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Yacht Club Bottling Works "Soda Pop Poll" 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian
newswine & drinks

With Only Weeks to Go Until Election Day, the Yacht Club “Soda Pop Poll” Delivers an Update

by David Dadekian September 23, 2020
written by David Dadekian
Yacht Club Bottling Works "Soda Pop Poll" 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian
Yacht Club Bottling Works “Soda Pop Poll” 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian

Yacht Club Bottling Works, The Official Soda and Water Company of Rhode Island, is releasing some preliminary results from this year’s Soda Pop Poll, and depending on your taste in candidates, the results may be shocking.

You might cry, “FAKE NEWS!” but as of mid-September, Donald’s Big League Punch holds a commanding 52% lead over Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade at 36%. Perhaps even more of an upset is the 12% of the vote being held onto by the independent seasonal favorite Berrymelon Rebellion. You can affect the final results of this poll by buying up your favorite of these Limited Release flavors now through election season, or while supplies last.

These preliminary results aren’t just from local sales but countrywide, as the Yacht Club Soda Pop Poll flavors can be found throughout the Midwest and West Coast in such notable soda pop retailers as Pops 66, Real Soda Distribution, Jim’s Apple Farm Minnesota Largest Candy Store, Blue Sun Soda and KC Soda Shop. 

Meanwhile, the pundits have been peppering Yacht Club owner John Sgambato with big questions: Is it the bold, punchy flavor that has given Donald the edge over Joe’s lemonade with a twist? What is it about the strawberry watermelon soda pop that is keeping a 3rd party vote alive? Is the x-factor swaying voters the Limited Release label art by nationally syndicated sports, editorial and entertainment cartoonist/artist and Rhode Island resident, Frankie Galasso? Sgambato responded, “The public has been voting with their palates since the flavors were released in May and the only thing they seem to agree on is that it’s all delicious!”

All three Soda Pop Poll flavors are available at the Yacht Club Bottling Works Factory Store in North Providence—see their Facebook page at facebook.com/yachtclubsoda for updated hours, will be sold at farmers markets and can be found in stores and restaurants through distribution by McLaughlin & Moran. Plus, the Yacht Club site at yachtclubsoda.com offers online ordering and will ship all their flavors to anywhere in the United States.

As reported previously: in 2016 the palates of New Englanders predicted the winner of the election. Of the 48,048 politically themed bottles sold that summer and fall, 46.3% of them were Donald’s Populist Punch, proving narrowly more popular than Hillary’s Liberal Limeade. Don’t miss out on your chance to vote in the 2020 Soda Pop Poll!

September 23, 2020 0 comment
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Yacht Club Bottling Works "Soda Pop Poll" 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian
chefs & restaurantscookingnewswine & drinks

News Bites: Hope & Main Nourish Our Neighbors / Yacht Club Bottling Works “Soda Pop Poll” / Newport Restaurant Group Mother’s Day 2020

by David Dadekian May 19, 2020
written by David Dadekian

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


East Bay “Eats Strong” During Covid-19 Crisis Thanks to New Hope & Main-based Program

Nourish Our Neighbors launches with 2,400 free meals distributed, and counting

Caitlin Mandel, Hope & Main’s Market & Community Program Manager, drops bagfuls of meals and fresh greens into the car of a local recipient during weekday morning pickups. Photo by Rupert Whiteley
Caitlin Mandel, Hope & Main’s Market & Community Program Manager, drops bagfuls of meals and fresh greens into the car of a local recipient during weekday morning pickups. Photo by Rupert Whiteley

HOPE & MAIN, the nonprofit food business incubator, recently launched the Nourish Our Neighbors program with donations raised from more than 250 generous donors and a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund. The program is a part of the nonprofit’s urgent response to support both the community and the local food economy during the Covid-19 crisis.

Nourish Our Neighbors is designed to ensure that local families, individuals and seniors have access to wholesome, prepared meals at a time when access to nutritious food is an increasing and critical challenge.

“During these unprecedented times we are seeing the breakdown of the local food supply chain. It makes no sense that the State’s farmers and fisherman have no market for what is locally cultivated and landed here, at the very moment when Rhode Islanders want fresh, local food. Consumers want to support them, but the distribution channels aren’t there. Nourish Our Neighbors is a way to support business continuity for our dozens of member companies as well as our local food system. Using the funds we raised, HOPE & MAIN-based chefs can purchase from local purveyors and prepare healthy food for vulnerable families in a time of need,” says Lisa Raiola, MPH, President and Founder of HOPE & MAIN. “There is nothing healthier than the food we cultivate and produce right here.”

