Forget lords a-leaping, celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with these Newport County foods

By now, we should all realize the impracticality of the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas song. While receiving a partridge in a pear tree might sound romantic, the long-term commitment to keeping a happy and healthy game bird in your home is not sustainable. And while you may be able to plant the pear tree, ideally you would do that in late winter or early spring, so you’d have to keep the plant thriving inside over the next few months – no easy task in a long New England winter. Let’s not even talk about what to do with the six geese a laying. (Hope you like goose egg omelets.) As grand a gesture the gifts of the Twelve Days of Christmas are, please don’t burden your true love with this line of gifting.

But, while you're packing up your lords a-leaping for an Amazon return, let me suggest this: give the 12 Gifts of Newport Eating instead. Maybe not as lyrical, but definitely more enjoyable for your true love (and altogether less bird-y.) Here’s the list (singalong if you like):

12. Fresh Shucked Oysters. Locally farmed and harvested right in our coastal waters. A skilled shucker, a little mignonette sauce and a squeeze of lemon are all you need to indulge in this famed delicacy. Available at your favorite raw bars like Benjamin’s, Midtown Oyster, The Mooring and more.

11. Italian Feasts. While Newport may be known for its seafood, we also have some exciting Italian options in town. Whether you crave a classic bolognese or a traditional Shrimp Scampi, there are lots of spots for you to pull up a chair with friends and, “mangia!” Pasta Beach is a local favorite, as is Veiste Simply Italian. Or give Mamma Luisa Ristorante a try. It’s an Island tour of Italy right here in our backyard.

10. Stuffies. The Quahog is the official shell of the state of Rhode Island and stuffing it with chopped clams, chouriço, pepper, garlic and fresh herbs is how we celebrate it. Grab your hot sauce and lemon and dig in! You can grab them anywhere but you can’t go wrong at Anthony’s Seafood (available for take-home too) or at Flo’s Clam Shack.

9. Asian Food. The joy of having a thriving food community is lots of options, and we are lucky to be home to many great Asian-themed restaurants. Get your noodles on at Yagi Noodles or Boru Noodle Bar. Get your Thai at Siam Square or NaPhi Thai Kitchen. There’s Mizu Japanese Steak House for Hibachi, Curryland for Indian food and Sunrise Vietnamese Restaurant too. Whatever you crave or want to explore, you’ll find it here.

8. Chowder. Is there anything that offers more seaside comfort in the winter than a big, warm bowl of Chowder? Grab your oyster crackers and dig in. The Black Pearl is always a safe bet for a great bowl of chowder, as is Jo's American Bistro. The Seafood Chowder from the Newport Chowder Company never disappoints. Neither does the New England style at O’Brien’s.

7. Pizza. When it comes down to it, there’s nothing like a good slice of pizza to improve your holiday spirits. There’s no shortage of it on the Island either. Maybe you’re a Rocco’s Little Italy fan. Maybe West End Pizza is more your jam. Do you like the grilled, thin crust at Bar’ Cino or do you prefer the traditional Greek-Style crust served at Nikolas Pizza? There’s an option for everyone.

6. Classics. Be sure to treat your true love to one of our classic Newport restaurants that keep going and going. The White Horse Tavern is the oldest restaurant in America, so you can’t get much more classic than that. And don’t forget Brick Alley Pub who has been making Newporters smile for over 40 years, as has Sardella’s. All those restaurants that have over 25 years under their belt (and we have a lot of them), are still standing for good reason. Make it a mission to enjoy them more often!

5. Newcomers. Don’t miss out on the newbies too. They deserve our attention too. Have you tried Mr. R Fusion yet? Have you dined at The Helmway? Have you tried La Costa on Thames? Did you see Checker’s Pizza is open on West Main? We keep seeing new spots opening across the Island for our enjoyment, and we are thrilled!

4. Desserts. One way to impress your true love is through some sweet treats. Stop by The Mad Hatter Bakery for an array of baked goods that will start you drooling. Have you tried the Sticky Toffee Puffing at the Fifth Element? Have you indulged in the Grand Mariner Soufflé at Chanterelle Restaurant at Bouchard Inn? So many desserts, so little time.

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3. Sandwiches. Your true love needs some good lunch options too, so you’ve come to the right place. Try a Hot Chicken Grinder from Marco’s Subs. Or a fresh-made Reuben from the Ash Mart. How about a Thanksgiving Wrap from The Blue Lobster Cafe at Clement’s? Or maybe a Mary’s Multi-Stacker from The Corner Cafe. You only get one lunch a day - make it count.

2. Beer. If your true love fancies his or herself a lover of beer, there’s some local brews worth wrapping under the tree. Try the Winter Ale at Reject’s Beer Co. which helps support the Friends of Newport Skatepark. Or maybe pick up some Old Boys Vienna Lager from Ragged Island Brewing or some F-Bomb New England IPA from Taproot Brewing.

1. Gift Cards. Best of all, we have gift cards for you and your true love. Stop by your local restaurant over the next few days and finish your shopping with gift cards to all your favorites. Buying a gift card is a great way to support your local business, both now and in the future when it is redeemed. And they make the best gifts. So put down the pear trees and calling birds, and go buy gift cards to your favorite spots.

And that’s how you make your true love happy this Christmas. (No birds were harmed in the writing of this column).

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Restaurants in Newport to celebrate the Christmas season