Get Ready for HasCon’s Inaugural Event
Get ready for HasCon, Hasbro’s premier event that will provide fans of its many brands (Transformers, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, Dungeons and Dragons, Littlest Pet Shop, Nerf and Magic: The Gathering to name just a few), with a vast array of unique and immersive experiences from Fri, Sep 8 through Sun, Sep 10 at the Rhode Island Convention and Dunkin Donuts Centers. I communicated with Jane Ritson- Parsons, group executive for global marketing at Hasbro, to learn more about what fans can anticipate at this exciting event.
Jessica Kendall Hauk: What parts of HasCon are you most excited about?
Jane Ritson-Parsons: The most exciting part of this event is, quite simply, the amount of unique and immersive experiences fans can enjoy. HasCon will deliver an unprecedented fan
experience with a variety of panels, presentations and interactive events for fans and families, including exciting first-look previews and panels from Hasbro’s biggest television and movie series including “Transformers: Rescue Bots,” “Littlest Pet Shop” and “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” as seen on Hasbro’s joint-venture television network Discovery Family …
JKH: What are the most interesting attractions?
JRP: Over the course of the planning process, we’ve made every effort to ensure every day of HasCon is jam-packed with exciting things to see and do. When guests walk into the Dunkin’ Donuts Center or Rhode Island Convention Center on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, they’ll have an opportunity to plan their days around what they love most. Magic: The Gathering players might be most excited about Magic’s 25th Anniversary party. Families with children might want to head to the Play-Doh creation zone or get ‘Ponified’ in the magical world of Equestria. Disney Princess fans might want to check out Belle’s iconic gown from Beauty and the Beast. Children between the ages of 3 and 15 can even audition for future Hasbro content – from online demonstrations of popular products to real-life TV commercials! Fans attending the event can choose to keep track of their experience by collecting stamps for their official HasCon Passport.
JKH: What was the planning like for this event?
JRP: From the very beginning, our goal was to create an all-encompassing event that offers plenty of new, exciting, unforgettable experiences for each and every one of our fans, and — throughout the planning process — it’s been so exciting to see those pieces come together. For the first-ever HasCon, we are featuring a wide spectrum of entertainment including actors and voice talent from our shows and movies, major athletes, popular internet personalities and award-winning musicians such as Flo Rida and Daya. As a global play and entertainment company, we believe this cross-section of talent will deliver great family-friendly entertainment to HasCon attendees of all ages. From meeting Mark Wahlberg and Stan Lee to testing out NERF Blasters in our NERF Battle Arena, we can confidently say HasCon will have something for everyone.
JKH: What was your favorite Hasbro toy as a child?
JRP: Monopoly
Tickets and other information about HasCon are available online at hascon.hasbro.com.
Fly Into the Stratosphere at Aero Trampoline Park
A new trampoline park has emerged in Woonsocket, and this one will send everyone into the stratosphere, figuratively if not literally. Aero, located at 1500 Diamond Hill Rd. in the Walnut Hill Plaza, has several features that I haven’t seen at the other trampoline parks. The first of these features is a fencing area called Battle Beam, which consists of two wide beams secured over a huge pit of foam. Armed with foam faux weapons that vaguely resemble swords, two people stand on a beam and try to knock each off into the pit. I figured I didn’t stand a chance of winning a fencing match against anyone, ever, but when I took my daughter and six of her fifth-grade friends to Aero on a glow-in-the-dark Sunday night, they loved it. In addition to Battle Beam and the standard huge trampoline divided into squares for individual people, Aero also has two other foam pits. One of them is beneath a 6-foot-high platform, from which you can leap, jump or bellyflop into the foam below. The other is adjacent to a large trampoline that is separate from the main area, from which you can jump or flip directly into the pit. My crew loved the platform; they looked positively gleeful when they spotted it, and all seven of them took a number of jumps into the foam below.
The rock wall isn’t open yet, but the slacklines are. Unobtrusive and several steps away from the main jumping area, two slacklines allow participants to practice what appears to resemble tightrope-walking a mere two feet off the floor. The slacklines are about an inch-and-a-half wide and are a great alternative to jumping if you need to lower your heart rate for a while, (or if you’re considering a stint as an acrobat).
