521892 Fri May 23 04:57:39 -0700 2008 20 13 New England 0 3714097 Heading up to Stowe this Summer for vacation. Can you recommend some great places to eat for the family? Fri May 23 04:57:41 -0700 2008 162868 cad2112 1 3715730 Not sure what exactly you're looking for, but two family-friendly places that immediately spring to mind: 1) The Depot Street Malt Shop (just off the main street, downtown): a 50's-styled maltshop with all the familiar deli/maltshop faves. Great burgers, shakes, sandwiches, and very kid-friendly. Owned by a French guy (go figure.) Hope this helps! 2) Piecasso on Mountain Rd: Good, inventive, pizza, with lots of other choices (pasta, burgers, etc.), as well as a full bar with live music. Friendly owners, helpful service, but can get crowded. www.piecasso.com Fri May 23 13:46:20 -0700 2008 3714097 174764 vjpam 1 3719864 We're also heading that way next week taking our granddaughter to a job interview and are also interested in any recommendations. Searching CH files produced the following names for restaurants in or near Stowe but no consensus on which were best: Dutch Pancake House McCarthy's for breakfasts Austrian Tea Room PieInTheSky The Vermonter (pizza) PieCasso (pizza) Shed (burger/salad) The Kitchen Table Bistro (Richmond) Sonoma Station (Richmond) Swiss Pot ($$$) Sun May 25 15:53:08 -0700 2008 3714097 11791 DonShirer 1 3721493 For "the family". Don't know what that means.... Michael's on the Hill may be too much; they have great food, smallish, not cheap. Do you want McDonald's-like places or great food that can accomodate children. Please be specific. Red Basil, a Thai place was good the last time we were there. A family would be fine. Mist Grill is another that was good in the past. Blue Moon or Harvest for lunch (market making breads, sandwiches, salads with good local cheeses. Gigi's breakfast, the Dutch Pancake place. Not sure about some of these places in the late spring/summer. L'Amante, Opaline and Sauza's Brazilian food plus American Flatbread if you drive to Burlington. Cafe Shelburne, in Shelburne. Would like info back about what you liked/disliked. I'm going back soon.... Mon May 26 12:28:23 -0700 2008 3714097 137946 Scargod 2 3721600 Mist Grill is long gone, replaced by Hen of the Wood. Opaline in Burlington is long gone, too. Mon May 26 13:15:59 -0700 2008 3721493 23337 signothetimes53 1 3740134 Just returned from a quick trip through Stowe. We tried the Red Basil, but it was closed for the summer. A note said that Thai food was available at Hana, a Japanese restaurant a half-mile away. We are guessing that the RB chef was working there because essentially their entire Thai menu was available. We enjoyed a very good Cashew chicken and Red Curry plus a few Japanese dishes from a Japanese style table with a foot-pit while watching the nearby sushi chef produced flaming dishes. The decor at Hana is nice as well. Janies (or Jamies?) on Main is a small breakfast/lunch bar with communal seating within the Depot building arcade (next to the Green Mountain Inn). It has very good sandwiches, soups and salads if you only want a quick meal, but it may be hard for large parties to find room at their few communal tables. And if there are kids in your family, or adults with sweet teeth, take the Ben and Jerry's factory tour a few miles south, grab a cone, and visit the graveyard of deceased flavors. We tried the American Flatbread in Burlington, too. A sort of anemic cheese-deprived pizza. Many flavors. They were tasty, but would be laughed out of the house in New Haven. Souzas Brazilian menu looked good but we didn't have time to spare for it. Sun Jun 01 18:45:26 -0700 2008 3714097 11791 DonShirer 2 3740891 We were kinda shocked to find out that we had to PAY to take the Ben and Jerry's tour. The amount of ice cream you get is pretty miniscule. Very commercialized tour with the gift shop and all. Still it is fascinating. Thanks for the resto info. Mon Jun 02 06:16:43 -0700 2008 3740134 137946 Scargod 3 3741000 Naive Norman, The Ben & Jerry's experience is what happens when a multinational gobbles up a family owned bus. Mon Jun 02 07:03:57 -0700 2008 3740891 93538 Passadumkeg 4 3741024 And the former owners spend more time bashing the GOP than working on creative flavors....................... Don't expect to see any flavors like John Macadamia McCain or Mitt Romney Raspberry Ripple. Mon Jun 02 07:12:09 -0700 2008 3741000 50082 TonyO 4 3741183 Oh, please. Ben & Jerry didn't exactly struggle with their consciences over the act of cashing out for big $$ to a multinational company. Mon Jun 02 08:13:49 -0700 2008 3741000 23337 signothetimes53 5 3741309 Hey, a friend's wife sent in the suggestion for Cherry Garcia (Hubby is a Dead Head.) What can I say? B&J still send out a truckload for their anniversary. Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees have cashed in too. Hillary Vanillery (vanilla & sour grapes)? Mon Jun 02 08:55:28 -0700 2008 3741183 93538 Passadumkeg 5 3744285 And what is it you think they've done with that money? You don't think B&J are still working on a social mission? You don't think that a lot of that money hasn't gone into the non-profit they're both still working on to encourage other businesses to engage in social responsibility? Since you weren't actually inside their heads when they went through the sale, I'd say you're not in a position to judge them or what they did, or did not, consider when they made the sale. The company is -still- more socially responsible than the vast majority. They still do more for Vermont, and even on a national level, than most even dream of doing. They do actually still have free scoop days, when ANYONE can stop in a scoop shop ANYWHERE and