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Well, there’s no sense in papering over things…while the retail stores are full-on & flat-out during the holiday season, the Skinny Pancake is in ‘bunker-mode’, bracing for the slowest days of the year. But our loss is your gain…we have rolled out a slew of specials to keep the flow a-goin’…check it out:

The Shop ‘N Dine Discount:

In the spirit of shopping locally this holiday season, drop into any of these lovely locales and pickup a coupon for 15% your next order of crepes at the Skinny Pancake:

Montpelier: Onion River Sports, Salaam, Capitol Kitchen, The Men’s Store, The Book Garden
Burlington: Outdoor Gear Exchange, Salaam, Dedalus, Bennington Potters, Common Threads, Sweet Lady Jane & Whim

Thanks so much to our pals at all these great shops

for joining us in this cross promotion!

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The Gift Certificate Give-Away:
Buy two $25 gift certificates at the SP & get a $10 gift certificate for free!

Come into the Chubby Muffin, buy two $10 gift certificates and get a free Quickie & Coffee or 100% Local Beef Hamburger!

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Oh, we’re not even close to done…

$25 Prix-Fixe Dinner for Two:

Two soups or any choice of 1 group munchie
Your choice of two savory classics*
Your choice of one of a selection of dessert crepes.
Available Sunday – Wednesday 3 pm – Closing
*excluding Localvore’s Dream
**Not combinable with other offers

And finally…

Starting soon, the Chubby Muffin will be displaying crafts, clothing & art from local makers, movers & shakers with a specfically affordable bent.  The roster is still growing, but we so far we know we’ve got New Duds & Wink Apparel’s “Love My Muffin Top” American Apparel Organic Undies! More to come…drop in and check it out!

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Got local entertainment?

Reefer Madness, the Musical
December 2 – 4, Waitsfield

Consider Reefer Madness, the Musical in Waitsfield. This is the last of their three weekend run!!! I had the great fortune of watching a sibling perform in this masterpiece two years ago. It is outrageously funny!!! More info here: www.valleyplayers.com/

Got local food?
Remember…the Burlington & Montpelier winter farmer’s markets happen every two weeks…

Saturday, 12.04.10
The Capital City Farmer’s Market
10 am – 2 pm in the Montpelier Highschool Gym
www.montpelierfarmersmarket.com/

Winter’s Farmer’s Market (Burlington)
10 am – 2 pm, Memorial Auditorium
www.burlingtonfarmersmarket.org/

Got local gifts?

The Moretown Artisans’ Fair
December 11th (10 – 4) & 12th (11 -4)
http://moretownartisan.com/

“Brought to you by the same cool kids behind SIPtemberfest, the Best Local Holiday Sale around is back! December 11 & 12 at the Moretown Town Hall. Get quality crafts that make awesome holiday gifts for abosolutely everyone you know AND support your local artisans AND tell SANTA how good you’ve been this year! Win/Win/Win!” More info here: http://moretownartisan.com/

When WPTZ News Channel 5 pins pre-made,  packaged food against a local meal at The Chubby Muffin, Burlington, it’s no contest.  Skinny Pancake Chef Jeremy Silansky, of Montpelier renown, serves up a barrage seasonal specialties,  potato leak soup, a local beef & cheese burger, and apple pie — the jury is out — Local Wins.

Watch the video and see what it is about the Chubby Muffin that makes it a Winner.

http://www.wptz.com/video/25844824/detail.html

wow, it’s just about holiday season already…my how time flies…

VT has the 5th lowest unemployment rate in the country. While there are surely a number of explanations for this great fact, I like to think it is in part because of our commitment to buying local. For example, the Skinny Pancake spent approximately $46,000 into the local food economy in September of this year…and we’re just one business.

So as this holiday season approaches, look to buy your food & gifts locally…it makes a big difference!!! Below are a list of events this weekend where you can…if you miss these events, come to the Chubby Muffin starting after Black Friday. Our next art display will be a collection of affordable arts, crafts & clothing from local movers, makers & shakers.

