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The Dorset Inn Vermont

Back in late July when my parents and I spent a long weekend together in Vermont, my aunt suggested that I return in the Fall with my brother instead. Since I was a few glasses of wine into the evening, I thought this sounded like a wonderful suggestion. Within minutes I’d texted my brother and organized a brother/sister bonding weekend in Vermont. Even though this decision meant that I missed out on Fitbloggin’ this weekend and had to sell my ticket to the lovely Amanda, I couldn’t be happier with this late night decision.

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The weekend is only half way done and already we’ve had just the weekend Ryan and I needed together. Since he lives down in Savannah still we don’t get to see much of each other and in typical boy fashion, he doesn’t love chatting on the phone. The amount we shared with each other and talked about in just the first hour of the weekend was more than we’d ever discuss on the phone.

After a work meeting in New Jersey on Thursday, I drove north through New York and into Vermont on my own. The drive was a little under four hours and even with some of the traffic I hit leaving New Jersey and going through Albany it was a really fun trip. I spent some time on the phone with a few of my girlfriends, rocked out to some Mumford and Sons and Dave Matthews Band, enjoyed the scenery and even pulled over for a few pictures. There was something serene and relaxing about the trip. Maybe it’s because Bo and I don’t have a car in the city but I really miss the act of driving. Not commuting, but just driving.

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As soon as I pulled into the driveway we headed right back out for dinner at one of our local favorites, The Dorset Inn. Continually operated for more than 200 years, the inn offers comfort food, a wonderful wine selection, a small bar area, and comfortable rooms for guests and locals alike.

The Dorset Inn is a short drive away from Manchester and as soon as you walk through the doors of the Inn the stress melts away.  The one thing that always impresses me with the Inn is the level of service you receive regardless of the day or hour. We were one of the last patrons on Thursday night and they never ceased to amaze me with the service. We asked if the fireplace could be turned on since it was below 50 outside and would put us in the Autumn mood. Within minutes our wish was answered! We enjoyed a two hour dinner filled with non-stop chatter as we caught up over some delicious food and were warmed by the fireplace.

We dug into the warm sourdough bread almost immediately since we were all starving by 8pm.

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Since I had a run the next day I passed on wine and instead focused my attention on eating. While Ryan and Rusty shared the Caesar salad and mussels, I enjoyed the heirloom tomato salad which was dressed with the richest balsamic syrup. So delicious! I also stole a sardine or two from their salad as this is always my favorite part of a Caesar salad!

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It took me longer to decide on an entrée as their only pasta dish was a 3 cheese macaroni and cheese which I didn’t think would pair well with a long run the next morning. But, as soon as the waiter overheard us discussing my run, he offered to have the chef make an alternate pasta dish. I was elated and excited that I wouldn’t have to forego my normal pre-long run pasta. Ryan and Rusty on the other hand enjoyed divine dinners of scallops and steak. My mouth watered as they devoured the rich entrees. I was presented with a pasta and vegetable pasta dish including rabbit sausage as the protein. I appreciated the chef’s effort but quickly realized that unfortunately the pasta didn’t include a sauce. Instead it was dressed with a heavy hand pour of olive oil in which the pasta was floating.

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The rich pesto, vegetables, pasta, and sun-dried tomatoes were delicious but the sausage wasn’t palatable. I guess rabbit just isn’t our thing because none of us cared for it. Before I made it halfway through the dish I realized that it was entirely too rich and was unfortunately already giving me a bit of a stomach ache. But, in the restaurant’s defense, they did their best to accommodate my needs and the other two entrees, especially the scallops, were fantastic!
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I can’t wait to come back to Dorset Inn over Christmas when we’re up here. I’m sure sipping a hot toddy or glass of wine by the roaring fire while the snow is falling outside would be the perfect end to any evening.

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A Driscoll’s Berry Dinner

Today’s post is from Meg, my awesome sister-in-law. Since I’m in Vermont, she was able to attend this great event in my place! Every now and then you’ll see guest posts from Meg as she explores NYC and shares her stories here!

When Ashley asked me to take her place at the Whole Foods Tribeca Wellness Club Dinner I was more than willing to check it out. Free food? I’m there. Free food made with my favorite fruits? Definitely there.

