This little piggy...

Local Food:  Pork jowls and BBQ are the perfect summer combination.  Steven takes the jowls from Snug Valley Farm on a visit to the grill - just long enough to acquire a touch of smoke - and then braises them in Wolaver's Wildflower Wheat beer.  The honey and chamomile brew combines with mustard seeds for that sweetness that balances the smoke in a good barbeque, at the same time tenderizing the jowls.  Steven combines black raspberries from our neighbor Larry Brochu, a splash of Citizen Cider and a lot of love with a base of slow cooked tomatoes and spices to achieve BBQ Sauce bliss, and a final sauté that crisps up the jowls.  Their natural ally is a summer slaw of red savoy cabbage from Hazendale Farm, along with green, yellow and dragon tongue beans from Mystic Morning Farm.  Red potatoes from Pete's and crispy onion rings provide just the right finishing touch.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, July 22nd we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Lavender Lemontini, with Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Gin, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: On Tuesday, July 17th, Galaxy welcomes Patricia Ellis Herr who will describe her adventures summiting all forty-eight peaks over 4,000 feet in New Hampshire with her young daughter. Take a peak at a book about peaks here and then come to Galaxy to hear all about it. Thursday, July 19 at 6PM, Glover author Elaine Magalis will read from her new mystery, The Body in the Butter Churn. And Saturday, July 21st at 1PM, Evelyn Grace Geer and the Lepine Sisters appear at Galaxy in celebration of the new book The Lepine Girls of Mud City: Embracing Vermont. Embrace the chance to meet some great authors at Galaxy!

Music Notes: Miles and Murphy, a jazz guitar duo from central Vermont, join us this Thursday, July 19th at 7:30.  The two work their way through classic jazz tunes such as "How High the Moon" and "All of Me."

Local Events: Join us this weekend in welcoming the newest Positive Pie to Main Street, offering what their website describes as a "cool, contemporary, comfortable, casual - yet always stylish - urban refuge from the ordinary." Hardwick should be proud that all our efforts have created an economic climate attractive to investors like the Rovetto Brothers International Restaurant Group, with restaurants across Vermont and New York, from Pizza Jerks to Piecasso.  Congratulations on your opening day and welcome to the neighborhood!

Stop by the Jeudevine Library Tent (behind the library) on Friday, July 20 from 4-7pm.  Sample some home-baked treats, listen to some live music, try out an e-reader and surf around some great library services that are free to library patrons.  Talk to the Library Trustees about your vision for the future library!  For more information, call the library at 472-5948.

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosts a 15K trail race on Saturday, July 21st. More info here about that, along with the weekly 5K series.

Reminders: We are now open seven days a week in summer! 

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. 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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!

Good Wine is for Good Neighbors

Local Is Neighborly:  For us, "local" is our neighborhood, where we spend 70 cents of every food dollar.  Local also means that when we need to reach farther afield for the more durable goods that complement a fine meal, we find small producers who share our values, wherever they are in the world.  Our latest discovery is Marilena Barbera, a Sicilian vintner who returned to run her family's vineyard and wine making business with her mother.  At Cantine Barbera, Marilena starts with sustainable business and farming practices and the unique grape varieties adapted to the soil and climate of her vineyard, along the southern Sicilian coast.  The grapes are harvested by hand,  mostly at night and in the cool hours of the morning, and fermentation is done with GMO free yeasts grown on the estate.  We've selected three of Marilena's affordable varietals for the unique qualities they bring to a meal.  Already on our menu is her Nero D'Avola, Sicily's native red, with rich color and an intense body thanks in part to the marine air.  We've just added Marilena's Inzolia, a white wine from grapes first brought to Sicily by Phoenicians.  With an intense bouquet, light and herbaceous, it has notes of citrus and fruit.  Cantine Barbara's unique Bambino Rosato, also from Nero D'Avola grapes, is the perfect dry rosé, with well balanced fruit, and deliciously copper-colored.

Watch our wine list as we find other responsible producers who support their communities and their unique varietals, on our shelves next to the distinct northern character of our Vermont wines.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, July 15th we offer a $2.50 pint of Wolaver's, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Mojito, with Dunc's Mill Elderflower Rum, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: It is not to soon to begin thinking about what to do with your bountiful garden  - Andrea Chesman, author of The Pickled Pantry, will be at the bookstore on Tuesday, July 10th, at 7PM to discuss her new cookbook and answer your questions about pickling and canning. The book contains 150 recipes for pickles, chutneys, and more. On Tuesday, July 17th, Patricia Ellis Herr will talk about her adventures summiting all the peaks in New Hampshire that are over 4,000 feet with her young daughter. Take a peak at a book about peaks here.

