MightyFrog's Profile
REVIEW: Prohibition PIg - Waterbury, VT
No more tables, sadly. And given how popular the place is, that's a problem! I once went in at 5:30 on a Tuesday and there was already a 45-minute wait for a two-top.
REVIEW: Prohibition PIg - Waterbury, VT
Vermonters: go eat there.
OK, that's the most important part of the review. Prohibition Pig recently opened in the space The Alchemist used to occupy before Tropical Storm Irene. They've hit the ground running; my wife and I ate there the second week they were open and it's STILL difficult to get a table. They specialize in smoked meats, and living just down the street I can testify that I am about 10% hungrier all the time if the wind from that smoker is blowing right.
We started with an appetizer of fried pimiento cheese with red pepper jelly. The crumb coating was a bit messy and they could have done with maybe another 30 seconds in the fryer; still, we scarfed them down quickly. The combination of rich cheese, crunchy breading, and the sweet jelly was a welcome, unexpected contrast. For a main course, I got the beef brisket sandwich with fried onions. Just . . . fantastic. I grew up in north Louisiana and the only brisket I ever had that beat this one came from an old Texan at a family reunion. My wife got the Carolina-style pulled pork with a vinegary sauce and a great, slow-building heat. She's diabetic and can't eat starchy side orders. She was pleasantly surprised to find a real choice of vegetable options. Blackened green beans and roasted brussel sprouts, both simple but well-prepared.
I'm an amateur mixologist with a bit of bartending experience. To some extent I'm GLAD they're charging prices appropriate to high-end craft cocktails, because otherwise I could be in real danger living so close. :) My wife had a sidecar (Armagnac, lemon, and Cointreau) that was the best she'd ever tasted. I had a complex cocktail called a Pinfall Marks (rye, Chartreuse, Cynar, grapefruit, lemon, and Angostura) that showed great attention to detail and subtlety. The restaurant carries a huge variety of beer as well.
Prohibition Pig seems well thought out start to finish. Good design of the physical space and menus, house-made pickles, enticing meat smoking outside, a good downtown location--they've got everything going for them. Highly recommended.
http://www.prohibitionpig.com/
Salt in Montpelier, VT
I had a so-so experience there this week. Some things were very well made indeed, but had one BIG disappointment. I got a delicious amuse bouche--a perfectly made gougere/cheese puff. My starter was a mince pie with local beef. It was certainly good, but I don't think it was quite what the chef had in mind. The shredded beef was very tasty, the raisins were good, but the flavors didn't really meld.
For a main course I got braised lamb, yorkshire puddings, and braised cabbage. The cabbage was good, the yorkshire puddings were fine. The lamb was dry. REALLY dry. I was overly kind in telling the owners that it was "a little dry"--in retrospect that was a mistake. It was so dry I literally had trouble swallowing it. I'm guessing they either let the liquid reduce too much during cooking or started with a cut that was too lean to stand up to what they were trying.
Dessert was a significant improvement: a baked apple with an eggnog creme anglaise. Very wintry, not too heavy, and a thoughtful blending of flavors. The coffee was also very good; it was late, so I got a French press of decaf.
If they can work out the kinks in the menu and generate enough business for their small space, I think they've got a good future in the town, but the cooking at Salt isn't where it needs to be quiet yet.
Montpelier this Weekend, Looking for Alternative to Hen of Wood.
My favorite place in Montpelier is The Black Door http://www.blackdoorvt.com. Other good options are:
Skinny Pancake http://www.skinnypancake.com, a good crêperie.
Main Street Grill http://www.neci.edu/main-street-grill/index, a restaurant run by the culinary institute; can be very good on a good day, but it can be uneven since it's done by students.
Tasca http://plainfieldtasca.com/, a tapas place about 20 minutes away in Plainfield
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Tasca Restaurant
65 Main St, Plainfield, VT 05667
Main Street Grill and Bar
118 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05602
Breakfast in Burlington? (VT)
My favorite breakfast in Burlington is at Magnolia Bistro, particularly the lemon ricotta pancakes. http://www.magnoliabistro.com/
Late night eats in Burlington ,Vermont?
Can't believe no one has mentioned Kountry Kart. It's been a while since I ate there, but they're open quite late for the after-theatre and bar crowd. GREAT onion rings. They're right next to the Flynn Theatre.
Burlington Vt--Trattoria D'elia or L'Amonte
Prices are about the same IIRC. They're very different styles. Trattoria D'elia is dark, romantic, a bit rustic, devoted to classic food from Italy (not Italian-American). L'Amante is more modern in atmosphere and cuisine. Both have great food and good service.
