Crumbs

Fans of deep-fried pork shanks will have to wait for the next Champlain Valley Fair to satisfy their craving. The only place to regularly find the delicacy, Val’s Wild Tomato [1] in Winooski, has closed its doors. The sandwich shop, specializing in quirky mayos and local ingredients, opened two and a half years ago next to Beverage Warehouse. Owner Valerie Masiello left a phone message apologizing to customers for the short notice. “We suffered a huge loss in my family this year, and I need to focus on helping to put things back together,” she later told Seven Days. “I’ll be leaving Vermont, and I’m not sure exactly what’s next. I already miss my regulars at the deli. I had a wonderful clientele who kept me smiling.”

Winooski residents won’t have to wait long for a replacement. Nick Lin, of Williston Korean/Chinese spot Naru Asian Cuisine [2], is already at work on the take-out restaurant he will open in the former Val’s space. So long, “pig wings”; hello, bibimbap?

*****

In Lamoille County, Johnson State College students will have to find a new parents’ weekend destination. Winding Brook Bistro [3] — known for its French-inflected menu featuring dishes such as Lac Brome duck breast with dried-cherry demiglâce — has closed, leaving a hole in the college town’s dining scene. Chef-owner Chase Vanderveer could not be reached by press time.