Steve Bogart says he was a little embarrassed when the staff at Burlington’s A Single Pebble threw him a retirement party on Monday. Thirty-one days after leaving his acclaimed Chinese restaurant, Bogart, who is jobless for the first time since age 14, marvels at his newly relaxed state: “I can feel it moving up my back.”

But his back won’t be rested for long. After leaving the party, Bogart booked it to Brooklyn.... Read more

A day before the Champlain Valley Fair opens its gates to the public, Ronnie LaBelle is already taking out the trash after two days of service at her indoor eatery, Groucheese, on the Expo grounds. The petite, pixie-cut-sporting 60-year-old owns the spot with her husband, Richard. LaBelle is cleaning up after serving carnies and other fair employees until 2 p.m. that day. While she chats with

The road to New York City runs in both directions. That’s how Montpelier’s Three Penny Taproom landed its new chef: The aptly named Brett Champlain, 29, is a former line cook at The Spotted Pig and sous-chef at The John Dory, both acclaimed Big Apple restaurants owned by April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman.... Read more

A day before the Champlain Valley Fair opens its gates to the public, Ronnie LaBelle is already taking out the trash after two days of service at her indoor eatery, Groucheese, on the Expo grounds. The petite, pixie-cut-sporting 60-year-old owns the spot with her husband, Richard. LaBelle is cleaning up after serving carnies and other fair employees until 2 p.m. that day. While she chats with

Every summer Saturday, crowds pack City Hall Park to shop for juicy cuts of meat, fresh hummus and baby artichokes at the Burlington Farmers Market. When festivals coincide with the occasion, the grassy square fairly teems with bodies.... Read more

August First, a new Euro-style bakery in Burlington’s South End, offers the lunch crowd skinny, homemade loaves layered with classy toppings. If you want a fresh, healthy baguette sandwich on the other side of town, though, Asian’s your best option.... Read more

Bill Owens likes his alcohol. Six years ago, the Hayward, California-based connoisseur toured the nation in search of small craft distilleries. He found 60. Today there are 165.

The 71-year-old raconteur and founder and president of the American Distilling Institute estimates that about 20 new distilleries open every year, mostly in states that have a strong local-food movement. “That’s where the renaissance is happening,” he says.... Read more

It’s always exciting to scoop bigger publications, and on August 12, Seven Days staff writer Lauren Ober did just that. Her cover story “Buying the Farm” told the story of Ken and Carol Borland, dairy farmers who were forced to sell their cows and equipment when low milk prices kept them from making ends meet.... Read more

What’s cheesier than a buffet? How about a buffet in a revolving rooftop restaurant? Sounds like a Green Bay Packers tailgate party waiting to happen — until you visit Chef Hervé Dumont, of Le Tour de Ville at Montréal’s Delta Centre-Ville.... Read more

Brassy show-biz chef Emeril Lagasse usually spends the half hour of his Planet Green TV show, “Emeril Green,” teaching gardeners to use homegrown herbs in their cooking or adding pizzazz to date-night meals. But he’s planning an interesting departure: filming a handful of episodes and an hour-long special on the subject of food providers in Vermont, with a particular focus on the Northeast Kingdom.... Read more