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Gemma Crystal Vodka
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnewswine & drinks

News Bites: The Industrious Spirit Company Releases Gemma / Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance Launches / Castle Hill Inn New Private Adirondack Experience

by David Dadekian July 25, 2023
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.


The Industrious Spirit Company Celebrates the Summer Solstice with the release of their latest creation, Gemma Crystal Vodka, a low-ABV spirit distilled through local quartz!

Gemma Crystal Vodka

Today, The Industrious Spirit Company (ISCO) announced that in honor of the Summer Solstice on June 21 they will release their newest spirit, Gemma Crystal Vodka. Gemma joins ISCO’s existing family of hand-crafted, innovative products including Structural Vodka, Ornamental Gin, Patina Barrel Aged Gin and Ostreida (the World’s first Oyster Vodka), as well as their Blue Velvet Blue Corn Bourbon (the first of many aged products to come). 

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to release Gemma” said Dan Neff, Distiller at ISCO. “All of our products are inspired by a unique sense of place and a desire to create something special, category-defining and unique.” Distiller Eric Olson added “This particular spirit really does have its own aura about it. We set out to create a lower-ABV vodka that was rooted in the geological aspects of our specific terroir, so the idea of making a superiorly smooth, easy-drinking spirit using local, New-England-mined quartz just made perfect sense.”

Gemma Crystal Vodka begins as a rich, organic handmade spirit, which is further refined by distilling it with full-moon charged, locally-sourced quartz crystals. This silicon-dioxide-rich stone is known for its ability to absorb, store, and regulate the release of energy—bringing balance to the spirit’s light, smooth character. ISCO scoured Rhode Island for the most perfect, locally-mined quartz. Using the quartz like a botanical element, ISCO developed a special distilling process to increase the purity of the alcohol in the still and finally proofed Gemma down to the Atomic Weight of Quartz, 60.0183—which also happens to be a delightfully nice proof for a lower alcohol vodka!


The new “Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance” is empowering food producers and food access providers to take care of local needs first

All concerned Rhode Islanders invited!

Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance

A new USDA-funded project that improves food security and supports the local food economy is calling for Alliance Members. The Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance, led in partnership by the Commercial Fisheries Center of RI, Eating with the Ecosystem, Farm Fresh RI,  Southside Community Land Trust, and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, is working to build sustainable market channels between local farmers, fishers and food manufacturers and Rhode Island’s emergency food providers in order to make sure all residents of the Ocean State have access to fresh, local, culturally-relevant food. 

The goal of the Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance (RFRA) is to create a larger, more reliable wholesale market for local producers and harvesters while also increasing access to fresh, healthy, culturally-relevant food for local food insecure families.  Membership to the Alliance is open to farmers, fishers, food manufacturers, and emergency food access providers. All concerned citizens are invited to sign up to stay informed. Farmer and fisher members will be connected with opportunities to SELL their food. Food access providers will be connected with opportunities to BUY local food. All members will be invited to attend quarterly meetings to hear updates and stories from the people and organizations doing this work in the field.  

The RFRA is launching with funding through a three year grant from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Local Food Promotion Program. The core (funded) partners are Farm Fresh RI, Commercial Fisheries of RI, and Southside Community Land Trust. The initial pilot through which we developed the program and partnerships was funded through an LFPP planning grant: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp. This grant was strongly supported by all members of the state’s Federal Congressional delegation. Additional funding has been provided by Rhode Island Foundation, Angell Foundation, Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and Island Foundation. The Council will measure and evaluate the project’s impacts, and use the findings to improve program operations and advocate for sustainable funding. 

To learn more about Rhody Feeding Rhody and to join the Alliance, visit www.rhodyfeedingrhody.org.

SUPPORTING PARTNER QUOTES

Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Rhode Island farmers and fishers have become more invested than ever in ensuring food security for their food insecure neighbors.” According to Nessa Richman, Network Director of the RI Food Policy Council, “We’re excited to see the Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance grow this market, increasing the viability of our farm and seafood businesses while putting fresh, healthy local food on tables across the state.” Richman noted “We need all interested farmers, fishers and seafood processors, local food manufacturers, and emergency food providers to join, so the Alliance can start off strong and achieve sustainability.”