Downtown Burlington without a car
Not Indian, but certainly Asian. And very good Asian food at that.
Where is the best Thai cuisine in the Burlington area
I'm quite fond of Tiny Thai, actually. Their spicy dishes have a serious kick. Ocha Thai also does a lot of things well, though I find their pad thai overly sweet.
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Tiny Thai Restaurant
21 Essex Way # , Essex Junction, VT 05452
Suggestions for Burlington
A Single Pebble was founded by a well-traveled Vermonter, but they're by no means "Americanized" Chinese food. Compare their menu to your typical small town Chinese take out: http://www.asinglepebble.com/menu.htm. My knowledge of Burlington nightlife is sadly out of date; I'll let others comment on that.
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A Single Pebble
133 Bank Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Good Steak House in Vermont
I'm rather fond of the Windjammer, right by the Burlington exit. Their sides are mostly nothing to write home about, but they certainly cook up a good steak.
Hooray for Vermont cheeses winning awards!
We're # Honorable Mention! When # Honorable Mention!
No more turkey at Nectar's? [Burlington, VT]
I'm thinking about doing the trivia contest at Nectar's tonight. I haven't been to Nectar's since the big remodeling and I noticed that their website doesn't mention roast turkey on the menu. Burlingtonians, can you confirm this? The fries with turkey gravy is one of my first food memories of the city. If they're not doing that any more, then how is the food these days?
Bad Experience at Au Pied du Cochon
"I ordered pretty standard stuff like a lychee martini."
I lol'd. :)
Best Dishes in NE List
Hmm, off the top of my head.
Chicken Statler: Sonoma Station, Richmond, VT
Roast pork egg noodle: Asiana Noodle House (Church St), Burlington, VT [can anyone confirm that they still carry this dish?]
Fried catfish: River Run, Plainfield, VT
Brisket sandwich: Sadie Katz Deli, Burlington, VT
Lemon ricotta pancakes, Magnolia Bistro, Burlington, VT
Rabbit tenderloin, Hen of the Wood, Waterbury, VT
Saltimbocca di Vitello, Trattoria Delia, Burlington, VT
any gnocchi dish, L'Amante, Burlington, VT
Dry fried green beans, A Single Pebble, Burlington, VT
French fries, the Alchemist, Waterbury, VT
[Review] Good to great food at Sonoma Station, Richmond, VT
I took a friend out for her birthday to Sonoma Station in Richmond last night. It's in the old Blue Seal feed store right by the railroad tracks (and for whatever reason, the train rumbling by a couple of times during the meal didn't bother us at all). We had a very good experience overall, though some dishes were at a much higher level than others.
It felt like the menu was designed by two different chefs. I started with a salad of mixed greens, pecans, apples, cheddar, red onions, maple balsamic vinaigrette, and apple fritters. The salad was fresh and well-balanced, but the fritters didn't quite work for me in the dish. They were good fritters, just didn't mesh very well with the greens. My friend's app was amazing, though--pea green and prosciutto ravioli with a cream sauce well-enhanced by shiitake mushrooms. A warming, rich dish, well-balanced by the fresh pea green shoots and mushroom accents throughout.
We had a similar discrepancy with out main courses. I'll say first that my protein was outstanding--a fresh, rare tuna fillet crusted in black pepper and lavender, served with a Barenjager beurre blanc. (Barenjager is a honey liqueur.) The lightness of the honey and lavender complimented the meaty tuna and zing of black pepper. But again, the remainder of the dish was just . . . fine. It was garlic mashed potatoes and fresh green beans, both very well-prepared, but much like garlic mash and green beans at a thousand other restaurants. However, my friend's dish was absolutely fantastic throughout--chicken with a butternut, bacon, and leek risotto, a little baby spinach, and some parmagiano reggiano and white truffle oil thrown in with the chicken jus. That was hands-down the best risotto I've ever tasted--earthy and creamy, with a strong chicken flavor throughout.
I plan to go back at some point, and I think I'll skip the desserts. They weren't bad, they just weren't on the same level as the rest of the food here. There was a lemon bread pudding that just wasn't very pudding-like--more like chunks of pound cake kind of held together with a creme anglaise. I had a slice of ricotta cheesecake that seemed kind of bland after all the other tasty things I had tried.
We didn't have wine, though my friend tried a plumtini. We've both tended bar in the past, so we took turns trying this and passing judgment. :) It was a good drink, but we didn't think the muddled plums, vodka, and sparkling wine combo should have been served in a cocktail glass; the plums settled toward the bottom before they had released enough flavor and the drink kept having to be restirred, but we didn't have a cocktail stirrer. Using a cocktail shaker, then pouring the already cold ingredients over rocks in a collins glass might have worked better. However, they make an outstanding cosmo--very flavorful, with the right balance of orange and lime and not overhwelmed by cranberry. I enjoyed one of my favorite indulgences with dessert--a strong glass of ruby port.
