Destination Dinner Party in Mt. Holly, Vermont
You know all about vacation souvenirs. The keychains, mugs, t-shirts. But, what about food? A day or night filled with memories of browsing the local markets, sight-seeing in the small towns, and cozying up by the fire (or sun-bathing around the pool, whichever is more your vibe) while you and your friends have a locally-sourced dinner party!
The “Destination Dinner Party” is hands-down one of my favorite trends, and when my friends and I had the chance to do a long weekend in Mt. Holly, Vermont, it was a no brainer. Here’s how we planned it!
Where We Stayed:
Obviously the vibes are essential. Fall, in Vermont? A cozy AirBnB is a no-brainer. This one was right in the mountains for easy access to hiking and trails, but with all the space and ‘glamping’ energy you need for a relaxing weekend away. Oh, and of course we were stopping into all of the local breweries and small towns close by.
When you’re picking a place, think about seating and kitchen space to make sure you guys have more than enough room to cook, drink, and enjoy!
Pro Tip: Look for an open-concept kitchen, and make sure to check what utensils/dishes they provide.
How We Sourced Our Food:
This truly was one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend. We had a general idea for a menu, and made our way into town to locally source the ingredients from markets, farms, and small mom-and-pop shops.
The coolest thing about sourcing locally is slowing down enough to find out where your food is coming from! There was a family and story behind each ingredient we picked up, like Stowe Cider — the family has been making cider for over 200 years.
We also learned that America’s oldest cheesemaker was literally down the road from us. 🧀
Each part of our meal had a story attached to it, and it made the meal that much more meaningful. When you pick your destination:
Don’t rush the shopping! Hearing about the history and people behind these places was the best part
Plan your menu beforehand so you can see if there are any specialty markets nearby (think cool bakeries, canned goods, butcher shops)
Shopping Local:
Like I said, the families behind the food were the most impactful. Trust me, I love trying the best local spots on vacation, but our few hours of afternoon shopping gave us the chance to slow down and connect. We loved supporting local businesses and shops, especially as “tourists”!
I wish we had time to visit even more places, but I guess that’s just a sign to put another trip in the books! If you find yourself wanting to do your own destination dinner in Mt. Holly, Vermont, here’s where we visited:
Cheese: Crowley Cheese & Bridport Creamery
Apple Pie: Browns Orchard & Rutland Farmer’s Market
Meats: The Burger Farm
Marshmallows: The Vermont Marshmallow Co.
Bread: Plew Farm
Whiskey: Whistle Pig Whiskey
Breweries: Long Trail Beer & Mt. Holly Beer
Hot Sauce: Boardman Hill Farm
