gordonzola (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gordonzola) wrote2006-03-28 06:01 pm
gordonzola) wrote2006-03-28 06:01 pm
Going to Vermont
So, I just did it, I booked my tickets to go to the only states in the country I’ve never visited and check out dairy farms and cheese makers. Does it snow in Vermont and Maine in April? I don’t want to die!
I’ve got a lot of things planned already, but it there anything, especially in Vermont, that I need to see or check out? Unfortunately, I had to shorten this vacation because of some construction/production issues at work, but Vermont appears to be like the size of my high school parking lot so I can probably fit some other things in if you, Dear Readers, have suggestions.
I’ve got a lot of things planned already, but it there anything, especially in Vermont, that I need to see or check out? Unfortunately, I had to shorten this vacation because of some construction/production issues at work, but Vermont appears to be like the size of my high school parking lot so I can probably fit some other things in if you, Dear Readers, have suggestions.
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I do know that Shelburne Farms Cheese is supposed to be quite good - it *used* to be the only American Cheddar that Zingerman's Deli in A2 carried (but I think that has since changed - still - it's good and they let you taste various ages of it.) Shelburne Farms also happens to be a lovely place to tour with a gorgeous barn that looks like a place I would cheerfully live in! While you are there you can check out the bread made by O'Bread is quite yum. It's also a nice place to hike around a bit.
http://www.shelburnefarms.org/
I'm sure that these guys - the Artisan Cheese Society (http://www.cheesesociety.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=22) out of UVM could point you at great artisan cheesemakers in the state - they must know them all! http://www.cheesesociety.org/associations/2382/membersearch.cfm that's the search which, sure enough, lists lots of members in VT!
I know of a few as follows:
http://www.blueledgefarm.com/
http://www.graftonvillagecheese.com/
http://www.vtbutterandcheeseco.com/
http://www.vermontshepherd.com/
http://www.sheepcheese.com/ (not open to public)
http://www.vtcheese.com/
http://thistlehillfarm.com/
And I don't have web sites but also something like Lazy Lady Farm?? and
Orb Weaver Farm - 3406 Limekiln Road - New Haven, VT 05472
I've tried all of those at various times and enjoyed them. BUt you can poke around.
This: http://www.vtcheese.com/vtcheese/charliestory.htm could be fun (the VT Cheese trail)
A culinary spot I've always wanted to see but haven't made yet is
http://www.farmersdiner.com/ Read about em - apparently they got rave reviews in the NYTimes food section. The cool thing is that they try to use all local food (or nearly all).
NECI is great to visit and there is one downtown in Burlington on Church St which itself is fun to browse for used books and *stuff* - pedestrian shopping street.
This is not a dairy but a fun place to look for cheese at great prices is
Cheese Traders and Wine Sellers in S. Burlington on Williston Rd.
A sort of "outlet/deli" :-)
Lake Champlain Chocolates (http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/default.aspx) is quite good chocolate and the "factory tour", though short, is fun and more to the point you can buy yummy stuff "seconds" there (not perfect but tastes just as good!)
For more hoity toity chocolates check out:
http://www.blackflowerchocolate.com/ which is literally up the street from me! :-)
If you are into wine you can check out: http://www.shelburnevineyard.com/ which is also local to me and, I am told, up and coming. (although I don't know wine well at all)
Well - that's probably more info than you need.
It *can* snow in VT in April, it has. To be safe I'd assume cool but not cold and bring layers. It's likely to be oh 50-60s I think in April. Layers are your friend in VT. If you go to Stow for example (pretty and fun touristy town and near Mt. Mansfield) and climb or hike Mt. Mansfield it will be cold on the mountain (duh). ;-)
BTW - Ben and Jerry's is the biggest tourist attraction in VT and yes, the factory tour is kind of fun, but frankly, unless you have kids - give it a miss. Lake Champlain Chocolates makes ice cream now which is to die for!!
Umm... goes that help!? Feel free to prod me for other ideas.
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Dakin Farms is also fun. It's a little like a "VT tourist place for foodies" I guess - they have excellent Maple Syrup, yummy horseradish cheese dip, really tasty maple smoked jerky... that sort of thing. Good food. They are near us in Charlotte so not that far from Burlington either.
Have fun! VT is a lovely state - the prettiest time is arguably the fall but that's also the busiest and the lake is lovely in the spring.
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Also, you can get fancier cabot here in VT probably.
OOH! I miss Trader Joe's! When I lived in Nashua NH I used to shop there all the time. sigh... :-)
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I carried Shelburne Farms Cheddar for years until an unfortunate cheese freezing incident during shipping.
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(although I'm not knowledgable really, just an amateur) ;-)
Just to clarify - I was unclear above - NECI is a resteraunt - the New England Culinary Institute's resteraunt on Church Street. There are several good bookstores on Church street too. (and the charmingly crunchy/leftwingy "Peace and Justice store") I think my overall favorite is North Country Books which is a big comfy downstairs bookstore near the fountain at the end of church street.
Have a great time!