Food trucks, celebrity chefs left their marks

In some ways it seems as though it just arrived. In other ways it seemed it would never end. Whatever point of view you have on 2014, the year in food, wine and restaurants in our dining-destination state had some memorable moments. While there was no one single defining moment that this year will be remembered for, the cumulative effect of a number of notable events made the year a significant one.
There was a respectable number of visiting celebrity chefs to our state during the year. Some cooked with colleagues, others performed on a cooking stage. Martha Stewart was probably the biggest name in food to come to Rhode Island during the year. She appeared at the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival in late September. Also on the bill was longtime favorite Sara Moulton and Italian food merchant and author Lou DiPalo.
Up-and-coming chef Mark Ladner of New York’s famed Del Posto brought a new gluten-free pasta concept to Johnson & Wales University. Celebrity dining of a different kind was in the spotlight in late August when President Barack Obama paid a four-hour visit to Newport to speak at a fundraiser at a private home. The president and guests had dinner prepared by Providence chef and restaurateur John Elkhay
The American Culinary Federation Northeast Regional Conference in April brought more than 500 chefs, cooks and food-service professionals to Warwick and Providence.
In the fall, foodie travelers gathered in Providence and elsewhere in the state for the Taste Trekkers convention. Food trucks lined up in Newport for an autumn weekend event that had a bittersweet taste. The Newport Food Truck Festival was the final event ever to be held at the Newport Yachting Center. The latter was sold last year to developers who have discontinued the music events and food festivals, including the Chowder Cook-Off that had been held for decades.
Last year may be remembered for the corralling of the steakhouse stampede in the state. At year’s end, Capital Grille was settled into its new digs in the former location of Ruth’s Chris. On Federal Hill, Providence Prime morphed into a more casual menu driven concept as Federal Taphouse & Kitchen. The number of Providence steakhouses now stands at four – Shula’s 347 Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 10 Prime Steak & Sushi and Capital Grille. The “farm-to-table” mantra was still heard throughout the state, joined by “boat-to-table” at a number of eateries. The trend of locally sourced, sustainable produce, meat and seafood shows no sign of subsiding and we who dine out often are the better for it. Interestingly, a big national trend – the “better burger” restaurant with top-quality beef or other proteins, artisan toppings and buns, and a menu of shakes – some retro, some for adults only – did not reach our state to any great degree. However, a new casual spot opening this past year incorporated both the burger and farm-to-table trend. “b.good” launched in Garden City. The chain, started in northern New England, sources most of its menu, from the beef in the burgers to the soda in the fountain from Maine.
Many restaurants celebrated anniversaries. The most honored must be the iconic Angelo’s Restaurant on Federal Hill that was feted for 90 years of service, memories and meatballs. Others of note included the 25th that was celebrated by Restaurant CAV in Providence. The Old Grist Mill Tavern reopened, rising Phoenix-like from the ashes in Seekonk after a lengthy rebuild that appears to have captured the spirit of that venerable landmark.
And it must be noted that 2014 was the year that calamari was named the state’s official appetizer. Of course this is by no means a comprehensive chronology of the year that was 2014 on either side of tens of thousands of restaurant tables in Rhode Island. Inevitably there are some events, places and people left out.
There are eateries even now just opening their doors in many locations around the state. Others are finalizing their plans. Still more are on the drawing boards and there are some that are just a twinkle in a chef’s eye. We will continue to watch, report on and talk about them all in the new year.


Bruce Newbury’s “Dining Out” talk radio show is heard on 920 WHJJ-AM, 1540 WADK-AM and on mobile applications. He can be reached by email at Bruce@brucenewbury.com.

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