On New Year's Eve, Invest in Hardwick

Local New Year: Though it seems these difficult economic times aren't over yet, we still have much to celebrate and to encourage locally as the New Year breaks. As always, we're investing our New Year's Eve in the communities around Hardwick and so can you. Join us for dinner on Friday, and you can trust that 79 cents of every food dollar we spend spend goes to local farmers and artisans. While you celebrate with your family and friends, you'll also enjoy the unique sounds of old timey Americana and jazz from our favorite local duet, The Butterbeans. Performing from 7-9, their nostalgic tunes will bring to mind the best of New Year's Eve past.

From the bar, toast the coming year with our bubbly cocktail special, a New Year's Bellini. Frozen raspberries and elderflower liqueur are blended until smooth and topped with Honey Gardens sparkling mead.

Every reservation of two or more made by Thursday, December 30, at noon, will enjoy two desserts as a gift from us, and all our New Year's Eve guests can enter to win the Grand Prize Drawing, a Valentine's Day dinner for two.

Around the Galaxy: The gals at Galaxy are grateful for everyone who has shopped at Hardwick's independent this year. Read this fun article about Galaxy and other quirky Vermont bookstores in Seven Days.

Music Notes: Acoustic Bluegrass/Roots group Wiley Dobbs Duo will join us Thursday, December 30 at 7:30 with their mandolin and guitar. This will be their first time at Claire's and we look forward to welcoming them and supporting Vermont music.

Local Events: The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is open for the ski season. You can buy a season or day pass and enjoy winter in the Northeast Kingdom. Mark your calendars for the Craftsbury Marathon on Saturday, January 29 and the Craftsbury Marathon Tour on Saturday, March 5.

Getting Ready for the Holidays: Buy a gift certificate now through the new year and we will donate 10% of sales to NOFA-VT's Farm Share Program.

Our annual closing will start at 2 pm after "blunch" service on January 2, reopening Monday, January 17 at 5 pm for dinner.

Reminders: We are open daily after 2:30 for coffee, bar service, and baked goods, and free WiFi, with dinner reservations available from 5-9, Sundays from 5-8. We serve our special Blunch menu Sundays from 11-2. Claire's is closed every Wednesday.

We appreciate it when you reserve a table with us, as it helps us plan a relaxed and hospitable experience for you and all our guests. To show our appreciation, when you call, email, or stop by to make a reservation, you will be entered into our weekly drawing for a $20 gift card for your next visit.

Vermont Gifts

With wishes of peace, joy, and love for all our purveyors, friends, families, and neighbors!

Local Food: Steven's cooking philosophy is based on bringing out the fullest flavors our farms can provide, which is best exemplified in all its simplicity by his traditional approach to the cheese plate. Truly our local gift, the wealth of cheeses produced by neighboring artisans provides a variety of flavors that can be fully appreciated on their own as well as complement other flavors. The cheese plate features a rotating selection of three cheeses from Jasper Hill Farm, Ploughgate Creamery and Bonnieview Farm. You will find Coomersdale cheese, a semi-hard cheese similar to young pecorino from Bonnieview; Hartwell, a soft-ripened bloomy rind cheese from Ploughgate; Bayley Hazen blue and Moses Sleeper, a soft and grassy triple cream cheese from Jasper Hill; or their Clothbound Cheddar. The plate features apple slices, walnuts and crunchy croutons to complement or contrast with the flavors and textures of the cheese. Our cheese plate can be enjoyed as an appetizer to start your meal or as your final course.

At the Bar: December means eggnog time and we feature the rich decadence from Strafford Organic Creamery at the bar. We serve our hot chocolate with a splash of Organic Maple Liquor from Green Mountain Distillery and top it off with a heaping serving of warm and frothy egg nog.

Around the Galaxy: Whether you are looking for Christmas gifts, cookbooks to add new flavor to your holiday meals, or a great new book to settle in with by the fire during a vacation, Galaxy has plenty to choose from. And don't forget Hardwick's 2010 bestseller, The Town That Food Saved, available pre-wrapped for your gift giving ease.

Music Notes: Students from Hazen High School choir will help get us in the holiday spirit by singing a variety of songs on Thursday, December 23 beginning at 7:30.

Local Events: Startdust Books in Craftsbury will host December's Full Moon Feast on Tuesday, December 21 at 6:30. The monthly potluck dinner will feature a representative from Vermont Foodbank who will talk about the organization. Bring a dish to share and a plate, utensils and a cup. For more information, call 586-2200.

Getting Ready for the Holidays: Buy a gift certificate now through the new year and we will donate 10% of sales to NOFA-VT's Farm Share Program.

We will be closed December 24 and 25 so our staff can celebrate the holidays with their families and friends. Our annual closing will start at 2 pm after "blunch" service on January 2, reopening Monday, January 17 at 5 pm for dinner.

Reminders: We are open daily after 2:30 for coffee, bar service, and baked goods, and free WiFi, with dinner reservations available from 5-9, Sundays from 5-8. We serve our special Blunch menu Sundays from 11-2. Claire's is closed every Wednesday.

We appreciate it when you reserve a table with us, as it helps us plan a relaxed and hospitable experience for you and all our guests. To show our appreciation, when you call, email, or stop by to make a reservation, you will be entered into our weekly drawing for a $20 gift card for your next visit.