The meals are a nutritious compliment to the free breakfasts and lunches supplied by the Bristol Warren School District that HOPE & MAIN has been distributing since mid-March from 8am-11am every Monday through Friday. The Nourish Our Neighbors team is also delivering 220+ frozen, reheatable meals each Friday to the area’s three Senior Centers. All of the Nourish Our Neighbors meals are provided at absolutely no cost to recipients.

An anonymous participant who retrieves meals daily for herself and housebound neighbors said “If I needed to use one word to describe it, ‘amazing’ would be the word of choice. I’m honored to be able to help children and elders in my community by delivering such well-balanced meals to them during this time of need. The staff is truly amazing and make you feel so welcome when you go to pick up the meals. And I enjoy seeing the smiles on the faces of the families when I drop off the food to them. It gives me a feeling like never before in my heart that I know I’m truly helping others.”

Community-based food businesses like Gotham Greens, Blount Fine Foods and Granny Squibb have also contributed food and supplies, says Kelley McShane, Managing Partner, The Granny Squibb Company, “HOPE & MAIN has always been a great support to Rhode Islanders and the small business/start-up community. It’s incredible to see how they have stepped up during a time of crisis. We are honored to be able to play a small part in their efforts.”

Roger Williams University has additionally partnered with HOPE & MAIN by providing a part-time staff member from Dining Services, Don Fitting, to help exclusively with the Nourish Our Neighbors program. “As part of our mission to strengthen society, RWU is proud to support HOPE & MAIN’s efforts to provide assistance to those impacted by Covid-19 through unemployment, public school facility closings, and to our local senior citizens,” said President Ioannis Miaoulis. Raiola notes, “As a life-long East Bay resident, Don has been a wonderful resource bringing both talent and heart to this ambitious initiative.”

Now three weeks into operations, HOPE & MAIN’s team is organizing to distribute 800-900 prepared meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. Caterers, prepared meal companies, restaurants and food trucks based at the nonprofit’s facility are eagerly stepping up to assist, many adapting and re-focusing their business models to meet current demand. Companies like Savory Fare, The Holistic Trick, Mise, Flat Waves, BSquared, Good Vines, Basil & Bunny and others are staying active, cooking up wholesome, ready-to-eat meals, incorporating local ingredients (including other HOPE & MAIN makers’ products) when possible.

“Being a part of Nourish Our Neighbors has been an incredible blessing for all of us at Flat Waves Food Shack. When 100% of our catering business was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were very concerned about the immediate future of our business,” says Will Burgess, owner of Flat Waves Food Shack and member of HOPE & MAIN’s copacking program, “Nourish Our Neighbors has helped keep our entire staff working, provided an outlet for our perishable food that otherwise may have spoiled, and brought some positivity, hope, joy (and income) to our business!”

The latest development in the Nourish Our Neighbors program is dubbed “Buy One, Give One”, intended to help sustain support in the months to come. Anyone with the means to do so can purchase a single-serving meal through HOPE & MAIN’s website. For that cost, one meal will be available for the purchaser to pick up on Monday evenings and one will be reserved for a community member in need for later in the week. Says Raiola: “These are beautiful, healthy meals, freshly prepared with care in our kitchens. I love that we will all be able to eat the same food — almost like gathering at the same table — to create a community of common support. This is how, together, we will get through this.”

For more information on Buy One, Give One, accessing meals or to donate to the Nourish Our Neighbors program please visit https://makefoodyourbusiness.org/nourish-our-neighbors/. Email [email protected] or call (401) 245-7400.


Yacht Club Bottling Works Returns to Politics with the Release of Their Second “Soda Pop Poll” featuring Donald’s Big League Punch and Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade

Yacht Club Bottling Works "Soda Pop Poll" 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian
Yacht Club Bottling Works “Soda Pop Poll” 2020, photo by David S. Dadekian

Yacht Club Bottling Works, The Official Soda and Water Company of Rhode Island, is getting back into politics for the 2020 presidential election with the return of their Soda Pop Poll. This year people have the choice of two new Limited Release flavors to show their presidential preference: Donald’s Big League Punch and Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade. As with the last presidential Soda Pop Poll, Yacht Club will release the results of the poll this fall to see which political pop New Englanders like best.

If you’re not interested in “voting” for Donald’s Big League Punch or Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade, Yacht Club will be re-releasing last summer’s Limited Release hit Berrymelon Rebellion as the 3rd party flavor choice. In 2016 the palates of New Englanders predicted the winner of the election. Of the 48,048 politically themed bottles sold that summer and fall, 46.3% of them were Donald’s Populist Punch, proving narrowly more popular than Hillary’s Liberal Limeade.

