STORY BY MEGAN DEMAREST • PHOTO BY CRAIG LIGHT
Local & Luscious
Roots the Restaurant serves up tasty , creative autumnal craft cocktails with locally-sourced ingredients
Roots the Restaurant in Rutland is well-known not just for its local , farm-to-table cuisine but also for its innovative cocktail program . As the seasons change , so does the cocktail menu , reflecting the freshest local ingredients and the ultimate creativity of in-house mixologist , Jenna Lawson . She meticulously crafts beverage specials to complement the menu and the time of year , making every visit to Roots a unique and delightful experience . We were excited to visit Jenna at Roots in anticipation of the Fall season , where we found her preparing her delicious concoctions over the cool blue glow of the underlit bar top .
“ Jenna ’ s really creative ,” says Ross Lalancette , General Manager of Roots the Restaurant . “ She makes up daily cocktail specials using ingredients from her own garden . That ’ s as local as it gets !”
Both autumn and her own garden bounty served as Jenna ’ s muses while she thoughtfully planned ahead to craft this season ’ s specialty drinks . “ I make a lot of simple syrups and stuff ; I have berry bushes at my house , and I grow a lot of herbs . I ’ m very into gardening ,” shares Jenna . It always prompts her co-workers to ask teasingly : “ What did you bring in today ?”
On the day of our visit , Jenna offered
42 VERMONT MAGAZINE