The 33rd Annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival is in full swing this weekend on Bowen’s Wharf in Newport. Visitors are flocking to the historic wharf to enjoy the “Harvest of the Sea” under beautiful sunny skies. Running Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the festival offers a mouthwatering array of fresh, local […]
Food & Drink
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Karla and Brian Simmons are stepping away from Simmons Farm after 25 years
The current iteration of Simmons Farm is closing its doors on December 1, marking the end of a 25-year chapter for Brian and Karla Simmons. The couple shared the news on Facebook on October 19, pointing to family issues and a notice to end their tenancy as the main reasons for shutting down. “It’s with […]
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Empire Tea and Coffee to open third location in Newport
Empire Tea and Coffee, a Newport staple for two decades, plans to open a third location in Newport: a new cafe at 135 JT Connell Highway. Empire Tea & Coffee Logo CJ Barone, Managing Partner of Empire Tea & Coffee, cites increasing demand as the primary driver for expansion. “The demand for our products has […]
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Sardella’s to be inducted into Taste of Newport Hall of Fame
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. […]
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Fifth Element changing hands
The Fifth Element is changing hands once again. The restaurant announced the transition on Instagram Tuesday, expressing gratitude to its patrons and revealing plans to hand over the 111 Broadway location to a new operator. “We’re so thankful for your loyalty, support, and the great times we’ve shared over the past few years,” the post […]
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What’s in Season: Cucumber Hill Farm’s sugar pumpkins are no trick and all treat this Halloween
Aquidneck Islanders know how to have a good time in October, celebrating autumn and Halloween. The Norman Bird Sanctuary hosts their Harvest Fair, Escobar’s Farm corn maze opens for the season, and Quonset View Farm pivots from their PYO summertime strawberries to PYO jack-o’-lanterns in their extensive pumpkin patch. These fall festivities are iconic for […]
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‘Six Picks’ Fall treats – The best Apple Cider Donuts in Rhode Island
A beautiful fall weekend is the perfect time to visit farm stands around the region for apples, cider, pumpkin pie, and other delicious seasonal favorites. This week, we’ve selected a few that offer a popular treat, apple cider donuts. So get out and enjoy some area farms, bakeries, and other spots around the region this […]
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BrucePac recalls ready-to-eat meat and poultry products
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers not to consume nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by BrucePac. The recall is due to potential Listeria contamination. The recalled products were produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024, and were distributed nationwide to various establishments, including […]
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Rhode Island offers grants to boost local food system
Local food and seafood producers in Rhode Island can now apply for grant funding to support the growth and development of the local food system. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced that nearly $500,000 is available through the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grant program. Applications are open from October 1 […]
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Child & Family’s 41st Annual Taste of Newport to showcase local James Beard nominees
Child & Family Services of Rhode Island is bringing its signature fundraiser back to downtown Newport for the 41st year. The Taste of Newport, set for October 27th at the Newport Marriott Hotel and Spa, will feature five James Beard nominated chefs as honorary event co-chairs. Basil Yu of Yagi Noodles, Peter Carvelli of Foglia, […]
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Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival: A step above the rest, and where you can find the selections in Rhode Island
There are Wine & Food festivals; then there is the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival set amidst the stunning backdrop of Rosecliff on Bellevue Ave (Newport’s “Millionaire’s Row”). Considered one of the most beautiful houses in the world—and it’s certainly my favorite in Newport—Rosecliff has provided a formidable presence in the filming of the […]
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Track 15 Food Hall completes roster with Newport favorites and local stars
Track 15, the highly anticipated food hall in Providence, has revealed its complete merchant lineup, adding two final vendors to round out a diverse culinary offering. The $25 million project, set to open in February 2025, will feature seven Rhode Island-based restaurateurs in the renovated historic Union Station building. Little Chaska and Tolia join the […]
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Fungus Among Us: An underground Rhode Island society unites the mycologically curious
For many, “mushroom” holds no value beyond the plate. Mushrooms are an additive on pizzas, an umami star of some Asian dishes like ramen, egg rolls, and stir-fries, cooked into omelets, and considered a triumphant delicacy of haut cuisine when finely grated over pasta. Others might hear “mushroom” and think of home ownership worries, like […]
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Newport Vineyards celebrates apples and autumn with their inaugural Cider Fest
