FOOD NEWS: Healthful

A grab-and-go sandwich from The Beach Rose Cafe

New Charlestown cafe with health-focused nosh

“I have way too much energy and needed another project,” jokes Marie Christine Case, who opened The Beach Rose Cafe in Charlestown in June with her daughter, Paula DiLullo, and son-in-law, Daniel Gay. “This is happening straight up because of them,” she says of her trained chef son-inlaw and her daughter who keeps the business humming. “They turned my idea into something viable.”

A South County Adventure Boot Camp fitness devotee, Case’s idea was to open a small cafe that had healthy alternatives but were also convenient to grab-and-go, “items that give you fuel,” she explains. Their signature Breakfast Bites are portable energy bombs filled with protein and healthy carbs from Gay’s propriety flour blend. Fresh veggies from farms like Sweet Pea and a special Beach Rose Blend co ee from Sea Worthy keeps the focus local. Everything on the menu is scratch made and “nutritional, beautiful, flavor packed things.” Charlestown, TheBeachRoseCafe.com

New food hub opens in Wakefield

Town Made Kitchen, a new commercial kitchen concept created by Green Line Apothecary owners Ken and Christina Procaccianti, recently opened on Main Street in Wakefield. As makers themselves – Green Line has their own house-made ice cream brand – the Procacciantis went on the hunt for a commercial kitchen. When the pharmacy moved to their new headquarters at 245 Main Street, they decided to turn the old location into a commercial food hub, where locals can get rotating offerings of varied cuisines from different makers.

“We wanted to create a collaborative, flexible, turn-key operation for other entrepreneurs to start their businesses,” says Ken. The Town Made team assists the fledgling businesses with things from packaging to payment systems and also helps with marketing. “Christina and I know how hard it is to start a small business,” he says. “We’re successful if the entrepreneurs grow their business to a point where they can leave.” Wakefield, TownMade.com

Beloved East Greenwich diner expands to NK

“I can’t say I’ve had a dull moment in six months,” says Jigger’s Diner owner and chef Karie Myers. Back in January, The Talk whisked her to LA for a pancake cook-off, where an eggless twist on her Johnnycake benedict recipe took top honors on the CBS chat show. In February, she spotted an expansion opportunity for Jigger’s, the classic Worcester Dining Car Company centerpiece on Main Street in East Greenwich.

Jigger’s South, located at the Hamilton Village Inn, is her new venture on Boston Neck Road in North Kingstown. With a three-season porch, an expansive yard for picnic tables, plus a steady stream of beach goers, Myers saw an opportunity to create a local food maker-focused cafe and elevated clam shack. With local produce and proteins used for Jigger’s faves, the restaurant features Rhody-grown hot sauces, sodas, as well as cocktails, beer, and wine. North Kingstown, JiggersDiner.com