Newport Waterfront Events

Stay tuned for details on 2010 Taste of Rhode Island as the N.W.E. team puts together a tasty line-up of live music, local fare and family fun! For now, check out our friends from last year's festivities.

What’s on our Menu?

Taste of Rhode Island captures the cultural quirkiness of Rhode Island that endears it to travelers and locals alike. Here’s a taste of what’s on our menu this year:

What's Happening
Who's Who
2009 Winners


	Rhody Recipe Contest Got a hit recipe that’s delicious, quirky, and distinctly Rhode Island? The call went out for you to submit your favorite Rhody Recipes for the chance to cook live with the cast of The Rhode Show, and the response was tremendous! Congratulations Meg Zupan and Doug Pierson for they are this year’s Rhody Recipe winners! Meg Zupan will be cooking live her favorite recipe, Clams with Sopressata on Saturday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm with Shawn Tempesta, co-host of The Rhode Show. Doug Pierson will be cooking live his favorite recipe, South County Savory Shrimp Scampi on Sunday, October 4th at 5:00 pm with Elizabeth Hopkins, co-host of The Rhode Show. Click here to view the recipe instructions.

	The Rhode Island Shore Dinner Hall Bring your appetite for seaside favorites like clam cakes, lobster rolls, shrimp cocktail, a bay-fresh raw bar including shucked oysters and clams, chowders, a clam bake in a bowl, and more.

	Rhode Island BBQ Spectacular (R.I.B.S.) Rhode Island BBQ Spectacular (R.I.B.S.) Savor the best of BBQ and grilling in this sizzlin’ section! Dry-rubbed or slathered in special sauce – be it beef, pork, chicken, seafood or grilled pizza - you’re sure to be back for seconds.

	NEW “Fork in the Rhode” Tent World travel all under one tent! Get a taste of Rhody’s diverse ethnic communities with street foods, family-style staples, decadent desserts and so much more.

	The Waterfront Wine Garden Be sure to toast our newly expanded Wine Garden, featuring wines from Mirassou, Frei Brothers, Whitehaven, Martin Codax and Maso Canali – there is a wine for every palate at this year’s event. Mariola Varona, Export Manager for Martin Codax, will be on-hand from Spain to share her wine knowledge with tastings and pairings throughout the weekend.

	“Favorite Taste of R.I.” Competition What’s a festival without a little competition? Once you’ve tried each taste of Rhode Island, cast your vote for the most delicious dish in the “Favorite Taste of R.I.” Competition. The winner gets bragging rights for many years to come!

	Amica Family Fun Area Take a break from eating and see what Amica Insurance has in store for you at the Amica Family Fun Area. Stop by “Club Amica” for a Caribbean experience! Come play the Amica tropical shuffle board and win fun prizes! In addition, children will also have a chance to get in the culinary spirit by decorating chefs’ hats.

	Meet the Cast of The Rhode Show The cast of The Rhode Show, Rhode Island’s only local news, lifestyle and entertainment program, will be on-hand at the Stop & Shop Taste of Rhode Island! Come by and meet the people behind these familiar Rhody faces, and be sure to catch a new episode of The Rhode Show every weekday at 8am, only on FOX Providence!

	Oyster and Beer Shucking Competitions Watch in amazement as contestants compete in a test of speed and accuracy to shuck trays of oysters, hosted by Charles from WHJY. Then watch the bottle caps fly as contestants pry through The Beer Shucking Competition.

	Oyster Slurp-Off Slurp as fast you can is the motto of this contest. Hosted by WHJY’s Paul Fuller and Kevin Mulhern, the fastest slurper of 24 oysters will take home cash prizes & more!

	The Cookbook Corner Take your time perusing favorite recipes from the Ocean State and beyond at our very own Cookbook Corner. Local authors will discuss their favorite recipes, techniques, and influences from their latest cookbooks. Joining us this year are Joe Zito of the “TV Maitre D’ Cookbook,” Keith Tavares of the “Taste of Newport” cookbook, Linda Beaulieu of “The Providence and RI Cookbook: Big Recipes From the Smallest State,” Kathy Kanerviko of The Junior League of Rhode Island’s "Windows" cookbook, and many more!

