Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Henry on April 01, 2011, 09:09:49 AM
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Published on Seven Days (http://www.7dvt.com (http://www.7dvt.com))
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More Country for Old Men
Side Dishes: Fairfax favorite to reopen
By Alice Levitt [03.30.11]
For more than 20 years, the Country Pantry was a Fairfax community hub known for its head-scratchingly inexpensive home cooking. In 2009, owner Sulaiman “Sam” Jadallah sold the restaurant and since that time it has gone through two more sets of owners in as many years and a new identity as the Vermont Breakfast Company, which closed earlier this year.
Starting the first week in May, fans looking to enjoy the Country Pantry again will be in luck. According to Lisa Middelton, who co-owns the restaurant with several of her family members, her team plans to restore the restaurant to its glory days with a throwback menu — and low prices.
Middelton, whose family started Land Air in Essex in the 1960s, has recruited a friend, Keith Neil, to run day-to-day operations of the restaurant while she continues to style hair at the Carriage House Beauty Salon in Montpelier. A Vermont native who spent years managing “three-, four- and five-star restaurants” in California, Neil says his vision for the Country Pantry is based as much on memories of the Fairfax restaurant as on his childhood favorite, Berlin’s Wayside Restaurant & Bakery.
In fact, he’s hired Terry Salls, a Wayside and Soup ’n’ Greens alum, to be chef. Neil says to expect stocks, gravies and soups made from scratch using house-roasted turkey and chickens, along with hard-to-find New England classics such as liver and onions. Pies will be cooked either locally or at the restaurant.
More than anything, Middelton, her family and Neil are interested in giving locals a treasured taste of the past. “I think people are looking for something ... they grew up on,” says Neil. “It’s not going to be the same owners, but the goal is to bring back the same country feel, home-cooked meals, and call people by their first name. That’s something the community here wants.”
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Source URL: http://www.7dvt.com/2011more-country-old-men (http://www.7dvt.com/2011more-country-old-men)Links:
[1] http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2009/09/best-bites-ajs-country-pantry-restaurant.html (http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2009/09/best-bites-ajs-country-pantry-restaurant.html)
[2] http://www.7dvt.com/2011crumbs-0 (http://www.7dvt.com/2011crumbs-0)
[3] http://www.7dvt.com/counter-intelligence (http://www.7dvt.com/counter-intelligence)
[4] http://www.7nvt.com/7n/admin/listing.htm?establishment_id=788 (http://www.7nvt.com/7n/admin/listing.htm?establishment_id=788)
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Yay for liver and onions! (and pie)
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I do like a few slices of bacon with my liver & onions
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Not a Liver ands Onions fan, but I do know many are. I hope they use Eastman's Pies, that would be wonderful! Looking forward to the affordable home cooking!
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I'm with you Mary Kay-I'll pass on the liver n onions; however the roasted turkey sounds pretty good to me! The truth is, most people really do love that "home cooking" thing. It's comfort food, it's something that generally speaking many don't have time to do in these days of being rushed and doing everything quickly. It's much easier not to bother.
I remember very well how good the Country Pantry once was and the incredible reputation it had for miles around this state. It was an exalted entity that was the result of Sam's hard work. Regardless of how he's fallen, that doesn't change. I wish Lisa Middleton & Co. well and hope it flies in these questionable times.They seem to have the right idea and this town does love its Country Pantry--:D
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My husband & I are also looking forward to "home cooking" at reasonable prices. We were also regular County Pantry cutomers & many out of town people that we knew would come because of its reputation. It is also very convienent when the restaurant is just 5 minutes away :)