Do you know that Rhode Island is the only state in the US that has an official appetizer? Yes, appetizer! The Ocean State designated that great Italian American restaurant favorite, calamari, as its state appetizer on June 27, 2014, when Governor Lincoln Chaffee signed a bill that was passed by the state legislature. 

The bill was sponsored by lawmakers who wanted to promote the state’s food and tourism industries, as well as honor the hard work of the fishermen who catch squid every day. The bill also got some national attention in 2020, when Rhode Island showcased its calamari during the Democratic National Convention. The state party chairman Joseph McNamara called Rhode Island the “calamari comeback state” and praised its resilience and diversity.