Music Notes: Vermont Goat Ropers join us this Thursday, July 12 at 7:30.  An eclectic mix of folk, country, bluegrass and Celtic on guitars, mandolin, banjo, bass, concertina and musical "singing" saw, this trio likes to have fun. Don't mope! Rope!

Local Events: The first Craftsbury Chamber Players concert is this Thursday, July 12 at 8:00 at the Hardwick Town House.  General Admission is $22, 65 and up $20, and student tickets are $8.   For more information call 586-9814.

Reminders: We are now open seven days a week for summer!

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. 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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Kick Start Mondays

Local Food: With farm work in full swing, Steven introduces a new Monday night special to kick start the week.  Our vegetarian chili is served with a hearty slice of bread and a pint of Switchback for $9.  Starting with black beans from Morningstar Meadows Farm in Glover, Steven adds tomatoes and onions from Pete's, bright and herbaceous lovage from Eastview Farm, and chilies from Mystic Morning Farm, plus some garlic scapes brought in by Denise Jackson.  Tofu from Vermont Soy brings out a rich creaminess with the beans, and it is all served in a big bowl and topped with a melted Grafton cheddar crust.  Spicy polenta bread with chilies from Patchwork Farm and Bakery, paired with a pint of cold Switchback, are the perfect accompaniments to end a day of work and get ready for the week ahead.

Look for new Monday specials throughout the summer, and we will be open every day through the summer starting this week.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, July 8th we offer a $2.50 pint of Trout River Rainbow Red, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Vodka Lemonade, with Smugglers' Notch Vodka, Sumptuous Syrups Lemon 3 Basil Syrup and soda water, is offered for $5.

Stop by during First Friday in Hardwick on July 6th and enjoy one of our drink specials- our Berry Rum Shrub, made with Dunc's Mill Elderflower Rum or the Gin Fizz, made with Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Gin and Elderberry Cordial.  We'll also have Vermont beer and wine specials!

Local Events: Visit our neighbors in downtown Hardwick on Friday July 6th, from 5-10 and have a good time with the entire family, see friends and neighbors, and learn more about what our community has to offer.  In addition to extended hours and sales at local merchants, there will be vendors, live music, massage, face painting, snacks, and beverages. Support Hardwick's economy and enter the raffle to win prizes!

Around the Galaxy: On Tuesday at 7, Galaxy welcomes Gish Jen, the bestselling author who spends time writing in Greensboro. Gish will discuss her most recent novel, World and Town, now out in paperback. And it is not to soon to begin thinking about what to do with your bountiful garden  - Andrea Chesman, author of The Pickled Pantry, will be at the bookstore on Tuesday, July 10th, to discuss her new cookbook and answer your questions about pickling and canning.

Music Notes: Tina and Her Pony join us this Thursday, July 5 at 7:30. Tina and Her Pony are an indie Appalachian duo whose songs echo bluegrass and old-time melodies.

Reminders: We are now open seven days a week in summer! 

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. 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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!

Kale at Your Fingertips

Local Food: Though many of us know to "eat more kale," few know the secret to including the abundant green in a fresh salad. Just a light massage of the kale loosens and lightens it up so you can enjoy all the benefits kale has to offer. Working it with his fingertips, Steven takes kale from Harvest Hill Farm and forms a tender, mellow base to the salad. He adds grilled tofu from Vermont Soy and Tempeh from Rhapsody, scallions from Mystic Morning Farm, and nutty barley from Golden Crops in nearby Quebec. Slivers of sweet golden beets from Pete's Greens add a touch of  color and sugar. The hearty salad is tossed with herbed and watermelon vinaigrette, with mint from Steven's garden and basil, cilantro and parsley from Sandiwood Farm, along with a punchy bite from grilled garlic scapes from Michael Parker.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, July 1st we offer a $2.50 pint of Wolaver's, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Cucumber Gin and Tonic with Caledonia Spirits Gin, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: On Thursday night at 6, Rob Mermin & Rob Gurwitt celebrate Circus Smirkus: 25 Years of Running Home to the Circus. Then on Tuesday, July 3rd, Gish Jen discusses World and Town, now out in paperback.

