Archive for the 'Restaurants' Category

Today Stowe’s Town Pool is offering a great deal, 66% off, on one of our commercial properties, Edson Hill Manor.  Enjoy a weekend at Edson Hill Manor and call us about purchasing details.

Click here for the Town Pool Deal

One of Stowe’s most famous and historic inns, Edson Hill Manor, is the quintessential New England Inn.  Located on 38 plus acres of pristine Vermont country side, this Manor has drawn celebrities and has been the back-drop for several movies.  A known destination for weddings, romantic get-a-ways and summer and winter activities Edson Hill Manor is a true Vermont gem.

Edson Hill Manor Features:

• 9 Rooms with fireplaces and baths located in the main house
• 4 Carriage houses with 16 rooms with fireplaces and baths
• 60 Seat full dining room with fireplace
•  Commercial kitchen
• 35 Seat separate bar with fireplace and HD TV
• Central living room with bar
• Beautiful terraces with handcrafted stone walls
• Pool & Pond
• Wedding/Event field
• Horse stables, includes care and riding equipment
• Cross country touring center includes x-country ski & trail maintenance equipment
• Separate caretakers house

Edson Hill Manor capitalizes on Stowe’s many tourist seasons.  Like Stowe, Edson Hill Manor started as a winter destination offering miles of maintained cross country trails and sleigh rides.  The Manor comes complete with an established touring center and horse barn.  Both the touring center and barn come fully stocked with all the necessary equipment.

Edson Hill Manor isn’t just busy in the winter, drawing visitors year round.  One area the Manor has expanded greatly is hosting an average 30 weddings a year.  The ability to have family and guest stay at the Manor helps to generate such continued business.  The Manor will be sold with all of the necessary wedding equipment, including a tent, tables and chairs with the ability to host up to 250 people.

Contact us today for more information at 802-793-3566 or 802-375-5009.

info@smithmacdonaldrealestate.com

Want to get a bargain in Stowe? Join the town pool by going to www.townpool.comand click on Vermont. You can sign up there or go directly to today’s bargain and sign in there. There are restaurant deals, spa packages, hotels, and the best thing is you can sign up for other places in the U.S. If you like to go to Nantucket there are some great deals offered. I got a $50 gift certificate for $25 at the Blue Moon. And today I am going for the Blue Donkey gift certificate for $11. Not only do you get a good deal but Town Pool gives money to local charities. I have signed up the Stowe Land Trust and Helen Day Arts Center. At the moment they are benefiting the Stowe Education Fun. So do a good deed and get a good deal , all rolled into one.

Stowe’s Rusty Nail, a land-mark watering hole since 1969, is to reopen later this month. The Nail has been shut down for the last 6 months due to loss of business. Since the bar was purchased from it’s previous owner, Bobby Roberts of Stowe, it had become less and less local friendly. Turning locals to other favorite watering holes like the Matterhorn and Rimrocks, where they felt more welcome.

Apparently the owner  Dan Swierzewski of KSK Properties LLC of Holyoke, MA, has finally gotten the hint. In an attempt to revive the business he has hired Kate Wise, a former bartender, to Manage the new Nail. Kate gets it and will be taking strides to make the Nail local friendly again.  We look forward to seeing what the “new, old” Rusty Nail will be offering Stowe Natives.

For more information check out the full article in this weeks Stowe Reporter: Rusty Nail about to come back to life. You can view their website here: Rusty Nail Website

As Stowe’s newest downtown addition Black Cap Coffee has carved out a nice little niche for itself. You’ll find it located directly across from the Stowe Community Church right in town. You will find your standard coffee house fare from scones to breakfast sandwiches. All backed on-site. A few comfy couches and wi-fi offer you a place to get some work done or just check out what your friends are saying about you on Facebook.

They make a mean Americano and the muffins will tempt the best Atkins dieters in the crowd! Not to mention the  made to order Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ski till 11AM and then head downtown to Black Cap for your fresh of the griddle crepe.

