'Ambassador' stuffie starts its RI sales pitch at airport in Detroit Saturday
Rhode Island's newest "ambassador" spends most of its time in the mud or sand until it's plucked from the shallows, steamed, chopped, mixed with bread or crackers and baked.
Now the stuffed quahog, or at least a giant replica of it, will shine in the bright lights of airports in Los Angeles, Atlanta and elsewhere in an effort to draw travelers to the Ocean State's table.
“The quahog is an awesome ambassador for Rhode Island...," Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Terry Gray said in a press release announcing the quahog installation. “This humble mollusk represents one of our most valuable commercial fisheries and a vital part of our history, culture, traditions, and families."
More: RI's latest tourism gambit? A 7-foot stuffie at airports around US. Here's why
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation on Friday announced the "stuffie installs" in key flight markets, including Detroit starting on Saturday, as well as Atlanta, Baltimore and Los Angeles through the end of this year. Eying shoppers in Brea, California, the state is also installing a Newport Mansion replica at the Brea Mall from Sept. 15 to Oct. 13.
By showcasing the Ocean State's food, history, natural resources and culture, the state is trying to draw visitors from areas with flights to Rhode Island's T.F. Green International Airport.
“Rhode Island boasts a diverse and award-winning culinary scene and many cultural and historical attractions,” Gov. Dan McKee said. “By bringing a little bit of the Ocean State to our direct fly markets across the country, we are working to increase tourism to Rhode Island which in turn supports our small businesses and continues our economic momentum.”
The stuffie is not just a treat. Its primary ingredient, the quahog, helps drive the state's $5 billion "blue," or ocean, economy, according to the Commerce Corporation.
The stuffie installation will include a hot sauce bottle. A TV monitor will show a stuffie being made and display a quahogging video filmed on Narragansett Bay, along with other images from the state.
Travelers checking out the installations can enter for a chance to win a three-night stay in Rhode Island, which will include accommodations, dining, attraction tickets, and airfare.
The Commerce Corporation's announcement included comments from the state's six regional tourism leaders, who voiced support for the effort.
Louise D. Bishop, president of the South County Tourism Council, said, "The giant stuffie is a wonderful way to introduce Rhode Island and its food culture, as well as its coastal resources."
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here's why there's a giant 'stuffie' advertising RI in airports
