Escape from New York City, (and I don’t mean the movie)

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This year for my birthday we decided to spend the weekend in Vermont, specifically Manchester VT. This city itself is nothing special but it is just close enough that it doesn’t take all day to get there and there is a Kimpton hotel, which means Tarragon gets to come along.

To get here involves a commuter train and a zip car. We could have rented a car and drove from the city, but rental cars are very expenses in the city and the stress of driving in the city is not worth it. We started with a subway ride to Grand Central Station, luggage and cat in tow. From there it was 2 hours on Metro North to Poughkeepsie, where we picked up the car and had lunch before heading on our way to Vermont.

No pictures of lunch, but the restaurant is a keeper, Farmers and Chefs, organic food, many vegan and gluten free options. The food was very good and a pleasant surprise.

The drive was nice, about 3 ½ hours on the slow road, Route 44 to 22 to 7. Not much traffic and no snow on the road. We really needed to get out of the city. Living in Manhattan is a love hate relationship. Sometimes more hate than love, but it is a means to and end, and we all know that end is retirement in France or Spain. To survive this city, especially for transplants like us, it is mandatory that you get out for a few days at least 3 or 4 times a year. A business trip to Orlando for a week long conference just doesn’t count. We love Vermont and it is relatively easy to get to so here we are.

We are staying at the Kimpton Taconic Lodge. Very nice rooms, with a gas fireplace, Tarragon is in heaven between the fireplace and the king size bed, he won’t want to go home. There is a light dusting of snow, but roads are clear. I am not really sure how the ski here. They don’t have mountains, just hills about 4,000 feet high; and there isn’t much snow, it must be fake snow (no not the same as fake news, whatever that is).

The lack of people is wonderful and everyone is friendly, Oregon friendly here. Even at the wine store. We checked in and headed to the room, dinner is in the hotel so we had time to relax, kitty enjoyed the fireplace and thoroughly inspected the room. When we got to the room there was a bottle of Columbia Valley Chardonnay shilling and two lemon cakes, with a nice card wishing us a happy birthday weekend, very thoughtful on the part of the housekeeping staff.

We hung out in the room for a few hours and then headed down to dinner at the Copper Grouse. Nice real wood fire in the lobby, needed more wood on it, and the restaurant was very cozy. We were seated at a nice corner table and had a view of most of the establishment. Just a word on the cliental, while we escaped the city, we unfortunately did not escape the pretentious, entitled, too much money New Yorkers. That is all I will say on the subject.

We started with Martini’s a break from out traditional champagne. Everything on the menu looked really good, we split an Alpine Raclette for a starter. Perfelcty melted raclette cheese over crostini’s, new potatoes and broccolini, with a heavenly apple bacon jam (its bacon how can it not be good).

Next, we both had a Caesar, good but not perfect, the brioche croutons were a nice touch, especially with the anchovies baked right in.

Finally, the entrée’s I had a braised lamb shank with polenta and Jerry had Day Boat Scallops with a celeriac puree and caramelized cauliflower. Both were very good and portions large. They went well with a Gran Reserva Rioja .

While the food was really good, no complaints there, the execution was a bit subpar. The service was a bit rushed; salads came before we were even done with the appetizer (we had to tell them to slow the pace). Far worse was that the entrees came out (good timing) but luke warm, and if you know anything about me I do not like my food luke warm. Luke warm scallops are not even edible. They refired them and they came back perfect. They did mistakenly try to charge us twice, but that was quickly resolved.

So as to not end on a sour note, the food was exceptionally good and we would most certainly eat here again, should we find ourselves in Manchester, in fact we are having breakfast there on our way out of town on Sunday.

After dinner we retired to our room with Tarragon some red wine and our fire place. Off to Bennington tomorrow.

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Comments

[Shari]

Have a Wonderful Birthday Weekend
I’m trying to take notes on everything. Is this place on a route that Jeff and I might drive in our RV to “See the colors” one autumn in the future? The food sounds lovely, even for someone without a refined palate (like me).