eatplusdrink:

Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen (Barre, Vt)

I know this seems like a completely random restaurant review and the likelihood of you ever showing up in the small town of Barre, let alone the great state of Vermont, is very slim.  But I was there recently and thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight a far off locale.

I’m from Vermont and my parents were both born and raised in the Barre-Montpelier area.  Psst - Montpelier is the capitol of Vermont - it’s a small state, we know no one remembers from geography class.  

Barre is the Granite City and home to Rock of Ages quarry.  My grandfather was a stone cutter and almost everyone in my family had something to do with granite and quarries in one way or another for a number of generations.  I love granite and until I was well into my 20’s I assumed that all granite looked like the stone that came out of Vermont - a light grey with flecks of black and silver and white.  It’s gorgeous and always reminds me of Vermont.

I’ve traveled back to Vermont more recently over the last few years mostly to join my Mom in her yearly pilgrimage to plant flowers at Hope Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country I’m told primarily because all the stones are made from Vermont granite, and make sure my grandparent’s resting place is in pristine condition.  It’s been great fun spending a little time in this quiet area every summer.  It’s like a little serene bubble I get to visit every now and then.

Recently, Barre has been undergoing a “Big Dig” to revitalize and beautify downtown.  My Mom recently oohed and awwed over the new “old-timey” streetlights and how amazing Main Street looked without the old power lines and telephone poles.  Barre is on the way back to it’s former glory!  

I was back in Barre two weeks ago and we had heard about the new eatery in town - the Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen.  It’s located in what my mother told me is the old bank right on the main drag in town and was all the talk of the locals.  On our last night in town we tried to make a reservation with no luck so I drove over and begged Keith Paxman, one of the owners along with Keith McSheffrey, to find us a table that night.  He took pity on me and set us up in a great spot.

Chef Jesse LeClair didn’t disappoint.  It probably helped that we knew he was an old friend of my cousin Eric, also a chef, but I digress.  I had the New England Clam Chowder (appropriate right?) and then the Pan Seared Diver Scallops.  Others at the table tried the fish and chips and the filet.  It was all quite good.  I can’t wax on poetic about the food because it wasn’t other-worldly.  It was solid cooking and I can’t complain about that.  I tried a wine that didn’t measure up but that was a bit of my fault wasn’t it?  

The outstanding part of the menu which is the area I have the least knowledge in (other than all that beer drinking in Germany during high school) was the Draft Beer Menu.  Cornerstone’s motto is “Helping to Rebuild Barre One Pint at a Time” and apparently they mean it.  My cousin Steve was in awe at the list and especially commented on the Dogfish which happens to be an Imperial IPA - a robust, alcohol infused beer with a hop profile “that might rip your tongue out”.  The Imperial IPA comes from Russian Imperial Stout, a style originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the 1700’s.  There’s my factoid for the day.

So if you happen to find yourself up in Vermont and close to Barre, stop by and visit Cornerstone.  Drink a beer, chat up Keith and then wander up the road a bit and wander around Hope Cemetery checking out all the amazing granite sculptures and headstones.  There are some fascinating stories up there…..

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going

Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen (Barre, Vt)

I know this seems like a completely random restaurant review and the likelihood of you ever showing up in the small town of Barre, let alone the great state of Vermont, is very slim.  But I was there recently and thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight a far off locale.

I’m from Vermont and my parents were both born and raised in the Barre-Montpelier area.  Psst - Montpelier is the capitol of Vermont - it’s a small state, we know no one remembers from geography class.  

Barre is the Granite City and home to Rock of Ages quarry.  My grandfather was a stone cutter and almost everyone in my family had something to do with granite and quarries in one way or another for a number of generations.  I love granite and until I was well into my 20’s I assumed that all granite looked like the stone that came out of Vermont - a light grey with flecks of black and silver and white.  It’s gorgeous and always reminds me of Vermont.

I’ve traveled back to Vermont more recently over the last few years mostly to join my Mom in her yearly pilgrimage to plant flowers at Hope Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country I’m told primarily because all the stones are made from Vermont granite, and make sure my grandparent’s resting place is in pristine condition.  It’s been great fun spending a little time in this quiet area every summer.  It’s like a little serene bubble I get to visit every now and then.

Recently, Barre has been undergoing a “Big Dig” to revitalize and beautify downtown.  My Mom recently oohed and awwed over the new “old-timey” streetlights and how amazing Main Street looked without the old power lines and telephone poles.  Barre is on the way back to it’s former glory!  

