Anyway, one of the reasons I love coming back here so much is because pretty much nothing changes. And when it does, I get cranky. So when I heard there was a new outfit in town called Sissy’s Kitchen, I decided not to go. Even though my aunt told me it was wonderful. Even though my cousins left a very tantalizing menu in the cabin. Even though I knew Sissy had been the chef at a restaurant in nearby Dorset that I have loved for years. But my teenager was starving — starving! — and we had just arrived and there was nothing in the cabin for breakfast. And so I grudgingly agreed to go and pick up something for her to eat, even though this was a new place in my little town where everything is supposed to stay exactly the same.
You know what?
Change is good.
It is very, very good.
I knew I was in the right place when we saw this sign on the wall, which says “Cook Is Not Responsible For Dog Hair In The Food.” I sensed a kindred spirit right away.
Then we met Sissy, who was as wonderful and welcoming as the incredible aroma coming out of her kitchen. She spent a careful five minutes with the teenager, who wanted a bagel. Sissy did not have a bagel. She did have an astonishing array of other things, however, such as these:
And these.
It is a hard job, but somebody has to do it.
It gets even more taxing when there is more than one customer involved. But Maille kept at it. She never gave up.
Meanwhile, Sissy was back in the kitchen preparing the breakfast she had talked about with the teenager: a fried egg sandwich with bacon on a brioche roll. Which sounded like something pretty straightforward until it came out of the kitchen and we all had a bite. It was — and I am not kidding — one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life. And I have tasted a lot of things. I don’t know what she did to make it the way it was, but oh my goodness. It was out of this world.
So if you are ever in south or central Vermont, or the surrounding areas of New York State, you owe it to yourself to stop by Sissy’s Kitchen,located in Middletown Springs, Vermont on West Street right near the center of town. She is open every day but Tuesday, and while it is mostly take-away, she has a lovely picnic area out front. Here is a link to her website, and you really must take a look at that menu. (And for those of you who live nowhere near New England, I apologize in advance. It’s really not fair to make you read this, because then you will weep with tears of deprivation.) I am going to take full advantage of this menu this week by dropping in on Sissy’s, and once I am home I know I will be checking in on the menu regularly, as inspiration for my own menus until I am back in beautiful Middletown Springs again….
We’ll be back, Maille! Promise! Change is good.
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
framedcooks
Oh my gosh. Such FABULOUS photos! Makes me want to jump right in my car and go. Except it would probably take me about 20 hours to get there.
hi. i have been fortunate enough to become friends with sissy and her family this past week. all i had heard for the weeks leading up to my vacation was how wonderful sissy is, and what a fantastic cook she is. i was not disappointed. many thanks to sissy and the crew for making me feel like i was a long time friend. i can't wait to go back.
thanks, shannon
Love this reporting. It is spot on. We are fortunate to live year-round in Middletown Springs VT and really blessed now that Sissy is here for us and our out of town friends to enjoy her incredible food. Sissy's is now closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but thankfully in full swing the rest of the week, with breakfast to dinner offerings …still don't know how she does it all, but mygosh she sure does amaze us all.
many thanks to sissy and the crew for making me feel like i was a long time friend. i can't wait to go back.