Food and News

Local Food: The first Walla Walla onions have arrived, and Steven features them with a trio of Miller Farm Rabbit. One portion of the rabbit is grilled and then slow roasted with a housemade maple barbeque sauce. The loin is wrapped in bacon and roasted with cilantro pesto. Finally, there’s a buttermilk fried leg. The dish includes local black beans from Butterworks Farm, the onions, and a piquant jalapeño and a Napa cabbage slaw with just enough mint and cilantro to cool it down a bit.

Earlier this summer, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund launched the Farm-to-Plate initiative, the result of legislation authored by State Representatives Jason Lorber and Christopher Bray in collaboration with Rural Vermont and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. The goal of the initiative is to secure a viable local food system by promoting rural economic development. More information about the initiative is available at Farm to Plate.

Sign up for one of the Vegetable Growers’ Walks at High Mowing Seeds in Wolcott. Though designed for experienced growers, new growers and those just starting are welcome. The three two-hour sessions will focus on different crop groups, starting with zucchini, cucumbers, and heat tolerant greens on August 5 from 5-7 pm. For details, directions, and additional dates, visit High Mowing Seeds or call 802 472 6174.

Local Beverages: Summer Sunday and Monday bar specials, and every day coffee and bar service after 2:30. And the Red Sox games live from NESN.

Thursday Music: We’re excited to have “country outlaw” Rachael Rice and the Cosmic Americans offer their unique blend of vintage country, rockabilly, and Americana on Main Street in Hardwick. If you’re not yet familiar with the band, and Rachael’s commitment to transformative possibilities, visit http://rachaelrice.com/

Around the Galaxy: Barre novelist Jennifer McMahon visits The Galaxy Bookshop Tuesday at 7 pm to talk about her latest novel, Dismantled, a suspenseful story of a group of friends who are haunted by long-buried secrets.

Local Events: The Craftsbury Chamber Players’ Thursday night schedule is available on their website, as well as information about their children’s concert series at the Town House, East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, and Greensboro Fellowship Hall. www.craftsburychamberplayers.org

For information about Summer Music in Greensboro at the United Church of Christ, visit www.summermusicfromgreensboro.org

Unadilla Theatre’s repertory schedule is available at www.unadilla.org

The Northeast Kingdom Music Festival is next week, August 7 & 8 at the Chilly Ranch in Albany. For a complete schedule and preview of the film about the festival, check out their website www.nekmf.com

Take Note: Change in Music Tonight

Our young friends from NH, Affirmative Jackson, were forced to cancel their performance tonight because of a family emergency. Instead, we welcome local musicians Ben Appel, Tom Nudell and Noah Young for their premier at Claire's. Come show your support and be among the first to enjoy their mardi gras and urban infused jazz sounds tonight after 8:00 pm.

Local Food: Steven brings the summer flavors of southern France to the produce from our region with a fragrant Chicken Bouillabaisse, based on the classic Mediterranean fish stew, rich with fennel and tomatoes, and in our version, garlic scapes and scallions. The stew has a distinctive golden color that comes from saffron.


And have some strawberries while they last!

Local Beverages: Summer Sunday and Monday bar specials, and every day coffee and bar service after 2:30. And the Red Sox games live from NESN.

Around the Galaxy: The Buffalo Mountain Food Co-op and The Galaxy Bookshop welcome Ron Krupp for a discussion of his new book on Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. Ron Krupp, known for The Woodchuck's Guide to Gardening is now the author of Lifting the Yoke: Local Solutions to America's Farm and Food Crisis. Krupp has a long history of involvement with Vermont's local farm and food issues, beginning with founding one of the first farmer's markets in the early 70s in Brattleboro.

In other book news, New York Times reporter and author Marian Burros comes to the Lakeview Inn this Wednesday for a tasting menu and talk entitled “The New White House Kitchen Garden and Michelle Obama.” Advance purchase tickets for the event are $60 each, and the Galaxy Bookshop will be on hand with signed copies of Marian’s book for sale at an additional price. Contact: jmflakeview@gmail.com or cwdlakeview@gmail.com

Thursday Music: This week, we welcome Affirmative Jackson, an emerging band from across the Connecticut River. The Keene Equinox describes the band as a “real music experience” that encapsulates “the whole life and soul of an area.” Come by after 8:00 pm to hear what Keene music is all about. You can sample their tunes at www.reverbnation.com/affirmativejackson.

