Last Saturday we met up with friends at King Arthur Cafe, Bakery, and Store in Norwich, VT. It was so much fun!
I was enamored of the outdoor trees, so Mr. T got several shots of them.
And the indoor decor was nice too -- not just the festive winter look, but also the beautiful collages of vintage kitchen implements and utensils. I was especially taken with the look of the tall jar or vase at right in the photo below: It's filled with copper cookie cutters and then topped off with greenery and white branches. I would love to recreate this decor at home with a smaller vase, and would almost certainly add some red berries to the branches and greens.
I wish that the timing had been right to get coffee and a pastry, but it just didn't fit with our schedule and supper plans. The Nutcracker Cocoa -- Steamed milk, Mocha, Hazelnut Syrup, homemade Marshmallow with a Marshmallow Whipped Cream -- sounded so good. And I think I would've tried a Cardamom Bun. The hometown bakery of my childhood was run by a family with Swedish roots and I instantly recognized (by the photo) the cardamom bun as something I loved as a child, though I'm pretty sure it had a different name.
I had specific gifts in mind that I wanted to shop for here, but most were not available. Out of stock. I found a few other things that would work, however, and I did get some cookie cutters I had hoped to, for me and for my daughter -- the classic "truck with tree" and a snow globe shape. Also some nifty and very detailed snowflake cookie stamps.
I also found some bakeable paper loaf pans I'd been eyeing in the catalog but wouldn't pay $17 for. Now on sale for a much more reasonable price! $6 sounded much better. The ones I got weren't exactly like those below, but you get the idea:
I already used four of the ones that I got to bake my Little Apricot Fruitcakes in. To be honest, I wasn't really sure how well I would like baking in these paper pans, but I do. I like them a lot. They were easy to work with and fill, nice and sturdy, and the cakes baked well in them. When cooled, it was an easy matter to just wrap them in foil -- not plastic wrap and then foil, as I would do with cakes baked in ceramic or metal pans and removed to cool on racks. I am glad I bought a package of 12, as I may make some chocolate chai tea bread if time allows. If we get the opportunity to return to King Arthur anytime soon, I will probably purchase more.
An additional fun touch was that there was live music -- a Celtic duo with fiddle and guitar -- last Saturday during the time we were there, so that made it even more festive.
And there you have it -- a winter afternoon at King Arthur! So happy we got to do this.
Is the King Arthur flour company from that place? I like King Arthur Flour and always use it now. I first learned about it when we lived in New Hampshire, and I remember hearing a commercial for it on the Christian radio station I listened to. Can't remember now what it was, but there was a man who had a program about cooking and preparing for holiday dinners, etc., and he was sponsored by King Arthur Flour for one thing, and I remember some other items that were particularly from that area...One Pie Pumpkin is one that comes to mind. I don't remember that man's name, but I enjoyed his program on the radio when I was driving back and forth to work. Maybe you will know who I am talking about, but that was over 20 years ago, and he may well be gone by now. Funny how some things just stick with you! Have a blessed Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your visit to King Arthur Flour! I have been there a few times, but never during the snowy Christmas season. It must have been lovely!
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