Karsten Hart

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

Two Farmers Markets at Blackbird Farm Open for the Season

Blackbird Farm, one of the most-acclaimed beef and pork farms in New England, begins their 3rd farmers marketseason produced by Eat Drink RI. The Friday and Sunday farmers markets feature an array of local vendors and will take place on Friday evenings from 4 – 7 p.m., and again on Sundays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 660 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI.

Parking is accessed via the beautiful new Blackbird Farm ranch gate on Limerock Road off of Douglas Pike (Route 7). The Friday farmers market will take place every Friday evening from June 14 through October 18 and the Sunday farmers market will take place every Sunday from June 16 through October 20, both weather permitting. Follow Eat Drink RI and Blackbird Farm on Facebook (facebook.com/eatdrinkri/and facebook.com/blackbirdfarm/) for marketupdates and any possible weather cancellations.

New to this year’s market will be a local producers table selling products curated by Eat Drink RI. Look for cheeses from Narragansett Creamery, breads from Bread Box Baking Company, spices from Ocean State Pepper Company, salsas from The Backyard Food Company, soda from Yacht Club Bottling Works along with other products as the season progresses.

Also at the farm stand location is Blackbird Farm’s all-local ice cream spot, the Moo Moo Ice Cream Trailer. A converted horse trailer, Moo Moo offers 14 flavors of ice cream produced with locally farmed milk, along with signature sundaes and ice cream floats using Yacht Club Soda. Moo Moo Ice Cream hours are posted at blackbirdfarmri.com/moo-moo-ice-cream/

Friday farmers market vendors include Angell Farm, Blackbird Farm, Breakneck Hill Apiary, Harris Farm, Moonrose Farm, Pop On The Block, Travis Family Farm with Rachyl’s Goat Milk Soap and We Be Jammin’. Sunday farmers market vendors include Angell Farm, Beautiful Day, Blackbird Farm, Breakneck Hill Apiary, Harris Farm, Lucky Clover Farm and We Be Jammin’. A variety of products will be offered, such as: beef and pork, seasonal produce and fruit, honey, candles, floral bouquets, eggs, granola, coffee beans, soaps, herbs, plants, popcorn, sauces, jams and more. More information can be found at blackbirdfarmri.com/farmers-market.

Farmers markets are for people from all walks of life and all ages who share a common belief that farmers and local producers are a vital part of our community. This market will support the local food economy, showcase a wide variety of products and tap into a region of the state that currently doesn’t offer an extensive outdoor market. The Blackbird Farm Farmers Market will support local farmers and producers, improve access to fresh fruits, vegetables and other farm products, encourage sustainability, and educate the community on the importance of local foods.

Grand Opening Urban Greens Co-Op Market June 27-29, 2019

Providence’s Only Member-Owned Grocery Store Opens in Providence

Open to all shoppers, membership not required

After several years of grassroots development and planning, the board of the Urban Greens Co-op Market is thrilled to announce the opening of Providence’s only member-owned co-op grocery store, June 27-29, 2019. Urban Greens is open to all shoppers, whether they are members or not.

The grand opening celebration will feature free food samples from local vendors, live music, goodie bags, and dozens of special sales throughout the store. Urban Greens’ mission is to be open to all and support the health and well-being of our customers by offering nutritious, affordable food that is sustainably sourced, culturally inclusive, and supportive of local food production. All are welcome to stop in and experience their locally-owned, beautiful new grocery store.

“We never would have gotten here without the support of a lot of people who believed in this project,” said board member Philip Trevvett. “The opening of Urban Greens increases our access to healthy and local foods, and we want to acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to expand that access. We are committed to continuing to grow access to healthy and local foods over time, both through programming within the store, and through community outreach, education and relationship-building outside of our brick and mortar building.”

Urban Greens is a full-service grocery store stocked with fresh organic produce, delicious prepared foods available to go, and a significant selection of bulk items–such as granola, spices, and flour–that can be purchased at low prices with minimal packaging. In addition, the co-op strives to meet the needs of the diverse communities in Providence, so shoppers will find a mix of cooking oils, produce, and grains common to West African, South East Asian, and Latino diets, among others. Shoppers will also enjoy Urban Greens Basics, a budget line of 100 staple items throughout the store.

A 356-square-foot community room will feature free and paid events, such as community cooking classes, workshops, and more.

Urban Greens currently has more than 1,300 members. Membership costs between $10 and $160 per year, making it truly accessible to all. Qualified low-income members qualify for a 5% discount on all items. To become a member, visit https://urbangreens.com/membership/.

The $2.2 million project is expected to generate 28 part-time and full-time jobs. The project received an investment from the Rhode Island Foundation, a Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit, a loan from RI Commerce, and a loan from The Cooperative Fund of New England. The project also received grants from the Rhode Island Foundation, LASA in conjunction with the RI Department of Environmental Management, and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation. All told, more than a third of the financing came from families and individuals, an indication of the community’s support for this new grocery store.

