Tidbits from Vermont!

I am so sorry that it's been SO SO SO long since I've posted!  what can I say - applying for a new job and planning a beautiful wedding just became all consuming!  Now that the wedding planning is over, and the job is now in transitional, I have a moment to write.   Please forgive the lack of pictures, which we were really excited about tasting and experiencing some amazing food, we were on our mini-moon, and blogging wasn't really back on my radar yet!

We stayed at the Inn at Shelburne Farms (The Inn), which I have always wanted to stay at!  This is the main house at Shelburne Farms, which used to the the Webb estate, in Shelburne VT.  Dr. Webb married a Vanderbilt daughter in the late 1800's and the house was built around 1890.  Now that Shelburne Farms has been a non-profit organization for 40 years, focusing on agricultural stewardship and education, they Inn helps support the educational focus of the organization.  Every effort to maintain the integrity of the house has resulted in a beautiful place to stay and be transported back in time.  There is no air conditioning or heating (the furnace was donated for scrap metal during WWII), and none of the rooms have TV's - which was really nice on a mini-moon.  Don't fret though, they have free wifi!  Every afternoon, the Inn serves afternoon tea with small sandwiches and sweets.  This is the perfect place to just get away from real life for awhile.  It also helps that I worked at the dairy farm on the property in college, so I have friends just down the road!  we're the only couple who helps load some cows during their mini-moon.

The benefit of staying at Shelburne Farms, is that you have the option to stay on the property exclusively - there is a restaurant attached to the Inn which focus on local and seasonal food!  Over 50% of the food they cook with comes from the farm itself, and the rest is local to the area.  We had our first night's dinner there, which just seemed the easiest after a morning of saying goodbye to all of our wedding guests, driving to VT and just remembering all those small details from the night before.  The last thing I thought I wanted to do would be to leave the property.  Turned out we were a bit stir-crazy though and hit up Church Street for 2 hours since we had a late seating for dinner.

We were seating right after 8:15 which was our reservation time, after a quick munch on some Shelburne Farms cheddar which they have right at the hostess area!  We're fans of the tractor cheddar they have, but that might not be for everyone as it is not always consistent.  We started with the corn chowder and butcher board.  The soup was heart warming and creamy, the butcher board an interesting combination of ingredients (different meats, bread, mustard and pickled veggies) which we had fun mixing and matching.  For dinner I got the lamb and my other half got the pork.  I got the lamb because 1 - I always LOVE lamb, and 2 - it came with some interesting sides.  It came with a eggplant puree and a salad of tomatoes and fresh greens.  I was very impressed.  The lamb was fork tender.  The pork was also great, tender and juicy.  Slightly pink, just the way we like it.  The potato and broccoli gratin it came with was not overcooked with a little bite left in it.

To finish, we had the pumpkin panna cotta with a raspberry caramel and shortbread cookie.  Words do not even describe it.  The panna cotta was flavorful and smooth in texture, creamy and dreamy.  I would just dive right in.  In fact, I am desperate for the recipe.


Breakfast at the bearded frog
The next morning, we wanted to venture into Shelburne.  After much research, I found that a local restaurant which got great reviews also had a small cafe which served breakfast.  After ordering at the counter and drooling over the pasteries, I got the challah french toast with fresh fruit and a citrus marscarpone.  My other half got the breakfast sandwich with egg, potatoes and I think sausage.  He loved it and ate every bite.  Great balance of flavors.  I loved the frnech toast - not too dry, but the marscarpone did melt a little bit and that creaminess was lost.  We would definitely go back!  We did take a few treats for the road - the Guinness and kalua opera cake was very yummy, but the strawberry, basil and cracked black pepper cheesecake bite was bit over my head.


Dinner and Leunig's
To be honest, I first went to Leunig's with an old boyfriend in college.  But we were poor college students, and while we pretended to know what we were talking about, we weren't really knowledgeable about food. It was so different going as an "adult."  We got the tasting meal - $100 for a feast for two.  A great deal for us since generally we'll both get an appetizer, entree and dessert, which can easily top $50 per person.  This allowed us to taste a ton of different things and be surprised with each plate coming out.  I'm not going to go through each dish since there were so many, but the highlight was the fried duck.  I've never heard of fried duck before and I was a little dubious as I am much more used to the classic pan seared duck breast, and this was amazing!  Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside with a slightly tangy and spicy asian inspired dipping sauce, we fought over the last few pieces.  We were too full for the final cheese plate, although it looked so good, we took it back to our room for late night snacking!