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Events, events & more events…
Way to keep life interesting in November, Vermont!

Sunday, 11.21.10, 10 am – 2 pm
Garden Work Day, Riverside Neighborhood Garden

Come help erect the post-and-beam pavilion at the Riverside Neighborhood Garden! They’ll need a bunch of people to raise the heavy cedar bent! Check out photos of the pavilion in progress from last week’s work day at  http://www.growteamvt.com/volunteer.html

Tuesday, 11.23.10, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Growing Roots book talk at City Market
By Glenn McRae

“Next Tuesday, November 23, take a break from your Thanksgiving shopping and discover the next generation of sustainable farmers! The Intervale Center and City Market are hosting a book talk for the amazing new book Growing Roots: The Next Generation of Sustainable Farmers, Cooks, and Food Activists, widely acclaimed by the likes of Michael Pollan and Alice Waters. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the sustainable food movement around the country and to get inspired by stories and recipes. Author Katherine Leiner will give a reading from the book, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The event is at 4:00 p.m. and takes place in the City Market conference room. Kids’ activities and snacks provided!

Speaking of Glenn McRae…BIG NEWS FROM THE INTERVALE!!!

Mr. McRae (the current Executive Director of the Intervale Center) is stepping down from his position to “return to a long-dormant project of developing model hospital and health-clinic practices that aim to reduce pollution without compromising care” (Seven Days, 11.17.10). The Intervale’s Director of Programs, Travis Marcotte, will be taking the E.D. role in January. Congrats to Travis & thank you to Glenn for your years of hard work here in Burlington!!!

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Specials at the Skinny Pancake:

$25 Prix-Fixe Dinner for Two:

Two soups or any choice of 1 group munchie
Your choice of two savory classics*
Your choice of one of a selection of dessert crepes.
Available Sunday – Wednesday 3 pm – Closing
*excluding Localvore’s Dream
**Not combinable with other offers

68.6%

We’ve just completed our annual food audit for September 2010 and found that 68.6% of our spending on food & drink in Montpelier in September went towards the purchase of LOCAL raw & value-added products. This percentage is up from 65.4% last year!!!!

A few quick notes about this year’s audit:

1. Last year, we included King Arthur flour as a local food. We still use & love King Arthur, but our understanding of their products has matured over the past year. We now view K.A. as a wonderful Vermont company, but not a Vermont food producer…so we did not include them as ‘local’ and yet we still beat last year’s numbers!
2. The Skinny Pancake Burlington purchases very similar products to those in Montpelier, but this year’s Burlington purchases are mixed in with the Chubby Muffin opening. Thus, for September 2010, we chose to only audit Montpelier with the assumption that the Burlington SP is very similar.

Thanks to all our local food providers & our ‘Lead Localvore’, Montpelier GM Jeremy Silansky, for helping raise this number for a fourth straight year!!!

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Its stick season, aka Skinny Pancake Christmas.

No need to beat around the bush: each year we watch our sales go up & down like a rollercoaster season-to-season. We’ve learned to anticipate and handle these ebbs & flows, though rest assured we’re still working on both ends of the spectrum…Which brings me to this uniquely grey time of year: like the Santa Clause of crepes, we’ve got a bundle of special deals to help us avoid feeling like this guy on the right…

For Breakfast:

Come by any day next week (starting Tuesday, 11.09.10) and pick up a Cake Eater Card! Huh, what’s that? It’s a coupon for:

$2 off
ANY breakfast crepe
Valid Monday – Friday
through 5/31/11
***coupon cannot be paired with
any other discounts

We’ve also put together this snazzy ‘breakfast club’ card…check it out on the right!!!

What there’s more? Yup!

For Dinner:
in honor of this pleasant time of year…
The Stick Season Special:
$25 for two people
3 course prix fixe menu for two, includes:
Two soups or any choice of 1 group munchie
Your choice of two savory classics*
Your choice of either pure and simple, nutella or choco monkey.
Available Sunday – Wednesday 3 pm – Closing
***excluding Localvore’s Dream

If you thought the Skinny Pancake had done it all — Bottom’s Up!

