GG Mora's Profile
Humble Kitchen Food Truck - Brattleboro
The stars aligned to have me in Brattleboro at lunchtime on Friday, and I had exactly enough cash on hand for the last available pork banh mi of the day ($7 + tip). I can't speak to its authenticity as I've never had banh mi before, but I can say without hyperbole that it was the best damn sandwich I've ever had. It was a lot more food than a woman my age needs, but I ate the whole delicious thing and then skipped dinner.
Look forward to trying their pho, and wish them all success.
Thursday Lunch in Portland
I was just in Portland over the weekend, and had a lovely lunch at Salt Exchange. The $12 lunch special (sandwich + 1 side or a combo of 3 sides) is a good deal. I had a spicy pork-belly BLT with a roasted pear salad on the side, nice glass of Pinot Grigio. Very low-key white tablecloth venue with nice artwork on the walls; you could ask for a table by the front windows for views across Commercial St. to the harbor.
Bulk vanilla beans
I can also attest to the quality of their vanilla beans and their saffron. Haven't tried their mushrooms yet.
Thickening cream based sauce
You can definitely reduce the cream ahead of time without harming the finished sauce.
SoLo Table and Farm [Londonderry, VT]
Tito, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. My husband and I are big fans.
Looking for Best Destination Restaurants in VT, NH, ME
I wouldn't say either 'placed' them here. Chloe is originally from the area; she and Wes bought the former 3 Clock Inn and renovated it. It's entirely their own (in a most delightful way).
Looking for Best Destination Restaurants in VT, NH, ME
SoLo Farm & Table in South Londonderry, VT: http://solofarmandtable.com/
Chef Wesley Genovart, formerly of Degustation in NYC; FOH is his wife Chloe, formerly Maitre d' at Per Se.
Grafton Inn vermont
As long as there's not a snowstorm blowing, SoLo Farm & Table in South Londonderry should be less than a 30-minute drive: http://solofarmandtable.com/
Stratton, VT
The Stratton access road is very unlike the Killington road – it's just a road up to the mountain, with residential areas along it, no retail establishments. The restaurants in the village are pretty crappy, with the exception of Verde, which I haven't been to under its current chef. In Bondville, at the bottom of the access road, there's the Red Fox – Irish pub with good pub grub downstairs, finer dining upstairs – and the Fat Spy, which is casual dining. Haven't been to the Fat Spy but heard good things from someone whose opinion I trust on such matters.
Manchester is about 20 miles from Stratton and has 'a lot' (all things considered) of options in all categories. Recommended for 'casual' would be the Depot Cafe and Thai Basil. There's a new French Brasserie (Brasserie L'Oustau) opening in a few weeks, but I think it's targeted more towards fine dining.
There's an absolute gem in South Londonderry (about 15 miles from Stratton). SoLo Farm & Table is owned and run by a very talented young chef and his wife, and is entirely worth the splurge if you're up for it.
Thanksgiving Takeout near Hanover?
What about Allechante in Norwich?
http://www.allechantevt.com/Prepared_Foods.php
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Allechante
61 Central St, Woodstock, VT 05091
Sushi near Chester, VT
Yup, that's the place. Excellent sushi. Be sure and make a reservation (and it's BYOB).
Need fruitcake/Christmas stollen recipe......please fellow chow hounds!!!
My fruitcake ritual: http://acookinglife.typepad.com/a_cooking_life/2009/12/restoring-fruitcakes-good-name.html
I've converted many a fruitcake hater over the years, and currently have to carefully pick and choose who gets to pay $35/each for the few that get sold.
Seeking destination restaurant in Southern Vermont
Minor point of pedantry: Woodstock isn't really Southern Vermont. For a destination restaurant in Southern Vermont, try SoLo Farm and Table in South Londonderry or the Inn at West View Farm in Dorset.
Thenk yew.
Where to stop along Rt. 100...?
You should certainly check into the Downtown Grocery in Ludlow for dinner. The Rt. 100 corridor through Vermont was probably the hardest hit area through the state, especially north of Ludlow and south of Jamaica. I don't know the northern route well enough to tell you what might or mightn't be open, but do be prepared for a lot of road construction and slow going in spots. I'm not even certain that there aren't still stretches of Rt. 100 that are simply closed.
