Our new food and travel show, A Taste of Rhode Island, began airing on Rhode Island PBS this past summer and the response has been fantastic. We’ve posted some of the episode segments online, and our most segment has been the Nordic Lodge, where we filmed as part of our pilot episode entitled “The Oyster Renaissance.” The episode explores the revival of oyster farming and aquaculture in Rhode Island after many years in decline. Back in the 1700’s, Narragansett Bay was one of the most productive oyster grounds in the world, but the practice was wiped out by pollution from industrial activities, primarily textile factories, starting in the 1800’s. But thanks to recent efforts to clean up the bay and the region’s waterways, oyster farming and aquaculture has rebounded with fantastic success. We start off the episode at Watch Hill Oysters, where we spend a day with aquaculture pioneer Jeff Gardner, who takes us around the farm and talks about oyster growing and harvesting. Then we follow his oysters straight to the Nordic Lodge, a world-famous, award-winning all-you-can-eat seafood buffet hidden in the woods of Charlestown. This is one of Rhode Island’s most famous spots, bringing in visitors from all over the Northeast and beyond who flock here to gorge themselves on lobster, crab legs, and every kind of local seafood imaginable. Surprisingly, however, the Nordic is not as well known to locals outside of South County. We finish up at Matunuck Oyster Bar, another one of Rhode Island’s most famous seafood restaurants. So far it’s been a delicious journey! Check out www.atasteofrhodeisland.com for videos, food photos, and recipes and get ready to book a trip to the food mecca of Rhode Island.