This week’s drink specials:

Killer Maker: Maker’s Mark Whiskey Sour with local honey & lemon juice.
Bloody Vampire: Stoli Gala Apple, Chambord, local apple cider, lime & cranberry juices.
The Celebration: Galliano, Chambord, organic OJ, Lemon Juice, sparkling wine.
Harvey Wallbanger: Galliano & OJ.
Kir Royale: Sparkling Wine & a floater of Chambord.
Bloody Mary: Add a little heat to your winter with Benji’s very special blend of herbs & spices with Absolut Peppar.

Here’s what Skinny P GM Chris Benjamin says about the undeniably lovely combination of apples and alcohol…

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20101008/COLUMNISTS06/101007028/Give-apples-their-due-in-drinks

Catering & the ‘Cake…

There were a lot of reasons to make the move to the Chubby Muffin space…we needed more kitchen space, parking, storage, an office….and we love making muffins. In short, our ambitions far outstripped our resources. With the full force of the Chubby Muffin’s resources, we turned our attention to the growing demand for Skinny Pancake catering.

We now have a completely redeveloped our catering team & menu. Check it out here! Looking to learn more? Our Director of Catering, Kelly Coons, can be reached at 802-999-3873 or catering@skinnypancake.com.

And while we’re at it with this little self-promotion bit, this holiday season you can…
RENT THE ENTIRE SKINNY!!!
That’s right. The WHOLE CAKE. Have it to yourself and eat it too.
In Burlington (capacity 83) or Montpelier (capacity 38).
Any day in December…or for the latecomers out there, January too.
Contact Kelly for more details.

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Yowsers on the self-promos…on to events in the community…

Presented by Main Street Landing…
Burlington Green Drinks
Tuesday, October 26th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Main Street Landing’s Lake Lobby at 60 Lake Street

As always, the first 125 pints of Wolavers are provided by our generous sponsors.

This month’s non-profit sponsor: The Vermont League of Conservation Voters. For the uninformed, “The Vermont League of Conservation Voters (VT LCV) serves as the non-partisan political voice of the state’s environmental community. VT LCV seeks to make environmental protection a top priority for elected officials, candidates and voters.” Check out their website here.

For the more informed: the intrepid Todd Baily, Executive Director for the VT League of Conservation Voters requested I remind everyone that “The VT LCV now has an App for the iPhone and the Droid. Vote Green – There’s an App for that. Check it out here.

IN BREAKING GREEN DRINKS NEWS: we have a new sustaining sponsor, The Burlington Young Professionals. Their goal is to, “create a meaningful, cohesive network where aspiring professionals can meet to network and gain career enhancement skills, as well as give back to our community.” You can learn more about them here.

Finally, A BIG, WARM thank you is in order for the sponsors that make this happen each month (let’s give ‘em a round of applause, folks. Don’t be embarassed. Just start clapping):

Thanks to our host sponsor, the Main Street Landing Company, MSL has awesome spaces for rent & great events. Learn more: www.mainstreetlanding.com. Green Drinks Burlington loves Seven Days (www.7dvt.com) for their sustaining support of Green Drinks and the greater Burlington Community!!!  Wolaver’s Organic Ales (www.ottercreekbrewing.com/wolavers.html): “One of the nation’s original certified organic breweries, Wolaver’s is committed to producing the best beer in the most ecologically sound way.” Last but not least, we’d like to once-again welcome The Burlington Young Professionals as a sponsor for Green Drinks!!!

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Back to community activities…

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Award-winning adventure and environmental-based films
Main Street Landing’s lake Lobby & Film House
Thursday, October 28th, 5:30 – 9:00 pm
A benefit for the Vermont Natural Resource Council
More info can be found here.

About the film festival: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival sits apart from the hundreds of festivals around the world by leaving you feeling INSPIRED and MOTIVATED to go out and make a difference in your community and the world.

