Popolo Means People

Popolo means people.

The labbits are veeeeery happy that a new restaurant has opened up in Bellows Falls. There are places to eat in BF for lunch, there's an ice cream shop, a farmer's market, an Irish pub, a bar and the American Legion, and a couple pizza places. Rumor has it there's a couple Chinese food places but...the labbits haven't heard good reviews so they haven't been. They've been really hoping for a nice place to have dinner and Sunday brunch and FINALLY! A nice restaurant has opened up in the newly renovated downtown Windham Hotel. It's called Popolo, which is Italian for "people".  Only fitting that Pipkin would don a disguise to ensure that he could get in.

Classy looking joint. Should he have worn a tie?

Well, he made it through the front door with his disguise, and he's glad he's got a reservation. The place opened up a few days ago and has been packed every night. Pipkin got his own small table by the bar, but one of the main features of Popolo is the large communal table in the center of the restaurant. Popolo encourages people from all walks of life to break bread with new people and share their stories while eating good food.

Bread baskets should always have more than one kind of bread. MMMMmmmm!

While Pipkin pored over the Italian inspired menu, he munched on the three types of fresh baked bread in the bread basket. The menu had a lot of delicious options (for those who eat like labbits and those who eat labbits) with locally sourced produce and meat, and choices to fit every budget.

Pipkin's a master of disguise. No one has noticed he's a labbit! Muahahahha!

He started with the bruschetta, a toasted Italian bread topped with tomato, white beans, pecorino and olive oil.

Farro risotto.

For his main course Pipkin went with a spinach risotto. Instead of arborio rice, this risotto is made with farro, a wild grain cousin of wheat. It cooks up like puffed rice but has a nuttier flavor and has a texture with a bit more "crunch" than you're used to with an al dente risotto. It's a high fiber and high protein grain that is super tasty, especially when you crack open the poached egg for creaminess. Yum!

So many nommy things, how to choose?

You have to wonder how Pipkin eats so much and stays in good labbit shape (fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be, but not too fat and bunchy). He finished the bread basket, the bruschetta and the risotto and he's looking at dessert! His warren mate Masher McBuns might have to take him out on a few bike rides to burn off this meal.

Strawberry rhubarb tart with fresh cream. Seasonal desserts are deeeeelish!

Pipkin went with not one, but two desserts! He also figured since he made it this far through dinner and finally got to the desserts, he'd ditch the disguise and just see if they'd kick him out for not being  "people". Pretty daring, Pip. What if they kicked you out before you ate dessert?

Bombolini!

But no one kicked him out, so I guess Popolo means people, and the people welcome labbits! Pipkin went crazy over his desserts, first a strawberry rhubarb tart with fresh cream, and the highlight, these little bombolini, fried Italian pastry balls filled with Bavarian cream, served with strawberries and blackberries. MMMMmmmmm, mmmmmm soooo delicious!

Pipkin encourages you to take a look at the menus online. You will see lots of food and drink options in all price ranges. Since Popolo is farm-to-table cooking, you can expect the menu to change as we go through the seasons. There is an outdoor patio that has just opened up that overlooks the canal, and a room off the dining will soon host music events, movies, and a lounge area with a second bar!

Popolo's grand opening is June 30th, 2012. Should you find yourself in the labbits' little corner of Vermont, do visit, seat yourself at the big communal table or the picnic tables outside, and enjoy a meal at Popolo!

Buns n' Bikes: Bike Washing Day

Fresh off a BRICK workout (that's where you ride, then hop off the bike and go for a run) Masher McBuns figured he'd give Tessa (the bike) a wash. It's always a good idea to wash your bike, degrease the moving parts and lube your chain to keep the bike in smooth riding condition. Plus, when you have a shiny white bike it goes with your shiny white tail.

How do you like Masher's pace booty?

California Love

California, we <3 you.

Labbit Travels: 17 Mile Drive

Pipkin: Domo?
Domo: Yes, Pip.
Pipkin: That's not the "Lone Cypress" is it?
Domo: Yes. Yes, I believe it is.
Pipkin: That one out there, at the end?
Domo: Yes.
Pipkin: The one that's just past that other cypress tree?
Domo: Yes, Pip.
Pipkin: That one that's at the end of this grove of cypress trees?
Domo: ...
Pipkin: I'm done here.

The not so lonely "Lone Cypress"

Correct Pipkin if he's wrong, but is the "Lone Cypress" (which he and Domo paid $9 to get into this gated community to see) really so lonely? Pipkin's quite rankled about being manipulated into believing this was some rare beauty. If you google "The Lone Cypress" you get an assortment of images that make this tree look like some brave warrior, standing strong for centuries against the harsh salt air.  But then you arrive, amongst the many tour buses and snap happy tourists (this is one of the most photographed trees) and you realize, this tree isn't so lonely after all.

In fact, 17 Mile Drive, which is touted as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, isn't all that thrilling, unless your main interest is golf courses and wealthy people's homes. Pipkin and Domo thought the drive would wind along the coast with breathtaking views of the ocean, but instead it was a nice drive in the woods, with views blocked by people's houses. There are some coastal views, but it's nothing much more special than driving along California One where you don't have to pay for such a privilege. But enough grumbling, 17 Mile Drive is a pretty drive. Although the Lone Cypress was a bit of a lie, seeing its gnarled branches steadfast against the wind does make you think about the people who have visited decades and decades ago, admiring its beauty. So.

There are other pretty views, once the drive leaves the woods. From here you can hear the cries of seagulls and sea lions. A closer look out to the ocean, and you can see where they like to gather.

Closer to land, Pipkin tried to make friends with the locals, but they were rather suspicious he would steal the peanuts the tourists were feeding them.

Suspicious squirrel is suspicious.

Hey, that's not a rock back there!

Surprisingly this sandy beach was empty of people, so Pip and Domo decided to take a picture, not realizing they were getting photobombed...by a whale?!?

This little gray whale got a little too close to shore at the end of April, and lost his family. He thinks he may have been hit on the head by one of these white little balls and gotten knocked out. 

Have you seen my ma?

Since coming to, he's been wandering around Monterey Bay, but it seems the gray whales have left and humpbacks, dolphins, killer whales and blue whales aren't too keen on adopting him.

Well, of course Pipkin and Domo are going to bring this little guy back to Vermont. There are two other little whales, so he won't be alone, and he got pretty excited about the idea! Domo had the little whale take one last look at the ocean before they headed back to San Francisco to fly to Vermont.

Coming to 17 Mile Drive turned out to be a great trip, because now they've added to their little family!

Bun Break - Homestead Farm Stand, Walpole NH

Masher McBuns gives his buns a break from biking at Homestead Farm Stand in Walpole, NH. There are donuts at the farmstand, along with Boggy Meadow Farms cheese and a variety of veggies, plants and hanging baskets. Masher's trying to get down to race weight though, so he'll pass on the donuts and cheese today.