Having Fun At Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival

A lot of people steer clear of wine festivals and events because, I think, they are under the impression that they are snobby with elitest wine know-it-alls who just want to impress you with their knowledge.  What fun is that, right?  This may be true at some events but not all.

Don't let the luxurious, gilded age backdrop fool you at Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival.  Yes, it was known as a place of immense wealth and formality but today it's more fun than anything.  It's an opportunity to learn more about wine if one wants to, see some great chef demonstrations and enjoy food samples and tastings, meet new people from all over the country or just relax at a beautiful spot on the water.

It's also a chance to get all dressed-up and dance the night away at some of the more elegant evening events.  We will be there again this year as we always consider the weekend (September 20-22) to be both the kickoff for and the highlight of the Fall social season.  We are absolutely confident that if you make either a day or a weekend of it you will not be disappointed.  Tickets can be purchased here.  Saturday typically sells out first.  See you there!  

Pasta Beach Newport

 

Spaghetti Carbonara at Pasta Beach in Newport.

It was the first place we went to dine after arriving in Newport, RI on Friday evening for our annual week of food and touring.  Of course, it was mobbed.  It always is.  Even with the move to a new, much more spacious location on Bellevue Avenue.  Pasta Beach is just one of the favorite restaurants of locals and visitors alike.

The new design is contemporary sleek with, as stated, much more room allowing for bigger groups as well as intimate nooks, a big, very popular, bar in the back and a long, marble counter that runs the length of the open kitchen.  That's where we sat the first night.  It was a simple Margherita Pizza cooked to perfection in the brick oven and a glass of cold local brew, Flying Jenny from Grey Sail Brewing.  They rotate the local beers every week.

If it wasn't for the snippets of English spoken in hushed tones you would swear you're in a small, contemporary restaurant somewhere in Italy.  The pastas, salads and pizzas are simply prepared and quickly served.  The Italian mandate of the highest possible quality of just a few ingredients dictates the menu.

On the last night there were glasses of rosé from a decent wine list in the $12-$15 range. 

The Tagliatelle Asparagi e Prosciutto: asparagus, Parma Prosciutto, cream, Parmiagiano Reggiano and parsley.

The portion sizes are just right and so are the prices for the quality ingredients in a sophisticated setting.   No wonder it is so popular with the locals.  They also have a Boston restaurant at Rowe's Wharf that we have yet to try.  So now that's yet another summer goal to add to the list.

Pasta Beach Newport
138 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI  02840
Telephone:  401.847.2222

Socials:
@TheBostonFoodie
@pastabeachnewport

Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival 2017

The clouds and mist gave way to brilliant sunlight as we approached Marble House for the 2017 Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival.  It's definitely our favorite celebration of the year.

After being welcomed in we briefly stepped into the sumptuously ornate first floor dining room, one of many in the mansion, then rushed out to see who was there before the event was opened to the public and attendees streamed in.

Each guest is greeted with a glass and a quick pour before entering the massive tent where vintners and vendors await.

We simply could not walk by the station our friends at Dole & Bailey were hosting.  They grilled up steaks and shrimp all day to the sellout crowd proving to be, without question, the most popular vendor at the festival.

The famous Chinese Pagoda was hosted for VIP guests by Chateau d'Eclans.  After a few stops at some wine and restaurant booths, we entered the party.

The day long party was hosted by none other than Paul Chevalier, Managing Director at Chateau d'Eclans.  We sipped Whispering Angel and Rock Angel, their newest rosé, both great, as we chatted with others.  Wine Enthusiast gave the Rock Angel a great review, noting the "depth of flavor from the zest and red berry fruits."

The Pagoda was beautifully laid out with comfortable settees and couches and decorated in the signature pale rose wine color.

After mingling for a bit we basically had the very best seats in the house, a table on the porch of the Pagoda overlooking the entire event including the cooking demo stage and the ocean views.

Trudy Cox, CEO of the Newport Mansions Preservation Society even stopped by to say hello. 

The weather and stunning backdrop make this event a spectacular affair every year.  The perfect weather, variety of participants, really friendly crowd from all over the country (we even snagged an invite to the Kentucky Derby 2018 from new friends we met from Louisville) and all of the great food made this the very best festival we've attended.  They just seem to get better and ramp up the quality of the experience every year.

We tasted plates from some great restaurants both local and neighboring locales, including Boston, along with some great new wine discoveries.  More on that later.

All in all a wonderful weekend yet again of like-minded food and wine lovers!

We attended this event as members of the media with no remuneration or any promise of editorial consideration.