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.