Bite Club

Alice Eats: Hyde Away Inn and Restaurant

by Alice Levitt Posted on September 3, 2013 at 11:42AM

1428 Millbrook Road/Route 17, Fayston, 496-2322The Mad River Valley has more than its fair share of dining destinations. Venues such as the Mad Taco, the Common Man, the Sweet Spot, Bridge Street Butchery and even Maynard's Snack Bar have all earned places in my rotation — driving the better part of an hour be damned.With a fusty reputation, the Hyde Away Inn and Restaurant was never on that list.

Grazing: New Eats in the Northeast Kingdom

by Corin Hirsch Posted on August 30, 2013 at 4:45PM

Parker Pie Wings at Newport AirportEarlier this summer, Megan James and I drove up to the Northeast Kingdom to report on Newport, a city that has long struggled economically but is currently experiencing something of a rennaissance as it waits for $600 million in development projects. As we wandered around town for 36 hours, we were impressed by much of what we ate, including a grilled cheese sandwich spiked with kimchi and charred lamb chops.

Meet the Cuke-O-Melon

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 29, 2013 at 2:01PM

Earlier this week, I was speeding through the aisles just before Healthy Living Market closed for the night, when I spied these:As a great appreciator of cute food, I found this a must-purchase. I had my first bite in the car on the way home.

Alice Eats: Champlain Valley Fair

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 27, 2013 at 12:05PM

It's that time of year. You know, the time when people dye chickens pink to support breast cancer research.

Locavore Korean Cuisine Comes to Cabot

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 23, 2013 at 3:20PM

You know that a restaurant is intensely anticipated when it gains more than 100 followers in its first 24 hours on Facebook. But not every restaurant is the brainchild of Elena Gustavson, the program director at the Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick.Gustavson's social-media presence may be blowing up, but she doesn't plan to open DownStreet Eats at 3075 Main Street in Cabot until mid-September.Gustavson's locavore pedigree is enough to get many diners excited, but the chef-owner admits that she hasn't yet reached out to many of her farmer friends in the Cabot and Marshfield area to source the new restaurant — though she plans to.

Grazing: Rosehip Simple Syrup

by Corin Hirsch Posted on August 23, 2013 at 2:52PM

I strumbled across these gorgeous rosehips the other day. To my excited eye, they looked plump and ready for kitchen action — that is, until I picked them, took them home and made a simple syrup, which turned out to be more the rusty color of coral than the deep ruby that comes from truly ripe rosehips.Rosehips really hit their stride after the first frost, when their tartness gives way to a citrusy sweetness.

Guild Fine Meats Opens Tomorrow in Burlington

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 20, 2013 at 12:56PM

The Farmhouse Group's Guild Commissary has been up and running for more than a month. Tomorrow, the ultimate fruit of master butcher Frank Pace and chef Tom Deckman's labors will be unveiled with the official opening of Guild Fine Meats at 111 St. Paul Street.Today, the staff at the new butcher shop and deli is getting used to the space with a soft opening.But sorry, meat lovers, you'll have to wait until tomorrow for a look at the good stuff.

Alice Eats: Lunch at E.B. Strong's Prime Steakhouse

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 20, 2013 at 11:44AM

10 Church Street, Burlington, 497-1214One of the fun things about reporting Alice Eats is sharing opportunities to eat at pricier restaurants on a budget. Many of the "price is no object" spots in the area don't serve lunch, but when they do, you're guaranteed a chance to try the fare without taking out a second mortgage.More than a year after E.B. Strong's Prime Steakhouse opened on Church Street, I still hadn't tried it, skittish about its reputation for $40-plus steaks.

Grazing At the Norwich Farmers Market

by Corin Hirsch Posted on August 16, 2013 at 5:26PM

Photo from Norwich Farmers MarketIn the constellation of 70 or so farmers markets in Vermont, a few stand out as regional anchors: Burlington, or course, as well as Capital City in Montpelier and Brattleboro in southern Vermont. In the Upper Valley, the big daddy is the Norwich Farmers Market, which has occupied a field on Route 5 every summer Saturday since 1977.Norwich is such a staple — and has so many craft vendors — that it can be easy to overlook it in favor of smaller, more ecletic and fringe markets, especially if you're always in search of new experiences (like me).

Alice Eats: Bottomless Pit BBQ

by Alice Levitt Posted on August 13, 2013 at 12:04PM

2111 Route 108, Jeffersonville, 777-1540Where can you find that bad-ass barbecue truck above? Surely, it must be parked somewhere in Burlington's South End.

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