After months of whispers and speculation, El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina opened in Burlington’s former Oasis Diner (most recently Sadie Katz Delicatessen) on December 31.
“It’s been busy,” says co-owner Jed Davis of the restaurant, which is just down Bank Street from its big brother, the Farmhouse Tap & Grill. “We’ve definitely had a wait list the last few days.”
Those diners are lining up, says Davis, for a menu of nine tacos. Options include a vegetarian wrap filled with peppers, broccoli, onions, queso fresco and corn salsa; braised beef tongue with shaved radishes; and crispy fish with tequila-lime slaw.
Davis says the queso fundido and Wood Mountain Fish ceviche are hits, too.
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Ever tried a scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with a Famous Amos cookie? You can see the products’ namesakes themselves together when the cookie’s inventor, Wally Amos, speaks at Burlington’s City Hall on January 14 at 6 p.m. According to the event’s organizer, Patrick Brown of Caribbean Buffet, Amos is a last-minute fill-in for Harry Belafonte, who would have been his annual Martin Luther King Day speaker.
Amos’ only demand before signing on: “Please invite my friends, Ben [Cohen] and Jerry [Greenfield],” recounts Brown. A tasty tribute to Dr. King.
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The Squash Valley Produce retail stand in Waterbury Center has closed. The company will now focus entirely on wholesale via Upper Valley Produce, which purchased Squash Valley two years ago.
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Though Stowe may lack snow cover, two new eateries are enlivening its culinary landscape: O’Grady’s Grill & Bar, which opened just before Christmas; and Crop Bistro & Brewery, the new farm-to-table venture set to open January 15. The bistro menu — posted online — includes Tannery Farm Chevron Cacciatori and sea scallops with chorizo dust and potato puree.
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Despite ongoing insurance-claim issues, MINT Restaurant & Tea House has reopened on Bridge Street in Waitsfield.
This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2012.
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