By Curt Peterson The Butt family opened their dream Middle Eastern style restaurant, Apana Grille, in Florida in late 2019, but it did not survive the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet their dream has risen from the ashes, like a phoenix, here in Hartland and Woodstock.   In May, 2020, Kristina Mowry, vacationing in Florida, met Omar…

By Curt Peterson Editor’s note: This is the fourth of the Covid Survival Series by reporter Curt Peterson about area restaurants and their adaptations during and plans post-Covid. There are very few people who are as genuinely optimistic as Cathy Emmons, co-owner with her husband, Bill Emmons, of Cloudland Farm in North Pomfret. When asked about…

Backyard barbecues beckon and poolside entertaining reigns supreme every summer. After guests have had their fill of fire-licked grilled burgers, hot dogs and chicken, a refreshing dessert that won’t have summertime hosts sweating preparation can make for the perfect culinary capper. “Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars” marry tangy cream cheese with sweet and velvety banana pudding atop…

After the lazy days of summer, fall often arrives with packed schedules and everyone getting back on track, whether for work or school. Busy families may not have much time to spend in the kitchen these days, but they don’t need to devote hours to cooking. Even quick meals can serve up significant flavor. In…

By Andrea Knepper, extension master gardener intern, University of Vermont Have you been bitten by the gardening bug but aren’t sure where to start? Picking a theme such as a salad bar garden or salsa garden can help narrow down choices and focus your planning. Or how about growing a pizza garden with all your…

By Curt Peterson Editor’s note: This is the third of the Covid Survival Series by reporter Curt Peterson about area restaurants and their adaptations during and plans post- Covid. The Covid-19 pandemic has been “challenging” and “scary,” but ultimately “just a blip,” according to Sam DiNatale, owner of Mon Vert Café on Central Street in…

By Brooke Geery With all state-sanctioned restrictions lifted on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the vibes at Lake Bomoseen Lodge and Taproom were electric. The sky over the lake was dotted with black clouds threatening thunder and lightening, but the energy emanating from inside the restaurant was even more powerful. At one table, a group of…

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue, UVM Extension master gardener Growing popcorn is a fun way to extend the summer corn season. If you are familiar with growing sweet corn, growing corn for popping is very similar. Make sure to select seeds that are intended for popping instead of fresh eating. If you dry and try to…

By Neil P. Allen BRANDON— Last month, The River Pub & Grill opened its doors at 18 Center St. in Brandon. The new restaurant is described as “a casual environment with pub-style food, drinks, and cocktails in an open concept dining room with covered patio dining,” according to the website. It is owned by Donald…

Doughnuts are a beloved breakfast staple. A glazed doughnut to go with morning coffee on the way to work is a morning ritual for many people.  Despite their popularity, many people do not know much about how doughnuts came to be. Oily cakes precede doughnuts The origin of doughnuts is widely debated. Desserts made from…

Saturday and Sunday, June 12-13, 8-11 a.m. — RUTLAND— Jones Donuts and Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum will be “cooking up” something special for the weekend of June 12-13. For the second year, Jones Donuts will be putting a unique spin on their classic, crowd-pleasing recipe to “raise some dough” for Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum. On June 12-13…

By Curt Peterson Editor’s note: This is the second in a series on local restaurants expanding their open hours, offerings post-pandemic.  The past 14 difficult, uncertain months have been long for John and Stacy Capurso, owners of Windsor’s Windsor Station restaurant, but they say they’re stronger than ever. The 8-year-old enterprise was at its peak,…

By Ron Krupp Editor’s note: Ron Krupp, author of “The Woodchuck’s Guide to Gardening,” “The Woodchuck Returns to Gardening” and “Lifting the Yoke,” is working on his third garden book, “The Woodchuck’s Guide to Landscape Plants and Ornamentals.” When we plant a seed, we create a direct link between our ancestral past and our potential future.…

For more information visit: vermontfarmersfoodcenter.org/everyone_eats Rutland County Vermont Farmers Food Center 251 West Street, Rutland Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (Drive-thru; first-come, first-served)   Rutland Veggie Van Go Diamond Run Mall Thu 4/22, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/vdhrutland   Barstow Memorial School 223 Chittenden Rd, Chittenden Wednesday 5  p.m. -…

By Brooke Geery FAIR HAVEN— Sometimes you walk into a place and it immediately feels like home. The Fair Haven Inn is one of those places. When I arrived for happy hour on a rainy day last week, co-owner Bruce Ieremias greeted us at the side door, informing me that the front door was being…