Vermont is for lovers

I have a crush on Vermont.

Sure. There’s only half a million people in the whole state, most of the residents are “stinkin’ liberals,” and it’s only warmer than 55 degrees for 6 months of the year but those are half the reasons I love it and I haven’t even mentioned the mountains yet!

We spent a Sunday in Burlington (2.5hrs from here) and had a great time. Burlington is the largest city in a state largely dominated by farms (you can’t munch on Vermont cheese without milking Vermont cows). Downtown Burlington has dozens of shops and restaurants, an aquarium, a university, and an art center all within walking distance. Established in 1791, we were drawn to the architecture of the University of Vermont and stopped to walk the campus and get some photos. We had AMAZING chorizo and egg tacos at a cozy place called Penny Cluse in downtown Burlington. After which we moseyed around the shops, finding ourselves in Lake Champlain Chocolates buying (the worlds best) truffle and some fudge.

Speaking of Lake Champlain…it’s beautiful. Cradled in the mountain valley, Lake Champlain forms part of the boarder between New York and Vermont. It stretches 125 miles across the Canada-United States boarder, and has a number of forts on its banks. There are sailing tours on the lake as well. Watching the sunset over the Adirondack Mountains while on a sailboat on Lake Champlain sounds devine. I’ll have to put that one on my bucket list.

Until we meet again Vermont.

Size Doesn’t Matter: Kelly’s Mini Hot Dogs

Don’t judge a mini hot dog joint by its cover!

It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve lived in upstate NY for two months. One of the first things we noticed was the lack of chain restaurants, which we were very comfortable with having moved from Orlando, Florida. With our usual eats gone, we gladly tried the local selection and were pleasantly surprised to find better quality food and better service at the mom and pop establishments.

Mmmmmmmmmmm.

This week we tried Kelly’s Mini Hot Dogs in downtown Ballston Spa after a co-worker suggested it. The restaurant is a little bigger than a hole in the wall, so somehow it seems fitting that they don’t serve full-size hot dogs. Each mini chili dog with onions and mustard are a solid 90cents of deliciousness. I’m not an everyday hotdog eater, and really have to be in the mood for one, so I opted for a burger. The cheeseburgers are priced just as fairly and are no less delicious. Considering we both grabbed a verrry tasty lunch for less than $10, I’d say there’s no doubt that we’ll be back.

Downtown Glens Falls

Glens Falls is the biggest little city near our residence. Every Wednesday over the summer, downtown plays host to Take A Bite – where vendors set up street side and offer samples and do-it-yourself type food tables. The first week we arrived in NY, we visited Raul’s Mexican Restaurant on the corner in search of a replacement for our favorite Orlando fish taco joint. This time, we tried the local brewery down a side street. Davidson Brothers is one of the popular local hangouts. You can even find their IPA in the local stores. We enjoyed the tastiest spinach and artichoke dip I’ve ever had while two guys played the saxophone in front of the local jazz bar. The atmosphere is on par with the food, if not better!

The Silo

The authentic and original Cracker Barrel.

Considering we have nowhere to be in particular, we’ve done a surprisingly decent job getting up at a decent hour, taking the dog for a walk, and beginning our work. This week, we thought to reward ourselves by getting breakfast at The Silo. Built in 1982, The Silo was constructed from two old barns, the details of which certainly show on the inside. Similar to Cracker Barrel, it’s home to a shop with gifts, jewelry, and adirondack style decor.

Voted best breakfast in the south Adirondack area, The Silo is a local hotspot. The amount of food we received was overwhelming, unlike the serving you’d get at a Denny’s or the like. That’s one good thing about the area we’re in: it’s not overrun by chains and franchises so the community supports local businesses. Because of this, I find that both the products and services are of a higher quality…something you’d assume to get at a nationally recognized establishment but seldom do.

If you’re looking for a delicious country breakfast, (complete with the biggest home fries I’ve ever seen) and would enjoy eating said breakfast while sitting in an old barn then you need to go to The Silo.

Ah, good ol’ hometown USA.

Summer Picnics

Steak Salad: mixed greens, grilled steak, hard boiled eggs, onions, candied almonds, dried cranberries, and our super secret/pleasantly sweet dressing.

The summer temperatures in Upstate New York are perfect: highs in the low to mid 80s and cool at night. We moved here just in time to enjoy a much milder summer than we’re used to and have fully exercised our desire to spend more time outside. These (unemployed) days, we put ourselves to work on our iPhone game most of the day, stopping periodically for a picnic lunch or dinner.

Zoey, the beggar

One of our favorite picnic meals is a steak salad. It’s, hands down, the most delicious salad I’ve ever had. Every bite has a little something, so you’re never left with just a mouthful of lettuce. If you ready the eggs, onions, and steak the night before, this dish can be prepared with little to no effort the following day. If you’re tastebuds are anything like mine, you’ll want to throw in a little extra dried cranberries and a lot of extra candied almonds!

As if she’s our first born child, we sit and watch Zoey roam the woods behind the house, drag branches and sticks around the yard, and chase everything that flies. She never strays far as she thinks that when we call her there’s a dried cranberry or two coming to her.