Side Dishes: New bistro to replace Stowe's Lagniappe
When Linda Hunter and Mark Fucile purchased Stowe’s Ten Acres Lodge in November, they knew they were taking on a historic building. But that realization was never starker than when they encountered a basement of forgotten belongings from decades of previous owners.
Now benches, tables and a mirror from that cellar will become part of the décor of the renovated Bistro at Ten Acres, the restaurant the couple will open in mid-December.
The eatery replaces Lagniappe, the 2-year-old Cajun-Creole restaurant that closed earlier this fall. Its chef, Gary Jacobson, will remain in the kitchen.
“The guy has chops. We’re thrilled he’s staying with us,” Fucile says. Jacobson’s specialties, such as barbecue shrimp and Bourbon Street Lobster, will remain on the menu, but that’s where the similarities end. “It’s not fair to call it a Cajun restaurant anymore,” Fucile adds.
Instead, Bistro at Ten Acres will be a casual spot with an expanded bar area and “good, handmade, American-European food,” says Hunter. “Pretty much everything that leaves the kitchen will be handmade — breads, burgers, soups, relishes and desserts.”
At the curved bar, which is being built atop old Jim Beam barrels, the bistro will offer Vermont craft beers and a small but eclectic wine selection; in front, a cozy seating area faces the killer views from the lodge’s front window.
As for keeping the “Ten Acres” moniker, Hunter says it was a no-brainer: “It’s been here forever and we couldn’t imagine changing the name.”