News from the "Summer Playground"

Good day dear readers. I'm Gail Ciampa, Journal food and dining editor.

I'm catching up today with some of the news that dropped earlier this month while I was away.

Chefs from Newport, Middletown and Bristol cooked for a James Beard Foundation dinner in New York City on July 18. That's a big deal. They were at The Platform by JBF venue to celebrate the 2024 James Beard Foundation semifinalists. The menu was described as an "ode to America’s Summer Playground" and its inspired flavors.

This special dinner featured dishes from Giusto’s executive chef William Rietzel and owner/chef Kevin O'Donnell; Newport Vineyard's executive chef Andy Teixeira and sous chef Ty Gonzalez; Yagi Noodles chef/owner Basil Yu and co-owner Cody Daniels; and Foglia’s chef/owner Peter Carvelli and sous chef Hailey Peters.

Discover Newport, the non-profit organization that promotes tourism for the city and neighboring towns, organized the Beard event.

Winery open for tastings again

Sakonnet Vineyard in Little Compton has its tasting room and café open Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. That is great news as the location is iconic and a delight to visit.

James Davids and Marissa Stashenko assumed the management and winemaking responsibilities at the vineyard this spring. They will collaborate with owner Carolyn Rafaelian to launch new wines, revive Sakonnet’s culinary legacy, and implement organic and sustainable farming practices.

"We are thrilled to welcome both locals and visitors back to the vineyard," said Stashenko, director of operations at Sakonnet. "It's such a special property and it deserves to be enjoyed by the community. This year marks a transition for the business, and we plan to make ongoing improvements and expand our offerings throughout the season.”

In addition to the cafe, there will be guided tastings, a yoga series, a harvest festival and other culinary pop-ups. Event packages, launching soon, will feature a guided tour around the property, a tasting in the barrel room, and the option to book a private event in the barn or other locations on the property.

Zachary Brisson joins Sakonnet Vineyard from The Vanderbilt in Newport, where he most recently served as director of Food and Beverage.

Chef Matt Weston, who most recently worked as executive chef at Burgundian, is now responsible for menu development for the café and mobile food truck and overseeing the kitchen. His grab-and-go selections include a Cheese Plate with three chef-selected cheeses, crostini and marinated olives; a Charcuterie Plate; Smoked White Fish Pate with smoked trout dip, crostini and pickled vegetables; Tomato Gazpacho; and Caesar and Caprese salads.

Made-to-order selections include Moules Mariniere; flatbreads; a New England Lobster Roll on a brioche bun; Braised Beef Short Rib Panini; and Potato Provençal. The kids’ menu features an all-beef hot dog and a Three Cheese Panini.

Ownership change

The Reef, a Newport waterfront restaurant is the latest acquisition by The Heritage Restaurant Group which has entered into a contract for the acquisition. The restaurant will continue to operate under the “The Reef” name.

Michael Anderson, spokesman for The Heritage Restaurant Group, said, “The Reef’s reputation for delicious food, stunning waterfront views, and warm hospitality perfectly aligns with our vision. We look forward to continuing the tradition of creating lasting memories for our regular and new patrons alike.”

“This acquisition is a strategic move that allows us to invest further in Newport’s vibrant culinary scene,” said Anderson. “Our commitment extends to enhancing the overall dining experience while preserving the beloved waterfront location.”

Located at 10 Howard Wharf, The Reef offers the waterfront atmosphere while serving local seafood and creative cocktails.

The Heritage Restaurant Group also owns Brick Alley Pub, La Forge Casino Restaurant, Wally’s Wieners, La Costa Lobster Rolls and Tacos, Cluck Truck, Cluck House, A Mano Pizza & Gelato, Wiener Wagon and Newport Lobster Company, Aquidneck Island’s largest wholesale seafood dealer.

In and Out

It's been an eventful year with restaurant openings and closings. Sometimes they are happening at the same spot.

I went back to review all the spots that are closed this year. But then I found that was only part of the story. There are replacements and that is the good news. For example, Trio is gone in Narragansett but Celeste has opened in its place.

Ellie's closed on Weybosset Street in Providence because they lost their lease. But the French bakery will be back better than ever in the space that was vacated when Kleo's closed on Westminster Street.

Here's my story.

A cat cafe for Providence?

It's not going to happen tomorrow but a Warwick couple is working on opening Cafe Gato next year. This cat cafe isn't going to be a place to take your cat. Rather it will be a destination for coffee as well as a well to visit shelter cats and even adopt one.

It's a lofty goal but Kaylin and Maximo want to generate excitement so they can raise the funds they will need to launch this business. Here's their story.

That's it for now dear readers. I'll see you back here next week.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: News from the "Summer Playground"