It’s a festival for activists by activists. At the festival, you’ll LEARN new ideas from a selection of inspiring environmental films with hardhitting topics. You’ll EXPERIENCE the adrenalin of trekking across the globe with adventure films around the world. You’ll EXPLORE the issues and movements with leading environmental activists and professionals, filmmakers, and celebrities. And you’ll CELEBRATE the natural and wild world.

Locally foraged Slippery Jack mushrooms creamed with local corn and bacon with Pete’s arugula served in a Gleason’s WW crepe.  $11.95

from Jampol, the wild mushroom experts:

“Dried Slippery Jack mushroom can enhance the taste of soups and sauces. It is prized in many cuisines of the world for its aroma which can only be containted when the mushroom is dried – no other processed or frozen mushroom product can come close.  Mushrooms are an excellent, natural part of a healthy diet. Dried mushrooms contain around 20% protein and are also high in riboflavin. They are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol, low in calories while being a good source of niacin (vitamin B3) and pantothenate (vitamin B5).”

Wikipedia fact:

“Suillus luteus is an edible mushroom from Russia , where they are popularly known as maslyata “buttery ones”, Slippery Jacks are frequently marinated and are considered a delicacy.”

The Magic Hat Wall To Canvas Competition
www.walltocanvas.com

On October 2nd in Burlington, Vermont (USA) twelve pre-selected artists will compete live before an audience of spectators at Magic Hat’s Art factory brewery in the Wall to Canvas graffiti competition for a prize of $500. Participants will create original works on 5×5 foot canvasses which, upon completion, will be auctioned off. They’ll have food, live music & entertainment, a Magic Hat beer tent, a live auction and more. All proceeds benefit the art education and residency program at the Art Center.

Ciderfest, Champlain Orchards
www.champlainorchards.com/images/ciderfest.htm

CiderFest will showcase regional apple wines, sweet ciders, and hard ciders paired with local foods and Vermont products. Cider making demonstrations, live music by Run Mountain, hay rides, and apple picking from the orchard’s multiple varieties will round out the afternoon festivities. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.champlainorchards.com, by calling 897-2777, or by visiting Champlain Orchards.

On Sunday April 25th, The Skinny Pancake Crew joined forces with Grow Team ONE and Shelburne Orchards planted two apple trees at the Riverside Community Garden. We planted  a Cortland and a McIntosh, both about three years old.

A bit about these trees: Every McIntosh apple has a direct lineage to a single tree discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh on his farm in Dundela, a hamlet in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada. He discovered the tree as one of several apple seedlings while clearing a farm which he had just purchased. The Cortland is red with some yellow spots.  This all-purpose apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.  As a result of crossing a McIntosh and a Ben Davis apple, the flavor is a bit sweeter than McIntosh and it’s considered to be a wonderful dessert apple.

Donating apple trees to the Riverside Garden is a simple way to give back to our community, who has provided us with steadfast support. We look forward to watching these trees grow & fruit in the years to come.

Howdy folks,

well, spring has sprung as is evidenced by the foraged VT Fiddleheads & Ramps now available. These greens are the first snowflakes in an avalanche of VT produce to come this summer season. Mixed metaphor much?

Anyhow…we’re excited…The photo of ramps on the right was taken by Montpelier SP General Manager, Jeremy Silansky.

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April is Compost Month in the Queen City!

Did you know that compost costs the city $30/ton to dispose of, while trash costs us all $100/ton? The average household can reduce their trash by one third by composting: “Join the Compost Revolution and you’ll save money, reduce air pollution and put your food and yard waste to work building healthy soils to grow healthy food right here in Chittenden Country. Starting tonight:

Come out tonight to join in the “Community Compost Extravaganza” from 6 pm – 9 pm at Magnolia Bistro. Enjoy great hors d’oeuvres and a beverage while sharing food-recycling tips with our friends at Magnolia. $5-10 suggested donation. For more info, call Nicole Carpenter: 802-338-0626.