I was back in Barre two weeks ago and we had heard about the new eatery in town - the Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen.  It’s located in what my mother told me is the old bank right on the main drag in town and was all the talk of the locals.  On our last night in town we tried to make a reservation with no luck so I drove over and begged Keith Paxman, one of the owners along with Keith McSheffrey, to find us a table that night.  He took pity on me and set us up in a great spot.

Chef Jesse LeClair didn’t disappoint.  It probably helped that we knew he was an old friend of my cousin Eric, also a chef, but I digress.  I had the New England Clam Chowder (appropriate right?) and then the Pan Seared Diver Scallops.  Others at the table tried the fish and chips and the filet.  It was all quite good.  I can’t wax on poetic about the food because it wasn’t other-worldly.  It was solid cooking and I can’t complain about that.  I tried a wine that didn’t measure up but that was a bit of my fault wasn’t it?  

The outstanding part of the menu which is the area I have the least knowledge in (other than all that beer drinking in Germany during high school) was the Draft Beer Menu.  Cornerstone’s motto is “Helping to Rebuild Barre One Pint at a Time” and apparently they mean it.  My cousin Steve was in awe at the list and especially commented on the Dogfish which happens to be an Imperial IPA - a robust, alcohol infused beer with a hop profile “that might rip your tongue out”.  The Imperial IPA comes from Russian Imperial Stout, a style originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the 1700’s.  There’s my factoid for the day.

So if you happen to find yourself up in Vermont and close to Barre, stop by and visit Cornerstone.  Drink a beer, chat up Keith and then wander up the road a bit and wander around Hope Cemetery checking out all the amazing granite sculptures and headstones.  There are some fascinating stories up there…..

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going

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Red O

Although Cheebo is our go-to for any weekend breakfast or lunch, Red O is our Sunday brunch must-have.  Rick Bayless’ West Hollywood haunt has “the best guacamole EVER” according to our son.  That’s a pretty serious endorsement since up until that moment in time, he was conviced Tere’s guacamole was the best.  It put him in quite the predicament on the day he switched teams.  If only Rick Bayless knew!  

If we have nothing to do on a Sunday around 10a, Red O is the first words out of the kids’ mouths.  Again, I happily drive across town to experience that “world renowned” guacamole along with the Huevos a la Mexicana and the Huevos Rancheros Verdes.  It’s all scrumptious.

Tere likes the Steak & Heirloom Tomato Salad (I do too) and we’ve had the Dungeness Crab Cakes multiple times.  We all love the Churros with chocolate-Kahlua dipping sauce.    

There really isn’t a bad dish on the menu but the one thing I jones for is the margarita.  I go for the Market Margarita otherwise known as the “Spa” margarita.  It has cucumbers and feels very refreshing which is another way of saying I can drink MANY of them!  Tere likes a little spice so she prefers the Alacran Cabo Wabo which has a red color and looks incredibly fire-y to me.

Red O also has a $100 margarita available on Fridays and Saturdays called The Benjamin, and rightfully so.  If you’re uber-knowledgable about tequila, here is the recipe…amazing. 

Extra anejo tequilas; Patron Burdelos, Herradura Selection Suprema, & Partida Elegante, Gran Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquentanaire. with fresh Mexican lime & 100% Organic Agave syrup, shaken & poured over homemade lime sorbet ice cubes & Louix XIII cognac float. Finished with Blood Orange caviar & edible gold & kosher salt rim, served on a silver platter with a stainless steel straw.

I’ve always wondered if Red O was going to make it because the crowd for Sunday Brunch always seemed to be a little on the light side but I hear the evening dinner scene is a madhouse.  Tons of people enjoying the amazing food and out of this world margaritas.  I really need to get over there one evening to check it out but for now, I’m pretty happy with my lazy Sundays and a Market Margarita.

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

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Cheebo

We used to live right up the hill from Cheebo in Hollywood a number of years ago.  It was my absolute go-to for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I love it so much that if I’m not cycling on a weekend morning, I will drive the kids all the way across town for their fried bread, cheeburrito, chopped salad and pizza.

The LA Times reviewed Cheebo back in 2003 and I decided I had to check it out. The pizza sold by the foot is the big draw and you should definitely have it but it’s everything else that makes Cheebo worth coming back over and over.