The two starters, two mains, two desserts, and a couple of drinks came to a little over $100 with tax. Service was attentive and thoughtful, and I was impressed with the kitchen's speed given the customer load. The place was busy, casual and a little loud for a a good New American dining experience, but hey, you're in a feed store. :)
Vacationing in VT - need suggestions for great restaurants and things to do
Since he's into beer I recommend The Alchemist, a brewpub in Waterbury (near Waitsfield). http://www.alchemistbeer.com/
There's a good working farm right around Woodstock--Billings Farm. http://www.billingsfarm.org/. I don't know any corn mazes near the areas you'll be, though; there's one in Rutland and one in Danville.
There are quite a few threads already about places to eat around Burlington. My favorites are Trattoria Delia and L'Amante (both Italian, albeit with very different styles). I've heard good things about the Green Room and the Blue Cat Café and Wine Bar, but haven't gotten to try them yet.
Sunday in Burlington, VT and/or surroundings
If reservations are available I highly recommend Tratorria Delia, http://www.trattoriadelia.com/. The best Italian food I've had anywhere. Other good places on the higher end of the budget spectrum include L'Amante (http://www.lamante.com) and A Single Pebble (http://www.asinglepebble.com/). If you're going to be around during lunch, I recommend dim sum at Vietnam 2 on lower Church Street. I haven't lived in Burlington in quite a while, so the locals could probably give more insight.
Waitsfield, VT - breakfast/brunch/lunch suggestions
Don't know much right there in Waitsfield, but not far away is Juniper's Fare. Excellent little café operated by a Franciscan order with a farmstand outside too. The home fries are really, really good. http://www.junipersfare.com/cafe/
Meena's Kitchen--South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Nashua
Hmm, I'll have to check that out. I'm bringing my mom back to the Manchester airport last week, guess I'll be making a detour to Nashua.
Need simple ideas for Burlington VT?
Strong second for Sadie Katz. Wonderful brisket and matzoh ball soup.
Looking for someplace around Mt Washington . . .
. . . but the timing's going to be tough. We're doing the cog railway ride and will be finishing up tomorrow (Monday) around 2 PM. Does anyone know someplace a) within reasonable driving distance of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, b) that would be open at slack time on a Monday, and c) serves at least OK food? I understand that the answer might be "no" and we'll have to pack snacks and stop somewhere on our way back to Vermont.
Good lunch in White River Junction: Tiptop Cafe
Easy on both counts. The cafe is one business in a large building that used to be a big commercial bakery, so there's still a parking lot right outside. It's only a mile or two from I-89, but Google Maps could show the location better than I can describe how to get there.
Help me use up these two ingredients: goat stew meet and organic beets
I've got some nice looking goat meat. I planned to do a North African thing with it, but the co-op didn't have appropriate ingredients. Also have some beautiful golden beets from the farmer's market. They're both such earthy flavors that I'm sure I could combine them into a stew, but what else would I need to make this work? Help me chowhounds, you're my only hope.
Good lunch in White River Junction: Tiptop Cafe
Hmm, looks like you can't create new place links while updating the database. Here's the most relevant info.
85 N Main Street
White River Junction, VT 05001
(802) 295-3312
http://www.tiptopcafevermont.com/
Good lunch in White River Junction: Tiptop Cafe
Pouring rain this afternoon when we got to the Tiptop Cafe in White River Junction, Vermont. They had supposedly just closed for lunch, but the waitress said "I'll go ahead and seat you real quick. I don't want to send you back out in that rain." My mother and I split a great order of fries. They were hot and crispy (pretty sure they use a potato starch coating) with a subtle sprinkling of herbs--parsley, I think--and a little dish of aioli. Mom got the black bean soup; pretty hearty fare for summer, very flavorful, nice broth, finished with some sour cream. For my lunch I got their version of a Cobb salad. Half the plate was mixed greens with a just a little subtle vinaigrette, the other showed proper use of a food mold without getting ridiculously tall. Bottom layer was a well-executed chicken salad with crunchy cucumber, then a layer of creamy avocado with lardons of bacon and a few halves of grape tomatoes. Portions were good; with the big basket of fries I was too full for dessert, so I'll be sure to save space for next time. Can't say anything about their drinks; Mom got water, and I got a Negroni. It was probably a perfectly fine Negroni, I just finally confirmed for myself that I really DO dislike Campari. :) Tiptop Cafe is a little pricey as a regular lunch joint, but I was very pleased with their food and will certainly be going back when I travel in that part of the state.
