Newport’s Castle Hill Celebrates “NewPortugal” Wine + Food Week

Thursday, February 20, 2014

 

View Larger +

Newport's Castle Hill Inn will be celebrating the heritage and flavors of Portuguese Cuisine with its first-ever "NewPortugal" Wine & Food Week. The celebration will commence March 7th and run until the 14th.

The week-long event will begin with "An Evening in NewPortugal," a lavish four-course meal on the 7th, featuring a menu crafted by Castle Hill Executive Chef Karsten Hart in collaboration of Chef Georges Mendes of Aldea, a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York whose menu is inspired by Iberian cuisine and Mendes' own Portuegese heritage. Wine pairings for the evening will be made by noted sommelier Bartholomew Broadbent, of Broadbent Selections.

View Larger +

"An Evening in NewPortugal" will begin at 6:30 in the Castle Hill Inn's Dining Room overlooking the Atlantic and will cost $130 per person plus tax and gratuity. The menu will include a variety of delicious Portuguese dishes including Croquettes de Bacalhau, or salted cod fritters; Shrimp “Alhinho” with smoked baby beets, vanilla, pressed jus; Pork & Clams - littleneck stuffies, ArcherAngus pork tenderloin, smoked seaweed vinho verde broth; Almond Sweet Bread and more. The Portuegese-inspired prix-fixe menu will be available until the following Saturday in the Dining Room at Castle Hill.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The Castle Hill Inn is overing a special travel package to complement the dining experience, which includes the "NewPortugal" dinner experience, a one night stay at the Inn, gourmet breakfast, luxury amenities and afternoon tea, starting at $590. 

 

Related Slideshow: 5 New Food Trends to Try in 2014

View Larger +
Prev Next

Upscale Chefs go "Downscale"

It's an incredible expense of time and money to be among the best chefs around. All of those high-end ingredients cost an arm and leg and the pressure to stay on top is enormous. Most cooks began learning at the feet of their older relatives--moms and dads; grandmas and grandpas. It's this food that calls them back. We see local Chef Jake Rojas rejoice in dropping the tweezers and cooking those SoCal family recipes he grew up eating. Local faves Thames Street Kitchen embarked on a burger concept this year and Providence icon Chez Pascal has its "Wurst Window" serving homemade sausage and comfort food. They're upscale food is wonderful, but this might be their best!

View Larger +
Prev Next

More Gluten Free Options

As we continue to pay the "processed food" price, our nation's food allergies continue to soar. Restaurants have been on the forefront of the movement towards options that take these allergies into account. The gluten allergy has taken the fore as bread and pasta and coated French fries became the first food victims of this allergy. Local establishments such as the Grange have taken gluten free to new heights with terrific vegetarian offerings. On the Hill, Pane e Vino has got an almost 40-item menu of gluten free options. It features everything an Italian meal could need without the worry.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Vietnamese as the "Go-To" Asian Cuisine

Every year it seems as though America "discovers" a new Asian country's food and gets hooked. This year it's the foods of Vietnam. Vietnamese food and ingredients have been a part of local Asian food for years now, but this time it stands on its own. Vietnam's food is highlighted by fresh, simple ingredients treated respectfully and flavorfully. Broths and noodles; lightly cooked meats and fresh vegetables all combine in a balanced meal. Locally we love Pho Horn in Pawtucket and Minh Hai in Cranston. Both are very good local versions of this wonderful cuisine.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Fishy Fish

Look...here's the problem with us Americans: we only eat the mild stuff. The muscle meat. It's chicken breast and tenderloin and striped bass filets. The problem with this style of eating is what it does to our ecosystem. Local fishermen used to be able to catch a bounty of swordfish BETWEEN the mainland and Block Island, now it's a day's trip to find them. Local chefs and fishermen are working diligently to bring back the mackerel and the sardine and the scup. Fish we have long since forgotten, but helped our forefathers thrive. Check out any of our top-notch "farm to table" spots--Persimmon in Bristol or Farmstead in Providence for example--to try a forgotten yet delicious fish.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Micro-Distilleries

As with most things food and beverage, the last 10 years have seen a move towards "smaller is better". Big box stores are gone and chain restaurants are suffering locally. It was only a matter of time until these ideas began making their way into our cocktails and boy are we psyched to see what the future holds. Locally we have Sons of Liberty in South Kingstown, producing small-batch whiskey, single malts and, even vodka. Our state features Coastal Extreme Brewery which makes Thomas Tew rum along with their Newport Storm beer. We've only gotten back into the distilling business here in Rhode Island in 2006 but we think tasty things are coming soon!

 
 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook