We’ve got a new place to go! An incredible Vermont brewery & restaurant opens in Brattleboro! As innkeepers at the Chesterfield Inn, a stunning New Hampshire Bed and Breakfast who have lived here for 25 years, we are always very excited to when a new restaurant opens  nearby.

Whetstone Station, owned by our friends Tim and Amy Brady and David Hiler, opened in early July. They serve 14 local and regional craft beers, have an affordable yet inspiring menu, and have incredible views. So far, only the upper deck is open for fair weather, but with the hot dry summer that we’ve had, that has worked perfectly.

Whetstone Station is a restaurant and brewery, and sits right on the banks of the Connecticut River in downtown Brattleboro. The deck has a big bar, and lots of tables with umbrellas. We were there on a warm summer night, and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the river, as we sipped our drinks. Many rave about the huge local and craft beer selection, the many interesting wines by the glass, and the full bar with frozen margaritas. There is something for everyone!

As of August 6th they will be open 7 days a week from 11:30am till at least 10pm (later on weekends) with a full menu.

We enjoyed our dinner, sampling the Surf and Turf Satays, Crispy Brie, Whetstone Wedge Salad, the Mahi Mahi Tacos, and the Beer Braised Short Ribs. The food was fresh, flavorful, and made with local ingredients. Service was attentive and pleasant. It was a terrific night out and we can’t wait to go back!

I’m very glad to be able to tell you that we now have Vietnamese street food in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont, just a short drive from our New Hampshire bed and breakfast! It comes to us in a new food truck that is parked in the Harmony Parking Lot daily for the lunch crowd, Monday through Saturday from 11:00 until 3:00. The name of the truck is Humble Kitchen and it is owned by James Smith and Amy Gallant.

The day that we went for lunch at the truck it was pouring rain out and Amy took our order while under an umbrella, while James was cooking in the cozy truck. We had delicious sandwiches, called Bahn Mi, one chicken and one pork pate, as well as a serving of Pho which was a delicious chicken soup with noodles and chili, lime, basil, cilantro and mint. We also had ginger basil limeade and mango wontons for dessert- delicious! It was an excellent lunch, and who ever thought that we would be able to enjoy Vietnamese street food just 10 minutes away from our Romantic New Hampshire getaway!

James and Amy had both worked at the Flat Street Bar and Restaurant and when it was flooded out by Hurricane Irene, it gave them a chance to make changes and think of new ways to be employed and still work in the food business. In May, they opened the Humble Kitchen, which is a great addition to Brattleboro’s food scene.

We’ve got a new place to send you when you’re looking for things to do in the area. Kringle Candle Company opened in 2009 in Bernardston, Massachusetts, a short 20 minute drive from our New Hampshire bed and breakfast.

Kringle Candle is owned by Mick Kittredge III, the son of the Mike Kittredge who founded the famous Yankee Candle in Deerfield, Massachusetts.  The candle shop specializes in scented candles, with 36 scents, such as peppermint twist, Nantucket rose, gingerbread, and frosted cake. The candles are all white, for the purest light, in beautiful glass containers that can be re-purposed for many things once the candle been finished. They also have votives, tea lights, fire starters, and home decor items.

Kringle owns 200 acres of property in Bernardston, and on the property you’ll find the Kringle store, bulit in 2010, and the newly opened Christmas Barn and The Farm Table restaurant, opened in late October 2011. The Christmas Barn is a two story former dairy barn filled with Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, toys, gifts, and more candles. The Farm Table restaurant is in a 200 year old house, beautifully renovated and decorated, where you can enjoy brunch, lunch daily and dinner as well. They have a full bar and wine list and feature local fare. Enjoy a visit during your stay at our New Hampshire luxury inn!

We have a new beer on the Chesterfield Inn beer list: Smuttynose India Pale Ale. Smuttynose Brewing Co is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where they began making beer in 1994. The company is named for Smuttynose Island, which is one in a group of nine islands that lay off the coast of Portsmouth. The company was founded by the owners of the Portsmouth Brewery and the Northampton Brewery, in Northampton, Massachusetts (a nice place to have a beer and a bite to eat and located just 45 minutes from our West Chesterfield B&B.) 

Shoals Pale Ale was the first beer that was made by Smuttynose back in 1994, and it was a great start! The India Pale Ale is a more recent offering, which is very “hoppy” and is unfiltered.

This India Pale Ale won a gold medal as “Best American Beer” at the Great British Beer Festival in 2004. Its characteristics include golden color, light body and crisp flavor. This is the perfect drink for the hot summer days of July. Come sit under an umbrella on the back terrace at our New Hampshire Inn and sip a Smuttynose IPA!

The Summer Menu at the Chesterfield Inn is now being served in the dining room and on the back terrace. The menu features fresh local foods, with the new twist of many of entrees available in smaller plate portions. The smaller plates will please those who like to graze through a menu, allowing guests to try an assortment of different menu items in smaller portions and still have room for dessert.

The Crab Cakes are a very popular appetizer, served with a Tomatillo and Roasted Corn Salsa with an Ancho Chile Remoulade – this is also available as an entree. A few of my favorites are the Roasted Petite Veal Rack on Balsamic Braised Swiss Chard with Porcini Mushroom Jus, and the Mussels with Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, and Fennel on Fresh Rosemary Pappardelle. Another summery item on the menu is the Grilled Chicken and Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Arugula Pesto, Roasted Sweet Corn, and Feta Cheese.

The Bruschetta is made with Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade, with Vermont Goat Cheese and Roasted Yellow Peppers. We make the Rosemary Baguettes – that are the base for the bruschetta – here at the inn and the flavors are perfect for summer! We invite you to come sample the new menu and enjoy sunset from the terrace – by far the best seats in Chesterfield!