As rewarding as it was baking the day away at
King Arthur Flour, this weekend continued to provide fun and excitement outside of the kitchen classroom. The girls and I - with pizza boxes, brownie trays, swag bags and our purchases from the Bakers Store in tow,
made our way up the road to the
Norwich Bed & Breakfast at Shear Luck Farm.
Located off the beaten path at 229 Bradley Hill Road the B&B is a picturesque historic New England Farmhouse with just enough beds to accommodate the nine of us spending the night.
Britta greeted us one by one, introducing herself with a handshake and a smile as we pulled in the driveway. She gave us the grand tour and then allowed us to choose our rooms.
All of them were bright and spacious with old country charm and a private oversized contemporary bathroom.
Michelle,
Megan and I choose the Ledyard Room with hardwood floors that creaked when you walked, oriental rugs running the foot of the beds, and walls painted a lively teal and soft periwinkle blue.
The second floor hallway outside our room.
After freshening up we reconvened in the suite for happy hour.
We sipped on wine - pint glass style before heading downtown for dinner.
We drank a Travessia Rose provided by Meghan and a bottle of California Red provided by yours truly.
Last week
Alicia graciously worked with the staff at
Carpenter & Main and put together a 3 course prix fix menu for dinner out that evening.
A casual and comfortable establishment, Carpenter & Main strives to incorporate the spirit and flavors of Vermont by utilizing products from local farms whenever possible.
We began the meal with an amuse bouche of white bean cassoulet,
and a couple bottles of the good stuff.
Champagne.
Refill - yes please!
Rolls - yes please!
I feel like this roll is somewhat reminiscent of my ball of dough from cooking class! I also enjoyed the elegant butter spheres so those deserved a picture too.
For my appetizer I chose the
Beet Bento Boxes with Goat Cheese Mousse, Toasted Hazelnuts.
This was a popular appetizer choice, I was definitely impressed!
The beets were incredibly tasty and fresh and the plating shows creativity and skill.
The beets would have benefited from an additional amount of the yummy toasted hazelnuts or the goat cheese mouse, or perhaps a dash more of the emulsions. These elements complimented the beets well, however, I was left with many bites of
just beet where I craved to pair them with additional flavor and texture.
With dinner we ordered a bottle of red wine.
For my entree I chose the
Fennel Pollen Crusted Halibut with Sautéed Spinach, Fennel, Carrots, Roasted Tomato Saffron Broth. 
The delicate fish was cooked to flaky perfection yielding a barely there crust with a flavorful dusting of fennel pollen.
The fennel itself provided slightly sweet notes, as did the tender carrots. Both these vegetables melded with the savory broth of roasted tomato and saffron nots, as well the sauteed spinach greens, creating a wonderfully soothing and aromatic dish.
And then we indulged in dessert.
I chose the
Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Oven Roasted Nectarines and Brown Sugar Cookie. 
Panna Cotta is one of my favorites, second only to creme brulee. The silky smooth Italian gelatin-pudding goes down easily at the end of a meal.
The brown sugar cookies were a little to hard and crispy for my liking, but the oven roasted nectarines were definitely enjoyed next to the slightly tart and creamy custard. The edible flower was a welcome garnish.
Carpenter & Main provided flawless service in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The staff were efficient and accommodating and I really appreciated the excellent menu they put together for us. Back at the B&B:
We relaxed in our PJs with a bottle of red wine.
Gooood morning Vermont
The sun had barely risen over the mountains,
as my roomies and I headed out for an early morning stroll.
The innkeepers 11 year old dog Zoe greeted us at the door. They were more than happy to let us take her on a walk, no leash would be necessary they announced from the kitchen.
But perhaps it was the other way around?!
Meaning, Zoe took
us on a walk. We saw the most stunning views of the sunrise over the mountains.
Zoe ran ahead of us down the road, around the farmland and back again. She acted more like a young pup than an 11 year old dog.
Kitty came too!
Behind the barn, we found the shear luck sheep!
