A BRIEF HISTORY
OF LITTLE RHODY
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY : GETTY IMAGES ; OLNEYVILLE NEW YORK SYSTEM ; IGGY ’ S DOUGHBOYS AND CHOWDER HOUSE ; DISCOVER NEWPORT ; GO PROVIDENCE ; ILLUSTRATION GRAPHICS : GETTY IMAGES .
BUCKET LIST BITES These are just a sampling of the state ’ s must-try delicacies .
Allie ’ s Donuts Specialty doughnuts have been all the rage for a few years now , but local favorite Allie ’ s has been ahead of the game with handmade doughy goodness since 1968 . You ’ ll probably come face-to-face ( or glaze to mouth ) with one of its extravagant doughnut cakes at an office party or kid ’ s birthday . facebook . com / alliesdonutsofficial
Awful Awful Don ’ t let the name fool you : this ultra-thick concoction of whole milk , flavored syrup and “ frozen ice milk ” is awfully amazing . It can be found exclusively at Newport Creamery — an iconic New England tradition in its own right . newportcreamery . com
Calamari Locals ’ appreciation ( read : obsession ) for calamari prompted the state to designate the dish as Rhode Island ’ s official state appetizer in 2014 . Don ’ t miss Rhode Island-style calamari ( of the wild-caught variety , courtesy of the Town Dock in Narragansett ): fried squid served with hot cherry peppers and garlic . towndock . com
Clam Cakes and Chowder This classic combination is practically a rite of passage for any wannabe Rhode Islander . Clam cakes are small balls of fried dough filled with bits of clams that taste best when dunked in New England clam chowder ( if you really want to fit in , request a bowl of “ chowdah ” at places like Blount Clam Shack in Warren ). blountretail . com
Coffee Milk Autocrat coffee syrup is to Rhode Island what maple syrup is to Vermont ; we can ’ t get enough of the stuff , especially in our milk ! ( P . S . It ’ s even our official state drink .) facebook . com / autocrat . coffee . syrup
Del ’ s Sure , you ’ ve probably had frozen lemonade before , but not like this . Sweet yet tart , cold and refreshing , Del ’ s is the lifeblood of beachgoers in the summer months . It ’ s also cited as one of the things Rhode Island transplants miss most when they move out of state ( besides family , we ’ re sure ). dels . com
Grilled Pizza Al Forno in Providence made grilled pizza a “ thing ” in the U . S . when a cook confused a woodfired brick oven with a grill back in 1980 . Best mistake ever ! alforno . com
Hot Wieners Savory hot wieners can only be made and consumed one way in Rhode Island : All the way ( meaning topped with a blend of yellow mustard , onions , celery salt and meat sauce ). And make no mistake ; the wiener may be a cousin of the hot dog , but you ’ ll be laughed out of Olneyville NY System if you ask for ketchup . olneyvillenewyorksystem . com
Iggy ’ s Doughboys To the rest of the country , they ’ re known simply as “ fried dough ,” but here we call them doughboys . Why ? Who knows !
All that matters is that you sprinkle them with plenty of powdered sugar for best results . Grab a ’ boy of your own during a fair , at a beach kiosk or , of course , at Iggy ’ s Doughboys and Chowder House in Warwick or Narragansett . iggysri . com
Pizza Strips aka Party Pizza One of the more controversial RI-based foods amongst the tastes of natives , party pizza is made up of thick ciabatta strips smothered in tomato sauce … and that ’ s it . There ’ s no cheese involved , and they ’ re served cold . But despite the polarity , they ’ ve become a staple at most get-togethers . Pick up a box at D . Palmieri ’ s Bakery in Johnston or Colvitto ’ s Pizza & Bakery in Narragansett . dpalmieris bakery . com ; colvittospizza . com
Stuffies One might think stuffies earned their name because of their tendency to make people stuff their faces . Or maybe it stems from the preparation involved : Chopping up a quahog ( aka a giant clam ) and stuffing the shell with oregano , olive oil , garlic and onion-laced breadcrumbs . Come summertime , order one ( or five ) at Quito ’ s in Bristol . quitosrestaurant . com
Zeppole A large and proud Italian population inhabits the state , so it ’ s no wonder zeppole ( a traditional Italian pastry bursting with sweet ricotta cannoli filling ) seem to fly off the shelves at spots like DeLuise Bakery come St . Joseph ’ s Day . facebook . com / deluisebakery
1772 In the country ’ s first act of armed rebellion against England , Rhode Islanders board and burn the HMS Gaspee , a British revenue schooner , in Narragansett Bay .
1776 Rhode Island renounces all allegiance to the King on May 4 , two months before signing the Declaration of Independence .
1778 The General Assembly authorizes the 1 st Rhode Island Regiment , the first U . S . regiment of Black and Native American soldiers who were guaranteed freedom after serving .
1778 The Battle of Rhode Island takes place on Aquidneck Island .
1785 Bristol ’ s annual Fourth of July Parade kicks off . Today , it remains the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the U . S .
1790 Rhode Island is the last of the thirteen Colonies to sign the Constitution .
1791 Samuel Slater builds the country ’ s first water-powered textile mill in Pawtucket , marking the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution .
1803 Pelham Street in Newport is the first gas-lit street in America .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY ’ S NEWCOMERS ’ GUIDE l 2024 9