For breakfast, the kids (and I) love the Chee-Begniers N Honey - and yes, that’s how they spell it on their menu so don’t give me any grief over it.  For the rest of us, it’s otherwise known as fried bread and honey.  These little pillows of fried dough come out steaming hot and make every bad thing that happened to you melt away.  After you satiate your sweet tooth, move on to the Cheeborito.  I go for the Original but add in Avocado.  One Cheeborito is more than a normal person can handle without feeling like you’ll lose a full day to the “sleepies” after you’ve consumed this massive beast.  I also love the Huevos Rancheros, classic SoCal breakfast.

If you’re headed to Cheebo for lunch, order the pizza and a Cheebo Chop.  This is by far my favorite chop salad.  They have a vegetarian version but I don’t understand the point of that.  Get it with all the cheese and meat they will put in. It’s delish.  

To make Cheebo even more interesting than the food is that once in awhile a relaxed, chilled out celebrity will be eating right next to you.  It’s Hollywood so everyone’s cool like that.

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

Las Vegas Bound

I’m headed off to Las Vegas later today and scheduled to eat at a number of well-talked about restaurants like Rao’s, Caesar’s Bacchanal Brunch, Gordon Ramsay Steak and Joe’s (who DOESN’T like stone crab???).  I’m set to write a number of formal reviews next week but maybe I’ll post a shot and quip or two from our extravaganza.  :)  Have a great weekend!

Red O

Although Cheebo is our go-to for any weekend breakfast or lunch, Red O is our Sunday brunch must-have.  Rick Bayless’ West Hollywood haunt has “the best guacamole EVER” according to our son.  That’s a pretty serious endorsement since up until that moment in time, he was conviced Tere’s guacamole was the best.  It put him in quite the predicament on the day he switched teams.  If only Rick Bayless knew!  

If we have nothing to do on a Sunday around 10a, Red O is the first words out of the kids’ mouths.  Again, I happily drive across town to experience that “world renowned” guacamole along with the Huevos a la Mexicana and the Huevos Rancheros Verdes.  It’s all scrumptious.

Tere likes the Steak & Heirloom Tomato Salad (I do too) and we’ve had the Dungeness Crab Cakes multiple times.  We all love the Churros with chocolate-Kahlua dipping sauce.    

There really isn’t a bad dish on the menu but the one thing I jones for is the margarita.  I go for the Market Margarita otherwise known as the “Spa” margarita.  It has cucumbers and feels very refreshing which is another way of saying I can drink MANY of them!  Tere likes a little spice so she prefers the Alacran Cabo Wabo which has a red color and looks incredibly fire-y to me.

Red O also has a $100 margarita available on Fridays and Saturdays called The Benjamin, and rightfully so.  If you’re uber-knowledgable about tequila, here is the recipe…amazing. 

Extra anejo tequilas; Patron Burdelos, Herradura Selection Suprema, & Partida Elegante, Gran Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquentanaire. with fresh Mexican lime & 100% Organic Agave syrup, shaken & poured over homemade lime sorbet ice cubes & Louix XIII cognac float. Finished with Blood Orange caviar & edible gold & kosher salt rim, served on a silver platter with a stainless steel straw.

I’ve always wondered if Red O was going to make it because the crowd for Sunday Brunch always seemed to be a little on the light side but I hear the evening dinner scene is a madhouse.  Tons of people enjoying the amazing food and out of this world margaritas.  I really need to get over there one evening to check it out but for now, I’m pretty happy with my lazy Sundays and a Market Margarita.

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

Red O

8155 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90046

(323)655-5009

Open: Sat & Sun Brunch 10:30a-3:00p, Daily Dinner starting at 6:00p

Reservations

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Apple Pan

My paternal grandmother is not a good cook.  A wonderful woman, yes, but a horror in the kitchen.  When I was young, my family would drive up from Orange County to visit her and my grandfather in West Los Angeles but always with a caveat – we’d stop at the Apple Pan.  This tiny shack on Pico Boulevard is an LA institution with its original menu and décor which date back to the 1940’s.   In my formidable years, I wanted to be a grown-up just so I could work in the movies and eat at the Apple Pan every day.  I suppose this dream isn’t so far-fetched but if only my waistline would co-sign with these ambitions…

The options are limited but oh so satisfying.  I always order the fries well done as they arrive with the perfect amount of crispiness on the outside that crunch into a soft, slightly salty potato center.  You can’t go wrong with either the hickory or steak burger – it’s just a matter of personal preference.  The hickory features their special house-made barbecue sauce while the steak burger is their take on an all-American classic.  Both come adorned with pickles, lettuce and mayo with the opportunity to add a slice of Tillamook Cheese (which is an obvious yes).  At this point in the meal I’m almost always full…but that doesn’t mean the party’s over.  It is the Apple Pan for goodness sake’s!  Now here’s where things get controversial. Yes, they are known for their apple pie.  Yes, it is great.  However, the banana cream pie is the real show stopper.  The cream mixes with sliced bananas proudly perched on top of flaky pie crust into a delectable presentation with an entrancing fragrance.  It’s pretty close to pure perfection. 

