Coffee cabinet
Encyclopedia
A coffee cabinet is an ice cream
-based beverage found almost exclusively in Rhode Island
and southeastern Massachusetts
. A coffee cabinet consists of coffee ice cream combined with coffee syrup
and milk. The ingredients are mixed in a drink blender or milkshake blender.
In recent years, it has become more difficult to find an authentic cabinet, but many Rhode Island creameries still serve them, including Delekta's Pharmacy in Warren
, and the Original Vanilla Bean in South Kingstown. Newport Creamery
, a chain of family restaurants found almost exclusively in Rhode Island, serves cabinets under a different name known as an "Awful Awful" (known elsewhere in New England
as a Frappe
).
As with downcity, the etymology
of this term is unknown. One common, but unsubstantiated explanation is that the soda jerk
or pharmacist kept the coffee syrup in one of the polished wooden cabinets behind the counter.
An alternate etymological theory, also unsubstantiated, derives from the distinctive accent local to Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Similar to the more famous Boston accent, this accent tends to drop "r"s, but sounds a bit different. "Car
" is pronounced as "cah" in Boston, but more like "caa" in Rhode Island. "Carbonate
" (soda
) may be pronounced more like "cabinet". It's possible, then, that the word "cabinet" may have originally referred to an ice cream soda.
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
-based beverage found almost exclusively in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and southeastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. A coffee cabinet consists of coffee ice cream combined with coffee syrup
Coffee syrup
Coffee syrup is a beverage additive typically found in Rhode Island. Made of three ingredients , this syrup is used in other local cuisine such as coffee milk and coffee cabinets....
and milk. The ingredients are mixed in a drink blender or milkshake blender.
In recent years, it has become more difficult to find an authentic cabinet, but many Rhode Island creameries still serve them, including Delekta's Pharmacy in Warren
Warren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
, and the Original Vanilla Bean in South Kingstown. Newport Creamery
Newport Creamery
Newport Creamery is a chain of restaurants in Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The company is based in Middletown, Rhode Island.The restaurant was founded in 1940 when a local dairy owner named Samuel Rector founded a small restaurant in Middletown, Rhode Island. In the 1950s and 1960s, the...
, a chain of family restaurants found almost exclusively in Rhode Island, serves cabinets under a different name known as an "Awful Awful" (known elsewhere in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
as a Frappe
Frappé
Frappé or frappe, from the Old French frapper meaning to strike or hit, is used in English to refer to various uses of crushed ice, including:...
).
As with downcity, the etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
of this term is unknown. One common, but unsubstantiated explanation is that the soda jerk
Soda jerk
A soda jerk was a person — typically a youth — who operated the soda fountain in a drugstore, often for the purpose of preparing and serving ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding carbonated water and, finally, one or two scoops of ice...
or pharmacist kept the coffee syrup in one of the polished wooden cabinets behind the counter.
An alternate etymological theory, also unsubstantiated, derives from the distinctive accent local to Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Similar to the more famous Boston accent, this accent tends to drop "r"s, but sounds a bit different. "Car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
" is pronounced as "cah" in Boston, but more like "caa" in Rhode Island. "Carbonate
Carbonate
In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, . The name may also mean an ester of carbonic acid, an organic compound containing the carbonate group C2....
" (soda
Carbonated water
Carbonated water is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved, a process that causes the water to become effervescent....
) may be pronounced more like "cabinet". It's possible, then, that the word "cabinet" may have originally referred to an ice cream soda.