And then there’s the Wipeout Machine. Picture the hand of an analogue clock moving smoothly from one number to the next at a rate significantly faster than one second at a time; now, make the hand an enormous foam arm and the numbers trampoline squares with people jumping on them. As the arm comes around and passes your square, you have to either jump over it or duck under it. The good news is that if you fail to do either on time, it doesn’t hurt when you get wiped out.
The main jumping area has the usual squares and slides (where the trampoline anchors to the wall), but Aero’s also has two long rectangles, which are called tumble tracks in gymnastics lingo. Gymnasts use tumble tracks to practice floor and vault routines. The space afforded by the longer track (as opposed to a square) allows whoever is on it to get a running start before hurling his or her body into the air. I know this because my daughter is a gymnast, and she was thrilled to discover the running tracks at Aero. Apparently a tumble track for a gymnast is similar to an amplifier for a musician; it takes the whole experience up several notches.
Conveniently, there are virtually no walls in Aero’s 40,000 square-foot space. See-through nets and half- walls delineate the various areas, including the main jumping pad, Battle Beam, the foam pits, the rockwall, the dodgeball and toddler courts and the Wipeout Machine. This means that if you bring seven kids with you – or 17 or 27 — you can see all of them all the time, even on Sunday glow nights. (The textured socks required for jumping glow in the dark, and there are glow-in-the-dark tee-shirts available for purchase). The entire facility is very clean, with a section of tables and chairs for non-jumpers, as well as a small arcade. Best of all, I asked the young woman who checked us in about fitness classes, and she said they’re coming soon. I hope no one thought that trampoline parks are just for kids; my friends and I are semi-regulars on the local trampoline scene, and we have found that an hour of jumping burns approximately one million calories. We comprise a wide range of athletic ability (or lack thereof), shapes, sizes and ages, and we always have a great time. It’s so much fun that our kids can sense our enthusiasm and aren’t even embarrassed by our jumping.
Aero Trampoline Park, 1500 Diamond Hill Rd. Woonsocket. 401-762-2000; aerotrampolineparkri.com Family Date Night at La Familia
Date night and family night are no longer mutually exclusive. La Familia, located at 1666 Diamond Hill Rd. in Cumberland and at 431 Winthrop St. in Taunton, Mass, provides an elegant setting with a casual vibe where the whole family can feast on delicious, reasonably priced food. The menu features a combination of Italian and Portuguese-inspired cuisine with classics such as Fettuccini Bolognese and Linguini Alla Vongole, as well as a number of innovative dishes, including Chipotle Maple Glaze Salmon and Chicken and Kale Ravioli. What makes La Familia unique is its casual elegance.
I recently enjoyed a spectacular dinner out with my own familia at the Cumberland location. We were seated in the main dining room, which features a fireplace, several large windows, a few simple mirrors and plants, and tables with white tablecloths topped with butcher paper. That simple combination — white tablecloths and butcher paper — creates an elegant yet playful mood. The entire room is beautifully decorated, but you can’t help doodling on the butcher paper after you order if you happen to have a pen. There are two other rooms as well, one of which features a stunning bar shaped like a square, but we loved our table in the main room. It was a busy Sunday night; we hadn’t made a reservation and we didn’t have to wait for a table, but it felt more like a Saturday evening based on the number of people — people that included couples and groups of all ages and a number of school-aged children (all of whom were well-behaved).
As soon as we were seated, our water glasses were filled and a bread basket was delivered by two friendly server assistants. Our waiter appeared shortly thereafter, recited two appetizer and five dinner specials flawlessly, and returned promptly with our drinks. Throughout the meal, he was attentive and welcoming, as was one of the owners, who greeted us (and everyone else) personally and was clearly hands-on in the running of the business.
The food tastes homemade, and by that I mean delicious, as though an Italian-Portuguese grandmother, who has spent her life in the kitchen, just happened to make enough food for an entire restaurant full of people. We had clam chowder and seafood-stuffed mushrooms for appetizers, both of which were excellent. The chowder tasted like the sea, not fishy but flavorful and rich, while the mushrooms were plump and juicy and in perfect proportion to the seafood inside. For dinner I ordered the Chipotle Maple Glaze Salmon, which wasn’t too sweet, thanks to a nice balance of chipotle and maple. The mashed potatoes were thick and creamy; I wondered if the secret ingredient might be a bit of stock mixed with heavy cream, but I’m not sure. The sauteed vegetables — carrots, bell peppers and green beans — were truly al dente (not a hair overcooked) and subtly seasoned. My daughter had meatballs over angel hair pasta, and the meatballs were notably moist and juicy. My husband had Spinach and Roasted Garlic Ravioli with homemade marinara sauce, and although ravioli in general tends to be a very heavy dish, this one was just right — filling but not overbearing, according to him. I tried it and was pleased to discover that the earthy taste of the spinach had not been masked by spice. I could taste each ingredient, the total effect of which was a superb dish.
