Historic Rhode Island’s New Surprises

(Gerry Furth-Sides) As promising as the invitation read to a Rhode Island themed evening at  Connie & Ted’s, starting with the offer of an uber pick up in a storm, it exceeded expectations. Nothing does this more than an updated classic waiting to be discovered.

Aperitif beer and wine tastings were already set up at the bar when guests arrived. Passed hors d’oeuvres soon followed. Rhode Island wineries and breweries were the first surprise.

Another surprise: The official state drink, coffee milk. Autocrat has made the syrup added to milk to make coffee milk since the 1930s. Its origins are unclear but may be a nod to home from Rhode Island’s large Italian immigrant population. Nearly 20% percent of Rhode Islanders have Italian heritage, making it the most Italian state in the country!

Let’s start with the fresh food, oysters. The chef’s when asked explained that the secret to opening oysters was a simple (expert) flick of the wrist.

The congenial Rhode Island team explained that Michael Cimarusti, Executive Chef-partner renowned for seafood at Watergrill and Providence, was the inspiration for the Connie and Ted’s party because he summered in the state growing up, and loved it so much.

The state shell is a Quahog, a hard-shelled clam native to the east coast. People “clamming” for them is a common site on a drive along Rhode Island’s shallow coastal waters.

The stuffed Quahog or Stuffie, usually filled with Portuguese sausage or Chourico,  is the pride of Rhode Island.  Now you know why the fictional town on The Family Guy is named Quahog. This little Stuffie is sitting next to the clam chowder bowl below.

Clams and oysters so prominent in Rhode Island are each distinctly unique bivalve mollusks.  The clams soft body lays enclosed in a smooth-hinged shell.  They tend to have a sweeter and milder flavor.  Oysters with their rough and irregular-shaped shell are known for their briny and rich taste.

“Rhode Island” brings up so many images aside from its famous shoreline, from mansions (the von Bulow story) to the Johnson & Wales Culinary program, first heard about from our talented, innovative Chef friend, Michael Feig, and most recently as a C-CAP (Careers in Culinary Arts Program) prime scholarship institution. For the story on how it became one of the most progressive in the country, please see: //www.jwu.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-culinary-arts.html

Rhode Island has always been famous for its prominent wealthy residents and mansions. Newport County, for example, has been a favorite destination for esteemed families like the Kennedys and the Vanderbilts, as it does a century later. Sophisticated Jackie Bouvier’s family always had homes in the area.

Newport County, in fact, ranked first in luxury second home transactions in the US in 2023. The county saw a 64 percent increase in $1 million home purchases of more than $1with an average sale price of a little over $2 million. Tours are available!

Dave’s Rhode Island Original Coffee Syrup ( //www.davescoffee.com) is a statewide favorite. It promises to add a delicious, sweet coffee kick to ice cream, oatmeal, smoothies, milkshakes and yogurt. And it already has to our espresso and vanilla ice cream with raisins added we tried the very next night!

Sweenor’s dark, silky chocolate sailboat was delicious! Sweenor’s Chocolates started modestly more than 70 years ago as a home business in Cranston, Rhode Island and is now the state’s largest chocolate making business.  //sweenorschocolates.com

Final fun fact: Providence has the most number of donut shops per person in the US! Since over 59% of Rhode Island is covered in forest, the state offers lots of opportunity to walk off the calories. And remember, while The Ocean State is the Rhode Island’s nickname, the mottos is “Hope.”

Connie & Ted’s · Map · 8171 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046. (323) 848-2722. //www.connieandteds.com