When it comes to Rhode Island restaurants and dining, everyone has an opinion.

But here’s the thing: Everyone is right. Rhode Island is a foodie’s paradise. And it’s not just the fancy cuisine – sure, we have that, and some of the most innovative chefs in the world – Rhode Island’s got the all-time faves and the traditions, like pizza strips, frozen lemonade and stuffies.

Like I said, we’ve got you covered when it comes to new restaurants to try. We even offer recipes now and then so you can make some of your restaurant favorites at home. Dealing with dietary restrictions, like going gluten-free? We’ve got you covered there, too.

For some fun this fall, we had all of The Journal’s writing staff pitch in for the Ultimate Rhode Island Dining Guide. And why not – food touches so many aspects of our lives, just as it touches so many of their beats.

For instance, our NENPA Journalist of the Year, courts reporter Katie Mulvaney, takes us on a quest to find one of her favorite sandwiches, the muffuletta. Political reporter Kathy Gregg dove into some finance records to see where local lawmakers were eating, and who paid the bill. Reporter Paul Edward Parker has a teenage son, so who better to send to a ghost kitchen? And reporter Patrick Anderson, always a good one to bring historical perspective to stories, takes a look at the old-fashioned foods that make up “Swamp Yankee” cuisine.

See? Something for everyone. Take a look!

NORTH KINGSTOWN – When the Navy base at Quonset Point closed in the 1970s, it delivered a body blow to Rhode Island’s economy that would be felt for years.

But when the federal government transferred the Quonset Naval Air Station and adjacent Naval Construction Battalion Center Davisville, which closed almost two decades later, to the state, Rhode Island leaders envisioned an industrial park that could take up some of the slack left in the Navy’s wake.

While much of the infrastructure was already in place – including rail lines, docking facilities and an airport – the state has poured millions into developing the Quonset Business Park, which is now home to the premier nuclear submarine builder in the world and one of the busiest auto importing ports in the country.

Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the industrial park, now run by the Quonset Development Corporation, a state agency that is a subsidiary of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, the state economic development agency:

The industrial park

Located about 20 miles south of Providence by road, Quonset Business Park sits on 3,198 acres, including 1,446 acres for business development, of which 130 acres remain unrestricted.

People

As of July 2024, more than 14,379 full- and part-time jobs were located at more than 239 companies in Quonset, including submarine maker General Dynamics Electric Boat; North Atlantic Distribution (NORAD), an automobile importer; Toray Plastics (America); and Ørsted, the offshore wind-farm company that has a regional operations and maintenance hub in Quonset.

The average annual wage for those who work in the industrial park is $69,656.

Planes

Run under the auspices of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, also a state agency that is a subsidiary of the commerce corporation, Quonset State Airport is home to the Rhode Island Air National Guard. The airport, at an elevation of 18.3 feet above sea level, has a 7,504-foot main runway and a 4,000-foot crosswind runway.

Trains

Last year, 7,513 rail cars moved on the industrial park’s 18.2 miles of freight rail lines.

Automobiles

Cars can be looked at in two ways when it comes to Quonset:

First, the industrial park has 20 miles of roadways – plus 2.3 miles of paved bike path, for those looking for substitutes for motor vehicles.

But, more important economically, the Port of Davisville within the industrial park is one of the top 10 importers of cars in the nation. In 2023, 239,761 auto imports moved through the port, plus 10,731 used autos were shipped out.

Ships

The Port of Davisville has five terminals with 4,500 feet of berthing space, including three active roll-on/roll-off berths, with 235 acres of operating capacity.

In 2023, 260 ships made port calls at Davisville.

The port is also home to the Rhode Island Fast Ferry terminal, offering service to Martha’s Vineyard.

WESTFIELD – Although the Westfield High School football team lost to a 2023 Division 1 football state championship runner-up from Rhode Island on Friday night, Bombers head coach Rob Parent said his team learned a valuable lesson.

North Kingstown (RI) junior quarterback Jack Diano threw for five touchdowns and the Skippers defeated the Westfield Bombers, 42-20, in an independent game Friday night at Bullens Field.