On March 6, 2017, I had the privilege to dine at the Hen of the Wood in Burlington, Vermont.
I sat down to the meal and looked over the menu when the appetizer “Grilled Octopus” caught my eye. I decided to order it and when it came out, I wasn’t disappointed. The octopus came out plated very refined with a rustic feel to it. It came with sunchokes, ginger, scallions, and cilantro. My first bite was very fulfilling and the octopus had a nice char to it. The sauce added a delicate, mild taste that enhanced the flavor of the octopus. Octopus has a strange texture which can be an acquired taste but if you’re feeling adventurous then definitely give it a try. I personally love the texture and taste of well prepared octopus and this was definitely an example of that. 
For my entree I decided to go with the Hanger Steak which on the menu comes with Smoked Sweet Potato, Grilled Red Onion, and Bayley Hazen Blue cheese. I substituted out the Smoked Sweet Potato for a side of fingerling potatoes and asked for the Bayley Hazen Blue to be left off since I personally am not a fan of blue cheese. I ordered the steak medium rare and it came out cooked perfectly. The steak was moist and well seasoned with the right amount of saltiness but not too much. The steak melts in your mouth and delivers a perfect bite. The onions gave a certain sweetness that counteracts the salt and the potatoes deliver a nice balance to the dish while being crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside.
Finally for dessert I ordered their selection of sorbets for the night which included Lemon Berry, Apple Cider, and Strawberry Rhubarb. The Lemon Berry had a crisp blueberry flavor, and the lemon blends in well as more of a background flavor. The Apple Cider tasted just like a frozen motts apple sauce that was turned into a sorbet, but with that being said it was a very mild, sweet and relaxing taste. Finally, the Strawberry Rhubarb had a slight bitterness but was still very sweet and the texture was great with what seemed like seeds from a strawberry.
Overall the meal was amazing and I would definitely suggest going there if you get the chance.
Eats. Drinks. 