Newport Restaurant Week is back and better than ever! For those of us who enjoy dining out but are on a budget, there’s really nothing that tops three-course dinners at some of the area’s finest eateries for $30 a person.
I admit, I rarely leave Aquidneck Island. But when I do, it is well worth the trip over the Mount Hope Bridge. I recently had the opportunity to dine at DeWolf Tavern, located on the Thames Street Landing in the heart of historic Bristol. Housed in a picturesque stone warehouse with a gorgeous view of the water, the ambience is cozy, warmly lit and all the while maintains the essence of the historic building.
Seated next to the fireplace, which felt divine on a chilly evening, my dining partner and I perused DeWolf’s menu – a veritable feast of contemporary American cuisine with an Indian flare.
For our first course, I chose the soup de jour – a harvest bisque. Smooth and savory, it was like experiencing all my favorite things about autumn in a spoonful. Butternut squash, apples, spices and more, perfectly blended into a sweet and savory bowl. My partner opted for the other soup of the evening - the seafood chowder, that she described as perfectly creamy and a must for any seafood lover.
I’m a firm believer that there are few things in life that are better than a perfectly cooked steak. For that reason, I chose the petite filet mignon for my main course.
Cooked to an impeccable medium temperature, the filet was topped with a mouthwatering sauce of beef short ribs that were braised in cumin and coke, and topped with a subtle hint of blue cheese and frisee. The steak was accompanied by fluffy mashed potatoes and a yummy seasonal vegetable.
My dining partner opted for seafood again, and chose the tandoori marinated swordfish. Cooked in a tandoor--a cylindrical clay oven often used in south Asia, the swordfish was wonderfully complimented with the accompanying cranberry couscous.
To end the evening, we shared our desserts: a creamy espresso crème brule topped with chocolate covered espresso beans and a Sticky Toffee Pudding with
warm caramel rum sauce and vanilla ice cream. Just the right amounts of sweetness, the desserts were the perfect end to an incredible meal.
Suffice it to say, our memorable dining experience at DeWolf Tavern will have us crossing over the bridge again and will keep us coming back for more.
Read more of Meg's reporting in Newport This Week, on newsstands every Thursday throughout Newport and Middletown, and on Newport-Now.com.
I can’t begin to describe how thrilled I am that Newport Restaurant Week is back this week (Nov. 2-11). As a restaurant-obsessed college student, I have found that dining out on a budget can be more than challenging, especially in Newport. With $16 prix fixe lunches, and $30 three course dinners, Newport Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience local eateries across Aquidneck Island without breaking the bank.
Castle Hill is the first stop on my list for lunch destinations. Located off of Newport’s famous Ocean Drive, I have only dreamt of finally being able to eat inside this elegant inn. Later in the week, I plan on heading over to America’s oldest tavern, The White Horse Tavern. Their flat iron steak with organic mushroom risotto and bread pudding for dessert sounds like the perfect fall lunch.
For dinner, I plan on checking out Fluke Wine Bar & Kitchen on Bowen’s Wharf for some great seafood offerings. From crispy oysters to coconut shrimp for starters and fresh Atlantic cod for an entrée, I don’t think I will have any problem getting my seafood fix. Salvation Café on Broadway is another restaurant that I have been dying to eat at. Their roasted cauliflower bisque, teriyaki salmon and pumpkin panna cotta for dessert sounds delicious. Salvation also has a great selection of vegan options that will be greatly appreciated by my vegetarian roommates.
You can start making your own restaurant wish list after checking out the participating restaurants and their menus at (gonewportrestaurantweek.com)! Make your reservations soon, this is not an opportunity that you want to miss, trust me!
Meredith Mason is a junior at Salve Regina University in Newport and is interning at Discover Newport in the marketing department for the fall semester.
The Newport Visitors Center is open! Having been spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, the lights are on and the staff is ready to help you discover Newport and our surrounding coastal communities. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Muesum is open and The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff and Chateau-sur-Mer will open today at 12 p.m. We'll be posting on our Facebook page and Twitter account with updates throughout the day.
Our thoughts are with the people in those destinations who are dealing with greater damages.
Friday, Oct. 26th 2012—Like the majority of coastal cities along the East Coast, officials in Newport and across Rhode Island are continuing to monitor the trek of Hurricane Sandy using information from the National Weather Service, NOAA, and other weather agencies.
As of now, we expect our Newport Visitors Center at 23 America’s Cup Avenue to maintain normal hours this weekend, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will update this information should it change.
For up to the minute storm related information, advisories specific to your destination and citizen emergency information, please visit www.riema.ri.gov and keep informed through radio and television broadcasts.
Sure, the cool, crisp fall air has officially settled into our neck of the woods, and though we’ve bid adieu to tan lines and 80
degree weather, that doesn’t mean our local outdoor adventures are put on hold. Fall in Newport and Bristol Counties provides plenty of activities to get the whole family outdoors!
