Food Trucks And Vintage Dining Cars: Eating Your Way Through Brattleboro, Vermont

Brattleboro, the oldest town in Vermont, is based upon a true sense of community. It's a romantic town with covered bridges, scholarly brick buildings, art galleries, and, at the heart of it all, fantastic food. Forget its reputation for granola and Birkenstocks, Brattleboro knows how to do food. It certainly helps that the town is surrounded by some of the best cheese, meat, and fresh produce farms in the U.S., which Brattleboro puts to good use.

One of your first stops in town should be North End Butchers. The butcher teamed up with Jasmine Bakery and Windham Wines to become a one-stop shop for locals and visitors alike. Stop by and chat with the friendly proprietors Alisa and Chris Barry, or pick up a few dinner party ideas from them.

The Daily Meal suggests grabbing a couple of sandwiches, a nice bottle of wine, and organic blueberry cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting for dessert to make the perfect Saturday afternoon picnic.

Top of the Hill Grill is a casual dining spot with breathtaking views of the Vermont countryside and the best barbecue around. Try the pulled pork sandwich and relax at one of the outdoor dining tables.

If you're in need for a meal on the go, there are two excellent food truck options. The first is the Vietnamese Humble Kitchen. Using the freshest possible ingredients, Humble Kitchen serves traditional Vietnamese classics like pho, bun (noodle dishes), and banh mi (sandwiches), and mouthwatering desserts like Meyer lemon-basil tart and mango wontons, resulting in a loyal customer following each day.

The second is chef Zach Corbin-Teich's Café a la Cart, which emphasizes local ingredients with items like Vermont-raised beef burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, and veggie burgers. Along with their daily specials, Café a la Cart also makes excellent fresh-squeezed lemonade and homemade pickles.

For a fine dining experience, make a reservation at T.J. Buckley's. This cozy spot is in an old diner cart with just 16 seats and an open kitchen for all to see. Owner and chef Michael Fuller produces a new menu each day depending on the freshest and local available ingredients. The results are so exquisite that it has become one of the top destination spots in southern Vermont and a favorite among local chefs in town.