Music Notes: Dave Keller returns this Thursday, June 28 at 7:00.  If you have not yet had the chance to see him, don't miss this opportunity to check out his deep soul singing and gritty guitar licks.

Local Events: The Circus Smirkus 25th Anniversary Big Top Tour begins Sunday, July 1st in Greensboro with shows at 1 pm and 6 pm.  Tickets are $19 for adults, $13 for children (2-12) and free for those under two.  For more information, contact info@smirkus.org.

Mark your calendars for First Friday in Hardwick and shop local!  Celebrate Hardwick, have a good time with the entire family, see friends and neighbors, and support local business on Friday, July 6th from 5-10.  There will be live music, massage, face painting, snacks, and the chance to visit Main Street businesses during extended hours.  Support Hardwick's economy and enter the raffle to win prizes!

Reminders: We will be open Wednesdays starting July 4th for the summer!

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 until July 4th.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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look! 

Whet and Wild

Local Food: Antipasto is the plate of small bites served to whet the appetite.  Translated from Italian as "before the meal," there are as many versions of this light appetizer as there are regions in Italy.  Steven offers a Vermont interpretation that promotes the Italian emphasis on both the fresh and the aged.  Kicking off with the wild ramps and fiddleheads Steven foraged and pickled in early spring, also featured are fresh vegetables including the first of the Sungold tomatoes from Hazendale Farm, spicy radishes from Mystic Morning Farm and cucumbers, zucchini, fennel and kohlrabi from Pete's. Salted cultured butter from Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery goes perfectly with the crunchy radishes, or on grilled rosemary bread from Elmore Mountain Bread. Steven blends farmer cheese from Sweet Rowen Farmstead in West Glover with herbs from his own garden to round out the plate!

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, June 24th we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Mojito is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: Alison Bechdel comes to Galaxy on Tuesday, June 19th to discuss her graphic memoir, Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama. The event begins at 7PM. On Tuesday, June 26th noted feminist author Alix Kates Schulman will read from and sign Menage, her first novel since the bestselling Memoir of an Ex-Prom Queen.

Music Notes: Blue Fox joins us this Thursday, June 21st at 7:00.  Check out what Pamela Polston of Seven Days calls his "deep-lazy-growly-sexy" vocals and "ultra-strength" guitar playing.

Local Events: Kingdom Creamery of Vermont hosts an Open House at their farm on Route 16 in East Hardwick on Saturday from noon-3. Ice Cream! In the meantime, you can try their Vanilla in our Root Beer Float or Strawberry Fizz.

Bread and Puppet Theater will perform Less Miserables on Saturday, June 30th at 8pm.  Suggested donation of $10 at the door.

Reminders: We will be open Wednesdays starting July 4th for the summer!

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 until July 4th.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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look! 

Summer Joy out of Pac Choi

Local Food: Grown in China for over 1500 years, pac choi (or bok choy) is a member of the cabbage family, with a mild leaf and crispy ribs. Steven quickly grills pac choi from Pete's to bring out a smokey flavor and wilt the tasty greens. Buttery Carola potatoes are sautéed, with Oyster mushrooms from Wild Branch Farm adding their meaty cap and tender stems.  Tofu from Vermont Soy and yellow bean puree, mixed with spring onions and garlic scapes, add a mix of textures to the dish.  A vinaigrette with dill and oregano from Steven's garden finishes the vegetarian dish, which can easily be made vegan at your request.

On Father's Day, our famous hearty Blunch is available from 11 am until 2 pm, and stop by anytime between 5 and 8 for dinner.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, June 17 we offer a $2.50 pint of Trout River, a $4 glass of Boyden Valley Seyval Blanc or Big Barn Red. Our Cilantro Margarita is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy: On Thursday, June 14th at 7PM, Galaxy welcomes Bethany Dunbar for the world premier of Kingdom's Bounty: A Sustainable, Eclectic, Edible Tour of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. This long awaited guidebook showcases the best of our region's locally produced and prepared foods, and Bethany's photographs highlight the Kingdom's beauty as well as the bounty. The following Tuesday, June 19th at 7PM, Galaxy welcomes Alison Bechdel for a discussion of  her new graphic memoir Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama.

