Bite Club

Grazing: Snowed in With a Bee's Knees

by Corin Hirsch Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:01PM

I forget how old I was when someone told me that too much gin would make me want to fight, or cry, or both. Either way, besides a few stray Sapphire-and-tonics in my twenties, I generally avoided the stuff.That is, until I first sipped a crisp Plymouth gin martini.

Vermont Foodbank Lands an Unexpected and 'Worthy' $2200

by Corin Hirsch Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:28PM

They may possess wild talents, far-flung followers and occasional swagger, but Vermont's brewers, chefs and restaurateurs are also generous. That's what the Vermont Foodbank found out last week when it got an unexpected email from Dave Brodrick, one of three owners of South Royalton's Worthy Burger: A big check was on the way.The Night Before the Night Before, a December 23 fête at the eatery, drew together hard-to-find beers, five courses of food, a cadre of local restaurant and brewing persona and some 85 beer fans for a benefit that was actually initiated by an out-of-stater: Sam Calagione, the founder of Delaware's Dogfish Head.,The Worthy crew, along with peeps from Hen of the Wood, Prohibition Pig, Three Penny Taproom and American Flatbread, drew in beers from Lawson's Finest Liquids, the Alchemist, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Zero Gravity and the Bobcat Café and Brewery, as well as finger food from HOTW and sliders and oysters from Worthy's kitchen.

Alice Eats: The Mad Taco at Blackback Pub and Flyshop

by Alice Levitt Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:08PM

1 Stowe Street, Waterbury, 244-0123In 2010, Ricky Binet, the owner of the Blackback Pub & Flyshop, told Andy Bromage, "If I have a Bud Light tap in here, it’s going to be on the toilet flush."Rightfully, the bar has since gained a reputation as a mecca for beer lovers, even in bar-happy Waterbury. With eight Hill Farmstead Brewery varieties currently on tap, the casual pub may also be one of the best places to sip the best beer in the world.But since November, the Blackback has earned another distinction: It's now a Vermont destination for Mexican food.The third Mad Taco is just as delicious as the other two, in Waitsfield and Montpelier.

Grazing: German-Style Beers Debut Tonight at Crop Bistro & Brewery

by Corin Hirsch Posted on February 1, 2013 at 4:22PM

It was many moons ago that Crop Bistro & Brewery ordered an 8.5-barrel brewing system from Caspary, a Bavarian brewhouse and manufacturer that produces compact, nimble systems with multiple vessels. Then the staff waited, and a corner of the pub sat empty in expectation.Crop's head brewer, Will Gilson, who joined the staff in September, has had months to ruminate on what he might do with the copper-clad system — the first of its kind (at this size) in Vermont.

And Ben & Jerry's "30 Rock" Flavor Is...

by Alice Levitt Posted on February 1, 2013 at 4:11PM

Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt with a Blueberry Lavender Swirl?OK, so creator Tina Fey is Greek. Very cute.

Alice Eats: The Hungry Dutchman

by Alice Levitt Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34PM

34 Park Street, Essex Junction, 876-7431An important part of my job as a food writer is listening to the recommendations of others. I would have been unlikely to try this hole-in-the-wall in downtown Essex Junction if a family member and longtime line cook hadn't wholeheartedly endorsed it.But for all their good intentions,recommenders sometimes lead me astray.

Grazing: A Dedicated Fish-and-Chips Shop Opens in Brattleboro

by Corin Hirsch Posted on January 25, 2013 at 3:47PM

If you know nothing about World's Most Delicious, let your nose be your guide: As soon as you enter the dimly lit space, the smell of malt vinegar wallops you in the face.Brattleboro's newest place to eat may be tiny, but it's also colorful and gutsy: They serve fish and chips (and Belgian fries), and that's pretty much it. The compact menu is even painted onto the wall behind the register, suggesting it will change rarely, if ever.

Alice Eats: Asiana Noodle Shop

by Alice Levitt Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:03PM

88 Church Street, Burlington, 862-8828"How can you guys do a 'soup survey' and not hit Asiana Noodle House?" asked reader Bridget O'Connor in a letter to the editor in Seven Days' January 9 issue. "They will out-soup anyone for miles around!"While Asiana Noodle Shop — not to be confused with Pearl Street's Asiana House — didn't fit into our December 19 survey of Burlington cafés and bakeries that serve soup, it was clear that it was time to pay the Church Street restaurant its due.

Eat Like You've Been Elected!

by Alice Levitt Posted on January 19, 2013 at 8:00AM

Maybe you're a member of the Vermont congressional delegation. Maybe you have tickets for the Obama swearing-in ceremony and an extra $100 to throw around on top of your round-trip ticket to D.C.Either way, on Sunday you might find yourself at the Vermont State Society's 2013 Inaugural Reception in our nation's capital and enjoying a menu prepared by members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association.And if you're staying home, consider this a recipe for a congressional-worthy meal all your own. Start with a cheese plate.

Grazing: A Reimagined Hot Toddy, With Barrel-Aged Apple Brandy

by Corin Hirsch Posted on January 18, 2013 at 5:16PM

For the last few days, my throat has felt like a slow-burning coal fire. I don't think I'm alone; hacks and sniffles and woeful looks are so plentiful that it's a miracle anything is getting done.Trying to drink a bug away can work (almost magically), or it can make the ailment much, much worse.