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The Vermont Hard Cider Tasting Project

Looking for something to do when the weekend rolls around?  There are many wonderful food and agriculture related activities and events. Why not try some hard cider tasting?  Read this great post from The Vermont Epicure.  Do your own tasting and see how your experience compares.  Cheers!

The sweet-tart crunch of an apple straight off the tree is hard to beat, but it’s also one of those rare fruits that tastes just as good—and sometimes even better—baked, fried, and pressed into cider. 
Cider’s cousin, hard cider, is all the rage in Vermont right now, although it’s really a resurgence of a once thriving colonial industry. I have to confess I’m a little late to the party. Doubtful that I would like it, I only tried my first hard cider this past summer. I was intrigued, and it inspired me to embark on a Vermont Hard Cider Tasting Project, similar to the Beer Tasting Project I undertook back in 2012. Chris enthusiastically agreed to join in. 
We started out at Citizen Cider in Burlington, venturing into their industrial-meets-cozy tasting room on a drizzly afternoon. The garage door windows open onto an elevated deck overlooking  artsy Pine Street, infusing the space with a comfortable, cool vibe—a “Cider for the People, Made by the People” vibe, as their logo states. We settled in at one of the communal wooden tables and ordered. Chris had done some advance research and zeroed in on a glass of The Full Nelson. I decided to go in without preconceptions and ordered the $6.00 tasting flight of five ciders on tap. 
Beginning with Unified Press, their popular flagship cider, I quickly determined it’s too sweet for me, even though it’s categorized as off-dry. It might be just right for many other palates, but it’s the kind of cider that made me previously think I wasn’t a cider person. Not giving up yet, I moved on to the Wit’s Up. Made with a Belgian beer yeast, it’s pleasantly dry, perhaps Citizen’s driest. It tastes more like a beer than a cider to me, but not as heavy. On a warm day, it would be especially quaffable. This was promising.
The Stan Up was next, a lively, bright cider, on the tart side. It’s made from an heirloom apple blend by Stan, the owner of Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury. We’ve been picking apples there for years, since our girls were little, so that connection endeared it to me. I also sampled the B-Cider, a blend of cider and honey from Happy Valley’s own bees, described on Citizen’s menu as “a taste of the full circle of life on the orchard.” That’s a beautiful thing. B-Cider has a wonderfully floral perfume, and although sweet at first, it has a dry finish, almost like a wine, and a slight fizz. I was coming around.
My favorite one, though, is The Full Nelson, a rare new taste sensation for me. I have to admit I was skeptical when the menu described it as a cross between an IPA, a champagne, and a hard cider, but I’ll be damned if that isn’t accurate. Aged and finished with Nelson Sauvin hops, it’s yeasty and complex and left me wanting more from Chris’s glass. It’s the cider that won me over.
We’ve made it back to Citizen twice since then, bringing some friends along, enjoying more of The Full Nelson and some tasty pub fare, and once catching an excellent band in town from Philadelphia. Overall, it’s a welcome addition to the food and drink scene in Burlington, and I’m glad we can pick up a bottle of The Full Nelson right in Bristol when we want to enjoy it at home.
The next stop on our Tasting Project tour was Woodchuck Hard Cider in Middlebury, one of the largest cider makers in the US. This wildly successful company just opened up an impressive new facility that can fill 600 bottles a minute, or 3 million a year, according to the friendly server in their elegant tasting room. 
They give you four samples on the house and after that you need to pay for them, a more than fair deal.
I started off with the Local Nectar, made with 100% Vermont apples. Unlike Citizen who sources all their fruit from within 150 miles, Woodchuck, given the volume they produce, has to look elsewhere for many of their apples. This homegrown cider, though, has a subtle mustiness and goes down easy. Next up was the Ciderbration, a very apple-y cider but perhaps a bit too much like juice. The Hopsation, a “hop forward cider,” is their original small batch cider infused with Cascade hops, a winning combination in general, I’ve discovered.  Very clear and light, it’s their driest, but not quite dry enough for me. I prefer a more hoppy contrast to the apple’s sweetness, although I think my palate is drier than most. But for those who like a mildly sweet beverage that’s lighter than a craft beer (and gluten free; ciders are riding that wave) and much better for you than a soda or sugar-sweetened juice cocktail, this cider would be worth checking out (we tried some at home too).
The server added a fifth cider for us to sample, the Amber, saying it was the original and everyone should try it. Crisp and balanced, it has a classic cider taste. My favorite of the batch, though, was the Smoked Apple. Infused with deliciously smoky applewood, it has just the right amount of smoke. For those who like flavored ciders, Woodchuck has a wide array, from Chocolate Raspberry to Pumpkin, to Coconut Pineapple. That’s not really my thing, aside from the Smoked Apple, which I will seek out again. Besides, I like Woodchuck’s motto: “Give a ‘chuck.”
The next two tastings Chris and I conducted at home with ciders produced by smaller cider makers. Shacksbury Cider’s The Basque, is actually produced in Spain and then bottled in Shoreham. The owners also import cider from England, but have recently released in limited amounts a cider made from local “lost apples”—apples they’ve foraged from trees homesteaders planted specifically for homemade hard cider over a century ago.
The Basque is unfiltered and fermented with wild yeast, rendering it cloudy and golden, similar to an unfiltered pale ale, but without the carbonation. Its label describes it as extra dry, which is accurate; I’d say it’s a bit too dry even for my palate. It has a bold, citrusy tang with a musty finish, and is a whole different animal from the previous ciders we tried. A t$14.99 a bottle, it’s the most expensive cider for sale at the Middlebury Co-op. Shacksbury is getting a lot of media attention, so some people must love it, but for us it’s a yet to be acquired taste. We’re interested though in giving their local lost apple vintage, called 1840, a try.
Finally, we picked up a bottle of Flag Hill Farm’s Vermont Cyder, “with a y,” that is. 
Perusing the shelf of local, artisanal ciders at the Co-op, I was swayed to buy this one by the sign underneath it citing a New York Times description: “cider with the soul of wine.” The packaging does resemble wine more than anything else, from the shape of the bottle to the cork that seals it (the same goes for The Basque). And the cider itself is indeed more similar to wine than to the sweeter ciders at Citizen and Woodchuck (except for The Full Nelson which really does, amazingly, resemble champagne). It’s definitely dry, but not as dry as The Basque, and I tasted sour apple and earth. As for the bouquet, the best way I can describe it is that it smells like fall. 
Made with wild, organic apples and no additives or artificial ingredients, Flag Hill Cyder is fermented with wild yeast and aged at least one winter. At 8.5% alcohol, it’s the most potent of the ones we sampled (the others hover around 6.9% or lower); again, like wine, a cider meant for sipping.  It sells for $9.99 at the Middlebury Co-op but, alas, is available only in Vermont, in limited release. I usually lean toward red wine and Chris toward craft IPAs, but I can see the appeal of mixing it up and sharing a bottle of this cyder along with a hearty braise or stew on a chilly fall evening. 
So I guess I could say I’m a cider convert. Vermont was dubbed the “Napa Valley of hard cider” in a recent article, although I think Sonoma is more apt, and more preferable to most locals. Either way, I’m glad that hard cider is back, and is here to stay.

The sweet-tart crunch of an apple straight off the tree is hard to beat,

but it’s also one of those rare fruits that tastes just as good—and sometimes even better—baked,

fried,

and pressed into cider. 

Cider’s cousin, hard cider, is all the rage in Vermont right now, although it’s really a resurgence of a once thriving colonial industry. I have to confess I’m a little late to the party. Doubtful that I would like it, I only tried my first hard cider this past summer. I was intrigued, and it inspired me to embark on a Vermont Hard Cider Tasting Project, similar to the Beer Tasting Project I undertook back in 2012. Chris enthusiastically agreed to join in. 

We started out at Citizen Cider in Burlington, venturing into their industrial-meets-cozy tasting room on a drizzly afternoon. The garage door windows open onto an elevated deck overlooking  artsy Pine Street, infusing the space with a comfortable, cool vibe—a “Cider for the People, Made by the People” vibe, as their logo states. We settled in at one of the communal wooden tables and ordered. Chris had done some advance research and zeroed in on a glass of The Full Nelson. I decided to go in without preconceptions and ordered the $6.00 tasting flight of five ciders on tap. 

Beginning with Unified Press, their popular flagship cider, I quickly determined it’s too sweet for me, even though it’s categorized as off-dry. It might be just right for many other palates, but it’s the kind of cider that made me previously think I wasn’t a cider person. Not giving up yet, I moved on to the Wit’s Up. Made with a Belgian beer yeast, it’s pleasantly dry, perhaps Citizen’s driest. It tastes more like a beer than a cider to me, but not as heavy. On a warm day, it would be especially quaffable. This was promising.

The Stan Up was next, a lively, bright cider, on the tart side. It’s made from an heirloom apple blend by Stan, the owner of Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury. We’ve been picking apples there for years, since our girls were little, so that connection endeared it to me. I also sampled the B-Cider, a blend of cider and honey from Happy Valley’s own bees, described on Citizen’s menu as “a taste of the full circle of life on the orchard.” That’s a beautiful thing. B-Cider has a wonderfully floral perfume, and although sweet at first, it has a dry finish, almost like a wine, and a slight fizz. I was coming around.

My favorite one, though, is The Full Nelson, a rare new taste sensation for me. I have to admit I was skeptical when the menu described it as a cross between an IPA, a champagne, and a hard cider, but I’ll be damned if that isn’t accurate. Aged and finished with Nelson Sauvin hops, it’s yeasty and complex and left me wanting more from Chris’s glass. It’s the cider that won me over.

