Burlington, USA
When I asked for recommendations
of restaurants in Burlington, Vermont, Farmhouse was the one that came up the
most. It is located just off the main street, in a site that used to house
McDonald’s. This branch of the infamous burger chain is one of the few that has
closed down due to little turnaround. The people of Burlington are very
health-conscious (despite it being the birth town of Ben & Jerry’s ice
cream), so the Farmhouse took over, selling locally sourced food and beer. We
went there on a weeknight, and the place was packed. After a quick drink at the
downstairs bar, we got a perfect table outside. To start with I had a tiny
portion of VT Cheddar Ale soup with garlic croutons. This was super good, and I’d
gladly have it as a main dish. We also shared a starter of Marrow Toast, from
which you couldn’t taste any bone marrow, so I don’t recommend that particular
dish. The staff kindly divided our mains into two plates so that we could share
easily. We had the burger of local grass fed beef, and gnocchi with rabbit meat.
I always hesitate to order rabbit because I had them as pets when I was little
and they’re cute, but they were also pretty darn delicious. The house-made gnocchi was in
the shape of wide, flat bands, which made it feel closer to pasta, something I really
enjoyed. The burger meat was cooked to a very juice level, and we got a sense
that all of the ingredients were fresh. The fries were crispy, which is a must, and the portion sizes suitable. All in all it was a really good meal,
with friendly service and a lively but relaxed ambiance. I understand why it is
so popular. The Farmhouse Group also have a nearby Mexican cantina called El
Cortijo, which I really wish I had tried while I was there. It’s a good reason to
go back to the cosy town of Burlington though.
