A Garden Getaway: Meadowlark Inn - Brattleboro, VT

There is the loveliest array of fresh produce in my kitchen. Bright green cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes in all shapes and sizes (even an intriguingly-named "chocolate tomato"), and sprigs of fragrant basil spill out of a large paper bag. All of these luscious veggies came not from a grocery store, but from the lovingly tended garden at the Meadowlark Inn. Deb and Lucia, the inn's gracious owners, delighted me with ever-changing breakfasts and sent me home with this bag of treasure. I cannot wait to drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil over one of these juicy, ripe tomatoes.

I must briefly repress this impulse, however, in order to describe the breakfasts! Deb and Lucia, who trained as master gardeners and chefs before opening the Meadowlark 4 years ago, prepare two daily breakfasts (sweet and savory) with local, organic ingredients. Last night, Lucia whipped up some pesto from the freshly-picked basil, and this morning she incorporated it into a delicious round frittata topped with sweet cherry tomatoes, also from the garden. The other choice this morning was French toast with cherries and maple pork sausage. Both selections were served with a large hunk of spice cake and a fruit salad with mangos and pineapples.

Yesterday, when faced with the difficult choice between Lilac Farms maple syrup-drizzled banana pancakes and two eggs over easy on a crispy-edged potato-Parmesan pancake, I opted for the latter. (I couldn't finish the included iced blueberry turnover!) And I still had the afternoon lemonade and oatmeal raisin cookies and evening tea and chocolates to look forward to.

I invite you to visit the Meadowlark Inn's Website.

Meadowlark Inn: Orchard St., Brattleboro, VT, (800) 616-6359.

Garlic-Raspberry Ice Cream?

Walking down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida, I spied a curious sign: an advertisement for garlic-raspberry ice cream. The ad, posted by Foxy's Ice Cream & Dessert Cafe, attempted to persuade the reader to try this ice cream by touting its unique ability to alienate other people. "Meeting with the ex and their lawyer? Eat this ice cream and cut that meeting time in half!"

I am always in favor of culinary exploration, but this seemed rather dubious to me. Nevertheless, I turned onto South East 5th Avenue and entered a homey, cheerful ice cream shop named after somebody's dog. "So what's this about garlic-raspberry ice cream?" I asked. "Is this for real?"

A man who must have been the owner offered proudly, "It was my idea! I originally came up with it a few years ago for the Garlic Festival."

I hesitated, and then decided to take the plunge and ask for a sample. I took the spoon, held it to my lips and...

...it was all wrong! The garlic flavor stuck out like a sore thumb. Raspberries and cream is a nice combination, as is garlic and warm cream, but not raspberries, sugar, garlic and cold cream. Trying to forget the taste, I made my exit as politely as I could. (In Foxy's defense, the other flavors seemed very appealing. They included Kahlua almond fudge, tiramisu, rum raisin and toasted coconut. But I recommend that you skip that garlic-raspberry!)

I still wanted some form of berry ice cream, minus superfluous herbs and spices, so I strolled further down Atlantic Avenue. To my left was a Ben & Jerry's. But to my right was a godsend: Nonna's Cafe, the year-old gelateria which makes everything fresh on an Italian gelatomaker. One bite of Nonna's frutti del bosco multi-berry sorbetto and I was on cloud nine. (They also have a rich-as-pudding chocolate gelato and a mango sorbetto accented with chunks of fresh sweet fruit.)

Nonna's Cafe: 1136 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL, (561) 279-9328. Foxy's Ice Cream & Dessert Cafe: 12 SE 5th Ave., Delray Beach, FL, (561) 276-9379.