
- Jordan Barry
- Maple, apple and butternut bisque and the Vermonter at Garden of Eatin' Café
The Garden of Eatin' Café has the power to save the holidays — or at least my sanity while holiday shopping. I'd had a stressful morning in the big box stores — whipping through the aisles of soulless shelves, making lists, checking them twice, and trying to get the heck out of there as quickly as I could — when I rejoined reality in a lush greenhouse at the Williston outpost of Gardener's Supply Company.

- Jordan Barry
- Festive decorations at the Williston location of Gardener's Supply
Garden of Eatin' has been open since 2003, offering a menu of sandwiches, homemade soups, frittata and salads that changes daily — and everything is under $12.
I ordered a soup and sandwich combo ($9.95): a cup of maple, apple and butternut bisque and half of the Vermonter — turkey, Granny Smith apple, red onion, cranberry spread and cheddar on whole wheat bread, pressed on the grill. My husband, quickly forgetting the hardware store hotdog idea, went for a full Vermonter ($9.95).

- Jordan Barry
- Garden of Eatin' Café at the Williston location of Gardener's Supply
The Vermonter, with its turkey, apple, and onion, reminded me of the Red Onion's massive eponymous sandwich. It has the same hint of sweetness and the bite of the onion, but without bacon and with a tart cranberry spread instead of the sundried tomato mayo. I love the Red Onion sandwich, and was happy to try a reasonably sized riff.
The bisque was piping hot and stick-to-your-bones thick. A healthy shake of black pepper tickled my throat, while the apple notes gave some tang to the maple and squash. I'm not always a soup person, but this bisque made me want to go back and try the rest of the café's homemade options — especially if they make a split pea.
Happily refueled, the good food and the welcoming, green atmosphere of Gardener's Supply washed away my bah humbugs. While composting my soup container and spoon, I thought to myself, Maybe holiday shopping isn't so bad. I even bought a wreath on the way out.
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