FOOD BEST NACHOS*
El Cortijo Taqueria y Cantina
The Farmhouse Group’s hip taqueria tops its signature nachos with queso fundido, black beans, salsa taquera, olives, scallions, jalapeños, sour cream and cilantro. (189 Bank St., Burlington, 497-1668 • cortijovt.com)
Other finalists: • Agave Taco and Tequila Casa: 28 Walnut St., Williston, 876-7129 • agavevt.com • Sweetwaters: 120 Church St., Burlington, 864-9800 • sweetwatersvt.com • Upper Deck Pub: 1076 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 862-6585 • windjammerrestaurant.com • Waterworks Food + Drink: 20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, 497-3525 • waterworksvt.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Tres Amigos
Next to the Rusty Nail Stage, Stowe’s new Mexican spot serves up live music, dozens of tequilas, and loaded nachos that can be topped with chicken or brisket. (1190 Mountain Rd., Suite 1, Stowe, 253-6245 • tresamigosvt.com)
Other finalists: • Blackback Pub: 1 Stowe St., Waterbury, 244-0123 • theblackbackpub.com • The Bench: 492 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-5100 • benchvt.com • Julio’s Cantina: 54 State St., Montpelier, 229-9348 • julioscantina.com • Trail Break Taps + Tacos: 129 S. Main St., White River Junction, 281-3208 • trailbreakwrj.com
BEST TACO
El Cortijo Taqueria y Cantina
In the historic space that once housed Oasis Diner, this cantina now serves up seasonally inspired tacos. Get yours filled with diverse ingredients such as quinoa, beef tongue, sweet potato or chorizo, then topped with add-ons like pickled jalapeños, queso fundido and vegan cheese. (189 Bank St., Burlington, 497-1668 • cortijovt.com)
SEVEN DAYSIES 2018-19
Other finalists:
18
• Agave Taco and Tequila Casa: 28 Walnut St., Williston, 876-7129 • agavevt.com • El Gato Cantina: 169 Church St., Burlington, 540-3095 • 4 Park St., Essex Junction, 662-4334 • elgatocantina.com • Taco Gordo: 208 N. Winooski Ave. (new location, opening soon), Burlington, 881-1691 • tacogordovt.dudaone.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
The Mad Taco
Customers go mad for Mexican dishes made with local, farm-fresh ingredients — now available at three locations. Don’t miss the craft beers and legendary homemade hot sauces. (5101 Main St., Waitsfield, 496-3832 • 72 Main St., Montpelier, 225-6038 • 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex Junction, 876-7152 • themadtaco.com)
Other finalists: • Caja Madera: Hardwick, 607-765-6576 • cajamaderafoodtrucks.com • deMena’s: 44 Main St., Montpelier, 613-3172 • demenasvt.com • Prohibition Pig Brewery: 2 Elm St., Waterbury, 244-4120 • prohibitionpig.com • Trail Break Taps + Tacos: 129 S. Main St., White River Junction, 281-3208 • trailbreakwrj.com
BEST DOUGHNUTS
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
With prime placement on Route 100, Cold Hollow is a must-stop for locals and tourists alike. Gourmet magazine ranked its doughnuts — churned out by the hundreds every day, all year long — among the nation’s best. (3600 Route 100, Waterbury Center, 800-327-7537 • coldhollow.com)
Other finalists: • Madeleine’s Bakery: 380 Route 7, Milton, 891-6954 • Facebook • Miss Weinerz: 497-7647 • missweinerz.com • Red Sky Trading: 2894 Glover St., Glover, 525-4736 • redskytrading.com
BEST CREEMEE
Burlington Bay Market & Café
The waterfront market’s seasonal creemee stand offers delicious vanilla and chocolate, but you’ve got to try the maple. Views of Lake Champlain from the patio can’t be beat. (125 Battery St., Burlington, 864-0110 • burlingtonbaycafe.com)
Other finalists: • Al’s French Frys: 1251 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 862-9203 • alsfrenchfrys.com • Palmer Lane Maple: 1 Old Pump Rd., Jericho, 899-8199 • palmerlanemaple. mybigcommerce.com • Papa Nick’s Restaurant & Pizza: 10997 Route 116, Hinesburg, 482-6050 • papanicksvt.com • The Village Scoop: 419 Main St., Colchester, 999-6962 • Facebook
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Vermont Cookie Love
The sweet-toothed swing by the “Love Shack” year-round for freshly baked cookies, but in summer the greater attraction is smooth, thick creemees made from Vermont dairy. (6915 Route 7, North Ferrisburgh, 425-8181 • vermontcookielove.com)
Other finalists: • Bragg Farm Sugarhouse & Gift Shop: 1005 Route 14, East Montpelier, 223-5757 • braggfarm.com • Canteen Creemee Company: 5121 Main St., Waitsfield, 496-6003 • canteencreemee.com • Dairy Creme: 320 State St., Montpelier, 223-5802 • dairycreme.com • Goodies Snack Bar: 6035 Route 17, Vergennes, 759-2276
BEST HOUSEMADE ICE CREAM