The menu at La Familia has something for every palette: appetizers, soup, salad, beef, pork, chicken, pasta, seafood and veal. The lunch menu boasts a number of sandwiches, and the children’s menu is commendable because it offers several pasta dishes in addition to grilled cheese and a burger. It sends the message that kids can and should enjoy real food at La Familia. Another nice option — for children and for adults — is the Family Style section of the menu, which offers Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Parmesan, Fettuccini Bolognese and the Italian Trio (Chicken Parmesan, Eggplant Parmesan and Meatballs) in larger portions for two or four people. We might go for the Italian Trio next time, but even if we change our minds, I know I’ll have a great date night out with my family at La Familia.
Woonsocket location: 401-305-3916; Taunton location: 508-823-8664; lafamiliarestaurants.com
Glide Into Fall on the Blackstone Valley Explorer
Summer may be drawing to a close, but good times on the water are not. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council offers tours of the Blackstone River through October. Passengers can board the Blackstone Valley Explorer at Festival Pier in Pawtucket until September 10 or at Cold Spring Park in Woonsocket beginning on September 16 for a 45-minute narrated tour of our nation’s most industrial river, which is once again home to a an array of aquatic life.
The Nature & Heritage tours depart on Sundays at 1, 2 and 3pm and include the chance to see a variety of birds and fish, as well as the beautiful fall foliage. My family and I recently enjoyed this tour (in August, when the boat departs from East Providence and travels right over the ship graveyard just offshore from India Point Park and through the hurricane barrier into Providence before backtracking into East Providence ), and we were fortunate enough to spot a great egret, a great blue heron, a swan and a number of smaller birds. Binoculars and wildlife-identification guides were available to all passengers. One of the crew members also had a bucket onboard containing fish she had caught in the river earlier that day: a glass shrimp and a silver side fish, as well as an oyster shell. Not only did we learn about the various indigenous life forms in and along the Blackstone River, we learned the real reason for our local river’s distinction in history as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. According to our guide, the Blackstone River has a vertical drop-off of 430 feet, which is second in the United States only to Niagara Falls. This means that the water flows really fast, which made it the perfect place to build factories during the late 18th and 19th centuries. We also learned about the various industries that were supported by the Blackstone River in days gone by, namely textiles and jewelry. Sadly, there were times when the river was the same color as whatever dye the cloth mills were using on any given day. Fortunately, efforts to clean up the river were eventually successful, and it is once again home to a multitude of fish and waterfowl.
Captain Joseph Walkden greeted all of the passengers on our tour, and the crew was friendly and very willing to answer any questions that we had. Marina Flannery, coordinator of the riverboat tours for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, is very knowledgeable about the wildlife in and along the river, particularly its birds, and she made herself available to speak with me after our tour and answer several questions that I had about the role of the oil industry in our local port. As a mother, I was pleased that the children on board were required to wear lifejackets (which appeared to be new and clean), and that there was an optional wildlife scavenger hunt for anyone who wanted to participate.
