Clear Clam Chowder With Hearts of Palm: A Coastal Culinary Adventure There’s something about clam chowder that instantly transports me back to windswept beaches and the salty tang of the ocean air. I remember one blustery autumn day on Cape Cod, huddled in a cozy seaside shack, the aroma of simmering clams and savory broth … Read more
The One and Only New York System Hot Weiner: A Rhode Island Culinary Icon The first time I had a true Rhode Island “weiner,” as they’re affectionately known, was a revelation. I was visiting a friend in Providence, and he insisted we grab lunch at a local institution. It wasn’t just the taste—the uniquely spiced … Read more
Vegan NY System Hot Wieners: A Plant-Based Ode to Rhode Island There’s something undeniably special about late-night eats, especially when they connect you to a place. Growing up near Rhode Island, those memories are filled with the aroma of steamed buns, the tang of mustard, and that uniquely spiced meat sauce of a classic NY … Read more
Great-Grandma Lepre’s 4th-Generation Pizza (Rhode Island Pizza) The scent of tomato and oregano still transports me back to my college days, crammed into a tiny off-campus apartment with friends. Money was tight, but spirits were high, and every Friday night was pizza night. We’d pool our meager funds, trek to the local Italian bakery, and … Read more
Rhode Island Hot Weiner Sauce #2: A Culinary Journey Back East The scent of celery salt and simmering beef always takes me back to my childhood summers. We’d pile into my grandfather’s old station wagon, destination: a weathered diner just outside of Providence. The only thing on the menu, as far as I was concerned, … Read more
New York System Hot Wiener Sauce: A Taste of Rhode Island The first time I tasted a New York System wiener, I was a kid on vacation in Rhode Island. The tiny restaurant, packed tighter than a can of sardines, buzzed with a frenetic energy. I remember the counterman, a blur of motion, sliding plates … Read more
Grape-Nuts Custard: A Taste of New England Nostalgia My grandmother, a fiercely independent Rhode Islander, had a repertoire of dishes that were both simple and deeply satisfying. While she was known for her clam cakes and johnnycakes, it was her Grape-Nuts custard that truly stands out in my memory. The slightly crunchy, nutty texture suspended … Read more
Rhode Island Hot Wiener Sauce #1: A Culinary Journey Back Home The scent of cinnamon and something vaguely meaty always takes me back. Back to summer nights at Olneyville New York System, perched on a red vinyl stool, watching the cooks work their magic. The rhythmic chanting of “Three up!” or “Four all the way!” … Read more
Rocky Point Clam Chowder: A Taste of Rhode Island’s Shore The briny air, the distant sound of crashing waves, the joyous screams from the roller coaster—these are the sense memories that flood back whenever I taste a spoonful of red clam chowder. Rocky Point, that beloved Rhode Island amusement park of my childhood, may be … Read more
Coffee Milk: A Rhode Island Classic The scent of coffee syrup still transports me back to my childhood summers spent with my grandmother in Rhode Island. No trip was complete without a visit to the local diner, where I’d eagerly order a tall glass of coffee milk. The sweet, slightly bitter, and undeniably comforting drink … Read more
Rhode Island Squid Rings With Cherry Peppers and Garlic The aroma of garlic sizzling in hot oil, the satisfying sizzle of squid hitting the pan, and the sharp tang of cherry peppers – these scents instantly transport me back to summers spent on the Rhode Island coast. My grandmother, a proud Italian-American with roots firmly … Read more
Rhode Island Clam Chowder: A Taste of the Ocean State The aroma of clam chowder always transports me back to childhood summers spent on Narragansett Bay. I remember crabbing off the docks with my grandfather, the salty air whipping through my hair, and the promise of a warm, comforting bowl of chowder afterwards. There was … Read more
Block Island Fog Punch: A Rhode Island Coffee Dream Some of my fondest childhood memories involve family vacations to the Rhode Island coast. The salty air, the charming seaside towns, and the ubiquitous aroma of coffee – it’s all part of what makes Rhode Island so special. One sweltering summer afternoon, while escaping the heat … Read more
Rhode Island Clam Cakes: A Taste of the Ocean State The scent of salt air, sunscreen, and frying dough… that’s the aroma of a Rhode Island summer. More specifically, it’s the smell of clam cakes. As a kid, nothing signaled the start of vacation quite like the first bite of a golden-brown clam cake, fresh … Read more
Randall’s Ordinary Cornbread: A Taste of History The scent of cornbread baking always transports me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. She wasn’t fancy, but her cornbread was legendary – crusty on the edges, impossibly moist inside, and always served with a generous pat of butter and a dollop of homemade jam. While her recipe was … Read more
Rhode Island Coffee Milk: A Taste of Home The aroma of coffee always brings me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. She lived in a small cottage near the Rhode Island coast, and every morning, the smell of percolating coffee would fill the air, mingling with the salty breeze. But it wasn’t just regular coffee she … Read more
Rhode Island Quahog Chowda: A Taste of the Ocean State The first time I tasted true Rhode Island Quahog Chowda, I was sitting on a sun-drenched porch overlooking Narragansett Bay. The salty air mingled with the briny aroma of the chowder, a clear, flavorful broth brimming with tender quahogs and sweet potatoes. It wasn’t the … Read more
Rhode Island Johnnycakes: A Taste of New England History The first time I tasted a true Rhode Island Johnnycake, I was at a tiny roadside diner overlooking Narragansett Bay. The salty air mingled with the sweet aroma of maple syrup, and the golden-brown cakes, hot off the griddle, were a revelation. Their slightly coarse texture … Read more
Rhode Island Apple Slump: A Taste of New England Autumn My grandmother’s kitchen always smelled of cinnamon and warm apples in the fall. She’d make what she called “Apple Pandowdy” – a rustic, comforting dessert that filled the house with an aroma that wrapped around you like a cozy blanket. It wasn’t until years later, … Read more
Champlin’s Snail Salad: A Rhode Island Classic The first time I tried snail salad, I was a skeptical teenager visiting my grandparents in Narragansett. My grandfather, a man who believed everything tasted better with a squeeze of lemon and a view of the ocean, insisted I try “this delicacy.” I wrinkled my nose at the … Read more
Rhode Island Baked Stuffed Quahogs: A Taste of Home The aroma alone transports me back to childhood summers spent on Narragansett Bay. My grandmother, Nonna Emilia, would be elbow-deep in quahogs, humming Italian melodies as she prepared her famous “stuffies.” The salty tang of the ocean, mingled with the savory herbs and Old Bay, created … Read more