“DEM is thrilled to support the Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance (RFRA) and see how the work of its partners and members will bolster Rhode Island’s food security and supply chain resiliency,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Local farmers and fishers drive the Rhode Island food system, and the RFRA will expand their ability to provide local and fresh food to our communities. Food security is impacted by events in our backyard and around the world – building connections across the emergency food system is at the heart of DEM’s efforts to support a more locally based and resilient food system”

Eva Agudelo, Hope’s Harvest Program Director at Farm Fresh RI says, “Farm Fresh is glad to partner with organizations across the state to bring more market opportunities to local food producers and increase access to healthy food for all Rhode Islanders. Connecting and coordinating our efforts will make these new relationships stronger, more efficient, and better able to meet the needs of our communities.”

Fred Mattera, president of the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, adds “For decades, fishermen have supported the South County Community by having Seafood Dinners and special events to support students, the elderly, and families that have lost family members at sea. When I approached fishermen with the idea of feeding families in need, there was no hesitation.” As the program has proceeded, more fishermen have stepped up with wanting to provide their seafood bounty to feed more of the RI Community.  Local Seafood – Feeding our Local Communities! This is the essence of Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance, providing and expanding the opportunity of Seafood throughout the RI Community.” 

“Our local waters produce a huge diversity and abundance of delicious, healthy, local seafood that all who live here should be able to enjoy. Seafood is such an important part of our food culture for so many of us living in Rhode Island. At Eating with the Ecosystem we are excited to be a part of a program that is helping to provide access to local seafood for those who may not have had it and connect more people with our incredible fishing communities, ecosystems, and seafood!” Kate Masury, Executive Director of Eating with the Ecosystem. 

According to Margaret DeVos, Executive Director at Southside Community Land Trust, “when people have control over the assets of the food system they make sure that others in their communities get fresh, healthy and affordable food. This happens day after day at SCLT gardens and farms and it will happen even more often through the work of the Rhody Feeding Rhody Alliance.”


New Private Adirondack Experience Launches on The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn

Private gathering spaces on Castle Hill Inn’s front lawn with Adirondack furniture & cocktail service for up to 12 guests now available; New dining menu now offered at The Lawn restaurant

This summer, for the first time, Castle Hill Inn, the iconic Relais & Châteaux property on Newport’s Ocean Drive, is offering a new “Private Adirondack Experience” on The Lawn at Castle Hill. Now available for reservations, this new experience is being offered in addition to the traditional first-come, first-served Adirondack chairs available to guests and the public to enjoy. 

Designed for groups of up to 12 people, the experience offers guests the opportunity to reserve a private gathering space on Castle Hill Inn’s storied front lawn, complete with Adirondack furniture and cocktail service.  The private spaces can be booked for parties of up to 12 guests for 2.5 hours.

The Private Adirondack Experience is being offered daily during the summer months, with three seatings per day at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm. Advance reservations are required, and can be made online through the Events at Castle Hill Inn OpenTable page. Guests who book the experience have the choice to pre-order food and beverage selections from the “add-on” menu when making their reservation, which is highly recommended. Champagnes and wines by the bottle, local beers, lobster rolls, caviar service and other snacks are all offered as part of the Private Adirondack Experience. 

“The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn is synonymous with summer here in Newport, and we know that our guests and visitors to Newport love to visit us to celebrate special occasions as well as gather with friends and family to enjoy cocktails and views of the sailboats racing by,” said Lou Rossi, Director of Food & Beverage at Castle Hill Inn. “We’ve heard from guests that they would love to be able to make advance reservations for space on our lawn for these types of gatherings, and we hope this helps them plan ahead, while also providing an unforgettable special experience in our beautiful oceanfront setting.”

The cover charge is $25 per person, 7 days a week, plus sales tax and 20% gratuity. The cost of pre-selected food and beverages, along with sales tax and gratuity are additional and collected at the time of booking. Reservations for The Private Adirondack Experience are all outdoors; reservations cancelled due to inclement weather will receive a full refund.

In addition to the new Private Adirondack Experience, Castle Hill Inn has also launched an updated dining menu for The Lawn restaurant. While mainstays including Castle Hill Inn’s fan-favorite lobster roll and “Cornbread’s” clam chowder remain, new menu options include Grilled Twin Lobster Tails with Maine grains polenta and mushrooms, a Dry Aged Strip Steak served with potato gratin and creamed Swiss chard, along with a Whole Roasted Branzino with capers, olives, potatoes and a rock shrimp butter sauce. To see the new dining menu, or to make a reservation for The Lawn restaurant, please visit https://www.castlehillinn.com/dine/the-lawn/.

