Ditching the Dining Hall: Bristol Bakery

Bristol Bakery, located at 16 Main Street in Bristol, Vermont, encapsulates the classic rustic Vermont atmosphere.

The bakery is set in the charming town of Bristol, where it is not uncommon to see an old-fashioned station wagon roaming the quiet streets. The bakery reflects the timelessness of the town in both appearance and menu options, which are written in colorful chalks against a blackboard. Employees take orders at the front desk on paper pads, which are then slung back on a zip-line to the kitchen. The tables are made of unfinished wood, and sun streams in from the large windows that line the bakery’s entrance. Doug Harper, the owner of the bakery, described it as a place with “funky Vermont charm.”

Neither Doug nor his brother Kevin (the co-owner) had any experience in the food industry until Bristol Bakery. How do a semi-retired owner of a natural cosmetic company and a retail seller become owners of a bakery in Vermont? While in semi-retirement, Kevin Harper was approached by two women in 2006 to invest in their bakery. He agreed, but when one of the women left Kevin became the owner.  He enlisted his brother, Doug, for help in 2006. Doug says that he takes care of the nuts and bolts of the restaurant, whereas Kevin adds the community flair that makes their bakery so popular.Once Doug mastered the logistical aspect of the restaurant, he began thinking about expansion.

At first the bakery only sold baked treats and hot drinks, but it now serves breakfast, lunch and brunch on Sundays. This past Sunday, we seized the opportunity to taste their brunch. We brought along Anna Kenyon ’16, a frequent Bristol Bakery attendee. Anna ordered the Trail Cakes – pancakes with a Vermont-esque infusion of bananas and granola. To our surprise, the Trail Cakes came with several added sides. Anna explained that all options on the brunch menu come with locally roasted coffee or organic tea, a basket of freshly baked mini-pastries, home fries and fruit salad. Because of these special items – and the fact that it’s only available on Sundays – the brunch menu is Bristol Bakery’s secret gem. Anna’s other favorite options are Salmon Benedict (Eggs Benedict with goat cheese and avocado) and Morning Flatbread (Thin-crust pizza topped with Vermont sausage, spinach, mushrooms, local eggs and Parmesan sauce).

While we fell in love with their Sunday brunch, Bristol Bakery is a great go-to spot any day of the week. One of the more creative dishes we sampled was the Chicken Tacos, a spicy dish due to the ranchero sauce served with house-made roasted veggie salsa and Kale Caesar Salad, a healthy twist on the traditional Caesar salad.  They also offer classic Paninis, sandwiches and salads that you’d find at most local cafes, but at Bristol Bakery all of the bread is fresh-baked. We also sampled the blueberry pancakes and the challah French toast. Since we argued over which we thought was better, take our advice and just order both!  Finally, they also offer a variety of egg options, including make-your-own scrambles and omelets.

Every item on the menu is available for under $10 dollars! The only exception to this is Sunday Brunch, which is fixed at $11. However, with all of the sides, it ends up getting you more bang for your buck. If you bring your Middlebury I.D., you will receive a coupon for a free treat. What are you waiting for? If you need to avoid your awkward Saturday night hookup in Proctor on Sunday mornings, Bristol Bakery is a short drive away!

By Olivia Jurkowitz and Lauren Berestecky