We’ve made it back to Citizen twice since then, bringing some friends along, enjoying more of The Full Nelson and some tasty pub fare, and once catching an excellent band in town from Philadelphia. Overall, it’s a welcome addition to the food and drink scene in Burlington, and I’m glad we can pick up a bottle of The Full Nelson right in Bristol when we want to enjoy it at home.

The next stop on our Tasting Project tour was Woodchuck Hard Cider in Middlebury, one of the largest cider makers in the US. This wildly successful company just opened up an impressive new facility that can fill 600 bottles a minute, or 3 million a year, according to the friendly server in their elegant tasting room. 

They give you four samples on the house and after that you need to pay for them, a more than fair deal.

I started off with the Local Nectar, made with 100% Vermont apples. Unlike Citizen who sources all their fruit from within 150 miles, Woodchuck, given the volume they produce, has to look elsewhere for many of their apples. This homegrown cider, though, has a subtle mustiness and goes down easy. Next up was the Ciderbration, a very apple-y cider but perhaps a bit too much like juice. The Hopsation, a “hop forward cider,” is their original small batch cider infused with Cascade hops, a winning combination in general, I’ve discovered.  Very clear and light, it’s their driest, but not quite dry enough for me. I prefer a more hoppy contrast to the apple’s sweetness, although I think my palate is drier than most. But for those who like a mildly sweet beverage that’s lighter than a craft beer (and gluten free; ciders are riding that wave) and much better for you than a soda or sugar-sweetened juice cocktail, this cider would be worth checking out (we tried some at home too).

The server added a fifth cider for us to sample, the Amber, saying it was the original and everyone should try it. Crisp and balanced, it has a classic cider taste. My favorite of the batch, though, was the Smoked Apple. Infused with deliciously smoky applewood, it has just the right amount of smoke. For those who like flavored ciders, Woodchuck has a wide array, from Chocolate Raspberry to Pumpkin, to Coconut Pineapple. That’s not really my thing, aside from the Smoked Apple, which I will seek out again. Besides, I like Woodchuck’s motto: “Give a ‘chuck.”

The next two tastings Chris and I conducted at home with ciders produced by smaller cider makers. Shacksbury Cider’s The Basque, is actually produced in Spain and then bottled in Shoreham. The owners also import cider from England, but have recently released in limited amounts a cider made from local “lost apples”—apples they’ve foraged from trees homesteaders planted specifically for homemade hard cider over a century ago.

The Basque is unfiltered and fermented with wild yeast, rendering it cloudy and golden, similar to an unfiltered pale ale, but without the carbonation. Its label describes it as extra dry, which is accurate; I’d say it’s a bit too dry even for my palate. It has a bold, citrusy tang with a musty finish, and is a whole different animal from the previous ciders we tried. At $14.99 a bottle, it’s the most expensive cider for sale at the Middlebury Co-op. Shacksbury is getting a lot of media attention, so some people must love it, but for us it’s a yet to be acquired taste. We’re interested though in giving their local lost apple vintage, called 1840, a try.

Finally, we picked up a bottle of Flag Hill Farm’s Vermont Cyder, “with a y,” that is. 

Perusing the shelf of local, artisanal ciders at the Co-op, I was swayed to buy this one by the sign underneath it citing a New York Times description: “cider with the soul of wine.” The packaging does resemble wine more than anything else, from the shape of the bottle to the cork that seals it (the same goes for The Basque). And the cider itself is indeed more similar to wine than to the sweeter ciders at Citizen and Woodchuck (except for The Full Nelson which really does, amazingly, resemble champagne). It’s definitely dry, but not as dry as The Basque, and I tasted sour apple and earth. As for the bouquet, the best way I can describe it is that it smells like fall. 

Made with wild, organic apples and no additives or artificial ingredients, Flag Hill Cyder is fermented with wild yeast and aged at least one winter. At 8.5% alcohol, it’s the most potent of the ones we sampled (the others hover around 6.9% or lower); again, like wine, a cider meant for sipping.  It sells for $9.99 at the Middlebury Co-op but, alas, is available only in Vermont, in limited release. I usually lean toward red wine and Chris toward craft IPAs, but I can see the appeal of mixing it up and sharing a bottle of this cyder along with a hearty braise or stew on a chilly fall evening. 

So I guess I could say I’m a cider convert. Vermont was dubbed the “Napa Valley of hard cider” in a recent article, although I think Sonoma is more apt, and more preferable to most locals. Either way, I’m glad that hard cider is back, and is here to stay.


The Vermont Epicure is a blog about food, place, and family.  Read more delectable stories inspired by cooking, gardening, and eating adventures in Vermont (and beyond).

Source: Dig in VT Trails

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It’s Apple Season!

Have you gone apple picking yet?  Enjoy the beautiful orchards and the beautiful fall foliage. Enjoy the orchards.  Happy Autumn!!

When Vermonters want to taste a unique apple, most of us reach for the closest heirloom variety. The definition of “heirloom” isn’t set in stone, but generally speaking it’s an apple variety born around the same time as our Great- Grandparents, or older. Today, heirloom apples are much easier to find than even a few years ago. I’m most familiar with the varieties from Scott Farm[http://www.diginvt.com/places/detail/scott-farm]  in Dummerston, VT. These apples, with names like Sheep’s Nose, Belle de Boskoop, and Knobby Russet, arrive on local store shelves across the state every fall. The store I shop at, Hunger Mountain Co-op, hands out guides to the farm’s 90 varieties of apples in a stack next to the apple bins. I’ve also made the trek South to the farm itself, a historic place where Rudyard Kipling once lived, that’s open seven days a week during the harvest.
The reason why I look for heirloom apples is because these varieties first came into popularity through backyard growers or very small orchards – venues that could value taste or an apple’s ability to serve a particular purpose (like pie baking) very well. These places did not select for other, less tasty, concerns like the ability to be shipped across the country or grow skin without a single blemish. But as much as I’ve thought about backyard growers in the 1800’s and the varieties they tended for future generations, I never thought about today’s backyard growers and the role they still play.
Todd Parlo of Walden Heights Nursery recently set me straight about the backyard orchardists: they’re still around, their numbers are growing, and they have a critical role to play in giving us a wonderfully diverse range of apples to sample.
Walden Heights Nursery, in Walden VT, sells more than apple trees (including pears, grapes, cherries and plums) but apples are clearly a passion of Todd’s. He has hundreds of varieties of apples growing right now. Hundreds, plural. His long term plan is to hover at 350 – 400 different kinds growing at any one time. 
It turns out that when you’re experimenting with apples simply because you love to experiment with apples, you can create a lot of diversity. 
There are several apple attributes that make them well-suited to playing with many varieties. For one thing, growers reproduce apples by grafting. Instead of growing a new tree from seed, they add a bud from one tree to rootstock, trunk, or branch of another. From that start, you can grow a seedling of one variety or, if you graft wood from multiple different trees onto a single trunk, you can get one tree with many apple varieties that change from branch to branch. 
Also, the reason why apples are propagated by grafting in the first place is that apples grown from seed don’t make the same fruit as their parents, they make something new. . . adding a new variety to the mix. Usually this new tree is not something that anyone would want to continue growing, but sometimes it’s a happy surprise — the classic Granny Smith apple came from a seedling that grew out of a bunch of apple cores dumped in a compost pile in 1868 and the first McIntosh was found as a wild seedling by a farmer clearing his field. 
And, of course, nurseries will sell seedlings of the known varieties, including heirlooms, some of which have recently been brought back from the brink of disappearing. 
I asked Todd to describe some of the unique apples in his orchard that I might not have tasted before. He listed Beacon apples that taste like anise, Sweet Sixteen apples that taste like cherry lollipops, Sunrise apples that taste more like grapes than apples.  . . and of course there are also his own experiments still in development. Plus, his website offers: “. . . we can custom graft nearly any variety that is still in existence, or from wood from your own tree.”   
Not everyone has a backyard they’re about to convert into a miniature orchard. I don’t. But I do enjoy wandering through other people’s orchards and daydreaming about what is possible. It’s a natural version of Charlie’s Chocolate Factory – endless flavors, textures, and aromas in eye catching apples that I never would have imagined when surveying rows of the standard Red Delicious. Some ways to vicariously satisfy your own inner orchardist in Vermont this fall: 
• Visit one of the many Pick Your Own apple orchards open around the state [I think the best way to get a link is to click “U Pick” and then search “apple”? Or is there already an apple trail?]
• Go to an apple event – events listed on DigInVT range from cooking classes to pie contests to a workshop on the science of apples [http://www.diginvt.com/events/detail/apple-science-at-liberty-orchard].
• Sample Vermont’s specialty products that are designed to show off unusual flavors in our apples – particularly traditional hard ciders, ice ciders, and boiled cider syrup. 
• And if you want to learn more about the growing your own apples, check out the workshops offered by DigInVT partner NOFA-VT [http://nofavt.org/], including workshops at their winter conference and their summer workshop series. 

When Vermonters want to taste a unique apple, most of us reach for the closest heirloom variety. The definition of “heirloom” isn’t set in stone, but generally speaking it’s an apple variety born around the same time as our Great- Grandparents, or older. Today, heirloom apples are much easier to find than even a few years ago. I’m most familiar with the varieties from Scott Farm in Dummerston, VT. These apples, with names like Sheep’s Nose, Belle de Boskoop, and Knobby Russet, arrive on local store shelves across the state every fall. The store I shop at, Hunger Mountain Co-op, hands out guides to the farm’s 90 varieties of apples in a stack next to the apple bins. I’ve also made the trek south to the farm itself, a historic place where Rudyard Kipling once lived, that’s open seven days a week during the harvest.

