Tomorrow is 11/11/11, and while this interesting numerical alignment has snuck up on most folks, the crew over at Newport Storm has had it marked on the calendar for months. Back in February, all of Rhode Island’s professional brewers united at the Newport Storm Brewery with malt, hops, boots and buckets in tow to craft a one-of-a-kind collaboration beer to coincide with the brewery’s annual release.
Marshall Righter of Middletown’s Coddington Brewery, Dave Sniffen of Mohegan Café & Brewery on Block Island, Sean Larkin and Tom Tainsh of Trinity Brewhouse in Providence, Aaron Crossett of Union Station Brewery in Providence, and Derek Luke of Newport Storm were the players. Together they invented a brew fermented with a Belgian yeast strain with much of the hops contributed from local hopster start-up, Ocean State Hops. The beer's “Rhode Island Red” color is named in honor of the state’s unofficial mascot. To lend hints of oak, the brew was aged in Thomas Tew rum barrels and has been bottle-conditioned with local Aquidneck Honey since that date.
The unveiling of the “’11,” as its simply called, will be celebrated tomorrow, 11/11/11 at the Newport Storm Brewery at 293 JT Connell Road in Newport, where brews from all of the contributor’s breweries will be on tap. Tickets are an apropos $11 dollars and are available at www.NewportStorm.com.
Newport Storm ’11, Rhode Island's first collaboration beer, will be on sale in CT, MA, and RI liquor stores, as well as on draft at each of the aforementioned brewer’s establishments and select venues around Rhode Island. Cheers!
Today's guest blogger is Janine Weisman, award-winning editor of the Newport Mercury and longtime Restaurant Week supporter. Janine carries on the legacy of Ann Franklin (Ben's sister-in-law), who published the original Mercury with her son in 1758 which is considered to be the oldest newspaper in the country (and making Ann the first woman in the Colonies to publish and edit a newspaper). Here, Janine dishes on her long-awaited experience at Newport's well-known Restaurant Bouchard.
I had the Jennifer Grey seat at Restaurant Bouchard. And while Patrick Swayze may have objected to where the maître d' placed me in the far back corner, I certainly wasn’t complaining.
Truth is, I was lucky to have this warm and cozy table for two with my husband Larry on a chilly first Saturday night of Newport Restaurant Week. (I made the reservation 2 ½ weeks earlier.) A wait list totaling 40 hopefuls were on stand by in case of cancellations at this lower Thames Street landmark known for its casual French fare and tuxedoed wait staff. One of 55 participating restaurants in Newport Restaurant Week, Restaurant Bouchard seats 75-80 people but is booked solid every night of this 10-day foodie extravaganza. Sorry to disappoint you waiting list people, but there was no way Larry and I were going to miss out on a three-course dinner here for $30.
That price point is a fabulous value at Restaurant Bouchard when you consider the regular menu: a first course could cost anywhere from $6.75 to $20, entrees $18-$38.75 and a soufflé for dessert $10. I don’t know how Chef Albert Bouchard can do it but he makes it work. And it works so amazingly well, let me tell you. So glad we were to toast the imminent end of Daylight Saving Time with a sumptuous meal.
I won’t quibble with the fact our first courses came before the wine. We are patient people after all. Larry and I went with a bottle of Decoy cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley, dry and textured and a joy to swallow. It perfectly complemented Larry’s first course, the rich house pâté of duck, pheasant and chicken livers, and his second, a mouth-watering (OMG!) sirloin steak with classic Béarnaise sauce. Not so much for me since I started with the tower of cold shrimp over crunchy Brussels sprout slaw with a light tomato remoulade followed by the roasted cod with a sinfully rich chive beurre blanc and chunks of lobster meat. I could have gone with a glass of chardonnay but I love the idea of getting a bottle - the performance of the waiter opening it makes the meal all the more special. Plus we were glad to discover a delicious red we’d never tried before.
Dessert was almost too joyful for words, but I’ll try. Larry’s heavenly chocolate soufflé came with a Grand Marnier sauce - we loved that the waiter drizzled it over the soufflé at the table. My dining companion almost forgot to give me a taste ... ahem ... until I gently reminded him that the joy of dining out together and ordering different items off the menu was that we got to taste twice as many dishes. My almond praline cream puff was simply divine, layering fluffy over flaky. Definitely not a hand held cream puff, I would have French kissed it anyway had my utensils been missing. I ordered a decaf cappuccino and struggled to pace myself savoring it all with small bites. I think I liked my dessert better than Larry's, but then again, I didn’t have an adequate soufflé sample to truly make a sound determination. And darn I'll have to chance the waiting list to try again. Ah, well. C’est la vie.
