FOOD BEST BREAD BAKERY
August First Bakery
COURTESY OF INTERVALE COMMUNITY FARM
Phil Merrick and Jodi Whalen opened shop on August 1, 2009, with the goal of nourishing their community. From seven grain to seeded baguette to country French sourdough, these European-style loaves are baked with love. (Burlington • augustfirstvt.com)
Other finalists: • Great Harvest Bread Co.: Burlington • greatharvestburlington.com • Klinger’s Bread Company: South Burlington • klingersbread.com • Knead Bakery: Burlington • kneadvt.com • O Bread Bakery: Shelburne • obread.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Red Hen Baking Co.
Nibble a flaky croissant while watching bakers work, or sit down with soup and a sandwich. Breads and pastries are made with grains sourced from within 150 miles of the bakery. (Middlesex • redhenbaking.com)
Other finalists: • Elmore Mountain Bread: Elmore • elmoremountainbread.com • Red House Sweets: St. Albans • redhousesweetsvt.com • Rupert Rising Breads: West Rupert • Facebook • Slowfire Bakery: Cambridge • Facebook
BEST SWEETS BAKERY
Mirabelles Café
Homemade pastries, pies, cookies and cakes distinguish this bakery and café, also serving breakfast and lunch. The croissants are truly French style; the flourless chocolate cakes, to die for. (Burlington • mirabellescafe.com)
Other finalists: • Matryoshka’s Bakery: Williston • matryoshkasbakery.com • Monarch & the Milkweed: Burlington • monarchandthemilkweed.com • Sweet Babu: Winooski • sweetbabuvt.com • Sweet Simone’s: Richmond • sweetsimones.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
SEVEN DAYSIES 2019-20
Eastman’s Bakery
12
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
El Cortijo Taqueria
Now with locations in Burlington and Winooski, the Farmhouse Group taqueria keeps things fresh and fun with tacos, burritos and killer margaritas. (Burlington, Winooski • cortijovt.com)
Other finalists: • Agave Taco and Tequila Casa: Williston • agavevt.com • El Gato Cantina: Burlington, Essex Junction • elgatocantina.com • The Mad Taco: Essex, Montpelier, Waitsfield • themadtaco.com • Taco Gordo: Burlington • tacogordovt.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Tres Amigos
The Mexican fare includes hibiscus-glazed chicken and ancho-rubbed steak, along with enchiladas and tacos. Find dozens of tequilas at the bar — and bands on the Rusty Nail Stage several nights a week. (Stowe • tresamigosvt.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
El Toro: Morrisville • Facebook Julio’s Cantina: Montpelier • julioscantina.com La Casa Bar & Grill: St. Albans • lacasavt.com TRAIL BREAK taps + tacos: White River Junction • trailbreakwrj.com
BEST FOOD CART
Customers follow the bakery on social media for news of its cupcake flavor of the week — will it be vanilla chai or strawberry tiramisu?! Other sweet treats here include cinnamon rolls, cake pops and candy-colored macarons. (Fairfax • Facebook)
Shy Guy Gelato
Other finalists:
Other finalists:
• Birchgrove Baking: Montpelier • birchgrovebaking.com • Bohemian Bakery: Montpelier • bohemianbakeryvt.com • Evelyne’s on Center: St. Albans • Facebook • Red House Sweets: St. Albans • redhousesweetsvt.com
• • • •
At a popular South End storefront and Church Street cart, gelato makers dish out delicious flavors, from maple bacon to matcha mint. (shyguygelato.com) The Broccoli Bar: pingalacafe.com Maudite Poutine: vermontpoutine.com The Skinny Pancake: skinnypancake.com South End Sliders: southendsliders.com
BEST CSA*
Intervale Community Farm CSA stands for “Community Supported Awesome,” right? If you’re talking about the Intervale Community Farm’s CSA, it sure does. The oldest and largest farm in Burlington’s Intervale has been filling the produce drawers of its member-owners for 30 years. With shares available in both winter and summer — and three summer share sizes to fit a variety of households, diets and budgets — this CSA supplies fresh, local, certified-organic produce 12 months of the year. Pickup nights on the farm provide a great excuse to hang out in one of Burlington’s most beautiful locales and lean into the “community” part of CSA. You’ll even have a chance to get your hands dirty: Crops such as berries, cherry tomatoes, herbs and cut flowers are pick-your-own during the high summer months. Hot tip: Sign up early, because shares usually sell out. Burlington • intervalecommunityfarm.com
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
BEST THAI RESTAURANT
A Single Pebble
Tiny Thai Restaurant
Other finalists:
Other finalists:
• Eastern Dragon: St. Albans • easterndragonvt.com • Joyce’s Noodle House: Essex Junction • Facebook • Mandarin: Winooski • mandarinvt.com • Silver Palace: South Burlington • silverpalaceofvt.com
• East West Café: Burlington • eastwestcafeburlington.com • Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant: Montpelier • royalorchidthaivt.com • Thai House Restaurant: St. Albans • Facebook • Wilaiwan’s Kitchen: Montpelier • Facebook
There’s no sign of General Tso in this authentic Asian eatery. Chef-owner Chiuho Duval’s tasting menu is the best deal in town. (Burlington • asinglepebble.com)
Tom kha, satay, stir-fries and curries take their cues from food carts and family tables across Thailand. Ask for the authentic Thai menu. (Winooski • tinythairestaurant.net)