Newport, Rhode Island
Mansion touring stimulates the appetite!
A trendy European-style cafe, located near the Newport mansions tour, satiated our hunger pangs with sandwich offerings. Ours was naan flatbread wrapped around a salad of cheese, greens, vegetables and olives. It was a quick, healthy and delicious lunch.
MAPPING THE DAY
During the Gilded Age in U.S. history, right at the turn of the 20th century, the nation’s wealthiest families summered in their “cottages” in Newport, Rhode Island. The Wetmores built Chateau-sur-Mer; the Vanderbilts constructed The Breakers and Miramar.
There were more, many of them designed by famous New York architect Richard Morris Hunt. They all dotted Bellevue Avenue with expansive parcels, gilded appointments and magnificent views of the sea. The cottages became a backdrop for a social scene focused on sports, fashion and parties. Ahh, what fun they had.
LOCAL STORY
The Preservation Society of Newport County preserves the historic integrity of ten of the mansions and the life lived inside. A day pass gives passage to tour up to five, which is plenty. One has a guided tour, the rest are self-guided audio tours. We happened on the first mansion and could not get enough. In particular, we loved the mansion tours that included access to the kitchens filled with copper pots, multiple sets of china and vintage menus of elaborate party food. What a delight.
VIEW FROM THE TABLE
After three tours, we were hungry. We didn’t want to make it an afternoon of dining, so we were happy to find Rosemary and Thyme Café on Spring Street. A menu of innovative sandwiches on fresh breads draws Newport lunch diners in droves. We opted to split the signature sandwich: herbed goat cheese, kalamata olives, diced tomatoes, organic greens mixed with an herbed vinaigrette and served on grilled naan bread.
We enjoyed the sandwich, and then headed quickly back to vicariously live the life of society in the Newport mansions.
Since returning home, we have made a variation of this sandwich many times. Pick up some naan, available at many specialty grocery stores, grill it and roll it with a meat, vegetable and cheese salad. So good.
NAAN FLATBREAD
STUFFED WITH CHICKEN, FETA, OLIVES, SPINACY & TOMATO SALAD
[button link=”http://roadtripflavors.com/recipe/naan-flatbread-stuffed-with-chicken-feta-olives-spinach-tomato-salad/” type=”big” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] RECIPE[/button]
