A Tale of Two Mountains

     Nestled in the shadow of Bromley Mountain is Johnny Seesaw's a one time dance hall/speak easy/road house that is now a home away from home for skiers and folks looking for a good meal.  In fact, Skiing magazine has acclaimed the dining there to be "the Best Yankee Cuisine in New England."  That's quite an honor!  I have stayed there more times than I can count in the past two decades and have never been disappointed by the meals they serve.  Overnight accommodations include breakfast that is "worth getting up for" as they state in their description of services.

 

     So what makes their food so good as to earn such a statement as "the best"?  In typical Yankee tradition their food is simply yet elegantly prepared.  From the blueberry muffins at breakfast to the enormous prime rib that dwarfs the dinner plate their meals personify what is good about Yankee cooking.  Straight forward, honest, hearty and flavorful are all words that describe the dining experience there in the lodge by the circular fireplace in the center of the room.

     While staying there last week I took an afternoon side trip over to Stratton Mountain, through the picturesque villages of Winhall and Bondville.  With all the snow that has fallen there this Winter the ski season was still going strong.  I made my way up to the restaurant/bar on the second floor of their main lodge to look out over the mountain.  The place is appropriately named Grizzly's.  I'm not sure if that is meant to describe the quality or the price of the food served.  It was appalling to me when, glancing down the menu I discovered that a single slice of pizza was $4.50.  At that price the $20 tab for a whole pie sounded like a bargain.  But that was only for a plain pie.  Speciality pizzas were significantly higher, at $28.  A side order of waffle fries commanded a half a sawbuck and even the local draft beers were a hefty $6.  Renting equipment and purchasing a lift ticket already puts a sizable dent in the wallet.  And then if you get hungry you're easily out a quick $50 just for lunch.

     In the same day I discovered what is good and what is bad about Yankee cuisine in the tale of two mountains.