Creativity and passion are always excellent traits in any profession, but when you bring those skills to a kitchen, the results can be truly spectacular. We’re lucky enough to be able to enjoy going out to eat at restaurants around the state, and there are so many wonderful places to choose from. To see what each Chef is doing with the amazing, local Vermont products is honestly a treat. During these meals it is always easy to identify when a Chef is clearly inspired. Their presentation, their flavors, their creativity is always operating on a higher level.

We’ve been particularly impressed with what has occurred at The Daily Planet in Burlington in the past six months. Daily Planet has always been a favorite of ours; the atmosphere is quirky and endearing, the service friendly and warm, and the drinks unique and stiff. Recently however, they brought on board a new chef who has transformed the food, concept, and entire experience at the Planet into something even better.

Chef Justin Bigelow came to Vermont in October 2014, from Portsmouth, NH with a background in fine dining. Immediately he set out to change a menu that while a classic, was in need of a new surge of energy. He developed a concept aimed at encouraging dining out to be a social and sharing experience. Rather than stuff the customer on an appetizer and entree, the dishes are smaller (and priced to reflect so) and meant to be shared. Don’t worry, once you’ve solidified your favorite dish after several visits, there are larger versions available as well, but it’s important to see what the Chef is encouraging with this strategy.

A typical meal at the Daily Planet seems to be about five to seven dishes between two people. The food is fun and meant to be talked about and enjoyed. It’s the ideal spot to visit with a large group and pass the plates around the table sampling a little of everything from the menu. They say that a picture speaks a thousand words, so we’ll stop talking and show you the goods, and feel confident that by the end, you’ll know why we feel that Chef Bigelow is the Best New Chef of 2014. Enjoy!

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The Daily Planet is located at 15 Center Street in Burlington. Open seven days a week from 4PM – 2AM. Be sure to check out their Facebook Page for live music and great specials. To find out more about The Daily Planet and other great Burlington restaurants, check out the Burlington Dining Guide. Cheers!