Combo Platter: Rutland Festival; Hardwick on "Here & Now"
By Alice Levitt and Suzanne Podhaizer
Rutland 'Round the World
Rutland has a rich history of introducing world cuisine to Vermont. The original Kong Chow restaurant opened more than 70 years ago. The Palms Restaurant served the Green Mountains' first pizza in 1949. The diverse city is continuing to represent with the Rutland Ethnic Food Festival, an event held by the Downtown Rutland Partnership, in conjunction with the city's sidewalk sale.
Both Kong Chow — now part Vietnamese and called Kong Chow Fusion — and the Palms will be there. The city's Italian heritage also will be celebrated with booths from Sabby's Pasta House & Sports Lounge, Cara Mia's and Sal's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. Another vendor will be scooping Italian Ice.
A Rutland-based caterer named Youngla Nam will serve Vietnamese egg rolls and rice noodle stir fries. Festival staple Samosaman will represent the Republic of Congo. An Sim Benham of Rutland will offer Korean eats.
Of course, unadventurous eaters will have plenty of choices, too. Expect sandwiches, sausages and hot dogs from vendors ranging from Emma T's Take It to Go Buffet to the local Price Chopper.
Alice Levitt
Hearing 'bout Hardwick
For the past couple years, the area surrounding Hardwick — located in the wilds of the Northeast Kingdom — has been getting a wicked lot of national press. Why? A handful of enterprising food entrepreneurs has started up some unusual businesses that created jobs during the recession, and have created a nonprofit — The Center for an Agricultural Economy — to help promote sustainable food systems.
But while many media reports have been glowing and uncritical, Vermont-born farmer and journalist Ben Hewitt took a more nuanced look in his 2009 tome The Town That Food Saved. Haven't had a chance to read the (funny, thoughtful) book? Here's a shortcut!
On July 19, Robin Young interviewed Hewitt on her show, "Here & Now." They discussed the need for farming in a way that doesn't destroy the soil, what it means to "reimagine prosperity" and the fact that Hardwick had a back-to-the-land movement before the current crop of "agripreneurs" — as Hewitt calls the group of thirtysomething men behind the Hardwick movement — were born.
What don't they cover (although they tease the topic)? Whether it's possible for the "agripreneurs" to grow and produce food that locals can afford.
Click here to listen.
Suzanne Podhaizer