Check out their website here: Black Cap Coffee

Frida’s Taqueria & Grill located on Main Street in downtown Stowe offers authentic Mexican cuisine. It’s been open just over a year; if you haven’t been by to check it out yet, put it on your to-do list. They expanded their original menu to include more small plates like the baja and carne burritos. I also recommend the tres tacos for a perfect light meal.

Not to be missed is the homemade guacamole which is made table-side and served with their very addictive handmade tortilla chips. The margarita’s are also some of the best I’ve had.  Even my daughter who doesn’t like margs can’t get enough.

Frida’s offers a great atmosphere if you eat at the bar or at one of their booths or tables. In the summer months they also provide seating outside on their deck, which is a great way to spend an evening. If you’ve been able to resist any of their delicious desserts you can pop next door to the Stowe Scoop Shop. Try one of their original flavors and take a pint home with you!

If you are looking for a great breakfast spot, stop by and visit McCarthy’s. It is located off the Mountain Road, next to the Stowe Cinema 3-plex. My husband Shap and I have breakfast or lunch at McCarthy’s about once a week! You’ll find a full breakfast menu with everything from the original Harwood Union (a bacon, peanut butter sandwich served on an english muffin) one of my favorites, to healthier options.

It also has an extensive lunch menu that is worth checking out. They have healthy wraps and salads, as well as burgers and dogs. McCarthy’s is a great place for the whole family too, tons of options for the kids. Even my picky grandchildren can find something they like.

You’ll likely be greeted with a smile by Diane McCarthy herself! It’s a fun setting with a St. Patrick’s Day theme. In fact you’ll find it abound with locals on St. Paddy’s Day and you will want to be dressed in green! Don’t forget a heath-bar cookie on your way out. They’re amazing!

You can view their menu by clicking here.

I am often asked for a restaurant recommendation and one of my favorite places to recommend is Harrison’s. Yes, it is right below Coldwell Banker Carlson in downtown Stowe VT, and owned by very good family friends, but it really is worth checking out. Most nights you will find the Mother-Son team, Kathy & Andrew Kneale present. Kathy will meet you at the door and Andrew is usually behind the bar serving up creative cocktails. He also has a very good knowledge of wines, so do ask for his opinion.

You can find anything from a perfectly cooked steak to the more creative seafood like, Scallop and Ravioli Scampi. The menu has a great selection and varies from season to season…. Although you will find you favorites consistently on the list. If you are a mussel eater, come hungry and order the Salad, Mussels and Bread entree. It’s delicious and while it is done in a cream sauce it is surprisingly light. The Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos are also a nice little treat; but if meat is your thing, the burgers are juice and tasty. You can check out the menu at Harrison’s in Stowe VT here!

So the next time you are in Stowe and looking for a cozy place to grab dinner, maybe a good bar for the single dinner, stop by and say “Hello, to Kathy and Andrew”, tell them I sent you, you’ll be sure to get a smile and maybe a few good stories!

Here’s a photo of Andrew with his younger brother Bebo when they were kids, taken from the Kneale Family Album on the Harrison’s website:

As I watched the snow fall yesterday it brought me back to the afternoon I spent on New Years day with my daughter and husband. We rolled out of bed and found the snow had picked up again from the day before. Seeing this we decided to forgo the couch and head to Trapp’s Family Lodge for a ski.They have miles of the best cross country trails and the best views in Vermont.

It had been so beautiful the day before, even my tired 30 year old Maggie, was convinced to come along. She moved back from California last year and I still love the idea of having her in Burlington; easily accessible for something as simple as a xc ski and latte.

It is days like yesterday and over the New Year that I am reminded why I moved to Vermont all those years ago and why she decided to move back East. With the snow clinging to the trees ,deep in the woods at Trapp’s ,it is hard to miss the beauty of this place.

We skied for a few hours and grabbed a bite at the Stowe Coffee House. A cup of soup, panini and latte satisfied our hunger. We drove up Taber Hill, content, happy and ready to do some couch time. So, yesterday as I watched the snow drift down to cover our nearly bare lawn, I smiled and remembered, life is pretty good in Stowe, Vermont.