Have you noticed how many wonderful places there are to visit to experience Vermont’s food, drink, and farms? There are many exciting road trips you can plan around visiting these places. (Check out the trails or make your own!) Have you ever wished that you could find some of these places all under one roof? The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT is just such a place. Check out the blog post from the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed to get more information. Another such place that is gathering the best Vermont food and drink together is the Vermont Artisan Village. Slated to open in early 2015, the Village is currently looking for craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village. Read their post below to get more information and become part of the Village!
From the Vermont Fresh Network’s Fresh Feed:
On the Road - Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center
March 5, 2014
The Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in Newport, VT opened its doors in August of 2013 enticing both visitors and locals to come taste what the Kingdom has to offer. The Center is a local food emporium featuring a bakery, butcher counter, café, maple shop, and a top-shelf tasting bar with a tempting array of Kingdom spirits and cheeses from local farms. I was lucky to visit the center last week, and explore its culinary treasures with the Center co-founders and Eden Ice Cider owners, Eleanor and Albert Ledger.
Eleanor and Albert moved their cider making, aging, bottling and distribution operations from their farm in Orleans to the basement of the Tasting Center. Guests can see the process of making the ice cider which makes the experience especially unique. Eden Ice Cider manages to capture that off-the-branch taste of a ripe apple in golden liquid form. We settled in at the tasting bar, where Eleanor poured us samples of her Orleans Bitter and Herbal, Ice Cider, and other local spirits from Caledonia Spirits, Dunc's Mill and Artesano Mead. You can try a number of different wines and spirits, pair them with cheese, or have a Seasonal Tasting Plate featuring four “bites and sips” for just $9!
We headed for lunch across the room at the Brown Dog Bistro where local specials include items like a gorgeous beet salad, Vermont Bean Crafters Burgers, and Brisket sandwiches using Spring Hill Farm’s Beef that's processed in the onsite butcher shop. Owner Stephen Breault chatted nearby with farmer partner Ben Nottermann of Snug Valley Farm as we ate our tasty sandwiches. The beer list at Brown Dog is full of local brewers like Kingdom Brewing—who grow most all their own brewing ingredients on their Newport farm. We topped off lunch with salted caramel and mocha cupcakes from Jocelyn and Cinta’s Bakery, who have also found a happy home at the Tasting Center.
Sitting on the border of Canada, the shores of Lake Memphremegog and just 20 minutes from the awesome slopes of Jay Peak, hungry visitors surround Newport--and there is no better food than that produced by the farmers and producers of the Northeast Kingdom. “Bringing these businesses together in an attractive downtown location will create a destination for residents and visitors to learn more about locally-produced foods and beverages,” Eleanor said. “They will buy and eat more healthy local food, and area farmers and producers will benefit from a larger local market for their products.”
We urge you to go explore the Northeast Kingdom, and there's no better place to start than the Tasting Center! They can also now accommodate groups of 20-50 for tours of the center and cidery, followed by a tastings or meal in the barrel room of the Cidery. (Reservations required at least 2 weeks in advance, contact is [email protected])
From Vermont Artisan Village:
Vermont Artisan Village is a working community of artisans and food producers that promises to be one of the top food and tourist destinations in Vermont. Located on the busy Middlebury-to-Burlington Route 7 corridor in Shelburne near some of the most visited attractions in the state, Vermont Artisan Village brings together the best in sustainable local food production and artisan craftsmanship in a combined production and retail facility.
Calling all craftsmen, artisans and food producers to join the collaborative and creative community at the Vermont Artisan Village! Do you make artisanal hard cider? Or, maybe coffee roasting is your specialty? Maybe you are a traditional weaver? We're looking for any and all types of food and craft artisans to join us at the Vermont Artisan Village. We are scheduled to open in early 2015 and are currently accepting applications for tenants.
Come join our unique and collaborative community of artisans and producers in this beautiful new production and retail facility. Our spaces are 100% customizable to your needs. Learn about the Vermont Artisan Village, view site plans, rates and more on our website: http://vermontartisanvillage.com/.
