Summer Travel in New England: Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont Part 3 – A Brunch Worth Traveling To

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

Simon Pearce is what the reason we originally planned our trip to this area of Vermont. Can you believe we almost kept driving right by it because we were full from samples? That would have been a BIG mistake.

An internationally renown glass artist that has a studio, which has a restaurant, which over looks a dam and covered bridge on the Quechee Gorge? How could you pass that by?

If we had kept driving, we would not have walked into the impeccable studio with high, lofty ceilings, all wood ceilings, floors and accents, and adorned with the Simon Pearce amazing art collection. If we kept driving, we would have never sat in the beautiful dining room, eaten off of the Simon Pearce design plates, and we would have never been waited on by one of the best servers I have ever had, Michael.

Simon Pearce is everything I picture when I picture the perfect brunch. The ambiance, the service and the food are all perfect. Even the apricot iced tea (served in Simon Pearce glassware of course) was perfection. First to our table was a plate of fresh-baked brown bread made with wheat imported from Ireland, and some Irish scones, both accompanied by fresh Vermont butter. It was very hard not to demolish all of this and ruin the rest of our meal. But we showed restraint, as difficult as that was…

I was mesmerized by the Vermont Cheddar Soup from the second I laid eyes on the menu. So soup and salad it was! Hands down, one of the best cheese soups I have ever had. Complimented by carrots and onions, this soup was all cheese. None of that masking the cheese flavor with nutmeg here! Pure cheese, and pure perfection. And of course perfect to dip more of the house baked bread in!

Debbie ordered the most popular dish on the menu, the sesame seared chicken w/ spicy apricot dipping sauce, pickled ginger and noodle salad. The description of this meal does not even do it justice. Michael made sure to describe it in full detail, and it lived up to his hype. The chicken was crispy and laden with sesame seeds. The sauce was sweet with just a touch of heat. Even the noodle salad, which is usually not a favorite of either of us, was completely gone when they cleared our plates. This is a dish worth driving  to, and maybe one of my favorite brunch meals ever.

Had the rest of our trip to Vermont been a bust (which it clearly was not), our brunch at Simon Pearce alone made the trip worthwhile.

Simon Pearce Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Full and happy, we headed to King Arthur Flour for some shopping, a perfectly foamed cappuccino, a super fudgy brownie, and an almond cookie to die for.


The Baker's Store and Cafe: King Arthur Flour on Urbanspoon

After all this eating it was time for some walking….

To be continued..

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Summer Travel in New England: Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont Part 2

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

We arrived at the Woodbridge Inn of Woodstock and were ready to get some rest and head out for a full day in the morning. We booked the Inn that morning, and got a great deal at $99/night. The Inn is clean and cute, but there is no proprietor in site. The housekeeper, Dee, was extremely sweet and gave us great suggestions on things to do….but there is a certain something that a proprietor brings to an Inn, and it was missing.

However, it was $99 per night, very clean, adorable, it is right on the river with a gorgeous backyard to sip tea in, and the bed was insanely comfortable. All in all it was a great choice and we would stay here again.

In the morning we headed out to our first destination, Sugarbush Farm, where we were greeted by Patches.

Seriously, how cute is this thing? And you get to feed her, and pet her, and let her eat your sister’s sweater….

The goats ignored us until they heard us purchase some food, all of a sudden they were our best friends.

After we tore ourselves away from Patches, we headed into the building where we met Marne and Betsy Luce. Marne took us through the cheese and maple syrup tasting where we decided we liked cheese #4 (Sharp Cheddar, 1 year aged) and #16 (Sharp Cheddar, 94 months aged) and Grade A Dark Amber Syrup….not that any were bad.

In the next room, Betsy told us how this room was her kitchen when she grew up in this exact house. She moved there at the age of 2, when her father bought the farm for a whooping $4,000 in 1945. Betsy and her family have been there ever since.

There, in Betsy’s childhood kitchen, we tasted ridiculous amounts of local jelly, dips, hot sauces, syrups, spices, pickles and more, as Betsy told us the stories behind many of the local producers. For instance, Dot of Sidehill Farms Jams had been a school teacher until the demand for her jams got too large to be just a side job. Or how Phyllis, of Fox More Than a Mustard, only makes and sells one product…which is delicious and ALL over Vermont.

We tasted away, and listened, and chatted, and just enjoyed our time at the farm. After we purchased some products, and thanked Marne & Betsy for their hospitality, we checked out the sugar shack and learned a little about the maple syrup process.

It was time to travel back down the tree-lined, hilly, picturesque roads and head to Simon Pearce for a breathtaking brunch.