After such a satisfying meal, I’m either ready to curl up on the couch with a good movie or immediately schedule my next appointment at the gym.  Even though I am now firmly cemented in my adulthood, it doesn’t seem like all that much has changed as far as my priorities go. Maybe instead I should call up my grandmother and see if she’d be up for a visit?  

Lauren’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

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Sunday Supper: Chili

A couple years ago we had a dinner party that was straight out of a movie.  Great people and great conversation out under the stars at our home with twinkling lights everywhere.  We ate and drank well into the night.  Everyone felt it the next day.  It was sort of epic.  

One of the thoughts that came out of that event was a feeling of family and friends, food and wine, laughter and love.  We wanted to replicate that as often as possible and although we do have a two or three big dinner parties a year, more often it’s the Sunday Supper we adore.

Sunday Supper is very specific.  It’s clearly on Sunday and usually at 4:00p.  Invites are very difficult to come by and guests are matched up for compatibility.  We rarely cook during the week so Tere likes to pull out all the stops on Sundays.  She’s made many a fine meal that I will do my best to document going forward as they are usually repeated every so often.

Recently, I asked for chili.  It was getting colder and the weather made me want to hunker down and snuggle under a blanket and watch random television.  Chili seemed appropriate.  Tere found this chili recipe at Epicurious and it is excellent.  I ate it for a week straight and probably suffered a few consequences because of it.  The chili is worth it but the Lime Crema (aka lime creme fraiche) is what makes this chili amazing.  Do not overlook the simple sour cream and lime because it’s so good, you’ll want to bathe in it.

Chili requires cornbread.  I don’t know exactly why but it does.  Tere’s a bit fancy so she went all out the first time and made corn muffins from a Bouchon bakery mix from Williams-Sonoma.  It was good but I’m simple and really just wanted regular corn bread.  The second time she made chili, she went for “regular” corn bread and made this one she retrieved from Whole Foods.  It was good too but I really just wanted the old stand-by from my childhood.  You know the one - in the blue and white box?  Yes, Jiffy mix.  On the third try, she finally found it and I had the cornbread muffins that made me happy.  Sometimes, comfort food means feeling like a kid again.    

Cheebo

We used to live right up the hill from Cheebo in Hollywood a number of years ago.  It was my absolute go-to for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I love it so much that if I’m not cycling on a weekend morning, I will drive the kids all the way across town for their fried bread, cheeburrito, chopped salad and pizza.

The LA Times reviewed Cheebo back in 2003 and I decided I had to check it out. The pizza sold by the foot is the big draw and you should definitely have it but it’s everything else that makes Cheebo worth coming back over and over.

For breakfast, the kids (and I) love the Chee-Begniers N Honey - and yes, that’s how they spell it on their menu so don’t give me any grief over it.  For the rest of us, it’s otherwise known as fried bread and honey.  These little pillows of fried dough come out steaming hot and make every bad thing that happened to you melt away.  After you satiate your sweet tooth, move on to the Cheeborito.  I go for the Original but add in Avocado.  One Cheeborito is more than a normal person can handle without feeling like you’ll lose a full day to the “sleepies” after you’ve consumed this massive beast.  I also love the Huevos Rancheros, classic SoCal breakfast.

If you’re headed to Cheebo for lunch, order the pizza and a Cheebo Chop.  This is by far my favorite chop salad.  They have a vegetarian version but I don’t understand the point of that.  Get it with all the cheese and meat they will put in. It’s delish.  

To make Cheebo even more interesting than the food is that once in awhile a relaxed, chilled out celebrity will be eating right next to you.  It’s Hollywood so everyone’s cool like that.

Heather’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

Cheebo

7533 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles 90046

(323)850-7070

Hours: 8:00a-11:00p Every Day

Reservations: Call