So we did it.
We went to Vermont for a week with a random consort of sports utility vehicles filled with families that our daughters being in the same class was the commonest denominator.
We survived!
We had fun even!
If you were me (and I know you are) you'd worry about getting along with that many people whom are completely different than you are for a whole week when you barely get along with people you actually know for that same amount of time.
But we did. We got along, and it was great. That's neither here nor there when it comes to this post however, because as I frequently have to remind myself, this is a food blog, and not a "Nate's feelings of inadequateness in the face of other, vastly more successful guys of a similar age" blog. Although I'd probably post a lot more often if it were...
Neither here nor there I say!
So I'm going to let you guess how this whole thing played out food wise. Do you think I cooked up a storm and it was awesome and I photographed it all and have five or six great posts to write?
Or!
Do you think I cooked up a storm and it was awesome and I didn't photograph any of it and as a result have to cobble together a few meandering posts about things in Vermont that have to do with food but nothing that I personally cooked, even though I cooked often and with great success that would have been PERFECT for a food blog?
I hate myself.
Anyways. Rest assured that I grilled a mean 4th of July dinner that we ate leftovers of for the rest of the week, as well as a killer breakfast of grits made with lots local cheese that we ate every day for the rest of the trip, as well as a potato hash with chorizo and ham sweetened with local Vermont maple syrup, and scrambled eggs with sauteed spinach and butter poached tomatoes and garden fresh basil...
They were great, but will only live on in infamy in the hearts and minds (and stomachs) of those whom were there to witness and testify to the Gospel of Nate's Cooking. I didn't even really show off that much, it was all pretty straight down the middle vacation cooking.
Oh well.
The world will never know.
What I do have is a couple of stories, along with a couple of pictures. Probably I'll try and eek out a couple/three posts out of this, so fear not, but we'll start on our first day...
...with a surprise!
On our way up to Barton (very far north) we need gas and pulled off on a random exit (exit 4 in Vermont if any of you find yourselves in similar proximity). Well, after filling the car up with gas (no pictures, sadly) my nose did notice a smell as comforting and intoxicating a smell as there is; burning wood.
I looked around to see if there was a house fire that needed to be called in when lo and behold my eyes did witness the sweetest of sights:
Thar be smoke in them hills!
Yes, a random BBQ spot next to a gas station in Vermont. I thought such miracles were only to be found south of the Mason Dixon line...
I've liked Vermont already, and not just for their gay marriages and liberal politics, but now I love Vermont. And it's only like 11:00!
9th wonder of the world!
So obviously we had an early lunch...
Here's how I know this place is going to be good (not racistly):
These guys look like they've been doing this for a loooooong time. I love the way a good pit master tends to his fire like it's a fucking baby...
If I could do something half as earnest and honorable for a living that created as much of a fervent, loyal, and impassioned following as a good pit master, I'd pack up my family and leave this fake, bullshit filled life in heartbeat.
I'm sure Liz would love it!
But seeing as how I'm the only one in my family that even likes BBQ, much less are willing to devote their entire lives to it, I'm just going to have to continue to romanticize the hours upon hours backbreaking labor for little to no profit in some shit hole town next to a gas station in North Carolina, or worse, Mississippi or the like, all just to be "real".
Doesn't mean it's not fun to think about!
So what did the ingrates that make up my family eat?
Same thing they'll eat anywhere else.
And a BAKED POTATO(!!??) for for Liz (I know... I know.)
Kill me now.
Oh well, at least they'll go with me to these places. Wonder how long it'll be until they figure out they can out-vote me and we'll eat at the bland, soulless, macaroni and cheese, pasta with butter "sauce," and sub-par burger filled "Denny's of Iniquity" that make up the majority of places without drive throughs one can stop while on the road...
I shudder while I type this.
But it's not all bad! There were gorgeous sunsets to be had, see?
And this was just the first night!
And speaking of the first-things, this is just the first post of my Vermont adventure (really more of just a trip, but...) so I'll leave you here as I really need to get ready for a trip to Las Vegas (sister's getting married), and plan a trip to Madrid with the kids in a month(!) and I've yet to really do so. Not to mention write this book that's supposed to be my ticket to non-restaurant-industry-employment that's not going to write it's self...
So I'll be back soon my little kittens...
Until then, send me "good luck" vibes as I'll be in Vegas and would love to win enough money to make this trip to Madrid unforgettable (seems like a realistic thing to assume will happen.)
Think legs of Pata Negra in our country house, and reservations at top restaurants in Madrid without looking at the bill. Let's shoot for the sky, huh? I'll even consider an extra week in Mallorca...
Here's to making it happen!
Farts and Kisses...
n*
