Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.
GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ Brings Home the National Title of the Best Food Truck BBQ in America
GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ, based in Cumberland, RI, is thrilled to announce that they’ve been awarded first place in Mobile Cuisine’s national Best Food Truck BBQ contest! Their authentic wood-smoked barbecue is served up on two food trucks, a BBQ trailer and a mobile smoker, as well as two brick & mortar locations, and a successful catering business. After placing 3rd in the annual contest three years in a row, GottaQ has proven that they are a BBQ force to be reckoned with nationally.
“Every year we’ve progressively grown and grown, but this year we exploded,” said Anthony Mardenly, the director of food and beverage. “Once we found out we won, it was almost just euphoria. Our emotions started to run haywire and everything felt a little surreal.”
“We feel that as long as we keep our quality up, keep our customer service up, keep our staff happy, and keep moving forward, that there’s never a time when we shouldn’t be number one,” said owner Michael Strout, “I was literally in tears.”
In addition to GottaQ’s two brick & mortar locations, you can find the Q-Crew out and about on one of their food trucks, with their Festival BBQ trailer and soon from a new mobile smoker. Enjoy lunch in downtown Providence at Kennedy Plaza every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., or check them out at Food Truck Friday at Roger Williams Park Carousel Village every Friday night starting at 5 p.m. You can also find GottaQ serving at special events and festivals by following them on social media.
Hosting a summer party and want GottaQ to come to you? GottaQ offers simple solutions for all your catering needs with everything from easy pick-up platters, delivery upon request, to full on-site vending from one of their food trucks or the giant BBQ trailer. For more details and pricing, please visit: https://gottaq.com/catering.
Follow GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ on Facebook @GottaQ, Twitter @IGottaQ, and Instagram @GottaQbbq.
Newport Restaurant Group Unveils Seasonal Menus
Enjoy Inspired Dishes with Farm-Fresh Flavors at NRG Restaurants
Newport Restaurant Group (NRG) is welcoming the arrival of summer with a selection of new menu items at its award-winning restaurants. For more information, please visit www.newportrestaurantgroup.com.
Trio, located at 15 Kingstown Road in Narragansett, is featuring seasonal starters such as Spiced Cod Tacos with tomato salsa, avocado crema, and slaw in corn tortillas and an Arugula Salad with strawberries, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, shaved fennel, and citrus vinaigrette. Entrees include Grilled Shrimp Beet Risotto with peas, zucchini, summer squash, parmesan, and lemon butter; Maine Grains Polenta with eggplant caponata and parmesan; and twin 6 oz. Boneless Pork Shops with green and wax beans, potato salad, and peach-bourbon bbq sauce. For more information, visit www.trio-ri.com.
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar located at 1 Sayer’s Wharf in Newport, is offering a new Summer Salad of strawberries, Kitchen Garden Farms spinach, toasted pistachios, and green goddess dressing; an appetizer of seared Sea Scallops with locally harvested greens and pickled vegetables and topped with salsa verde; Pan-roasted Cod with tomato-onion jam, pesto aioli, and arugula on a potato bun; Ahi Tuna Nicoise with a warm olive, summer bean, tomato, and orzo salad and egg-caper vinaigrette; and Georges Bank Scallops with potato, corn, arugula, poblano, and pancetta hash and corn puree. For more information, visit www.mooringrestaurant.com.
The Boat House Restaurant, located at 227 Schooner Drive in Tiverton, is featuring an Arugula & Watermelon Salad with Narragansett Creamery feta, radish, radicchio, and mint-white balsamic vinaigrette; Burrata & Heirloom Tomatoes with Jeffrey’s greens, basil pistou, balsamic reduction, and grilled sourdough bread; pan-roasted Coriander-crusted Swordfish with baby squash, grilled potatoes, ratatouille puree, fennel confit, and pea greens; baked Chourico-crusted Haddock with crispy polenta, grilled scallions, and caper buerre blanc; and a Jerk Pork Sandwich with slow roasted pork, pineapple chutney, and jicama slaw on a potato roll. For more information, visit www.boathousetiverton.com.
New appetizers at Hemenway’s, located at 121 South Main Street in Providence, include House Smoked Bluefish Pate served with grainy mustard, caper berries, pickled vegetables, shaved beets, toasted bread; Crispy Pork Belly and Clams with fermented Portuguese peppers, saffron aioli; and Hawaiian style Tuna Tartare with cucumber, watermelon, radish, mint, and honeyed gochujang.
Seasonal entrees include Roasted Game Hen with parmesan polenta, English peas, baby carrots and pearl onions and chicken au jus; Pan Roasted Salmon with black rice, red curry coconut broth, carrots, and bok choy; Grilled Swordfish with spring vegetable quinoa and raisin vinaigrette; and Lobster Ravioli with grilled shrimp, English peas, roasted cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, and tarragon cream sauce. For more information, visit www.hemenwaysrestaurant.com.
2018 Good Food Awards Entry Period
The Good Food Awards launches its eighth year with a call for entries to American food producers crafting the nation’s best tasty, authentic and responsible foods. Entries are judged at our September Blind Tasting with over 250 food leaders and experts. Entry period runs from July 5-31 at www.goodfoodawards.org ($70 fee to cover storing, sorting and transporting the entries). New and renewing members of the Good Food Merchants Guild receive one free entry.
