Kringle Candle Company | More Than a Candle Store

When Michael Kittredge III, the son of the founder of Yankee Candle Company, launched a college business project on candles in 2009, the Kittredge family soon found themselves drawn back into the candle business. And the village they created around their flagship store – which includes The Farm Table restaurant, a Chocolate Cottage, a café, and Kringle Christmas Barn — has made Kringle Candle a popular tourist destination. When I made plans with five friends to eat at The Farm Table restaurant, I thought it was just that: a lunch date on a Saturday afternoon. However, when I pulled into the parking lot, I realized that this trip was going to entail a lot more than just lunch.

We didn’t drive all the way to Bernardston, Massachusetts, from Keene, New Hampshire, to shop for candles, although I did buy a candle while I was there. And to be fair, we probably wouldn’t have driven 45 minutes for just any meal, either. This was the best meal.

A good friend of mine, Molly, works at The Farm Table Restaurant, which opened in November 2011. So, on a Saturday afternoon, six of us decided to venture there for lunch. Not without calling ahead first, of course, since it would have been impossible to get a table on any given day (never mind a Saturday afternoon) without reservations.

Since I am gluten-free, it’s not always enjoyable for me to go to a place that my friends want to go, but I was caught off guard when the menu had gluten-free labeled items—from corn bread to pizza. I got a gluten-free Butternut Squash and Pesto Pizza, and I was so excited to eat it that I forgot to take a picture of it. But I can assure you: it was one of the most delicious gluten-free pizzas I have ever had.

The Farm Table Restaurant’s dining room and tavern are in a restored and renovated dairy barn, which was built in the early 1800’s.  The Farm Table prides itself on being a green restaurant, and using geothermal energy. They don’t use any fossil fuels to warm and cool either the restaurant or the Kringle Christmas Barn. After contemplating desert and an espresso from their $18,000 espresso machine, we decided we were too full and went to see what else the village had to offer. Our next stop was the Chocolate Cottage. As we walked in the glass front door my mouth started to water, and I almost forgot I was too full to eat anything else. Chocolate aroma filled the air and made me feel like I had just found a piece of heaven on earth.

Our next stop was the Kringle Christmas Barn, which reminded me of a  Christmas-themed Vermont Country Store. It had food and tea, Christmas decorations and three levels of gifts, including many made locally. The main level had boxed mix recipes, food to purchase, various gifts, and home décor.

But the lower level was different. I walked down the stairs and thought I walked directly into the North Pole. There wasn’t an inch of space that wasn’t covered in Christmas decorations. And it’s like that all year long! There were thousands of ornaments separated into helpful categories: from nautical themed to, my favorite, outdoor themed. If you don’t already have all the gifts and decorations you need for Christmas you’re in luck, because this is your one-stop-shop.

I walked back upstairs, out of the winter wonderland, and we made our way to our final stop: The Kringle Candle Company store. This is what attracts many to the village, but was almost too overwhelming for me. Having to decide on one candle out of the hundreds of scents they offered was not an easy decision. Luckily, they were well organized.

I left the Kringle Candle village four hours later, with a full stomach, gift ideas, and candles. So grab your friends, your family, or venture to the Kringle Candle Company by yourself. But don’t forget to try an espresso, espresso martini, some pizza, or a cheese plate. And don’t forget to buy chocolate, Christmas gifts, or a candle. Because the Kringle Candle Company isn’t just a candle store, it’s an afternoon spent well! Kringle Candle Company is located at 220 South Street in Bernardston, Massachusetts.

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