For those who enjoy breathtaking views of the Newport landscape, take a stroll on one of the city’s most famous attractions: the Cliff Walk. The 3.5 mile walk winds its way along the rocky New England coast and past the well-known mansions of the Gilded Age. For spectacular views of Narragansett Bay, Newport Harbor and the Pell Bridge check out the Bay Walk at Fort Adams State Park.
If walking is a little slow paced for your liking, why not rent a bike to explore the island? Start at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown and make your way past Second and First Beach then up through downtown Newport. For cyclists searching for a longer bike route, the famous Ten Mile Drive, better known as “Ocean Drive,” combines miles of shoreline, public parks and historic summer “cottages.” This is also an ideal time of year to ride all or part of the 14-mile, tree-lined East Bay Bike Path, which stretches from Providence to Bristol along the Narragansett Bay shoreline.
But adventures don't always have to get the heart pumping. It's an amazing time of year to experience our local wineries as the autumnal harvest is peaking and the plump grapes that grace our vines are beautiful and will soon yield a fine vintage. Click here for local wineries and breweries.
From corn mazes to pumpkin picking, the farms in Portsmouth and Middletown offer traditional fall activities for the whole family. Check out a list of local farms here.
Celebrities are taking full advantage of how perfect Newport is this time of year! Just last weekend, author/crafter/publisher Martha Stewart arrived in the City-by-the-Sea to visit good friends and enjoyed her time outdoors strolling Cliff Walk and visiting the International Yacht Restoration School—two signature Newport experiences which she shared on her blog here and here.
Earlier this month, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara soaked up the rays at Castle Hill and this past weekend, singer, dancer and television personality Paula Abdul took in a Newport Polo match at Glen Farm in Portsmouth. The former American Idol judge watched Team Italy take on Team USA (even though it was Italy’s debut on the grounds, the home team won!). This weekend, the New England Challenge takes place at the polo grounds. For schedule and ticket information, click here.
If you didn’t get a chance to catch a glimpse of these stars, don’t fret. There will be another opportunity to see some famous faces this weekend! Two of sailing’s most famous skippers will be in town for the 2012 12 Metre North American Championships raced on Rhode Island Sound (history repeating itself!). Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner will compete against “Mr. America’s Cup,” Dennis Conner in what promises to be some heated (but friendly) competition.
This weekend's Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival is also bringing the star-power! World renowned chefs Emeril Lagasse and father-daughter duo Jacques and Claudine Pépin will headline the festival with
Emeril making his first-ever festival appearance at a cooking demonstration and book signing on Sunday, September 23, at Marble House. Chef Jacques returns to the festival this Saturday, September 22, for brunch with twenty lucky diners at the Marble House along with his daughter, Claudine.
Keep your eyes open--you don’t want to miss your chance at a celebrity sighting!
There's a reason why dining hot spots in Newport and Bristol County have been featured on programs including Good Morning America, TODAY, Giada's Weekend Getaways with Giada De Laurentiis, Road Tasted with the Neelys', $40 a Day with Rachel Ray and in countless programs, newspapers and magazines across the globe. In addition to our diverse restaurants (buttery lobster roll from a shanty clam shack? We got that. Critically-acclaimed, James Beard-nominated chefs? Check. Pubs serving a fine burger and a beer? Done and done.),there's a whole calendar of food and wine related events on the horizon. Consider planning your next stay around one of these appetite-enticing happenings:
ONGOING: Newport Gourmet Tours: Two chef-led tours visit beloved kitchens and artisan food makers throughout
Newport. The first tours Newport’s Broadway neighborhood, a bustling thoroughfare with new restaurants and old favorites, the other is of tony Bellevue Avenue: www.zerve.com/NewportFoods
ONGOING: Newport Cooks! (cooking classes featuring leading local chefs). Contact , or call the Newport Cooks! hotline 401.293.0740
9/5, 12, 19 & 26: Dockside New England Lobster Boil and Sunset Sail on Schooner Aurora. Dinner: 5pm-6:30pm, sailing 6:30-8pm, www.newportexperience.com
9/21 – 9/23: Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival featuring Emeril Lagasse & Jacques Pépin: www.newportmansions.org/events/wine-and-food-festival
9/27: Frog's Leap Wine Dinner at Muse by Jonathan Cartwright: 5 Course Dinner with the famous Winery Frog's Leap: www.vanderbiltgrace.com/restaurant-events.php
10/6 - 10/7: International Oktoberfest at the Newport Yachting Center featuring a spirited International Biergarten, authentic Austro-German cuisine, nationally-acclaimed bands, dance troupes and yodelers, and two stages hosting German entertainment all day long: www.newportwaterfrontevents.com/international-oktoberfest
10/13 – 10/14: Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival: www.bowenswharf.com/bowens_wharf_events.html
10/20: The Newport Food Truck Festival at the Newport Yachting Center: foodtruckfestivalsofne.com/newport-fest-info/
11/2 – 11/11: Newport Restaurant Week: www.gonewportrestaurantweek.com
“Eating with the Ecosystem” featuring Tallulah in Thames in Newport this November: eatingwiththeecosystem.org/Dinner_series_2012.html
I am so excited for the dinner I am going to on August 21st at The Smoke House in Newport. We are in the dog days of summer here in Rhode Island and what better way to beat the heat than at a BBQ dinner with each course paired with Newport Storm beer!