Bar ‘Cino Opens in Historic Washington Square

Italian Bar is the Latest Venture for Newport Restaurant Group

Newport Restaurant Group, a 100% employee-owned hospitality corporation based in RI, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest concept, Bar ‘Cino, at 22 Washington Square in Newport. 

The 60-seat full-service restaurant features a selection of little plates, bruschetta, grilled pizza, salads, paninis and entrees, as well as a complete cocktail menu. Bar ‘Cino will be open for dinner Sunday – Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. The restaurant will also serve lunch beginning mid-summer. For more information or to view the menu, visit www.barcinonewport.com.   

Conveniently located in the heart of historic Washington Square, Bar ‘Cino offers patrons a casual and authentic Italian bar experience, focused on a playful beverage program of wines and inspired cocktails complemented by a menu of simple, flavor-filled foods inspired by Italian countryside cooking; highlighting fresh vegetables, seafood, cheeses and local ingredients.

“We’re thrilled to add Bar ‘Cino to our family of employee-owned restaurants,” said Paul O’Reilly, President & CEO, Newport Restaurant Group. With more than ten individual restaurant concepts in Rhode Island, we are always looking for a unique opportunity to create a new experience for our valued guests. We hope this casual eatery will become part of the fabric of the Newport community – a place where locals will enjoy eating several times a week.” 

Chef Mariana Gonzalez, formerly of the culinary team at The Mooring and Smoke House, leads the Bar ‘Cino culinary team under the direction of Karsten Hart, Director of Restaurants. Luke Devine, former restaurant manager at The Mooring and Smoke House, will take on the management of the Italian bar’s operation.

Chef Mariana’s approachable menu features a selection of light dishes including Little Plates featuring Clams baked in Pomodoro, white wine and chili flakes, served with garlic bread; Potato Chips with parmesan and parsley; warm Marinated Olives with rosemary, garlic and orange zest; and Antipastiwith prosciutto, EVOO-poached tuna and white beans, parmesan, olives and mozzarella. Salads feature an array of options including Arugula with marinated cannellini beans, chicory, and parmesan; Tuscan Kale with a sundried tomato vinaigrette, avocado, pine nuts and parmesan; Italian Farro and Grilled Vegetables with tomato, feta, pistachios and citrus vinaigrette; Romaine and Kale with parmesan, anchovies, lemon and crushed croutons; and Simple Greens with EVOO, lemon, mint and parsley. Chicken, shrimp, salmon or tuna conserva can be added to each salad.

Bruschettas feature EVOO Tuna Conserva with Castelvetrano olives and celery leaf; Prosciutto with fig and goat cheese; and EVOO-roasted Tomato, mozzarella, saba and sea salt. Grilled Pizzas offer oven-roasted Chicken with arugula, chicory and parmesan; Margherita pomodoro with fontina, parmesan, EVOO and basil; Prosciutto with fig, arugula, fontina and sea salt; and wood-grilled Mushroom with fontina, ricotta, EVOO and fresh herbs. Panini selections include oven-roasted Chicken with arugula, chicory and Parmigiano-Reggiano; wood-grilled Mushroom, fontina, ricotta with EVOO and fresh herbs; Prosciutto with fig, arugula and fontina; and Tuna Conserva with cannellini beans, kale and romaine. 

Entrees feature Roasted Salmon with broccoli rabe, EVOO-mashed potatoes and tomato sofrito; Chicken Picatta with lemon snap-pea risotto; Chicken Milanese with white beans, arugula and salsa verde; Chianti-braised Beef Short Rib with farro and roasted summer vegetables; and Italian Farro Risottowith roasted mushrooms, charred radicchio and soffritto. Pasta dishes offer Rigatoni Bolognese with parmesan and crispy gremolata; Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe with clams, pecorino and black pepper; Tagliatelle with roasted wild mushrooms, asparagus, basil pesto and bottarga; Paccheri with roasted chicken, EVOO, confit tomato, broccoli rabe and parmesan. 

Bar ‘Cino also offers A Tavola: dinner for two, which include a choice of wood-grilled Tuscan Steak with garlic and herbs, served sliced with roasted vegetables and EVOO-smashed potatoes; and whole-roasted Lemon-scented Hen with roast potatoes, asparagus and parmesan cream. 

Dolce feature Pistachio Ricotta-Cream Layer Cake, Molten Chocolate-Nutella Souffle, Limoncello-Mascarpone Cake, and a selection of gelato. 

In addition to a playful wine list of more than 45 carefully-curated labels and a beer list that includes local and regional bottles, draughts and 25 oz ‘share beers,’ Bar ‘Cino will feature an array of hand-crafted cocktails including Shadilady featuring mezcal, Aperol, and lime with a tajin rim; Pirate’s Last Dancewith 

Newport Craft Distillers’ Thomas Tew Rum, Bacardi, Gosling’s Coconut, grapefruit and honey; Arnaldo Palmer with chamomile and honey-infused grappa, house lemonade and iced tea; Ciao Bella with Tito’s vodka, Malfy Italian gin, Contratto Bianco, vermouth and fresh and toasted herbs; and Tempo Triplowith Contratto Americano, Bianco and Rosso vermouth with orange bitters, to name a few.