Bar Bite

Local Food: Embracing the best flavors of Fall, this week's bar bite, offered exclusively at the bar, is a rich and earthy chicken liver and apple wrapped in bacon. Steven slowly cooks spicy red onions from Riverside Farm to bring out all their natural sugars, adds a few drops of Dunc's Mill maple rum, and with a bit of time creates a sweet onion jam. A wedge of crispy Duchess apple from Josh Karp in Greensboro is sautéed along with a chicken liver from Pete in Craftsbury. Crispy bacon from Winding Brook Farm wraps the duo, which is perched on Matzoh from Charlie at Patchwork Farm. The onion jam provides just the right amount of sweetness to round out this one bite wonder.

At the Bar: Stop by for our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, September 18 we offer a $2.50 pint of Long Trail Harvest Ale, a $4 glass of East Shore Vineyard Traminette or Cabernet Franc. The Berry Melontini is offered for $5, made with melon from Pete's, strawberries from Hazendale and Green Mountain Organic Vodka.

Around the Galaxy: On Tuesday, September 20th, Beth Kanell will discuss her newest book for teens, The Secret Room. The book is a Vermont adventure set in a fictionalized version of North Danville. Come to the Galaxy to meet Beth and hear her read beginning at 7PM.

Music Notes: Flat Top Trio joins us this Thursday, September 15 at 7:30. Be sure to catch this Bluegrass/Americana group- you might even end up with a free cd!

Local Art: Visit with Montpelier artist Maggie Neale and explore her color musings at Claire's on Monday, September 19 from 4-6. Whether with hand painted silk scarves, large silk hangings, hand woven chenille scarves or oil paintings, Maggie allows color to rule, to flow, and to transform.

Local Events: Bring Vermont history alive with Linda Radtke at the Hardwick Town House on Friday, September 16 at 7:00. Singer and researcher Radtke will be joined by pianist Arthur Zorn to sing the songs that grew up with Vermont from the Vermont Historical Society's collection of sheet music. Call the Jeudevine Library for more information at 472-5948.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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Sweet Charentais

Local Libations: Charentais melons are true cantaloupes, different from the more common muskmelon. The Charentais come from Pete, and are sweeter and smaller. Our melons make their way to the bar this week, where they are puréed and added to silky smooth and crisp Green Mountain Organic Vodka. We add frozen strawberries from Hazendale Farm for another dimension of sweetness and a punch of bright red color. A splash of St. Germain elderflower liqueur and egg whites from Windhorse Farm are the final touch and add a light and fluffy consistency to the cocktail. Served up in an ice cold glass, this sweet and delicate cocktail is the perfect way to send off summer.

At the Bar: Stop by for our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, September 11 we offer a $2.50 pint of Wolaver's IPA, a $5 glass of Shelburne Riesling or award winning Marquette. The Sazerac, a quintessential New Orleans cocktail from the 1800s made with whiskey and absinthe, is $5.

Around the Galaxy: On Saturday, September 10th at 3PM Galaxy offers a writing workshop. Midge Raymond and Wendy Call present "Global Perspectives, Local Stories." Raymond is the author of a short story collection, Forgetting English and Call is the author of No Words for Welcome: The Mexican Village Faces the Global Economy. The workshop is free at Galaxy from 3-5 on Saturday.

Music Notes: Lewis Franco and Dono Schnaber join us Thursday, September 8 at 7:30. Robert Resnik of Vermont Public Radio calls Franco "a brilliant songwriter- one of our very finest." Franco has been a fixture on the Vermont acoustic music scene for many years, entertaining audiences of all ages with clever and occasionally profound lyrics, delightfully tuneful melodies and a fun-loving presence.

Local Events: Highfields Center for Composting is holding an On-Farm Composting 101 Workshop on Wednesday, September 14. This workshop is designed for farmers, their employees and professional agricultural service providers interested in implementing composting practices at their farms or the farms they advise. Registration begins at 8:30, and the workshop goes from 9:00 to 3:30. For more information, contact Tyler at 472-5238 ext. 202 or info@highfieldscomposting.org.

After the Flood: The Vermont Farm Fund is accepting donations to help farmers affected by the flood. Please donate if you can. Stop by Claire's with your donations for our friends at Riverside Farm in East Hardwick, who lost $25,000- $35,000 worth of produce, including carrots, radishes and beets.

