New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

1761 Old Mill restaurant, Westminster, Mass. Perhaps it's a mix of location, dining atmosphere and foods compatible with autumn, but I have found the following restaurants as ideal destinations during the fall season: Salem Cross Inn West Brookfield, Mass. -- The historic home, roaring fireplace, post and beam design, rolling green fields outside and some delicious Yankee fare make the Salem Cross Inn an ideal fall dining spot, situated in the beautiful New England town of West Brookfield. Love the maple jack chicken sauteed with Applewood bacon scallions and sundried tomatoes. The chicken is then topped with Monterey jack cheese and a dijon mustard sauce. Yum! The 1761 Old Mill, Westminster, Mass. -- This former saw mill features a waterfall, covered bridge, duck pond, long outdoor front porch and on the inside, a roaring fireplace (do I detect a pattern here?) and charming post and beam dining rooms. The steak, seafood and chicken dishes are quite good, although not up t...

Article and photo by Eric H, at VisitingNewEngland.com One of our favorite day trips is traveling to the postcard-picture perfect town of Pomfret, CT, enjoying the rolling country hills, shaded country roads, expansive traditional New England village green and dining at the special Vanilla Bean Cafe. A charming, converted, renovated 1800s farmhouse, the Vanilla Bean Cafe will warm your heart and fill your hearty appetite with its great breakfasts, lunches and dinners in a casual, cozy setting. The dining experience perfectly complements the laid-back, relaxing feel of this area known as the "Quiet Corner" of northeastern Connecticut as it's almost like an indoor community village green where people come to meet over a cup of fresh coffee and delicious homemade meals. What's more, the Vanilla Bean becomes an entertainment spot on Saturday night with folk singers (some famous including past performances from Geoff Muldaur and Lori McKenna). With pleasant outdoor seati...

Article and Photo by Eric H. If you're looking for a cozy restaurant serving comfort food in the northeastern Connecticut countryside, then the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret, CT, might just be your favorite, future dining tradition in this genre. Beautifully situated at a quintessential New England town common, the Vanilla Bean's charming post and beam farmhouse structure dates back to the 1800s, but the food, staff and entertainment is wonderfully 21st century. Breakfast, lunch and dinner combines the best of comfort foods (soups, chili, wraps, sandwiches, baked goods, etc.), dishes from around the world and chef- inspired dinner offerings (the smoked mozzarella and basil ravioli and teriyaki chicken & vegetables are great). Add a kid's menu, fresh salads, coffee, teas, some wonderful night folk entertainment, outdoor dining, and a beer and wine menu, and you have something for everyone. What elevates the Vanilla Bean Cafe to a high level of quality dining resides in it...