sneakers
Please see my full review of the wonderful place that is Sneakers.  we actually ended up with 3 breakfasts this time since we couldn't make a decision.  We got the crab cakes benedict - always a good choice (I've had it before) as the crab cakes are moist with larger chunks of crab.  I do also very much like the the California benedict with the mushrooms and avocado - creamy and earthy - but that wasn't in the cards today.  We also got the basic waffle with the side of fruit.  The waffle was slightly crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, but the fruit always elevates the dish.  Gone are the days of macerated strawberries making soggy waffles...  each piece of fruit was ripe and flavorful.  And this is not just a sign of summer, this is something that is consistent at Sneakers year round.  Last, but not least, was a calamari omelet special with spicy sausage.  Unfortunately, this was not a home run for us.  The calamari were breaded and the egg made them a bit soggy.  I was concerned that they would be rubbery, but fortunately, the double cooking did not make them overcooked.  I have to admit that the fact that this omelet didn't sing for me might be that it also contained more ingredients that I am not a huge fan of - including red onions and tomatoes - but my other half was not too impressed either.  I do think that one miss out of a history of great meals is acceptable, as I am just pleased that the chef there has enough creative freedom to try new things.  I've had some spectacular specials there (get the carrot cake waffles with cream cheese frosting if you see them), but new and interesting flavor combinations are not always for everyone.


All in all, a great weekend with some great food.  We can't wait to do it again.

The Smokehouse - Madrid, NY

Just up the road in Madrid, NY is an homey and warm BBQ joint.  This is a favorite pit stop during the snowmobiling season to grab a drink and a bite while you warm up, but is also a great time in summer when one can sit on the back porch, sip a beer and have some great BBQ.  Just look beyond the corny old western saloon decoration (and people painted on the walls), and find a non-assuming family friendly restaurant that is where friends run into each other.  The service is good, although the water glasses are small, so sometimes you need to ask for a water refill.  If there's a wait to get into the dining room, there are some small tables in the bar area which work in a pinch!

The menu is extensive for your classic BBQ options, but always make sure to check the specials, as they occasionally will even have brisket!!  I will saw we generally start out the meal with steamed clams, and they're tender and succulent.  Other good options are the fried pickles dunked in ranch!  salty and crispy with the creaminess of the dressing....  make sure the try them once in your life.  They also have a good selection of beers (in bottles) and a full bar.

I've had a variety of dinners there, and none of them have been bad (although if you don't like smoked flavor, don't get the prime rib).  The last thing I got there that I really liked was the pulled pork salad.  It was a surprisingly good dish!  Warm pulled pork with BBQ sauce over a bed of lettuce with corn kernels, shredded cheddar and crumbled tortilla chips.  I got it with ranch on the side and the combination of BBQ sauce and ranch was great!  Creamy mixed with tangy with the crunchy lettuce and tender bursts of sweetness from the corn.  The pork was tender and juicy, and for some reason, it all just worked together.

Other favorites are hamburgers which are large and flavorful.  I also sometimes get the pulled pork potato skins which is more than enough for a meal, even though they're an appetizer.  They are pilled high with pork and then smothered in cheese.  I am also a great fan of the smashed sweet potatoes that are covered in toasted marshmallows as a side (you get 2 with most entrees).  The ribs are also tender and fall right off the bone.

LaCasbah, Potsdam NY

Sorry that there are no pictures with this review, but the lighting in this restaurant is certainly not conducive to good pictures.  La Casbah is a Moroccan restaurant in Potsdam. Now, this is certainly a place that has a ethnic flair that I was surprised to find up here in the North Country.  The dining room is broken into 2 sections - an middle eastern decorated front room with lower tables and pillow covered benches, and then a bar area with more generic furniture.  There is a sort of sun porch off the the side of the bar area, which I assume is nice in the summer when it's sunny, but is slightly chilly in the winter months.

Service has always been good, although I've never been there when it's super busy.  I do get the impression that the bar on the second floor is more of a money maker than the restaurant, although have never been up there.  The last time we were there, the only person working was the owner, and he was very attentive.  The wine list is pretty generic, but does cover all the bases.  If I remember correctly, their red wines also includes a Malbec, which is a big hit for the fiance, since that's one of his favorites types of wine and it's not the most common to see on a menu around here.