Music Notes: Plank House Band, "a tasty little Cornet and Banjolele duo, playing the popular music of yesterday," join us Thursday June 14 at 7:00. The Hardwick duo are also part of Vermont Vaudeville and put on a show that is not to be missed.

Local Events: Tuesday, June 12 marks the beginning of Craftsbury's Trail Race series, now with mountain bikes! Registration for bikers and runners starts at 5:30PM at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

On Sunday, June 17th, help build the Cross Vermont Trail by cycling or running scenic gravel roads in central Vermont during the Central Vermont Cycling Tour. It is not too early to start building miles for the Farm & Food Bike Tour in August!

Lamoille County Nature Center Naturalist Carrie Riker will present "What's in the Dark?" at Craftsbury Public Library on Thursday, June 21 at 4:00, kicking off the library's summer reading program.  Have you heard them?  have you seen them?  Who can they be?  The night is alive with all sorts of critters.  You'll learn who is up and awake while we are deep asleep.  These questions will be explored and answered in this one hour presentation.  The program is geared to children 4-12 years old, but all are welcome.  Call the library at 586-9683 with questions.

Reminders: We will be open Wednesdays starting July 4th for the summer!

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 until July 4th.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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look! 

A Seasonal Treat from the Sea

Local Food: Soft-Shell Crab is in season quite briefly, so stop in and enjoy them while you can!  Blue crabs surface from hibernation in the ocean floor during late spring, and then molt their hard shells, which are replaced by soft, flavorful and edible shells.  The sweet, briny and juicy crabs are best when prepared simply.  Steven dusts the crab with cornmeal from Butterworks Farm and lightly fries it.  Spicy and bitter radicchio and sweet baby spinach from Hazendale Farm are tossed in a honey dill vinaigrette, with honey from Caledonia Spirits and dill from Pete's Greens.  Housemade ramp aioli adds the final rich and creamy touch to the dish.

At the Bar: Remember our Sunday and Monday drink specials. Sunday, June 10 we offer a $2.50 pint of Rock Art, a $4 glass of East Shore Vineyard Cabernet Franc or Shelburne Vineyard Whimsey Meadow Rosé. The Orleans Royale, with Eden Vermont Ice Cider Orleans and prosecco, is offered for $5.

Around the Galaxy:  On Thursday, June 14th, join Bethany Dunbar for the world premier of Kingdom's Bounty. The book showcases the best of our region's locally produced and prepared foods - which you can enjoy at Claire's before the event. Beginning at 5:15 join Bethany and several producers for dinner. The event is not ticketed but reservations are required and there are a couple of spots left. Call Galaxy at 472-5533 for details and to reserve your spot! The book event begins at Galaxy at 7. Be sure your calendar is marked for Alison Bechdel on June 19th!

Music Notes: Hardwick's own The Butterbeans join us Thursday, June 7 at 7:00.  Support local music and come down for a foot stompin' good time!

Local Art: Join us on Monday, June 11th for an artist reception with Elizabeth Nelson. Stop by to admire her Symbolic Landscapes show now at Claire's, and see more of her art online.

Local Events:  Our next dance party, The June Bug, is Friday, June 8 from 10-2 with DJ DMD making his debut! Bring your dancing shoes and ID, DJ DMD will bring the floss.  $5 suggested music donation. Designated drivers who pledge to be alcohol free for the night get free non-alcoholic drinks and a $10 gift card!

The Children's Parade is Saturday, June 9th at 11:00 in East Hardwick.  Bring the kids or just come to watch.  The parade starts at Hardwick Chiropractic and goes to the First Congregational Church.  Prizes are awarded for best costumes, and there is free ice cream for everyone! Fun activities and demonstrations, plus live music and a plant swap at the Grange Hall will follow.  Lineup begins at 10:30.  For more information, contact Rachel Kane at 472-6021 or rkane@vtink.net

Hardwick Second Saturdays Series continues Saturday, June 9th with a Contra Dance and Potluck Dinner at Hazen Union. Potluck begins at 5:30, dance at 6:30, with Rickey Holt calling.  For more information or to sit in with the band, call Alana at 472-5584.

Reminders: We will be open Wednesdays starting July 4th for the summer!

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 until July 4th.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 been able to significantly reduce those fees.

Click on the image above to get a closer look!