The reason why I look for heirloom apples is because these varieties first came into popularity through backyard growers or very small orchards – venues that could value taste or an apple’s ability to serve a particular purpose (like pie baking) very well. These places did not select for other, less tasty, concerns like the ability to be shipped across the country or grow skin without a single blemish. But as much as I’ve thought about backyard growers in the 1800’s and the varieties they tended for future generations, I never thought about today’s backyard growers and the role they still play.

Todd Parlo of Walden Heights Nursery recently set me straight about the backyard orchardists: they’re still around, their numbers are growing, and they have a critical role to play in giving us a wonderfully diverse range of apples to sample.

Walden Heights Nursery, in Walden VT, sells more than apple trees (including pears, grapes, cherries and plums) but apples are clearly a passion of Todd’s. He has hundreds of varieties of apples growing right now. Hundreds, plural. His long term plan is to hover at 350 – 400 different kinds growing at any one time. 

It turns out that when you’re experimenting with apples simply because you love to experiment with apples, you can create a lot of diversity. 

There are several apple attributes that make them well-suited to playing with many varieties. For one thing, growers reproduce apples by grafting. Instead of growing a new tree from seed, they add a bud from one tree to rootstock, trunk, or branch of another. From that start, you can grow a seedling of one variety or, if you graft wood from multiple different trees onto a single trunk, you can get one tree with many apple varieties that change from branch to branch. 

Also, the reason why apples are propagated by grafting in the first place is that apples grown from seed don’t make the same fruit as their parents, they make something new. . . adding a new variety to the mix. Usually this new tree is not something that anyone would want to continue growing, but sometimes it’s a happy surprise — the classic Granny Smith apple came from a seedling that grew out of a bunch of apple cores dumped in a compost pile in 1868 and the first McIntosh was found as a wild seedling by a farmer clearing his field. 

And, of course, nurseries will sell seedlings of the known varieties, including heirlooms, some of which have recently been brought back from the brink of disappearing. 

I asked Todd to describe some of the unique apples in his orchard that I might not have tasted before. He listed Beacon apples that taste like anise, Sweet Sixteen apples that taste like cherry lollipops, Sunrise apples that taste more like grapes than apples.  . . and of course there are also his own experiments still in development. Plus, his website offers: “. . . we can custom graft nearly any variety that is still in existence, or from wood from your own tree.”   

Not everyone has a backyard they’re about to convert into a miniature orchard. I don’t. But I do enjoy wandering through other people’s orchards and daydreaming about what is possible. It’s a natural version of Charlie’s Chocolate Factory – endless flavors, textures, and aromas in eye catching apples that I never would have imagined when surveying rows of the standard Red Delicious. Some ways to vicariously satisfy your own inner orchardist in Vermont this fall: 

• Visit one of the many Pick Your Own apple orchards open around the state

• Go to an apple event – events listed on DigInVT range from cooking classes to pie contests to a workshop on the science of apples.

• Sample Vermont’s specialty products that are designed to show off unusual flavors in our apples – particularly traditional hard ciders, ice ciders, and boiled cider syrup. 

• And if you want to learn more about the growing your own apples, check out the workshops offered by DigInVT partner NOFA-VT, including workshops at their winter conference and their summer workshop series. 

Helen Labun Jordan is a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. You can find her commentaries and other food writing at www.discoveringflavor.com

Source: Dig in VT Trails

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A Delicious Collection

 

Have you noticed how many wonderful places there are to visit to experience Vermont’s food, drink, and farms?  There are many exciting road trips you can plan around visiting these places.  (Check out the trails or make your own.)  Have you ever wished that you could find some of these places all under one roof?  The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT is just such a place.  Check out the blog post from the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed to get more information.  Another such place that is gathering the best Vermont food and drink together is the Vermont Artisan Village.  Slated to open in early 2015, the Village is currently looking for craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village.  Read their post below to get more information and become part of the Village!
From the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed:
On the Road – Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center
March 5, 2014
The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT opened its doors in August of 2013 enticing both visitors and locals to come taste what the Kingdom has to offer. The Center is a local food emporium featuring a bakery, butcher counter, café, maple shop, and a top-shelf tasting bar with a tempting array of Kingdom spirits and cheeses from local farms. I was lucky to visit the center last week, and explore its culinary treasures with the Center co-founders and Eden Ice Cider owners, Eleanor and Albert Ledger.
Eleanor and Albert moved their cider making, aging, bottling and distribution operations from their farm in Orleans to the basement of the Tasting Center. Guests can see the process of making the ice cider which makes the experience especially unique. Eden Ice Cider manages to capture that off-the-branch taste of a ripe apple in golden liquid form. We settled in at the tasting bar, where Eleanor poured us samples of her Orleans Bitter and Herbal, Ice Cider, and other local spirits from Caledonia Spirits, Dunc’s Mill and Artesano Mead. You can try a number of different wines and spirits, pair them with cheese, or have a Seasonal Tasting Plate featuring four “bites and sips” for just $9!
We headed for lunch across the room at the Brown Dog Bistro where local specials include items like a gorgeous beet salad, Vermont Bean Crafters Burgers, and Brisket sandwiches using Spring Hill Farm’s Beef that’s processed in the onsite butcher shop. Owner Stephen Breault chatted nearby with farmer partner Ben Nottermann of Snug Valley Farm as we ate our tasty sandwiches. The beer list at Brown Dog is full of local brewers like Kingdom Brewing—who grow most all their own brewing ingredients on their Newport farm. We topped off lunch with salted caramel and mocha cupcakes from Jocelyn and Cinta’s Bakery, who have also found a happy home at the Tasting Center. 
Sitting on the border of Canada, the shores of Lake Memphremegog and just 20 minutes from the awesome slopes of Jay Peak, hungry visitors surround Newport–and there is no better food than that produced by the farmers and producers of the Northeast Kingdom. “Bringing these businesses together in an attractive downtown location will create a destination for residents and visitors to learn more about locally-produced foods and beverages,” Eleanor said. “They will buy and eat more healthy local food, and area farmers and producers will benefit from a larger local market for their products.” 
We urge you to go explore the Northeast Kingdom, and there’s no better place to start than the Tasting Center! They can also now accommodate groups of 20-50 for tours of the center and cidery, followed by a tastings or meal in the barrel room of the Cidery. (Reservations required at least 2 weeks in advance, contact is Tracey@nektastingcenter.com)
From Vermont Artisan Village: 
vermont artisan village is a working community of artisans and food producers that promises to be one of the top food and tourist destinations in Vermont. Located on the busy Middlebury-to-Burlington Route 7 corridor in Shelburne near some of the most visited attractions in the state, Vermont Artisan Village brings together the best in sustainable local food production and artisan craftsmanship in a combined production and retail facility.
Calling all craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village! Do you make artisanal hard cider? Or, maybe coffee roasting is your specialty? Maybe you are a traditional weaver? We’re looking for any and all types of food and craft artisans to join us at the Vermont Artisan Village. We are scheduled to open in early 2015 and are currently accepting applications for tenants. 
Come join our unique and collaborative community of artisans and producers in this beautiful new production and retail facility. Our spaces are 100% customizable to your needs. Learn about the Vermont Artisan Village, view site plans, rates and more on our website: http://vermontartisanvillage.com/.

Have you noticed how many wonderful places there are to visit to experience Vermont’s food, drink, and farms?  There are many exciting road trips you can plan around visiting these places.  (Check out the trails or make your own!)  Have you ever wished that you could find some of these places all under one roof?  The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT is just such a place.  Check out the blog post from the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed to get more information.  Another such place that is gathering the best Vermont food and drink together is the Vermont Artisan Village.  Slated to open in early 2015, the Village is currently looking for craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village.  Read their post below to get more information and become part of the Village!

From the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed:

On the Road – Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center

March 5, 2014


The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT opened its doors in August of 2013 enticing both visitors and locals to come taste what the Kingdom has to offer. The Center is a local food emporium featuring a bakery, butcher counter, café, maple shop, and a top-shelf tasting bar with a tempting array of Kingdom spirits and cheeses from local farms. I was lucky to visit the center last week, and explore its culinary treasures with the Center co-founders and Eden Ice Cider owners, Eleanor and Albert Ledger.

Eleanor and Albert moved their cider making, aging, bottling and distribution operations from their farm in Orleans to the basement of the Tasting Center. Guests can see the process of making the ice cider which makes the experience especially unique. Eden Ice Cider manages to capture that off-the-branch taste of a ripe apple in golden liquid form. We settled in at the tasting bar, where Eleanor poured us samples of her Orleans Bitter and Herbal, Ice Cider, and other local spirits from Caledonia Spirits, Dunc’s Mill and Artesano Mead. You can try a number of different wines and spirits, pair them with cheese, or have a Seasonal Tasting Plate featuring four “bites and sips” for just $9!

We headed for lunch across the room at the Brown Dog Bistro where local specials include items like a gorgeous beet salad, Vermont Bean Crafters Burgers, and Brisket sandwiches using Spring Hill Farm’s Beef that’s processed in the onsite butcher shop. Owner Stephen Breault chatted nearby with farmer partner Ben Nottermann of Snug Valley Farm as we ate our tasty sandwiches. The beer list at Brown Dog is full of local brewers like Kingdom Brewing—who grow most all their own brewing ingredients on their Newport farm. We topped off lunch with salted caramel and mocha cupcakes from Jocelyn and Cinta’s Bakery, who have also found a happy home at the Tasting Center. 

