Rich A.
Yelp
Located in Stowe Village, Plate offers diners an intimate and moderately upscale dining experience, with tasty food served by friendly, knowledgeable staff in a modern rustic ambiance. After a long drive from New Jersey, I had promised my wife a unique dinner experience in the village and Plate delivered an unforgettable evening -- only partially due to the food. We were seated at the bar and wound up having a lengthy conversation with local legend Tim the Wanderer, who provided a number of excellent recommendations for cocktails and restaurants to try over the remainder of our stay in Stowe in exchange for a round of drinks.
Chef Aaron Martin has kept the menu deliberately simple, with a small number of California-inspired appetizers, salads, and entrees, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, but the kitchen is happy to accommodate diners' food allergies upon request. I opted for the Asian-inspired Brined Pork Chop ($39), served with fried rice and bok choy in a sweet soy reduction, which was cooked perfectly medium and very tasty. My dining companion decided to order two appetizers and skip the entree -- Spicy Tuna Tartare ($17), served with grilled avocado and a quail egg yolk, and Baby Arugula Salad ($14), served with edamame, asparagus, and pistachios -- both of which were very fresh and very tasty.
Pro Tip: For a refreshing cocktail, the "My Name is Jen Martin" ($18) - yes, it's named after the wife of the chef - which is made with Vermont-distilled Barr Hill "Tom Cat" gin, Jamaican rum, lemon, maple, honey, and shaved nutmeg.