Vermont Farm-to-Table

While farm-to-table dining is trending across the culinary industry, Vermont restaurants are established leaders in seeking out fresh produce and supporting local farmers. Vermont’s artisan chefs and food growers partner to transform the bounty of the land into carefully curated menus using locally sourced ingredients.

At its heart, farm-to-table implies that the ingredients that go into the food being served come directly from farms, without passing through a store or market first. Restaurants that offer farm-to-table dining form strong relationships to the local farmers, growers and producers that supply the ingredients used. This relationship benefits the farmers, restaurants and the patrons enjoying the food.

Vermonters have always made a conscious effort to support local farmers. Little surprise, then, that farm-to-table dining abounds throughout Vermont. Here are some ideas to kickstart your locally sourced dining experience.

THE PARKER PIE CO.
West Glover
Country stores are the heart of Vermont communities. Located in the Northeast Kingdom, The Parker Pie Co. operates out of the Lake Parker Country Store, a short drive from Lake Parker.

Known for their pizza, the menu offers custom and specialty pies made with cheese, beef and chicken that have been sourced locally. The Parker Pie Co. has worked hard to cultivate relationships with local farmers and producers and is committed to a local-first approach. As an extension of their local-first approach, The Parker Pie Co. also gives back by offering community meals to help address food insecurity.

In addition to serving pizzas made with local ingredients, The Parker Pie Co. pours Vermont craft beer. This includes many from the award-winning brewery Hill Farmstead, a popular destination for locals and visitors. If you’re in the area in search of local ingredients, fresh pizza and good beer, you’ll find it at The Parker Pie Co.

Farms: Jasper Hill Farm (Greensboro), Hillside Farm (West Glover)

HONEY ROAD
Burlington
Enter off of bustling Church Street in Burlington and step into the Mediterranean.

This popular female-run mezze restaurant specializes in sophisticated family-style plates highlighting the best of what is grown in Vermont. Honey Road offers the perfect blend of Eastern Mediterranean spices and textures with the variety of meat, produce and dairy found in Vermont to create their unique, signature cuisine.

The partnership between general manager Allison Gibson and executive chef Cara Chigazola-Tobin formed naturally after bonding over food culture, hospitality and philosophy. Since debuting in mid-2017, this duo has remained a powerhouse. Executive chef Chigazola-Tobin has been a James Beard award semifinalist twice and the restaurant was a ‘best new restaurant’ semifinalist. Honey Road is a must-visit on your Vermont local culinary experience tour.

Farms: Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm (Corinth), Cavendish Game Birds (Springfield)

HEN OF THE WOOD
Burlington, Waterbury
Serving seasonal food that celebrates the farms of Vermont, Hen of the Wood in Burlington and Waterbury provide a true Vermont dining experience. Both locations offer menus that change daily and seasonally based on the premium ingredients found within the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley. Hen of the Wood is committed to authentically representing the community and the amazing farmers, cheese makers and producers who make Vermont so special.

First opened in Waterbury in 2005, Hen of the Wood was committed to serving food made with ingredients sourced miles from the restaurant. After gaining popularity, the sister location in Burlington opened in 2013, cementing Hen of the Wood as a prominent name in Vermont’s farm-to-table dining scene.

Farms: Pete’s Greens (Craftsbury), Jericho Settlers Farm (Jericho)

hen of the wood dish - vermont farm to table

CAI’S DIM SUM CATERING
Brattleboro
The journey of Cai’s Dim Sum Catering began two decades ago as a booth at the Brattleboro Farmers Market. There, Cai’s Dim Sum built relationships with other vendors they sourced ingredients from and cultivated a community of loyal customers. This gem in southern Vermont now crafts food in the kitchen of their art gallery for curbside takeout and delivery. The home-cooked dishes pair the flavors of the Sichuan and Shanghai cuisine of artist/chef Cai Xi Silver’s childhood with fresh ingredients from Vermont farms to create authentic dishes that could be found on any Chinese family’s dining table.

Since their start, Cai’s Dim Sum has placed an emphasis on building relationships with their food growers. Many of the ingredients found in their dishes are sourced locally, often from the same vendors from their days at the Brattleboro Farmers Market. Cai’s connection to the earth and their community creates a farm-to-table culinary experience that should not be missed.

Farms: Dutton Berry Farm (Brattleboro), New Leaf CSA (Dummerston), SUSU Community Farm (Brattleboro), Harlow Farm (Westminster), Pine Ledge Farm (Vernon), The Bunker Farm (Dummerston), Misty Knoll Farms (New Haven), HeartStorm Farmstead (Brattleboro), Franklin Farm (Guilford), Jillson’s Dairy Service (Dummerston)

Farm-to-table dining allows for the opportunity to learn about the food we eat while engaging with the community and the chefs preparing the food. When you combine Vermont’s fresh ingredients with our exceptional chefs, you get an elevated dining experience.

Dim sum catering - vermont dining

Discover
Want more dining in Vermont? Check out the plan.VermontVacation.com directory.
Want more agricultural experiences in Vermont? Check out the plan.VermontVacation.com directory.

Looking for an authentic farm-dining experience? Philo Ridge Farm in Charlotte celebrates the bounty of every season using produce and meat from their farm and other local farms.

Enjoy an event with Adventure Dinner for a truly unique experience. Dinners are hosted at unexpected places around Vermont, showcasing Vermont chefs, makers and producers.