Dear Friends,
As you know, communities around Vermont – and many of our friends and coworkers – continue to recover from the aftermath of tropical storm Irene. We’ve all been searching for ways to help.
That’s why on Friday, September 16, Vermont Brownie Company and other Vermont businesses like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. and Cabot are hosting an Irene Flood Relief concert at Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont.
The concert features energetic afro-indie pop band Rubblebucket and Latin jazz and salsa dance band Ritmo Masacote.
Tickets are $10 each, with proceeds benefitting the Vermont Foodbank. Tickets are now on sale – please click here to purchase tickets.
If you can’t join, you can still help! Text FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank today.
September 15th, 2011
Dear Friends,
Vermonters are now busy cleaning up and doing repairs in the aftermath of Irene this past weekend. The devastation caused by this storm is heart-breaking. The states historic landscape has been altered forever.
We want to sincerely thank our customers for the emails, phone calls, and genuine concern you’ve shown for Vermont Brownie Company and the well-being of our employees. Unlike many small businesses around the state we were not hit hard, other than a loss of power. We were very lucky.
Vermont Brownie Company is sending special “Brownie Care Packages” to shelters that have been set up throughout the state and making other donations to those affected by the flood.
To our friends that have been affected by the Irene flood disaster, our thoughts are with you.
Warmly,
Katherine & Shawna
September 15th, 2011
The White Library (blog) by Sandra Downie
August 9, 2011
Today is a sweet day for so many reasons, but one of them is because of the yummy giveaway from the Vermont Brownie Company. I first learned about the company and owners, Katherine and Shawna by watching an episode of “Throwdown With Bobby Flay” in which they did a brownie face off! After that episode, I immediately ordered a sampler packet of their brownies.
As a brownie aficionado, I simply feel in love with the wide variety of decadent brownie flavors they offered. They are rich, moist and have very deep chocolate flavor. I have to admit, I couldn’t choose just one, so I ordered their sampler packet. My favorite? Their Maple Toffee Crunch is ridiculously divine! I also love that they are a company that supports sustainability and that they source their ingredients locally from VT. I am all about that! So my lovelies, if you are a die hard brownie fan like myself, then you are going to want to get your hands on this sampler pack. Who knows, you might just decide you want to share some of them.
http://www.thewhitelibrary.com/
August 11th, 2011
Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival slowly maturing
Written by Mike Donoghue, Free Press Staff Writer
SHELBURNE — Much like its primary product, the annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival appears to get better with age.
The festival that started with the hopes of attracting a crowd of 500 cheese connoisseurs in 2009 actually attracted 1,000 fans for the inaugural event. This year, organizers limited tickets to 1,750 tickets, and they were gone one month before the doors opened Sunday at Shelburne Farms.
“The first year we decided we would sell 1,000 tickets, and we hoped to get 500 people. We sold out the first year about a week or 10 days before. I was a little panicked because people were not accustomed to not being able to go to a Vermont event, not be able to buy a ticket,” said Allison Hooper of Brookfield, one of the organizers.
“We are trying to up the ticket sales slowly so that we can keep the flow for the traffic and the intimacy of the event so that people don’t come and feel that it’s not special,” she said.
She said the 1,500 tickets planned for last year were gone before the event.
“This is not just a Vermont event. It’s a regional event or a national at some level. They come from all over,” she said. Tickets go on sale in February.
A check of the parking lot at Shelburne Farms proves it with vehicles registered in states all along the East Coast and into Canada.
The festival also attracts food writers from across the nation, the Food Network and even Martha Stewart Living, said Hooper, co-owner of the 27 year-old Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery in Barre Town.
The creamery employs 48 people, but some Vermont cheese companies take advantage of distributors to promote their products.
Provisions International of White River Junction was offering various cheeses it promotes, including Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro. The distributor helps sell for about 30 cheesemakers.
“It’s gone very well. It has been a great turnout. It definitely kept moving all day,” said Craig Biathrow of Provisions.
“It was very productive day. We met a lot of new people. Sample some new cheese for people. It was educational for retailers and consumers alike. Hopefully cheese sales will increase now,” Biathrow said.
The festival also attracts many of the top Vermont wineries and beer brewmasters. But it also is a chance to showcase many of the obvious things that go with cheese, such as crackers, pickles and brownies.
The Vermont Brownie Company of South Hero was displaying some of its wide-ranging tasty products, co-owner Shawna Lidsky said. She said the specialty food company even has a brownie that has goat cheese in its.
“Not only do you have to have a good brownie, but you have to have a very unique brownie. One that has goat cheese in it. That’s how we earn our place here,” Lidsky said.
“People come over and are totally blown away by the fact that not only are they having a brownie, but there is (goat) cheese in it. I think sometimes they are getting a break from cheese and then they find out there is cheese in the brownie,” she said.
“They love it. It’s great for us to meet all these people because they come from all over the country,” Lidsky said.
Some products are a little more obviously cheese related, such as pizza. Mach’s Mobile Wood Fire Pizza of Pawlet set up portable units to serve customers. The Rutland County business specializes in fresh, gourmet and organic ingredients.
“It was great to see tour buses coming in,” said co-owner Deannna Mach, who had a tent overlooking the lake and a nice breeze. She would support a second day and would like to see some bands to entertain the people who are sprawled out on the lawn.
Barbara Bacchi of Shaftsbury brought her Vermont Moonlight Cookies that were also a big hit.
She said one of her customers mentioned it would be great to expand the event to two days.
“I don’t know if it’s possible, but it sounds like a good idea. It’s great food. I love local,” said Bacchi, who sells locally at City Market in Burlington and Healthy Living in South Burlington and many co-ops.
Even the out-of-state vendors couldn’t help but try some Vermont goods. Suzy Konecky of Cricket Farm in Williamstown, Mass., took time to pick up some smoke cheese from Plymouth Artisan Cheese.
“Isn’t this is a great cheese festival?” said Konecky.
“We knew we could meet a lot of different buyers and distributors in the whole Northeast. It’s not just Vermont. We’ve seen folks coming up from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts. People from all over come,” she said.
Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghue@burlingtonfreepress.com.
July 25th, 2011
THANK YOU GOODIES FOR GIFTS – GREAT BLOG!
July 21, 2011
My all time favorite dessert is the brownie. I am not picky either. I love a boxed brownie, a gourmet brownie, a stale brownie, brownie crumbs…you get the idea. I knew it would not be hard to please me when Vermont Brownie Company graciously offered to send me a sampler pack of their most popular brownies to review. I even got a brownie magnet for my fridge…whooooooo!!
For $21 you can give that special someone six unique brownies. So far they are all delicious, but I was blown away by the Maple Toffee Crunch. Toffee is really getting me going these days and this brownie is no exception. The first thing my daughter said when she saw the packaging was “this is perfect for my teachers,” and I would agree.
With that said, Vermont Brownie Company represents an area of the country that is touched with down to earth people and sophistication. The brownies are made using local, farm-fresh ingredients and are preservative free. The packaging is representative of the brand 100%. The logo is a sheep, which is appropriate since Vermont had more sheep than people in the 1800s. Everything about this product is exactly what I associate Vermont to be: beautiful, simple, and refined.
The best part about my job is reading the inspiring stories of the people who start the companies I review. Take the time to review how Katherine And Shawna created Vermont Brownie Company. Proof that people have the ability to make dreams become a reality and turn struggles into success. So inspirational!
Perfect Goody For: Your child to bring to their new teacher the first day of school. Forget the Apple, when there are brownies in town!
http://www.goodiesforgifts.com/
July 21st, 2011
