Edelweiss Mountain Deli
I’m trying to decide if I want The Morrisville or The Waitsfield. I’m eyeing The Hell Brook, a sandwich filled with smoked turkey, Cabot cheddar, coleslaw, Thousand Island dressing, and bacon. I have hiked that trail many times, so that could be the deal breaker, but they all look delicious. I’ve been coming here since the early ’60s, and like many Vermonters who ski, Stowe Mountain is where I learned, and Edelweiss Mountain Deli was often our aprèsski food. A lot has changed on the mountain; a lot has changed here. Packed with a huge selection of local food and beverages, this place has been transformed.
It’s hard to miss Edelweiss Mountain Deli as you head up Mountain Road toward Stowe Mountain. Situated in that same location since 1940 when Maria and Mark Poor relocated it from Luce Hill, it’s iconic to many. Originally a one-room schoolhouse built in the 1830s, Edelweiss is now proudly owned by Kris and Jeff Clarke. They will celebrate four years of ownership this year. Even more than its prime location is Edelweiss’ loyal customer following. It remains a place where old friends from Stowe and around the world come to connect around outdoor adventure, local food, and some of the world’s finest beverages, many produced here in Vermont. Kris and Jeff have given this place a creative face-lift. That includes offering a multitude of take-home items prepared by six chefs clad in smart-looking black chef jackets with a charming Edelweiss logo designed by Kris.
Kris hails from New York’s Hudson River Valley, and Jeff grew up in southern Vermont. They met skiing and, once skiing was no longer their vocation, they spent 20 years in the Pacific Northwest before returning to Vermont to be closer to aging parents. Prior to becoming a business owner, Kris was an art director and designer for a small boutique firm. For many years she has contributed design work to Brattleboro’s Harris Hill Ski Jump, including for this year’s 100th Anniversary Tournament. Jeff worked in philanthropy, investing in communities, organizations, individuals, and quality-of-life issues. Together they traveled extensively to places known for good local food and beverages. For them, Vermont clearly gets the gold.
“Vermont is ahead of everyone in farm to table, farm to glass. Community is built one conversation, one sandwich, and one remarkable beverage at a time.” –Kris Clarke Edelweiss Mountain Deli
(left) The famed Hell Brook sandwich! (middle) Edelweiss swag bears Kris’s charming logo. (right) The deli supplies lunches to local sports teams that compete in championships.
Their talents and skills, coupled with their deep commitment to serving the community, have helped to transform this deli. Behind the cash register a huge map of Vermont graces the wall and lists hundreds of local vendors from where their inventory hails. The deli menu is a hoot with sandwiches named after Vermont towns and trails. The selection of take-home meals can be challenging to choose from.They are known to serve “the best breakfast in town.”
The beer set is a showcase of Vermont’s finest. The wine set features wines from small, carefully selected wineries around the world. Black Flannel, a Vermont distilling company, has a cozy spot in a nook across from the deli, with handsome bottles of spirits displayed for purchase. Founder and spirit master Dave Mosher refers to his craft as “distinctive, unique, and ballsy.”
In giving back to their community, Kris and Jeff “walk the talk.” When they heard the Stowe High and Middle School ski teams were to be disbanded due to lack of coaches, they stepped up and together—with parents, the Outdoor Center at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe Nordic Club, and other community volunteers—rebuilt the program over the course of three years. This led them to Edelweiss now providing lunch to any Stowe High School sports team that competes in the state championship game, match, or race. Additionally, they designated funds at the Stowe Community Fund to ensure all Stowe children have the monetary support to participate in healthy, organized, outdoor activities. They provide in-kind support to many community organizations such as Spruce Peak Arts, Stowe Trails Partnership, Stowe Land Trust, The Current, and others dedicated to making Stowe a great place to live, work, and play. Finally, in 2020, Edelweiss Mountain Deli made and delivered meals to frontline professionals in public safety and healthcare and also served as the Stowe distribution hub for the “Shift Meals” (now Everyone Eats) program that provides nutritious meals to any local resident or family negatively impacted by the pandemic.
Kris concludes with pride and eloquence: “Vermont is ahead of everyone in farm to table, farm to glass. Community is built one conversation, one sandwich, and one remarkable beverage at a time.”
