PROVIDENCE – Governor Raimondo – along with Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and other partners – will kick off the 3rd Annual Rhode Island Quahog Week with a special launch event at Save The Bay in Providence on Monday. Quahog Week, which runs March 26 to April 1, highlights the importance of Rhode Island's wild shellfish harvest to the state's history, traditions, and economy.
WHERE: Save The Bay 100 Save The Bay Drive Providence, Rhode Island
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2018 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WHO: Governor Gina Raimondo Senator Jack Reed Congressman Jim Langevin Janet Coit, DEM Director Dave Ghigliotti, RI Shellfisherman's Association Chef Aaron Fitzsenry, Brown University Dining
At the launch event, local shellfishermen will be on hand to educate guests about their profession. Guests will also enjoy a raw bar courtesy of the Rhode Island Shellfisherman's Association, and creative preparations of the quahog, courtesy of participating local restaurants including Easy Entertaining, Eli's Kitchen, Matunuck Oyster Bar, and Nicks On Broadway. Beverages will be provided by Rhode Island's own Yacht Club Soda.
Rhode Island is known for its food and diverse food cultures. Our booming local food sector supports more than 60,000 jobs and continues to attract and inspire the imagination of entrepreneurs and innovators. The local fishing industry has been, and continues to be, a vital part of the equation. The commercial industry, which includes both wild harvest and aquaculture operations, generates close to $200 million in annual sales, supports nearly 7,000 jobs, and generates about $150 million in annual income. Last year, more than 22 million quahogs (off-the-boat value of $5 million) were harvested from Narragansett Bay and local coastal waters. To support continued industry growth, the state, along with its partners, developed the RI Seafood brand to uniquely identify local seafood in the marketplace and to provide a brand under which local seafood events and activities can take place.
As part of the week, participating restaurants and markets will feature quahog-inspired menu items and deals. Among the special menu items are quahog carbonara at The Mooring in Newport; quahog bruchetta at Trio in Narragansett; littlenecks, clams casino, and littlenecks with chourico at Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown; quahogs over angel hair tossed in red or white sauce at Harmony Lodge in Harmony; New England clam chowder with quahog cakes at Federal Taphouse and Kitchen in Providence; and unique versions of stuffed quahogs at 22 Bowen's in Newport, Gulf Stream Bar & Grille in Portsmouth, Hemenway's in Providence, Providence Oyster Bar in Providence, 15 Point Road in Portsmouth, and Plouffe's in Pawtucket.
Quahog Week partners include Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Brown University Dining Services, Dave's Marketplace, Discover Newport, Eat Drink RI, Eating with the Ecosystem, Go Providence, Narragansett Bay Lobsters, RI Commerce, RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Shellfisherman's Association, Save The Bay, and the University of Rhode Island.
For more information on Quahog Week and/or a list of participating restaurants and markets, visit www.seafoodri.com or @RISeafoodRocks on Facebook. Join the conversation in social media, using #QuahogWeek.