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In Japan, skiers warm their bellies at ramen trucks and stands that set up shop slope-side and in resort parking lots. Here in Vermont, Momo and Jordan Antonucci brought that tradition to Jay Peak two winters ago when they opened their Miso Hungry ramen truck just down the mountain in Jay village. This season, the couple will move their operation to Jay Peak Resort and serve noodle bowls and other Japanese snacks from a retired tram car just above the Tram Haus Lodge.
The Antonuccis did not return calls by press time, but their website confirms the move: "The rumors are true," reads a recent blog post about the tram-car ramen. "The stoke is at an all-time high."
Since 2014, East Burke's food scene has grown to include Burke Publick House's well-crafted pub fare and Foggy Goggle Osteria's hand-turned gnocchi. Now the town has casual fare covered, too. In September, Linda Stevens and Johnny Lotti opened Café Lotti in an 1863 church in the village. Wake up with a pre-ski espresso or nitrogenated cold-brew, both made with creamy Malabar Gold espresso from California-based Josuma Coffee.
To eat, baristas prepare breakfast wraps and sandwiches using bagels from Lyndonville Bagel Depot; the shop also buys pies, scones, cupcakes and other sweets from nearby Baylow Cakes and Calendar Brook Bakery.
Just up the hill at 185 Mountain Road, Danielle Ekasala opened Auntie Dee Dees Homemade VT Baked Goods in January. Open on weekends, the tiny storefront parlays Ekasala's 30 years of baking experience into fresh-baked breads, baguette sandwiches and pastries such as croissants, cinnamon rolls, fruit Danishes and galettes.
Up at the resort, new options at the Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center include the Gap Pub, which serves such fare as corned-beef poutine and ahi tuna burgers. Edmund's Coffee Shop offers organic coffee (from Vermont Coffee beans) and light offerings including breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
In the Mad River Valley, Sugarbush Resort is wrapping up major renovations at its Glen House mid-mountain lodge, according to resort communications vice president Candice White.
At a new wooden bar in the restaurant upstairs — which the resort has renamed Walt's, after Mount Ellen ski-area founder Walt Elliott — skiers and riders will be able to sip craft cocktails and Vermont beers and recharge their batteries with gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches. One cradles Cabot cheddar, local bacon and guacamole; another, Vermont Creamery goat cheese, figs and caramelized onions.
In early September, Texas transplants began serving "Tex-Asian" cuisine at Table 19 Restaurant & Bar in Proctorsville, just down the mountain from Okemo Mountain Resort.
What exactly is "Tex-Asian"? "It's actually our favorite things from both cuisines," explains business manager Joe Evans. He co-owns the spot with his wife, chef Kathryn Evans, who learned Southeast Asian cookery while living in Myannmar. In a glass-walled kitchen, she mingles stir-fried yakisoba noodles and Vietnamese bánh xèo with smoky Texas-style brisket, fried chicken, cowboy beans and collards. Live music makes the joint jump on weekends.