Saturday, March 14, 2015

Featured St. Albans Business: Local Fare

Katy Collin, owner of "What A Yarn",  very kindly invited me to attend this week's St. Albans Downtown Merchant's Meeting. It was a great meeting, and I was privileged to be introduced to some wonderful people.  One of the great people I met was Christine Kubacz, owner of "Local Fare- A Taste of Vermont" and the Foggy Brook Farm in Fairfield, Vermont.  She invited me to stop by her year-round indoor farmers' market and tasting center, and to discover all the wonderful foods and specialty products to try and take home, and also the very talented artisans who create the very unique Vermont Made Products offered there.

So, with my littlest one in tow, we stopped by today, and discovered an absolute treasure in St. Albans.  Local Fare is currently open on Saturdays, from 10 am to 7 pm, located at 22 North Main Street.  (Phone- 802 524-1405).  Some of the products you can sample at Local Fare are:


  • Locally Grown Herbs and Spices
  • Beef
  • Fresh Eggs
  • Poultry
  • Specialty Black Current Products
  • Honey, Maple Syrup and Specialty Maple Products
  • Sweets, Pies and Cakes
  • Pork
  • Stuffed Breads
  • Coffee and Tea
  • Salsa and Sauces
  • Jams, Jellies and Pickles
  • Homemade Pasta
  • BBQ Sauces and Rubs
  • Ice Cream 
  • And much more!
I had the opportunity to sample many of the delicious foods there, and it was all so good!

The building space for Local Fare is owned by Twigg's Restaurant, and many of the local and fresh foods from the farmers' market are featured in the restaurant as well.  The art is provided by local artist, John Young, who has a studio downstairs.

Let me introduce you to Local Fare's Vendors:


Hall Home Place



Hall Home Place is the producer of Vermont Ice Cider.  Their company has a special history behind it. Their orchard is in Isle La Motte.  The property has been in the family since the late 1700's and different generations of Halls have been cultivating apples and pears since the orchard was started.  At the Cidery, they bottle several varieties of Ice Cider including Sweet Six, Pure Cortland, South End Blend and M&E along with their Isle Blend Apple Wine and VT Iced Hard Cider.  You can visit Hall's Tasting Hall at the Cidery for samples and tours.  They are open daily from 11 am to 4 pm, mid June through Labor Day, weekends in the spring and fall or by appointment.  Check their website or Facebook for updates and special events, www.hallhomeplace.com.

You can also watch a demonstration video from youtube.


I sampled some of these cider chocolates, and oh my goodness.  I had to walk away, otherwise I might have devoured the entire bowl of samples!  The cider in the chocolates are simmered down into a sweet syrup, and the chocolates are all natural.


Their seasonal Cafe opened in June 2008 and they offer a wide variety of fresh baked goods, paninis and wraps along with many specialty items.  It is open daily mid-June through Labor Day and four days a week during the spring and fall.  Their hours are 7:30 am to 2:30 pm weekdays and 8:30 am to 2:30 pm on weekends.  Check Facebook or their website (www.hallhomeplace.com) for schedules and updates. 

Located at 4445 Main Street, Isle La Motte, Vermont  05463.  Phone (802) 928-3091



Grandma Oma's Baked Goods
It's Home Cook'in Good!

Serving savory and stuffed homemade breads with local fresh Vermont ingredients.





I sampled the chocolate sensation stuffed bread, and again, I had to walk away, before eating a whole loaf of it!

Their selection of savory breads:
  • Pepperoni
  • Turkey Pepperoni
  • Philly Cheese Steak
  • Roasted Vegetables with Goat Cheese
  • Chicken Alfredo
  • Taco
  • Chocolate Sensation
  • Drizzle Delight

They are currently doing business at Local Fare.  For orders call:  Charity Boyd, (802) 782-3706, or e-mail at grandmaomas@gmail.com.