The mountain scenery appeared more serene with every passing minute.
And the leaves they definitely are a changin'
Zoe also liked to lick the grass. I'm not really sure.....
And you wonder why I want to live here.....
Eventually, we headed back to the house for breakfast.
We could smell the bacon all the way across the dirt road.
We were welcomed to the dining room where coffee, orange juice and fresh fruit awaited us.
Breakfast was served piping hot in the form of a blueberry and cream cheese stuffed french toast sprinkled with powdered sugar and a side of bacon.
It was sweet, hearty and filling.
And soon it was time.
To say goodbye....
to the cutest most friendliest dog ever and the most enchanting picturesque views in New England.
There was a caravan pit stop in New Hampshire to stock up.
Take me back.....
Weaving through a construction ridden parking lot, I followed signs leading me to an industrial warehouse; the facade a seemingly misleading and trendy disguise for what it beholds.
Sam's sits perched on the back half of the second floor, where at the entrance I was welcomed by owners Esti and Drew Parsons. It was an absolutely perfect day for an outdoor event as evidenced by sunny blue skies, a barely there breeze and calm waters. 
The stylish single room interior offers panoramic views out two toned glass walls. Globe lighting flanks the perimeter of the lofty ceiling while pristine leather couches back retro cafeteria style tables. A small bar with modern stools and a black counter top sits in a corner of the back wall and to its right, the exit to the patio where the party was being held. 
The wraparound deck is home to a trifecta of jaw dropping landscapes. 
Boats pass by on the harbor, the city skyline parades in the distance over Rowes Wharf and just below an inviting bright green lawn expands to meet the Boston Harborwalk. 
Views in Boston don't get much better than this!!
The backside of the building is nothing like the front, where besides those pristine glass walls, multi-toned wood panels construct the rest of the exterior. I imagine views of this place from a boat in the harbor are almost equally as striking. Note I said almost. 
I was excited to find this girl behind the bar, my friend Jess Li who is a former waitress at longtime favorite hangout Delux. 
She knows me all too well and wasted no time explaining the signature cocktail created especially for the event. 
The Less Than Three (<3) is an inventive blend of tequila, cassis, grapefruit juice, muddled cucumber, mint and lavender topped with a splash of club soda and garnished with a salted cucumber. 
Not to sweet, or too tart, the flavors were balanced and refreshing. Bloggers and other media reps were introduced to the talents of Sam's new chef Asia Mei through a sampling of passed appetizers. 
The chef excels at pairing exciting ingredients in creative and unique forms. From the Crispy Jalapeno Crab Rangoon with sweet and sour plum gastrique to Mini Lobster BLTs with candied bacon, I was impressed early on. 
One of my favorites was the Halibut Tartare cradled by a bibb lettuce leaf topped with thin crispy potato shavings. 
But that was before I tried the Braised Endive, Grapefruit & Sesame Brittle where a spoonful of drastic flavors melded to create a divine bite. The braised endive was silky and bitter, the soft grapefruit was tart and juicy, the sweet crunchy sesame brittle rounding out the array of tastes and textures. 
There were also thick and juicy, tender and flavorful Pistacio Crusted Lamb Lolipops up for grabs.
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos topped with pickled cabbage and a dollop of creme fraiche had a spicy kick.
A hearty Quinoa Salad boasting almonds, feta cheese, blueberries and orange segments was a nice introduction to these edible grain like seeds.
Plate after plate of these inventive appetizers were offered, the waitstaff happy to accommodate our constant requests to photograph their trays. 
After another Less Than Three there was white wine. 
Basking on the deck in blissful weather sipping perfectly crafted cocktails and munching on fantastic appetizers was highlighted by the company of these ladies - 
From left to right -Lin, me, Susie, Meghan, Chelsee, Elizabeth, Christine, Lingbo, Bridget and Tina. Sam's is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch and the bar is open 7 days a week until 1pm. I'm already looking forward to a return visit! Whose in?!