For photos of Hardwick during the flood, click here.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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Yes We Can

Local Food: While there's nothing like a tomato pulled right from the vine at the peak of summer, canning draws out the subtle flavors of the fruit with a unique complexity provided in the preparation. Steven starts with Roma tomatoes, which he gets from Pete, because they are an especially good canning tomato due to the small amount of seeds. He roasts them along with canola oil from Maine Natural Oils. The oil is made exclusively from Maine crops, and is added to the tomatoes to keep them moist and provide a bit of flavor. A touch of thyme is also included. Come winter, these tomatoes will provide a welcome burst of flavor in soups and sauces.

We are thankful we made it through Sunday's storm unscathed, and send good thoughts to our friends working to put things back together.

At the Bar: Stop by for our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, September 4 we offer a $2.50 pint of Otter Creek Black IPA, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Blackberry Gimlet is $5.

Around the Galaxy:Willard Sterne Randall, Distinguished Scholar in History at Champlain College and Pulitzer Nominee, presents his new biography of Ethan Allen at 6PM on Tuesday. Please note the earlier time and join us at Galaxy for a new look at the life and times of a Vermont legend.

Music Notes:Bluegrass/country band Honest Thieves join us Thursday, September 1 at 7:30. Come out and support Vermont music!

Local Events: Mark your calendar for the Fermentation Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Wheelock Mountain Farm in Greensboro from 10-4. Workshops will focus on the fantastic foods that can be created and preserved through the art of fermentation. Learn how to make pickles, kimchi, yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut and more. For more information call the Swap Sisters at 533-2296 or email swapsisters@gmail.com.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

Prickly Summer Visitor

Local Food: Native to Mediterranean climates, the artichoke has a tough time growing in Vermont. But thanks to farmers like Bill Half at Harvest Hill, we are able to enjoy this elusive and sharp edged summer visitor for a few short weeks. Underneath its defensive exterior is a tender heart, and peeling back the leaves reveals soft fleshy pockets of earthy flavor. Artichokes can be steamed and served with butter or mayonnaise, but Steven prefers a stuffed artichoke, cut in half and filled with smooth and tangy ricotta cheese from Maplebrook Farm, and an herbaceous pistou. Each half is topped with crunchy breadcrumbs, and baked to soften the artichoke and meld the flavors. A sauce of grilled peppers from Pete's and tomatoes from Riverside Farm accompanies the artichoke, making a smokey and earthy complement for your dipping delight.

At the Bar: Stop by for our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, August 28 we offer a $2.50 pint of Wolaver's IPA, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Blackberry Sage Martini is offered for $5, made with blackberries from Provender Farm in Cabot.

Around the Galaxy: Galaxy welcomes David Budbill on Tuesday at 7PM. David's new book Happy Life is cause for celebration, so come out for a lively evening of poetry. Next week Galaxy hosts Willard Sterne Randall, author of a new biography of Ethan Allen. This event begins an hour earlier than usual, at 6PM.

Music Notes: Blue Fox returns this Thursday, August 25. Don't miss who the Times Argus Newspaper calls "one of the few authentic blues musicians in Vermont- well worth the listen."

Local Events: Bruce Buckley, Charles McAteer and Lilah Shreeve star in Greensboro Arts Alliance & Residency's take on the Clifford Odets play Golden Boy at the Lakeview Inn. Make a dinner reservation at Claire's and catch the show at 7:30 on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24 and 25.

Remember the Hardwick Farmers' Market every Friday through October from 3-6. You'll find baked goods, honey, soy, plants, crafts and much more, including live music every week.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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Cornography

Local Food: Is there anything better than corn on the cob, pulled right from the stalk and cooked just for a moment so the butter will melt? You've probably already taken a few bites of the sweet and succulent kernels. Steven takes this basic goodness and amps up the volume. The corn comes to us from Riverside Farm, and each cob is roasted and then grilled whole to add a touch of the open fire. Garlicky aioli, with garlic from Rebel Pine Farm, adds a zip, along with a sprinkling of cilantro from Riverside and parsley and sage from Provender Farm. Coomersdale cheese from Bonnieview Farm (recent award winners at the American Cheese Society Competition for their Ben Nevis) is shaved on top of the corn cob, giving you the first sharp kick and a hint of nuttiness.