Each Wednesday, The Whole Foods Wellness Club hosts Supper Club where members, and others, have the opportunity to learn healthy recipes and try new foods based on a particular theme. Here is a snippet of information from their website: (picture source)


Eat your way to wellness – we’ll do the cooking! When you enjoy a dine-in or take-out meal from one of our supper clubs, you’ll taste some familiar favorites that are delicious and convenient, and some new fare that’s sure to become a favorite. Supper clubs are perfect for those who want to make healthier meal choices without having to cook. Plus, Wellness Club members get a discount on meals.  And, at our table, you’re always welcome to help yourself to as many delicious helpings as you’d like.

This week’s theme was berries! Driscoll’s Berries provided the super fresh berries for the meal.
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The menu included:

  • Mixed Greens Salad, Toasted Farro & Blueberry Vinaigrette
  • Sweet Potato Hash with Onions, Corn & Peppers
  • Chipotle Raspberry Salsa with Corn Tortillas
  • Strawberry Basil Sorbet with Fresh Mixed Berries

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I talked to Chef Juan Pablo after the meal to compliment him on the delicious food. We chatted about the various dishes and I could not believe when he told me that none of them include salt or oil! I don’t know about you, but that’s not how I normally cook.

My favorite part of the meal was, of course, the dessert. Chef Pablo made fresh strawberry sorbet with a hint of basil. The sorbet was delicious and the basil was a nice twist but the assortment of berries served on the side were my favorite part of the meal. They were so fresh and sweet, I could have eaten an entire plate.

How about you? Have you ever been to one of Whole Foods’s Wellness Club events? If not, what’s your favorite way to include berries in a meal?

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A Lazy Person’s Guide to Marathon Training

This week’s Marathons+Moderation guest post comes from Leanne, the co-founder behind Uplift Studios! Hopefully some of y’all, especially the lazy ones, will relate to her techniques for enjoying marathon training even if you’re a sloth.

On the inside, I am the laziest person I know. It may not seem like it to the outside world: after all, as the co-founder of Uplift (a women’s only fitness studio in NYC), as well as a pretty serious athlete, I have a lot on my plate, and most people would probably pass out with exhaustion just by looking at my schedule on a daily basis! But while some people fight their inner cookie monster, I am constantly engaged in a struggle with my inner…sloth. On the really lazy days, I’m tempted approximately 30 times or so to give up, quit it all, and lie on my couch reading magazines. 

The same applies to running. Those are the days when I head out for a standard run (for me that tends to be 5-7 miles in some sort of combination around Central Park or on the West Side Highway), and it’s already dragging the minute I step foot outside. It can’t end fast enough. And it won’t, because those are the occurrences when even a quick five-miler seems to make time stand still.

But then I enter marathon-training mode, and my perspective magically changes. It’s fascinating. During the aforementioned slogs, I check my watch every few minutes, dread every incline, and feel acutely even the slightest bit of wind resistance. But during marathon training runs, I stop counting and stop dreading. Maybe my measly 5-minute jog just yesterday felt laborious, but once I am in marathon mode, 90 minutes fly by. Two hours is a breeze. It’s partly because as a part of my goal-setting, I committed to doing really well in my upcoming marathon, so therefore I am committed to the training–in other words, I have no choice but to go on these long runs. But more than that, it’s about letting go. I stop micro-managing my time and mileage and the markers (The 102nd Street transverse, the Reservoir entrance, the Boathouse, Bethesda Fountains, the little bandstand near Strawberry Fields, the tennis courts, the baseball fields, the other side of the Great Hill, the top of the par…) and start—shock!—enjoying these long runs and this time to myself, which is something that feels rare and precious to me these days. 

Based on that, I also learned that marathon training is also a great time practice something, and I don’t mean negative splits, tempo runs or any other training tools or modes of running betterment. It has to do with the idea I mentioned about “letting go”—long runs are the ideal time to leave the Garmin at home, and just instinctively feel a run and your pace. Rely on you, not a watch or iPhone app. That’s the real proof that any physical change or goal can be made or met with just a minor mental shift in perspective.

 

 

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