Sept. 26 Burger Tour Stop: Halvorsen's Upstreet Cafe

Halvorsen's is one of those places I often forget about. But the fact is there is no place that is more reliable for tasty food and drink. I think you'll like the burgers at this top-of-Church-Street pub that's been operated by the Halvorsen family for more than 30 years.

They feature several burgers including, one of the best, The Bailey Patty Melt.

Halvorsen's Upstreet Cafe

16 Church Street
Burlington, Vermont
Monday, September 26
6:30 pm


There is an awesome selection of beer on tap (usually two or three that are unusual and not available anywhere else) and a good selection of wines by the glass. The Halvorsen's really know their wine. Little known fact, current proprietor Tim Halvorsen and his wife opened up a wine shop just downstairs from the Top of the Block sandwich shop. It's open a few hours a day close to the weekend and by appointment. I highly recommend it!!

The other thing I'd like to recommend is today's Savorvore Section all about my favorite topic: BURGERS...and bargains. It's a day-by-day guide to the town's best burgers, featuring daily specials. Of course The Daily Planet owns Monday Night and the Bluebird Tavern is there on Tuesday...but how about Burger for Brunch at The Chubby Muffin? Read it and you'll find a few suprises.

It's last minute I know, but I hope to see you Monday Night!

Your faithful tour guide,

Miss Kathy

Burger Tour FLASH MOB

Goodnight, Irene.

Provided we all get through the storm, we're going to assemble a Burger Tour on Monday, August 29, FLASH MOB style.

6:30 pm
Kountry Kart Deli
155 Main Street, Burlington
Take Out to City Hall Park
Bring blankets to sit on, festival chairs and guitars.

Kountry Kart Deli...good times.

Kountry Kart has two burgers on the menu.
The American and Flatlander. You can get them naked, or with bacon and/or cheese. They're both served on toasted buns, really, really good.

I really wanted to do a take-out burger before Summer gets away from us. While I've been dying to the Shopping Bag on North St., the logistics are just too difficult for our large crew. There's nowhere  nearby to picnic.

The new future Mrs. Joe (aka Zumba Lily) and Rick Norcross

The Kountry Kart is a personal favorite. I assure you the food is awesome and  it will give your wallet a break after the tasty but pricey Farmhouse. (Thirsty folks can mosey over to VPB for a beer afterwards.)

If it's raining, check your e-mail and look for texts. The alternative location will likely be RiRa or a revisit to the Planet.


**The other thing to know about the Kountry Kart is they have the most amazing breakfast sandwich in Burlington, called the Shiner. It's a fried egg, your choice of bacon or sausage, plus hash browns on a toasted roll. The large is served on a large sub roll. Mountain Man would approve. And you can get it 19.5 hours a day. They're open late and are pretty used to serving the late night crowd, so our 16 to 20 burgers should be a snap.

Show up and order, or call ahead at 802-864-4408. They are expecting us.

Your faithful tour guide,

Miss Kathy

Windjammer Review, Next Tour Stop: The Farmhouse, July 25

Anise and Charlotte with their Windjammer burgers and sweet potato fries.

It was the best of times, but it was the worst of burgers.

A record number of 17 Burger Tourists arrived to sample the Windjammer’s offerings but sadly the kitchen could not produce enough medium rare burgers to satisfy our typically bloodthirsty crew. Mountain Man got one…of course…but several folks, including yours truly, were left holding burgers that were lacking any pink.

For a medium well burger, it was a really good. But I didn’t enjoy it enough to skip the ‘dis in my lead paragraph. Sorry Windjammer. Normally, I love you. But not tonight.

On with some of our social milestones:

*We had 17 people! A record for the tour. Draker employees continue to post strong numbers with Jennifer, Bryan, Joe and Anise. New to the tour were MNC’ers Rambler Rick and Alison and Jobey. Please join us again!

A crew of 17 including a few newbies.

 **It was Dan the Man’s Birthday! His brother Joe and Zumba Lily gave incredibly thoughtful gifts.

Dan the Man and Dirt Diva.

Thoughtful gifts...

***Brother-of-Another-Mother Dan was the first BTV Burger Tourist to have a…chicken sandwich.

Brother-of-another-mother, Dan

This month, the Burger Tour swings back downtown to the much-anticipated Farmhouse Tap & Grill. The burgers here are the epitome of Vermont’s “Localvore” movement. The pork burger was raised at the Winding Brook Farm, the beef burger grazed at Jericho Settler’s Farm…you get the idea. There’s also a Misty Knoll Free Range Turkey Burger and TWO veggies burgers. Download the menu here.

Our friend Chad at the Farmhouse is very focused on providing a good experience for us and has asked that we be seated at 5:30 pm. Please make a note of it…this tour begins ONE HOUR BEFORE THE NORMAL TIME. Please RSVP.

