Earn Your Degree in Cocktails!

Cocktail Class is back at Claire's on Saturday, December 3, featuring vodka and gin with special guests Duncan Holaday and Todd Hardie of Hardwick's Caledonia Spirits. Duncan started Vermont Spirits 16 years ago to make vodka from his maple syrup and from milk. Recently, he turned his expertise to rum, making the Dunc's Mill Maple and Elderflower Rums featured in our last class. He also is the Head Distiller at Caledonia Spirits, where he makes Barr Hill Gin and Vodka, along with Caledonia Spirits Elderberry Cordial. On Saturday, December 3 from 4-5 pm, learn from the master distiller and owner Todd Hardie about the spirits, and how to mix cocktails to bring out the unique flavor of each spirit. Free admission and specials on cocktails and flights are available if you are so inspired.

Attend four classes to earn your degree - a gift card at Claire's or The Galaxy Bookshop!

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, December 4th we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Claire's Cranberry Cocktail with Bourbon and Vermont Cranberry Company cranberries and juice, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: Come to Galaxy on Saturday for the Sirius Reader Party and sale. On December 3, Galaxy celebrates 23 years in Hardwick with a sale on staff picks and other select items all day. Neil and Kristin Urie will be here from 3-5 with cheese, calendars, and other great products from Bonnieview Farm. Galaxy will also be celebrating The Joy of Cheesemaking. The book features Bonnieview and the Galaxy gals will be cooking some great recipes from the book for everyone to sample. Lots of new items from Melissa and Doug, Planet Shari and books galore all day long.

Music Notes: Jay Ekis joins us this Thursday, December 1 at 7:30. Support local music and be sure to catch what Anais Mitchell calls his "infectious" songs that "get in your blood and make their way to the heart before you notice what's happening."

Local Events: Ben Hewitt, Pete Johnson, Bethany Dunbar, Annie Meyers and Julia Shipley will be reading on Friday, December 2nd to benefit the Hardwick Food Pantry in an event called "A Harvest of Words." The reading begins at 6:30PM at the Episcopal Church in Hardwick and is cosponsored by The Center for an Agricultural Economy and Galaxy Bookshop. For more information contact Elena at the Center for an Agricultural Economy, 472-5840.

Support Hardwick businesses this Saturday, December 3rd during the Holiday Happenings Event. Stop by Claire's from 11-3 for free hot apple cider. Gift certificates will be available, with a 5% discount if you pay with cash or check. Also check out the open house at Agape Hill Farm Fiber Shop on the 3rd from 10-3 and get a jump on your holiday shopping. Stop by GRACE, Hardwick Inn Clothing Co., The Flower Basket and many more local businesses.

Mark your calendars for our next "Glitter Ball" dance party, on Friday, December 9 from 10-2! DJ Lesson One will be spinning your favorites so bring your dancing shoes and your ID- 18 and over. $5 suggested donation at the door for the music.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up. Thanks to many of you we have significantly reduced those fees this year.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!

Gobble Gobble

Local Thanks: As many of us sit down this week to give thanks for living in Vermont, we'll enjoy turkey (Agape Hill Farm), cranberries (Vermont Cranberry Company), stuffing (Patchwork Farm and Bakery), pumpkins (Ben's Pumpkins), beer (Hill Farmstead Brewery), wine (Boyden Valley), and cocktails (Caledonia Spirits). As everyone at Claire's celebrates, we give thanks for the many farmers and producers in and around Hardwick, the Northeast Kingdom, and throughout Vermont - even a few from just across our border. We couldn't do what we do without you, and we thank you for working so hard to help our community nourish itself around a convivial table. We also send out our thanks to this wonderful community for the support of our friends and neighbors. We will be closed this Thursday so our staff can spend the day with friends and families, and we wish you a healthy and happy day with your family and loved ones. We are open as usual on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and throughout the coming week.

At the Bar: Cocktail Class is back at Claire's Saturday, December 3, with special guest Duncan Holaday of Caledonia Spirits. Duncan started Vermont Spirits 16 years ago and made vodka for years from his maple syrup and also from milk. Now he is the Head Distiller and makes Barr Hill Gin and Barr Hill Vodka. On Saturday, December 3 from 4-5 pm, learn from the master which cocktails bring out the complex flavor of each spirit, and how to mix the vodka and gin with the flavorful produce of Vermont. Free Admission and specials on cocktails and flights if you are so inspired.

Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, November 27th we offer a $2.50 pint of Trout River, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Barr Hill Bluetini with Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Gin and Jasper Hill blue cheese stuffed olive, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Galaxy is gearing up for the Sirius Reader Customer Appreciation and 23rd Anniversary Sale on December 3rd. More details to come; for now mark the date and come by. Many other businesses in the Hardwick area will also be kicking off the holidays on that day so you can have an extra fun day of shopping locally.

Music Notes: We will be closed this Thursday, November 24, but join us on Thursday, December 1 for Jay Ekis at 7:30.