For more information on Castle Hill Inn, visit www.castlehillinn.com.

July 25, 2023 0 comment
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Rory’s Market and Kitchen Prepared Foods Assortment
chefs & restaurantsnewswine & drinks

News Bites: Castle Hill Inn New Prix-Fixe Menu / Rory’s Market and Kitchen Coming to Providence / Beatnic’s Vegan Lobster Roll Available in Providence / Coppa Cocktails Arrive in the USA

by David Dadekian July 29, 2022
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.


The Dining Room At Castle Hill Inn Launches New Pre-Fixe Tasting Menu Experience

New menu offers a curated culinary adventure designed around coastal New England flavors

The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn, the iconic Relais & Châteaux property in Newport, Rhode Island, today announced the release of its new Tasting Menu; a curated tasting experience inspired by both the flavors of coastal New England and influences around the globe.

Located inside the historic Agassiz Mansion, The Dining Room has long been the backdrop to memorial occasions and praised as one of the best restaurants in Newport. Led by Executive Chef Lou Rossi and Chef de Cuisine Dylan Cadrette, the new Tasting Menu focuses on dishes that utilize and showcase the bounty of Newport’s local produce, seafood, and artisanal producers to present a unique, memorable experience that is tailored to guest’s preferences.

“In creating this specialized, tailored menu we hope The Dining Room continues to surprise our guests and encourage them to rethink what New England cuisine is all about,” said Executive Chef Lou Rossi. “The menu takes all the bounty of Rhode Island and the surrounding region to highlight seasonal ingredients we plan to change on a regular basis to ensure each dining experience is different than the last.”

With the new Tasting Menu, avid foodies and gourmet-minded diners are treated to an incredible farm-to-table dining adventure. The prix fixe menu offers six courses, each of which features two to three dishes for guests to choose from. Each dish is tied to a key ingredient as its focus and offers guests an ever-changing and seasonally inspired array of both local and globally inspired flavors.

The six-course selection includes everything from local, Rhode Island Oysters and Foie Gras Terrine, to Lobster with squash and radish, Truffle Pasta, and Strawberry featuring cucumber and yuzu. The two desserts are focused on Melon, featuring biscotti and almond, and Chocolate tied together with fig and coffee.

To tie it all together, the restaurant’s exceptional and award-wining wine list features more than 800 selections to offer the perfect pairing with each curated meal. Specialty wine flights are designed to complement the flavors of the menus being served.

The new six-course Tasting Menu in The Dining Room is available for $135 per person. Wine Flights start from $50 per person. To view sample menus or to make a reservation for The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn, guests can visit www.castlehillinn.com/dine/the-dining-room/.


Rory’s Market And Kitchen Opens September 2022 In Downtown Providence

Rory’s Market and Kitchen Prepared Foods Assortment
Rory’s Market and Kitchen Prepared Foods Assortment

Rory’s Market and Kitchen is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of their newest store located at 113 Washington Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Rory’s is an independent, second generation owned, local, natural grocery store and kitchen. The store will open with over 6,000 square feet on the ground floor of the Nightingale Building in September 2022.

Rory’s first location was opened in Dennisport, MA in 1978 by Darby Ziruk with the mission to bring organic produce to Cape Cod residents. A second location was opened in Mashpee, MA in 2014, followed by Darby’s daughter Rory Eames stepping into ownership in 2019. Rory’s Providence location will carry on the mission to support communities by offering access to natural products and organic produce from local businesses. The Providence location will serve as the company’s third store and the first outside of Massachusetts. 

“This is our first urban location, which gives us the opportunity to grow together in such a special city like Providence,” says Rory Eames, owner and namesake of Rory’s. “We are so excited to serve and be part of the community.”

The Rory’s team is dedicated to sourcing a variety of natural and specialty grocery staples, including local and organic produce, meats, cheeses, beverages, vitamins, and body and home care items. As a brand, Rory’s is always on the lookout for the latest and upcoming foods and products. 