Need rec's for Manchester,Vt
Highly recommend the Inn at West View Farm in Dorset – high-end dining in the main dining room, or Asian small plates in the Tavern; also Solo Farm & Table in South Londonderry – Wes Genovart, formerly of Degustation in NYC, has given the former 3 Clock Inn a much-needed makeover.
http://www.innatwestviewfarm.com/
http://solofarmandtable.com/
Can I freeze my lemon tart filling?
It won't freeze well for storage, but I bet it would 'freeze' beautifully in an ice cream maker. Just a thought.
American chocolate?
If you're talking about generic bars, by all means send some Scharffenberger (especially the milk chocolate nibby). For handmade chocolate confections, I recommend Burdick's (Walpole, NH) and Black Dinah (Isle au Haut, ME).
great restaurant in Ludlowe, Vt???
You might be thinking of Nikki's? Long gone, of course.
rib eye as substitute for short ribs in making beef bourguignon???
No, no, no, no, no. DO NOT use a ribeye in a stew. Even short ribs are selling at a premium these days, and would be a pricey stew option. Buy yourself a cheap chuck roast and cut it up into 2" chunks. Stew isn't only about the flavor of the meat – it's everything else you put in it, too.
Bennington/Manchester, VT- Best Ice Cream
Vermont Country Store in Weston added on to their Bryant House restaurant this spring, and have just opened the attached dairy bar, which they have named Mildred's – in honor of Mildred Orton, who passed away a few weeks ago. They're serving Wilcox ice cream, which is sweetly appropriate: Mildred (wife of VCS founder Vrest Orton) was born Mildred Wilcox, of the Wilcox Dairy Wilcoxes.
I happen to like Wilcox ice cream. With so many gourmet brands running amok out there, Wilcox remains good old-fashioned ice cream. Their 'Sweet Cream' flavor is the essence of simplicity, and magically delicious.
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Bryant House Restaurant
PO Box 128, Weston, VT 05161
Fiddleheads & Ramps
There were fiddleheads in Lisai's market in Chester, VT, today. Which means I need to go check my local foraging spot.
Best Vermont maple syrup?
This from a local syrup maker:
A high percentage of ag fair blue ribbons (Tunbridge World's Fair, Rutland State Fair) go to syrup from the valley between the Northern Taconics and the Southern Greens, the area stretching along Rt.7 from about Shafstbury to just south of Rutland. Something in the earth there seems to produce better-tasting syrup. There's a large vein of marble that runs there; it could be the calcium.
Manchester Village Recommendations
I have to second the recommendation for the Inn at West View Farm. I live in the area, and it's our favorite high end restaurant around. Fine dining in the main dining room is exquisite, or try the small Asian plates menu in the tavern. Quiet, unpretentious atmosphere, gracious hosts, excellent wine list.
http://www.innatwestviewfarm.com/dining.shtml
Help! My beans don't cook evenly.
You're soaking them WAY too long. Steve Sando, the Bean King from Rancho Gordo, once reported on his blog that over-soaking would lead to hard beans (counterintuitive, I know). If I bother to soak my beans (and most of the time I don't, with no ill effects), it's only for 3 or 4 hours. It doesn't seem to make any difference in how fast they cook.
Also, it may be that your source is mixing beans from different batches, some fresher than others.
Unpasteurized Cider in Vermont?
Last time I checked, Dutton's cider was pasteurized (I think they use an ultraviolet technology?). Dwight Miller's cider is unpasteurized, and can be found at the Brattleboro Coop.
New Bedford dining recommendations??
Wow – The Pasta House first opened when I was in college in NB back around 1980...I can't believe it's still around! My boyfriend and I went there for a couple of "fancy" dinners. I fondly remember a tortellini dish – cream sauce with peas and ham. Mmmm. Sorry I can't give you a current review, but thanks for the flashback.
Roadtrip up towards Quechee, VT for leaf peeping
Quechee Gorge is about as viewable from Simon Pearce as Russia is from Wasilla, AK. Just sayin'. But the views of the dam are indeed lovely.
Favorite Vermont Cheese
My current love is Summer Snow from Woodcock Farm. And I'll go to the ends of the earth for anything from Lazy Lady.