To be continued…

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Summer Travel in New England: Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont – Part 1

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

I know it’s not technically summer yet…but hey…if mother nature wants to eliminate the winter, I am happy to start my summer travel series early!Vermont

Today’s adventures find my sister, Debbie, and I headed to parts of Vermont we had not previously traveled. Our trip was planned around a suggestion to eat at Simon Pearce in Quechee, V.T. (details on that to come). Woodstock is the closest “city” to Quechee, and there seemed to be a lot to do there. So plans were made, we hopped in the car and headed 2.5 hours north.

But wait! We can’t head out on a road trip without planning a mid-way eating stop. A couple hours into googling every city along the path, I found it! Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett, N.H. Who knew Hooksett, N.H. would be a mecca for traditional german food?

I had worked all day, and we got on the road pretty late. So in the interest of time we ordered a “lite snack” to go…

Our lite snack consisted of Käsespätzle (Spätzle with cheese gratin and roasted onion served with mixed salad), a side of sauerkraut, a side of red cabbage, and a side of cucumber salad. Let me just say that this was not a quick to go. We were in the restaurant for about an hour. It was totally fine though. The bartender was friendly, and sitting inside the restaurant reminded us of sitting in our Oma’s house (which is a good thing.)

Terrible cell phone picture of the Käsespätzle

And the food was worth every second of waiting. The spätzle was like german mac and cheese in an indulgent, delicious and spätzl-y way.

The salad that came with it was a fabulous mix of their potato salad, cucumber salad and carrot salad (heaven!!).

The sauerkraut was mild and delicious. In the red cabbage, you really could taste the sweetness of the apples.

Every single mouthful lived up to Oma’s standards…and that is saying a lot!

Bavaria German Restaurant on Urbanspoon

We finished our “snack” as we drove the winding Vermont roads that followed the river and would lead us to Woodstock, Vermont and admired the Super Moon rising over the mountains.

Vermont road

To be continued…

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There’s a New Ice Cream Shop in Town!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

I find it weird that I had to move from Florida to Boston to find good, local ice cream. Ever since Rancatore’s, and then Brigham’s, closed up shop near my house, it has been slim pickings. I love ice cream, but I am not really going to drive to it (except for this place). But, this past Saturday the ice cream powers that be smiled upon my neighborhood, and Moozy’s Ice Cream & Yogurt Emporium opened its doors!

Bright colored, cheery, and definitely a throw back to the 50′s, Moozy’s is a “malt shop”, if you will, with modern appeal. There is outdoor seating for sunny afternoons with a frothy float, booths for romantic dates over a banana split, and bar seats from which you can sip a lime rickey. It is quite a change from the Brigham’s, but still keeps the air of an old-time ice cream shop.

On my first visit, I decided to go for it and get the sundae . I did show restraint and get the small for Ryan and I to share….but small was apparently just a label. I guess getting 6 scoops of ice cream is a good thing when the small costs $6. The lady helping me told me I get as many toppings as I would like, but I went with the classic hot fudge, nuts and (real!!) whipped cream. The hot fudge was the extra thick kind, that actually tastes like real chocolate and not chocolate syrup. I am a fan.

Actual REAL fresh fruit toppings!

The ice cream is from local Attleboro, MA. company, Bliss Dairy, which has been a New England mainstay since the late 1800′s! I chose banana and snickers ice cream for our sundae. The banana was divine! It had a definite fresh banana flavor, and was thick and creamy. The snickers ice cream (which Ry preferred), was a chocolate base with nuts and chocolate chunks. It was different from what I was expecting, but still good. I cannot wait to try flavors like Coconut Almond Bar, Red Velvet and Carmel Chocolate Pretzel!

Sorry for the terrible sundae picture, especially after all this hype. I did risk loosing a finger just to get this one badly lit, blurry shot!

Moozy’s also had an interesting menu of salads, soups and paninis. I am not sure if they rotate, or if the menu is set. At the time of this post, Moozy’s website was not yet fully functional, but more information can be found on the Facebook and Twitter pages.
Moozy's on Urbanspoon

Contest! Win an Orlando Vacation!

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The Perfect Proposal…

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

The blog has been quiet for a week or so. Sorry about that! But we are heading into what is sure to be, one of the busiest months I have had in a while. I have exams, a final report due, a project due, the execution of the Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education symposium that a classmate (and great friend, Lori) and I have planned, the majority of my family coming into town, and my graduation from the Ed.M. program.

This past week was the perfect time to take a little vacation to Ryan and my’s piece of heaven on earth, Racepoint Lighthouse, before all of this madness commences.

Racepoint Lighthouse

It is hard to express in words the beauty of this place, so I decided to take a 360 video (below) while standing on top of one of the dunes. You can hear me snipping at Ryan to be quiet, since I will have to dub him out of the video.