At the Bar: Stop by for our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, August 21 we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art Whitetail Ale, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Berry Bellini is offered for $5, made with sparkling wine and blueberries from Agape Hill Farm.

Around the Galaxy: Galaxy is gearing up for David Budbill who will appear on Tuesday, August 23rd to read poems from his new book Happy Life. The celebration begins at 7PM and is free and open to all.

Music Notes: Cosa Buena make their long awaited return this Thursday, August 18 at 7:30. Enjoy their acoustic music with a gentle Latin-jazz feel.

Local Events: Kingdom Farm and Food Days, a celebration of Vermont food and agriculture, is this weekend, August 20 and 21. Events include a bike tour of area farms with the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, a pig roast dinner on Saturday at Pete's Greens, a tour of the High Mowing Seeds trials garden, a tasting of some of Vermont's finest produce prepared by the New England Culinary Institute on Sunday, and much more. This community-wide and family-friendly event is free, with suggested donations or small fees to some of the exclusive events.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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Rat-tat-touille

Local Food: Summer's vegetables can shout out their arrival, but Steven coaxes a subtle melody from them with his ratatouille. A dish of sautéed summer vegetables that Juila Child once said "perfumes the kitchen with the essence of Provence," ratatouille is started in our kitchen with squash from Mystic Morning Farm, onions from Harvest Hill, Riverside's garlic scapes, and tomatoes, eggplant and peppers from Pete's. Bright basil and fennel add their pungent aromas. The ratatouille is the perfect companion to a chicken breast, roasted with dill and fennel butter, keeping the meat moist and flavorful. Crispy onion rings and a bit of mashed potatoes round out this flavorful summer dish.

At the Bar: Don't forget our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, August 14 we offer a $2.50 pint of Trout River Rainbow Red, a $4 glass of Fresh Tracks Farm Rosé or East Shore Vineyard Cabernet Franc. The basil lemontini is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: Be sure you have August 23rd on your calendar for an evening of celebration at Galaxy when David Budbill reads from his new book of poems Happy Life. The evening begins at 7PM.

Music Notes: Hillside Rounders join us Thursday, August 11 at 7:30. Support Vermont music and enjoy the mix of bluegrass, country and Americana!

Local Events: The grand opening of the Fiber Shop at The Agape Hill Farm in Hardwick is this weekend, August 12 and 13 from 9-4. See the new store and workshop space and check out fiber products.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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Summer, Chilled, in a Bowl

Local Food: What better companion for a summer day than a bowl of chilled gazpacho? Spanish in origin, gazpacho is the perfect way to enjoy the peak of our summer harvest. This soup is lively and cool because the vegetables aren't cooked. Though a traditional gazpacho holds the red of the tomatoes in its color, Steven's variation ranges from a pale amber to a slightly green hue. He combines Boothby Blond Cucumbers from Provender Farm in Cabot, a sweet and delicate heirloom variety with a creamy yellow color, with massive Beefmaster Tomatoes and spicy jalapenos from Pete's. Onions from Harvest Hill and garlic scapes from Riverside add a bit of bite and complexity to the gazpacho, and cilantro and basil round out the vibrant and tangy flavor of the soup.

At the Bar: Don't forget our Sunday and Monday drink specials. This Sunday, August 7, we offer a $2.50 pint of Wolaver's Wildflower Wheat, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. The Berry Caipirinha is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: This week Galaxy features two new books to help you take advantage of summer in Vermont. The Joy of Cheesemaking: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Making, and Eating Fine Cheese is written by Jody Farnham and Marc Druart, both from the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese. The book is in paperback for just $14.95 and is packed with great pictures, practical information, and delicious recipes including Mossend Blue Cheese Scalloped Potatoes featuring Bonnieview Cheese. After you've had that, you'll be fueled to enjoy the mountains with the latest edition of the Green Mountain Club's Day Hiker's Guide to Vermont.

Music Notes: The Butterbeans are back! Take a break from the heat and enjoy their old timey and jazz tunes as they play the songs that should always be played.

Local Events: S & J Fitness and AWARE will host Healthy Choices Camp for girls grades 6-8 on Monday, August 8 through Friday, August 12 from 9-noon each day. The girls will play games, eat healthy snacks, exercise, make friends and laugh! Cost is $75- register by calling 472-3242.

Reminders: We appreciate it when you use cash or a check - credit card companies charge us a fee that really adds up.

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