May-June newsletter 2012

Hope this newsletter finds you and your family well and ready to enjoy summer in New England..Leslie and I got a head start on summer this spring visiting Venice, Florida for vacation. The weather was great for riding my bicycle, although weather aside it doesn't compare to riding here in Vermont. I rode 500 miles in Florida and it wasn't until I returned to Vermont that I went up a hill..It is always nice to get away but really a pleasure to be able to return to Vermont.
We spent time at the beach reading as well. I read three books on Pizza..and as possibly non- stimulating as that seems..I would recommend American Pie; My Search for the perfect Pizza by Peter Reinhart..Very interesting story about his search for the ultimate pizza. I now have a greater appreciation for crust and the nuances of great pizza!
As we are prone to do on vacation, Leslie and I checked out some of the restaurants in Sarasota..Having also spent time in Chicago in March we observed what we think are some emerging trends in restaurants.
Finding creative ideas in food..new combinations of ingredients.. and all matters of food are on our radar screen. Basically we are looking for inspiration to make new dishes that you'll enjoy in the weeks to come. So our newsletter this month we are talking FOOD!

Emerging Trends

In this economy restaurants are doing all they can to get people in the door. Restaurants are trying to appeal to a broader audience by offering a wider variety of foods not common on menus even a couple years ago. Appetizers and lighter fare entrees allow people to chose to eat a modest meal at an attractive price point. Pizza,Hamburgers speciality salads grace the menus of more upscale restaurants. Casual foods and lower cost options are prevalent everywhere. Vegetarian and healthy choices are surprisingly not as common as you might expect.

Leslie's menu continues to evolve around these trend as well..We are seeing people ordering a mix of salads..soups and lighter fare entree to enjoy an array of different tastes and foods. Check out our new summer menu and let us know what you think?

New Summer Menu 2012..through August

Wild Mushroom Soup..6 Lentil Soup..(vegetarian)5

Cajun Shrimp..8 Pot Stickers..7

Crab Cakes..8 Sea Scallops..salsa verte..12

Lighter Fare

grilled Margherita pizza..8

Vermont Smoke & Cure Sausage "white" pizza..10

Organic Greens salad..pear stilton..maple vinaigrette..8

Baby Arugula salad..Vermont Chevre..8

Vermont Lamb Bolognese..wide noodles..18

All Natural Chicken Thighs "Paella"..16

Thai vegetable stir fry..coconut Basmati rice..16

Maine Crab Cakes Dinner..rice and vegetables..15

Entrees. not full descriptions

'oriental style" steak au Poivre..Filet Mignon..28

Shrimp and Scallops..tomatoes and wide noodles..25

Filet Leslie's..mushrooms & demi glace..28

Seared Duck Breast..blood orange sauce..25

Fresh Cod..tomato ragout and mushroom risotto..23

New York Sirloin Strip.roasted red pepper sauce..28

Thai Shrimp Stir Fry..fresh vegetables/chef's curry..23

Tenderloin Tips..balsamic-soy sauce..20

butter poached Maine Lobster/Lobster Ravioli..27

Much of our produce comes from local sources..Harlow's..Petes and other's..Seafood is ONLY Top quality..from Black River Produce.

Over the course of the summer some of the items will go and be replaced by the latest and hopefully greatest.

Cooking Classes for Private Groups

This Tuesday we are doing another private class for a group of business associates who are getting together to celebrate an associates retirement. Clever out of the box thinking for celebrating an event....5 course meal...a "themed event"....all preparation demonstrated right in front of you..followed by a relaxing meal served to your group in the dining room..

If this sounds like something you would like to do ..Please call Leslie at 802-463-4929..only available Tuesday PM...

Next Class is Men's Night..Monday 6/18

A great gift for Father's Day! We love to do Men's Night..if for no other reason than we generally laugh all the way through..and yes they do learn a thing or two! call Leslie at 802-463-4929 to reserve a space !

Cooking Classes

More than ever.. we are excited about our cooking classes.. I say that because we get such positive feedback from those who take the classes....and so it is that we take this opportunity to invite you to come to one of our classes this summer.."Men's Night" 6/18 always a "hoot" for the men..this year with lots of BBQ tricks! great "Father's Day gift too!!

"Spring Harvest" 6/25 is a class focused on using local fresh ingredients (herbs and vegetables most specifically) to make some healthy and fresh tasting dishes. On 7/14 (Sat.) Flavors of Vermont we'll be expanding on the theme using all fresh Vermont ingredients..6/28 (Sat.) we again feature "Beyond the Basics..Seafood Cookery"..quite possibly our best class last winter..lots of good ideas! Many more classes on line at www.lesliestavern.com

One of the interesting aspects of our classes is that we create many unique and unusual dishes. Some of these dishes people would probably not order at a restaurant, for fear they might not like it..Lets face it we are not very daring! But in class everyone tries every dish and so far just about everyone has been very enthusiastic about all of the dishes..We put it to a vote as to the "Best" dish! Those dishes voted the best go on the menu for the following week...Currently our "oriental" steak au Poivre and our Spanish spiced rubbed Steak with Roasted Red pepper Sauce are on the menu. As good as they are.. they will not be there for long !