Forge It didn’t seem to matter where I went in Randolph Vermont or what time or day it was, there are simply friendly folks living there who welcome visitors, love to talk about their town and point out some of the newest businesses that are opening up there.
And that’s how I found The Forge, another terrific restaurant with a different feel, and a great chef owned named Clinton who doesn’t stand on any ceremony, simply wants everyone to come in, sit down, enjoy a terrific meal, and feel comfortable.
Clinton is a chef extraordinaire with an incredible background of cuisine education and experience. But he’s also a Navy veteran, proud to not only have served the country but also being able to be back at home to offer up great meals in a casual setting.
From his outgoing personality, it’s hard to believe Clinton as a submariner in the service, seamen not necessarily known for outgoing personalities or extreme care in cuisine selection. But he is a veteran, like many others I met in walks through town and hardworking and energetic as one would expect.
The Forge is at the lower level of the main street, located in the actual former forge, and appears to have three separate sections though all joined. It’s just that folks can either be by a bar with huge blackboards on the wall outlining the menu, in comfortable chairs at tables nicely spaced, or on the side trying their hand at one of the pool tables. It’s also a restaurant so wonderfully casual that the coffee pots and all the fixings and trimmings are on a separate counter with a Help Yourself invitation.
Clinton is also rightfully proud that he and some of his staff are expertly trained both in the dining room and in the kitchen, so guests can expect excellence in food and service whenever they arrive. His maple chili is a fascinating choice, blending both the farm to fresh attitude of many of the local eateries with the maple flavor for which Vermont is so well known. And the hamburgers are huge and delicious, to say nothing of all the fixings surrounding them!
The Forge is known as the go-to spot for casual dining, and a laid-back vibe that encourages great conversations. He offers catering on site as well as deliveries and has nightly specials like Wing Night, Music Night, even Half-Off (the price!) Burgers and brunch on weekends. Tuesday’s are his only closed day for this terrific and friendly chef whose motto for The Forge is “come hungry … leave happy.” That’s what happens there.
Coming back up the hill, it’s a spectacular walk across the bridge crossing the White River and seeing a current and shiny white waves spilling over the rocks with such force you can understand why even in winter it isn’t always possible to ice skate. But the old timers will tell you how the river was where the local kids learned to swim until they built a terrific swimming pool in town. Then there’s the fantastic ice rink that’s filled and popular throughout the winter but cleverly enough, also the ball courts for games and fun during the warm months. Vermonters are practical and don’t like to see anything, time or place, go to waste.
Just next to the river is another wonderful gift shop, and another business owner who is a Navy veteran. Royal Towne Gifts has all the souvenirs every tourist to Vermont wants….maple sugar, maple syrup, tee shirts, magnets, coasters, glasses mugs, all promoting the city or state of Vermont, along with handmade items, great jewelry, and lots of unique gift ideas. Renee Scott is the proprietor, pleasant lady and ye, another Navy veteran who worked in cryptology during her Navy years. Her shop is open seven days a week in a wonderful old historic building jammed with wonderful gifts, lamps, bears of all kinds, incense, unique baskets and all those wonderful handcrafted items.
For Catholics wanting to attend Sunday mass, it truly is a good thing Vermont is friendly. Enter Rusty, the lone taxi cab driver in town, the Jack-of-all-trades, the wizard who can fix everything, do yard work, paint, pressure wash and more. But in true honest Vermont style, Rusty also makes it clear he doesn’t do plumbing or electrical work. Nor does he work on Sundays, even driving the taxi.
Well, that’s what he says. But when I called and said how important it was to go to mass , he grumbled just a bit, but agreed. “Just be sure to tell everyone I don’t work on Sundays!” he said. I promised I would.
Rusty the taxi cab driver in Randolph Vermont does not work on Sundays.
Yet he picked me up at my B&B at 19 Randolph Ave., and drove me through some of that glorious Vermont scenery, including some forested areas where we could admire the deer and hear the birds, before we arrived at Our Lady of the Valley Church. Like just about every place else in the United States, there is indeed a shortage of priests, In this diocese, that means that Father Robert Murphy is administrator and sole priest for not only Our Lady of the Valley but also St. John the Evangelist in Northfield and St. Anthony’s in Bethel.
But for the one mass at Our Lady of the Valley, Father Murphy was assisted by Rev. Mr. Chris Noble, a deacon and another Naval officer retiree. The church was filled near to capacity, the attendees lusty with their hymn singing, friendly with their greetings to strangers, and delighted with the noise of the many babies and youngsters at the mass.
Another call to Rusty who doesn’t work on Sundays, and he promptly appeared to bring me back into Randolph, to continue to enjoy the friendliness of a community where it was truly beginning to feel like home.
Forge Forge Forge Forge
