Local Food: Beets will brighten many salads this winter, but when Steven combines chioggias in a salad with apples and the last spinach of the season, you're enjoying a rare gift. With luck, Harvest Hill Farm in Walden supplies spinach for just a bit longer. Paired with Champlain Orchard apples, the ruby red beets taste even sweeter after a brush with the cold weather. Topped with celery root remoulade and a crumble of Jasper Hill Bayley Hazen blue cheese and walnuts, this crisp salad is a vivid start to your dinner.

Celebrate the Holidays: Whether you're planning a holiday party with your friends at work or a family celebration, or looking for that special gift, remember to think local food. We can work with you for many different types of events, and our gift certificates are a popular gift that your loved ones can enjoy all year.

Around the Galaxy: We are thrilled to welcome legendary editor and author Judith Jones in celebration of her new book The Pleasures of Cooking for One on Tuesday, December 8th. Judith will speak and sign books beginning at 7PM at The Galaxy Bookshop and join us at Claire's for an informal reception following the event at the bookstore. The book is a treasure trove of Judith Jones' favorite recipes, from light salads to desserts. Buy it now and try out a few recipes before her visit! And you can read about Judith's experience raising cattle in Walden here.

Local Art: Stop by on Monday, November 30 from 4-6 for Janet Van Fleet's art opening. Enjoy our bar specials and hors d'oeuvres while you admire her often provocative compositions. Get a preview here.

Music Notes: Thursday night regular Jeremy Raboin is back December 3 at 7:30.

Local Food: Warm, crispy and sweet, Crab Cakes are the perfect start to your meal. Steven combines Maine crab meat with his own version of Old Bay Spices, as well as bread crumbs from spelt, eggs, mayonnaise, mustard and a dusting of cornmeal. Served atop lightly sauteed shaved Brussels sprouts and lentil sprouts, with a touch of tart cider syrup and a dollop of mustard dressing, and a tantalizing bite of smokey bacon. Adding to the textures of the dish are juicy fried green tomatoes. Steven finishes his version of this classic dish with a tartar sauce he's cooked up.

Claire's is happy to host your holiday party. Call Veronica at 472-7053 to book your business or pleasure celebration.

Around the Galaxy: Our Judith Jones event has been moved to Tuesday, December 8th. This gives you more time to buy the book and try out the recipes before our visit with Judith!

Music Notes: Claire's will be closed this Thursday. We will be open for business Friday at 2:30 for coffee and bar service as well as sweets, dinner starting at 5:00

Local Food: A dry cure is the secret to Steven's tender pork chop. He brings the distinctiveness of Maine Sea Salt to pork loin from Winding Brook Farm, and then lets the two hang out for a couple of days before they hit the grill. The tangy and complex chutney is the perfect juxtaposition, with a dozen spices, caramelized red onions, garlic, cider, apples, green tomatoes and raspberries. Roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts round out the dish. Try it with a glass of award winning Marquette, a dry red wine from Lincoln Peak Vineyard in New Haven, VT.

Around the Galaxy: Allison Hooper's book In a Cheesemaker's Kitchen has finally arrived. We had a special preview event at Claire's featuring recipes from the book in August to celebrate 25 years of the Vermont Butter & Cheese Company. This beautiful and affordable book emphasizes cooking with simple ingredients and tells the story of a wonderful company that has achieved success through a vital link with local farms.

Music Notes: Thursday night we welcome Town Wide Yard Sale, and what some have called their "freak folk" stylings, for a return visit.

Local Events: Saturday from 9-3 is the annual Alternative Giving Fair at the UCC in Greensboro, featuring artisan products to benefit the Four Seasons of Early Learning.

The Jeudevine Library features a showing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in the children's room at 3 pm on Monday.

Local Food: With winter officially only a few weeks away, Steven helps keep it at bay with a few of summer's jewels out of the deep freeze. His Strawberry Dark Chocolate Pudding Cake sets a gooey center inside a rich chocolate cake. Studded with chunks of strawberries, it's topped with a scoop of Strafford Organic Creamery strawberry ice cream and finished with a drizzle of strawberry caramel sauce.

Around the Galaxy: Food writer and editor Judith Jones has been featured in a variety of articles since the publication of her new book, The Pleasures of Cooking for One. The New York Times Sunday magazine recently explored her farm in Stannard, where she raises cattle, and the Burlington Free Press adds details about the book, Judith's life, and recipes. The Galaxy and Claire's welcome Judith for a special reading and book event on December 1. Watch for details!

Music Notes: This Thursday, Dave Keller joins us for his first return engagement since the initial days of summer. Come in to enjoy his soulful, sweetly gritty and intense music - he reports he had a blast last time. http://davekeller.com/

Local Events: Join the Hardwick Area Transition Towns on Sunday from 2-5 at the Green Mountain Tech & Career Center for a Brainstorming Community Get-Together to create an Energy Descent Action Plan. For more info contact Mary Gagnon at mgagnon@vtlink.net or Gagnon's Video, or visit Transition Vermont to learn more about the efforts around Vermont.

Also on Sunday, Chip Troiano screens Viet Nam: The Reconciliation at 7PM at St. John Episcopal Church in Hardwick. Call Chip at 533-7712 for more information.