A small, framed picture is propped inconspicuously in Molly Stevens' kitchen: In it, she looks directly into the camera, a huge gold medal on a blue ribbon hanging round her neck, a champagne flute in her hand, and an impish grin dimpling her face.

"A friend looked at this and said, 'You look so happy!'" Stevens says. "Well . . . yeah, I was happy! I was ecstatic!"... Read more

Next in the "Alpine Epicurean Adventures" is "Pacific Rim at 4,395 Feet" this Friday, January 23. To learn more about this series and the "Stop at the Top Mountain Tapas," log on to http://www.stowe.com or call 253-3000. For the dinners, groups of eight are encouraged, except on Valentine's Day, when individual couples are welcomed as well.... Read more