Composting on a budget? Take advantage of the Burlington Compost Bin Sale: For a limited time only, residents of Chittenden Solid Waste District can purchase the Soilsaver compost bin at the Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Miller Community Center for the low cost of $46 (tax included). Cash or check only at the DPW, checks only at the Miller center. The bins regularly retail for about $100, so don’t miss this great opportunity to compost in the convenience of your own back yard!!!

More events and information about composting in Chittenden County can be found at www.cswd.net/composting/compost_month.shtml.

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This week’s food specials at the Skinny Pancake:

The Ramp Up (Montpelier, 100% local): Braised Winding Brook Farm Pork Shoulder with Wildcrafted Caramelized VT Ramps, Apple Chutney and Grafton Village Smoked Cheddar.  Served on a Savory Butterworks Farm Rye Crepe. $10.00

The Wild Awakening (Burlington): Caramelized foraged VT ramps, Winding Brook Farm Ham, Cabot cheddar, a medley of sautéed shiitake, button, and oyster mushrooms, all wrapped in a Gleasons Grains whole wheat crepe.  Served with a cup of freshly harvested Wild fiddlehead Soup!!! 9.75

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Music this week at the Skinny Pancake:

Thursday, 04.15.10
Big Kitty (Americana/Country)
Jo Robin (experimental/freestyle/minimalist)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/bigkittyclark
www.myspace.com/jorobin

Chattanooga, Tennessee Big Kitty comes to the ‘Cake on his Northeast tour. Singer Songwriter Clark’s website indicates his influences are “TV and comic books”, but one listen to his music tracks the more evident influence appears Bob Dylan with his oft-caricatured vocals that wheeze and whine and crack. Backed by old timey, americana guitar rifts, Big Kitty brings his one man story strumming act to Vermont.

Jo robin is a true train hopping, vaudevillian, banjo pluckin’ poetic troubadour. She brings her original freestyle melodic melds to Thursday night along with special guest Galen Peria.

Jo’s words on this gig, “An evening of mudfolk, featuring old-time unknown tunes and Jo Robin originals, as well as Galen Peria orginals…”. From her site, “jo robin studied with Yacob Liebling in Vienna at the Institute for Betterment. After years of dedicated training in the complexities of chord bending, jo robin started her own school in White River Junction where she currently teaches amateurism. she plays banjo, ukulele and pretends to play the guitar.”

Friday, 04.16.10
Myra Flynn Duo (Acoustic/Soul/Funk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/myraflynn

An acoustic soul-icious Friday night with one of Central Vermont’s brightest vocalists Myra Flynn www.myspace.com/myraflynn. Myra returns as an intimate act with musical collaborator Bob Levinson, billed as Quiet Songs.

From her site, “Myra Flynn is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter hailing from central Vermont. Her live shows blend soulful vocals with an engaging stage presence…Myra’s neo-soul vocal stylings have been compared to the likes of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Leela James, and Alicia Keys, and she counts Joni Mitchell among her lyrical influences.

At age 16, Myra earned a record deal with Wyclef Jean’s Refugee All Stars. She has since opened for Ivan Neville, Alexa Ray Joel, Slick Rick, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. Emphasizing, “I was a writer before I was a singer,” Myra is also a working journalist. Her original compositions, some including her own spoken poetry, reflect maturity as both a writer and a performer.”

Saturday, 04.17.10
Osage Orange (Indi-folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/osageorangemusic

SHOW CANCELLED: My bad, folks…sorry. Osage Orange gave us the head’s up about a week ago, but we didn’t get the message to the newspapers in time. They’re a great group…I’d recommend keeping tabs on these locals.

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In the pipeline…

Thursday, 04.22.10
The Sleepwells (Indi-Folk-Rock)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thesleepwellsmusic

Friday, 04.23.10
The Points North (folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thepointsnorth

Saturday, 04.24.10
Birch Bones (acoustic/folk)
David Rhynhart (modern folk/americana)
***$5 suggested donation
http://www.davidrynhart.com
http://www.myspace.com/birchbonesband