The environmental tours depart on the first and third Saturday of each month at 10am and 11am and include the opportunity to interact with an underwater drone. This remotely operated device allows passengers visibility below the river’s surface and the chance to see a variety of organisms. The focus is on the river’s plants, animals, wetlands and recovery from pollution. A tour on the Blackstone Valley Explorer is a lovely and relaxing way for the whole family to spend an hour on a sunny fall weekend in the Ocean State. Tickets can be purchased online at rivertourblackstone.com, by phone at 401-724-2200 or on-site on a first come-first served basis. The office is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
Summertime Fun for Kids: Music, Art and Wildlife
Summer is a perfect time for kids to explore their interests. Without the obligation to daily homework, they have ample time to pursue other activities. Music lessons may not be the first thing that parents associate with summer vacation, but these eight weeks are actually a great time for kids to experiment with instruments because they have time to practice. Furthermore, you can only get so much sun. So, when your kids need a little shade, check out the following:
Rick’s Music in Cumberland offers lessons for voice, drums, clarinet, saxophone, flute, piano, guitar and various other instruments. Lessons can be taught on the premises or at your home. Additionally, Rick’s offers a large selection of instruments for rent and for sale. You can rent an instrument while you figure out if your child is going to stick with it or not, and then purchase that instrument … or not. Their customer service is unparalleled, in my opinion. I first visited Rick’s to inquire about clarinet lessons for my daughter and then returned to shop for an acoustic guitar for myself. I asked a lot of questions. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and patient with my ineptitude. On one occasion, when I returned to buy a capo and strings, I was certain that an actual, bona fide musician might go crazy from helping me sort through the multitude of options, but, to my delight, the well-informed young man who assisted me remained not only sane, but helpful and cheerful as well.
2352 Mendon Rd. Cumberland; 401-658-3404; ricksmusicalinstruments.com
School of Rock, with locations in Seekonk and Attleboro, Massachusetts, is another excellent venue for budding young musicians. With an emphasis on rock band performance and a variety of options for instrument and voice lessons, School of Rock just might inspire your child to follow in the footsteps of … well, pick your favorite rock band. The Seekonk location will be running a number of summer camps for various ages and abilities this season, although instruction is available year-round. Whether your child likes to play solo or in a band, he or she will find a creative outlet with the help of the talented instructors at School of Rock.
1295 Fall River Ave. Seekonk, Mass; 508-557-0213; schoolofrock.com
If your child is creative, he or she is bound to be inspired at the Mount St. Charles Fine Arts Summer Camp in Woonsocket. This two-week, co-ed summer program for children in grades four through nine offers campers the unique opportunity to create a daily schedule from over 100 course offerings including Jazz Band / Improvisation, Claymation, Calligraphy, Chopped (Introduction to Cooking), Video Game Creation, Escape Room, Harry Potter Challenge, Hip-Hop, Knitwits (knitting), Magic, Multimedia Arts, Zumba, Photography, Archery / Rockwall and more. This camp is unique for three reasons: 1) The course offerings range from classic to contemporary art forms; there is truly something for everyone. 2) Campers design their own schedules, which means they will A) have fun, and B) learn about their interests. 3) Many of the camp instructors are full-time teachers and / or other professionals working in the fine arts. This year, the camp runs from July 17 to July 28 from 8am to 4pm. Tuition is a very reasonable $370.
800 Logee St, Woonsocket; 401-769-0310; mountsaintcharles.org/fineartssummercamp
But, of course, you will need to get your kids outside, too, and if you’re tired of fighting the heat and the crowds at the state beaches, you may want to spend a day exploring Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown instead. Close to both Second and Third Beaches, Sachuest Point is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. Its 242 acres provide sanctuary to a number of migratory birds and are home to harlequin ducks and New England Cottontails as well. A series of flat trails provides breathtaking views of the ocean as well as multiple points of shoreline access. The Ocean View Loop is 1.5 miles long and very navigable (for strollers too, if you have little ones who still need a ride), but if your family isn’t ready for that distance, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Atlantic a mere tenth of a mile from the parking lot (which is free — a rarity here in Rhode Island). Huge rocks between the trails and the ocean host a number of tide pools that are home to snails, mussels and the occasional starfish. Kids can spend hours investigating the various life forms in the pools. I recommend bringing a beach bucket or two as well as a picnic lunch. The adults can relax and watch the waves roll in while the kids enjoy the tide pools. Over the years, I have brought innumerable friends and visiting relatives to Sachuest Point, and everyone loves it. It is not only beautiful, but also quiet, save for the sound of the surf crashing on the rocks, and a gentle but steady breeze keeps the temperature very comfortable. Amenities at the Visitor Center (open daily from 10am to 4pm) include immaculate restrooms, trail maps and information about the wildlife and history of the point. It is, quite simply, one of my family’s favorite places on Earth.
