Tucked away in the small town of Proctorsville
is a warm, cozy home that doubles as a delicious eatery. Over winter break, my family and I were in
Vermont for a skiing vacation at Okemo Mountain. One morning, before hitting the slopes, we
decided to skip the lackluster continental breakfast and instead treat ourselves
to some local cuisine. As we drove
towards town, we saw a sign for Vermont Apple Pies Breakfast Restaurant and my
mother signaled for my dad to pull over.
It turned out that her maternal instincts tingled correctly as we had
stumbled upon diamond in the rough.
The warmth and inviting nature of the cottage provided a pleasant retreat from the winter wind and snow. The sweet air with a hint of cinnamon didn’t hurt either. Upon entering, I realized the decor was not much different from that of my own home: family pictures covered the walls, wooden furniture, and some Christmas decorations (‘twas still in season). Moreover, the eating area was little more than several tables set up in a living room. Did this deter me in any way? Absolutely not. In fact the simplicity was completely relaxing and refreshing in the sense that it wasn’t the typical “going out to eat” experience. Up until this point in my life I had been to fancy French restaurants, diners, hibachi grills, fast food places and many more. I feel like each offers a specific atmosphere from very formal, to entertaining, to laid back. However, eating at Vermont Apple Pies Breakfast Restaurant came with a comfort that was much more personal and in that sense offered something completely new.
That being said, the true essence of any restaurant is the food, and the waffles that I had that day were nothing short of extraordinary. I ordered an apple cinnamon Belgian waffle and what turned out on my plate far exceeded my expectations. On the surface level, the plate was aesthetically pleasing as the fruit provided vibrant color against the golden brown waffle. The waffle itself was very soft but complemented well by the tart crunch of green apple slices. The bacon too added texture and its saltiness added a tasteful contrast to the otherwise sweet dish. Perhaps my favorite part was the combination of oranges and whipped cream. It was an unusual pairing (for me at least) and I was unsure what to expect. I had normally associated whippled cream with a sort of berry, never a citrus fruit. Would the sourness of the orange dominate? As it turned out, the sweetness and thickness of the cream neutralized the acidity of the orange to create a taste that invigorated my pallet. It was a perfect end to a delicious and charming meal.
The warmth and inviting nature of the cottage provided a pleasant retreat from the winter wind and snow. The sweet air with a hint of cinnamon didn’t hurt either. Upon entering, I realized the decor was not much different from that of my own home: family pictures covered the walls, wooden furniture, and some Christmas decorations (‘twas still in season). Moreover, the eating area was little more than several tables set up in a living room. Did this deter me in any way? Absolutely not. In fact the simplicity was completely relaxing and refreshing in the sense that it wasn’t the typical “going out to eat” experience. Up until this point in my life I had been to fancy French restaurants, diners, hibachi grills, fast food places and many more. I feel like each offers a specific atmosphere from very formal, to entertaining, to laid back. However, eating at Vermont Apple Pies Breakfast Restaurant came with a comfort that was much more personal and in that sense offered something completely new.
That being said, the true essence of any restaurant is the food, and the waffles that I had that day were nothing short of extraordinary. I ordered an apple cinnamon Belgian waffle and what turned out on my plate far exceeded my expectations. On the surface level, the plate was aesthetically pleasing as the fruit provided vibrant color against the golden brown waffle. The waffle itself was very soft but complemented well by the tart crunch of green apple slices. The bacon too added texture and its saltiness added a tasteful contrast to the otherwise sweet dish. Perhaps my favorite part was the combination of oranges and whipped cream. It was an unusual pairing (for me at least) and I was unsure what to expect. I had normally associated whippled cream with a sort of berry, never a citrus fruit. Would the sourness of the orange dominate? As it turned out, the sweetness and thickness of the cream neutralized the acidity of the orange to create a taste that invigorated my pallet. It was a perfect end to a delicious and charming meal.
