The Kitchen Table Bistro, Richmond VT

If you’re dining up in Burlington, VT, I’d suggest heading out to Richmond for a taste of The Kitchen Table Bistro. You won’t be disappointed.

On a recent trip to Vermont to visit my illustrious sister, Alison Ellis- proprietor and designer of Floral Artistry, suggested we (my mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law) enjoy a meal at The Kitchen Table.  This farm-to-table restaurant has been serving local VT fare for nine years, and we enjoyed their ninth birthday celebration menu.

We started with bread and butter (fantastically fresh and delicious bread and butter); a kale, cashew, and blue cheese salad; a beet and goat cheese salad; and the baby lettuce salad.

Next, we tasted some toasts. Yes, more of that great bread, please. The roasted red pepper and Cremont (a Vermont cheese I had the pleasure of sampling from Boulder’s very own cheese shop, Cured), was a crowd pleaser. I also really had to try the foraged mushroom toast since I’m often inspired by local Rocky Mountain forager and write of Hunger and Thirst for Life.  Anyway, I’ve had foraging on my mind and if the menu says “foraged mushrooms” I’m going to order them.

We washed this all down with some Illahe Pinot Noir from the Willammette Valley in Oregon, a place I used to adore calling home.  A good time was being had by all.

 Mom and sister (who’s super pregnant at this point) were across from each other…

Dad and brother-in-law played catch-up, too.

And then more food came out… the entreés.

My mom ordered scallops, of course. She always orders scallops.  I had stuffed quail, and apparently gave up on taking photos because I don’t have my sister or dad’s plates.  I did, however, get a shot of the burger and fries.

And then it was time for dessert…

Delectable. Divine. Simply delicious. Especially when enjoyed with a tawny port.

The Kitchen Table Bistro

802.434.8686

1840 West Main St.

Richmond, VT 05477

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Taste 14: Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey

It turns out that he prefers bourbon, so we get along well. Before I was introduced to rye whiskey, I considered myself a bourbon gal.  Now, depending on my mood, my spirit of choice is often either bourbon or rye. Whatever form of whiskey (or whisky) it may be, I really enjoy craft-distilled oak-aged libations.

Last year I became familiar with Tuthilltown Spirits, a craft distillery in Gardiner, New York, and producer of Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey.  I attended back-to-back tastings by Gable Erenzo, chief distiller.  Gable talked to us about each spirit as we sampled their New York Corn Whiskey, Husdon Baby Bourbon, Four Grain Bourbon, and Manhattan Rye. The guided whiskey tasting by Tuthilltown Spirits was a great way to taste a number of their products in progression from un-aged (white whiskey) to the spicy rye.  I enjoyed each one individually and gained a great appreciation for this small, up-state NY distiller.

Ever since launching cocktail tours in Boulder in 2011, I have an unquenchable thirst for information about spirits, distillers, and cocktails. I like details, like the following: Tuthilltown Spirits distills whiskey from 100% corn grown in New York State ~which might mean we can discuss its terrior. Hudson Baby Bourbon was the first legal pot-distilled bourbon made in NY since prohibition. It is aged in smaller barrels than many bourbons out there, which means the Baby Bourbon benefits from a greater surface area of wood to bourbon (meaning it’s smooth and flavorful…think of vanilla and caramel notes).

When I decided to give him 14 tastes of how much I care, I knew that one taste had to be bourbon. I immediately thought of the Baby Bourbon, wrote an email, and asked for a bottle.  I’m telling you this to be completely honest since I did not go and buy this bottle, yet I sit here praising it as one of my favorite bourbons ever. Am I truthful? Absolutely. And of the 14 tastes this month, I think I saved the best for last.

One thing I find particularly cool is that this afternoon we opened – year 11, batch 13, bottle 1171- and I know this because it’s hand written on the label.  He cut through the hand-dipped wax cap (which we discussed as a meaningful detail by the distiller) and sipped on this smooth, amber libation. On the second sip he emphatically said it was the best bourbon he’d ever had. That comment brought a smile to my face, as I realized he genuinely appreciated this finely crafted whiskey. I’m looking forward to sharing the bottle with him.

Taste 13: Ritual Chocolate

It’s fun to unwrap. It has a perfect snap when you break off a piece.  Your taste buds immediately taste chocolate, and then as you let it just slightly melt in your mouth you realize it’s not overly sweet.  It has a smooth mouthfeel with no hint of chalkiness.  It’s such an exemplary bar of chocolate, I could make the sensory pleasure of eating this bar a ritual.

Ritual Chocolate is by far one of the best locally made artisan edibles in Colorado.  Owners Robbie Stout and Anna Davies fell in love with chocolate (and each other…) and started a bean to bar chocolate factory in Denver.  They are one of the very few chocolatiers in the United States that source cacao beans as the first step in the chocolate making process.  So, for my thirteenth taste of how much I care, I introduced him to one of my favorite chocolate bars.

I brought him a bar and he looked at it, thought it looked pretty cool, and tore off the top part of the wrapper within a few seconds of having it in his hands.  It would have made a great testimonial video for Ritual Chocolate because he broke off a piece (which made a snap), put it in his mouth, and immediately commented on just how fantastic that peice of chocolate was. By his second bite I was explaining how I had organized a blogger tour of the factory and know the owners, (how their story is so damn cool!), and how there’s a lot of time, effort, and dedication that goes into every single chocolate bar.

When you experience a Ritual Chocolate bar, you’ll understand how chocolate can and should actually taste.  There are a lot of chocolate bars out there, but most pale in comparison. Ritual Chocolate is available in a number of coffe shops and specialty stores in the Denver/Boulder area. Rather than spout out a list of places, I’d like to refer you to their website for info on their chocolate, their story, and where to buy a bar.