Local Events: Registration for Sterling College's Vermont Table summer program is now open. Vermont's Table is an intensive academic program in sustainable food systems that includes practical culinary experience, frequent field trips, lessons in sustainable agriculture and seminars in food writing and food entrepreneurism. The program is open to current Sterling College students, students from other colleges and universities and adult learners.

Mark your calendars for our next "Glitter Ball" dance party, on Friday, December 9 from 10-2! DJ Lesson One will be spinning your favorites so bring your dancing shoes and your ID- 18 and over. $5 suggested donation at the door for the music.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up. Thanks to many of you we have significantly reduced those fees this year.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!

A Pork by any Name

Local Food: Actually the shoulder of the animal, the deliciously tender but seemingly misnamed pork butt originates in the butchery practices of the days before the American Revolution, when the cut was stored in casks or barrels, called butts. Steven takes pork butt from Pete and braises it overnight in Rock Art Brewery Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout, spiced with cumin and paprika, and an dollop of maple syrup from Caledonia Farm. To this deliciously tender mouthful, Steven adds sautéed onions, garlic, cayenne peppers and house-preserved tomatoes that enhance the Jacob's Cattle beans. A light salad of tossed yellow beans, cilantro and a splash more maple syrup accompany the pork butt, along with flavorful beer bratwursts from Applecheek Farm. Topped with aged cheddar from Grafton and crunchy bread crumbs, the dish is baked until crisp and served to you piping hot.

At the Bar: Come in to enjoy our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, November 20th we offer a $2.50 pint of Trout River Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Riverbend Red. The Maple Manhattan, with bourbon, Green Mountain Organic Maple Liqueur and maple syrup is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: Come wish Rusty DeWees happy birthday at The Galaxy Bookshop on Tuesday at 7PM. Don't miss the cake and the chance to hear The Logger introduce his new book, Scrawlins Too. If you want a hint about what kind of cake to expect, you might want to read the chapter called "Box Cake." Then on December 3rd Galaxy will celebrate a birthday - stay tuned for details and plan to stop by.

Music Notes: Singer/Songwriter Paul Cataldo joins us this Thursday, November 17 at 7:30. Stop by and enjoy a cocktail and what musesmuse.com calls "good ol' backwoods hippy-esque Country/Folk!"

Local Events: Join Chris Hilke, Climate Program Coordinator for the National Wildlife Foundation, for a talk on how climate change is affecting us and what we can do about it on Wednesday, November 16 at 6:30 at People's Academy High School in Morrisville. Share your stories and concerns in an open discussion facilitated by Seth Jensen, Senior Planner for the Lamoille County Planning Commission, and Neshga Leonard, Linkage Coordinator for the Staying Connected Initiative.

On Friday, November 18th at 7PM poets Woon-Ping Chin and Merry Gangemi are the featured poets at Jeudevine Library's poetry series. The event will be at the Hardwick Memorial Building and you can find out more here or call the library, 472-5948.

Reminders: We will be closed Thursday, November 24 so our staff can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their friends and families.

We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up. Thanks to many of you we have significantly reduced those fees this year.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!

Cranberries - the other little red berry

Local Food: Thanks to the first of the harvest of cranberries from Vermont Cranberry Company in East Fairfield, Steven makes a zingy jam with the addition of apples and onions as a counterpoint to a luscious chicken liver mousse. You can also find the ruby red jewels sautéed with the crispy pork belly to add a pop of flavor, and in the vinaigrette on the beet salad, along with horseradish and dill. For dessert, Steven spices up the cranberries to top the ricotta and cream cheese cake. And you can enjoy them at the bar as well. To warm you up on these cold nights, try Steven's spiced cranberry butter in our Hot Buttered Rum. Cranberry Bob's cranberry juice is unsweetened, giving a tart edge to our Cosmo, Cranberry Margarita, and Claire's Cranberry Cocktail. At Blunch, we celebrate cranberries on the spiced pancakes, where they are sautéed with apples and dressed with maple syrup and whipped cream. Or try the classic flavors of our bacon and cheddar sandwich with onions, apples and more cranberries.

At the Bar: Come in to enjoy our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, November 13th we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art Brewery Vermont Hop Harvest, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Apple Cider Car, made with Green Mountain Organic Vodka, Flagg Hill Farm Apple Brandy and apple cider, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: The one, the only Rusty DeWees celebrates his birthday at The Galaxy Bookshop on November 15th at 7PM. Don't miss the cake and the chance to hear The Logger introduce his new book, Scrawlins Too. If you want a hint about what kind of cake to expect, you might want to read the chapter called "Box Cake." Then on December 3rd Galaxy will celebrate a birthday - stay tuned for details and plan to stop by.

Music Notes: Get your helping of Green Mountain soul with The Rustbucket Brothers on Thursday, November 10 at 7:30. Support local music and get down with their rootsy Americana rock and country.

Local Events: Pies for People/Soup for Supper needs your help! Volunteer and make pies, soup and more for our area schools, pantries and community dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 15 and 16. Contact Elena at elena@hardwickagriculture.org or 472-5840 to volunteer or donate.

Reminders: We will be closed Thursday, November 24 so our staff can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their friends and families.

We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up. Thanks to many of you we have significantly reduced those fees this year.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!