Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island: Where Culinary Culture Defines Local Life
The UN Food and Agriculture Committee highlighted Providence as an exemplar in its publication Integrating Food into Urban Design.
Providence Tourism Council
In the realm of North American food cities, Providence, Rhode Island, often flies under the radar—but those in the know recognize it as one of the nation’s most extraordinary culinary destinations. This compact New England capital has methodically cultivated an environment where food culture defines the fabric of local life.
What sets Providence apart is no accident. As early as the 1970s, forward-thinking urban planners laid the groundwork for a food-friendly ecosystem, protecting green spaces and establishing gardens and distribution networks. Their vision was so successful that in 2019, the UN Food and Agriculture Committee highlighted Providence as an exemplar in its publication Integrating Food into Urban Design.
The city’s thriving dining scene is supported by a discerning public that values quality, alongside local laws designed to encourage food business growth, such as support for “cottage food,” meaning food made in a home kitchen for sale.
Hemenway’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar in Providence has undergone a recent renovation.
Hemenway’s
Chefs Love Providence
The city’s culinary excellence is anchored by Johnson & Wales University (JWU), one of the nation’s premier culinary institutions. Chef Rollie Wesen is a JWU instructor and the executive director of the Jacques Pépin Foundation—which is celebrating Pépin’s culinary legacy and upcoming 90th birthday with a series of fundraising events, including 90 extraordinary chef-hosted restaurant gatherings.
Wesen says many talented alumni choose to remain in Providence, consistently enriching the local food scene, which never gets stale. New openings happen regularly, and this spring Track 15, an 18,000-square-foot food hall located in historic Union Station is a highly anticipated addition.
“It is a great place to be a chef,” says Wesen. “Because the community is so strong and the public appreciates good food.” The city’s strategic location—within easy reach of both Boston and New York—combined with its more relaxed pace makes it an attractive home base for culinary professionals.
Providence’s food ecosystem is strengthened by exceptional local resources, says Wesen. The region boasts some of the country’s most accessible and highest-quality seafood, complemented by a robust network of farmers, producers, and shellfish farms. Farm Fresh RI, which Wesen regards as the nation’s leading food hub, creates connections between chefs and farmers while hosting vibrant farmers’ markets that have become community fixtures.
The city has a layered academic landscape—including JWU, Brown University, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design and Providence College—which Wesen says contributes to a cosmopolitan environment where cultural diversity is celebrated through food. This intellectual and cultural ferment has given rise to an impressive array of restaurants that punch well above their weight for a city of Providence’s size.
The city has a layered academic landscape—including Johnson & Wales University, Brown University, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design and Providence College.
Providence Tourism Council
Providence’s Culinary Travel Experiences
Rick Simone serves as the president of the Federal Hill Commerce Association, representing a vibrant area renowned for some of the finest Italian cuisine in North America, led by the legendary al Forno. “The chefs in our city often work together to push boundaries and deliver unforgettable dining experiences, drawing inspiration from a world of diverse cuisines,” says Simone.
Wesen names standout restaurants like Oberlin, Persimmon and Nick’s on Broadway—all of which have earned national recognition, while Gracie’s, Tallulah’s Taqueria, New Rivers, Sarto, Bayberry Garden and newly renovated Hemenway’s (Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2012) continue to innovate and delight. He also mentions the terrific ethnic cuisine of Providence including the classic Italian restaurants on Federal Hill, plus Portuguese, Latino, Indian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese eateries.
And don’t forget the drinks. “Not to be forgotten is how well our restaurants masterfully curate wine lists and craft cocktails, pairing innovation with sophistication that elevates any dining experience,” says Simone.
This attention to detail creates experiences that keep critics and food enthusiasts coming back for more. In fact, Eater named Providence on its prestigious Where to Eat 2025 list—one of a mere 18 winners. “Providence is truly a destination for anyone with a passion for great food,” says Simone.
Wesen also points out a nearby treasure: right down the road toward Newport, on Aquidneck Island, where visitors can find food, farms, restaurants and vineyards—not to mention great breweries and distilleries.
This mix of history, education, diversity and innovation has created a dynamic food culture, making Providence one of America’s top culinary destinations. “We truly have everything we could hope for,” says Wesen. “In all phases, from brunch to late night.”
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“Temporary water use advisories will be posted where applicable and nearby residents and visitors should keep pets from drinking from these waters for at least three days,” the release said
The herbicide treatments target specific invasive aquatic plants, including variable water milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, sacred lotus, and various algae species, according to the release.
Rhode Island
R.I. leading multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration housing policy – The Boston Globe
Rhode Island and other states had recently won a ruling against HUD’s attempt to overhaul a federal homelessness grant program in fiscal year 2025.
US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy found that HUD acted arbitrarily and capriciously in imposing illegal conditions on billions of dollars in funding for the Continuum of Care program, through which HUD distributes billions of dollars to state, local, and nonprofit agencies to support housing and services for people facing homelessness.
For more than two decades, HUD had followed a “Housing First” model, which prioritizes rapid placement in permanent housing without requiring people to first meet conditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold.
However, on June 1, the Trump administration moved forward with new rules for fiscal year 2026 that seek to re-implement a cap on permanent housing. The new Notices of Funding Opportunity will set aside $1.3 billion for transitional housing and supportive service-only grants — which the coalition of states say will have the effect of capping permanent housing projects at about 68 percent of the funds.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced the new terms on June 1, saying the old model didn’t work.
“The ‘housing first’ experiment failed Americans by warehousing the vulnerable without results. This ideology promised to end homelessness. Instead, billions of taxpayer dollars were spent while homelessness increased to record levels,” Turner said in a statement. “Housing alone will not solve a crisis driven by addiction and mental illness. Under President Trump’s leadership, HUD is making necessary reforms to put recovery first.”
HUD said that the new Notice of Funding Opportunity for $4.04 billion through the Continuum of Care homelessness assistance program would support organizations that facilitate treatment and recovery and “prohibit funding the widespread use of illicit drugs and distribution of paraphernalia.”
The lawsuit alleges that the new conditions will mean a large number of permanent housing projects funded by the Continuum of Care program will lose funding, which will lead to people being evicted, placing further strain on state and local governments.
“Instead of investing in programs that help people stay safe and housed, the Trump Administration has embraced policies that risk trapping people in poverty and punishing them for being poor,” the 44-page lawsuit alleges.
The shift threatens housing for at least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing across the country according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
The states argue that HUD’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act for failing to proceed with notice-and-comment rulemaking, and for being arbitrary and capricious. They ask the court to declare that the challenged conditions are illegal and to block HUD from implementing them.
Along with Neronha, attorneys general from all New England states except for New Hampshire have joined the lawsuit. The coalition also includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.
(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
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