Umpleby Speaks

New Hampshire Eat Local Week August 3 - 9

2008-07-24T16:30:00.004-04:00

Celebrate Eat Local Week at Umpleby's!!!!!

We will be posting a menu soon that lists and features all the local produce that we use on a daily basis.

ALSO, to promote local grown food - our sandwich and salad specials will be made from all local ingredients that week.

ALSO, come visit us at our stand at the Norwich Farmers' Market. We are there every Saturday from 9am until 1PM (or until we sell out) The farmers have some great produce coming into season as well as some delicious free-range and organic meats that include poultry, pork and beef. All of these products have flavor coming out of their ears.

Hanover Street Fest Coming Up!!

2008-07-13T16:56:00.002-04:00

The Hanover Street Fest is this upcoming Saturday, July 19 and we will be a part of it.
Look for our booth in the middle of main street just in front of Molly's.
We will be selling our wonderful breakfast pastries and egg pies in the morning and our meat pies sausage rolls and quiche in the afternoon.

Yes, A New Blog!!!

2008-06-17T20:41:00.007-04:00

For all the faithful folks out there who have been checking periodically here to find zippo please forgive me. Time is rushing by and there is so much I want to do with the bakery/ cafe and things inevitably get left behind. Not unlike GWB's failed education program.

So much to write about ---

Summer is here and we are now offering our own sorbet and ice cream. Flavors we are running right now are mango, pineapple - passion, raspberry, and kiwi sorbet and on the ice cream side we have classic vanilla, black- raspberry, and black cherry chip.
Come in and try a taste for free and enjoy the cafe.

We are now featuring Java tree coffee roasted by our new friends at Mill City Roasting in Manchester, NH. We order the beans on monday, they roast on tuesday and deliver on wednesday. Pretty cool, huh.

The Outside Patio - Let me share my thoughts on this - I am really excited for the patio to open properly with the wonderful warm, sunny weather upon us. The problems we are facing I believe are that currently the space looks unattractive and downright ugly because of the adjacent construction and nothing organic in the space. What we really want to do is get some plants and other vegetation in the area, get some umbrellas to give it more of an intimate setting and pray to God that the building next door will one day be finished and our customers won't have to hear equipment beeping incessantly when backing up. I know the incessant beep - beeping is starting to drive me NUTS!!!!!!

I want to make a solemn promise that I will start writing all the interesting things that are happening at the bakery/cafe on a more consistent basis in the hopes that we will attract some interested and interesting readers.

Remember - at Umpleby's sweet is not a flavor.

Also, check us out in the most recent issue of Here in Hanover. Pretty cool article and the photographer, Liza took some great pics.

- charles

We will be posting our daily lunch specials

2008-01-15T13:40:00.001-05:00

We have been getting calls from our customers asking what our daily soup and sandwich is. Well, from now on we will be posting our daily sandwich and soup flavors on the home page of our website.

We should have the sandwich menu up soon as well hopefully.

Getting back to the Blog

2008-01-14T14:07:00.000-05:00

The time has been whizzing by.

Not only are we now open on South Street, we have been open for over 6 weeks now.
We are very pleased with the response we have been getting from our customers. It has been very busy getting the show on the road and staffing has been a huge time consumer. We gone from a staff of 3 to 16!!

Today marks the first day of artwork hanging on the cafe walls. We are sponsoring the work of local artist, Kate Emlen Chamberlin. So come on by, relax, look at some art and eat some great food.

More posts will be forthcoming ........ I have to take some pictures of the interior so you all can see what's going on inside.

We are opening on November 24!!

2007-11-20T19:33:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that we are opening the Bakery Cafe for business on Saturday. November 24, at 7:30am!!!

Hope to see you all there and everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Umpleby's has left the Mill Building

2007-11-06T08:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Guy Fawkes Day, was the move out day for the bakery in Bridgewater. We are now completely out of the old space after almost 7 years of operation. For some reason the Grinch comes to mind, we even took the last can of Who Hash.

ALERT: Tentative Opening Date - Nov. 17 - 19!

