These international tastes will make Ocean Race sailors feel at home in Newport
As I write this we are moments away from the arrival of the Ocean Race in Newport. Barring an angry kraken arising from the deep to block the harbor, the hometown heroes of the 11th Hour Racing Team will be sailing past the Castle Hill Lighthouse on Wednesday afternoon. They are in the lead as Leg 4 comes to an end, but the other race teams are right behind them in hot pursuit. When the crews step off their boats and onto the piers in Newport, it will be the first time they will be on terra firma since they left Itajaí, Brazil on April 23. They will be excited to take a breather before heading back out on May 20 for a quick jaunt across the Atlantic. So while they are here, the very least we can do is offer them our famous Newport hospitality.
Charlie Enright, the skipper of the 11th Hour Racing Team, is no stranger to Rhode Island. He was born and raised in Bristol, so he’ll be well familiar with the area. I don’t think he’ll need many recommendations, but I hope he is able to check out some of the gems in his hometown on his stopover. Maybe he’ll treat his crew to breakfast at the Beehive Cafe or stock up on some of their cream cheese-glazed cinnamon buns so he can surprise everyone with a special snack while cruising the Atlantic. Or maybe he’ll bring his team to Brick Pizza Company for some tasty, local pizza. A nice, fresh-from-the-oven pie with local ingredients must taste pretty good after being at sea for so long.
Perhaps the rest of the 11th Hour Racing Team will be able to sneak away for some familiar food from their home countries. Crew member Francesca Clapcich hails from Italy, so perhaps the allure of fresh made pasta at Pasta Beach will help her carbo-load before the next leg. Or maybe she will head to Mamma Luisa’s on Thames for a taste of her more familiar Northern Italian cuisine. We can send British crew member Simon Fisher to June Love's English Bakery on Aquidneck Avenue so he can get a taste of home cooking like Sticky Toffee Pudding, Flapjacks and Rock Buns. Or maybe he just wants to relax in a pub and drink a pint. I’m sure he can find just what he needs at Pour Judgement or The Tavern on Broadway.
Maybe he can join Irishman and fellow crew member Damian Foxall on a trip to Buskers or Fastnet Cafe for a pint of Guinness and some classic Irish food like Fish and Chips or Shepherd’s Pie. They wouldn’t be the first sailors from across the pond seeking comfort in the pubs of Newport, and they won’t be the last.
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Crew Member Justine Mettraux hails from Switzerland and while Newport isn’t flush with Swiss restaurants, we do have lots of restaurants that have been known to host a celebrated racer. The Clarke Cooke House has been a spot that has hosted all the famous America’s Cup players and even hosted their own superyacht race (the Candy Store Cup). Justine will feel right at home amongst the esteemed racers that have walked through those doors, and she’ll enjoy the exceptional food too.
For crew member Jack Bouttell, an Australian, he’ll be sad that we no longer have Meg’s Aussie Milk Bar for a taste of home, but there’s still plenty for him to enjoy. While we don’t serve much Vegemite around here, he may just learn to love some of the local favorites like Point Judith Calamari at The Reef or local quahogs stuffed with spicy chourico from The Lobster Bar.
We can’t forget Amory Ross, the onboard reporter for the 11th Hour Racing Team. With local roots here (his mom graduated from Rogers), I’m sure he’s excited to be back in the City-by-the-Sea. He’ll probably go ultra-local with stops at the Ashmart for a grinder, the Newport Creamery for an Awful Awful and to Flo’s for clam cakes and chowder. Maybe he’ll grab a Del’s too, if there’s time.
The other racing teams will be ready to refuel in Newport too and they can also enjoy our many offerings. Team Malizia representing Germany is in second place as they head to our shores. We know Germans like their sausages, so maybe they’ll enjoy the offerings at Wally’s Weiners. Did you know that Saugy dogs, which Wally’s serves, come from a secret family recipe brought over from Germany in the late 1800s? Or maybe the Germans will enjoy some time at Norey’s where their craft beers and festive atmosphere make it feel like every day is Octoberfest.
The Biotherm team is representing France and we know they’ll find a home at Chanterelle Restaurant (formerly Bouchards). Under the direction of Chef Jessica Odunwa, the menu is a blend of creative French and American fare and will be sure to please anyone who just raced 8,000 kilometers to get here. They’ll also enjoy the offerings at Stoneacre Brasserie where everything is prepared with an approachable yet decidedly French twist. That will make some sailors happy.
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This is an exciting time in Newport. We are playing host to one of the premier races in all of sailing. We are charged with welcoming the teams and getting them ready before they head off across the Atlantic for one of the hardest parts of their journey. And as much as Newport knows sailing, we know even more about hospitality. So while the teams are here, let’s make all those crew members and skippers feel like they are on top of the world. Let’s show them (and all the visitors that come to watch) how we do things in Newport. Our restaurants will roll out the best, our bars will hoist up the celebratory pints, and our community will offer a hearty welcome to all. That’s the Newport way and why people race across the oceans to visit us.
Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality related. His column appears on newportri.com and Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Restaurants in Newport offer a range of international flavors
