Read this story for really great food stops — two of this family's favorites — on road trips in Vermont.
The concentration of colleges and universities in the northeast makes it very likely that when you have a junior or senior in high school, you will be doing “the circuit.” While we were on the road with our son, we happened upon some unusual and interesting eateries which I thought were worth sharing.
These are great places to stop at while pondering the merits of small vs. large, urban vs. rural, liberal arts vs. pre-professional, a required core of courses vs. free choice, etc. etc. etc. Maybe after a good meal or snack, it will be easier to sort through it all and concentrate on where your child will be the happiest.
Restaurants of the New England Culinary Institute
Burlington, Essex Junction and Montpelier, VT
877/223-6324
Think you might have a future chef in the family or are you just hungry? The New England Culinary Institute (NECI) was established in 1980 in Montpelier, Vermont, and currently has three campuses, offering degrees in culinary arts, food and beverage management, and baking and pastry arts. Honored in 2004 as “Cooking School of the Year” by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, NECI also operates six eateries, each with a different style from casual to fancy, in Burlington, Essex Junction and Montpelier, Vermont. Although these “teaching restaurants” are in some ways classrooms or labs, they are very well run and the food is always fresh, interesting and very tasty. Students also perform as hosts and hostesses managing the “front of the house,” as well as wait staff who can answer all your questions about the menus.
American Flatbread
115 St. Paul Street
Burlington, VT
802/861-2999
All natural pizza baked in a wood-fired oven is at the heart of the menu at American Flatbread. On a thin crust made with organically grown flour and topped with interesting combinations of locally grown, organic vegetables (including the tomatoes used in the sauce), cheeses and meats, the pizza is outstanding, and guilt-free. Mesclun salads, beer, wine and locally made sodas, plus a few desserts round out the menu. Additional locations of American Flatbread are located in Middlebury and Waitsfield, Vermont.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
