, the Memorial Boulevard restaurant that has served American cuisine with Italian influences since 2013. The acquisition is expected to close in approximately 90 days, subject to customary closing conditions. Jo’s American Bistro, located at 24 Memorial Boulevard, was founded […]
Food & Drink
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Heritage Group acquires Glorious Affairs Catering, forms Heritage Hospitality
The Heritage Group announced Monday the formation of Heritage Hospitality through the acquisition of Glorious Affairs Catering and its combination with Audrain Hospitality, creating a full-service catering and event planning company serving Southern Rhode Island. The deal brings together Glorious Affairs, a boutique caterer with more than 25 years of experience in Newport County, and […]
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Newport Restaurant Week returns Nov. 7-16
Newport Restaurant Week will return for its annual celebration of the region’s culinary scene from November 7-16. The 10-day event showcases participating restaurants across nine coastal communities offering special prix-fixe menus designed to highlight the flavors of the area. Diners can choose from lunch menus priced at $20 or $30, and dinner menus at $30, […]
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Taste of Newport returns Sunday to benefit families in need
The 42nd annual Taste of Newport returns Sunday evening, bringing together the city’s top restaurants and chefs for one of its most beloved culinary traditions while raising funds to provide Thanksgiving meals for Rhode Island families facing food insecurity. The event, hosted by Child & Family, will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Newport […]
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Yagi Noodles teams up with Rejects Beer Co. for punk rock-fueled party
This Sunday, Oct. 26, Yagi Noodles is trading its usual dinner service for something a bit louder and a lot more rebellious. The popular Long Wharf Mall noodle spot is hosting a cocktail party in collaboration with Rejects Beer Co. and Fortune Tattoos, bringing together Asian street food, craft beer, live punk rock vinyl spins […]
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Heritage Restaurant Group to acquire Scales & Shells
The Heritage Restaurant Group announced Thursday that it will acquire Scales & Shells, the seafood restaurant at 527/537 Thames St., which has been a downtown Newport fixture for nearly 40 years. The transaction is expected to close within 90 days, subject to due diligence and approval processes. Heritage Group, a Newport-based restaurant and hospitality operator, will take […]
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Newport chef to lead culinary tour of Sicily in 2026
Chef Kevin O’Donnell of Newport’s Giusto Restaurant and Mother Pizza will lead a culinary tour of Sicily Sept. 12-19, 2026, as part of Oldways’ Culinaria travel program. The seven-day immersion will explore Sicilian food, wine, history and culture across the island from east to west, with stops in Ortigia, Agrigento and Palermo. The tour promises […]
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22 Bowen’s to host Italian winemaker dinner on Newport waterfront
22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille will host Italian winemaker Stefano Gagliardo for a five-course wine-pairing dinner Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. Gagliardo, owner and winemaker of Poderi Gianni Gagliardo, will present wines from his family’s Piedmont winery alongside dishes prepared by Executive Chef Justin Garcia. The dinner costs $185 per person, plus tax and […]
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Newport Vineyards celebrates 30 years
Settled on over 100 acres of farmland, family-owned and operated Newport Vineyards, celebrating 30 years in business, allows visitors the chance to experience farm-to-table dining, Sunday brunch, wine and cheese classes, live music, daily tours and tastings, and more. Open to all ages, the indoor marketplace and outdoor space give guests the chance to embrace […]
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Mother Pizzeria launches guest chef series with Boston’s Will Gilson
Mother Pizzeria is bringing fresh flavors to Newport with a new guest chef series featuring culinary talent from around the region. The series kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m. with Chef Will Gilson of Puritan & Company in Boston, who will showcase his acclaimed South Shore Bar Pizza. Gilson, known for […]
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Pivotal Brewing Company seeking new operator for Newport location
Pivotal Brewing Company announced Tuesday on Instagram that it is looking to transition its Newport location to new ownership, just five months after fully opening. In a candid Instagram post, the Bristol-based brewery explained its decision to step back from the Newport operation, saying the space doesn’t align with the company’s long-term business strategy. “We […]
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Charter Books to host cookbook event with Rhode Island author
Charter Books will host Rhode Island cookbook author Polina Chesnakova for a cooking demonstration and tasting on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Pivotal Brewing. Chesnakova will demonstrate how to make varenyky, a stuffed dumpling featured in her recently published cookbook “Chesnok: Cooking from My Corner of the Diaspora: Recipes from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central […]
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Spotlighting the busy women (and a few good men) behind the scenes at the Broadway Street Fair
Historians and cartographers will tell you that “Broadway” is typically one of the first streets laid out on a city map, designed as a central artery for commerce. The name, derived from the Dutch Breede weg, meaning “broad way,” likely originated from Native American footpaths that ran diagonally down the length of Manhattan Island. Newport’s […]