2007-11-03T09:41:00.001-04:00

Spoke with the contractor this past Thursday and barring any unforseen glitches it looks like we are pretty solid for a Nov. 17 - 19 opening. We really would like to have at least a few days with our doors open before Thanksgiving. So all you folks out there looking for a pie for dessert on Thursday, please think of us! When we are operational we are going to be doing some serious baking for the Christmas Season! Buche de Noels, Fruit Mince Pies, Bread Puddings, Truffles, Christmas cookies and more. An old fashioned Christmas has come to Hanover. And New Years? We will have some great breads, savory pies and desserts. They will be the perfect complement to some champers.

Building update

2007-10-22T18:25:00.000-04:00

It doesn't look too different from the preceding picture from an earlier entry but there is some progress being made.

We are Closed in Bridgewater!!

2007-10-22T17:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Sunday, October 21, 2007 was the Omega of Umpleby's of Bridgewater. What a long strange trip its been. I've always wanted to use that expression but it had to take something like operating a Bakery for almost 7 years to give it the gravity it deserves.

We first opened our doors at the Mill on Saturday, December 23, 2000. The very first thing we sold was a blueberry muffin.
The very last thing we sold yesterday was a raspberry muffin. Odd isn't it? The alpha was a blue and the omega was raspberry

We are spending the next two weeks at the bakery cleaning all the equipment really well, throwing out stuff that we have accumulated but have never used, and packing everything up to send it on its way to Hanover.

We went to the market in Norwich for the last time in 2007 this past Saturday as well. Another bitter-sweet moment. We really have enjoyed doing the market every Saturday morning and we are planning on continuing next year in the spring. However, we won't be doing the Holiday markets or the monthly winter markets. We want to focus on the new bakery and make sure it receives our full attention.

As soon as I have a "real" opening date I'll post it here - so stay tuned.

Our Last Day in Bridgewater

2007-10-03T22:46:00.000-04:00

I wanted to update when our last day will be open for business in Bridgewater.

It looks pretty firm to be Sunday, October 21!!!!

So if you have never seen our shop in Vermont your opportunity to do so is now dwindling rapidly.

If you are simply waiting for us to open our doors at 3 South Street, well, I understand. Bridgewater really is in the middle of nowhere. At least that is what it feels like to me everytime I have to drive to Hanover or Norwich or anywhere for that matter.

If you do find yourself heading down Route 4 in the next couple weeks, maybe to look at the foliage (which we do have a neat view of from our outside cafe deck) please drop in and mention you read this blog.

We are on schedule: How does November 13 sound?

2007-09-27T18:39:00.000-04:00

I have no new pictures because the outside doesn't look that much different. HOWEVER, the inside is a different story. All the subfloors are in, the electric and plumbing rough in is finished, the beams have been placed on the cafe ceiling and the dry wall is going up at a fast rate. We are on schedule for a November 13th opening. That means we will be shutting our doors for the last time in Bridgewater on October 23, give or take a day.

I believe the siding for the outside of the building will be going up any day now so visually the outside is going to really start taking shape.

For any of you out there who have been reading the progress of the shop on this blog please let me know what you think. I welcome comments. What kind of baked good are you looking forward to? What kind of music do you like listening to in a cafe (if at all)? Have you ever tried our meat pies or croissants? Do you have a favorite dessert? How strongly do you feel about fair trade coffee (by the way, that's what we are planning on selling...)? How many tea drinking fans are there out there? My wife is an Australian and a BIG TEA DRINKER. We will be offering a large variety of teas at the cafe. What are your thoughts on a cafe menu that includes craft beer and good wines? What is your favorite flavor for a birthday cake. Are you a cafe night owl or a bakery early bird? I could go on and on with the questions..........

Let me know what your expectiations are. We WILL be trying to exceed them!

Stay tuned......

The Tyvek is on

2007-09-12T16:09:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest shot of the building, from the front and the side. It is starting to take shape on the inside too but I don't want to post any pictures of the interior. I'd rather keep that as surprise for opening day.

Food Shot of our Bakery in Bridgewater

2007-09-04T16:45:00.001-04:00

Here is a picture of the top of our case at the Bridgewater location. This is for any of you who haven't seen what either our food or our bakery looks like. We are hoping to have the same kind of quirky warm charm at the new location. The fact that there are going to be some great pieces from the old Gate's House incorporated into the decor of the space is good news.