get a free cone. Who the heck does that at all? They have a superior brand of ice cream, and they've managed to continue doing that, despite being sold off to a corporation, and they continue to do good work in the world. and no, I don't now (and never have) worked for them. Tue Jun 03 06:05:13 -0700 2008 3741183 119275 Morganna 6 3750468 You need to separate B&J from the brand. It is Unilever, a multi-national corporation, that offers free scoop days, not Ben and Jerry, who are no longer part of the management of the company. That's not criticism, just a simple factual observation. It is Unilever that owns, runs and manages the facility in Waterbury that offers the plant tours, not Ben and Jerry. That too is not criticism, just simple fact. If the company is -still- more socially responsible than others, it is a business decision that Unilever made. Again, not criticism, just statement of fact. As for whatever Ben and Jerry themselves are personally involved with apart from their personal services contract with Unilever, well, those are quite separate from the ice cream brand itself. Wed Jun 04 17:10:16 -0700 2008 3744285 23337 signothetimes53 7 3750600 I was of the understanding that they (Unilever) kept the original staff and socially "responsible" ideology of the Ben and Jerry's brand. I'd have to agree with Morganna that the subsidiary itself is still run as before it was sold in many regards. Wed Jun 04 17:59:20 -0700 2008 3750468 28415 bewley 8 3751856 That's accurate. But does not the "evil" multinational corporation Unilever deserve some credit for making the decisions it made regarding the B&J brand? Even Ben and Jerry themselves told the press back when they sold that they knew they could not force Unilever to continue with their various marketing practices. A number of key B&J's original leadership left soon after the sale because they feared changes they wouldn't like would come. Thu Jun 05 07:12:14 -0700 2008 3750600 23337 signothetimes53 9 3752138 Fine, but years and years down the road, they've stuck with the original goals very well, considering that they're a multinational corp. The proof is in the pudding. They're still doing great things locally and in the nation as a corporation. They can still be counted on for donations, and grants and event support. They're still a decent company, even though their parent may not be the best thing in the world. Which, to my mind, means that B&J aren't scumbags for selling to them, which is what you were implying (albeit I've overstated your implication). Thu Jun 05 08:29:15 -0700 2008 3751856 119275 Morganna 10 3752685 Well, actually, I applaud anyone who can be that successful and ultimately sell for big profits to a multinational company. I wish I could be so lucky. It wasn't the act of the sale that raised my eyebrows, it is the hilarious characterization by posters here and elsewhere on the internet of Ben & Jerry as noble anti-corporate, anti-multinational crusaders worthy of sainthood. They aren't, and I don't think even they would characterize themselves in that way. They are smart businessmen who built a great business based on some now-common but what were 25 years ago fairly novel marketing concepts..and ultimately sold for a fantastic profit. I applaud them for that, but I laugh at naivete of some of their devotees. Thu Jun 05 10:41:55 -0700 2008 3752138 23337 signothetimes53 1 3752727 If you and and your husband can get a night to yourselves, I HIGHLY recommend Hen of the Wood http://www.henofthewood.com/ It's in a old grist mill; charming, exquisite food! With the kids : 1. McCarthy's is fantastic for breakfast 2. Harvest Market for lunch. If you are lucky, they may be baking bread at the time you are there 3. Blue Moon Cafe is good for dinner- may be a bit too expensive for lunch 4. Laughing Moon Chocolates for not-to-miss homemade chocolate sweet treats! Thu Jun 05 10:52:44 -0700 2008 3714097 35214 LCM 1 3752758 HEN OF THE WOOD is phenomenal (near the exit by Ben and Jerry's) but it's not a family restaurant. If you and your husband can get away for the night - highly recommend it. HARVEST MARKET is a fun place for lunch - a bit overpriced but there are a great variety of items and if you are lucky enough to be there when they are taking bread out of the oven, get a loaf with one of the great cheese offerings they have. BLUE MOON is also a nice place for lunch and dinner. Can't beat MCCARTHY'S for breakfast! For great homemade chocolate - visit LAUGHING COW. I would skip GRACIE'S - mediocre. Have fun! It's a lovely town! Thu Jun 05 11:00:39 -0700 2008 3714097 35214 LCM 1 3754344 In addition to the others mentioned, try Gracie's on the Mountain Rd. - very casual and family friendly - but has something on the menu for everyone. They have phenomenal BIG salads. The Whip in the Green Mountain Inn is very nice - and family friendly. Have fun! Thu Jun 05 18:07:50 -0700 2008 3714097 198305 nicolevt 1 3755275 Just found out about this event: http://www.vermontculinaryclassic.com/ It looks great, and there's a lot of restaurants involved and farms and such, that look really good and use local products. :) Fri Jun 06 06:00:26 -0700 2008 3714097 119275 Morganna 1 4444849 Trip Report Blue Moon was excellent, for supper. DH swooned over the duck. Foxfire Inn was good. Jamie's wonderful for breakfast or lunch. Especially good soups and sandwiches and Cookies too. Harvest Market was great for a lunch, but not everything is served hot. I wish I had a kitchen to warm supper up in. Excellent pizza and bakery items Pie in the Sky provided good pizza and salad to bring back to the room when children were not fit to go out to dinner. Mon Feb 23 13:29:41 -0800 2009 3714097 61047 jwg