Vermont's Maple Weekend will come to the Newport and Derby area this weekend as retailers, restaurants and maple producers go Maple! Downtown Newport's restaurants are featuring a maple frenzy. At Lago Trattoria, they're featuring Lamb marinated with Shayes Maple Syrup & Fresh Herbs, and their Vermont Maple Martini may be the drink of the weekend.
Across the street at The Warehouse maple glazed spicy maple chicken wings will rule the day. There's a rumor that there may even be a Maple Billiards Tournament at the Warehouse at 7:00 pm for billiards fans.
Once inside, you'll also find maple glazed pastries while they last, at Cinta and Jocelyn's Bakery. And Eden Ice Ciders is always creating a special cocktail for Maple Weekend.
Needleman's Bridal and Formal on Main Street will have a great selection of maple colored prom and bridesmaid gowns on display. And if you're lucky, there may even be some home made maple syrup still available from the hostess at the counter.
Of course if you want the full maple experience, Jed's Maple in Derby is celebrating their 20th anniversary by hosting an open house with lots to do at their operating sugarhouse, including a sugar on snow party. On the west side of Newport, in Westfield on Route 100 is Couture's Maple Shop, an operating sugarhouse known for their blue ribbon award winning maple syrup and maple cream. Jacques and Pauline Couture invite you to stop in and treat yourself to their yummy maple candy.
Back on the restaurant scene, The Eastside Restaurant on the lake in Newport is featuring their popular bacon wrapped scallops drizzled with Gray Farms Maple Syrup for a lunch treat or appetizer. And as a Maple Weekend special, they're offering up the Holland Maple BBQ burger plus their famous Maple Ginger Salmon dinner entrée.
The MAC Art Center on Main Street will wow you with Maple displays of art by juried crafters from across the region. Photographs of Maple Sugaring, crafted maple walking sticks and more will delight art lovers this weekend at this fun, quirky arts collaborative in the heart of Newport.
Tim & Doug's Ice Cream Shoppe on Coventry Street downtown will use the Maple Weekend occasion to open for the season featuring their Vermont Maple Menu including their Real Vermont Maple Creemee for the weekend.
Newport's 8th wonder of the world, The Pick & Shovel, is having a maple "Tasting Table" on Saturday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm plus discounts off all maple syrup and maple food products Saturday & Sunday.
Brenda's Homestyle Cooking on Main Street has been a local breakfast favorite for years with their real maple syrup pancakes and waffles. At the Brown Cow restaurant on East Main Street, they say mixing home fries in their pancake maple syrup is a little bit of maple heaven.
At Vermont Pie and Pasta on the Derby Road, the Vermont Maple mixed greens salad, with candied pecans, apple slices, dried cranberries, pickled red onions and goat cheese, served with creamy maple vinaigrette is the official salad of the Newport and Derby Maple weekend.
Kingdom Brewing on Colburn Hill Road, just two miles west of Newport on Route 105 will be pouring a Monster Maple Stout and Special Maple Round Barn Red, plus their famous Maple Nut Brown and,Jenns Kingdom Brown which are made of only condensed maple Sap. WATER NEVER TOUCHES THESE 2 BEERS.
This is just a sampling of the maple events and treats you'll experience as most everyone will be offering their "Maple Best" to you.
It's safe to say that wherever one travels in the Newport and Derby area this weekend, "everything maple" will be at the top of everyone's list as the area celebrates Maple Weekend.
Contact chamber president Bruce James – president@vtnorthcountry.org