Thursday, September 25, 2014

Tiiiiiiiime, is on my side... Yes it is!

As I sit in my kayak, on a pond that will remain un-named, I am reminded of just how lucky I am!

I live here!  Where is here?   Here is where I am.  Here is now.  Here is Vermont.

I watch the geese fly overhead on their journey to points south.  There are two otters playing in the water not far from where I'm bobbing.  Pike and Perch are jumping on my line.  Pretty Freakin Sweet!





It's moments like these that remind me why I am where I am and why I do what I do.

Soon enough the snow will fall and I'll be on a mountain snowboarding!  Until then you can find me on a river, pond or lake.  Fishing and breathing.  Living...



Ciao,
Jon

Friday, September 19, 2014

Autumn in the Manchester Area

It’s inevitable – it happens every year – nothing I’ve ever been able to do to stop it!  The days get cool and crisp and get a lot shorter, the mums and pumpkins appear everywhere, the leaves turn:  you know the drill.  Some people thrive on this – I think it’s because it’s the last gasp of life before hibernation sets in.  And things certainly get active in Manchester and the Mountains this time of year!

September 20th  SVAC has “Art on the Hill” featuring arts, craft, music and all kinds of kids activities.

Saturday is also the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure – get out and run and do some giving back.

Mark Twain is making an appearance at The Dorset Theater – September 18th – 20th – an evening not to be missed, I’m sure.

Next weekend is the annual Peru Fair (September 27th) – if you’ve never been, this is one you shouldn’t miss.  They start with a parade that’s so short they parade down the street and then turn around and come back.  It’s adorable!  But the fair is a great country tradition – great artisans, music, kids’ activities and a fabulous pig roast.  What could be better.

The first weekend of October brings back the Weston Antiques Show and the Southern Vermont Crafts Fair…two of our favorite area festivals.

Columbus Day weekend features the Weston Crafts Show and The Dorset Players – our local thespians are bringing “The Heiress” to our Dorset Theater stage – Henry James’ classic tale of life in Washington Square


In between all of these happenings, there’s hiking, biking, leaf peeping, shopping, dining, or just plain relaxing.  I guess I can see why people like this time of year – OK, I’m convinced!!

Whatever your preference is, you can probably find it here in Dorset – give us a call – pay us a visit!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Enjoying Vermont

Chefs don't get much quality time outside of the kitchen. Luckily for us, we are surrounded by the great outdoors and Mother Nature's endless possibilities. This summer I was able to take two fishing and kayaking excursions to a few of my favorite spots!

Lake Champlain
The Connecticut River




















I was able to get away up to Lake Champlain with my son for a kayaking trip -- Now, there's a way to truly enjoy and appreciate all Vermont has to offer!

Back in the kitchen we've spent this summer enjoying all Vermont has to offer in terms of Mushrooms. Here is Chef Neil with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms delivered fresh from Ed!

Ed, Chef Neil, and Hen of the Woods Mushrooms




Here is another one of our favorite guys, Jameson -with all his mushrooms!












Thanks to both Ed and Jameson for keeping us in fresh local products!

Cheers to enjoying Vermont!
Chef Mark

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

21 Days Later

This is not a zombie blog. It is the incubation period of a chicken egg. Fertilized eggs will hatch after about 18 days -- you may even be able to hear the chick peeping in the egg and in response the mother hen will start to cluck back as encouragement for the chick to hatch. The mother hen will sit on as many eggs as she can, even those she did not lay. She might even move eggs from the nest boxes next to hers!


We take the chick out of the nest within a few hours after hatching. This serves multiple purposes -- the first being it allows the chicks the chance to dry out. The second reason for removal is to protect them from other chickens killing them in a natural reaction to something small, out of place, or just different.


We keep the chickens separated from the older birds because, first and foremost, the chicks only have down feathers after being hatched and aren't able to keep heat in until their real feathers develop. So, for the first part of their lives they are kept under heat lamps. After the heat lamps, the chicks are kept in a separate pen visible to the older chickens. This allows for all the animals to get acclimated to each other without putting the baby chicks at risk.

The term "pecking order" is directly related to a flock of birds as any change (loss or gain) will directly affect the hierarchy of the flock.


Cheers,
Chef Jason and daughter Rowan