Dining At Cloudland Farm

Dining at Cloudland Farm in Woodstock, Vermont is true farm-to-table dining set in a pristine country atmosphere.  Half the fun of getting there are the pastoral, scenic views.  It's a short drive out of the center of town and you'll want to bring your cameras and probably pull the car over a few times, as we did, to capture the views as you drive up.

It's a real, 1,000 acre working farm with an outpost store for buying extremely fresh meats and a small restaurant with limited hours for dinner service.  Rustic and beautiful, it is a dining experience you will not soon forget.

Dinners are served on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with a simple menu of truly fresh, local food.  It's also a BYOB restaurant which actually makes the dining here very affordable and absolutely worth the trip.  We selected a Bearboat Pinot Noir 2009 from our home wine stock knowing that we would probably be enjoying some red meat as beef is their specialty.  If you don't bring your own wine then stop in and meet wine purveyor Eric Wegner at the F. H. Gillingham And Sons General Store in Woodstock.  He receives the Cloudland Farm menus each week and will pair a great selection of wine for you.

We were seated at a window table.  It was close to sunset and as we looked out at the spectacular mountain view there was a slight mist in the air making us feel like we were actually dining in the clouds. We began with Asparagus Soup served with fresh Sourdough Bread and fresh country butter.  It's amazing how much different really fresh, local food tastes.  Just fantastic.

Next up was the Potato Gnocchi tossed with Country Bacon. Accompanied by an Arugula Salad with a light vinaigrette, this was a simple yet impressively good dish.  The puffy bits of gnocchi had a toothy crunch and soft, creamy center.  Beautiful.

Next up was a plate of bright green Fiddleheads with fresh goat cheese and berry sauce. Another terrific blend of layers of flavor and beautiful to look at on the plate.

Then, of course, there was the Beef.  Perfectly done, as you can see, tender and flavorful. Local carrots and beets, sauteed onions and a drizzle of aged balsamic was, again, a simple presentation but just perfect, great whole food.

From the moment we saw the menu for the evening we were very intrigued by the sound of a Beet Sherbet.  It did not disappoint in any way.  Served with a Chocolate Crumble and small Flourless Chocolate Cake and a splash of Olive Oil and dribbles of Chocolate Gel it was a fitting end to an unforgettable dining experience.

Our view.  If you arrive a bit early for your seating you are welcome to open your wine and sit out on the wraparound porch and just enjoy the verdant, green landscape as far as the eye can see.  Just gorgeous.

So, would we recommend the place?  Of course!  In fact, we cannot recommend it enough. As much as we love Boston there just is not any overall dining experience that can compare to farm dining in such a bucolic, setting.  Where else do you actually drive into a barn to park your car for dinner?  Even if the food could be matched it would literally cost hundreds of dollars more for the dinner.  Great spot. Great dining.  Great people.  Don't miss it.

Cloudland Farm
1101 Cloudland Road
Woodstock, VT  05091
Telephone:  802.457.2599

Helpful hint:  Cellular coverage is spotty in these here parts, including GPS.  The roads are not all clearly marked.  We printed out directions in advance and had no problem at all,  We suggest you do the same.

Our dinner was provided by the restaurant and arranged by the @GoWoodstockVT promotion site with no promise of any editorial consideration.  We call 'em as wee see 'em, folks.

The Charleston House, Vermont

Woodstock, Vermont is a beautiful, quiet little town where we recently spent the weekend in search of great food and wine.  We were lucky enough to stay at a Bed & Breakfast right in town called The Charleston House.

Strolling the town in the quiet of the early morning hours, as I am apt to do, the sunlight really showed off just how picturesque it is.  Classic New England and steeped in history. 

 

 

The small town shops with their retro feel, the friendly people who actually stop and smile and say hello, the stunning vistas surprising you around each corner.  It was all so quiet and relaxing and comforting.

The B&B itself is like arriving at a long-missed relative's home.  We were shown to our room and told that there are no locks on the doors here.  It's that safe.  Our room was comfy and quiet, too.  There's no TV but the wifi signal is strong.

Fresh coffee was set out for the early-risers like myself, a nice way to relax in the quiet morning and read a bit in the downstairs living room.  Then I peeked in the kitchen to find the couple who are proprietors, Dieter, who goes by his Viennese nickname Dixi, and Willa.

The table setting was beautiful and the spread they put out for breakfast was bountiful.  There was a great frittata, local sausage, cheese and fresh fruits and a still-warm blueberry muffin with all of the coffee and juice one wanted.

We had an hour long stay at the table discussing world travel with the other guests, two of whom dined at the same restaurant as us the previous evening.  No rush.  No worries.

I've lived in New England all of my life but have only been to Vermont, as an adult, several times over the past few years.  It's been fantastic rediscovering the beauty of the countryside and mountains.  It's a great weekend, or anytime, getaway and the perfect antidote for the all the stress and strain of city living.

The Charleston House
21 Pleasant Street
Woodstock, VT  05091
Telephone:  802.457.3843

Our stay was provided courtesy of  @GoWoodstockVT tourism with no promise of any editorial consideration.

 

 

Worthy Kitchen

Our seasonal tour of eating and sipping in New England has begun. We kicked off the tour in Woodstock, Vermont at Worthy Kitchen, a worthy relative of Worthy Burger, a craft beer and burger spot in South Royalton.  The Kitchen is a farm diner featuring comfort foods with a new twist and, yes, all of those tempting craft brews.

Diners are heartily encouraged to sample the brews so soon after arriving that's exactly what we did.  I went right for the Oxbow, a farm house pale saison.  Excellent.  The brews are rotated out and we were just in time for the lighter, seasonal sips.  Virtually everything we tried was, well, worthy.  There is absolutely no doubt anyone will find something to like, if not love.