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From Harvest Festivals to Haunted Mansions: Newport’s fall calendar is packed with events
As temperatures cool and leaves begin to turn, Newport’s fall season is heating up with a packed calendar of festivals, milestone celebrations and seasonal experiences that showcase why autumn might just be the best time to visit The Classic Coast. “It’s no secret that Newport’s autumn charm and crisp weather make it the perfect backdrop […]
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Newport Restaurant Group opens J.T. Commons in Middletown
Newport Restaurant Group opened J.T. Commons on Thursday, a new pizza-focused restaurant in the former Foodlove Market space. The restaurant features two signature pizza styles — Roman and focaccia — alongside shareable appetizers, sandwiches and a soft-serve ice cream bar with house-made toppings. Named after J.T. O’Connell, the legendary Newport businessman and founder of what […]
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Marcus Samuelsson brings message of heritage and community to Newport Wine & Food Festival
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson (“Chopped,” “Top Chef Masters”) headlined this year’s Newport Wine & Food Festival, and his Conversation event proved to be one of the big highlights of the late summer. The intimate talk took place at Rosecliff, culminating the festivities. Gathered guests were treated to a rare opportunity to hear directly from one […]
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Aquidneck Community Table hosts inaugural Seed to Soul party
Aquidneck Community Table will host its inaugural Seed to Soul party on Oct. 26 at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown. The 21+ event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at 915 Mitchell’s Lane and brings together local farmers, chefs and neighbors to celebrate local food, culture and community. Guests will enjoy tastings from local eateries, […]
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Newport Chowder Company goes national with major US Foods partnership
What started as a family tradition in Newport has just taken a significant leap onto the national stage. Newport Chowder Company announced on Friday that it has secured a distribution partnership with US Foods, one of the country’s largest foodservice distributors, making founder Katie Potter’s mother’s award-winning seafood chowder recipe available to restaurants, hotels, universities, […]
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Newport Festa Italiana returns Sept. 26-Oct. 13 with food, music and cultural celebrations
The annual Newport Festa Italiana will return Sept. 26-Oct. 13, offering nearly three weeks of events celebrating Italian culture, cuisine and community traditions in the City by the Sea. The festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 26, with the John Panaggio Original Ziti Night at Vasco da Gama Hall, 15 Fenner Ave. The dinner runs 5-7 […]
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La Vecina adds Sunday brunch with authentic Mexican fare
La Vecina has launched a new Sunday brunch menu featuring authentic Mexican dishes with a morning twist, the Newport Restaurant Group announced Tuesday. The brunch menu, created by Executive Chef Mariana Gonzalez-Trasvina, is available Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the restaurant located at 24 Washington Square. Menu items include chilaquiles with tortilla […]
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Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival offers fine dining experiences at local restaurants
Five restaurants in Newport and Jamestown will offer exclusive dining and tasting experiences as part of the 20th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Sept. 18-21. The participating establishments are taking reservations for one-time offerings Thursday through Saturday. The restaurants include 41° North – The Grill; Cara at The Chanler at Cliff Walk; Beech […]
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Highest-rated wineries in Rhode Island by visitors
Napa Valley isn’t the only travel destination in the United States for a good glass of wine. While California’s wine country is known for being a top winery destination (and also home to the award-winning bottle of Chardonnay that won top honors at the Judgment of Paris competition in 1976), wine connoisseurs no longer have […]
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Newport Vineyards celebrates 30 years with limited-edition wines
Newport Vineyards is marking its 30th anniversary with the release of two limited-edition wines and a series of celebratory events throughout the fall. The vineyard, founded by brothers John and Paul Nunes in 1995, will debut Milestone Blanc and Milestone Red during its exclusive Milestone Release Weekend from Aug. 22-24. Milestone Blanc is an unoaked […]
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Milkshakes, malts, concretes, frappes and more: A (delicious) guide to frozen drinks
By KATIE WORKMAN Associated Press In the summer heat, we find ourselves drawn to that glorious section of the drinks menu that promises relief in the form of a cold, creamy, brain-freezing indulgence. But ordering a frozen drink looks different in different parts of the U.S., and in different restaurants and ice cream shops. So, what is […]
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Celebrity chef to headline 20th Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival
Chef Marcus Samuelsson will headline the 20th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, scheduled for Sept. 18-21 at Rosecliff and Marble House. Tickets for all festival events go on sale to the public today at 9 a.m. at www.newportmansions.org/events/newport-mansions-wine-food-festival-2025. The festival will feature 23 tasting seminars, the Vintner Dinner, Sunday Jazz Brunch, “Conversation with Marcus […]