The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
160 Bank Street
Burlington, Vermont
www.farmhousetg.com

Monday, July 25
5:30 pm
PLEASE RSVP to misskathy.vt@gmail.com.
See you soon, your faithful tour guide,
Miss Kathy

Burger Tour sails into the Windjammer Monday Night, June 27

Hello Beloved Burger Faithful:

The Planet Burger - Yum

It's been so long since I've blogged I barely remember the password. But I do remember the tasty burgers and the fine company we enjoyed last month in the atrium at The Daily Planet, the May burger tour stop.

With the rains giving way to, well, more rain...and June giving way to July...it's time for us to sail into The Windjammer Upper Deck and Pub. They have one burger on the dinner menu downstairs (and it's awesome) and several choices on the upstairs, Upper Deck menu.

We're going to the Upper Deck...a favorite local watering hole with lots of character. They don't take reservations so I'm looking for volunteers who can join me a little early (say 6pm) to push some tables together to accommodate our hungry, social group.

Hope to see you all next Monday.

Monday, June 27
6:30 pm
The Upper Deck Pub at the Windjammer
1076 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403 Phone: (802) 862-6585

Can't wait to see everyone.

Your faithful tour guide,

Miss Kathy

Pub Quiz to win a Burger at the Daily Planet

Great attendance at Rozzi’s Lakeshore Tavern last month.  Here we enjoyed a variety of burgers with really fun names. If you were paying attention, I might buy your burger at the Daily Planet.

Just a word about the recent flooding. Hope the folks in Rozzi’s neighborhood are safe…and I hope that you and yours are safe and dry, too.

Thanks to those who sent photos.

So here’s the pub quiz:

1.    (A two-parter.) Who showed up with a big, giant scar and ate this burger? What was the burger called?

Who ate this burger and what's it called?

2.    Sophia got a good start but never finished this burger. What  burger did Sophia order?

What is this burger called?

Jen and John Winsor ate this burger.

3.    What burger did Jen and John Winsor order?


The first person to e-mail their answer to misskathy.vt@gmail.com will enjoy a burger and a beer free at the Planet, courtesy of your faithful tour guide.

Mark you calendar! This is next Monday!

The Daily Planet
Monday, May 9
Burger and Beer for Under $10
15 Center Street, Burlington
6:30 pm

Hope to see you Monday. As usual, please RSVP so I can have enough seats at the table.

Love on ya,
Miss Kathy

Next Stop: Burger Heaven at Rozzi's Tavern

Can Rozzi’s Green Mountain Burger featuring apples, bacon and maple syrup steal Shan’s heart away from the Frog Burger?

Will Jennifer give up her beloved Scuffer burger for Waggy’s Southern Burger topped with pulled pork and cole slaw?

Will everyone stop asking the Mountain Man if he’s gonna face plant on the “Dozer,” Rozzi’s famous two pounds of beef, 8 slices of bacon, four slices of cheese, etc. on a cornbread roll?

Tune in next Monday for the adventures of the Monday Night Club as they hit Rozzi’s Lakeshore Tavern, Colchester.

Monday, April 18

Rozzi’s Lakeshore Tavern

1072 W Lakeshore Dr.

 Colchester, VT 05446

(802) 863-2342

6:30 pm

156 BISTRO REVIEW

Zumba Lily and Joe at 156 Bistro. Photo by Jamie.

As you can see, 156 Bistro was a good place to cuddle up and catch up.

When we showed up, it was like they had never heard of us. No table waiting. No fanfare. Thank goodness Catherine, our Dirt Diva, arrived early and was able to right the situation. We were prominently and appropriately seated near the front door--no one puts the MNC in a corner! In the end, we were treated to great service and some juicy, tasty burgers.

Dirt Diva: “This is the messiest burger. I have food all over my face and I don’t care!"

Zumba Lily: “The fries are delish. The burger…not so much.”

Mountain Man: (measured silence, thoughtful pause) “Good burger. Maybe better than the Frog.”

Here’s the MNC BTV Burger Tour News Feed:

Lily in now a Zumba instructor, and may eat as many burgers as she likes.

Bryan, Jennifer and Joe are moved into their new space in the South End’s Maltex Building, just steps away from Dan and Karl’s new workshop. For safety reasons, five should be the limit of MNC’ers allowed in one building.

Mountain Man visited Texas for work, however I can’t tell you much about it or say word like "chips" or "fail" in the blog. I’ve vowed to protect his identity from online exposure. Suffice to say, MM had a sunny, paid vacation while the snow melted on his mountain.

Jamie is in love with his little dog Linnie, Dirt Diva is pondering her garden, and Miss Kathy is “purpled out” pitching her company’s new partnership with Yahoo!

Everyone bring your stories and your appetites for another rousing rendition of the Monday Night Club BTV Burger Tour, Rozzi’s style.

