Super Bowl Sunday came and went, and while the hometown Pats didn't pull it off, the commercials I liked best — the Budweiser Clydesdale with the eagle, and the Lay's potato chip ad — also turned out to be the same ones chosen as the top two on USA Today's Ad Meter. They worked for the same reason: they tugged the heartstrings and gave people something to feel good about. One was about a farmer finally retiring after years of hard work. The other was animals and pride and tradition. Both were about food and drink.
Right now, people want to feel something positive. Good food and drink help. So do Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel. All things considered, we’re in pretty good shape.
ON THE MENU…
Starters
Bites & Bottles: Six Things to Love About Blue Paddle Bistro
Tastemakers: Michele D’Aprix, MDX Wines
The Long Pour: Chardonnay Is Not a Four-Letter Word
What’s On
STARTERS…
This week, I had to do a presentation about Burlington Wine & Food for a group, and I decided to include a short trivia quiz. One of the questions was:
Which of these incidents has never occurred at Burlington Wine & Food?
A week's worth of rain flooded the stage in Waterfront Park and surrounded the band's electrical equipment with water
A guest bumped into a table and knocked over a display of a hundred champagne flutes
A visiting German winemaker fainted in the heat and had to be taken away in an ambulance
An impending lightning storm forced an early evacuation of the event
The answer is B. That one didn't happen at Burlington Wine & Food.
It happened at our wedding.
After fifteen years of hosting this event, we've learned that chaos is part of the charm. Weather doesn't always cooperate. Equipment sometimes fails. People occasionally need medical attention. And somehow, it all works out, because the food is great, the wine is better, and everyone's too busy having a good time to care about the things that aren't perfect.
If you'd like to see what happens this year (hopefully nothing requiring an ambulance), tickets are available now by clicking here.
BITES + BOTTLES
We live in Malletts Bay in Colchester, and while there are many reasons we love our town, a huge selection of restaurants is sadly not one of them.
So we find ourselves venturing out quite a bit…thank goodness for places like Essex and Winooski and Burlington, with many more choices. And we also often head north along the lake into the islands. Last week, we wrote about the Sand Bar. And in the past few weeks, we've found ourselves a couple of times up at the Blue Paddle Bistro.
Here are six things to love about it…
“Paddle Pup” Wilbur
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Looking for hearts and flowers and romance this weekend? We did a little digging for you…these wines already come dressed for Valentine's Day!
Whether that’s love in the name, romance in the label or wines wrapped in floral packaging, these bottles do the romancing for you. Pick one, show up, look like you planned ahead…
Broc Cellars “Love” Wines: Bright, juicy, and exactly what the name promises…because subtlety is overrated.
Lobetia Rosé: Clean, fresh rosé in gorgeous floral packaging…no extra ribbon required.
Great Heart Cabernet Sauvignon: A classic, cozy Cab with a name that does some of the talking for you.
Tiamo Prosecco: “I Love You” in Italian, plus bubbles…it’s hard to argue with that combination.
Julie Hoch Roseblossom #1 Sparkling: Fresh, floral, and lightly bubbly…basically Valentine’s Day in a glass.
Onward Wines “Bouquet Rouge:” A pretty label, pretty name, and a crowd-pleasing red that works for date night or dinner with friends.
Darling Wines: Start with the name, browse the California varietals and see what catches your eye.
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Downtown Winooski's Casino Night is coming to town on Saturday, March 7, at the River House event space at Waterworks. Tickets are $60 and get you an evening of casino games, a DJ, cash bar, and $20 worth of chips to get you started (don’t worry, you can buy more). There’s no cash value to the chips, but lots of prizes to be had throughout the night.
Even better…your ticket supports Downtown Winooski, the non-profit behind much of what makes this small city thrive. They put on the weekly farmers market, Juneteenth and Pride celebrations, block parties, and that wildly popular Halloween pumpkin display that lights up Rotary Park every October. Basically, if Winooski feels lively, welcoming, and worth the trip across the bridge, they're a big reason why.
See you at the tables.
TASTEMAKERS: MICHELE D’APRIX
Each week, we feature three quick questions with someone bringing something creative, thoughtful, or fascinating to the food and wine scene here in Vermont and beyond.