 

 

What you don’t see, if I had kept the video going for 10 seconds longer, was that there was a beautiful engagement ring from my best friend and partner for the last 10 years, at the end of my spin.

This would have been a perfect proposal no matter where it took place. But the fact that it took place at the one place on this earth where we are truly by ourselves, the one place that we like to think of as “ours”, made it even more special. No, I did not expect it, I was 100% shocked. Yes, I cried, even though I never thought I was that type of girl.

So now it is time to quickly adjust to coming back from a week in paradise and straight  back into the fast lane. I am re-energized and ready to face my challenges! I have a sparkly new bobble on my finger to look at throughout the day… and Ryan and I are going enjoying every second of this engagement. So here is to the next 10 years, and the Goodtimez they will bring!

PS – A special thank you to Jim Claflin for giving us the time at this magical place (which we have now been visiting for 5 years), and for being an A+ photographer!

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Five Stars for Lone Star Taco Bar!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

Can you hear the hipster bellies growling? Yeah, follow that sound. Follow it into Allston to the door with no sign. If you are observant, you may catch the “lone star” hanging high above the front.

Braving the possible withdrawn stares, I decided not to wear skinny jeans and giant head phones as I headed into the latest food hot-spot to hit the Boston area. To tell the truth, at the time of writing this post, I have managed to make the trip to Lone Star Taco Bar 3 times in 3 weeks. I do not repeat restaurant visits back to back like this, so that in itself (and the title of this post) gives you a hint of how I feel about this joint.

Despite the emo-filled air, the interior, and the staff at Lone Star, and all super welcoming. The staff is happy to answer questions, or give you as much time as you like to just sit and chat. Granted, I have only been for lunch and it has never been super busy.

But let’s talk about the real reason you are reading the post…the food. Man, I am jonesing for it just planning what to right for this post! The food is, to put it simply, delicious. Everything is pickled, fried, battered, marinated or pulled in-house, and the second you take your first bite, you can tell.

Every meal here should start with the pickled jalapenos. If your lucky, you will get a couple of carrots in there too. Hoard them. They are delicious. The only bad thing I can say is that I wish they had more pickled vegetables, and that is a good thing!

The tacos are all phenomenal. They are brimming with flavors and textures that work together perfectly. I actually think the textures are what make these tacos a step above everyone else in the area….textures and pickled vegetables!

But let me get right to my very favorite dish, the Refried Bean Tostada. This thing is amazing. And priced at $4, this may just be the deal of the century! A taco and half of this tostada is enough to fill me up…and I eat…a lot.

The actual tostada is very obviously made in-house. The freshly fried crispness gives it snap, while all the other delicious “stuff” gives it amazing flavor. I say “stuff” only because the menu lists it as “crispy tortilla with house beans, ranchero sauce, napa cabbage and crema,” but there has to be something else in there. It is just too good to be that simple.

Obviously, I can go on, and on, and on about this place. But I won’t. What I will do is to tell you to get here as quickly as possible, before it gets any more hip than it is and starts to require a password to get in…

I will also say this….pickled vegetables.
Lone Star Taco Bar on Urbanspoon

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I Got a New Look!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

Some of you (those not reading this in Google Reader) have started to notice that Eat.Live.Blog got a mini-makeover! I am ecstatic to announce my new blog header as created by the fabulous Belen Z!

Eat.Live.Blog Avatar by Belen Zuniga

Eat.Live.Blog Avatar by Belen Z (www.belenz.com)

Not only did Belen design my header, but she has been working very hard on the design of the brand new Boston Brunchers logo:

Boston Brunchers Logo

Boston Brunchers logo designed by Belen Z (www.belenz.com)

AND the new Boston Brunchers Badge Icon!!! Brunchers, stay tuned, in the next few weeks you will get information on how to include the badge on your site!

Boston Brunchers Badge

Boston Brunchers Badge designed by Belen Z. (www.belenz.com)

How amazing are these? Belen is also a delight to work with, and could envision what I had in my head….which is not always easy or pretty…  But the amazingness does not stop there. Belen has agreed to give my readers a half price special on logo, header or avatar design! So you, lucky reader, may get a header design for only $35! Amazing, right?!

All you have to do is comment on this post with your blog address and the overall feel you would like for your new header, logo or avatar. I will forward your contact information to Belen, and then the fun will begin! So happy designing folks! 

Disclaimer: I have known Belen for a couple of years now, and she designed my logos and header free of charge, as a friend. She did not know, at design time, that we would do a blog tie-in. Only after I saw her work did I suggest this promotion. So, obviously the opinions expressed are my own….or I never would have suggested this!