Waterbury, VT: Hen of the Wood review
My wife and I are fast approaching our 20th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we went to Hen of the Wood, one of Vermont’s most-acclaimed restaurants. Wow–this was seriously one of the best meals of my life. Suri started with kale and Swiss chard cooked with a little olive oil, lemon, and pine nuts; I had braised pork cheeks with a maple/mustard creme fraiche. The pork was the only part of the evening that was less than outstanding for me. Suri liked them and I admit that they were tasty, but the pork was just too salty for me.
For mains I had roasted rabbit with parsnip puree and a stock reduction; Suri had the seared duck breast with grilled ramps and a baby mustard green salad. These were . . . perfect. I kind of have a hard time finding anything more to say about them. They were the pinnacle of what those proteins are capable of achieving. Both the rabbit and the duck breast were the most flavorful, delicious things I’ve ever eaten and I cannot choose which was better.
For dessert we had the cheese platter–a selection of flavorful American cheeses (no matter what Mark Bittman says) with hazelnuts, crisp buttered toast, and rhubarb butter. I also got a scoop of vanilla buttermilk ice cream; by that point, I was unsurprised that it was the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten. All the usual things people say about this restaurant are true: beautiful location, emphasis on locally sourced food, rustic decor, knowledgeable waitstaff. If you’ve got the money for a special meal (dinner came to $110 with tip, and that was with only one glass of wine), it gets every recommendation I can offer.
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Hen of the Wood
92 Stowe St Ste 1, Waterbury, VT 05676
Affordable eating near Marriott Rive Gauche?
Hello all,
After saving for years, my mother is going on her first European trip soon. She'll be returning in the future to spend more time in Paris, but for this trip she has just a couple of days in the Marriott Rive Gauche on Boulevard St. Jacques--if I'm reading my map correctly, this is around the border between districts 13 and 14. She's not looking for fine dining, just well-made local food fairly near the hotel. (She's 67 and traveling alone.) I'm doing research in a number of places online; can anyone recommend something in this area that could fit her needs? Thanks kindly for any advice.
Where did everyone dine on New Years? Was it great? (merrimack Valley area)
Mind if I butt in? I'm a NOLA native living up in Vermont these days. The number of suggestions can get pretty overwhelming for a city like New Orleans, so I'll restrict myself to two. Mandina's is a great neighborhood joint, usually very crowded in the evenings. They've got a long history of Creole and Italian food; it's one of the few places where you can still get turtle soup without spending an arm and a leg for fine dining prices. The other place I'd recommend is Upperline. It's tough to make the kind of food New Orleans is known for without seeming out of touch and stodgy these days, and I think Upperline maintains the best balance.
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Mandina's Restaurant
3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA
Vietnam 2: good dim sum in Vermont
Vietnam 2 is a branch-off of Essex's Vietnam Restaurant. The original is very near my workplace, so I'll sometimes head over for pho and coffee on my lunch hour. Last month, the proprietor told me they'd opened a second restaurant in downtown Burlington--and they served a dim sum brunch! (The location is absolutely prime: the first block on Church Street past Main.) I've missed dim sum in Burlington since fire ruined Five Spice Café, so I was looking forward to this meal.
Short version: I was happy beyond my expectations, especially for a new restaurant venturing into Chinese and Thai food beyond the owner's presumed comfort zone. Everything was at least OK, and there were some absolute standouts. My wife and I remarked on how empty the place was (only one other table when we first got there, though business picked up), but the whole street was practically deserted--I think it was too cold and windy even for Vermonters. The vegetable buns were OK if uninspired, the chrysanthemum tea an interesting choice that I don't think I'll order again. But the rest of it! Delicious pork shiu-mai and steamed buns, a garlicky hot sauce that made a great accompaniment to chicken/vegetable dumplings, homemade mango sticky rice for dessert! I'm sadly allergic to seafood--doubly so today, since my wife was most impressed by the seafood dishes. The steamed mixed seafood balls had that toothsome chewy texture (not to everyone's taste, but she loves it) and sweet shrimp taste. The shrimp shiu mai, stodgy at too many restaurants, were delicate and ethereal. My wife's a chef; she was pleased that they seemed to be putting real care into the food, not just stuffing a few of the same fillings into different forms. I'd also like to note that the service was exceptionally good--knowledgeable, polite, and willing to go the extra step to make sure I stayed away from foods to which I'm allergic. We were really pleased with Vietnam 2 and hope to bring friends back soon.
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Vietnam 2
169 Church St, Burlington, VT
