What a Wonderful Whirled

Vermont is a small but wonderful state.  They have the only state capital that doesn’t have a McDonalds and you won’t find a single billboard as you cruise their farm-lined roads. The people we met while we visited this mountain spotted state were all very proud of how small-business-friendly they are and the pride they have in their local agriculture. During our stay we got to see the local fair in Burlington and nearby Waterbury where Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory is.

Burlington’s main pedestrian street, Church Street, is lined with restaurants and shops.  Additionally, unlike many other towns we have been to, there were also a bunch of different street performers and decorated cows! This fun town also led us to a great place for lunch!

America Flatbread is a small restaurant and brewery. They are trying to pay homage to the beginnings of bread when it was only flour and water. We had a great meal but an even better show.

When we entered this large the dinning room we could instantly feel the in gentle warmth of the hand-built brick oven. A fire in the middle of the oven was fed by the chef in a nurturing way. He baked his flatbreads with the same care and attentiveness. On either side of the flaming center are the flat stones that the flatbread is baked on. The chef maneuvers a large paddle around the flames to rotate the baking flatbreads.

Our flatbread was a work of art. Perfectly baked, the crust was tender and crisp. Topped with mushroom, tomatoes, onions, mozzarella cheese, and a healthy dose of herbs. It was a great meal and showcased how the town of Burlington really is: friendly and all about local food.

Tucked away in a hillside of Waterbury Vermont stands a humble factory producing lots of happiness! Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory is here. We toured the amusement park-like factory and learned that Ben and Jerry’s ice creams are more then sugar filled pints of creamy goodness with entertaining names– they are also represent a well meaning, hard working group of people trying to make this world a little better.

When Ben and Jerry decide that they wanted to start up a business of their own back in the late 70’s, they were just two men who Imagined Whirled Peace someday and worked hard every day Through the Rockery Roads towards that goal that lead them to their AmeriCone Dream.  To think that they only ended up making ice cream only because the ice cream equipment cost less money then the machinery needed to produce bagels!

From a small gas station in Burlington to a world wide known brand that we know and love today Ben and Jerry’s is still true to themselves. They still use local Vermont dairy and eggs from small farms. Theses days the company is working on incorporating fair trade chocolate, vanilla, and coffee into their recipes.  By using fair trade ingredients the farmers are insured a fair profit for their hard work.

Fair trade is just one of the many causes that Ben and Jerry is a part of.  They also have specialty flavors like Dave Mathews Band Magic Brownie that helps to take action against global warming and Phish Food which helps the Vermont band Phish support their favorite charity group The Waterwheel Foundation which helps keep Vermont’s water clean. And of course there is the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream flavor that helps disadvantaged children, veterans, and their families and a variety of environmental groups.

Giving the world a dose of Chocolate Therapy with a helping hand of good will Ben and Jerry’s is making this earth One Sweet Whirled.

Everyone has their favorite fun flavor, and mine is a toss up between Oatmeal Cookie and Snicker Doodle Cookie. Brian is all about the Vanilla Heath crunch! It is great to be able to support a great company while enjoying some wonderful tastes.

I was truly enchanted by our time in Vermont– I like the community vibes that I got while I was there. Burlington is a kind of place that is relaxed and full of free spirit, doing things their own way. Ben and Jerry’s also stays true to their Vermont values and I for one am happily enjoying the benefits of their hard work and am thankful for the high price of bagel mixers and ovens back in 1978.