Maple sugaring season is one of those things Vermont does that most of the rest of the country can only admire from afar. It's brief, weather-dependent, and pretty much on its own schedule. It's a short season, and we intend to make the most of it (and help you to do so, too).

The ticket value is $700, and the evening includes premium whiskey and wine tastings, a three-course dinner, live and silent auctions, and a headline performance by Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Oteil Burbridge. It's emceed by Tom Bodett and honoring Jonathan Goldsmith — The Most Interesting Man in the World! — for his decade of work with Make-A-Wish. Period attire is encouraged.

To enter: just reply to this email with your name by Friday morning at noon. We'll pick a winner Friday afternoon and get you the details for getting your tickets.

Good luck! And thank you to the folks at Make-A-Wish for thinking of us.

Which reminds us…

Another spectacular event, Burlington Wine & Food is also on the way on June 27th! We're assembling a stellar group of restaurants, wineries and specialty foods that we can't wait to tell you about…we'll be rolling out reveals in the weeks to come. Tickets are on sale now if you want to cross that off your list.

Whenever a Maple Manhattan or Maple Old Fashioned shows up on a cocktail menu, chances are good that we’ll order it. So this time of year, we started wondering what other creative ways Burlington's bartenders might be using maple….

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Vermont had a strong showing in the 2026 Good Food Awards, which recognize outstanding American food and drink products that meet high standards for taste, craftsmanship, and responsible sourcing. Ten Vermont producers made the finalist list:

An amazing showing for a state with fewer people than most major U.S. cities. Vermont once again overdelivers in the specialty food world. Well done to all of them.

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Here’s a wonderful example of people and businesses doing good in our community. UVM Health’s Home Health & Hospice is running a program called Dinners with Love, pairing volunteer drivers with restaurants to deliver restaurant-made meals to the families of hospice patients. Partner restaurants like Papa Frank's in Winooski provide comfort in the most literal, immediate sense, providing a beautiful example of how the restaurant community shows up for the people around them. Worth knowing about, and worth supporting.

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Melissa Pasanen of Seven Days reports that the tiny kiosk at the corner of Church and College streets is about to have a new tenant. Leunig's Petit Bijou, which has operated there since New Year's weekend 2017, won't be renewing, and plans are for a new tenant to take over July 1. The application deadline was February 27…so whoever's next, we'll be waiting.

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It’s gotten harder to find restaurants serving lunch these days, and the Lazy Goat Tavern at the Essex Resort wants to give you even more of a reason to seek them out for your midday meal. They’ve launched a Lazy Goat Lunch Club: buy 12 lunches, the 13th is free. No app, no points system, no loyalty card algorithm. Just a punch card. Old school is pretty nice every once in a while.

The weekend kicks off with a couple of unique events that prove Vermont does things its own way…

If you've ever thought “Gee, I wish I could eat fried chicken while skiing,” well, Maple Wind Farm has you covered. They're setting up slopeside at Cochran's Ski Area this Friday, March 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. Adult and children's plates available. Ski, eat, repeat.

And on Saturday evening, Kraemer & Kin brewery in North Hero is hosting Plant Bingo from 5 to 7 p.m. It’s free to play, and as you might gather from the name, potted plants and rooting clippings are the featured prizes. Only 12 spots are available, so RSVP ahead to get your green thumb on.

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This Saturday, March 8, starts on the wine side of things. Village Wine & Coffee in Shelburne is hosting a free drop-in tasting of Raptor Ridge wines from 1 to 5 p.m., with winemaker Scott Shull in town pouring Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and other bottlings. It’s always fun to taste through the lineup with the person who created it.

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Also Saturday afternoon, Burlington Beer Company is teaming up with, yes, the Girl Scouts to host a Cookies & Brews pairing event. The ticketed tasting includes a custom cookie-inspired beer alongside a flight of brews paired with cookies, plus light snacks and a commemorative event glass for attendees.

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Saturday evening brings a pair of gala fundraising events around Chittenden County. The Vermont Italian Cultural Association’s Carnevale happens at The Farmhouse at The Essex Resort, and over in Winooski, Casino Night takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the River House Event Space at Waterworks. Expect casino tables, DJ Craig Mitchell, a cash bar, and prize packs from local businesses, with proceeds supporting Downtown Winooski’s 2026 community events.

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Next weekend, Red Poppy Cakery in Waterbury is hosting an Indian cooking class with Chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef Service on Saturday, March 14, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The menu includes butter chicken, roasted aloo gobi, basmati rice, and homemade naan, with vegetarian and gluten-free adaptations available.

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The first Taste the ONE Restaurant Week starts March 20 across Burlington’s Old North End. Over the past year or two, the neighborhood has become home to some of our favorite restaurants, and this feels like a good excuse to celebrate it. Eight spots—including Fancy’s, Gold, May Day, Kismayo Kitchen, Taco Gordo, The Wise Fool, Namaste Kitchen Express and Poppy—are offering special prix fixe menus ranging from $18 to $45.

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That same weekend brings Vermont Maple Open House Weekend celebrations all across the state. In Burlington, Maple Madness on the Marketplace takes over Church Street on Saturday, March 21, from 11 to 4 with syrup tastings, pancakes, live music, and a photo booth, fire pits, axe throwing and all manner of fun for the whole family.

Finally…in honor of National Cereal Day on March 7, we’re taking a quick trip back to the grocery aisles of our childhood. For many of us, that meant a bowl of something sugary in front of Saturday morning cartoons, a dig for a worthless a toy inside, and a race to make sure your siblings didn’t get the last bowl.

So today we’re asking…what was your childhood cereal of choice? We’ll reveal the winners next week!