769 Sachuest Point Rd, Middletown; 401-619-2680; fws.gov/refuge/Sachuest_Point
How to Plan a Dinner Party A colleague recently asked me what my favorite wine and dessert are. As if I could pick only one of either. But when pressed, I realized something: most food and drink is about as good as the company with whom you share it. My answer surprised my friend, but it’s true. Coors light can be okay if you drink it on a hot summer night while playing guitar on the porch with your friends. Who hasn’t enjoyed a slice of pizza straight out of the box with no plate or napkin? Remember eating cold, leftover Chinese straight out of the fridge with your roommates when you were 22? I do, and it was good. The common denominator? Fun.
Therefore, the number one rule of party planning is to invite fun people. It doesn’t matter if your fun people all know each other or not because you will introduce them if they don’t. Furthermore, everyone has you in common, and if you’re having a party to begin with, you’re probably at least a little bit fun yourself. The next consideration is how many people to invite. If you’re having a sit-down dinner, invite only the number of people who fit comfortably at your dining room table. If it’s an informal gathering, then you can invite as many people as there are seats in your home (or more, if it’s an indoor/outdoor party). View your party as a gift to your guests. You have wonderful people in your life, and you’re showing them that you treasure them by creating a fun experience.
Is your party for a particular occasion? Or is the goal to simply be together and have fun? Let your guests know what to expect. For example, after ringing in my 40th birthday with my family, I hosted a Ladies Night to take the edge off the encroaching decade. The invitation read, No presents. No men. No kids. Please bring an appetizer and a bottle of wine. My friends all said that I should turn 40 more often.
Food and drink do matter to the extent that you are responsible for providing them. In order for this to go well, you must be honest with yourself about your culinary abilities. Do not push your limits in this regard by attempting to cook something for the party you have never made before. Serve items for which you are well-known or at least respected. They may be old news to you if you make them often, but they aren’t old news to your guests. Your family may be used to your signature spaghetti and meatballs because they have the pleasure and privilege of living with you. Your guests do not and will, therefore, be wowed.
Do not expect the days leading up to your party to be restful. You are the hostess, and you have things to do: Clean the house, but not too soon, or someone will mess it up again before party time. The bathrooms should be spotless and the floors should be swept and vacuumed. Don’t bother mopping. You’ll have to do it again the day after the party (assuming that you had enough fun and at least a few drinks were spilled). Plan your table arrangement. Iron linens a few days ahead of time, pull out serving dishes and utensils, fill and wipe the salt and pepper shakers. Wine and drinks can and should be purchased days or even weeks ahead of time, but anything that needs to be served cold needs to be in the fridge for at least 24 hours prior. Decide what you are going to wear days in advance. Try things on if you must. You should look fresh and pulled together for your party. Do not wear anything that gets in the way of the cooking. Long necklaces and bell sleeves are out. Your outfit needs to look great on you and be completely functional; same for your hair. If you don’t have one already, get a great apron that you can wear while cooking. Mine is black and fitted. It says T.G.I.F. in red rhinestones and matches my kitchen. That’s right. Don’t clash with your kitchen. Take the apron off as soon as it’s safe.
When to begin cooking is tricky. It all depends on what you’re serving. You should do everything you can the day before. Most veggies can be chopped in advance. Throw them in a sealed container and put it in the fridge, and then they’re ready when you need them. But, take them out about 15 minutes before you want to cook them, so that they will be closer to room temperature before cooking. Meat should be cut and marinated the day before. Again, allow some time for it to come up to room temp – 20 to 30 minutes, depending on cut and quantity. The more you can do ahead of time, the more you will be able to enjoy your own party.
Finally, when planning a party, make sure you have the day after the party off from work. Sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s a big deal. A one-night party is an active two-day deal for you: day one is execution and day two is clean up. Don’t clean up while your guests are there, other than the essentials. Your friends came over because they like you, and if you spend the whole time doing dishes, they will wonder why you bothered. So will you. Clean up tomorrow and have fun now. If only we could apply that principle to the rest of our lives.
What Am I Going To Do With My Kids All Summer?
As a mother who lives far away from both my own and my husband’s extended family, I have had to be very resourceful about finding fun things to do with my daughter in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. In the last eight years, we have discovered some great places to go for summer fun. Here are a few of our best finds that are a bit off the beaten path. Enjoy!