Sitting on the border of Canada, the shores of Lake Memphremegog and just 20 minutes from the awesome slopes of Jay Peak, hungry visitors surround Newport–and there is no better food than that produced by the farmers and producers of the Northeast Kingdom. “Bringing these businesses together in an attractive downtown location will create a destination for residents and visitors to learn more about locally-produced foods and beverages,” Eleanor said. “They will buy and eat more healthy local food, and area farmers and producers will benefit from a larger local market for their products.” 

We urge you to go explore the Northeast Kingdom, and there’s no better place to start than the Tasting Center! They can also now accommodate groups of 20-50 for tours of the center and cidery, followed by a tastings or meal in the barrel room of the Cidery. (Reservations required at least 2 weeks in advance, contact is Tracey@nektastingcenter.com)

From Vermont Artisan Village: 

Vermont Artisan Village is a working community of artisans and food producers that promises to be one of the top food and tourist destinations in Vermont. Located on the busy Middlebury-to-Burlington Route 7 corridor in Shelburne near some of the most visited attractions in the state, Vermont Artisan Village brings together the best in sustainable local food production and artisan craftsmanship in a combined production and retail facility.

Calling all craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village! Do you make artisanal hard cider? Or, maybe coffee roasting is your specialty? Maybe you are a traditional weaver? We’re looking for any and all types of food and craft artisans to join us at the Vermont Artisan Village. We are scheduled to open in early 2015 and are currently accepting applications for tenants. 

Come join our unique and collaborative community of artisans and producers in this beautiful new production and retail facility. Our spaces are 100% customizable to your needs. Learn about the Vermont Artisan Village, view site plans, rates and more on our website: http://vermontartisanvillage.com/.

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

A Summer Tasting of Vermont’s Outstanding Artisan Cheese

 

A cow named Dizzy munches on buttercups, a goat named Isabelle ruminates under the shade of an old oak tree; in Vermont, the rolling green pastures are shadowed only by the cheeses that its distinct flora promotes.
With all the marvelous European cheeses we carry, tasting through terroirs of France, Italy, Switzerland or Portugal can sometimes make it hard to remember that, here in New England, a slice of the Old World exists right on our doorstep. While Europeans are upholding some of the most important cheese traditions, Vermont’s cheese makers and affineurs (cheese agers) are bursting with creativity, blending European and American traditions with some truly extraordinary results.
Earlier this summer I awoke in a strange bed; the rattling in my head reminding me that I might have had one too many pints of beer the night before. I was at Consider Bardwell Farm, the first of several stops on a trip visiting the people and animals behind some of our favorite Vermont cheeses. My coworkers and I had been welcomed at the farm the previous evening with a feast spread by our gracious hosts and farmer friends. Now I scrambled to get dressed and greet the sun, which was just breaking through the clouds over the pasture.
The dairy was already bustling with activity before I crossed the fields to the milking room. The goats nudged each other trying to be first in line. The heifers ran to the stalls where suction would relieve their mammaries. Everyone was awake and brimming with energy. The farmers washed the equipment and prepared the udders for milking. The goats smiled, and seemed to laugh as they noshed on coveted treats, and gave their milk.
The milk traveled through sterile tubing into large vats in the dairy. The rennet was added and the process began. Each cheese has its own recipe, its own distinct needs to present itself best to our palates. While in the dairy, time, pH, and tactile impression shape the cheese before its curds are cut. Although most of the flavor in our favorite cheeses materializes in the caves, the structure of the final product depends upon the precision of the cheese maker.
After a tour of Consider Bardwell’s controlled aging rooms, we drove to nearby Twig Farm to meet Michael Lee and his goats. The area was more wooded, and the land appeared to be mainly untouched. Michael greeted us at the end of the driveway and promptly gave a tour of the grounds. He introduced us to many of the 64 goats he cared for. Michael had names for each, distinguished by the goat’s markings and the color of its collar.
As we toured his land, and moved the fences to expand the pasturing area, Michael astounded us with his knowledge of the flora and the goats’ affinity for particular plants. He explained the nuances that particulars in diet bring to the flavor and structure of his famed tommes. In his cave he enjoyed watching the milk evolve. He embraced the micro cultures, molds, and yeasts that spawn delicious cheese. Twig Farm is small, Michael does the farming, cheese making and cave management himself with only an occasional helper. His devotion to the craft is recognized in each of his products.
From Twig Farm we traveled to Blue Ledge Farm, renowned for their Lake’s Edge and fresh chèvre. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived, and we had already missed the cheese maker. A young dog ran up to greet us near the barn. Hannah was right behind him. She took us down into their cave. There curds for chèvre drained in baskets along steel tables dripping with whey. In the next room, Lake’s edge rested covered in ash.
Next on my itinerary was Jasper Hill Farm, and the Cellars at Jasper Hill. In the pastures, on the way to the Cellars, we met Dizzy. She was munching on grass and wildflowers in a field just down the road from the barn. Jasper Hill’s cows spend much of the day ruminating in the gorgeous pastures on along the hills.
We passed the barn and dairy and continued up the road to the caves. This massive underground facility was unimposing, just a door into the hillside. Matteo opened the door and welcomed us into the cellars. Vince, our guide, and former Formaggio Kitchen monger, acquainted us with the many arms of the facility. One was devoted to raw milk bloomy rind cheeses, one to alpine style washed rinds, the largest arm was reserved for Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. The affineurs care for cheeses from a variety of neighboring dairies. Regular turning, washing, and tasting wheel after wheel is required by the cave managers to provide the best product possible.
After a fascinating visit at the Cellars at Jasper Hill we made our way to Cobb Hill. Cobb Hill is co-housing community who’s residents manage a vegetable farm and dairy, and create delightful cheese as well as frozen yogurt. We were given snacks of Ascutney Mountain, Cobb Hill’s signature alpine cheese and maple frozen yogurt; it was perfect on a hot summer afternoon.
I had one final stop. I was running out of time but needed still to visit Spring Brook Farm: Farms for City Kids. Here they are dedicated to educating children and impressing upon them the need for sustainability. With 100% Jersey cow’s milk the farmers create award winning cheeses like the Spring Brook Tarentaise. I was introduced to the copper kettle envied by many, and after visiting their cheese caves I took some time to wander the beautiful landscape, and pat a calf or two.
It was an incredible journey through the Vermont countryside; reflective of life ruled by the sun, the seasons, and a sincere commitment of neighbors to the highest standards of quality, community, and sustainability.
Nicole Roach is a keen kitchen experimenter and a member of the produce, register, and operations teams at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge.

Summer may be ending but it’s always the right season for a trip exploring Vermont’s delicious cheese. Read this cheese adventure here and then make your own!

A cow named Dizzy munches on buttercups, a goat named Isabelle ruminates under the shade of an old oak tree; in Vermont, the rolling green pastures are shadowed only by the cheeses that its distinct flora promotes.

With all the marvelous European cheeses we carry, tasting through terroirs of France, Italy, Switzerland or Portugal can sometimes make it hard to remember that, here in New England, a slice of the Old World exists right on our doorstep. While Europeans are upholding some of the most important cheese traditions, Vermont’s cheese makers and affineurs (cheese agers) are bursting with creativity, blending European and American traditions with some truly extraordinary results.

Earlier this summer I awoke in a strange bed; the rattling in my head reminding me that I might have had one too many pints of beer the night before. I was at Consider Bardwell Farm, the first of several stops on a trip visiting the people and animals behind some of our favorite Vermont cheeses. My coworkers and I had been welcomed at the farm the previous evening with a feast spread by our gracious hosts and farmer friends. Now I scrambled to get dressed and greet the sun, which was just breaking through the clouds over the pasture.

Happy Goat at Consider Bardwell Farm

The dairy was already bustling with activity before I crossed the fields to the milking room. The goats nudged each other trying to be first in line. The heifers ran to the stalls where suction would relieve their mammaries. Everyone was awake and brimming with energy. The farmers washed the equipment and prepared the udders for milking. The goats smiled, and seemed to laugh as they noshed on coveted treats, and gave their milk.

The milk traveled through sterile tubing into large vats in the dairy. The rennet was added and the process began. Each cheese has its own recipe, its own distinct needs to present itself best to our palates. While in the dairy, time, pH, and tactile impression shape the cheese before its curds are cut. Although most of the flavor in our favorite cheeses materializes in the caves, the structure of the final product depends upon the precision of the cheese maker.

Getting the feel for the Dorset

After a tour of Consider Bardwell’s controlled aging rooms, we drove to nearby Twig Farm to meet Michael Lee and his goats. The area was more wooded, and the land appeared to be mainly untouched. Michael greeted us at the end of the driveway and promptly gave a tour of the grounds. He introduced us to many of the 64 goats he cared for. Michael had names for each, distinguished by the goat’s markings and the color of its collar.

As we toured his land, and moved the fences to expand the pasturing area, Michael astounded us with his knowledge of the flora and the goats’ affinity for particular plants. He explained the nuances that particulars in diet bring to the flavor and structure of his famed tommes. In his cave he enjoyed watching the milk evolve. He embraced the micro cultures, molds, and yeasts that spawn delicious cheese. Twig Farm is small, Michael does the farming, cheese making and cave management himself with only an occasional helper. His devotion to the craft is recognized in each of his products.