Winnie's International Market
Seasonings, Spices & Things










Their products are sold at many locations including:
  • Bob's Meat Market, St. Albans, VT
  • Ace Hardware, St. Albans, VT
  • Just The Place, St. Albans, VT
  • Quarry Farms, Jeffersonville, VT
  • Jay Country Store, Jay, VT
  • Ste. Marie's Gas Station, Swanton, VT
Check out their website and Facebook page.



Breezy Acres Farm



Owned by Mark & Wendy Brouillette.  They offer beef & pork cuts by the pound, wholes & halves, fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving, & piglets, all raised naturally from their farm for your family.  They take great pride in raising their animals-naturally, humanely, healthy and happy!

Their farm is located at 536 Fuller Bridge Road, Montgomery, Vermont.
Phone (802) 326-2197 or (802) 309-8574
E-mail:  mbrouillette@fairpoint.net


Lillybelle Bakes



Facebook page.



St. Hilaire Family Farm



Facebook page.



Branon's Barrywilde Maples, LLC



Featured above is the lovely Cathy Branon, co-owner with her husband, Rusty Branon of Branon's Barrywild Maples, Specialty Maple Products.  They recently purchased a sugar bush in their family's hometown of Fairfield, Vermont.  Together, they tap the maple trees, collect the sap and boil it down in the family sugarhouse to make pure Vermont Maple Syrup.  Cathy uses the syrup to make delicious specialty maple products.  Below, you can see my daughter enjoying the Maple Caramel Corn Puffs.








Rusty and Cathy offer sugarhouse tours and Maple Breakfast (during season) at their farm:

Branon's West View Maples is located at 709 West Street, Fairfield, VT  05455
Phone:  (802) 527-2430
E-mail:  westviewmaples@hotmail.com

Branon's Barrywilde Maples, LLC, Specialty Maple Products feature:
  • Maple Syrup
  • Maple Caramel Corn Puffs
  • Maple Seasoning
  • Maple Cream
  • Granular Maple Sugar
Edward Branon, Member, located at:
83 Meadow Lane
Franklin, VT  05457
Phone:  (802) 309-4773, (802) 309-4774
E-mail:  barrywildemaples@gmail.com

They also feature at their vendor stand Tree Tap Beverages, pristine water from Vermont's Maple Trees, by Gene Branon.  

Located at 496 Bradley Road
Fairfield, VT  05455
Mobile:  (802)  777-1237
Facebook page

And they also featured Honey from the Howrigan Farm.


Balsam Acres




Located at 365 Carpenter Hill Road, Georgia, VT  05478
Phone:  (802) 527-8279
balsamacres@myfairpoint.net


Covert Essentials
Personal Care Products with a personal touch....



Made with natural ingredients.

Owned by Kimberly Covert
Phone:  (802) 766-1391
E-mail:  covertessentials@yahoo.com
Etsy shop:  www.etsy.com/shop/covertessentials

Covert Essentials
PO Box 1245
Enosburg Falls, VT  05450


Irene's Kitchen
Homecooked Treats To Whisk You Off Your Feet





I had the opportunity to sample some of her chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Well, I got about one bite, before my daughter devoured the rest.  It was delicious, to say the least. 

Irene Dunlavey
Sheldon, VT
Phone:  (802) 933-5308


Pepper's Bar-B-Que
Rubs, Sauces & Marinades




Owned by Earl Katon 
Phone:  (802) 752-0301
E-mail:  info@peppersbbqvt.com

In the summer when Twigg's is grilling, they will be featuring Pepper's Bar-B-Que Products.


Kingdom Creamery of Vermont



Foggy Brook Farm
Bringing love and sustainability to your table



Owned by Christine & John Kubacz
Fairfield, Vermont
Phone:  (802) 524-6317
E-mail:  christinekubacz@hotmail.com
facebook.com/foggybrookfarm


I highly recommend all of these products, and as soon as you can, check out Local Fare!

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