The Beaches. Rhode Island is the Ocean State, after all, and there is fun to be had at the beach. The only quandary is deciding which one to go to. Worried about germs? Don’t be. You can call the Department of Health’s Bathing Beaches Hotline at 401-222-2751 for a complete listing of state beaches that are closed on any given day for high bacteria counts. If you have ever driven to a beach only to find it closed, this number will change your life. Note that town beaches are not listed.
Rockwell Amusements: rockwellamusements.com. Feel like taking the kids on some rides but can’t stand the thought of waiting in line for hours at Six Flags while roasting in the heat and knowing that you’re going to spend an amount roughly equivalent to your child’s college fund by the end of the day? Rockwell Amusements is a small, travelling carnival that sets up shop for several days at a time at various locations in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Tickets for the rides and games are for sale at a ticket booth, but there is no fee for admission. Brown St Park: Brown St., Providence; friendsofbrownstreetpark.org. Located behind Hope High School with a great view of the football field and the track, the Brown St Park offers a playground with equipment for children of all ages and adults. The standout piece of equipment for adults is the huge set of gymnastics rings. It looks manageable until you actually try to swing from one ring to the next; then you wonder if there are any parents who can actually complete this feat while the little ones scamper around nearby. It’s great for the adult body but perhaps not the adult ego. There is also a sandbox, a number of interesting sculptures that double as play structures and a community garden. There are concerts in the summer and plenty of shade. When everyone is tired from playing, you can drive down Olney St. to the Whole Foods on North Main St. for a snack.
World War I Memorial Park, 401 Elmwood St, North Attleboro, Mass. Located shortly off Rt. 1, World War I Memorial Park offers a fantastic playground, a massive sandbox, manicured gardens with an enormous slide running down the side of a hill and a small petting zoo. This gem of a park is free. Children of all ages enjoy feeding pellets from the food dispensers to the sheep, ponies, pigs, goats, birds and other creatures in an area near the entrance. A short walk up a paved, shady hill lands you at a lovely garden with a super slide, a sandbox and a modern playground with equipment for both older and younger children. This immaculate park has a number of picnic tables where you can enjoy a packed lunch, and the port-a-potties are as clean as you’re going to find anywhere.
West End Creamery, 481 Purgatory Rd, Whitinsville, Mass.; 508-234-2022; westendcreamery.com. We’ve all driven past the sign for Purgatory Road, located just off Rt. 146, and marveled at the name. West End Creamery is a short drive down the road from Purgatory Chasm and offers a massive variety of delicious homemade ice-cream flavors and indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, a toy train runs continuously around a track that spans the perimeter of the rustic interior. Outside, a miniature golf course and two bounce pads offer both recreation and exercise for a fee. You can easily spend an entire afternoon here.
Camps. As a teacher, I have the luxury of flexible summer hours, but, like other working parents, I have had to find some good camps for my daughter so that I can prepare next year’s lessons. Many of my friends are not teachers and have to rely on summer camps for childcare. Here is a list of organizations that offer camps that we hold in high regard:
The Stadium Theatre Summer Stage: 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket; 401-762-4545; stadiumtheatre.com The Center for Dynamic Learning: multiple locations; 401-461-1813; cdlri.com Warm and Fuzzy Animal Adventures: 115 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield; 401-231-4366; warmandfuzzyanimaladventures.com MacColl Y.M.C.A.: 32 Breakneck Hill Rd., Lincoln; 401-725-0773; goymca.com Wide World of Indoor Sports: multiple locations; wideworldofindoorsports.com
Food Truck of the Month: rocket
Their truck is an understated white rig with black lettering on the side that reads “fine street food.” And indeed, that is what owners Patricia Natter and Joe Meneguzzo provide at rocket, one of several food trucks in the greater Providence area that is turning food from a truck into a genuine culinary experience.
Natter and Meneguzzo operate their business year-round, which is how I found myself on a sunny January afternoon enjoying a burger named the Parisienne on a bench in Kennedy Plaza. Made from 100% natural black angus beef, the Parisienne features caramelized onions, gruyere cheese and roasted garlic aioli. It was perfectly cooked and very juicy, evidenced by the small puddle left in my heavy-duty foil packet. In terms of flavor, the entire combination of ingredients makes the Parisienne a stand-out item, but the roasted garlic aioli makes it special and different from other burgers. Although the line at the truck grew quickly with passers-by, there was nothing pedestrian about my lunch. Along with my burger, I ordered a side of mac ‘n cheese, made from Vermont sharp cheddar, butter and whole milk. It was so good that after I devoured my first portion, I went back to the truck for another, only to find that they had sold out. I felt a genuine pang of disappointment, which I washed down with a sip of root beer.
