Unsung Vermont Towns and Villages: North Bennington

An occasional series

The ‘Three Ps’ make for a tasty day

By Jennifer Brandt

One of the best things to do in Vermont is to drive its stunning back roads and discover the hidden gems within the rolling hills of the Green Mountains. For Vermonters and visitors alike, it can be nearly impossible to know all the fascinating history, incredible food, whimsical stores and fantastic recreational opportunities of every small town in Vermont. That’s where we come in.

Exploring the Three Plucky Ps of North Bennington

Lani DePonte-Disorda and Nick Disorda run three community anchors in the village of North Bennington: Pangaea, Prospect Coffee House and Powers Market (all conveniently in the center of town). After partnering with the original owner of Pangaea, Bill Scully, in 2013, they became full owners in 2018. Together, with a crew working across all three businesses (that they are quick to credit with being an essential part of making their vision a reality), they provide the community with fantastic food, coffee, cocktails, live music, art, local food, groceries, artisan products and community gathering space.

Several times a year, DePonte-Disorda and Disorda host events like the Village Block Party, where they offer up free burgers and hotdogs along with live music, a weekly seasonal music series (every Thursday, check their Instagram for event updates), and pop-ups at Prospect Coffee house, where local chefs get access to a commercial kitchen, and neighbors get to taste new chef-driven creativity every week. Enjoy local history at the Park-McCullough House — home of a former Vermont governor — and visit the library built in his honor, enjoy a picnic curated by Powers Market, or spend time at Lake Paran, a local favorite for summer recreation.

Check out a suggested agenda below …

10 a.m.

Start your day at the Prospect Coffee House (open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), which boasts coffee beans from Iron Coffee Co., teas from Saratoga Tea and Honey, fresh smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and sweet treats, with many vegetarian, vegan and other options for those with dietary restrictions. The space is welcoming to students, locals and visitors alike, and it acts like a de facto workspace and community center. You are in for a treat if you happen to be there on Donut Sunday, with various proprietary doughnuts made fresh in-house by Prospect Donut Queen Britni Becker. In addition to more traditional doughnut offerings (like the Bennington Cream: maple cream filled, with chocolate frosting), there usually are gluten-free and dairy-free choices, too.

11 a.m.

Explore local history and visit the John G. McCullough Library. The library was built in honor of Gov. John G. McCullough, former governor of Vermont, legislator and businessman, by his wife, Eliza Hall Park McCullough. Finished in 1921, the library has served as a hub of village activities for more than eight decades. The building was designed by New York architect J. Lawrence Aspinwall of the firm Renwick. It’s open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Noon

Take a picnic curated by Powers Market in conjunction with the Park-McCullough House, (home of the former governor) and enjoy the history, or stroll along The MileAround Woods and stop at one of the meadows to enjoy your delicious local goodies. Big plans are in the works with hopes to make the trails a little bit interactive, including digital maps and customizable playlists.

The extensively preserved Victorian-era mansion offers seasonal tours and boasts trails that used to be part of a working dairy farm until the turn of the century. The property is partly maintained by Bennington resident David Lively. Lively’s horses can often be seen grazing in the warmer months, making the trails all the more captivating. The grounds are also home to protected habitats for some ground-nesting birds, a dream for bird watchers.

2 p.m.

Powers Market, built as Hathaway’s originally in 1833, is the oldest

Provided photo by Lani DePonte-Disorda continually operating local market in Vermont. They offer basic grocery essentials featuring produce, dairy, bread, deli, prepared foods, and meat sourced as much as possible from local farms. It also features daily rotating take-home meals and fantastic house-baked goods. The market strives to cater to all customers offering many vegan, hearty vegetarian, and gluten- and dairy-free options. Store manager Sara Kipper sources local goods and bakes the most delicious treats, while Dave “the Butcher” Jarvis takes charge of meat and food prep. Think of Powers Market catering for your next backyard barbecue or casual event, and let the Powers team take all the hard food work out of the party preparations. You can find a catering request form on the Powers Market website and its weekly Take+Bake specials. to 6 p.m., mid-June to Labor Day Weekend, open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3.50 for adults and $1 for kids.

With both indoor dining and seasonal outdoor dining, Pangaea is the perfect place to end your North Bennington journey.

2:30 p.m.

Lake Paran is a local favorite to while away a lazy summer day. Activities include a beach, floating raft, volleyball court, grills, canoe and kayak rentals, plus a concession stand with what it claims is the best grilled cheese around. There is something for everyone here. It’s a great place to work up an appetite for Pangaea, the final stop on your Bennington food tour. The lake is open from Memorial Day Weekend to mid-June, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.

6 p.m.

Pangaea, with a menu curated in collaboration with executive chef Nicolas Brunina, offers global cuisine using Vermont products whenever possible that are sure to please any palate. Its ever-changing menu aims to include all dietary restrictions, and staff are happy to accommodate diners whenever they can. Pangaea boasts a huge selection of local beers and a cocktail list that includes stylish mocktails for those who do not indulge in alcohol. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended, especially on the weekends. With both indoor and seasonal outdoor dining, this is the perfect place to end your North Bennington journey. Pangaea is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.

Contact … Pangaea: 802-442-4466, vermontfinedining.com

Prospect Coffee House: 802-753-7847, vermontfinedining.com

Powers Market: 802-440-0871, powersmarket.com