Public Radio Goes Local - Restaurants, That Is

The new restaurant business model championed by Claire's is winning converts, and generating coverage in Vermont and nationally.

Today, VPR features a story on the CSR program - Community Supported Restaurant coupons - we launched over the Summer and that the Bee's Knees has adopted to fund their own expansion. We expect the story to be distributed nationally by NPR, but in the meantime, here's a link to the coverage in Vermont - you can read the full story or listen on your computer:

http://vpr.net/news_detail/79214/

Washington to Redifine "Cloned" as "Naturally Raised"

What's Natural for the Feds? Monday is the Last Day to Comment

USDA regulators are considering new rules that will redefine terms like "naturally raised" for packaging and marketing materials. But farmers are concerned that big agribusiness has pushed the USDA too far, with the regulations even allowing "naturally raised" to apply to cloned animals raised on factory farms.

Monday, January 28 is the last day to comment on the regulations. You can do so directly at the USDA website:

http://www.regulations.gov/

In the "Comment or Submission" box, type "naturally raised" and hit "go." You will be directed to your search results. The first, "United States Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims..." is what you are looking for. You can click on the link for more details, or proceed directly to "Send a comment or submission."

For more information:

Organic Consumers Association
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22287

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9591.cfm

Center for Rural Affairs
http://www.cfra.org/node/1008

A Vermont Hog Farmer's Take on the Proposal
http://www.ethicurean.com/2008/01/10/naturally-raised/?cat=57

Happy Holidays from Claire's

and best wishes for a prosperous New Year

Join us in opening Claire's in 2008
- Steven, Kristina, Linda, & Mike

A Thanksgiving Toast

As you plan your family's Thanksgiving feast and enjoy the arrival of winter, we send you warm wishes of good cheer and spirits - suitable for sharing! Watch for more flavors, ideas, and news from Claire's during the holiday season.

Vermont Hot Buttered Rum (10 servings)

4 ounces unsalted butter from Vermont Butter and Cheese Works, allow to soften

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
Pinch mace
½ teaspoon dried ground ginger
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch salt
1 cup light brown sugar

Blend the sugar and spices together into the butter until the mixture is creamy.

½ cup dark maple syrup
Bottle dark rum
½ gallon apple cider or hard apple cider, brought to a boil

Spoon the butter, spice, and sugar mixture unto 10 mugs. Fill each mug about 1/3 with rum, and distribute the maple syrup equally. Top off the remaining half of each mug with the hot apple cider.

Hardwick "Revival" Now a Regional Trend

The Boston Globe today features an article on creative economies and the revival of small communities throughout New England, but with a special focus on Hardwick...


For struggling N.E. towns, revival is a work of art
Galleries, music seen luring newcomers

By Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff October 31, 2007

HARDWICK, Vt. - What to do about Hardwick?

This Northeast Kingdom village fell into a deep slump decades ago with the shuttering of its granite factories, leaving a hard-edged downtown of rowdy bars, an X-rated movie theater and troubleseekers. Ideas came and went; little changed. So there was ample skepticism when a band of residents proposed righting Hardwick's woes with an infusion of artists. The town, some said, had enough struggling souls.

But the group persevered. They raised $260,000 to refurbish the opera house. Its reopening in 2003 is credited with spurring other changes: An art gallery opened last spring in a former meat locker, wine tastings were inaugurated in a downtown park over the summer, a bistro featuring an Alsace-trained chef is opening in February. While Hardwick still looks the part of a dowager, with run-down Victorian homes and empty storefronts, many in town, including a growing circle of newcomers, say the town has a toehold on cool.

To continue reading:

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/10/31/for_struggling_ne_towns_revival_is_a_work_of_art/?page=1

Local Artist Finds Pixie Dust in Hardwick

CD Release Party a Success for Claire's Singer Songwriter Kristina Michelsen

A full house gathered at Positive Pie in Montpelier a week ago to applaud the release of Kristina Michelsen's new CD, Pixie Dust. In addition to being a partner in Claire's who will be running the bar and dining room with our chef, Steven Obranovich, Kristina has been celebrated locally for her music and performances. Now her friends and fans from near and far can bring her music home to enjoy her unique voice and lyrical songwriting.

You can purchase Pixie Dust at a variety of locations, including Buffalo Mountain Co-op and Galaxy Books. Kristina is also available online, for purchase or listening, with selections from the CD at the following sites:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/kristinamichelsen

http://www.myspace.com/kristinamichelsen


Claire's CSR - Buy Yours While They Last

Sales of the Claire's Community Supporter Restaraunt (CSR) coupons continue. Only 50 were made available in . To purchase your $1,000 CSR, email newvermontcooking@yahoo.com or contact anyone on Claire's team.

Each CSR provides 40 $25 dining coupons - enough for four years of dining - spendable ten months of each year - only one per month - you pick the months it applies - unused certificates expire.

Harvest What You Sow

There's no better way to celebrate the Harvest than to share with others. Locally, the Northeast Organic Farmer's Assocation of Vermont will help you share our harvest with those in need Thursday, October 4.

Shop at Buffalo Mountain Co-op, dine at the Highland Lodge or Beyond the Garden, or travel down the road to Positive Pie or the Co-op in Plainfield. A portion of the day's sales - and at restaurants and markets around Vermont - will benefit the Vermont Farm Share Program, which assists low-income Vermonters in purshasing CSA "shares" from local farms.

Check out the program and complete list of participants:

http://www.nofavt.org/annual-events/share-the-harvest.php

Given recent news locally and from afar, it is important to expand the availability of CSA shares for local organic farm products. Just last week, the Vermont Department of Health issued an advisory about the recent recall of beef products from out of state. On Sunday, the New York Times published a detailed article about the "boom and bust" interactions in corn and ethanol markets, which have raised the cost of basic staples around the world while luring farmers into a questionable reliance on corn.

Times Argus Story about the Department of Health Advisory

www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709280320

New York Times, Ethanol's Boom Stalling as Glut Depresses Price