In addition to grocery offerings, Rory’s Kitchen provides customers with both made-to-order and grab-and-go breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The Providence menu will include organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, grain bowls, avocado toasts, salads, sandwiches and more. Customers can also look forward to gluten conscious-menu items. 

The store and kitchen will be open seven days a week, for in-person shopping, online-shopping, pick-up, and delivery service. Shoppers will enjoy the convenience of delivery for all grocery items, prepared foods, coffee and juice bar menu items.


Beatnic’s Vegan Lobster Roll Available in Providence

Beatnic's "Rock Lobstah Roll," Lobstah bib and Beatnic beach towels
Beatnic’s “Rock Lobstah Roll,” Lobstah bib and Beatnic beach towels

Vegans unite! Until now, lobster rolls were just a seaside treat reserved for meat-eaters and proclaimed pescatarians, but not anymore. 

Following the successful launch of Beatnic’s Vegan Lobster Roll at the Montauk Beach House in the Hamptons, Beatnic is happy to bring the beach to the city, extending their “Rock Lobstah Roll” to all store locations in NYC, Boston, and Providence. The product will be available August 1 – August 26 (4 weeks) at $10.95.

What’s a Vegan Lobster Roll you ask? 

Simple, it’s a vegan take on the East Coast favorite, subbing out lobster for hearts of palm and seasoning it with lemon juice, celery, red onion, a vegan remoulade, dill and Old Bay seasoning. To top it off, this delicious delight will be served on a vegan pretzel bun, serving up all the flavor with none of the fish!  

But wait, there’s more! Beatnic will be giving away FREE Beatnic beach towels and FREE Lobstah bib with any purchase.

Disclaimer: In store only, limited stock available, one per person. 


Coppa Cocktails® & M.S. Walker Brands Launch “World’s Best Cocktails” in the U.S.

Consumers Are Encouraged to “Just Add Ice!”  for a World Class Cocktail Experience

Coppa Cocktails® Pina Colada
Coppa Cocktails® Pina Colada

M.S. Walker Brands has partnered with Coppa Cocktails® to bring its robust line of award-winning classic to contemporary premium pre-mixed cocktails to U.S. shores. Developed by Toorank International Spirits, a Dutch distilling and bottling company founded in 1978, Coppa Cocktails are currently available in more than 30 countries. With natural flavors and premium spirits, 15% ABV, a SRP of $17.99/750mL, and disruptive packaging, Coppa Cocktails appeal to the modern consumer who seeks high quality, convenience, and aesthetic appeal. The brand is currently distributed in more than 27 states with an aggressive nationwide rollout underway. 

The core flavors are:

  • Margarita, made with tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and natural flavors, its distinct yet smooth agave aroma is followed by a tart, refreshing palate
  • Mojito, made with premium Caribbean white rum, lime, and mint, with prominent initial aromas of fresh and sweet mint leaves, followed by a palate led by refreshing sour lime
  • Strawberry Daquiri, again made with premium Caribbean white rum and lime juice, this time with the addition of fresh strawberries; the sweet and sour flavors of freshly muddled strawberries are very evident on the palate
  • Piña Colada, made with premium Caribbean white rum, vodka, rich cream, coconut, and the sweet flavor of pineapple juice, this Gold Medal winner from the Denver International Spirits Competition speaks for itself: no blender, no problem; just add ice!

Coppa Cocktails’ Cosmopolitan, Long Island Iced Tea, Mai Tai, Rum & Ginger, Sex on the Beach, and Tequila Sunrise are also currently for sale in the U.S. All Coppa Cocktails are non-GMO. 

José B. Chao, President of Coppa Cocktails USA, says, “We pride ourselves on offering the world’s best cocktails. Whether making life easy at home, or increasing speed and consistency on-premise, every Coppa Cocktail delivers a delicious, premium, and effortless cocktail experience.”

“As the ready-to-drink category continues to grow, we see a tremendous opportunity for a brand of Coppa Cocktails’ quality and visual appeal,” says Gary Shaw, Executive VP of Sales for M.S. Walker Brands. “Our strategy includes a vigorous in-store tasting and retail activation program, and we are confident consumers will experience the outstanding quality of these cocktails.” 

Please enjoy responsibly.

For more information, please visit www.coppacocktails.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Coppa Cocktails® Mojito
Coppa Cocktails® Mojito
July 29, 2022 0 comment
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