We started with the festival platter, which is a sampling of Zaalouk (eggplant with tomatoes, garlic and herbs), Bakkoula (sauteed celery and spinach), Barba (fresh beet salad with herb vinaigrette) and Shakshouka (fire roasted peppers and tomatoes in a lemon olive oil vinaigrette).  We weren't big fans of the Barba, but then again, I don't think anyone at the table would claim to be big fans of beets prepared in any way.  The other options were good and I was particularly a fan of the Zaalouk, with the creamy eggplant with a subtle undertone of garlic with some bright herb flavor.  I think this is a good option for those that haven't previously experienced a lot of middle eastern dishes.  This will introduce one to many of the flavors, and you can try a few things!  Just make sure they keep that pita coming for dipping!!

For entrees, you will notice that about half of their menu are "international dishes."  I see these as a throw to those who aren't adventurous enough to try a middle eastern dish.  To be honest, there are plenty of places in the area that offer similar dishes to these, but only one place in the area that offers Moroccan food...  So expand your minds and palates and try something Moroccan when you're there!!

Now, I am only going to comment on one entree.  It's by far my favorite thing there, and I think it's a great introduction to Moroccan food for those who are trying it for the first time.  The Tfaya Couscous is AMAZING!  It's a very flavorful saffron couscous with caramalized onions, raisins, grilled veggies and a meat choice.  I've always stuck with chicken since I think it goes well with the couscous and absorbs the flavors of the saffron, onions and raisins.  It's a mix of meaty flavor with hits of sweetness from the raisins and crunch from the veggies.

All in all, a good change from the average restaurant in the area.  Go there for something different.


LaCasbah

La Chronique - Montreal, Canada

I was not intending to blog about this meal, but it's been 2 days since we've had it and I still can't get over it.  The hubby and I headed up to Montreal on Monday evening for a special dinner - a combination of my birthday present from January and an early celebration of Valentine's day.  I let him do the research and he discovered a gem.

We walked into La Chronique for our 6:30 reservation and the small restaurant was empty.  We picked our own table and we quickly informed by our waitress that not only were the menus only in french, but there was no selections to be made - it was a set menu of 5 courses with a fixed price and wine paired with each course to match the meal perfectly.  For a heads up, cost wise, you're looking at $70 for a meal without wine, $125 for a small glass with each course, and $170 for a larger glass with each course (and even an option for wine choices).  We were able to look at a list of the courses, but between our elementary french from high school, neither of us was completely sure of what to expect.

The service was attentive, but not rushed.  In the European style, you knew that for the amount of the meal, that table was yours for the night.  By 7pm, other diners were trickling in and the restaurant (all 10 tables or so) was full for the night.  Our first course was a lobster bisque poured table-side over a mound of crab, gently sauteed leeks and topped with cream and a Parmesan crumble.  While the waitress was pouring the bisque over the crab and leeks, the overwhelming aroma of lobster wafted up to my face.  Each spoonful was full of flavor - the lobster and crab together were amazing and the added crab gave it a bit more bite.  The leeks were unexpected but the caramelization gave it an earthiness, and the Parmesan crumbles just a bit of crunch and texture.  This was served with an amazing glass of champagne.  The bubbles were refreshing and light.

Now, before I continue to over analyze this amazing meal and gush (which I told myself I wasn't going to do - I just wanted to focus on enjoying the meal and my fantastic man's company).  What followed was sear scallop with caramelized endive, halibut with a truffle mousse, quail over braised purple cabbage and seared fois gras (melt in your mouth indulgent).  The dinner was capped off with a lovely chocolate brownie (although I bet they called it something different) with a caramel sauce, espresso ice cream and topped with a puff pastry and 2 chocolate light cookies (almost reminiscent of freeze dried).  This was a lick the plate or even take their home made bread and mop up all of the sauce for every course and for each component of the meal.  It was amazing.

Now I know this is an extravagant meal, but if you ever have a special occasion, this is a special treat and an intimate dining experience.  Now, if you're picky or nervous about having someone else dictate your meal, this isn't the place for you.  I do dare those skeptics and control freaks (and I am the later) to let go and let the experts at La Chronique guide their meal, they won't steer you wrong.

One last word of warning - this is a 5 course meal, I am still kicking myself for snacking on bread from the bakery up the road before dinner.  I was getting full during the halibut course and wish I could have licked that plate as I wanted to (and I also didn't finish my fois gras during the following course).  Come Hungry!

http://www.lachronique.qc.ca/index.html