It's a relaxing, casual atmosphere, no rush at all.  As we enjoyed our beers a gaggle of frat boys from nearby Dartmouth College arrived. They must have been regulars, already knowing exactly what they wanted to order.  Couples and locals rounded out the crowd.

The menu, at first glance, can be overwhelming.  Everything looks so good I have to admit we felt bewildered.  We opted for The Worthy Bomb, a farm burger with a nice hunk of buttermilk fried chicken on a delectable bun and served with truffle fries.  

The portions are ample.  Both the beef patty and fried chicken were delicious.  

We also tried the Brisket Melt, a beef brisket cooked in a root beer and sriracha BBQ sauce with Plymouth smoked cheddar and fire-roasted onions served on a pretzel roll.  Messy, yes. Also terrific. The side here was an odd-looking potato salad made with fingerlings and more German style, a vinaigrette/mayo dressing more than the typical just mayo.t BBQ sauc cheddar, and fire-roasted onions on a pretzel roll

How could we resist a side of Mac 'N Cheese?  Again with Plymouth Cheddar, a local cheese, and topped with herbed bread crumbs.  No truffle or lobster here, the simple version was still good.  One of the great things about Worthy Kitchen is the access to all of the great artisan food products being made in the area, something Vermont has really become famous for.  So, the meats, cheeses, and produce is all local.  Even the rolls and breads are made at the nearby King Arthur Flour campus, which we'll visit later.

And, of course, there are always the best food photos.

The namesake dessert is the Worthy Doughnut, a beignet-like cinnamon puff served with an excellent vanilla bean creme anglaise.   A total fave, worth the visit alone.

Don't forget to browse the local art work on display when there, a good representative of the experience one gets here.  Local artisans, a knowledgeable, attentive staff and a classic yet comfortable, upscale farm stand feeling.  

Worthy Kitchen
442 E Woodstock Road
Woodstock, VT  05091
Telephone:  802.457.7281

Socials:
@worthykitchen
@GowoodstockVT
@TheBostonFoodie

We were invited to dine as guests of Worthy Kitchen and  the Go Woodstock tourism organization with no promise of any editorial consideration.

The Lincoln Inn Restaurant

 
We were invited to visit Woodstock, Vermont and The Lincoln Inn and Restaurant at the Covered Bridge recently.  We made the scenic trek from Boston to Woodstock, a beautiful drive where the traveler is surrounded by lush mountains in every possible shade of green.  We arrived in the late afternoon and toured the gorgeous six acres that surround the Inn then settled into our rooms complete with the creaky wooden floorboards one would expect at an historic New England home. But more on that later.  We were here tonight to sample the four course prix fixe dinner that the place has already built a reputation on since adding a new owner and chef all within the last year.

Clearly, a lot of thought has gone into this.  The tables in the small dining room were set, ready to welcome about the twenty or so diners that would soon  fill the space, soft music playing in the background, candles lit. There is one seating for dinner, promptly at seven.  It is intimate yet casual with attentive, personalized service.

The group gathers in the Tavern Room for drinks, then heads into dinner together.  We mingle and sip wine as we select our main course from the menu.  Chef Jevgenija Saramova arrived from Europe in the Autumn, after having garnered much experience in several Michelin-starred restaurants.  Chef and new owner Mara Mehlman have a vision to build the Inn as a dining destination, a welcome respite for the urban-weary in search of comfort and rest ... and excellent food.  "We like to think of it as a restaurant  with rooms," says Ms. Mehlman.

We select a bottle of Julius Treis Riesling, 2013, from the well-curated wine list, an impressive balance, fruity but not overly sweet. Our first course arrives:  Maple Farm Duck, Prawns and Prosciutto Ballotine Duck Confit, Port Celery, Mango and Pineapple, Blackberries and Juniper Duck Au Jus.  It is beautiful on the plate. The rich, salty flavors are balanced with the sweetness of the mango and pineapple.  It bursts on the palate, a perfect starter.

Dill Gravlox and Baby Arugula with Bloody Mary Sorbet.  A refreshing, different take, the sorbet, which manages to be both icy AND spicy, will be the talk of the evening.  Indeed, at breakfast the next morning guests still mention it to us with the greeting:  "Oh, you must be the food writers." News travels quickly in small towns.

Poached Monkfish, Seared Squid, Capers, Asparagus, Grilled Zucchini, Turnips, Snow Peas, with Lemongrass and Lobster Consomme.  It looked like a green and white sculpture.  The textures were playful, some firm, some softer, and the flavors subtle.  The consomme added a layer of stronger seasoning to elevate the dish.  I dip a spoon in the broth, tempted to drink it all.

Angus Beef Sirloin Steak, Spinach, Baby Carrots, Leek and Endive, Grilled Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic Puree and Shitake Mushrooms.  That big curl you see is potato, again, playful but not to detract from what is clearly a dish of classically, beautifully prepared vegetables.  The steak was good.

Citrus Panna Cotta with Orange and Saffron Reduction, Coffee Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate Tart with Sesame Seed Cannelloni.  Chef will later tell us that her theory is never to go too heavy on the dessert.  The goal is not to push the diner over the edge, into feeling stuffed.  She was right.  We had been served a flourless chocolate cake at another recent dinner that was just too heavy.  This was markedly different and a welcome finish to an exquisite meal.

With Chef Jevgenija and our host, Innkeeper and owner Mara Mehlman.  We consider ourselves very lucky to have experienced dinner here before it becomes what we predict will be a legendary New England dining getaway.  Bravo!  This is a landmark that deserves a prominent spot on your fine dining dashboard.

The Lincoln Inn and Restaurant at the Covered Bridge
2709 West Woodstock Road
Woodstock, VT
Telephone:  802.457.7052