McGrath Clambakes in Newport RI caterer for meetings, conventions and corporate events



			COMPANY HISTORY Throughout the 1940's, 50's and 60's Thomas F. McGrath (also known as Mugsy) worked with members of the local Elks, Knights of Columbus and friends to put on traditional New England clambakes at area locations such as Sachuest Point and the Arthur Curtis James estate. Two of Tom's biggest clients were the US Navy and the US Marines. Navy and marine personnel ranging in size from 150 to 200 people gathered several times a season to enjoy Tom's special clear broth Rhode Island chowder and old fashioned clambakes. He taught his son Tom the art of clambaking which led to the founding of Tom McGrath Clambakes, Inc. in 1969 the same year the Pell Bridge connected Newport to Jamestown.











							Tom catered about a half dozen clambakes that first year and continued to grow the business to the point where he was catering several events in multiple venues on one day. Tom, who worked with his wife Kathy, invested in tents, tables and chairs as well as custom made equipment over the years to cater clambakes ranging in size from 50 to 2,000. Over a span of thirty years, company founder Tom McGrath traveled throughout New England catering clambakes and lobster boils. Jobs also took him to Miami, New Jersey and Washington DC. In DC he catered clambakes for Congressman Ron Machtley which were attended by members of the US House of Representatives and Senate. In 1992, CBS This Morning profiled Tom cooking a traditional New England clambake. In 1995 Tom & Kathy were recognized as Caterers of the Year by the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. In 1999 Tom decided it was time to retire and turn over the company's reigns to his son T.R. who was quite familiar with the business having worked for years putting up tents, picking rockweed, managing crews, building clambakes, preparing food and serving thousands of people. T.R.'s first job as the new owner of McGrath Clambakes, Inc. was preparing a traditional old fashioned clambake for 1,000 culinary professionals attending the International Association of Culinary Professionals Annual Convention in Providence in March of 2000. Special guest and master chef Julia Child was in attendance and came to hear how T.R. prepared the clambake. Following is his father and grandfather's footsteps, T.R. has grown the business significantly catering a broad range of events which include traditional catering fare and high end weddings and corporate events. Under T.R.'s tenure McGrath Clambakes, Inc. has been featured on the Food Network's Food Nation with Bobby Flay, Unwrapped and Giada's Weekend Getaways, the Discovery Channel's Home Matters and the Travel Channel's Taste of America as well as numerous local programs. T.R. is a member of several associations, including:








			SLIDESHOW: Photos from clambakes catered in the 1940's (black and white pictures) and three generations of bakemasters. PHOTOS: THREE GENERATIONS OF BAKEMASTERS ~ Thomas F. McGrath, Company Founder Tom McGrath photographed by Kate Lucey for Born Newporters and T.R. McGrath photographed in The Newport Daily News


							International Special Events Society International Caterers Association Newport County Chamber of Commerce Newport Convention & Visitor's Bureau Newport Lodging Restaurant and Tourism Association Rhode Island Hospitality & Tourism Association