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

Hello Everyone,

Trying to open at our new location during the time of Covid-19 has been a bit of a challenge. I would like to thank all of you. Everyone has been super nice and so thoughtful. As I am sure you know, we have taken every precaution that we know to ensure our guests are protected. This week, to try to keep a tight reign on events we have decided to close. We have had a brush with the virus, so we are taking steps to ensure that everyone is safe. Rest assured when we reopen all will be as good if not better than before.

When I speak to any of you on the phone, an overwhelming amount of you end the conversation with “stay safe”. I would like to return this to all of you…..

Stay Safe,

Melody

Hello Everyone,

Although I am saddened by these difficult times, I am feeling so proud of family and neighbors.  There is a sense of community here that makes me so happy to have chosen Manchester as my home.  Vermonters are intrepid with a wry sense of humor and I just love that.

As you all know the restaurants in Vermont are shut down with exceptions for at home dining.  We have decided to remain open for pick up and delivery for  a minimum of two weeks.  I will be calling everyone who has a reservation over the next two days.

Mark is taking special care and we are using gloves throughout the entire preparation and packaging of the dinners.  If any of you know Mark like I do you will know that he is a clean freak so we have plenty of sanitizer that is being used.  The menu will be slightly pared down as there are a few items that just don’t travel very well.  I will post the menu here on my blog and the dessert menu will be paired down as well.

Call us and set your table with a candle and have a romantic dinner at home.

Be Safe,

Melody