Media
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
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
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
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
7 New Places to dine snack and drink in RI
June 4th 2019
Part of the team behind North Kingstown’s Back 40 — including managers Justin Dalton-Ameen, Josh and Pete Culpo, and chef Robert Pirnie, but not former Miss Universe and current model Olivia Culpo — have opened a restaurant in Coventry.
Named after the town’s signature oak trees, Black Oak focuses on comfort foods such as fish and chips, meatloaf and fish tacos.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to get a good idea what’s been tried and true at Back 40, so there’s some similarities with the menus,” said Dalton-Ameen.
The 250-seat restaurant, in the location of a former Fat Bellies, has a full bar specializing in local craft beers. Other draws include brunch every Sunday and Farm Burger Fridays, featuring beef from local farms, including Sunset Farm in Narragansett.
760 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, (401) 615-2500, Blackoakcoventry.com. Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-midnight (brunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m.).
Come check us out Coventry, we’re ready for you!
May 22 2019
Wicked Local RI is at Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks.
Coventry’s newest eatery opens TODAY @ 11am;
Last night Wicked Local RI was invited to the Soft Opening at Black Oak. Feast your eyes on the mouth watering foods and drinks, meet the crew and feel the ambiance in this short video!
