Beech partners with Michael Schlow May 27

Beech in Jamestown, Rhode Island said on May 22 that it has partnered with James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow, who is joining the restaurant as chef and managing partner. The restaurant said a new menu under Schlow’s oversight will debut on May 27. Local outlet What’s Up Newp first reported the move on Friday, and a Providence Journal report published May 20 described the change as a broader relaunch of the restaurant’s food program. Michael Schlow is a longtime Boston restaurateur and the James Beard Foundation’s 2000 Best Chef: Northeast winner. Beech said Schlow will oversee operations as part of the partnership, while the kitchen team will also include executive chef Eric Warren, a Jamestown native whose return was noted in the Providence Journal report. ### What exactly is changing at Beech on May 27? (whatsupnewp.com) May 27 is the date Beech gave for the debut of its new menu. The restaurant said the refresh will include updated dinner offerings and seasonal dishes rolling out through the year, while What’s Up Newp reported that the menu will remain tied to the restaurant’s existing identity even as Schlow takes a larger role in the business. (archive.jamesbeard.org) The Providence Journal report said the menu is expected to move toward an American-meets-Mediterranean approach with an emphasis on local seafood and produce. That description did not appear as a direct statement from Beech in the What’s Up Newp item, but it was part of the Journal’s account of the restaurant’s planned direction under Schlow. (whatsupnewp.com) ### Who is Michael Schlow in this deal? Michael Schlow is joining not only as chef but also as managing partner, according to Beech’s announcement as reported by What’s Up Newp. That title suggests he will have a hand in both the menu and day-to-day restaurant oversight, rather than serving only as a consulting chef. (pantherswire.usatoday.com) The James Beard Foundation archive lists Schlow as an award winner, and his restaurant group identifies him as the chef leading Schlow Restaurant Group. Other biographical material tied to Schlow says he built his reputation in Boston and Washington restaurant circles after his Radius restaurant helped establish his profile nationally. (whatsupnewp.com) ### Who owns Beech and why was Schlow brought in? What’s Up Newp said Beech is backed by Conanicut Restaurant Group, a group made up of Jamestown residents. The report said the group brought in Schlow, described as a longtime friend, as it prepares the next version of the restaurant’s menu and operations. (archive.jamesbeard.org) Beech’s own website describes the property as a Jamestown restaurant and bar with five dining areas and a menu built around classic dishes with a current spin. The restaurant sits on Narragansett Avenue in Jamestown, and online listings describe it as an all-seasons remake of a longtime local gathering place. ### What should diners watch for next week? May 27 is the next concrete date in the rollout. (whatsupnewp.com) Beech said that is when the new menu begins, and the Providence Journal report said Schlow and Warren will lead a food program centered on local seafood, produce and a Mediterranean-influenced American format. (beechjt.com) Beech’s website and reservation listings remain the main public places to watch for menu changes and booking updates as the relaunch reaches diners next week. (beechjt.com) (whatsupnewp.com)