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Burlington’s premier chocolatier has something for everyone. Order a luscious hot chocolate, take a factory tour, or grab a homemade maple-butter-pecan or salted-caramel ice cream. (750 Pine St., Burlington, 864-1807 • 65 Church St., Burlington, 862-5185 • 2653 Route 100, Waterbury Center, 241-4150 • lakechamplainchocolates.com)
Other finalists: • Hen of the Wood: 55 Cherry St., Burlington, 540-0534 • 92 Stowe St., Waterbury, 244-7300 • henofthewood.com • Monarch & the Milkweed: 111 St. Paul St., Burlington, 310-7828 • monarchandthemilkweed.com • The Scoop: 4066 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 985-4912 • thescoopvt.com • Scout & Co.: 237 North Ave., Burlington, 540-0349 • 1 E. Allen St., Winooski, 343-1218 • 128 Lakeside Ave., Burlington, 540-0340 • scoutandcompanyvt.com
BEST VERMONT CHEESE BRAND
Cabot Creamery
The prolific cheesemaker took home nine awards from the World Championship Cheese Contest in 2018 alone. Try the clothbound cheddar or one flavored with Buffalo wing sauce. (2878 Main St., Cabot, 800-837-4261 • 2657 Route 100, Waterbury Center, 244-6334 • 5573 Woodstock Rd., Quechee, 295-1180 • cabotcheese.coop)
Other finalists:
Island Homemade Ice Cream
• Grafton Village Cheese: 400 Linden St., Brattleboro, 800-472-3866 • 533 Townshend Rd., Grafton • graftonvillagecheese.com • Jasper Hill Farm: 884 Garven Hill Rd., Greensboro Bend, 533-2566 • jasperhillfarm.com • Shelburne Farms: 1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, 985-8686 • shelburnefarms.org • Vermont Creamery: 20 Pitman Rd., Websterville, 479-9371 • vermontcreamery.com
Other finalists:
BEST PLACE TO GET A CBD EDIBLE*
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Based in Grand Isle, this small-batch biz creates classic flavors such as French vanilla as well as quirkier ones like maple-bacon and mojito sorbet. (64 W. Shore Rd., Grand Isle, 372-6266 • islandhomemadeicecream.com) • Lu•lu: 185 Main St., Vergennes, 318-0883 • luluvt.com • Stowe Ice Cream: 112 Main St., Stowe, 253-0995 • stoweicecream.com • The Sweet Spot: 40 Bridge St., Waitsfield, 496-9199 • thesweetspotvermont.com
BEST FROZEN YOGURT
SoYo Frozen Yogurt
Vermont dairy, berries and chocolate shine in small batches of frozen yogurt made daily. (696 Pine St., Suite 4, Burlington, 540-0851 • soyobtv.com)
Monarch & the Milkweed
The popular restaurant and pastry stop crafts Milkweed-branded CBD sweets and treats. Truffles come in flavors such as Andy’s Mints (liquid mint fondant encased in dark chocolate) and Strawberry Blonde (smooth strawberry fondant in a white chocolate shell). (111 St. Paul St., Burlington, 310-7828 • monarchandthemilkweed.com)
Other finalists:
• The Frozen Ogre: 46 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-1200 • thefrozenogre.com • Yogurt City: 63 Main St., Middlebury, 398-2001 • 34 Rutland Pl., Rutland, 747-5960 • 321 Swanton Rd., St. Albans, 528-5785 • 121 Connor Way, Suite 110, Williston, 876-7207 • yogurtcity.com
• Ceres Natural Remedies: 190 College St., Burlington, 844-789-9333 • 1222 Putney Rd., Suite 106A, Brattleboro • ceresremedies.com • Healthy Living Market & Café: 222 Dorset St., South Burlington, 863-2569 • healthylivingmarket.com • Muddy Waters: 184 Main St., Burlington, 658-0466 • Facebook • Nutty Steph’s: 961 Route 2, Middlesex, 229-2090 • nuttystephs.com
BEST GELATO*
BEST FOOD/DRINK EVENT
Shy Guy Gelato
ArtsRiot Truck Stop
Other finalists:
Other finalists:
• Chill Vermont Gelato: 32 State St., Montpelier, 223-2445 • Facebook • Gusto Gelato: 3762 Shelburne Rd., Suite 6, Shelburne, 238-0452 • gustogelatovt.com • Leonardo’s Italian Gelato & Sorbet: 131 S. Main St., Barre, 279-2893 • leonardosgelateria.com • The Vermont Gelato Company: 74 Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro, 254-4456 • vermontgelato.com
• Burlington Wine & Food Festival: Burlington • burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com • Oktoberfest Vermont: Waterfront Park, Burlington • oktoberfestvermont.com • Vermont Brewers Festival: Waterfront Park, Burlington • vtbrewfest.com • Vermont Restaurant Week: statewide, 864-5684 • vermontrestaurantweek.com
Other finalists:
Crafted by a gelato maker who perfected his technique in Italy, these Sicilian-style scoops come in flavors such as fior di latte, honey-seasalt-Toblerone and lemon-thyme. (457 St. Paul St., Burlington, 518-951-0442 • shyguygelato.com)
The big-city food-truck trend is alive and well in small Burlington. Get Malaysian street food, southern barbecue, wood-fired pizza or a frosty local beer — all in one parking lot. (400 Pine St., Burlington, 540-0406 • artsriot.com)