Executive Summary

November 22, 2016 By OpEdNo Comments

Everyone should be able to afford a healthy meal.

My mission is to provide food and beverage that is handled properly and ethically.
The vegetables not being sprayed with chemicals is kept in mind when scouting out local and regional produce.
The beef, chicken and pork are purchased locally from North East Kingdom Processing or Libby’s Meat Market. Ham & Hot Dogs are sourced from Mckenzie.
The seafood that is sourced from the North Atlantic for peak freshness.
Condiments are carefully chosen. For instance pink salt, raw sugar & fresh cracked pepper are used to achieve the best flavor from it’s purity.
BPA free products are sought out. Water without fluoride is brought in.
The beverages are geared towards the seasonality. In the summer you will see Lemonade with local black currant juice. In the fall hot cider is featured. Those are just a couple of examples of the beverages that change throughout the season. As far as consistent beverage options sourced with a purpose I have spindrift seltzer waters. For anyone who wants to feel nostalgic Mexican Coca Cola with pure cane sugar is served up.
To go containers are green. The product served inside of it is made from scratch or sourced from a company in Vermont. Wagon made bread & pickles are a favorite.
The seasonality of the product and whether are crucial towards deciding what daily specials are going to be. GMO free is a priority. Also having various options available such as gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, lactose free & other dietary options are a priority towards the type of customers who enjoy my food.
The most popular item sought out by the locals is the Cubano. It’s preparation is Cuban. The ingredients are Vermont. Also the Hot Dog & Burgers are served up modestly & also with eclectic flair. The grilled Cheese is served with Cabot cheddar, Swiss & American. Then truffle fries get served up as a side. Hand cut fries, dusting of pink salt, parm cheese, minced parsley then tossed & misted with truffle oil.
This mission is a lifestyle for me now. It feels great to serve up food that has the quality of what my grandparents had to work with. Unfortunately, corporations and greed have made this a task. Eating REAL food should come naturally.

 

What Vermont means to me.

November 22, 2016 By OpEdNo Comments

People in Vermont that I’ve always looked up to have been the self sufficient, take no shit, independent people that enjoy the simple things in life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had family, teachers, coaches and friends who have inherited and taught me this trait.

In my travels I noticed that something was always missing. I found myself missing Vermont. I also felt like I took it for granted. I’m also well aware that if I never traveled like some of the people I know, I never would have ending up appreciating Vermont. Oh the irony..
As a Chef moving back home at the time I did became an eye opening experience. Before I knew it the food scene started to explode. The agriculture was being utilized better by the Chefs, coops and Vermonters.
Vermont hasn’t ever had a thriving economy. We’ve always been behind the curve on trends and quote on quote culture. Then something happened. All of a sudden Vermont made became sought out by people from all over. What people had clung to for generations and did time and time again was getting noticed.
So I’m proud. Proud of the hard working people in this state. A lot of like minded people contribute in many different ways to make us unique compared to the majority of the other states where people have other interests. Perhaps it’s those long tough winters. You know what I mean New England. We’re pretty much in this together, for the most part.

Online reviews

November 22, 2016 By OpEdNo Comments
I feel lucky to have received all positive with my business so far.
My distaste of negative people who find satisfaction in blackmailing, sabotaging and manipulating people’s passion hasn’t changed. It effects people who put in long hours, who do what they love.Negative entitled people do not car about that reality. Now if you have a problem with the business and the business is rude or doesn’t fix the problem, then they won’t last. It’s as simple as that. That’s the way it’s always been. In today’s world business’s are being targeted without just cause. That’s what I have a problem with.
In a prior business venture I was sabotaged by a former employee. This employee was fired for stealing. The employee rallied up friends to slander my business with bad reviews.  Unfortunately I had to take that off the chin and hope for the best. Justice wasn’t served.
Overall reviews annoy me because I see hard working people getting torn down. A lot of good people fall victim of this. Almost every restaurant deals with this. Negative folks love to be little established businesses to make themselves feel more important about by being a wind bag.
A fun concept for the future would be a review site based on people on a personal level. Toxic people could sabotage innocent people and perhaps other toxic people. They could pander the idea of presenting matter of fact information in which encourages people to suck. Perhaps then, the right kind of people will feel the irony of online reviews. That’s my billion dollar idea. Please, someone steal it.
Pardon the sarcasm
Matt