Twig Farm Fuzzy Wheel

From Twig Farm we traveled to Blue Ledge Farm, renowned for their Lake’s Edge and fresh chèvre. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived, and we had already missed the cheese maker. A young dog ran up to greet us near the barn. Hannah was right behind him. She took us down into their cave. There curds for chèvre drained in baskets along steel tables dripping with whey. In the next room, Lake’s edge rested covered in ash.

Next on my itinerary was Jasper Hill Farm, and the Cellars at Jasper Hill. In the pastures, on the way to the Cellars, we met Dizzy. She was munching on grass and wildflowers in a field just down the road from the barn. Jasper Hill’s cows spend much of the day ruminating in the gorgeous pastures on along the hills.

We passed the barn and dairy and continued up the road to the caves. This massive underground facility was unimposing, just a door into the hillside. Matteo opened the door and welcomed us into the cellars. Vince, our guide, and former Formaggio Kitchen monger, acquainted us with the many arms of the facility. One was devoted to raw milk bloomy rind cheeses, one to alpine style washed rinds, the largest arm was reserved for Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. The affineurs care for cheeses from a variety of neighboring dairies. Regular turning, washing, and tasting wheel after wheel is required by the cave managers to provide the best product possible.

Affineur washing Alpha Tolman

After a fascinating visit at the Cellars at Jasper Hill we made our way to Cobb Hill. Cobb Hill is co-housing community who’s residents manage a vegetable farm and dairy, and create delightful cheese as well as frozen yogurt. We were given snacks of Ascutney Mountain, Cobb Hill’s signature alpine cheese and maple frozen yogurt; it was perfect on a hot summer afternoon.

I had one final stop. I was running out of time but needed still to visit Spring Brook Farm: Farms for City Kids. Here they are dedicated to educating children and impressing upon them the need for sustainability. With 100% Jersey cow’s milk the farmers create award winning cheeses like the Spring Brook Tarentaise. I was introduced to the copper kettle envied by many, and after visiting their cheese caves I took some time to wander the beautiful landscape, and pat a calf or two.

It was an incredible journey through the Vermont countryside; reflective of life ruled by the sun, the seasons, and a sincere commitment of neighbors to the highest standards of quality, community, and sustainability.

 

Future producer of Tarentaise

Nicole Roach is a keen kitchen experimenter and a member of the produce, register, and operations teams at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge.

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

Exploring Burlington: Home of the Art Hop

 

Burlington is a strolling city. Visit it in early September, when the air is still warm and the sun has taken an autumnal slant, and you feel like you could walk around, casually exploring forever. The city is set up to invite you to do just that. There is the Waterfront Park along Lake Champlain, City Hall Park where the Burlington Farmers’ Market convenes every Saturday (it goes indoors after October 25th), and the famous Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall with plenty of shops and restaurants. 
A newly popular area for exploring is Pine Street, in Burlington’s South End. 
Pine Street is home to well-established businesses, such as Conant Metal & Light and Dealer.com, many of which involve food, including Lake Champlain Chocolates, Speeder & Earl’s Coffee, New World Tortilla, Great Harvest Bread Company, and Myers Bagels (Montreal style bagels sold from a shop that opens at 4:00 am. . . nothing tastes better than a bagel – or three – straight from the wood oven at 4:00 am). The kitchen collective at ArtsRiot provides a rotating menu with a different chef each night and organizes a food truck stop on Friday nights. New eateries on the street include So-Yo Frozen Yogurt, a tangy frozen yogurt using Vermont dairy, and the South End Kitchen at Lake Champlain Chocolates, which combines a cafe and cooking class space (check the DigInVT calendar of events for upcoming classes). 
Pine Street is perhaps best known as the home to many individual artists’ studios from traditional painting to rust-belt inspired clay sculpture to Strange Dolls (a studio that makes. . . strange dolls). Near the end of Pine Street are the studios of the Emergent Media Center, run by Champlain College, which creates interactive, multimedia experiences. Earlier this year, the Burlington Writers’ Workshop brought their headquarters and writing space to Pine Street’s Studio 266. 
The South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) refers to this neighborhood as the place where art meets commerce. 
If you’re looking for a chance to explore the arts, commerce, and food of Pine Street, then the first week in September is the time to do it. The annual Art Hop, organized by SEABA, runs from September 5th – 7th. Studios and businesses all along the street open their doors with exhibits by local artists. There are kids’ events, live music, a comedy show, an artists’ market, juried shows, outdoor sculptures and the STRUT! Fashion Show. 
The Art Hop is a perfect introduction to this region of Burlington. This event will give any visitor a feel for the energy of this creative corridor, which carries over into the rest of the year. After you’ve seen the work on display, and the number of people who come out to view it and participate in their community’s annual festivities, you’ll always imagine the hum of activity going on behind the walls of the Pine Street buildings. 
To get information on ticket sales, a full list of venues, and schedule of events for the 2014 Art Hop, visit the SEABA website at: http://seaba.com/ 
Looking for a place for lunch or dinner during the Art Hop? Check out the food vendors at the Burlington Farmers’ Market on Saturday, the eateries on Pine Street, and, of course, all the great downtown Burlington restaurants – including some delicious brunch venues like Mirabelle’s Cafe, Penny Cluse Cafe, and Magnolia Bistro. You can find more information on the DigInVT.com Places page.

The South End Art Hop is coming this weekend Friday, September 5 – Sunday, September 7.  While you are taking in the art don’t forget to take in some food too.  Check out this great article to get a taste for what Burlington and the Art Hop have in store for you!

Burlington is a strolling city. Visit it in early September, when the air is still warm and the sun has taken an autumnal slant, and you feel like you could walk around, casually exploring forever. The city is set up to invite you to do just that. There is the Waterfront Park along Lake Champlain, City Hall Park where the Burlington Farmers’ Market convenes every Saturday (it goes indoors after October 25th), and the famous Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall with plenty of shops and restaurants. 

A newly popular area for exploring is Pine Street, in Burlington’s South End. 

Pine Street is home to well-established businesses, such as Conant Metal & Light and Dealer.com, many of which involve food, including Lake Champlain Chocolates, Speeder & Earl’s Coffee, New World Tortilla, Great Harvest Bread Company, and Myers Bagels (Montreal style bagels sold from a shop that opens at 4:00 am. . . nothing tastes better than a bagel – or three – straight from the wood oven at 4:00 am). The kitchen collective at ArtsRiot provides a rotating menu with a different chef each night and organizes a food truck stop on Friday nights. New eateries on the street include So-Yo Frozen Yogurt, a tangy frozen yogurt using Vermont dairy, and the South End Kitchen at Lake Champlain Chocolates, which combines a cafe and cooking class space (check the DigInVT calendar of events for upcoming classes). 

Pine Street is perhaps best known as the home to many individual artists’ studios from traditional painting to rust-belt inspired clay sculpture to Strange Dolls (a studio that makes. . . strange dolls). Near the end of Pine Street are the studios of the Emergent Media Center, run by Champlain College, which creates interactive, multimedia experiences. Earlier this year, the Burlington Writers’ Workshop brought their headquarters and writing space to Pine Street’s Studio 266. 

The South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) refers to this neighborhood as the place where art meets commerce. 

If you’re looking for a chance to explore the arts, commerce, and food of Pine Street, then the first week in September is the time to do it. The annual Art Hop, organized by SEABA, runs from September 5th – 7th. Studios and businesses all along the street open their doors with exhibits by local artists. There are kids’ events, live music, a comedy show, an artists’ market, juried shows, outdoor sculptures and the STRUT! Fashion Show. 

The Art Hop is a perfect introduction to this region of Burlington. This event will give any visitor a feel for the energy of this creative corridor, which carries over into the rest of the year. After you’ve seen the work on display, and the number of people who come out to view it and participate in their community’s annual festivities, you’ll always imagine the hum of activity going on behind the walls of the Pine Street buildings. 

To get information on ticket sales, a full list of venues, and schedule of events for the 2014 Art Hop, visit the SEABA website at: http://seaba.com/ 

Looking for a place for lunch or dinner during the Art Hop? Check out the food vendors at the Burlington Farmers’ Market on Saturday, the eateries on Pine Street, and, of course, all the great downtown Burlington restaurants – including some delicious brunch venues like Mirabelle’s Cafe, Penny Cluse Cafe, and Magnolia Bistro. You can find more information on the DigInVT.com Places page.