Rocket is well-known for its burgers, and now that I’ve had one, I know why. One look at the menu would entice just about anyone. Add-ons include sweet relish, rocket sauce, dill pickles, jalapeno relish, coffee barbeque sauce, and, of course, the roasted garlic aioli. When I interviewed Natter, I found out that these are rocket’s own homemade recipes invented by Meneguzzo. But there are other items on the menu as well, including all-beef, locally made hot dogs, which are named after Star Wars characters. The Han Solo features grilled sauerkraut and spicy mustard, while the Princess Leia boasts rocket-made jalapeno relish, spicy mustard and raw onion. There are also a number of sandwiches, two vegetarian burgers and a dessert named Deep Space Chocolate Pudding. All of this awesome food comes out of a truck. Not a gourmet kitchen in an overpriced fancy restaurant, but an unobtrusive little truck manned by two people. Rocket is small business ownership at its best.
I asked Natter about the rewards and challenges of food-truck ownership. Given that Natter and Meneguzzo are clearly passionate about their business and that they are “not in business to squeeze out every dollar” but rather “to bring something great to people,” I wasn’t surprised when she told me that one of the greatest rewards is relationship-building. “The way of the future is a more local economy,” Natter told me with the calm certainty of someone who knows what she’s taking about. “We know our soda guy [from Yacht Club Sodas] and the farmer who supplies our meats.” In fact, rocket’s ingredients are “locally sourced whenever possible.” She also reminded me that a meal at a food truck consists of a one-on-one experience between the person serving the food and the customer, and that this is one of the parts she especially enjoys. In fact, the customer service is excellent. The line moves fast, and Natter greets you with a welcoming smile that makes you understand that your business is appreciated. Regarding the challenges of food truck ownership, Natter said that not only must the kitchen equipment be in excellent working order, but also — duh! — the truck has to be in tip-top shape. Breaking down on the side of the road somewhere would be a catastrophe of epic proportion when your business is a kitchen on wheels. Therefore, maintaining equipment – both culinary and mechanical – is essential to rocket’s daily operation.
Rocket has been in business since 2010. Natter and Meneguzzo started out in Connecticut but moved to Providence in 2012 because it was “the one city that seemed to have promise for food trucks” thanks to its unique culinary vibe. Five-and-a-half years later, Natter and Meneguzzo are still going strong. Personally, I think their secret ingredients are passion and dedication. The food is delicious, and the owners have spent time on the details: My lunch came in a strong paper bag with a sturdy fork for the mac ‘n cheese (not one of those cheap wimpy things that break in half on the first bite) and ample napkins. The burger was expertly wrapped in foil that kept its delicious juices from leaking all over the place. Natter and Meneguzzo’s goal is to provide their customers with healthy food at a reasonable cost. I think they’re doing just that – with a commendable combination of grit and style.
To learn more about rocket, visit rocketstreetfood.com. To see the current locations of rocket and other local food trucks, visit motifri.com/food-truck-locator, brought to you by FoodTrucksIn!
Off Season at Union Station Brewery
Generally speaking, I am the kind of woman who likes to eat and drink with the seasons. This means that in the summer I pick vegetables out of my garden, whip up a stir-fry and wash it down with a glass of white wine at the picnic table in the yard. In the winter, I might make beef stew and work my way through a bottle of cabernet while huddling in my big grey sweater. To my surprise, a recent trip to Union Station Brewery may have me eating and drinking beyond my usual parameters. Like the summer heat that extended into fall, I am stretching myself.
I ordered a tasting tray, which contained five different beers, and as I was discovering just how much I love the Oktoberfest Bier on a sweltering evening in September, my husband (and dinner companion) insisted that I try his Vanilla Bean Porter. Although porters are usually too heavy for me at any time of year, this one was just right. It wasn’t sweet, but it was flavorful. When I smelled it, I thought of baking cookies, but when I drank it, I didn’t feel like I was having dessert. It was awesome and unique.