Newport Vineyards is brewing up something new: their inaugural Cider Festival that will take place Sunday, September 29, from 12-5 p.m. While of course “cider” is in the festival name, the celebration is open to all – drinking age or younger – who love fall. Live music will play all day from Straight Outta Rehab, […]
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Providence Warwick CVB awards community and industry leaders, hospitality heroes
The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) was joined Tuesday by Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley, special guests, and partners across the state for its annual meeting at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This year, it’s all in the details, as the PWCVB honored the hospitality heroes who continuously exceed […]
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What’s in Season: Red and green okra are in abundance at Anna D’s Backyard Farmer’s Market
Tucked behind Anna D’s Café – a staple in town for nearly twenty years – is Portsmouth’s very own farmer’s market. Of course, the town has roadside farm stands, some PYO’s, and CSA programs, but this is truly a collaborative effort between multiple farmers, producers, and makers who all come together and share a space […]
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Bowen’s Wharf to celebrate 33rd Annual Seafood Festival
The 33rd annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival will occur on October 19th and 20th, 2024, from 11 am to 6 pm. The festival, presented by Bank Newport, celebrates the bounty of the sea. It features fresh, local seafood such as fish tacos, lobster rolls, stuffies, chowder, fried calamari, clams, oysters, signature cocktails, and cold beer. […]
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Revive the Roots presents the fourth annual Rootstock festival in Smithfield
Revive the Roots, a nonprofit organization based in Smithfield, is dedicated to cultivating spaces where people and the environment thrive through sustainable practices, community building, and education. The organization stewards Mowry Commons, a unique 23-acre landscape that offers walking trails, sustainable agriculture fields, permaculture and pollinator gardens, and spaces to wash, store, and process the […]
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Potter League to host ‘Pints for Paws’ at Newport Craft Brewing
The Potter League for Animals has announced that it will host Pints for Paws, a fun-filled, dog-friendly event on September 28 from 1 – 4 pm at Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. Whether you’re a dog lover or enjoy great beer and food, this event promises to deliver an unforgettable afternoon—all while supporting a great cause. Pints for Paws, […]
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Ten local resturants will offer unique experiences during Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival
Exclusive dining and tasting experiences at 10 local restaurants will be offered as part of the upcoming 19th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival. Participating establishments include Cara Restaurant in The Chanler at Cliff Walk; The Torpedo Bar and Lounge at Newport Harbor Island Resort; GIUSTO Newport at Hammetts Hotel; Beech Restaurant in Jamestown; […]
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Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival to be featured on Cooking Channel’s ‘Carnival Eats’
The Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival is making waves across the country as it takes center stage on the Cooking Channel’s hit series “Carnival Eats” on Sunday, September 15 at 9 pm. Tune in to catch host Noah Cappe’s adventure through one of Rhode Island’s premier seafood celebrations in the heart of downtown Newport. The […]
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Benchmark Senior Living sponsors Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival
Benchmark Senior Living, New England’s largest senior living provider, will be the exclusive senior living sponsor of the 19th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival and showcase its culinary expertise there. The event, taking place Sept. 19-22, 2024, at Rosecliff in Newport, R.I., will feature celebrated Chef Jacques Pépin as the headliner. Benchmark’s participation […]
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Fruits From The Field: Newport Restaurant Group fundraiser y ields more than $3,000 for Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20th Birthday
Newport Restaurant Group (NRG) celebrated Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20th birthday in August with a special ‘fruits from the field’ fundraiser. From August 1st through August 31st, NRG restaurants Avvio (Cranston), Bar ‘Cino (Newport), and Waterman Grille (Providence) offered a special, locally grown tomato dish using produce from Farm Fresh and Greenview Farms. They donated $2.00 from each […]
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Rhode Island Hospitality Industry poised for growth in 2025
Rhode Island’s hospitality industry is poised for growth in 2025, despite ongoing economic challenges, according to experts at the RI Hospitality Association’s 21st Annual Economic Outlook Breakfast. The event, held Sept. 4 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, brought together industry professionals and leaders to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in the hospitality […]
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Just how rare is a rare-colored lobster? Scientists say answer could be under the shell
BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Orange, blue, calico, two-toned and … cotton-candy colored? Those are all the hues of lobsters that have showed up in fishers’ traps, supermarket seafood tanks and scientists’ laboratories over the last year. The funky-colored crustaceans inspire headlines that trumpet their rarity, with particularly uncommon baby blue-tinted critters described by some as “cotton-candy colored” […]