vermont restaurant week

It's here, it's here! Happy Vermont Restaurant Week to you.

I'm lucky enough to work with the folks who plan Restaurant Week, so I know all about the delicious dining options. But I recently grabbed a drink with a long-lost friend — the lovely Caitlin of Wore Out — who didn't know much about it. Let's just say, I didn't waste any time directing her to the amazing menu guide. I thought I would introduce the rest of you to the website, too, in case anyone else is missing out.

Prix-fixe menus around the state, starting Friday? Yes, please. I'm bummed because I'll be out of town for Saturday's Sangria Smackdown, but I do plan to attend Tuesday's culinary pub quiz to make up for it. Even if trivia games make me unnaturally nervous.

I've already made my reservation at Toscano in Richmond. I have been drooling over the thought of their crispy artichoke hearts with lemon aioli for some time. I'm curious, where will you Vermonters be dining over the next week?

charleston: part v (final part!)

On our last day in Charleston, an 83-degree scorcher by Vermont standards, we hightailed it out to Folly Beach. It was practically deserted, which equates to optimum beach-combing conditions and very good seagull watching.

By the way, in case you didn't know, you can click any photo on my blog to make it bigger. Thinking about a redesign for bigger photos soon, anyway.

charleston: part i

charleston: part ii

charleston: part iii

charleston: part iv

charleston: part iv

It's been a long first week back from vacation ... which only serves to make our Charleston trip seem like it was ages and ages ago. But I'm almost done posting my recap, so let's press on. Besides, pretty flowers can never hurt, right?

My brother drove out from Conway, SC, to meet us last Wednesday. (Again, was that only last Wednesday??) We visited Magnolia Plantation and its Gardens.  There must be some sort of law requiring people to visit Magnolia when you're in Charleston — after all, the manor is one of the top 25 most visited historic homes in the U.S.  Suffice it to say, the large number of visitors taking over the place took a little of the romance out of its Romantic Gardens. That, and the crazy loud leaf blowers.

Still, you can't beat quaint little bridges arching over green swamps and getting lost in horticultural mazes. Every turn of the path we rounded left me feeling like I had discovered my own secret garden.

charleston: part i

charleston: part ii

charleston: part iii

charleston: part iii

On our second day in South Carolina, we drove out to Cypress Gardens.  Can we just take a moment to marvel at it in silence?

Ok. Thanks.

Seriously, though, this black-water cypress swamp is among the most beautiful places I've ever been — somewhere right up there with Santorini, Greece.  We paddled around in a boat for the longest time, and it was quite serene ... you can see why they filmed that boat scene in The Notebook here, right?  Just ignore the dozen or so alligators we saw chilling out just feet away from us.  It was a little terrifying at first, but we quickly got over it.

charleston: part i
charleston: part ii

charleston: part ii

As you may have realized in charleston: part i, the historic buildings were beautiful, from the curling wrought-iron gates to the kaleidoscopic hues.  Dave put it this way: "You know a city is beautiful when you even want to photograph the parking garages." 

But we actually spent more time outside of downtown, at parks, beaches and gardens.  On our first day there, we hit up the Lowcountry Cajun Festival at James Island County Park.  After wandering the food booths — fried alligator? no, thanks. — and lounging in the grass listening to zydeco music, we went rambling along some of the nature trails.  The blooming flowers and romantic, draping spanish moss we saw throughout our trip sent me into an early bout of spring allergies, but the scenery was definitely worth it.

charleston: part i

We're back!  I had an amazing time exploring Charleston this past week.  Not only was the weather deliciously warm — it was "room temperature" whether you were in a room or not — but the minute our plane landed, we felt like we had splashed our way into a bath of color.  Coming from months of cold, gray days in Vermont, we practically drank in the city's rainbow of buildings and flora.  I mean, the grass was green, people!  I had forgotten what that looked like.

Anyway, unabashed tourists that we are, we took an astounding number of photos chronicling our adventures, from paddling around in alligator-laden swamps at Cypress Gardens (easily the most serene place I've ever visited) to hearing our friend's band play at a dive bar to cavorting around the city and downing drinks with four retirees on an awkward but hilarious pub tour ... and much more.

Oh, and can we talk about the food??  Gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce at Pane e Vino, a ridiculously decadent caramel sea salt brownie from Baked, the best biscuit I ever ate (not to mention amazing buttermilk-fried chicken and mashed potatoes) at Poogan's Porch, and — yes — I had my first Whole Foods experience.  It was all delicious.  The only thing I didn't quite "get" were the collard greens ... true sign of a northerner, I guess.

I'll be posting more photos over the next few days. For starters, though, here's a look around downtown.