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

Island Time

 

When most people think of Vermont, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Green Mountains, thanks to their popular ski slopes and hiking trails. But an equally notable natural resource, and a highlight of the state for me, is Lake Champlain. Friends from out of state are often surprised to hear that it’s the sixth largest freshwater lake in the country, after the five Great Lakes. Spanning 120 miles along Vermont’s western side, it’s flanked by New York’s Adirondack Mountains and also offers spectacular views of the Greens.
We live about 20 minutes due east of Lake Champlain, so in the summer it’s a big draw for swimming, kayaking, and sunset viewing. Learning to sail on the lake is at the top of my bucket list. It’s home to 70 islands, the largest of which are ideal for biking, so last weekend Chris and I decided to explore the southern part of Grand Isle, an area known as South Hero. To get there, we biked across the Island Line Trail, a narrow causeway that crosses the lake, joining a suburb of Burlington with South Hero. The ride across is a spectacular four-mile trek over the water, with sweeping views in all directions.
The Island Line Trail used to be a railroad line with a swing bridge that allowed boats to pass through. Since the swing bridge is no longer there, a 20-passenger bike ferry now transports cyclists and pedestrians across the 200-foot gap. 
The ferry’s affable captain told me that he makes the crossing around 50 times on a typical day. Chris and I hopped aboard with a handful of other people–locals, Québécois, and out-of-staters–and were on the other side in less than 10 minutes.
Grand Isle County lays claim to the state’s longest growing season, which makes for a thriving agricultural region and good food and drink to be had. We pedaled along dirt and two-lane roads, past orchards, 
cows, 
and small-scale farms,
never far from a glimpse of the lake. For lunch, we stopped at the Accidental Farmer Cafe, a modest roadside stand tucked in between an orchard and a farm.
The Accidental Farmer himself, Mike, hand rolled some local, grass-fed burgers for us as he talked about life on the island.
Although he’s not an actual farmer, he says he “cultivates the farmers” by using as much of their produce, meat, cheese, and other products as he can in the tasty fare he serves up. We couldn’t resist ordering one of his juicy cheeseburgers, but his other more creative, global offerings—such as nachos served not on chips but on local fingerling potatoes—were very tempting.
After lunch, we walked next door to Allenholm Farm for a classic Vermont dessert—a maple creemee.
Back on our bikes, we looped around to the western side of the island to take West Shore Road hugging the coast. The wind picked up and it started to drizzle just as we were approaching Snow Farm Vineyard. Perfect timing!
The first commercial vineyard in the state, Snow Farm was established by its forward-thinking owners in an effort to retain agricultural land in the face of pressures to develop. The island’s more temperate climate allows Snow Farm to grow French hybrids, along with Pinot Noir and Riesling, under the direction of a winemaker who studied with the best at the University of Dijon in Bourgogne, France. (I also studied there while in college—not winemaking, although I did my share of extracurricular sampling.)
Chris and I shared a tasting, which they nicely let us split since we would be getting back on our bikes.  I was impressed by the smoky Baco Noir and also the Gewürztraminer, whose minerality is balanced by lush peach.
Back outside the drizzle had stopped, but we still had to ride against the wind back to the ferry. We pedaled hard up a couple hills, and then we rounded a bend and came upon a field edged by trees. On practically every tree, someone had placed a colorful birdhouse. Hundreds of them.
In this technological consumer age when we’re constantly bombarded by corporate efforts to “surprise and delight” us, this simple display made us literally stop in our tracks, genuinely surprised and delighted. And it was just one of several instances that afternoon, during the course of our twenty-mile bike ride, that had this effect on us.

Looking to explore a beautiful of region of Vermont?  Look no further than the Champlain Islands.  There are many things to do and many things to eat!!  Enjoy!

When most people think of Vermont, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Green Mountains, thanks to their popular ski slopes and hiking trails. But an equally notable natural resource, and a highlight of the state for me, is Lake Champlain. Friends from out of state are often surprised to hear that it’s the sixth largest freshwater lake in the country, after the five Great Lakes. Spanning 120 miles along Vermont’s western side, it’s flanked by New York’s Adirondack Mountains and also offers spectacular views of the Greens.

We live about 20 minutes due east of Lake Champlain, so in the summer it’s a big draw for swimming, kayaking, and sunset viewing. Learning to sail on the lake is at the top of my bucket list. It’s home to 70 islands, the largest of which are ideal for biking, so last weekend Chris and I decided to explore the southern part of Grand Isle, an area known as South Hero. To get there, we biked across the Island Line Trail, a narrow causeway that crosses the lake, joining a suburb of Burlington with South Hero. The ride across is a spectacular four-mile trek over the water, with sweeping views in all directions.

The Island Line Trail used to be a railroad line with a swing bridge that allowed boats to pass through. Since the swing bridge is no longer there, a 20-passenger bike ferry now transports cyclists and pedestrians across the 200-foot gap. 

The ferry’s affable captain told me that he makes the crossing around 50 times on a typical day. Chris and I hopped aboard with a handful of other people–locals, Québécois, and out-of-staters–and were on the other side in less than 10 minutes.

Grand Isle County lays claim to the state’s longest growing season, which makes for a thriving agricultural region and good food and drink to be had. We pedaled along dirt and two-lane roads, past orchards, 

cows, 

and small-scale farms,

never far from a glimpse of the lake. For lunch, we stopped at the Accidental Farmer Cafe, a modest roadside stand tucked in between an orchard and a farm.

The Accidental Farmer himself, Mike, hand rolled some local, grass-fed burgers for us as he talked about life on the island.

Although he’s not an actual farmer, he says he “cultivates the farmers” by using as much of their produce, meat, cheese, and other products as he can in the tasty fare he serves up. We couldn’t resist ordering one of his juicy cheeseburgers, but his other more creative, global offerings—such as nachos served not on chips but on local fingerling potatoes—were very tempting.

After lunch, we walked next door to Allenholm Farm for a classic Vermont dessert—a maple creemee.

Back on our bikes, we looped around to the western side of the island to take West Shore Road hugging the coast. The wind picked up and it started to drizzle just as we were approaching Snow Farm Vineyard. Perfect timing!

The first commercial vineyard in the state, Snow Farm was established by its forward-thinking owners in an effort to retain agricultural land in the face of pressures to develop. The island’s more temperate climate allows Snow Farm to grow French hybrids, along with Pinot Noir and Riesling, under the direction of a winemaker who studied with the best at the University of Dijon in Bourgogne, France. (I also studied there while in college—not winemaking, although I did my share of extracurricular sampling.)

Chris and I shared a tasting, which they nicely let us split since we would be getting back on our bikes.  I was impressed by the smoky Baco Noir and also the Gewürztraminer, whose minerality is balanced by lush peach.

Back outside the drizzle had stopped, but we still had to ride against the wind back to the ferry. We pedaled hard up a couple hills, and then we rounded a bend and came upon a field edged by trees. On practically every tree, someone had placed a colorful birdhouse. Hundreds of them.

In this technological consumer age when we’re constantly bombarded by corporate efforts to “surprise and delight” us, this simple display made us literally stop in our tracks, genuinely surprised and delighted. And it was just one of several instances that afternoon, during the course of our twenty-mile bike ride, that had this effect on us.

Sheila McGrory-Klyza is the Vermont Epicure.  You can read more of her writing at The Vermont Epicure blog.  Enjoy!

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

A Cheese Trip to Vermont: Consider Bardwell, Blue Ledge + Twig Farm

 

Four years ago, when I first moved from New York to the Boston-area, I can only describe it as a collision of worlds. Although the change of pace is less noticeable for some, it took me extra time to adjust to the relatively gentle mobility of Beantown as compared to that of the Big Apple.
After finding work at Formaggio Kitchen, and as I established a comfort zone with my newly adopted environment, I was given the opportunity through the shop to visit a series of farms in western Vermont. I had never traveled that far north in the United States before, so I jumped at the opportunity.
The trip offered a wonderful introduction to a region extremely diverse in sights, flavors and experiences. Growing up, my grandparents would seek solace from the city life in the mountains of central New York but, as a child, I never appreciated the clarity that environment could impart.
My fellow staffers and I visited three farms on our trip: Consider Bardwell, Twig Farm, and Blue Ledge. During our visit, Twig Farm’s owner and veteran Formaggio Kitchen cheesemonger, Michael Lee, gave a simple, yet nuanced perception of his art. He posited that cheese bears a striking similarity to bones; dependent as they are upon the bonding of calcium and on moisture levels during cooking, curds can be molded into a soft and pliable cheese, or a firmer, more crumble-prone cheese. Michael’s analogy became a sort of leitmotif to reflect upon as we visited other farms in this unspoiled terrain. Each cheesemaker gives life to a different bone in their “body” of a repertoire, and each farm was its own sort of self-sustaining organism or ecosystem.
The final, striking aspect of our trip was the use of the honor system, and the collective bartering between farms that eliminates any sense of competition. Cheesemaker Hannah Sessions of Blue Ledge Farm explained that this is a byproduct of the comparative youth of artisan American cheese production, married with the fact that there is still plenty of business for everyone involved.
The sense of place and charge that each of the farms we visited has with their land and livestock is extraordinary. I believe that it is safe to say that this region will continue to serve as a large, untainted sandbox for artisan cheesemakers to create their own corpus and a place where natural city-dwellers like myself can learn to appreciate a different kind of order for many years to come!
Photos by: Kim Beaty
Marino Pawlowski is a romance linguist, enchanting dinner guest, and a cheesemonger and buyer at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge .

With so much great cheese in Vermont, it’s difficult to know where to start.  Here are three cheesemakers to start with.  You can visit other cheesemakers and make your own cheese trail!

Four years ago, when I first moved from New York to the Boston-area, I can only describe it as a collision of worlds. Although the change of pace is less noticeable for some, it took me extra time to adjust to the relatively gentle mobility of Beantown as compared to that of the Big Apple.

After finding work at Formaggio Kitchen, and as I established a comfort zone with my newly adopted environment, I was given the opportunity through the shop to visit a series of farms in western Vermont. I had never traveled that far north in the United States before, so I jumped at the opportunity.

The trip offered a wonderful introduction to a region extremely diverse in sights, flavors and experiences. Growing up, my grandparents would seek solace from the city life in the mountains of central New York but, as a child, I never appreciated the clarity that environment could impart.