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Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

You may have noticed that I have not 1, but 2 stuffed pepper recipes on this blog. And that is not including another breakfast stuffed pepper recipe. I guess you can say this meal is a favorite around our house, and therefore one I am constantly making and improving.

The problem is that this can also be a time-consuming, multi-step process. And I don’t always have the time for time consuming and multi-step processes. So out of necessity (yes, stuffed peppers are a necessity, deconstructed stuffed peppers were born!

This abbreviated method may not be quite as pretty as the long hand processes, but it sure tastes just as good. Maybe a little better since it takes less than 30 minutes!

Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers

 

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground hot sausage (can also use soy crumbles, ground pork, ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken)
  • 1 small Vidalia onion chopped
  • 2 bell peppers (any color – seeded and cut into bite sized pieces)
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 15 oz diced tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1-2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1.5 cups cooked brown rice

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan, heat oil
  • Add garlic and brown for 30 seconds
  • Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water and ketchup
  • Bring to a boil, stirring often
  • Add cumin, stir
  • Cover the sauce and let simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until ready to use
  • Meanwhile, brown sausage in a large saute pan, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon
  • When sausage is well browned, remove and set aside
  • Add onions to the pan you used for the meat
  • Allow to brown for 3 – 5 minutes, or until they are translucent
  • Add peppers and continue to brown for 3 minutes (don’t let them get mushy)
  • Add the meat back to the pan and continue to brown for 3 more minutes
  • Add cooked rice to the sausage mixture and stir well
  • Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes
  • Add 1.5 cups of the prepared sauce to the meat mixture, stir well
  • Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for approximately 5 minutes
  • Taste the mixture to see if it needs salt, sugar or more cumin
  • Plate the rice mixture and top with the desired amount of sauce

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#BBBos Recap Coming Soon….but First…

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

I had an amazing day yesterday at the first ever Blog Better Boston conference at the Google Offices in Cambridge. Even more amazing, I was a speaker on the Building Traffic and Community panel! My co-panists Krista and Katy were amazing, and so much fun! Not to mention the fabulous Adri who moderated our panel like a pro!

I am not going to give you my full recap now. I have to wait to beg to borrow photos from more responsible bloggers, since I did not take one. But I did want to show you these amazing Sketch Notes drown by Katie. This blows me away!Sketch Notes from Blog Better Boston

One of the coolest things ever, right?! Anyway, I will write more later. Let me just leave you with this thought…. I have definitely been bitten by the social media bug. This is what I am meant to be doing…. Thank you to the Blog Better Boston gals for an amazing day!

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Boston’s Best Chili

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

For the last 8 years, I have been on a quest. A quest to locate my favorite food made well in New England. A quest…for Boston’s Best Chili. This has been a treacherous road with many ups and downs, and a lot of mehs. And until last week, I thought all hope was lost.

My homemade Beer Bacon Chocolate Chili

Now, because my homemade chili is out-of-this-world (she said modestly), maybe my standards have been a little too high. But I have never been one to lower my standards for ease, so the quest continued.

That’s when I wandered into All Star Sandwich Bar. The first item in the right column of their menu is “Texas State Penn Chili: w/ sour cream, onions, jack cheese, lime and cornbread.” And there is even a little fireball next to the description warning of heat. Sold!

Texas State Penn Chili at All Star Sandwich Bar in Inman Square

Texas State Penn Chili at All Star Sandwich Bar in Inman Square, Cambridge, MA.

What the menu didn’t tell me was that this chili was a no-beans style chili with delicious, tender chunks of brisket simmered to perfection. It didn’t tell me that the seasoning in this chili is so well done, and isn’t overwhelming, but actually works to compliment every ingredient with just the right amount of heat. The menu did not tell me that my quest for Boston’s best chili was now over. 
All Star Sandwich Bar on Urbanspoon

You know how they say when it rains it pours? Well, later that week we headed to Newton Center to try out B Street. Once again, taking a look at the winter menu, one of the first items listed caught my eye. “Turkey Chili w/ butternut squash & plum tomatoes: topped with Vermont cheddar & grilled rustic potato bread”, yeah, after seeing this nothing else had a chance.

Turkey Chili B Street Newton

Turkey Chili from B Street in Newton, MA.

Served in a bubbling crock, this chili came out with a delicious aroma that hinted of cinnamon. With chunks of ground turkey and a light sweetness, this chili was quite the opposite of All Star’s, but also sent my taste buds in a frenzy. I found myself wishing the bowl would never end.
B Street Restaurant and Bar on Urbanspoon

Could it be? In one little week had my search for Boston’s Best Chili come to an end?! Now what am I going to do with my time?

What is your favorite restaurant chili?

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