Chef Albert Bouchard in the kitchen
We couldn’t be more excited to have partnered with Foodspotting to bring connected diners a fun, palate-pleasing contest! Foodspotting is the leading mobile app that acts as a visual guide to good food. It’s designed to answer the age old question, “Hey, what’s good to eat around here?” almost anywhere you go.
If you go to Foodspotting and search for Newport dishes, you’ll come up with a nice showing, but we’ve worked with the team over at Food spotting to create a specially designed Newport Restaurant Week Guide and contest, and here’s how it works: During Restaurant Week, November 4-13, diners can snap and upload images of their favorite dishes, add them to their “Foodspotting,” then submit images to the Newport Restaurant Week Guide (http://www.foodspotting.com/guides/3405-newport-restaurant-week). The “Foodspotter” whose image gets the most votes wins dinner for 4 at a participating Restaurant Week restaurant. (The photo with the 2nd most votes will win a dinner for two at a participating restaurant!)
Check out the Newport Restaurant Week Guide by clicking here (you’ll also find all the details, rules and regulations on there as well!) Bon appetit!
Family film buffs need to look no further than newportFILM’s November mini-fest this weekend for a pre-holiday delight that will put us all in the spirit of imagination and creativity. From a Friday night flick on football perfectly suited for any older child to adult, to a fantastic kid film on snowmen, school, and silly kid shenanigans, there is a little something suited for all the various ages and stages of kids and families about town.
On Friday: UNDEFEATED (PG-13) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater Got any little football lovers in the house? This “Friday Night Lights” type film documents the Manassas High Tigers, an inner-city Memphis football team that has seen it’s share of hardship and challenges in past. Unfolding a full season, from the first kick-off to the final game, families will be moved by this film’s passion, the coach’s compassion, and the team’s undeniable perseverance and youthful spirit. It'll make a great family night out with any child who loves this sport, or date night! (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Saturday Day: SNOWMEN (PG) 1pm, Jane Pickens Theater Three cheers for a kid film full of enthusiasm, and remembering to make the children the main characters! This heartfelt film will leave the kids giggling and the parents smiling. Smartly written, the film follows three elementary aged boys on a mission to gain some notoriety in town (school) through building snowmen and capturing a new Guinness World Record. All the typical mayhem of bullies, to a crush, to a mentor follow suit, but the real spirit lies in the film’s main character, a boy who believes in himself and everyone around him. A smart (and always welcomed) lesson that each child will take home with them…that, and the gleeful anticipation of setting their own records!
Saturday Night: BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY (Unrated Documentary) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater This documentary has gotten a lot of buzz (and awards) in the film industry! Being Elmo tells the tale of the man, Kevin Clash, behind the lovable red puppet. Come spend an evening inspired by how one boy’s dream of becoming a puppeteer and working with Jim Henson, came true. You’ll be just as captivated by Kevin as your children are by Elmo. With an impressive list of actors, and behind the scenes glimpse at all that create the magical world of Sesame Street, this film is a great family night out for an older child, a puppeteer in the making, and parents alike. (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Keep posted on newportFILM events by visiting their web site here and stay on top of these and other family happenings in and around Newport by visiting Newport Connext here.
We are delighted to welcome guest blogger David Dadekian today, founder of eatdrinkRI.com, and an accomplished writer and photographer, who shares his experience at Warren’s own Trafford Restaurant in advance of Newport Restaurant Week. The 10-day event kicks off Friday and runs through November 13. Read more of David’s gourmet gallivanting at eatdrinkRI.com
Newport Restaurant Week (NRW) begins anew this Friday, November 4, at over 55 restaurants in Newport & Bristol Counties. Diners at participating restaurants get to enjoy three-course lunches for $16, and three-course dinners for $30 through November 13. In talking with the NBCCVB about this year's NRW, we decided to do something a little more interesting than just writing about the events and listing restaurants. Here we have a sneak preview of some items on the NRW menu at Trafford, a restaurant at 285 Water Street in Warren that's not only a NRW first-timer, but also almost brand new, having opened a little over four months ago.
This is not a full review by any means, but some first impressions and descriptions of Trafford's three-course dinner items. My wife and I were guests of the CVB for this meal, but this visit was an excellent overall experience and we agreed we would gladly return to sample other dishes.
Trafford is housed in beautiful building on the river in Warren. They have a deck overlooking the river and I would imagine it's a perfect place to sit during the summer. Parking shouldn't be a problem, even in the busy season, as they offer complimentary valet. The interior is nicely designed in lots of light wood with really cool flooring—very tastefully appropriate. The menu has a good number of choices on it and does change often to keep it fresh and refle
ct what is seasonal. We didn't see a kid’s menu, however the restaurant had several tables full of families with children on a Friday evening so it was clear the restaurant is family-friendly. It's also very adult-friendly with a full bar upstairs serving some great cocktails and a nice list of wines-by-the-glass.