Please RSVP to misskathy.vt@gmail.com or call me, text me, send a smoke signal.

Bits and Bites, BTV Burger Tour's Tonight!

Just a reminder that we'll hit 156 Bistro, 156 St. Paul Street, downtown Burlington, for "$10 burger and a beer night" at 6:30 pm, tonight, Monday Mar. 28.

A few juicy tidbits for the good of the order. Chef Michel Mahe of the Bearded Frog is planning to open up a burger theme restaurant, Le Burger Joint. I think we can take credit for this, right? This piece was a sidebar in Friday's Savorvore (Free Press) to a nice story about his chef Andrea Cousineau. It might be tough to get in there for a little while...

Also, I'll want to give you a heads up about the April tour: April 18 at Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern, home of the "Dozer." 

Hopefully, the Winsors can join us this time.

(And you folks know that all those highlighted words are links, right?)

See you tonight,

Miss Kathy

Frog Memories and Fried Eggs

MNC announces next burger stop, March 28 at 156 Bistro
The burger tour returns downtown to 156 Bistro after a 13-strong showing at the Bearded Frog in Shelburne. Was the pre-promotion build-up for The Frog over the top? Apparently not...look at the happy crowd pictured above. Thanks to Sara Ethier for the photo.

The score was Bearded Frog Burgers: 10, Venison Burgers: 3,Veggie Burgers: 0. Those who had a Venison burgers said it pretty much tasted like a great, regular burger…so we’ll assume that’s a high compliment.

A couple of folks said this were the best burger by far. What do you think? Please feel free to share your comments and photos on the blog.  (Except for the MNC'er following me anonymously who cannot figure out how to share. )

Last month, the burger faithful were joined by Bryan, Sara, Miss Sophia and Ian who works with Joe and Bryan. Lots has been going on this month so there should be some great stories around the table.



Monday, March 28
“Burger and a Beer for $10 Bucks”
156 Bistro
156 St. Paul Street
Downtown Burlington
6:30 pm

156 Bistro is a great place. (Used to be the Waiting Room.) They offer two burgers. The Bistro Burger which is ground beef tossed with gorgonzola cheese, Worcestershire sauce and other spices and a Veggie Black Bean Burger. Both are served with fries.

156 Bistro has gained notoriety for topping their burgers with a fried egg, gastro pub style. You have to ask for that...and it's extra.

There is a great beer and wine list. 



Please invite others by sharing the blog and remember to RSVP to misskathy.vt@gmail.com or by posting to the blog. I'll need a head count so they can save us a table.

I look forward to seeing all of you next week.

Your faithful tour guide,

Miss Kathy

MNC Meets the Bearded Frog

When I heard that Michel Mahe, chef-owner of Black Sheep Bistro, Vergennes, was opening a restaurant in the old Shelburne Inn--walking distance from my old place--I did a dance of joy. Though Bearded Frog is a silly name, there is nothing silly about the way I feel about the place. It’s filled with many happy memories, and it’s a fantastic restaurant. Perhaps my favorite.

I was one of the first in the door to raise a pint of Vermont microbrew and christen the copper top bar. From that day forward, Bearded Frog became my “Cheers.” When I was seeing Coop, we went there often, befriending bartender Jeff aka “Lurch.” Jeff now holds court at the Up Top in Vergennes, where he says, he is “living the dream.”

Then there was David Creyts, now a brewer/bartender at American Flatbread. Dave met pretty much everyone I care about, because I dragged most of them, family and friends, to the “Froggie. And, Dave got to meet some of the clowns I dated post-Coop. Always the diplomat, today I consider Dave a good friend.

(Today, the two bartenders behind that copper top bar are named Woody and Sam. As little Ricky Norcross says: “You can’t make this shit up!”)

The Frog has been the site of me toasting the start of my new business, my return to the Free Press, the sale of my new business, my birthday, the sale of my home. Got a few great stories, too. One of my favorites is sneaking into the men’s room to help a man try on a wig...but I digress...


One thing I haven’t done much at the Frog is to eat in the dining room. Like we will do on Monday night, when manager Dickie Austin hooks us up with a sweet table near the fireplace.
       
MNC’ers will have their choice of three excellent burgers: the Bearded Frog Burger, the Vermont Raised Venison Burger and the Veggie Burger. All served with a salad and perfectly cooked french fries. Hope to see you.

Monday, February 21
Bearded Frog
5247 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, Vermont 05482
6:30 pm
Please RSVP





Your faithful tour guide,
Miss Kathy

Burlington Makes the Top Ten Foodie Cities

 Hello burger lovers. I guess we are living this trend. Burlington just got named to one of the top ten foodie cities. With nearly 85% of our eateries locally owned...and the food coming from just down the road apiece...how can you go wrong? Vermont got props for craft breweries, too. Check out the story in the Free Press.

Proud to be a foodie! How about you?