My fellow staffers and I visited three farms on our trip: Consider Bardwell, Twig Farm, and Blue Ledge. During our visit, Twig Farm’s owner and veteran Formaggio Kitchen cheesemonger, Michael Lee, gave a simple, yet nuanced perception of his art. He posited that cheese bears a striking similarity to bones; dependent as they are upon the bonding of calcium and on moisture levels during cooking, curds can be molded into a soft and pliable cheese, or a firmer, more crumble-prone cheese. Michael’s analogy became a sort of leitmotif to reflect upon as we visited other farms in this unspoiled terrain. Each cheesemaker gives life to a different bone in their “body” of a repertoire, and each farm was its own sort of self-sustaining organism or ecosystem.

 

With the Goats at Twig Farm

The final, striking aspect of our trip was the use of the honor system, and the collective bartering between farms that eliminates any sense of competition. Cheesemaker Hannah Sessions of Blue Ledge Farm explained that this is a byproduct of the comparative youth of artisan American cheese production, married with the fact that there is still plenty of business for everyone involved.

The sense of place and charge that each of the farms we visited has with their land and livestock is extraordinary. I believe that it is safe to say that this region will continue to serve as a large, untainted sandbox for artisan cheesemakers to create their own corpus and a place where natural city-dwellers like myself can learn to appreciate a different kind of order for many years to come!

Photos by: Kim Beaty

Marino Pawlowski is a romance linguist, enchanting dinner guest, and a cheesemonger and buyer at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge.

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

For the Love of Cheese! (and chocolate)

 

For the Love of Cheese! (and chocolate)
Vermont summers are fleeting and as people who live here year round know, it’s the perfect time to get out on the lake, marvel in sunsets, and savor as much warmth as possible. One of the tell tale signs that the season is in full swing, is the annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival. This year, the festival marked its 6th year! If you’ve never attended the festival, as I hadn’t until Sunday July 20th, then I highly recommend it! The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And you really do need all six hours to completely experience the myriad cheese and artisan food vendors that dot the gorgeous Shelburne Farms landscape. 
The sun was bright and hot as people lined up at 9:45 a.m. to grab a commemorative bag and wine glass which would be used throughout the event to sample nineteen Vermont beer, wine, cider and spirits producers! A program in each bag highlighted not only the forty-nine cheesemakers, forty-one artisan food producers, and fifteen artisan products and services, but also provided a handy guide to workshops (counter intelligence, vertical tasting, sweet and stinky, and European vs. Vermont), seminars, and cooking demos (cooking with cheese and ales and cheese and chocolate) being offered throughout the event. Cheesemaking demos by Shelburne Farms staff and a demo by Chef Courtney Contos were also featured. 
I won’t lie, the shear breadth of vendors was a little overwhelming, but in the best way possible! It seemed, at first blush that it would be quite the feat to sample each product, but I made a go of it! I even managed to make it into one of the packed workshops which were complimentary with admission. Sweet and Stinky was my workshop of choice given my affinity for strong cheeses. A panel featuring Eleanor Leger of Eden Ice Cider, Colin Davis of Shacksbury Cider, and Gail Albert from Shelburne Vineyards graced the stage. They discussed their sweet beverages’ compelling ability to pair well with cheeses from Vermont Farmstead, Jasper Hill and Twig Farm. The side by side tasting left my taste buds tingling and begging for more, which fortunately, meant stepping just outside the classroom where my cheese, chocolate, and caramel tasting continued. 
My strategy involved skipping some of the tables with my favorite, often purchased cheeses, like Vermont Creamery and Taylor Farm and hitting some I hadn’t tried before. Standouts included Parish Hill Creamery blue which was simultaneously creamy, grainy, and pungent as well a Sage Farm goat cheese. Crowley Cheese Company has been around for a long time, but somehow this was my first taste and the extra sharp as well as the chive coated my palette and lingered for a considerable time. 
After tasting a number of cheeses, it was time to hit the sweets! Big Picture Farm caramels have been a long time favorite and once again, they did not disappoint. Several dishes dotted their table with a variety of caramels to sample alongside rounds of their goat cheese. I also found a couple of new chocolates to add to my roster, such as Burke Mountain truffles. This company takes the Vermont philosophy of collaboration and incorporates it beautifully into their truffles. A white chocolate truffle used Eden Ice Cider as a flavor component and another was oozing with Fat Toad Farm caramel. But, the real standout for me in the chocolate department ended up being Laughing Moon chocolates. Wow! From their peanut butter fudge to their salted caramels. Their truffles had unique flavor combinations including cardamom and blue cheese. Even their salt and pepper chocolate bar was out of this world delicious. These satiating confections topped off my sweets consumption for the day! 
It was suddenly 3 p,m. and time to visit some of the animals that make all of these delicious cheeses possible. I met baby goats, Cider and Streudel and bottle fed a month and a half old calf named Charlotte. This is one of the many reasons the cheesemakers festival is so wonderful. One has the opportunity to meet the animals that produce the milk, interact with the cheese makers, and determine ideal spirit pairings all on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain. It truly doesn’t get much better than that!
 

Vermont summers are fleeting and as people who live here year round know, it’s the perfect time to get out on the lake, marvel in sunsets, and savor as much warmth as possible. One of the telltale signs that the season is in full swing, is the annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival. This year, the festival marked its 6th year! If you’ve never attended the festival, as I hadn’t until Sunday July 20th, then I highly recommend it! The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And you really do need all six hours to completely experience the myriad cheese and artisan food vendors that dot the gorgeous Shelburne Farms landscape. 

The sun was bright and hot as people lined up at 9:45 a.m. to grab a commemorative bag and wine glass which would be used throughout the event to sample nineteen Vermont beer, wine, cider and spirits producers! A program in each bag highlighted not only the forty-nine cheesemakers, forty-one artisan food producers, and fifteen artisan products and services, but also provided a handy guide to workshops (counter intelligence, vertical tasting, sweet and stinky, and European vs. Vermont), seminars, and cooking demos (cooking with cheese and ales and cheese and chocolate) being offered throughout the event. Cheesemaking demos by Shelburne Farms staff and a demo by Chef Courtney Contos were also featured. 


I won’t lie, the shear breadth of vendors was a little overwhelming, but in the best way possible! It seemed, at first blush that it would be quite the feat to sample each product, but I made a go of it! I even managed to make it into one of the packed workshops which were complimentary with admission. Sweet and Stinky was my workshop of choice given my affinity for strong cheeses. A panel featuring Eleanor Leger of Eden Ice Cider, Colin Davis of Shacksbury Cider, and Gail Albert from Shelburne Vineyards graced the stage. They discussed their sweet beverages’ compelling ability to pair well with cheeses from Vermont Farmstead, Jasper Hill and Twig Farm. The side by side tasting left my taste buds tingling and begging for more, which fortunately, meant stepping just outside the classroom where my cheese, chocolate, and caramel tasting continued. 


My strategy involved skipping some of the tables with my favorite, often purchased cheeses, like Vermont Creamery and Taylor Farm and hitting some I hadn’t tried before. Standouts included Parish Hill Creamery blue which was simultaneously creamy, grainy, and pungent as well a Sage Farm goat cheese. Crowley Cheese Company has been around for a long time, but somehow this was my first taste and the extra sharp as well as the chive coated my palette and lingered for a considerable time. 

After tasting a number of cheeses, it was time to hit the sweets! Big Picture Farm caramels have been a long time favorite and once again, they did not disappoint. Several dishes dotted their table with a variety of caramels to sample alongside rounds of their goat cheese. I also found a couple of new chocolates to add to my roster, such as Burke Mountain truffles. This company takes the Vermont philosophy of collaboration and incorporates it beautifully into their truffles. A white chocolate truffle used Eden Ice Cider as a flavor component and another was oozing with Fat Toad Farm caramel. But, the real standout for me in the chocolate department ended up being Laughing Moon chocolates. Wow! From their peanut butter fudge to their salted caramels. Their truffles had unique flavor combinations including cardamom and blue cheese. Even their salt and pepper chocolate bar was out of this world delicious. These satiating confections topped off my sweets consumption for the day! 

It was suddenly 3 p,m. and time to visit some of the animals that make all of these delicious cheeses possible. I met baby goats, Cider and Streudel and bottle fed a month and a half old calf named Charlotte. This is one of the many reasons the cheesemakers festival is so wonderful. One has the opportunity to meet the animals that produce the milk, interact with the cheese makers, and determine ideal spirit pairings all on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain. It truly doesn’t get much better than that!

Corey Burdick is a freelance writer who has spent the past twelve years pursuing her passion for wine, food, and fitness. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and has her WSET Level II certification from Vermont Wine School. You can find her work in Edible Green Mountains, Best of Burlington, The Burlington Free Press, and The Other Paper.

