Some of my Faves for Eats

My friend Taraleigh, also known throughout as the Healthy Hippie, has got me thinking about yummy and local food since she writes a weekly newsletter that always has great healthy food tips, among other fun stuff. Check out her website at www.healthyhippie.net to sign up and learn about her new magazine that hits the streets this winter! I will also be writing a Vermont Vibes article in the new magazine!

So, I thought I'd share some yummy vibes with readers with some of my favorite places to grab a bite in the Green Mountain State!

I'll start right here in Burlington where there is a new "fast food" restaurant in town. As many hopefully know by now, the golden arches have left downtown and around the same time a healthy quick fix stop opened. The New Moon Cafe, on Cherry Street, is my new all time favorite place to grab a bite or have a relaxing and affordable lunch meeting. They have all sorts of yummy specials - quiches, soups, pastries - but what I love is the make your own salad and sandwich bars. The selections are so fresh, healthy, and local, I get myself in trouble by ordering more than I need because it all looks and tastes so good! What I love the most is the friendly staff make the salads and sandwiches for you. I am a big fan of this concept because I can easily look and pick my ingredients, but am terrible at putting them together. I can't get enough of this place and the ambiance is perfect! Looking to try a new lunch spot? New Moon Cafe is it!

A place I discovered not soon after it opened several years back, before I called "vibing" Vibing, is Edelweiss Bakery & Cafe Coffee Shop in Johnson. I love this place so much, I specifically decorated my living room to look like their upstairs dining area. The food is fantastic - scrumptious baked goods, super soups, great tea (I don't drink coffee), but it's the ambiance that has me finding reasons to go to Johnson, just so I can step into Edelweiss.

Heading further East will bring you out to where I spent my summers growing up - Caspian Lake in Greensboro. I used to canoe across the lake to have breakfast on the porch of the Highland Lodge (they used to give 10% off your meal if you canoed over). This was our summer hang out, so I never actually have gone in the winter, but the lodge is one of the most renowned ski touring centers around - maybe they give 10% off a meal if you ski over? Regardless, this place is Northeast Kingdom class, not to mention that Greensboro is also a magical place. Make it a point to enjoy a meal at the Highland Lodge sometime in the near future.

Still poking around in the north country more West in Jay Peak territory, is the Snowshoe Pub in Montgomery Center. All I am going to say here is GO. It is pure Vermont and I have yet to find a more varied menu in all of my travels. Oh, and I once drove through a snow storm without snow tires for an hour and a half to eat at this place.

Oh, skiing. Ah... Skiing makes me think of my ski place, Sugarbush, and my favorite restaurant in the Mad River Valley - The Purple Moon Pub. Coziest apres ski around and I will never tire of fish tacos. The menu is small, live music always filled with sweet surprises, and the ambiance is cozy, rosy, and you must goesy.

And finally, on occasion, I like to step it up a notch. In the case of the Woodstock Inn, a few notches. I know all about the Woodstock Inn because I used to handle their public relations when I worked in the agency world, but regardless of that, to this day, I have yet to eat a better Sunday brunch. There will definitely be an Easter brunch Vibe trip to Woodstock and brunch in the inn's dining room. They even have patte!

Happy dining my friends! Love, Light, and Positive VIBES!!!