Bring on the Braise

Local Food: Nose to tail is a mantra to some, indicating the careful use of very traditional techniques to prepare every cut of meat available. Our pork braise is inspired by these traditions and the slow cooking used in kitchens around the world to get the most flavor and the lightest texture. Pork cheek from Pete's Greens is unique, a rich cut of meat that is often found smoked or cured. Steven marinates it in Shelburne Vineyard's NuMondo red wine, then adds a dry rub of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, mace, coriander and star anise. With the flavors absorbed, he braises the meat in red wine and apple cider from Harvest Hill Farm in Walden. It is then sliced and served with jus from the braise as well as cranberry and house made mustard sauce. Purple cabbage from Surfing Veggie Farm marinated with apples and onions in the NuMondo wine and red wine vinegar accompany the pork cheek, along with mashed potatoes and sunflower sprouts.

At the Bar: Savor the flavors of the holiday season with a Gingersnap Appletini. A pop of ginger flavor comes from Domaine de Canton liqueur, which is mixed with your choice of vodka. Apple cider from Harvest Hill brings out a little holiday sugar. Shaken vigorously to incorporate the flavors and give it a chill, the Gingersnap Appletini is served up, with the rim dusted with crushed gingersnap cookies from Vermont Common Foods.

Around the Galaxy: The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion and The Gourmet Cookie Book: The Single Best Recipe From Each Year 1941-2009 - need we say more?

Music Notes: Hardwick's own The Butterbeans return for their hometown gig this Thursday, December 16 at 7:30. Support local music and enjoy the sounds of their fiddle, guitar, banjo and mandolin on jazz, blues, swing and original tunes.

Local Events: Celebrate the newly renovated Hardwick Inn at 4 South Main St on Wednesday, December 15 from 4-6 during the Open House hosted by Lise and Larry Hamel. From 3-4 on the 15th, Santa will welcome families and children. Refreshments will be served. Also on the 15th, S & J Fitness will be offering special deals including 15% off all memberships and gym services. Visit them on the second floor of the Hardwick Inn from 2-7.

Getting Ready for the Holidays: Buy a gift certificate now through the new year and we will donate 10% of sales to NOFA-VT's Farm Share Program.

Book a Holiday Party at Claire's now and you'll be entered to win a $30 gift certificate. For groups of six or more we will offer a $25 prix fixe menu.

We will be closed December 24 and 25 so our staff can celebrate the holidays with their families and friends. Our annual closing will be after "blunch" service on January 2, reopening Monday, January 17.

Reminders: We are open daily after 2:30 for coffee, bar service, and baked goods, and free WiFi, with dinner reservations available from 5-9, Sundays from 5-8. We serve our special Blunch menu Sundays from 11-2. Claire's is closed every Wednesday.

We appreciate it when you reserve a table with us, as it helps us plan a relaxed and hospitable experience for you and all our guests. To show our appreciation, when you call, email, or stop by to make a reservation, you will be entered into our weekly drawing for a $20 gift card for your next visit.

Warm up these winter nights

Local Food: Charlie Emers of Patchwork Farm and Bakery brings over the best fresh-baked chocorackers bread made using Meunerie Milanaise flour from Canada with Vahlrohna chocolate chunks made in St. Albans. Steven uses the treat as the base for bread pudding, which includes caramel mixed with fair trade French roast coffee from Vermont Coffee Company, and Organic Maple Liquor from Green Mountain Organics. Baked and served warm, this rustic morsel of chocolate lets you savor each ingredient without too much sweetness. Try it with a shot of hot espresso or the maple liquor with its earthy warmth.

Around the Galaxy: Come explore the bounty at Galaxy with the season's best cookbooks. Harvest to Heat: Cooking with America's Best Chefs, Farmers, and Artisans features our neighbors at Jasper Hill, and Good Meat: The Complete Guide to Sourcing and Cooking Sustainable Meat is by Vermont author and James Beard award winner Deborah Krasner.

Music Notes: Cosa Buena returns this Thursday, December 9 at 7:30. Support local music and enjoy their acoustic music with a gentle Latin-Jazz feel.

Local Events: Celebrate Vermont Glass Workshop's 26th year with their Open Studio Seconds Sale. The studio will be open Saturday, December 11 and Saturday, December 18 from 10-5 with live glassblowing demonstrations. Call Wendy at 472-5733 for more information.

Getting Ready for the Holidays: Buy a gift certificate now through the new year and we will donate 10% of sales to NOFA-VT's Farm Share Program.

Book a Holiday Party at Claire's now and you'll be entered to win a $30 gift certificate. For groups of six or more we will offer a $25 prix fixe menu.

We will be closed December 24 and 25 so our staff can celebrate the holidays with their families and friends. Our annual closing will be after "blunch" service on January 2, reopening Monday, January 17.

Reminders: We are open daily after 2:30 for coffee, bar service, and baked goods, and free WiFi, with dinner reservations available from 5-9, Sundays from 5-8. We serve our special Blunch menu Sundays from 11-2. Claire's is closed every Wednesday.

We appreciate it when you reserve a table with us, as it helps us plan a relaxed and hospitable experience for you and all our guests. To show our appreciation, when you call, email, or stop by to make a reservation, you will be entered into our weekly drawing for a $20 gift card for your next visit.