The other beers were equally impressive. The IPA (named the Hopgasm and described by the menu as “a party in your mouth and everyone is coming!”) was very bitter, but light and fragrant at the same time. The Pumpkin Spice Ale didn’t taste like a pie in a glass the way some similarly named microbrews might; it was rich and good, and it quenched my thirst. The weather that evening was balmy, yet the Pumpkin Spice Ale somehow complemented it. I felt confused in a good way, like when you’re at a Halloween party and suddenly realize that the person under the best costume there is your old friend from college. I had that same sense of bewilderment followed by recognition when I drank those fall beers on a hot night slightly off season.
Our food was as good as the beer. We had a Pressed Creole Cuban sandwich, the breakout star of which was the pickle layered right inside it. The French Dip Pastrami Panini somehow captured the best elements of both a traditional French dip sandwich and a Reuben without being much like either one. The clam chowder had a bay leaf floating in it, which made me realize what my own chowder needs, and the nachos were classic and unfussy.
Eleven years ago, my husband and I held our wedding rehearsal dinner at Union Station Brewery. We figured that there would be something for everyone in a laid-back, fun atmosphere. We were right. Better still, this vibe has not changed in the last decade. There are different beers and some new food items, but it’s the same Union Station. In a city where restaurants come and go as quickly as a fall harvest, it’s nice to know that some places have taken root. Union Station will hold an Octoberfest event on Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 5pm. A reasonable fee will gain you admittance and a mug; in other words, Mug Club membership at a great value. Mug Club members enjoy 22 ounces of beer for the price of 16 ounces any time they want, as well as discounts on food. Octoberfest will feature food and beer tasting, a D.J. and lots of giveaways. You can also enjoy half-priced appetizers all day on every Red Zone (Game Day) Sunday during football season.
Located at 36 Exchange Terrace in Providence; 401-274-2739
Only in Rhode Island: Blocked by a Block Party
I work on Smith St. This means that at least a few times a week, I witness something on my way to or from work that could happen only in Rhode Island. We live in the smallest state in the union with one of the most diverse populations per capita in the entire country. Last time I checked, we ranked second-worst in the nation for driving, right after Baltimore, Maryland. Come on, now, this can’t surprise you if you have ever dared to get behind the wheel and drive around here. But, on the plus side, we have great restaurants, an awesome music and arts scene, and our very own language, too. As a non-native Rhode Islander, but as one who has chosen to live here for my entire adult life thus far and counting, please allow me to share with you my first official Only in Rhode Island moment:
I recently left work around 1 pm, approximately 300 yards from the state house, and began driving west on Smith St. I didn’t get very far. As I approached the light at the intersection of Smith, Orms and Candace Streets, the traffic piled up and stopped, way before the actual light at this unique five-way intersection. Oh, no, I thought, an accident. I hope no one is hurt. But it wasn’t an accident that was causing the traffic jam. It was a van parked right in the middle of all five streets, blocking each one except for a small scrap of Orms, onto which everyone tried to squeeze his or her vehicle.
The van in question looked like it belonged to a professional operation of some sort, based on the neatly painted signage that read Free Internet Service Provider on both sides. A giant heap of wires and cables lay strewn all over Smith and Orms streets, which took up as much space as the actual van. It made me think of the U2 concert I saw at the Dunk at the beginning of the millennium. The words high voltage came to mind. More noteworthy, perhaps, was the line of people stepping around the giant heap of wires and cables in order to get to the van . . . so that they could get free Internet?! Yes, that’s right: There were at least fifteen people standing in line at the van – in the middle of the intersection – who seemed completely oblivious to the honking horns and shouting drivers and backing up of cars in every direction. They really wanted that free Internet, I guess. Oh, and there was super loud hip-hop blasting out of a huge speaker right next to the van. It looked like a veritable block party getting under way. I couldn’t tell who was in charge.
My inconvenience by the traffic notwithstanding, I think it is awesome that someone is providing free Internet. The Internet should be free, just like parking at the beach should be free. It belongs to everyone, just like the ocean. There was no company name on the side of that van, but I’m counting on whoever owns it to make the Internet free for all of us. In the meantime, I’ll continue to negotiate my bill from Verizon – which is still cheaper than Cox – and remain proud to be a Rhode Islander.