	Culinary Demonstrations Hone your kitchen prowess with continuous culinary demonstrations, including: - Portfolio Presentation Each Day with Mariola Varona of Martin Codax Wine - Sam Adams Beer Educational Sessions - Food and Beverage Pairings - Oyster Farming and Harvesting Presentations - Continuous Cooking Demonstrations on the Stop & Shop Culinary Stage

	SHAWN TEMPESTA, ELIZABETH HOPKINS & VINCE DEMENTRI ANCHORS, FOX PROVIDENCE’S THE RHODE SHOW The cast of The Rhode Show, Rhode Island’s only local news, lifestyle and entertainment program, will be on-hand at the Stop & Shop Taste of Rhode Island! Come by and meet the people behind these familiar Rhody faces, and be sure to catch a new episode of The Rhode Show every weekday at 8am, only on FOX Providence!

	CHEF TIMOTHY MULLIGAN EXECUTIVE CHEF, HILTON CORPORATION Timothy Mulligan has been in the food industry for over 36 years, training under several notable chefs from throughout New England. He began his career as Sous Chef at Archie’s Tavern in Pawtucket, RI under the direction of Sebastian “Sabby” Labao, the original chef from the exclusive Toronto Hilton. Chef Tim went on to work at “Twin Oaks”, “Harborside Lobstermania”, and Lake Pearl “Lucianos.” He is currently the Executive Chef at the Hilton Garden Inn in Warwick, RI. After many requests Chef Timothy finally agreed to hire out as a personal chef, Delighting many private small and large groups for over five years. His passion is cooking and this is demonstrated in his sauté dishes, homemade soups, sauces, and marinades from a wide variety of food genres. Chef Timothy’s personality comes through in everything he creates. His main focus is to have people walk away from his dining experience with a tantalized palate, new menu ideas, and a renewed sense of the enjoyment of cooking.

	MARIOLA VARONA EXPORT MANAGER, BODEGAS MARTÍN CÓDAX Mariola Varona was born in the coastal city of Ferrol in the Northwest corner of Spain on September 2, 1973. Ferrol has long been an important port city for the autonomous community of Galicia. In the 17th Century it boasted the most important naval arsenal in Europe; today it is the seat of the Spanish Navy’s Maritime Department of the North. Mariola’s father worked for the Spanish Navy while her mother had a bookshop in town. [ READ MORE ]

The results are in! Congratulations to all the competitors that earned a taste of victory at this year’s event:

	Oyster Slurp-Off Congratulations to Will Davis of Cumberland, Rhode Island, winner of the Oyster Slurp-Off! Will had no previous slurping experience, save for a batch of practice oysters that he honed his skills on in the days leading up to the event. Working his way thru 24 Matunuck Oysters to a tie, Will fired down a fast dozen in a head-to-head heat to secure the coveted title of Taste of Rhode Island Oyster Slurp-Off Champion!

	Oyster Shucking Competition Congratulations to Ed Bolus of Clark’s Summit, Pennsylvania. A 2004 Johnson & Wales graduate currently working at Mill’s Tavern in Providence, RI, Ed outshucked the competition in a frenzied battle of dexterity to walk away as this year’s Oyster Shucking Champ!

	“Favorite Taste of R.I.” Competition The people have spoken... Check back soon to find out who earned the ultimate honor of being chosen by public vote as this year’s Favorite Taste of Rhode Island!

	Matunuck Oyster Bar Many thanks to the Matunuck Oyster Bar, of East Matunuck, Rhode Island! Led by founder Perry Raso, the Matunuck Team and their arsenal of irresistible half-shells did a phenomenal job of manning the bay-fresh raw bar and orchestrating the Oyster Slurp-Off and Shucking Competitions. Find out more about this Rhody treasure at oceanstateaquafarm.com!