On the Road Eats: New England Apres Ski Destinations
1. The Apple Barn & Country Bake Shop — South Bennington, Vermont
The Apple Barn is filled with homemade goodies, Vermont products, cheeses and the largest selection of Maple syrup in the area. Be sure to try their Vermont Cheddar Apple Pie, a salty-sweet favorite of Rachael Ray.
2. Vermont Smoke and Cure — Barre, Vermont
Pat and Gina Neely are fans of Vermont Smoke and Cure, where they've been crafting a selection of the finest summer sausage, bacon, ham and other smoked meats for over 50 years. The local mainstay uses pure ingredients and old-fashioned methods to smoke meat straight from Vermont farms.
3. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream — South Burlington, Vermont
Bobby Flay is in heaven when he's invited into the labs at Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream headquarters in South Burlington to create his own personalized flavor: buttermilk blueberry cheesecake chocolate cinnamon with chunks.
4. Simon Pearce Restaurant — Quechee, Vermont
Grab a seat by the windows to take in the beautiful view of the falls and covered bridge in Quechee, Vermont. Rachael loved the sesame seared chicken, and toured the attached glass factory, hunting for some bargains.
5. Bove's Cafe — Burlington, Vermont
Bove's is a third-generation family-run Italian restaurant in Burlington. After over 70 years of cooking, they've perfected the Spaghetti with Roasted Garlic sauce. Just ask Melissa d'Arabian, who says it'll satisfy any garlic craving.
6. The Harvest Restaurant — Queensbury, New York
Rachael Ray grew up on the pizza at Harvest, and even though she's met all the world's great chefs, she still insists no one makes a better pie. Owner Phil Hart returned the love by adding "The Rachael Ray" to the menu, which is topped with hot cherry peppers, green peppers and onions.
7. A Single Pebble — Burlington, Vermont
Alton Brown claimed that the Mock Eel at A Single Pebble could keep him vegetarian. That's why on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Alton gave two chopsticks up for Chef Duval's creation (actually made of shitake mushrooms). It's just one pebble in Duval's sophisticated menu of traditional Chinese.
8. Little Rooster Cafe — South Manchester Center, Vermont
Little Rooster Cafe takes the farm motif to another level: they've even got seats painted to look like birds' nests. Rachael loves this spot for their savory omelets and other breakfast foods.
9. Four Corners of the Earth — Burlington, Vermont
Vermont is known for being a little bit funky, and Four Corners of the Earth is the perfect example of that spirit. This tiny sandwich spot cranks out 40-plus sandwiches with varying degrees of craziness in their combinations, but the artichokes and feta one is tops.
10. Rex's Outrageous — Richmond, Vermont
Pat and Gina Neely visited Rex's Outrageous for their Road Crew Crunch, a delicious blend of peanuts, pretzels and cereals drenched in chocolate, that Pat just couldn't keep his hands off of. And great news: they can ship any of their 11 flavors right to your door.
11. Miller's — Littleton, New Hampshire
Chef David Eyler creates New England fusion by filling tandoori flatbread with tender Yankee pot roast. The restaurant promises their gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and homemade pastries are some of the most delectable goodies on the planet, and you'll probably agree.
12. The Sagamore — Bolton Landing, New York
Chef David Eyler creates New England fusion by filling tandoori flatbread with tender Yankee pot roast. The restaurant promises their gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and homemade pastries are some of the most delectable goodies on the planet, and you'll probably agree.
13. Painted Pony Rodeo Barbecue — Luzerne, New York
Don't let the Upstate New York address fool you: the Texas-style barbecue here is as authentic as it gets. At Painted Pony, they fire up the smoke pits at dawn, so meat has time to cook nice and slow for a tender and delicious meal. Rachael Ray loves the buffet.
14. The Algonquin — Bolton Landing, New York
The Algonquin is great for hearty seafood classics like New England clam chowder and crab cakes. Plus the restaurant has a few brushes with fame: Andy Rooney called it his favorite lakefront dining spot, and Rachael Ray loves the fish sandwich.