By GAIL LOWE
The Simon Pearce Restaurant — a place to relax, enjoy fine food and purchase exquisite glassware designed by none other than Simon Pearce himself — is only two hours from where my husband and I live in Massachusetts.
Located in Quechee, Vermont, it's a perfect destination for a day trip from the Boston area.
We invited another couple to join us for brunch at Simon Pearce on a recent Sunday morning, and on arrival found that there were plenty of empty tables. Our host, Bruce, led
Like Simon Pearce glassware, the falls sparkle in the sunlight. Even on a cloudy day, they can't help but draw the eye. To be seated right next to these gorgeous falls is a bonus.
The brunch menu is extensive and includes items like caramelized broccoli and poached egg; house made granola and a Vermont cheese plate that includes scones, macron almonds, honey and quince paste.
Entrees even more ambitious include creme brûlée french toast, ricotta and sea salt omelette, crispy chicken and a biscuit and Tamarack Farms lamb burger. For four people, our bill came to about $120, including beverages and tip.
Lisa, our server, was pleasant, friendly and patient while we pored over the menu. We finally settled on a special of the day — Tuscan kale, blood orange and olive salad, house made corned beef hash and the crispy chicken. The Vermont cheddar soup (cup size) also beckoned. To say it was delicious is an understatement. Creamy and smooth, the cheddar wasn't just sharp and flavorful. It was heaven melting in our mouths. We all declared Executive Chef Brian Gazda and his team worthy of a fine European restaurant.
A visit to the Simon Pearce restaurant is well worth the drive, but so is browsing the beautiful handblown glassware. Pearce is known around the world for his glassblowing and pottery, trades he learned in Kilkenny, Ireland. The New York Times described him as a "prominent designer of glassware," one whose works have been given as gifts to foreign dignitaries and to presenters at the Academy Awards.
Simon Pearce selections include barware, vases, bowls, platters and cake plates, and that's the short list. If you plan to shop and buy, make sure your checking account is flush. A single wineglass will set you back $70.
The glass is blown by artisans in a studio just below the restaurant. People interested in seeing how it's done are invited to watch as a piece is molded and placed into a blazing furnace. Just outside the glassblowing studio is a patio where you can stand close to the falls and take pictures.
After brunch, take a short ride to the indoor flea market where you'll find antiques of every kind on several floors. Jewelry, dishware, toys from the 1950s and 1960s and all kinds of collectibles are on display, and everything is for sale. Truly, it's like poking around Grandma's attic.
A little over a half hour away is the Vermont Country Store in Bellows Falls. This emporium also sells items from the past, but unlike the flea market, the items for sale are all new. Think Lifebuoy soap, muumuus and toys and games Baby Boomers played with 50 years ago. These are the things you'll come across on your trip down Memory Lane.
Not ready to go home yet? Then how about heading back toward Quechee and stopping in nearby Woodstock to see if they have any rooms available at the Woodstock Inn and Resort.
Typical of old New England, the elegant Inn is a sprawling white building with black
shutters, and right inside the front door is a massive fireplace with a furniture grouping that invites conversation with your travel companion and fellow travelers. The Inn has a gift shop, and here you'll find genuine maple syrup, a byproduct of Vermont.
The Inn is an expensive option for lodging —most rooms are well over $300 per night, and one drawback is that the pool and fitness center is only accessible if you're willing to walk two miles, take a free shuttle or drive by car.
But once you're there, it's well worth the visit, as it has a gorgeous pool and whirlpool in a glass-walled structure looking out over the green grounds and beautiful hills. There's also a sauna, steam room and changing area.
This is a four-season inn just as Vermont is — no matter what season, there's something to do, from swimming to skiing.
Brunch at Simon Pearce is served from 10 a.m to 2:45 p.m. on Sundays; the dinner hour begins at 5. On other days, including Saturday, lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and the dinner hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.
For more information at the Woodstock Inn, call toll free 855-421-0178 or 802-232-6853 or visit www.woodstockinn.com.
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