The Craftsbury Chamber Players continue their Thursday night performance series at the Hardwick Town House. They are also hosting free children’s concerts at 2:00 pm on July 23 & 30 at the Town House, August 6 at the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, and at the Greensboro Fellowship Hall on August 13 and 20. Their complete schedule is available http://www.craftsburychamberplayers.org/.

Summer Music in Greensboro launched their Tuesday night series at the United Church of Christ, a short 10 minute drive from Claire’s. Their complete schedule is available at http://www.summermusicfromgreensboro.org/.

Also a short drive from Main Street in Hardwick, Unadilla Theatre in East Calais is performing 6 plays in repertory until August 20. Curtain time is 7:30 and for more information, visit http://www.unadilla.org/.

Time for a Food Revolution

Celebrate Bastille Day with Local Food: Tuesday July 14, the French “fête” the 220th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, which was the turning point in the Revolution. At Claire’s, we’ll mark the French national holiday with our own localvore Revolution à la française. Enjoy classic Steak Frites with pastured beef from Snug Valley Farm, a glass of Shelburne Vineyard’s crisp Rosé, followed by Steven’s creamy maple crème brûlee. At the bar, follow the Tour de France on the flatscreen, as a French competitor is expected to win the day.

Local Beverages: Summer Sunday and Monday bar specials, and every day coffee and bar service after 2:30. In addition to the Tour de France, we run Red Sox games live from NECN.

Around the Galaxy: Mark Rudd, leader of the 1968 student uprising at Columbia University, will visit The Galaxy Bookshop on Wednesday, July 15 to share his story, as told in his book, Underground: My Life with SDS and the Weathermen.

Local Food Art: Marie LePre’ Grabon launched her new chocolate bonbons with a facebook page recently, and now you can buy the sweets at Buffalo Mountain. You’ll definitely want a few.

Thursday Music: Jeremy Raboin is back by popular demand. Come by to see why he has been one of our favorites. You can check out his music on myspace.

Starting this week, the Craftsbury Chamber players are back for their Thursday night performance series at the Hardwick Town House. Their complete schedule is available at their website.

Midsummer is upon us. Stop by to cool down with some good food and drink for those dog days.

Happening at Claire's and around Hardwick

Local Food: Native Brown Trout have made their way over from Mount Foot Farm in Wheelock. Steven is grilling them whole from snout to tail, served with greens, sweet cherry tomatoes, zucchini and herbed brown butter.

Local Beverages: With Sunday’s new dinner hours, we’re bringing back Summer Sunday Specials on draft beer, cocktail, and wine. Monday bar specials will continue as well. Come down for a pint of Vermont’s finest or a cocktail shaken up from local ingredients. Until July 26, you can also follow the Tour de France or the Red Sox every day after 2:30 on our flatscreen TV while you enjoy your favorite thirst quencher.

Thursday Music: We are pleased to have East Hardwick favorite Jacob Clark back for a return engagement. You can preview his music and enjoy his hypnotic voice at www.myspace.com/jacobpclark.

Local Events: The Galaxy Bookshop welcomes novelist Jim Lynch on Friday, July 10, at 7 pm, to celebrate his new work, Border Songs. The Galaxy staff recommends this read as one of their all-time favorite books.

This Saturday, July 11, at 9:30, naturalist, artist, and teacher Susan Sawyer leads a “Non-flowering Plant Walk” along the Hardwick Trails. For more information, contact Norma Wiesen at 472 6517.

After you enjoy the lush foliage, head up to Craftsbury Common to walk among the Antiques and Uniques, and maybe pick up a few choice items. The 39^th Annual festival runs from 10-4, benefiting the fire department and local services for children and families.

Summer’s swinging. Is there a better way to end a busy weekend than with a cocktail or pint, and a bowl of calamari at Claire’s?