When you go on vacation you hope for sunny warm days and cool nights to rejuvenate. Sometimes, it doesn't work out exactly like that. Like last week. I was back home on vacation in Massachusetts and it rained. A lot. Wednesday our plan had been to play with the jet skis, swim and lie under the sun on the raft in the middle of the lake like a couple of salamanders. Instead, with the rain and wind blustering, my niece, C., and I went on an adventure to find things that would remind me of home when I am back in Seattle.
We decided on a trip about 45 minutes away to the Kringle Candle Company and by the time we were through sniffing our way through Atkins Cider Donut and Basil Spice, we were starving. Luckily, just across the street was The Farm Table, a cozy restaurant located in a faithfully renovated 200 year-old Colonial farmhouse with such a lovely outdoor sitting area that I couldn't help but wish that the weather has been better.
C., and I swept in soaking wet but within moments we were settled into a cozy table with high back leather chairs surrounded by fireplaces, hardwood, candlelight and the smell of old-fashioned home cooking. Over coffee (for me) and root beer (for C.) I learned that sixth grade is nothing like fifth grade and sparkles are actually bigger than glitter.
With an extensive menu by Executive Chef Brent Menke, featuring locally sourced, ethically produced food, it was hard deciding on lunch choices. C., eventually chose the Margherita pizza and I selected the Quiche of the Day, which was bacon-leek. As we waited, C., and I took in the wine bottle chandeliers and the warm atmosphere. It was easy to see how on a autumn day in New England, this restaurant would be the finest place to enjoy a slow cooked soup or stew in such an historic place.
The wait was short for both C.'s pizza and my quiche. The pizza was rustic, cooked in a brick oven and served on a sturdy wooden board. I asked C. what she thought of her lunch and between bites I got "So good. This is so good. It's so good."
I savored every single bite of my quiche. The crust was buttery and flaky with a filling that was light and creamy with a good amount of crispy bacon and leeks throughout. On a rainy day it was the perfect food.
While C., appreciated the hot pizza and the cold root beer, I liked the fact that The Farm Table's motto is "The way it used to be." I also felt good eating a meal where much of the ingredients are locally sourced. In season much of their produce is from their own organic farm.
We were both too full to try dessert but if we had room we were going to share the Warm Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake with Blueberry Sauce and Honey Ice Cream. It looked divine when the table next to us ordered it.
The Farm Table is the kind of restaurant that makes its way into your host of favorite places, whether it's the Banana Foster Brioche French Toast for brunch on the patio on the loveliest of summer days or Smoked Pork Chops after a day of driving throughout the Massachusetts countryside in autumn. My only regret is that The Farm Table is 2400 miles away from me now in Seattle. If you are in New England, I highly recommend a trip to The Farm Table. It's a wonderful way to get your happy.
The Farm Table is located at 219 South Street Bernardston, MA 01337
For reservations, contact The Farm Table at 413 648 5200
For information on The Farm Table Events, like them on Facebook