Bearded Frog, Now On For Feb. 21

Please don't show up at the Bearded Frog on Monday. Maybe you can sneak in. But, they are having their employee holiday party and the MNC stalwarts will probably be warming their regular seats at the VPB.

So, we could go to the Bearded Frog on Monday, Feb. 14. LIKE HELL.

Instead, we'll go on Monday, Feb. 21. 6:30 pm like usual. They are going to give us our own table in the restaurant, near the fireplace. Mmmm. Ahhhh.

They have three amazing burgers. The pub burger, the venison burger and the veggie burger. The website is pretty sparse but they keep the current menu posted...they change the menu about every two months.

In the meantime, I'll be working on our March, spring and summer locations.

Your (slightly flustered) tour guide,
Miss Kathy

Blue Heaven at the Bluebird Tavern

Nine is still the magic number for MNC attendance on the burger tour.
Same burger lovers as last month but Dirt Diva was out for a little D&D and we were joined by Shan.  Efforts to recruit Bryan at the last minute = FAIL.

The Bluebird Tavern burger became an easy favorite for most of the crew.  “Tastes like it came right off the grill at home,” said Dan. Brother Joe and Lily nodded in agreement . The Eastman Clan also shared a plate of poutine frites that were amazing.

Jennifer remains loyal to the Scuffer Burger.

At the Bluebird, it’s all about the sh** between the burger and the burger.

The BB Tavern double burger is seven ounces of beef, separated into two 3.5 oz patties with blue cheese in between...all served on a soft roll to sop up all the juices. Medium rare is the default setting. Lily substituted cheddar while the rest of us stuck with the blue cheese. Heaven.  
 
Shan had the lamb burger and pronounced it the best burger on the tour by far. ☺

The burgers and frites are served with frites and homemade ketchup and aioli.

We lamented the fact that Karl was not able to join us and worse…we still can’t get our hands on any decent NYE photos of Karl wearing my stiletto high heel boots. We raised our glasses to toast the formation of
Eastman-Benz, LLC. Congratulations gentlemen. 

We also took a poll to see who is looking for a new job. By a show of hands, over half our merry band and 100% of J-squared hope to be working somewhere else real soon.

Folks, feel  free to post your comments and photos. And mark your calendar for the next MNC tour date and venue: Monday, Feb. 7 at the Bearded Frog, Shelburne.

You guys are awesome. Your tour guide, Miss Kathy

Picture yourself with a nice double burger...

...on soft warm bread with blue cheese and fries.

(Sing to the tune of Lucy in the Sky w Diamonds.)

Reminder:
6:15 at the Bluebird Tavern Tonight!



Thanks Steve, for this photo from last month that includes moi, your tour guide.

Pretty much everyone in this photo is coming out tonight except the Dirt Diva who is playing D&D. Shan, Rob Church and Sara also may join us.

IMHO (in my humble opinion) a certain someone who is working very hard, who was stuck in the airport last month and whose wife is playing D&D should come out, too.

Maybe some of the members of MNC will drop a few hints. Hint, hint, hint. See you all later.

Love on ya,

Miss Kathy

Bluebird Tavern Double Burger...here we come

The Monday Night Club will once again brave the weather in search of the perfect burger.

Tuesday, January 11
6:15 pm
Bluebird Tavern
317 Riverside Ave, Burlington

Intrepid adventurers: Note the slightly earlier time. This is so we can all sit together. Please reach out to misskathy.vt@gmail.com to let me know that we can expect you.

Prepare to sample a great burger. Stoke your appetite by viewing the photo of it here.
It's called the Double Burger and on Tuesdays, you can have it for $10 with frites.

The menu is amazing. The beers selection is local and fantastic. Wine drinkers will kiss the ground I walk on. Check the website. It's kept up to date with recent avails.

Bluebird is willing to do separate checks...but they have asked to go gently and divide into smaller subgroups if possible...rather than do a dozen checks maybe we can do four or five. :)

I FEEL SO GUILTY!

As tour guide, I feel massive guilt for not keeping up the blog. Let's just say that if I hadn't kicked this off last month, we would not be sampling burgers until spring.

It's been busy; life has been full. Sometimes, it's more important to just show up and get it out there.

Bravo to those who made it out to The Scuffer. It was an adventure, was it not? Nine folks braved the snow to sample one of the best burgers in town, including Mountain Man, Catherine the Dirt Diva, the Eastman Clan featuring Lily, J-Squared and Steve. Catherine's Bryan was on a plane at BTV waiting to go to Newark. An adventure in a parallel universe.

Regarding the Scuffer Burger, survey says: "Excellent! Cooked just the way I like it."

I promise to do better in future. And, some of you will get better pseudonyms...to protect you when we post photos of a Monday-Nighter in a burger-fed stupor.

Before the arrival of our tasty, Scuffer Burgers.