“People had so much fun trying our election flavors and ‘voting’ with their taste buds in 2016 that we knew we had to do it again this year, but with new sodas,” said Yacht Club owner John Sgambato. “Donald’s Big League Punch is a new and improved version of 2016’s Donald’s Populist Punch and Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade is a lemonade at heart but with a fun twist. Remember, every soda sold is a vote for that candidate to become President of Soda Pop!”

As has become the standard for Yacht Club’s Limited Release label art, Sgambato described his concept to nationally syndicated sports, editorial and entertainment cartoonist/artist and Rhode Island resident, Frankie Galasso, who drew both Trump and Biden labels in his own inimitable caricaturist style. Galasso considers himself “a bit of a soda freak” and enjoys his Yacht Club collaborations. Galasso can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/frankgalassori/.

All three Soda Pop Poll flavors are now available at the Yacht Club Bottling Works Factory Store in North Providence—see their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YachtClubSoda/ for updated hours, will be sold at farmers markets and can be found in local stores and restaurants through distribution by McLaughlin & Moran. Plus, Yacht Club has an updated web site at https://www.yachtclubsoda.com/ with online ordering and will ship all their flavors to anywhere in the United States.

Donald’s Big League Punch, Joe’s Berry-Blue Lemonade and Berrymelon Rebellion will only be available through election season, or while supplies last, so don’t miss out on your chance to vote in the Soda Pop Poll!


Newport Restaurant Group Celebrates Mother’s Day with Takeout Offerings

Newport Restaurant Group

Newport Restaurant Group (NRG), an award-winning collection of unique restaurant concepts throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, is celebrating moms this Mother’s Day with takeout options from Iron Works in Warwick and Avvio Ristorante in Cranston.

Iron Works, located at 697 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick, will offer a selection of specials in addition to its full takeout menu from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Specials include Crab Cakes: lump crab, seasonal slaw, and smoked tomato-aleppo pepper aioli; Shrimp Risotto with blistered grape tomatoes, corn, mascarpone cheese and fresh herbs; and a 16 oz. Bone-In Ribeye with potato and leek gratin, sautéed spinach, and house steak sauce. Family-style side dishes feature Garlicky Broccolini, Gruyere Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and Roasted Mushrooms, Fennel & Carrots. For the full menu and to place an order, visit https://www.ironworkswarwick.com/.

Avvio Ristorante, located at Garden City Center at 90 Hillside Road in Cranston, will be offering a family-style takeout menu for Mother’s Day from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in addition to its full takeout menu. The family-style menu feeds four people and includes a half sheet pan of focaccia bread, salad, entrée, and dessert for $100.

Salad options include a Caesar with romaine, focaccia crisp, creamy anchovy dressing, Grana Padano; and the Insalata di Avvio with romaine, arugula, radicchio, shaved fennel, Grana Padano, and a lemon basil vinaigrette.

Entrée selections include Chicken Piccata: pan-sautéed chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, and a lemon, white wine, and caper butter sauce; Chicken Parmesan with penne pomodoro; Rigatoni Bolognese with a beef, veal, pork, and tomato ragu and Grana Padano; or Penne con Pollo with grilled chicken, shiitake mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, roasted garlic, and a white wine butter sauce. Dessert features Assorted Cookies, including lemon biscotti, cannoli, and chocolate chip cookies.

Family-style orders must be placed by 8:00 p.m. on Saturday for Sunday pick up. For the full menu and to place an order, visit https://www.avvioristorante.com/.

May 19, 2020 0 comment
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newswine & drinks

Yacht Club Bottling Works Releases Results of First “Soda Pop Poll” Featuring Hillary’s Liberal Limeade & Donald’s Populist Punch

by David Dadekian November 8, 2016
written by David Dadekian

Yacht Club Bottling Works’s Hillary’s Liberal Limeade and Donald’s Populist Punch

Yacht Club Bottling Works’s Hillary’s Liberal Limeade and Donald’s Populist Punch

Yacht Club Bottling Works, celebrating their 101st year in operation, added another twist to this year’s presidential election with their “Soda Pop Poll” duo of drinks – Hillary’s Liberal Limeade & Donald’s Populist Punch, along with the addition of Gary’s Sassy Sarsaparilla, Yacht Club is now ready to release the results of the poll, announcing which political pop New Englanders like best.

“The results are in and sales show that by a very close margin, New Englanders love the flavor of Donald’s Populist Punch best,” said John Sgambato, owner of Yacht Club Bottling Works. “Thank you to everyone who purchased the Soda Pop Poll sodas. I hope it was a fun way to make it through this election year. We really appreciate your support and look forward to creating more political pops in the future.”