This week, we caught up with Michele D’Aprix, the winemaker behind MDX Wines including Pentimento, Maz Caz, Pierre Anngulaire and Yohanna Suzanna. She’s been making wine in Bordeaux for 22 years.
Read the full interview, including how waitressing skills got her hired at her first winery, why she makes "egoless" wine that won't give you a headache, and her favorite cocktail.
Michele D’Aprix
THE LONG POUR:
CHARDONNAY IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD
by Mike Stolese
For all the lovers of Chardonnay out there in the wine world, there are plenty that either have a preconceived notion they won’t like Chardonnay, heard from a friend that didn’t like Chardonnay, or tried a Chardonnay style that did not work for them.
That’s where we’re going to go with this column.
Chardonnay is grown all over the world and is made in many different styles. It is an incredible grape…you just need to find the style of winemaking that works for you.
WHAT’S ON…
February in Vermont means finding extra good reasons to leave the house. Here are a few we found that seem worth the effort…
Great Ice returns to North Hero this weekend, February 13-15, turning City Bay into a frozen playground with a lighted skating rink, bonfires, dog sled rides and fireworks. There’s also a food and wine village, a pop-up bar at Shore Acres and a trek across the ice to Knight Island…17 inches of ice under your boots and hot chocolate waiting on the other side.
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Valentine's Day, of course, is packed. Slate is kicking things off on the 12th with a Shop & Sip from 3 to 6 p.m…enjoy bubbly, light snacks, and browsing their exquisite merchandise, plus giveaways for the first 20 guests.
On Valentine’s night, Burlington Trolley Tours is going all in on romance with “Love In Motion,” a themed dinner ride that includes a three-course dinner, signature champagne drink, professional photographer, fresh flowers, and a couples art session with wine. You can also upgrade to add an overnight stay at the Delta Hotel with breakfast and a chauffeur ride back in the morning. Spots are limited.
Also on the 14th, Shelburne Vineyard brings in singer-songwriter Myra Flynn for an 8 p.m. show. Flynn's a Vermont-based musician with a folk-pop sound that sounds great in the vineyard's tasting room. It's a nice alternative to the dinner-and-roses approach.
And if your Valentines are the little kind, Waterworks in Winooski is hosting a Princess Party Saturday morning at 10 a.m., complete with Elsa, Belle, Rapunzel, and the rest of the lineup. The day’s magic will include photo ops, singing and dancing, games, stories and refreshments. Tickets are required, and a VIP upgrade is also available.
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On Sunday the 15th, lu.lu Ice Cream in Vergennes changes things up with a Love Pop-Up Brunch from 10 to 3….think Croque Monsieur, Eggs Benedict, stuffed French toast, quiche Lorraine, loaded tater tots and more. And for more decadence closer to Burlington, La Reprise is now offering fondue Sundays, pairing cheese with Alpine wines every week.
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As the week rolls on, Hotel Vermont throws its Mardi Gras party on the 17th, with Yankee Chank and Mango Jam supplying the Cajun and zydeco soundtrack...costumes and dancing welcome! Two days later, August First shifts the energy with an "All About Love" community night from 3 to 7:30 p.m….soup, bread, crafts, storytelling and sweets should make for a cozy evening. Two different speeds…both good reasons to venture out in mid-February.
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File this under, “as Vermont as it gets:” Curds & Curling (originally scheduled for last weekend but postponed) lands on February 21 at the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You slide a 40-pound wheel of Jasper Hill cheddar down the ice instead of a stone, all while eating raclette and drinking Barr Hill cocktails and Hill Farmstead beer. It's absurd in the best way, and it's exactly the kind of thing you'll want to tell people about later.
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The next day, Wintervale takes over the Intervale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expect cross-country skiing, a chili cook-off (enter or just judge), s'mores by the fire, and activities for kids. It's free, family-friendly, and donations are welcome. Bring the thermos.
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Finally, in food news: Poorhouse Pies is opening a second location in Cambridge with a cafe, catering, and—hooray!—donuts. Don’t worry…the Underhill shop isn't going anywhere.
Before we go, we just learned that next Wednesday, February 18, is National Drink Wine Day.
We trust you’ll rise to the occasion.
See you there.