 

 

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

Music, Storytelling, and Food: Must be the VPR Listeners Picnic

 

Marketing consultants have a question they ask: if your business / organization were a person, what would he / she be like? 
No idea.
How about if your organization were a person, where would it go for dinner? 
That’s easy. That question I can answer for most of the groups I interact with on any given day. 
Vermont Public Radio is one Vermont organization that appears to, as an entity, have distinct food preferences. And, like many Vermonters, it’s into fresh, local, high quality food (for some reason I also think of VPR as eating more vegetables than the rest of us. .. possibly because of their Vermont Garden Journal with Charlie Nardozzi).
Every week VPR explores food on-air with the VPR Cafe. Once a year they really get into the food scene with their listener’s picnic. 
Or, I should say, they “. . .hold the listener picnic as a ‘thank you’ gift to the community” as Ty Robertson, the organizer for the picnic, explains. The thank you is first priority. Fortunately, indulging in a love of Vermont food is integral to that goal.
This year the picnic takes place at Lareau Farm Inn, home of American Flatbread. While many diners will associate American Flatbread with their Burlington restaurant, and perhaps their Middlebury outpost, many of us love the original  in Waitsfield, with it’s outdoor seating, big campfire, and atmosphere that’s laid back to the point of feeling more like you’re hanging out at someone’s casual summer get together than a restaurant.
Ty’s rundown of the menu for 2014: “Plenty of fresh flatbread. [Lareau Farm] will be serving local beers as well. The Burger Barn of Jeffersonville will be on hand to provide local fare, and we may get to see Southern Smoke as well, they haven’t confirmed yet. We’ve asked these businesses to take part this year because they feature local products. We’ll also be joined by the folks at Switchel, Caledonia Spirits and Shacksbury Cider for tastings.
All of these vendors are stand out foods in their own right. Caledonia Spirits makes, among other spirits, gin from local honey that’s lightly floral and perfect chilled with a twist of lemon for any summer afternoon. Shacksbury Cider is reintroducing traditional cider (dry and still)  not  from Europe as well as a hyper-local variety made from apples discovered during their Lost Apple Project – which scoured Vermont roadsides and field edges for abandoned trees with fruits perfect for cider making. Vermont Switchel has convinced many Vermonters, myself included, that Switchel need not be the sour medicinal drink we remember from childhood – it’s refreshing, zingy, and old fashioned in a good way.
The food offerings and locations change each year. In 2012, VPR organized a mini-food festival with samples from 45 Vermont food and beverage producers to both thank listeners and welcome special guest Lynne Rosetto Kasper of The Splendid Table. Last year the picnic took place at Shelburne Museum with the Burger Barn again, homemade hot dogs from The Local Grind, and creative grilled cheese sandwiches from Say Cheese! 
Ty says VPR always has something a little different to share at the picnic. “Some years Cabot Creamery will send several big boxes loaded with assorted cheeses to serve to guests, other years local orchards have donated bushels of apples to give away. . . It depends on the time of year, and location of the picnic but we can always count on the community to take part.”
Local food is not the only highlight of the event. There will also be live music from the Starline Rhythm Boys (I’ve got my cowboy boots ready for honky tonk dancing) and a story slam with longtime VPR contributor Willem Lange (I also have a story prepared). The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. It goes 11:00 – 2:00 at Lareau Farm Inn on Rte 100 in Waitsfield. 
 
~Helen Labun Jordan is a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. You can find her commentaries and other food writing at www.discoveringflavor.com

What do you get when you combine storytelling, music, and great local food?  Must be the VPR Listeners Picnic.  Local food is showcased at many Vermont events and what better event than a picnic?  Grab a blanket, some great food and enjoy!

Marketing consultants have a question they ask: if your business / organization were a person, what would he / she be like? 

No idea.

How about if your organization were a person, where would it go for dinner? 

That’s easy. That question I can answer for most of the groups I interact with on any given day. 

Vermont Public Radio is one Vermont organization that appears, as an entity, to have distinct food preferences. And, like many Vermonters, it’s into fresh, local, high quality food (for some reason I also think of VPR as eating more vegetables than the rest of us. .. possibly because of their Vermont Garden Journal with Charlie Nardozzi).

Every week VPR explores food on-air with the VPR Cafe. Once a year they really get into the food scene with their listener’s picnic. 

Or, I should say, they “. . .hold the listener picnic as a ‘thank you’ gift to the community” as Ty Robertson, the organizer for the picnic, explains. The thank you is first priority. Fortunately, indulging in a love of Vermont food is integral to that goal.

This year the picnic takes place at Lareau Farm Inn, home of American Flatbread. While many diners will associate American Flatbread with their Burlington restaurant, and perhaps their Middlebury outpost, many of us love the original in Waitsfield, with its outdoor seating, big campfire, and atmosphere that’s laid back to the point of feeling more like you’re hanging out at someone’s casual summer get together than a restaurant.

Ty’s rundown of the menu for 2014: “Plenty of fresh flatbread. [Lareau Farm] will be serving local beers as well. The Burger Barn of Jeffersonville will be on hand to provide local fare, and we may get to see Southern Smoke as well, they haven’t confirmed yet. We’ve asked these businesses to take part this year because they feature local products. We’ll also be joined by the folks at Switchel, Caledonia Spirits and Shacksbury Cider for tastings.”

All of these vendors are stand out foods in their own right. Caledonia Spirits makes, among other spirits, gin from local honey that’s lightly floral and perfect chilled with a twist of lemon for any summer afternoon. Shacksbury Cider is reintroducing traditional cider (dry and still) from Europe as well as a hyper-local variety made from apples discovered during their Lost Apple Project – which scoured Vermont roadsides and field edges for abandoned trees with fruits perfect for cider making. Vermont Switchel has convinced many Vermonters, myself included, that Switchel need not be the sour medicinal drink we remember from childhood – it’s refreshing, zingy, and old fashioned in a good way.

The food offerings and locations change each year. In 2012, VPR organized a mini-food festival with samples from 45 Vermont food and beverage producers to both thank listeners and welcome special guest Lynne Rosetto Kasper of The Splendid Table. Last year the picnic took place at Shelburne Museum with the Burger Barn again, homemade hot dogs from The Local Grind, and creative grilled cheese sandwiches from Say Cheese! 

Ty says VPR always has something a little different to share at the picnic. “Some years Cabot Creamery will send several big boxes loaded with assorted cheeses to serve to guests, other years local orchards have donated bushels of apples to give away. . . It depends on the time of year, and location of the picnic but we can always count on the community to take part.”

Local food is not the only highlight of the event. There will also be live music from the Starline Rhythm Boys (I’ve got my cowboy boots ready for honky tonk dancing) and a story slam with longtime VPR contributor Willem Lange (I also have a story prepared). The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. It goes 11:00 – 2:00 at Lareau Farm Inn on Rte 100 in Waitsfield. 

 

~Helen Labun Jordan is a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. You can find her commentaries and other food writing at www.discoveringflavor.com

Source: Dig in VT Trails

Posted on

Fresh Food and New Decorations

 

I realize that fox gloves (the orange-pink flowers in with the purple-green beet greens) are not edible. The random white flowers from my backyard in with the tatsoi probably aren’t either. That’s because these are bouquets, not salads. And I chose what looked the prettiest to me. It’s the only time when you’ll see beet greens paired with fox gloves.  
I’ve never been much of one for “tablescaping” – ie making my dining table look better than my normal effort of clearing off 80% of the books and papers on it, then swiping at whatever crumbs I find underneath. However, I have trouble not bringing at least some of summer inside.
I also have trouble restraining myself at the farmers’ market. Big bunches of kale, giant heads of lettuce, those beet greens – they take up a lot of room in the fridge. More room than, frankly, I have. Or, if I do cram things into the back corners, they lay there forgotten until they’ve gone too far past their prime to save. 
Now add in to this dilemma that we have farmers’ market booths filled with the most gorgeous flowers. . .and I’ll buy bouquets, but to really get my fill, I’d end up spending all my grocery money on the flowers not the food. 
Farmers’ market bouquets solve all these problems. I can buy a bouquet made from stems of my favorite flowers, then stretch it into bright, cheeful decoration to fill the house. The greens stay relatively fresh in the water. I won’t forget about them sitting there in the middle of the table. 
A morning at the farmers’ market fills the house with fresh food and new decorations. The whole house is cheerful. And if the greens begin to wilt, just rinse them, put them in ice cold water to revive, then use them (since that was the whole point, wasn’t it?). And reassemble the flower stems back into their own bouquet. Simple.

We are lucky to live in a state that has so many wonderful farmers’ markets to choose from AND we are lucky that those markets provide us with many wonderful products to choose from…fresh produce, fresh flowers, cheese, meat, eggs, crafts, wine, beer, ice cream….the list goes on and on.  To find the market closest to you or to find a new market you’ve never visited before check out this list and enjoy!

I realize that fox gloves (the orange-pink flowers in with the purple-green beet greens) are not edible. The random white flowers from my backyard in with the tatsoi probably aren’t either. That’s because these are bouquets, not salads. And I chose what looked the prettiest to me. It’s the only time when you’ll see beet greens paired with fox gloves.

 

I’ve never been much of one for “tablescaping” – ie making my dining table look better than my normal effort of clearing off 80% of the books and papers on it, then swiping at whatever crumbs I find underneath. However, I have trouble not bringing at least some of summer inside.

I also have trouble restraining myself at the farmers’ market. Big bunches of kale, giant heads of lettuce, those beet greens – they take up a lot of room in the fridge. More room than, frankly, I have. Or, if I do cram things into the back corners, they lay there forgotten until they’ve gone too far past their prime to save. 

Now add in to this dilemma that we have farmers’ market booths filled with the most gorgeous flowers. . .and I’ll buy bouquets, but to really get my fill, I’d end up spending all my grocery money on the flowers not the food. 

Farmers’ market bouquets solve all these problems. I can buy a bouquet made from stems of my favorite flowers, then stretch it into bright, cheeful decoration to fill the house. The greens stay relatively fresh in the water. I won’t forget about them sitting there in the middle of the table. 


A morning at the farmers’ market fills the house with fresh food and new decorations. The whole house is cheerful. And if the greens begin to wilt, just rinse them, put them in ice cold water to revive, then use them (since that was the whole point, wasn’t it?). And reassemble the flower stems back into their own bouquet. Simple.

Read more of Helen’s writing at Discovering Flavor.

Source: Dig in VT Trails