5 Reasons Gioia’s Deli Loves Empire Soda

Taste

Empire Soda taste really good! When I have a sweet tooth, I don’t grab gelato or a brownie, I grab an Empire Cream Soda. It has the perfect sweetness to   smooth creaminess. Drinking Empire soda is a treat!

The Bottle

A stout clear glass bottle and a plain white label; the simplicity of the bottle makes the soda stand out in our beverage case. The gold cap on each bottle looks like a crown and adds to the product’s nostalgia.

Marketing

Empire Soda does not have a website, twitter account or facebook page. Instead, each bottle has a phone number on the label. When you call the number, it goes directly to the shop where the Soda is made in Bristol, Rhode Island. If you are lucky, 1 of the 4 employees answers the phone to take your order.

History

I was lucky enough to speak with the owner about the history of Empire Bottling Works, which was founded in Bristol, Rhode Island by Edward Borges in 1930. Empire Bottling Works got it’s name when Edward saw the Empire State Building for the fist time and thought it was the most impressive thing he had ever seen.

Now, Edward Borges III owns and operates the 82 year old company. According to Ed, soda is his life and has been since he was born. He is the creator of the Diet Sodas and Ed’s Black Cherry.

Hopefully, Ed’s two sons will carry on the Soda tradition.

How it gets to St. Louis

“If you want my Soda, come up to Bristol and get it, responded Ed when asked how his soda made it all the way to St. Louis. That is exactly what our distributer, Best Beverage, does. They drive a freight to Bristol, load up the Soda, and bring it all the way back to St. Louis. Best Beverage is the only company in St. Louis, maybe the Midwest, that distributes Empire Soda.

Homemade

For as long as I can remember, my mom has made all of Gioia’s soups from scratch. She takes time out of her busy day, pulls out her favorite soup pot and cutting board, and chops the various vegetables and other ingredients. She takes simple, fresh ingredients and creates soups everyone loves.

I never thought much of the soups she creates every day. I have always known they were good, but I did not understand how good until I started working at Gioia’s Deli.

One of my Gioia’s duties is making sure we have the inventory for our various menu items. After price checking and meeting with the different distributers in St. Louis, I realized there was a short cut for just about every menu item, especially soups. “Just Add Water” or “Heat and Serve” was pitched to me on a daily basis.

I proposed these options to my mom, as cost cutting ideas to help with our bottom line. Her answer to every proposed, premade menu item was a stern “NO”. She explained to me that quality will not be compromised at Gioia’s. She remarked that she would not feed a guest in her home with premade food, and she considers all Gioia’s customers guests in her home.

My mom does not look at Gioia’s patrons as customers, but as guests. She wants to impress her guests and make them feel at home while they stay with her. For this reason, Gioia’s does not use short cuts or compromise quality for the bottom line.  We make everything fresh and from scratch to ensure we impress our guests and make them feel at home.

“Treat them as guest in your home” is and always will be The Gioia’s Deli philosophy.

Boxed Lunch Preperation

Almost Ready

Gioia’s Bags make for easy transport

OK, Time to deliver… 40 Boxed Lunches ready to go!

40 Boxed Lunches fit on one cart… Almost there!

All in one Catering, easy transport and clean up!

Gioia’s Boxed Lunches are the best around!

Hot Salami, Hot Coppa and Capocolla toasted on Garlic Cheese Bread and smothered in Giardiniera

The Spicy Daggett

Gioia’s Deli

The Healthiest Option on “The Hill”

OK, I know what you are thinking, there is NO way Gioia’s is healthy.
You are wrong, because we are!
Here are 5 of our most popular healthy menu items.

1. The Iron Man Sandwich

This is by far, the healthiest sandwich on our menu. Arnie, the “Iron Man,” eats one every day while training for “The Iron Man” race that consist of a 26.2 mile run, 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike ride.

2. Ham and Bean Soup

Tomatoes, lean ham, and white beans… All super foods, a 12 ounce cup of this soup is loaded with fiber, protein and is low in calories.

3. Chicken and Rice Soup

Chicken and Rice soup is a no brainer. It is low in calories and full of vegetables. It’s homemade, so you aren’t eating all the sodium that’s in condensed soup.

4. Hot Roast Beef

You wouldn’t believe it, but our roast beef is extremely lean and high in protein. We bake the beef ourselves. Get the roast beef sandwich on wheat, not dipped, without cheese and put all the vegetables on it and you have a balanced lunch that’s high in protein and low in fat and calories.

5. Low Carb Options

Watching your carbs? Let us know. We can make you any sandwich without the bread. My favorite is the hot salami salad with spicy giardiniera, no dressing needed!

]]> http://www.gioiasdeli.com/2011/12/29/deal-of-the-week/feed/ 0 http://www.gioiasdeli.com/2011/12/08/introducing-gioias-beef-buffet/ http://www.gioiasdeli.com/2011/12/08/introducing-gioias-beef-buffet/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:14:19 +0000 admin http://www.gioiasdeli.com/?p=447

Half Pan Buffet $80 (Feeds 10-15 people)

• Half Pan of Sliced Beef—60 Slices
• Half Pan of Peppers and Onions
• Au Jus on the side
• 2 Dozen White Meket Rolls

Full Pan Buffet $160 (Feeds 25-30 people)

• Full Pan of Sliced Beef—120 Slices
• Full Pan of Peppers and Onions
• Au Jus on the Side
• 4 Dozen White Meket Rolls

*24 Hour Notice Required

Gioia’s Homemade Roast Beef

Gioia’s Roast Beef put in a pan with the au jus on the side ready to be heated.

Our Sauteed peppers and onions

Fire roasted pepper and red onion sauteed in garlic and olive 0il

Put in an oven ready pan.

Instructions

1. Simply heat up the Au jus until it comes to a boil.
2. Carefully poor the Au jus onto Gioia’s beef when you are ready to serve.
3. Cover and heat the Peppers and Onions in the oven at 400 degrees until they are warm and ready to serve.