Road Food (Since You’re Getting it ‘To Go’ Anyway!)

This article tags along with another one in this week's Compass, about taking a day trip to Pittsfield, Mass., to visit Herman Melville’s farm, known as Arrowhead.

My first thought (typically) was that there is a yummy restaurant right near Arrowhead and wouldn’t it be lovely to stop there for a snack and some really outstanding coffee. 

But it occurs to me in this COVID-19 quarantine world that there are many outstanding cafés in all the towns in our area that deserve a shout-out and some support. Think of this as a sort of pilgrimage list of wonderful places to get food and drink “to go” during a day of driving around. 

There are many additional and excellent eateries that I’m sure I’ve left off; forgive me, and please help out your favorite restaurants by letting them make your breakfast, lunch or dinner from time to time.

This all begins with Arrowhead in Pittsfield, which is about a 20-minute drive from the purveyor of my favorite coffee: Six Depot, which is in West Stockbridge. 

I haven’t yet been to the Six Depot Café and roastery (the coffee can be purchased at LaBonne’s in Salisbury and at the Coop and Guido’s in Great Barrington), but if I were headed to Berkshire County for the day I would definitely plan a stop at the Six Depot shop and restaurant, where you can get their excellent coffee (including water-process decaf, which is hard to find) by the cup and by the pound. They also have sandwiches, salads and breakfast baked goods. Everything for now is “to go.” Find the menu and order online ahead of time at www.sixdepotcafe.com/categories.

Continuing south on this food pilgrimage takes us to Provisions at The White Hart and Sweet William’s Cafe and Bakery, both on Main Street (Route 41/44) in Salisbury, Conn. 

Sweet William’s is a popular spot for coffees, chai teas and espresso drinks as well as outstanding sweet and buttery pastries, from croissants to cakes. Order online at www.sweet-williams.com/s/order and pick up at the shop from Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are a few small tables out front.

Provisions at The White Hart also offers espresso drinks and coffees and teas and baked goods and particularly scrumptious oatmeal and some breakfast sandwich offerings. The café continues on through the day and also offers lunch and, on certain days of the week, dinner. Everything is still “to go” at this point, but the inn has a lovely spacious lawn with tables and chairs for DIY outdoor dining. Order online at www.app.upserve.com/s/the-white-hart-salisbury.

Over the state line in Millerton, N.Y., is the ever-popular Irving Farm, which (like Six Depot) is primarily a coffee roastery but also serves an excellent breakfast and some lunch dishes. For their current menu and information on ordering, go to www.cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0923/5128/files/LimitedMenu_Millerton.jpg?....

JP Gifford in Kent and Sharon, Conn., has strong coffee and a wide array of breakfast, lunch and meal options. Find their menu and ordering information at www. jpgifford.com.

Kent is the southern terminus on this take-out odyssey. Next door to the excellent Gifford café is the outstandingly creative and delicious Frank.Food, which has baked goods and salads and sandwiches during the day and has recently introduced a dinner option. Some sample dishes from this week’s menu: garlicky beef tenderloin with lemony salsa verde and red onion, pine nuts and  arugula salad; grilled chile-lime shrimp with Israeli couscous, mango and zucchini; charred cauliflower and shishito peppers. Yum. To get on their email list or to see the menu, go to www.frankfoodco.com.

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