So what about the food? We were served dishes that will be on the NRW menu, and are also regular menu items. The starters we tried included the Mussels Frites which may have been my favorite. The fries were perfectly cooked and the aioli drizzled on top was a perfect complement, not only to the fries themselves, but also to the mussels and the really great cooking liquid in the bowl. Make sure you ask for some extra bread to sop up all the good bits in the bowl. Speaking of bread, the rolls given as bread service are very good and served with olive oil.
We also were served cups of New England Clam Chowder and Butternut Squash Soup. Both were excellent, with a special nod from me toward the Butternut Squash Soup, not only because you can't get it year round, but also because Trafford's version was so flavorful and silky smooth. The entrées we had were the Chicken Marsala with apples, mushrooms and mashed potatoes and the Veal Zurichoise which was served with a cognac cream sauce, roasted potatoes and mushrooms. The apples and mushrooms sautéed with the chicken were evocative of fall and added a nice sweet-tart flavor to the chicken and the perfectly cooked mashed potatoes. The veal was a wonderful overall dish with a hint of the cognac flavor and richness of the cream working beautifully with the roasted vegetables.
Desserts included strawberry shortcake and a coffee crème brûlée. I'll admit to not paying attention when I cracked my spoon into the crème brûlée and
was very pleasantly surprised to find what I had thought was a berry on top was actually a chocolate covered espresso bean. That was a very nice touch and a great treat. The strawberry shortcake had a light, delicious shortcake with great whipped cream and lots of strawberries, what can be wrong with any of that?
One last note about our Trafford experience, the service was fantastic. Our server Jane was very attentive and helpful. I always appreciate any server who thinks ahead that we'll want more bread with a bowl of mussels. In general the room looked very well covered by all the staff. In addition to Trafford and the other participating restaurants, there are events taking place throughout NRW, click here for a listing.
The week wraps with an unforgettable grand finale: the Taste of Newport, a culinary extravaganza benefiting Child & Family, the largest and most comprehensive social service provider in Newport County. Check GoNewportRestaurantWeek.com for complete information.
To stay on top on happenings throughout Rhode Island's food community, visit eatdrinkRI.com.
“The sea captain has returned from his mysterious journey, and brought back a creepy crew of gray faced ghouls and walking dead goons….ooooh!” I creepily whispered to my six-year-old and his best pal as we passed two (very friendly) men caked in impressive zombie makeup. To my delight, the Newport Yachting Center has been eerily transformed into three clearly sectioned haunted adventures called The Haunted Shipyard.
The Haunted Pier 23 (where all the zombies hail) is too scary for any kids under the age of ten, and parents should decide if their child could handle this eerie tour for the older ones, but the “Lights-On” Spooky Wharf is perfect for 2-8 year-olds ready for a sweet, simple, and playful treat.
The kid tent is a NON-SCARY tent with six activity stations ranging from the Witches Brew, to Pirate Digging, to Alligator Pond, along with Sully the fuzzy blue monster from Monsters
, Inc. Each activity is joyfully rewarded with a treat for the kid’s goody bags that they are handed upon entering. I noted the 2-5-year-olds really enjoyed the pirate digging, witches brew, and decorating masks. Meanwhile, the 6+ crew thoroughly enjoyed the candy rewards of each activity and the bumper boats, where they can slam and smack into each other at a simple puttering speed…tons of giggles!
For the older (I’d say elementary age) kids, head across to the third tent called The Armory…a.k.a. the Zombie Hunt. This space resembles something straight out of a Wii combat zone; it’s pretty darn cool. After meeting the targeted zombie and werewolf, my son was game for getting behind the appointed partition area, wearing his safety mask, and shooting pink paint pellets at his moving targets. To my delight, the safety and expertise on hand allowed this nervous mom to enjoy such a big-kid moment. And oh boy, did those kids love this activity!
Top off your night with a quick bite at the Creepy Canteen (the bloody aprons are fantastic), a drink for the parents (yes, please) at the Boo Bar, and I’d say you’ve had a gruesomely good evening!
The Haunted Shipyard at the Newport Yachting Center continues tonight through Halloween. Click here for hours, tickets and prices.
Lauren Beckham Falcone, former Boston Herald columnist and current on-air personality from WROR's "Loren & Wally Show,” was recently whisked away by her (wildly romantic!) husband for a weekend sojourn in Newport to celebrate her 40th birthday. Leaving all their worries (read: children) behind, the couple enjoyed two days of dining, mansions, martinis, enjoying the sites and soaking up some of the best Newport has to offer. Local stops included Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina, Clarke Cooke House, the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, Newport Vineyards, Castle Hill, Salve Regina, the Newport Mansions—even a Bird’s Eye View Helicopter tour!
