Happening at Claire's and in Hardwick

Three Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve at Claire's!

1. Come in for dinner and celebrate with the best produce from our local farms. Then head home or to a friend's hearth to welcome the New Year before a roaring fire.
2. Come for dinner and stay for the party, featuring the music of Dog House Roses.
3. Come for the party and dance the night away.

Dinner reservations from 5 to 9 pm
Music from 10 pm until 12:30

Weekend Hours for the December Holiday Season. Weekends Visiting? Shopping with our local merchants or open studios? We've changed our hours to celebrate the Holiday Season with you. Join us on Saturdays in December for drinks, coffee and treats from 2 - 5 PM, regular dinner service from 5 - 9 PM. Sundays, we serve dinner from 2 PM until 7 PM.

Shop local, bring your receipt from a local business or artist or craftsperson, and we'll buy you a cup of coffee or tea! Of course, we have gift certificates available so you can give the best local produce - for each purchase of $100 worth of gift certificates, we will donate $10.00 to the Northeast Organic Farmer's Association Farm Share program which helps low income families buy farm CSAs.

From Steven's Kitchen: One of my favorite things about cooking is the creative aspect of it. Soup is one of those things for me where I can choose a main ingredient - say the last of the Fennel from Pete's Greens - and the journey starts there. Combined with Brian Titus' potatoes from Woods Edge Farm, onions from Bruce and Judy at Riverside Farm, Bill Half's garlic from Harvest Hill and Vermont Butter & Cheese cultured butter and lastly how could I not add Butterworks Farm cream and voila it has been transformed into a luscious, soul warming bowl of goodness. The final addition of crispy fennel, onions and leeks from Robin Taylor round out the creaminess with the always welcome addition of a little crunch. So get it while you can, the Fennel Potato Soup is on the menu for only a couple more days then we will all have to wait until next year and its next incarnation - happy eating everyone!

Music Notes: Thursday December 11, Jay Ekis comes to play at Claire's. Jay is a rock musician influenced by many elements of world music. He has a new CD out called "Touched by War." We are thrilled and honored to have him come to Claire's. You definitely don't want to miss this show. Check out Jay and sample his music at www.ekismusic.com. Music starts at 7:30.