Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

By Linda Tuccio-Koonz 

“I think about it every day,” says Elora Herberick, of the Peace Corps stint that helped her find her path in the world. 

“That experience changed me in so many ways. It’s the reason I became a yoga teacher. It’s the reason I own this studio.” 

Open since 2021, the New Milford business—EVOLVE Yoga Wellness Nutrition—is a gathering place for yoga enthusiasts of all levels. You’ll find it behind the bright purple door near the foot of Bank Street.

Herberick, who grew up in New Milford, has always practiced yoga. While teaching English in Thailand with the Peace Corps, she decided to incorporate it into her classes. Not only was it fun, she found “it created lasting change for me and the people around me.”

During her Peace Corps service (2015 to 2017), Herberick realized yoga was the path to melding her personal and professional goals—a way to transform lives while creating a sense of community. 

EVOLVE, on the second floor of a 1902 building, is where she continues that work today. “I painted the door purple because the crown chakra is represented by the color purple. The crown chakra is connectivity to ourselves and to the divine.”

Herberick’s airy studio, with its wood floors and wide windows, has a Zen-like vibe. There’s also a rooftop deck; the staircase that leads there features hand-painted messages of affirmation. “I am centered and grounded,” says one. “My potential is unlimited,” says another.

“A lot of people think yoga is just stretching, but it’s so much more,” she explains. “It’s this connectivity to your breath and being able to control your emotions and adapt, and being able to find like-minded people who are on a similar journey.”

“I think when people open that purple door, it’s like opening a gateway to their own being. It’s an energy portal, an energy portal to your entire self.”

There are hundreds of energy points throughout the body, Herberick says. EVOLVE helps students tap into them through a wide range of classes, including different styles. 

Among them are “vinyasa, gentle flow, yin and restorative,” she says. “Yin is a practice where you hold the positions for three to five minutes…Restorative yoga is complete relaxation. We use bolsters, blankets, anything to get really, really comfortable, where we’re holding positions for up to 20 minutes. So, it becomes almost like a deep, deep relaxation.”

One style not offered is hot yoga; Herberick says that requires a warm room where it’s 90-plus degrees. “We keep our thermostat around 72, so it’s a nice temperature for everybody. Outside of that we have public events such as workshops and free yoga on the green.”

Herberick has taught hundreds of students over the years. “Our students always end up becoming our friends in some capacity; I think that’s true for all my teachers. We love building our community.”

That commitment to community is a big part of what makes EVOLVE stand out. 

“You know, you meet someone here, and you may not think you have anything in common with them. But then you go through a practice or a meditation together, and you learn a lot about each other and yourself, which is our main purpose, right? Self-love, self-awareness—it’s all so we can create a better and more sustainable planet.”  

By Clementina Verge

Amy Minasyan was only five or six years old when she became fascinated by fabrics and threads left over from her aunt’s tailoring jobs. The childhood intrigue evolved into a career, and, today, her work decorates spaces ranging from sophisticated dining rooms to private planes and yachts. 

Born in Iran, Minasyan spent part of her childhood in Armenia, before immigrating to America where she worked nearly a decade for New York City fashion designers. Eventually, she settled in Connecticut where she launched Best Monogram in 2011. Located in Washington Depot, her store showcases some of her designs, embroidered on almost any kind of textile imaginable. 

A monogram artist, Minasyan has completed “many thousands of pieces,” she estimates. The most in-demand items revolve around home decorating, including bedding, bath towels, shower curtains, pillows, and even custom furniture. Table linens are the most popular request, along with baby gifts; she personalizes 80-90 blankets each year. 

“It makes everything prettier,” she remarks. “Monogramming makes an ordinary object extraordinary and unique. A thoughtful and one-of-a-kind object and gift.”

The monogramming trend is not new. Having started as early as ancient Greece when rulers put their royal seal on currency, it continued into the Victorian Era when wealth and status were displayed via personalized garments and jewelry. Today, it has achieved artwork levels, becoming a trademark of elegant decor and bespoke gifts for every occasion. Its popularity has been sustained by family traditions, hospitality, and even as a symbol of relationships.

“I can make anything from clothing to draperies,” she explains, detailing the hours it takes to fine tune monograms into digitizing software—spacing every stitch on a computer screen—finding precisely matching threads, then transferring the designs to a monogramming machine, which further takes hours to complete the job. All work is done in house, with Minasyan overseeing all production. 

