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NOVEMBER 2017 • BACKROADS
G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN words + images: Pamela Hunt Red hen BAKeRy 961B us Route 2 Middlesex, VT 802-223-5200 • www.redhenbaking.com Motorcyclists’ dream roads—twisty passes, scenic meadows, and roaring icy mountain brooks—crisscross the state of Vermont. The Red Hen Bakery & Café in Middlesex provides the perfect pit stop during a Green Mountain ride when it’s time to take a break, whether for a leisurely lunch or a quick cup of coffee with a molasses spice cookie. You’re sure to see at least one group of bikes pass by while you rest. This centrally located restaurant sits near the beginning of Route 100B, which undulates through the picturesque Mad River Valley. For those seeking more elevation, it’s a short drive—around 20 miles—to conquer two of the state’s epic mountain passes: the cliff-walled curves of Smugglers’ Notch to the north and the exhilarating switchbacks of the Appalachian Gap to the south. Red Hen first opened in 1999 as a bakery in the nearby town of Duxbury. Demand for its numerous varieties of bread, some featuring locally grown grains, grew quickly, and in 2007, the owners opened the sunny, spacious restaurant at its current location. During an early-season ride at the end of April, snow still clung to the
lley’s Hudson Va ne Riding Number O t Restauran e u q e b r a B W North 1076 Route 9 mery, NY Fort Montgo
oute 9W icturesque R Located on P rive D s n Perki minutes from k ar P te Sta and Harriman oint P t es historic W f o th u so st ju
845-446-0912 rmerbbq.com www.barnsto
Celebrate any Season with some awesome barbeque!
If you go home hungry it’s your own fault
‘50s-Style Drive-In Restaurant Full and Varied Menu Room for the Whole Gang Autumn is the best time to take a ride to
THE CHATTERBOX DRIVE-IN GREAT FOOD • GOOD TIMES • EXCELLENT RIDING Located at Ross’ Corners • 1 Route 15 • Augusta NJ • 973-300-2300
www.chatterboxdrivein.com
tasty places to take your bike
mountain peaks as we pulled infront of the café. Choosing a sunny table in the front window, we peeled off our riding gear and went up to the counter to place our lunch order. Red Hen offers cold sandwiches and grilled paninis, all on fresh-baked bread and stuffed with local ingredients. Because the air held a bit of a nip that day, we opted for the warm sandwiches, with their gooey cheese and crisp, piping hot bread, sure to take away the chill. I went with the Aloha— smoked turkey, cheddar, and pineapple chutney— while my husband stuck with his tried-and-true favorite, the Miss Piggy— ham and Swiss with a smear of Dijon mustard. We definitely couldn’t pass up the soup of the day: creamy split pea with smoked bacon. The menu also contains vegetarian choices, as well as sweet and savory croissants for a lighter meal. After scraping the bottoms of our soup bowls and finishing off the last sour