We have been thinking of buying land in the north. Super random yeh? Ask me why in 30 years. So we flew up there to check it out. Even though this is an investment, we wanted to like it so we can vacation there in the summers when Atl sucks.
We passed the Ben and Jerry’s factory a million times but never went in because we were too busy and/or didn’t fancy ice cream at the time. Oh regret – but we did do a late night guilty pull off for cognac and scored an amazing B+J’s ice cream sandwich. I would happily accept this and poutine as my drunk foods. Did I say poutine? Yes I did. I guess being a hop skip and a jump away from our northern compatriots has its benefits. Things I usually associate with the Canadians were everywhere – Poutine and maple products galore. Fab.
Here are some highlights:
The Arcadian was a little restaurant that sealed our choice for the area we want to be in west VT. A delicious Italian meal followed by an amaro flight, please and thank you! The highlight was the lovely little popover appetizer made by the partner bakery Haymaker Bun Co. – deeeelish. I want this place to be my reg spot when I fancy a nice meal/cocktail out.
Blyth and Burrows was a fantastic intimate cocktail bar in Portland, great cocktails, cool moody lowlight nautical theme. Bonus one million points for playing great 90’s acid trip hop all night.
Hunt+Alpine was yummy and had heart. A tasty salad, poutine, Here I ended with a gigantic bag of green chili popcorn that I will crave forever and lasted us days throughout our journey.
Driving through Maine we stopped for a lobstah roll with fries because it felt like a must try- I love that Nick will occasionally eat fish products so he can tell me about them. He said the lobster was a bit chewy and I was thoroughly put off – the fries were ok, whatever. Also its like $25. Also, lobsters are darlings. So, I am not a fan.
We tried a few of chains that seemed popular up here – crunchy poke, flatbread, and the juicery. I really hate going to soulless franchises but they were ok – I appreciate any place that can give me a buddha bowl and a carrot, ginger, beet juice, Flatbread was lackluster.
Stepped back in time to the coolest 90’s Portlandia-esque beer bar/cafe/library in Portsmouth NH, loved it. Check out Book and Bar if you are ever there, this is the kind of place I wish was everywhere.
Stumbled into a lovely little family-run Turkish place in Burlington that was adorable. Enjoyed a mezze platter and some lentil soup, it was good.
Wtf is a Creemee and how did I not get one? I saw these ‘come try our creemees’ posted all around but it was only as we were headed to the airport that I realized this is a thing, an aerated soft serve ice cream thing – more regret and reasons to return. I did score a walnut ice cream and it was the jam, but it was no creemee.
In Salam, Mass. tucked amongst the tourists in halloween t-shirts, the washed up drunks, and the little packs of kids trying to buy weed, there is a lovely little bakery restaurant called A&J King Bakery. If you ever find yourself in this craphole of a city go there and get a pastry to quell your depression.
Here is an album of some of the yums mentioned above.
Overall, it was cool, not culinarily blowin’ my mind per se but how can you really in a week jetting around 4 states. As time goes on I feel like lovely high quality independent restaurants are being real-estate shadowed by gross complex franchise developments with substandard unhealthy food. I was overwhelmed with how many lackluster burger-chicken nuggets-family bar-hellholes there were – but that’s pretty much how I feel about Atlanta and most places I’ve visited in the US. I’m happy we were able to find some cute, more artisanal places with souls.
I do have a hands down favorite food takeaway from the trip – Vermont little boutique organic food markets are the bestttt. Yes, pricey but you know its all fresh, ethical, local, legit delish. This is the thing I wish I had time for. When we were staying in Stowe and I remember walking across the road from our hotel into a little market – right behind all the fresh farm veg were some freshly made english muffins next to a wall of all local cheeses, to the right, aisles and aisles of health-food store heaven from bulk oats and seeds to brown rice crackers and a whole array of ginger shots – yes!
