Ben Porter of Beachside Brawl describes himself as “a local Harwich, MA native with a love for cuisine and hospitality!” About eight years ago, the chef and his wife founded their first restaurant, Viera on Main. He is also the proprietor of The Lanyard Bar and Grill. Ben Porter is one of four East Coast participants that will compete against the West Coast team in the Beachside Brawl to show that the East Coast offers better cuisine. The program will premiere on Food Network on June 19, 2022, at 10 p.m. ET.
Everything you need to know about Beachside Brawl participant chef Ben Porter.
After years of working as a chef in several restaurants, including the Glass Onion in Falmouth and the Belfry Bistro in Sandwich, Porter founded his own restaurant, Viera on Main, in 2014, with his wife Angela Porter, who manages the front end. Ben was raised on Cape Cod and has been a scallop fisherman his whole life. He attended Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
The pair opened their eatery with the intention of serving their client’s fresh seaside cuisine. In 2014, Ben informed wickedlocal.com about their new venture:
“I believe there is a scarcity of restaurants where you can receive an entire meal created from scratch with genuine attention to authenticity.”
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“We believe in going above and beyond to provide diners with an experience that has becoming more unusual on the Cape.” A restaurant for the general public that focuses on the details and high-quality cuisine, whether it’s scallops, steak, or fish & chips.”
Ben’s restaurant does not stock any processed or pre-made foods. He buys vegetables and other things directly from local farmers since it is more cost-effective and healthier. Bread and spaghetti are also prepared from scratch. Fresh clam chowder, Frito Misto, tuna Crudo, creamy truffle goat cheese polenta to roast chicken, wood-fired short rib ragu, fennel custard tuna, and many more dishes are available. Angela had this to say about the menu:
“We wanted the cuisine to feel familiar and welcoming.”
Angela, like Ben, has vast expertise in the field. For almost a decade, the East Carolina University student in Greenville, North Carolina, has worked at both the Ocean House and Clancy’s in Dennis Port. The couple was seeking a spot that wasn’t too crowded. Ben had this to say about the location:
“We wanted a location with decent traffic but not too much hustle and bustle.” Route 28 was fantastic, and other customers are already flocking to this spot to eat. “I felt we might find our niche here.”
Viera was only available for supper when the couple originally opened it.
What brought Ben Porter and Angela together
Ben Porter and Angela originally met in Harwich kindergarten. Angela recalled their first encounter as follows:
“I think he was upset with me for a time because he claims I didn’t ask him to my fifth-grade birthday celebration, but I believe I did and he didn’t attend.”
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The two went on to create their professions after graduating from Harwich High in 1995. They reconnected several years later at a friend’s wedding, and the rest is history. Ben is presently getting ready to appear on Beachside Brawl, which will show this Sunday on Food Network and Discover Plus. Watch Ben’s culinary abilities on Beachside Brawl at 10 p.m. ET.
