No matter the time of year, Manchester can be so magical. I walked out my door the other day to take the dogs for a walk and it was still cold but not too bad. A woman was walking towards me and for a moment I thought she wanted to speak with me. I must have given her a look because she smiled and said “don’t mind mind me, I’m just following the sun”. She passed and for a moment I was puzzled and then turned around and watched her walking directly in the sun and staying out of the shadows. I must admit that I closed my eyes and looked up and let the sun shine on my face and it really did feel wonderful. As I walked the boys I kept smiling and finally realized that we should all try to walk in the sun…it can brighten up any soul.

Talk about for the soul…..food for the soul….Mark has added Batata Brava’s with or without chorizo on the menu. He has it in a slightly spicy tomato sauce with onion and capers. It makes me think of what a sunny day in Spain feels like. Let’s add to that a delicious wine….hmmmm….I am thinking outside the box and am going with: DILA-O, SAPERIVI, GEORGIA, 2000. This wine is fermented in clay pots and has plum colors followed by dark brambly fruits and a touch of black pepper and earthiness. I will test it out for you…never you fear!

Although I love Manchester all year long…there is a special feeling of joy I get feeling the sun before spring is on our horizon. Please go get some of that sun for yourself…there is plenty for everyone.

See you in the dining room,

Melody

Hello Everyone,

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. I am looking out my window at the lush trees and lawns everywhere. Yesterday I woke up to the sound of a lawn mower and then became aware of that favorite smell of mine….fresh cut grass. What a way to wake up. That and a cup of coffee and I had a smile on my face all day.

Manchester is full of beautiful old trees, brilliant flowers, velvety lawns….so very manicured and elegant. I love to watch people walking around and randomly taking photos and selfies. It’s also that time of year when you see so many weddings where women dress up in beautiful colors and the men looking so dapper. In my mind it’s all just a whisper away from boat hats and parasols.

In the restaurant, Mark has brought back the lobster risotto but this time it is an entrée with sautéed prosciutto and asparagus. It not only is delicious but such a feast for the eyes. Well….that’s one woman’s opinion. As always, wine! I have chosen the Palmento Costanzo Etna Bianco. This is a volcanic wine that brings such a pure vibrancy that definitely pairs well.

I hope you are enjoying this entry into summer. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy the cut grass smell of spring, even if you just roll down your window as you drive by.

See you in the restaurant,

Melody

Hi Everyone,

Spring is just around the corner. I can smell it in the air and feel it in the warm sunshine. My walks with the dogs are getting longer and I saw some tiny flowers trying to bloom. I love to watch Spring. it’s like watching everything start to move and yawn….waking up. I can see it too on a daily basis. I know some people want it to be green already, but for me, the process is a wonder.

This Spring we are doing something different. We always take some time in April for vacation and we are closing the last two weeks of April. This time we thought it would be fun to be a little creative. Mark and I are going to create four special dinners for a limited amount of guests. Mark already has some delicious ideas We are going to start with a glass of bubbly and a chance for everyone to meet. Then we will be serving a six course dinner and pair them with wines. The dinners will be the last two Fridays and Saturdays in April. If you are interested please call us at 802-768-8444 for more details.

I don’t know about you but tomorrow I am going to wash my car, put on my sunglasses and wave at everyone on the sidewalk like I know them. This is going to be a wonderful Spring.

See you soon,

Melody

Mark and I are saddened by the loss this week of our sister-in-law, Lu French. She was truly a lovely woman in every sense of the word. Her love of family was limitless and her interests were infinite. Her achievements in life were beautiful and many. I would like to briefly let you see how I saw her. I watched her, in one day, juggle three meetings, work on several huge projects, plan a big family dinner, cook a delicious Cuban meal and find time to chat with each person there. As we left she would hand us a basket of vegetables from her garden and give us each a hug. I could go on and on, but in essence, we will miss her forever.

Hello Everyone!

I am so grateful at this moment in my life. Throughout this past year we are so fortunate to have this beautiful new restaurant and all of you that have come in to share this experience with us. Everyone has been amazing and so fun for me to chat with. If I haven’t made it over to see you it is only because we are still shorthanded and I was waiting tables. However I can see the light at the end of that tunnel. The employees that have worked with us throughout the pandemic hold a special place in my heart. Thank you all.

But this post is special in that I have two very important people that I wanted to thank. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to function properly or even at all. Please take a bow… our daughter, Morgan and our son, Noah. They have grown up in our restaurants their entire lives. They have had birthday breakfasts, deferred holidays and even learned to bus tables when they were little. They have been a part of every working day with us and this past year we have relied upon them entirely.

Morgan has experience working in several other restaurants as well. She is now my Assistant Manager and she is a wonder. She has taken over the integration of our new reservation system and is very patient with me while I learn it. She has made it possible for me to make the transition from a smaller place to a much larger one by taking so much off my shoulders. She is organized and systematic and does it all with charm and a wicked sense of humor. Thank you Morgan for being here and making us so proud. You will see her many times at the hostess stand…at least until she gets someone trained.

Noah has helped us out in the kitchen since we opened and put his education on hold to help us get up on our feet. He helps in all areas of the kitchen but primarily works with desserts. He has been so amazing with the entire staff and with Mark especially. He has a calm disposition even in the heat of the moment and keeps everyone on their toes with life questions. Noah just left to go back to school and we couldn’t be prouder.

Although this past year and a half have been difficult in so many ways, I feel especially grateful to have had this time with both of them and want to say a special thank you to them for everything they do!

Next blog will definitely be about food and wine.

See you in the dining room,

Melody