Stowe, Vermont is a haven for food lovers. The town is full of independent, unique restaurants, whose chefs and owners are dedicated to serving fresh, local ingredients. During our week at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, we ate in as many of these local favorites as possible!
The Cactus Cafe is a favorite of ours from our last trip to Stowe. The Mexican and American Southwestern dishes served there pair perfectly with the huge tequila and margarita menu. Shortly after we were seated, we were given a bowl of ranch-flavored Deano’s Jalapeno Chips to snack on while we waited for our food.
These kettle-cooked jalapeno chips were a perfect crunchy, spicy accompaniment to Cactus Cafe’s fabulous margaritas! We loved them so much, we bought a few bags to bring home. Luckily you can also buy them online on the Deano’s website, so we never have to be without our new favorite munchies! I ate so many of these addictive chips that I almost didn’t have room for dinner, which would have been a shame – thankfully, I saved my appetite for the beer-battered jalapeno poppers stuffed with chipotle cheese (the spiciest I have ever eaten!) and chicken mole tacos. We have enjoyed dinner at Cactus Cafe on each of our visits to Stowe so far, and plan to do the same on each of our visits in the future.
No trip to Stowe would be complete without at least one trip to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. One of our favorite breakfasts in Stowe is a freshly-baked apple cider donut and cup of apple cider from Cold Hollow Cider Mill:
When I say “freshly-baked,” I don”t just mean the donuts were baked the same day as you are eating them. I mean literally, baked-right-that-second fresh. Cold Hollow Cider Mill is so popular, the donuts are sold as fast as they can make them! In fact, our last bite in Stowe is usually one last Cold Hollow cider donut as we begin the drive home – except for the dozen donuts we usually bring home to stash in the freezer, of course!
We satisfied our BBQ craving during our trip at the Cider House BBQ and Pub in Waterbury. Waterbury is the town next to Stowe, and has some wonderful restaurants of its own. Cider House BBQ and Pub was a new discovery for us on this trip, and we will definitely be back! Like the other area restaurants, they use local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. We started with fried green tomatoes, New Orleans BBQ shrimp, and a cup of chicken and andouille jambalaya. Then we got down to business:
Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Sweet Potato Fries and Fried Okra
Ribs with Carolina Mustard Sauce, Cowboy Beans and Cheese Grits
Fried Peach Pie
The ribs were insanely good! I absolutely loved the Carolina Mustard sauce – and the cheese grits left me completely speechless…I just sat there, closed my eyes, and savored every bite. And do you see that fried peach pie? It was about the best peach pie I have ever tasted, fried until crisp and covered in cinnamon sugar. Seriously – it was SO good!
Frida’s Taqueria and Grill was another new discovery on this trip to Stowe – oh, how I wish I could have packed up this restaurant and brought it home with me! Frida’s serves Mexican food with unique flair. Even the tortilla chips (served warm once you are seated) are prepared differently – instead of just salt, or salt with a little lime, these tortilla chips are tossed with a mixture of kosher salt and sugar! Not enough sugar to make them taste like dessert, of course, but just enough to give them a distinct, absolutely delicious flavor.
Li’l Random loved the Lengua taco at Frida’s – beef tongue with shredded lettuce, queso fresco, and cascabel chili sauce. The meat had almost a sweet barbecue flavor to it, and was fabulous!
During our first visit to Frida’s, I enjoyed a tomatillo-braised rabbit quesadilla. The meat was tender, moist and delicious! Next time, I ordered “tres tacos”:
I chose a carne asada taco with charred onions and avocado crema, a fried oyster taco with orange chipolte sauce and shredded lettuce, and a wild mushroom taco, which was a special that day. I absolutely loved these tacos!
We also made several stops at Laughing Moon Chocolates during our time in Stowe. Each piece of chocolate at Laughing Moon Chocolates is hand made, with centers that focus on fresh, local ingredients.
We bought so many truffles – Big Barn Red Wine Truffles, Vermont Apple Brandy Truffles, Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese Truffles, and Vermont Chevre Lavender Truffles – Mr. Random even found Trapp Family Lager Truffles! My favorite confection, however, was the house-preserved orange slices candied in Honey Gardens of Vermont wildflower honey:
These delectable little treats were sweet, a little tart, and covered in silky milk or dark chocolate. I bought more every time we visited Laughing Moon Chocolates! Luckily, you can order Laughing Moon Chocolates online, so I can get my candied orange “fix” when I need one!
I love the culinary options in Stowe (and Waterbury!). The pride the chefs and owners take in using fresh, local, seasonal ingredients is evident in every menu, and the quality and diversity of the food is amazing! Each trip to Stowe is a culinary adventure, and I am already looking forward to my next one!
Tags: Candy, Chocolate, comfort food, Dessert, Favorite dishes, Food, Mexican food, Restaurants, Reviews, Southern Food, Specialty Foods, Travel
It all sounds great, but the stuff at the Cider House BBQ stands out. Fried peach pie. MMMMM! You didn’t happen to get a recipe out of them did you?
JG.
I wish! But no luck…