Another fun cake

2007-09-04T15:16:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of a birthday cake I did to look like presents. Everything is edible except for the ribbons. Carolyn went to the fabric store to get some colorful ones. I know my limitations - real ones would finish the look a lot better than if I tried to make them myself. The different flavors for the cake were - passion curd was one present, another was chocolate cake and raspberry mousse, another present was chocolate mousse filled and yet another was a combination of chocolate and raspberry mousse.

Upper Valley Life

2007-09-04T15:09:00.001-04:00

There is a small article about us in the current issue of Upper Valley Life. Unfortunately it mentions (as was the case when we were interviewed) that we would be opening in Hanover in late September. Alas, in late September and October please come see us in Bridgewater as that is where we will be.

The updated schedule

2007-09-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

As you can probably guess - we are asked all the time when are we opening our doors in Hanover. Well, it looks like at this point we are looking at a mid - November openng. I must admit it was a little disappointing to receive this news from the contractor but I think it is a realistic timeline. There is still a whole lot that has to be done to the building on the outside and the inside though I must say that the contractors - Kessel / Duff of Willison, VT have been doing a great job so far.

What this means is that we will be at our Bridgewater, VT location throughout the whole foliage season which is great. I was worried that the transition between locations would find me without an operable kitchen in either location. The other good thing is that we will be at the Norwich Farmers' Market until probably the end of the season.

The third floor is up

2007-07-18T22:16:00.000-04:00

The building is really starting to take shape. This picture was taken today. It is getting there!

The latest Wedding Cake

2007-07-18T11:41:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of the Wedding cake I did this past weekend. I don't get the opportunilty to do many fondant covered cakes so this was a nice change. It was a chocolate cake with a layer of raspberry mousse and a layer of vanilla pastry cream. The gold decorations are buttercream leaves and disks that were gilded with 23 carot gold leaf by a gilder named Fiona Blunden. She is a professional gilder and has a shop here at the Bridgewater Mill where our bakery is currently. I think she did a great job. If I had to do it myself it would have been a disaster. The gold leaf is extremely delicate and fragile. The slightest breeze will send a sheet flying away.

I'm heading over to Hanover to talk to the folks at Wood and Wood about making the sign for our bakery in Hanover. I'll get some more pics of the building and see how they are doing.

Hope everyone had a great Bastille Day. I have to mention this because if it weren't for the French I wouldn't be baking half the stuff that I do.

The framing continues

2007-07-02T12:58:00.000-04:00

I was over in Hanover this past Thursday and took some more pictures of the Bakery to be.

We are still looking at a September opening but I think it will be closer to the end of the month rather than Labor Day.

We are still open in Bridgewater, VT though, just west of Woodstock so if you are in the area please stop by. We are open everyday except Monday.

The framing has begun!

2007-06-20T13:08:00.000-04:00

Here is picture of the bakery that I took yesterday. As you can see they are making some progress and you can get an idea of the shape of the building. The smaller one on the left will be the bakehouse where all the production and baking will be done. The building to the right will be the new "refurbished" Gates House which will hold the cafe consisting of about 50 seats, the display counters, the bathrooms and a small service kitchen.

Another Cake

2007-06-13T16:20:00.000-04:00

Just finished this cake today. It is a 50th Wedding Anniversary for a couple who are going to drive around the country with a camper hitched to their car. This was a fun cake to do!

The framing of the building starts this week!

2007-06-11T16:06:00.001-04:00

The framing of the building will start this week! I'm hoping to get over there in the next couple days and get some pictures.

Wedding Cake Season

2007-06-06T17:47:00.000-04:00

We are coming into the wedding season so I thought it would be nice to post one of the wedding cakes I've done in the past.
Any of you out there getting married? Umpleby's of Hanover is the place to get your wedding cake!!

New Construction Picture

2007-06-06T17:22:00.001-04:00

I was over in Hanover yesterday to talk to the contractor about the fit up of the space and to take some more pictures of the site. Everything is still on schedule which blows my mind seeing as there is only the concrete sub-floor in place right now.
I'm starting to give more thought to the menu of items that we will be offering. Any of you out there who read this and want to offer some input by all means please email me!!!

We have been getting requests for vegetarian pies at the NFM and I want to respond by saying that I am working on that. I'm trying to come up with something that has enough flavor and substance and not boggy. As more local veg. come into season I think I will be more inspired to create something. Please be patient! Thanks!