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In the Kitchen: Chicken Yakitori
June 14th 2022
In the kitchen today, we welcome Chef/Owner/Culinary Director Rob Pirnie. He oversees restaurants including Back 40 in North Kingstown, Union & Main in East Greenwich, Black Oak Kitchen in Coventry, and Evie’s in Westerly. Today he is making Chicken Yakitori with Cilantro Lime Jasmine Rice and Pickled Cucumber & Radish Slaw.
Ingredients
Diced chicken thigh
Water Soaked Bamboo Skewer…
Olivia Culpo’s celebrity status lures diners to new restaurant but real star is the food
April 20th, 2022
EAST GREENWICH — Last week, Olivia Culpo brought the spotlight to the opening of Union & Main, the town’s newest restaurant.
But it will be the food and atmosphere that will attract, and keep, diners in the long run.
The restaurant is the second with Culpo’s investment, but the third in Rhode Island for the core ownership team of Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, a cousin. Part owners include Olivia, her father Peter Culpo, culinary director Rob Pirnie and Gina Mercurio Martin.
Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, both with roots in Rhode Island, started with Lulu’s in Allston, Massachusetts in 2014. The group opened North Kingstown’s Back 40 in 2017 with Olivia and her father. Then Black Oak in Coventry opened in 2019. Next up is Evie’s in Westerly later this year. Read More at ProvidenceJournal.com
Olivia Culpo on hand for opening celebration of her East Greenwich restaurant
April 12th, 2022
EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — Olivia Culpo’s new restaurant is open for business.
The Cranston native and former Miss USA and Miss Universe was in the Ocean State Tuesday evening for the grand opening of Union & Main, a new restaurant venture with her father, family members and others.
“I love coming back to Rhode Island,” she said. “This is so near and dear to my heart. This is still my home.”
The restaurant is run by Grampo LLC, the same minds behind Back 40 in North Kingstown and Black Oak in Coventry. Olivia is a part-owner, along with her father, Peter. Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo are Grampo’s main owners. Robert Pirnie is the culinary director, and Gina Martin is the general manager.
Peter owns several bars and restaurants in Boston. Olivia says her dad’s experience in the food service industry is something that she’s admired.
“I’ve watched my dad work really hard my entire life, and to be able to do this project with him and with my family, it’s so rewarding and I’m excited for people to join in with us,” Olivia said.
“I was built on good food and a good community, and that’s what I’m bringing in a small way,” said Olivia. “It’s the perfect combination for me.”
In the Kitchen: Chicken Yakitori
June 14th 2022
In the kitchen today, we welcome Chef/Owner/Culinary Director Rob Pirnie. He oversees restaurants including Back 40 in North Kingstown, Union & Main in East Greenwich, Black Oak Kitchen in Coventry, and Evie’s in Westerly. Today he is making Chicken Yakitori with Cilantro Lime Jasmine Rice and Pickled Cucumber & Radish Slaw.
Ingredients
Diced chicken thigh
Water Soaked Bamboo Skewer…
Olivia Culpo’s celebrity status lures diners to new restaurant but real star is the food
April 20th, 2022
EAST GREENWICH — Last week, Olivia Culpo brought the spotlight to the opening of Union & Main, the town’s newest restaurant.
But it will be the food and atmosphere that will attract, and keep, diners in the long run.
The restaurant is the second with Culpo’s investment, but the third in Rhode Island for the core ownership team of Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, a cousin. Part owners include Olivia, her father Peter Culpo, culinary director Rob Pirnie and Gina Mercurio Martin.
Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, both with roots in Rhode Island, started with Lulu’s in Allston, Massachusetts in 2014. The group opened North Kingstown’s Back 40 in 2017 with Olivia and her father. Then Black Oak in Coventry opened in 2019. Next up is Evie’s in Westerly later this year. Read More at ProvidenceJournal.com
Olivia Culpo on hand for opening celebration of her East Greenwich restaurant
April 12th, 2022
EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — Olivia Culpo’s new restaurant is open for business.
The Cranston native and former Miss USA and Miss Universe was in the Ocean State Tuesday evening for the grand opening of Union & Main, a new restaurant venture with her father, family members and others.
“I love coming back to Rhode Island,” she said. “This is so near and dear to my heart. This is still my home.”
The restaurant is run by Grampo LLC, the same minds behind Back 40 in North Kingstown and Black Oak in Coventry. Olivia is a part-owner, along with her father, Peter. Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo are Grampo’s main owners. Robert Pirnie is the culinary director, and Gina Martin is the general manager.
Peter owns several bars and restaurants in Boston. Olivia says her dad’s experience in the food service industry is something that she’s admired.
“I’ve watched my dad work really hard my entire life, and to be able to do this project with him and with my family, it’s so rewarding and I’m excited for people to join in with us,” Olivia said.
“I was built on good food and a good community, and that’s what I’m bringing in a small way,” said Olivia. “It’s the perfect combination for me.”
19 new restaurants, cafes and distilleries planning to open in Rhode Island in 2022
Jan 5th 2022
A new one is here, with all its promises.We can’t know what 2022 holds, the last two years have shown it.
But that’s for sure: New restaurants, cafes, distilleries and breweries will open Rhode Island.
Nowhere will there be more new food and drink than in the old walls of Unity Park in Bristol Industrial Park. Originally from the National Rubber Company, which was introduced in 1865, the assets have become Kaiser Aluminium in 1957. After years of vacancy, developer Joe Brito is creating a new dining destination.
Pivotal Brewing already opened its tavern, with dizzying 30-foot ceilings, in November.
Read More at ProvidenceJournal.com
Coming together: Show of support, love for injured hockey players in West Warwick
Feb 19th, 2022
WEST WARWICK — The best moment of the Rhode Island high school hockey season took place on Friday night at a packed Benny Magiera Ice Rink before the puck was dropped for the game between Coventry and West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich.
It was Senior Night for the WWEWG but this was about more than that. This was healing. This was community. This was family.
Read More at RhodeIslandMonthly.com
Rhode Island Craft Beer Week Kicks Off March 5
May 12, 2020
Local beer lovers rejoice — Rhode Island is hosting its first-ever Craft Beer Week, a nine-day celebration of local brewing featuring special events, new releases and lots and lots of craft beer.
The event, organized by the Rhode Island Brewers Guild, kicks off on Saturday, March 5, and will last through Sunday, March 13. Throughout the week, participating breweries will host special events and contests to mark the celebration of all things local.
Among the highlights for the week are “Ultimate Rhode Island Day” at Narragansett Beer in Providence, featuring New York System wieners, Del’s and other Rhode Island fare, and a “Saugy Showdown” at Linesider Brewing Company, where local brewers will compete to see who can eat the most Saugy dogs.
Coventry restaurant shares its Buffalo cauliflower recipe
May 12, 2020
After I reported on a quirky national study on takeout that said the most popular to-go item in Rhode Island is Buffalo cauliflower, readers asked for a recipe to make it at home.
Coventry’s Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks, one of the restaurants named by readers for having a delicious version of the dish, called Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower, agreed to share their recipe. Most of it anyway.
The restaurant at 760 Tiogue Ave. is from the team that runs Back 40 in North Kingstown and Lulu’s in Allston, Massachusetts. They are Justin-Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo. They’ve added another managing partner, Rob Pirnie who is also the executive chef. Olvia Culpo, a partner at Back 40, is not involved in the Coventry restaurant.
Pirnie, who shared the recipe, was born and raised in Rhode Island. He learned to love cooking with his grandmother at her home in Cranston. He is partial to local seafood and is working to cultivate relationships with local farmers and food purveyors.Read More at ProvidenceJournal.com