There are different themes for every beer pairing dinner, which keeps things fresh and interesting. Past events include Polynesian BBQ, Asian Style, All Beef, and the Mighty Pig. The theme for this month is Flying off the Grill! Intrigued? Here is the menu for the event. Cue eyes rolling into the back of your head with delight. (Hello, smoked turkey legs with a cranberry BBQ sauce!) For more info, click here.
If you’re looking to savor our locally crafted beer with a few thousand new friends, sail on over (via Harbor Shuttle) to the 4th Annual Newport Storm Luau at Fort Adams on Saturday, August 17.
The biggest event of its kind in the region, the luau is jammed-packed with live entertainment, Polynesian fare, and of course, Newport Storm beer and Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum cocktails! Rock out to great local music, hit up the beach volleyball court, take up a round of bocce and take guided tours of historic Fort Adams. (For details, click here).
POST DINNER UPDATE
This dinner's theme was Flying Off the Grill, which included courses paired with a specific Newport Storm beer that compliments the flavors in the dish, with one of the founders of Newport Storm brewery speaking about each pairing.
We started the night off with my table's hands down favorite dish, the duck wings (like chicken wings but bigger and slathered in orange Amber Ale dipping sauce).They were super tender, juicy, and sticky. I need to recreate this dish.
The second course was by far one of the largest turkey legs I have ever seen, served with a cranberry barbecue sauce. Picture being in Disney World and watching patrons walking around the Magic Kingdom eating turkey legs the size of their faces. Please tell me you have seen this? It was smoky, juicy and the sauce may have been one of the best barbecue sauces I have had in my life—maybe it is because it contained the Newport Storm Cyclone Series, Sabrina, that was paired with this course. I was full but there was so much food to come!
The third course was a Cornish game hen with a shiitake mushroom duxelles. The hen was smoked in the on-site smoker at the Smoke House, convincing me I might need to invest in a smoker because the meat was so tender and flavorful. The mushrooms were a high point in the dish because they was so luscious. This delicious hen was paired with Ursula, a delicious pale ale part of a limited release series.
This amazing meal was topped off with a cheeky spin on an ice cream float. Delicious coffee gelato was paired with Newport Storm’s Tim Dunkelweiss. I would have never thought to pair beer and ice cream to make a float but what a treat! It was delicious, and to make it even better, it was garnished with a bird-shaped shortbread cookie! So cute, so buttery, so delicious.
The next dinner is on October 13th and it is the last of the season. This meal was worth double what they are charging so if you like beer and you like amazing food, then make sure you are at last Smoke House/Newport Storm dinner. For more information call 401.848.9800.
The price for this dinner is $42 per person + gratuity.
Read about Leanne’s culinary adventures at 22 Bowen’s, Perro Salado the Blue Plate Diner, and follow her blog, Around the Table RI for savory recipes and fun food finds!
Summer is in full swing, and enjoying Newport’s view from the tallest points is a must-do for those looking for a unique view coupled with a refreshing libation.
The historic Hotel Viking offers an one-of-a-kind vista from their Top of Newport bar. Located at the hotel’s roof deck, Top of Newport has it all - the panoramic view, a menu full of appetizers, seafood, and barbecue favorites, a wide variety of creative cocktails, and entertainment on select nights.
Wednesdays from 6-8pm is “Spirits & Stogies” night, which for $35 allows guests to sample selected spirits with cigar pairings chosen by Jessica Levine of Cigar Masters. Live music lights up the bar Fridays are Saturdays from 5-9pm. The Vini Ames Trio plays a variety of music every Friday and The Islanders perform hits from the 50s through the 80s every Saturday. Whether you are looking to meet friends for cocktails, have a relaxing dinner with a view, or enjoy some live entertainment on a summer night, Top of Newport promises to deliver. To keep up to date with all current event information, follow Hotel Viking on Twitter at @HotelViking.
Where else in the world can you see more than 200 surfboards, including 1930s classics, the latest designs, and a legendary heiress’s board? At Surf Fest, hosted at Doris Duke’s Rough Point Mansion on famed Bellevue Avenue as part of the After Dark series! Surf Fest will feature shapers demoing their craft and classic footage of Newport surfers will be on view. Miss Duke was an avid surfer and learned from the best, celebrated Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku.
Enjoy the ocean view, cash bar, music and food at New England’s only vintage surfboard show, curated by surfing legend Sid Abruzzi.
Surf Fest takes place Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 from 4 to 7pm each day. Tickets $10. Advance ticket purchase suggested and are available at Rough Point, Water Brothers at www.NewportRestoration.org
Rough Point is located at 680 Bellevue Avenue in Newport.