How Sweet it Is...

It's time for another Maple Menu Takeover! Kingdom Maple Festival on Saturday, April 20 is St. Johnsbury's day to celebrate our status as the "Maple Center of the World". As part of the festival, we've challenged our local restaurants and food vendors to highlight locally-produced Vermont maple on their menus.
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Check out the specials available at the following restaurants and food vendors on the day of the festival, or for some, all year long.

Saturday during Maple Fest is the last indoor St. Johnsbury Farmers Market of the year, before they move their summertime outdoor location. Vendors will include Smokin' Somethin' BBQ, Sunday Bell Farm, Twin Acres Farm, Thorn Tree Farm, Inch by Inch Permaculture, Warden Meat & Maple (also at the street fair), Too Little Farm, Twin Pine Farm, Mami's Latin Kitchen, Treasure Chest Crafts, and VT Maple Beverages & Peanut Brittle. Many already feature their own maple products, but maple baked goods will be especially on offer this week. Saturday, 10am - 1pm. St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, 51 Depot Sq.

​St. Johnsbury Distillery is pulling out all the stops to showcase their love of all things maple. Four of their spirits are created with maple syrup from Stevenson's Sugarhouse (Barnet, Vermont) or Big Buck Maple (802-684-3668, Danville, Vermont): Vermont Vodka is made of 100% Vermont maple syrup, fermented and distilled four times to create a clear spirit, Dunc's Maple Rum and Dunc's Dark Maple Rum present slightly different profiles, plus the newly-released Old Dunc's Select. Sample these at the Distillery Speakeasy in their signature cocktails, or take a guided tour during Maple Fest (Saturday between 10am - 4pm, every 30 minutes) to learn about the process of making them from scratch. The Prohibition Kitchen, open special hours during Maple Fest from 11am - 3pm, will feature several maple-forward dishes including Maple Rum BBQ Sauce, served on our wings or dressed cauliflower, or the Maple Rum Crème Brûlée and Maple Rum Glazed Cupcake for dessert. Regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 4pm - 9pm and Sunday Brunch, with special hours during Maple Fest, as above. 78 Eastern Ave.

Yummies @ The Star will have two maple flavors of Vermont-made Wilcox Ice Cream (maple walnut, and maple creme) available all weekend, plus Maple Fest specials including Maple Creemees, the Max Maple Milkshake, and the Maple Sundae Deluxe (pictured above). Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30am - 9pm. 17 Eastern Ave.

Anthony's Diner has all of the classic diner breakfast items that you can dream of, designed to be slathered in syrup from local producer Goodwin Family Maple (St. Johnsbury, Vermont). Make sure to save room for their signature Vermont Maple Walnut Pie. Open Thursday & Friday from 8am - 8pm, Saturday thru Monday 8am - 3pm. (Closed Tuesdays). 321 Railroad St.

The Kitchen Counter Cafe's soft serve machine is humming, and they'll be offering Maple Creemees all weekend (or until they run out!) Keep an eye out for specials on homemade Pancakes topped with local syrup from Mooreland Farm (Peacham, Vermont), and their delicious Maple Bacon Cheeseburger served with fries. Open Thursday thru Tuesday 8am - 3pm (Closed Wednesdays). 378 Railroad St.

Wandering Vine will be open during Maple Fest, serving Maple Baked Oatmeal, and a special Maple Boba Tea. Open Saturday during Maple Fest, 10am - 3pm. 378 Railroad St.

Whirligig Brewing & Bistro is featuring a smokehouse takeover including pulled pork, shredded chicken, half rack ribs and smoked sausages, all smoked on site and doused with their popular Miso Honey Maple BBQ Sauce made with syrup from Chandler Hill Farm (Peacham, Vermont). Sample a beer brewed in-house, or a have a NA Maple Seltzer made with a generous dose of syrup. Open Wednesday, noon - 3pm, Thursday through Saturday noon - 7pm. 397 Railroad St.

Kingdom Taproom is proud to serve locally-procured products all throughout their menu, and local maple syrup from Happy Hill Maple Farms (Lyndonville, Vermont) is no exception. You'll find Maple Cocktails & Mocktails on the menu on the regular, but this weekend don't miss Candied Maple Bacon on nachos, or Maple Sweet Potato or Shrimp Tacos. Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 4 - close and Friday thru Sunday noon - close. On Maple Fest, they'll open early at 11am!  397 Railroad St., downstairs.

​Boxcar & Caboose makes their Maple Lattes with syrup from local producer Goodwin Family Maple (St. Johnsbury, Vermont). Open daily: Monday through Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 3pm. 394 Railroad St.

The Campfire, St. J's newest eatery, will have oodles of maple on the menu for Maple Fest, including Maple Lemonade, Smoked Maple Balsamic Chicken, and Smoked Maple Chili, and baked goods. Open Thursday & Friday 11:30am - 6pm, and Saturday, 10am - 3pm. 418 Railroad St.

Boule is offering several special items made with their family's own maple from LaLiberte Family Sugarhouse (165 Maple Ridge Road, West Charleston, Vermont). Get their early to grab an enticing Pepper Maple Bacon Sourdough, Maple Eclair, or Maple Oatmeal Cookie. Plus, they can add local maple to any espresso drink you like. Open daily, 7am - 5pm. 462 Railroad St.

Natural Provisions (soon to be called the St. Johnsbury Country Store!) will have lots of shopping opportunities in the store, featuring all their usual maple products, and will have a Maple Pulled Pork special on the menu in the deli. Open 10am - 3pm. 537 Railroad St.

98 Mill uses Kirby Mountain Maple (Kirby, Vermont) on their menu regularly, including their Maple Ginger Wings. On Saturday, they'll also be running a a Maple-Glazed Salmon special. Open Thursday through Monday, 11am - 9pm. 98 Mill St.

If you've visited Kingdom Crust Co., you'll know that there's no going back once you taste their Maple Kingdom Fries, featuring Vermont maple butter and pretzel salt. Plus, don't miss their Maple Bacon Burger and Burke Mountain Pizza with maple drizzle. Open Monday thru Saturday 11am - 8pm. Dine in, pickup, or locally delivery at kingdomcrustcompany.com or call (802) 424-2328. 1216 Railroad St.

Eastern & Main Market and Deli will be making Maple Cinnamon Rolls specially for the festival, in addition to their full-service deli sandwiches. Open daily, until 8pm. 1194 Main St.

Locally Social can add real maple from the local Bennett Family Farm Stand to make any beverage a celebration of the season, including their Maple Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee, or add maple to any espresso week. Oh, and have you tried their Maple Pecan Croissants? Open Monday through Friday, 6:30am - 4pm, Saturday 6:30am - 1pm. (Closed Sunday). 757 Portland St.
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Papa Tirozzi's will be part of the street fair during Kingdom Maple Festival serving pizza, maple cannolis and maple-candied bacon, but you can also find their delicious Vermonter pizza with maple drizzle and Maple Cannoli in the restaurant all weekend. Open Tuesday thru Saturday from 11am - 7pm. 2165 Portland St.
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Salt Bistro is featuring so many sweet things on their menu all year long, with cocktails, meals, and desserts. Call 802-424-1690 for reservations. Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 4 - 8pm. 94 Eastern Ave.