There were 48,048 bottles of Yacht Club Soda sold in the Soda Pop Poll and the final “vote” count is:

  • Donald’s Populist Punch, 22224 votes, 46.3%
  • Hillary’s Liberal Limeade, 21360 votes, 44.5%
  • Gary’s Sassy Sarsaparilla, 4464 votes, 9.2%

The results were announced by Sgambato in live video on NBC 10 WJAR’s Facebook page at noon on Election Day, alongside Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Jack Reed and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, encouraging people to get out and vote.

These were the first politically charged beverages released by the Official Soda and Water Company of Rhode Island. The Sgambato family hopes purchasers enjoyed having a friendly debate with friends while choosing their favorite of the two. Hillary’s Liberal Limeade has a raspberry lime flavor, while Donald’s Populist Punch is a traditional fruit punch that begins with a strawberry flavor and ends with notes of peach.

Famed cartoonist and Rhode Island resident, Frankie Galasso, designed the limited edition labels with caricatures of the 2016 presidential candidates, featuring Clinton and Trump front and center with their respective donkey and elephant mascots. Mike Corsini of Skepsis Multimedia is the graphic designer.

Every drink produced by Yacht Club Bottling Works begins with natural artesian water from a well drilled in 1923 through the bedrock 180 feet below the building. The water is natural mineral water and has exceptional characteristics for carbonation. Its temperature is 45 degrees, which allows carbonation without the use of cooling towers that can be bad for the environment. Also, the water naturally accepts 5.5 volumes of carbonation without alteration. This means no salt is added for carbonation.

All syrups are made onsite with only extra fine granular pure cane sugar mixed with natural artesian water – never high fructose corn syrup! When the syrup is fully mixed, the finest extracts and flavorings are added to make a truly unique drink. Yacht Club also has a large selection of sugar free options including diet soda and naturally flavored sparkling water. Yacht Club Soda has a clean, smooth flavor and is genuinely refreshing.

The “Soda Pop Poll” flavors are available until sold out, along with the always available complete line of Yacht Club sodas and seltzers at the company store (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday & Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sundays), at select stores throughout Southeastern New England, and at farmers markets.

November 8, 2016 0 comment
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cookingnews

Reed Urges Kids to Submit Their Favorite Healthy Recipes for a Chance to Attend Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House

by David Dadekian April 7, 2013
written by David Dadekian

ChooseMyPlate.govReed Urges Kids to Submit Their Favorite Healthy Recipes for a Chance to Attend Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House
National recipe contest to promote healthy eating

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed wants Rhode Island kids to show off their culinary skills and win a trip to the second annual White House Kids’ “State Dinner.”

First Lady Michelle Obama, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and Epicurious.com are offering kids a chance to participate in a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy school lunches, and the winner from each state will be invited to a White House Kids’ “State Dinner” this summer. Last year, Caroline Cowart, a 12-year-old from Cranston, was selected as the winner from Rhode Island. Caroline’s healthy recipe for a Broccoli and Cheese Egg White Omelet was one of 54 winners selected from more than 1,200 participants nationwide who created nutritious lunchtime meals using each of the five food groups. She and other winners from across the country met with President Barack Obama and the First Lady.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner” invites kids between the ages of 8 and 12 to work with their parents or legal guardian to create an original, nutritious lunchtime recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty. Entries should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and low-fat dairy foods. Entrants are encouraged to reference the nutritional guidelines of the USDA’s site, ChooseMyPlate.gov, to ensure recipes meet the primary criterion of being healthier.

“This is a great opportunity for kids and their parents to work together to promote healthy living and to win a chance to attend the second annual Kids’ “State Dinner.” The contest is a fun way for kids and their parents to share recipes for good food and healthy eating habits,” said Reed, who helped increase federal funding for school breakfast and lunch programs through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act so more kids will have access to a stable source of nutritious food.

The winning recipes from last year’s challenge are available free online in a downloadable cookbook named the Healthy Lunch Challenge Cookbook that also features nutritional analysis, and photos and drawings of the recipes.

Recipes for the 2013 contest may be submitted now through May 12, either online at or via mail at:

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner”
c/o Epicurious.com
1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036

Winners will be notified in late June. The White House Kids’ “State Dinner” is currently scheduled to take place in July or August 2013. Winners will receive free air travel to Washington, DC and accommodations at a Westin Hotel.

For more information and contest rules, visit: Epicurious.com.

April 7, 2013 0 comment
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