Food for Thought: Idea for First Diner in US Cooked Up in Rhode Island

Walter Scott came up with the concept of a food wagon in the 1800s.

September 6, 2024

Friends eating fast food at the table in the diner

Did you know that the good old-fashioned American diner originated in Rhode Island?

Walter Scott was a pressman in Rhode Island, working first for the Providence Evening Press and then for the Morning Star. His dream of being a young entrepreneur led him to quit his job, and in 1872 he began selling food out of a horse-pulled wagon.

That led to the diner as we know it today, perfected in the early 20th century by Jerry O’Mahony.

Get the full story in the reel below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhode Island PBS & The Public’s Radio (@rhodeislandpbs)

Allison Magnus Allison Magnus is the Social Media & Digital Producer for Rhode Island PBS. She runs all of the stations’ social media accounts and YouTube channels, creating graphics, thumbnails, reels, and trending promotional content. Allison graduated from The University of Rhode Island with a dual Film and English degree. She has been writing, directing, editing, and producing all forms of media content from short films to social media videos for almost a decade now. Previously, Allison was a radio host and general manager for WRIU 90.3 FM. In her free time, you can find Allison traveling around the world documenting her explorations.

Recipes

Canned Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet potato casserole is classic comfort made wonderfully simple. With pantry staples and just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a creamy, cinnamon-spiced dish that bakes up beautifully and fills the kitchen with the smell of maple and vanilla. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

December 9, 2025

Recipes

Cranberry Quesadillas

Meet the quesadilla you didn’t know you needed: turkey, cheese, and bright cranberries folded into a warm tortilla and cooked until perfectly crisp. It’s a cozy, kid-friendly recipe that feels both comforting and unexpected.

December 9, 2025

Recipes

Plantain Breakfast Hash

Meet your new brunch hero: a sweet-and-savory plantain breakfast hash topped with fresh chimichurri. It’s easy to make, packed with bold flavor, and perfect for feeding a crowd or meal-prepping a few breakfasts ahead of time.

December 9, 2025

Recipes

Sweet Potato Empanada

If you’re craving something cozy, flavorful, and easy to make, these sweet potato empanadas check every box. A cheesy yam dough wrapped around a spiced black-bean filling? Yes, please. They fry up beautifully in just a few minutes and disappear even faster.

December 9, 2025

Recipes

Maple Candied Pecans

Looking for a quick treat that feels gourmet but requires almost no effort? Enter: maple-candied pecans. They’re crunchy, cinnamon-kissed, and dangerously munchable — perfect for topping salads, gifting to friends, or eating by the handful while you “wait for them to cool.”

December 9, 2025

Climate + Environment

Why is the US glass recycling rate so low?

The US only recycles about a third of the glass it produces. How do we get those numbers up?

December 9, 2025

Nat Hardy