• Oliver Parini

August First Bakery & Café — Laptops and tablets are off-limits at this friendly screen-free café — all the better to strike up a conversation over a soup, salad or sandwich. Don't miss the bread bike on its neighborhood rounds.

Other Finalists (Inside Chittenden County)

• Leunig's Bistro & Café
• Penny Cluse Café
• The Skinny Pancake
• Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup

• Brent Harrewyn
• Doc Ponds

Doc Ponds — The celebrated team behind Hen of the Wood cooks up elevated pub grub. Refuel during an active day in Stowe with craft beer and a burger — or perhaps smoked chicken and a salted-caramel milkshake?

Other Finalists (Outside Chittenden County)

• Green Goddess Café
• La Casa Burrito
• Soulfully Good Café
• Thompson's Flour Shop