Read her refreshingly honest blog that had us in hysterics (and check her out at Aquidneck Lobster Company hoisting up this larger than life lobster)!
We hope you visit Newport again soon, Lauren!
It’s that time of year again, for those of you who are brave and daring, to celebrate the spirit and spookiness of Halloween in Newport. The Haunted Shipyard and Fortress of Nightmares will both be taking place this weekend and Halloween weekend. 
The Haunted Shipyard is officially open for some seriously scary business. The Newport Yachting Center invites guests to meet the tortured soles of Pier 23 on an interactive, theatre-style tour of the once productive shipyard. A former dockhand will guide groups as he grudgingly tells the horrid history of how the shipyard turned evil. For the little ones (and me), “The Spooky Wharf” offers plenty of G-rated activities that will not cause nightmares. This lights-on tent includes family fun recommended for children under 10. Grab a bite to eat at the Creepy Canteen or quench your thirst with a calming cocktail or soda at the Boo Bar. Kids can also decorate a monster mask or search for buried treasure, while older adventurers can save the world from a zombie attack in the paintball shooting range.
If you’re not spooked yet, head over to Historic Fort Adams for the Fortress of Nightmares. Enter the Tunnels of Terror (at your own risk) where you will be guided through a dark maze of tunnels that will bring you face-to-face with the lost souls of Fort Adams. Afterwards, join the Rhode Island Paranormal Research Group, the oldest continuously operating paranormal research group in New England, on a guided Ghost Hunt where you will be able to search for the paranormal using specialized instruments.
I think I’ll stick to pumpkin carving…
A few of us from the CVB headed over the Outdoor Leadership Center at the Newport YMCA recently as we had heard how empowering it can be for quite some time.
First, our group of seven participated in a series of icebreakers and low ropes events led by Outdoor Leadership Director Brian Crea, which included trust building and teamwork exercises that were as fun as they were energizing. Then, after being educated on safety procedures of group belay (that's climber speak!), we were ready to take on the High Ropes Course.
The goal? To climb about 45-feet in the air, disembark and regroup onto a wire, and cross the wire to another pole about 40-50 feet away by using a series of ropes and your own strength (and courage!).
It’s fair to say we were experiencing a number of emotions as we put on our harnesses and helmets—excitement, anticipation, adrenaline, oh, and don’t forget sheer terror. With Brian’s skilled guidance and the team's encouragement, we conquered the course, one step, shimmy or leap at a time, and walked away with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. The truth is, once you've climbed to the top, fear takes a backseat to both determination and the incredible 180-degree views of Newport, Middletown, and the awe-inspiring sigt of the Atlantic Ocean shimmering in the early autumn sun. Our next adventure was the zip line, which took a leap of faith and sense of adventure, and concluded in a boatload of laughs!
The Center, which is open to both children and adults, is the perfect outing for groups of friends and family, school and corporate groups. The program is specifically designed to “foster communication, breakdown barriers, build trust, develop problem-solving skills, and create an exciting and fun experience.” We think the photo of the CVB’s Anne R. and Susan P. above right says it all. For information on rates and available booking times, please contact Associate Executive Director Mike Miller (), Outdoor Leadership Director Brian Crea () or call (401) 847-9200.
As a transplant to Newport, I am convinced that the residents of Aquidneck Island reside here because of all the community involvement the spectacular views, and the plethora of ongoing local activity such as Saturday’s the Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour. This family event is a glowing spectacle full of local involvement. Many of our little tikes and students at local schools carve the showcased pumpkins themselves. Not sure you’ll find your way? No worries, just listen for the sound of children talking excitedly about all the varying shapes and designs they see gleaming back at them on this jogging-stroller friendly trail. If you haven’t gone before, I guarantee that yo
ur whole family will not only have a great time, but you will bump into someone you know-its just that type of event. From children to adults, this evening is one of community, creativity, and Halloween spirit.
The 9th Annual Ballard Park Tour begins at 4:30pm and ends at 9:00pm (rain or shine--so those Wellies might come in handy). Do not shy away if you have early to bed tikes; the woods produce just enough low light to allow the little kids to have the most wonderful time.
After the tour, walk across to Rogers High School for some more family fun, and a great haunted house hosted by our local teens…Its sure to be a scream of a good time!
Ballard Park is located across the street from Rogers High School, in Newport, on the corner of Hazard & Wickham Roads, 401-619-3377.
Learn about more local events, moms to watch, easy seasonal recipes and more by visiting Alexandra's momtastic website, NewportConnext!
Photo courtesy BallardPark.org