Local Wanders - 02/11/10

As Valentine’s Day approaches, campus couples will frantically try to make reservations at the same restaurants located in downtown Middlebury.

However, if you think that your dinner date options are limited to the Storm Café or Fire & Ice, just venture 25 minutes north of the College to downtown Vergennes for an exciting date in its beautiful historic district. Downtown Vergennes — accessible by Route 7 North — is a charming village located along Otter Creek that has a multitude of restaurants and specialty stores.

3 Squares Café, 221 Main Street

http://3squarescafe.com

“Put this on your table so I’ll know where to find you when your food is ready,” said the charming counterwoman as she handed me an oversized clothespin.

This was the first of many quirky surprises that 3 Squares Café had in store. The café serves paninis, salads, sandwiches and coffee in a delightful atmosphere complete with rustic wood tables and mismatched chairs.

As I sipped my coffee, listening to the chatter of local gossip and gazing at the powdery snow fluttering outside, I felt a sense of comforting familiarity and hominess even though I’ve never eaten at the café before. The relaxed ambience of 3 Squares is highlighted by a faded sign which declares the café’s philosophy:

“Eat Now, Pay Later.” Customers can make their own coffee drinks, grab a muffin or some fresh fruit as they please without paying until they leave.

3 Squares Café is owned by Matt Birong, a Vermont native who studied at the New England Culinary Institute. After an internship at the prestigious Rainbow Room in New York City and becoming the sous chef at the Boston restaurant Aquitaine, Birong returned to the Green Mountain State and opened 3 Squares Café in 2007.

The café is a member of the Vermont Fresh Network, an organization which is “dedicated to promoting and publicizing Vermont chefs and restaurants that use Vermont grown and produced foods.”

Options ranging from the turkey, bacon and swiss panino, grilled chicken Cobb Sandwich and roasted asparagus sandwich are sure to please carnivores and vegetarians alike. I ordered the massive Al Panino (capicola, ham, provolone, roasted red peppers, red onion and oil and vinegar) which came with a delicious side salad of mixed greens for only $8.50.

If you bring a date and it is going well, extend your conversation over organically grown coffee and share one of the many scrumptious dessert options such as biscotti or cheesecake. A homey atmosphere and reasonable prices make 3 Square Café a great alternative for couples seeking a unique Valentine’s Day meal.

The Daily Chocolate, 7 Green Street

http://dailychocolate.net

Chocolate — said to be an aphrodisiac — is a surefire way to please your special someone and the scrumptious treats at Daily Chocolate do not disappoint. Walking into this tantalizingly fragrant chocolate store is like stepping back in time.

The 19th century milled beams, exposed stone walls and rich aroma give Daily Chocolate a charming, old-fashioned ambience. As the store’s name suggests, the chocolate is made fresh every day using organic and local ingredients.

The selection varies from traditional (almond dark chocolate bark and english toffee) to the more eclectic (green-chile pistachio dark chocolate with cranberries). I decided to try cherry and hazelnut dark chocolate bark and peppermint Patties — both of which were delicious choices. So instead of going to Rite Aid and picking up a packaged box of Russell Stover chocolates, impress your date with a custom-made box of fresh chocolate tailored to their specifications — and hopefully you can find out if that old rumor about chocolate being an aphrodisiac is true.

Your Turn Resale Shoppe, 151 Main St.

Seal the deal with your special someone by buying him or her a unique Valentine’s day gift at Your Turn Resale Shoppe This consignment store has a vast selection of one of a kind trinkets and clothing that cannot be found anywhere else.

How about keeping your girlfriend warm with a fashionable Kinney Drugs winter jacket? Or treating your boyfriend with the “Presto Electric Burger Maker” he’s been eyeing? For an extra splash of class (the store’s name is spelled with two “P”s and an “E,” after all) treat your date to a faux fur jacket that is sure to bring a bit of Park Avenue sophistication back to campus.

And for adventurous types, there is a vast selection of sporting equipment ranging from wooden tennis rackets to hand-me-down ice skates for future dates.