Design requests range from fruit, flowers, and animal motifs, to holiday symbols, and intricate nuptial initials symbolizing intertwining lives and names. Unlike online retailers that may feature only a handful of fonts, with Minasyan the possibilities are unlimited as she creatively “tinkers” with and customizes each project to reflect a clients’ font, fabric, and color preferences.

She does all the monogramming for D. Porthault Paris, a luxury linens retailer, and her attention to detail has captured the interest of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, lifestyle expert Carolyne Roehm, Oprah, Charlotte Moss, the Cincinnati soccer team, and Tommy Hilfiger, among others who choose to remain anonymous. 

Minasyan reminisces with pride about the now-all-grown-up customer who still cherishes the baby pillow monogrammed 20 years ago, and the local pear farm owner who has adopted the fruit as a property symbol, embellishing towels and napkins. Word of mouth advertising has attracted clients from San Francisco, to Colorado, Florida, and even Dubai. 

“Monogramming never goes out of style,” she notes. “It turns gifts into keepsakes and heirlooms.” 

Samples of Minasyan’s work can be viewed on @bestmonogram or by calling 860-868-7707. 

1 Titus Road, Washington Depot

By Joseph Montebello

After writing five memoirs, including the bestselling Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage and Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love—Dani Shapiro has returned to fiction. It has been 15 years since her novel Black and White was published. It is well worth the wait, for in Signal Fires Shapiro is at her best. And the history of the novel’s creation is just as fascinating.

“I think I always expected and hoped I would return to fiction,” she says. “It’s how I started and launched my career. I understand the long detour into memoir, which is what I’ve become known for. But I really didn’t know what was next. I was working on my podcast, doing some screenwriting. And then at the beginning of the pandemic I decided to clean out my office closet.

On the top shelf I found these 120 typewritten pages of a novel I’d started in 2009. I created this world and these characters that I loved. I was trying to structure a novel moving backwards in time. The first part takes place in 2010, then shifts back to 1999. I hit a wall and never thought I would go back to it. This was the book that got away.”

Well, not exactly. Shapiro sat down in her office right then and read what she had created and stored away. 

“I’m not in the habit of reading my older work because I usually think I can make it better. But I didn’t feel that way about those pages; I thought they were good! The two sections I’d written take place ten years apart. Who would these people be in 2022? I felt I had to tell the story.”

And all her many fans will be happy that she has. Two families, arriving at different times across the street from each other. The older doctor and the younger boy, who he delivered in childbirth, strike a bond that carries through the various time changes in the novel.

“I always wanted to write a novel that spans a significant amount of time with the same characters and really look at the way one family grows and changes over time,” explains Shapiro. “And I didn’t want time to work linearly. I think time moves around inside of us when we have memories. It’s like everything that’s ever happened keeps on happening in a way, and I wanted to capture that.”

And Shapiro does that in spades.

With the pandemic, hopefully, behind us, Shapiro’s publisher has planned an old-fashioned book tour rather than resorting to only online media. She will be traveling nationally and internationally, beginning in Connecticut with a signing at the Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington and R.J. Julia Book Store in Madison. Meanwhile Shapiro continues her widely acclaimed podcast “Family Secrets,” now in its sixth season with over 25 million downloads.

By Clementina Verge

The onset of autumn signals a required transition for beauty regimens and the award-winning stylists at Byrde + the b are experts in helping you best navigate routines that reverse summer’s damage and restore health. 

Despite romanticized images of hair blowing in the wind, summer is not gentle on tresses, whether they’ve been immersed in chlorinated pools, exposed to salt water that dries hair, or burnt by the sun.

Caring for hair is as important as caring for skin, and involves a multi-step process incorporating essential nutrients, advises Scott Bond, multiple Emmy award-winning stylist and owner of Byrde + the b, a full-service luxury salon, and BYRDEMAN, a bespoke barbershop.

Nothing showcases a rejuvenated face better than a fresh hairstyle or flattering hues, and to maintain the just-left-the-salon feeling, Bond’s line of nontoxic products, along with brands such as Olapex and Davines, clarify, protect, and strengthen, while EVO custom color conditioners eliminate unwanted tones.

Stylist Lucy Callaway agrees: “Just as you need toner, serum, and moisturizer for your skin, you need the same for your hair. Olaplex (a bond-rebuilding system necessary for all processed and damaged hair) protein treatments and hydrating treatments are required for healthy, bouncy, shiny hair. Without the right cocktail of products, hair will suffer.”

Callaway recommends the Davines nounou mask for moisture and protein needs, and the Olaplex hydrating mask, which maintains strong and resilient hair in blondes and anyone else with colored, processed, or heat-damaged hair. 

Davines is also stylist Ange Zweifel’s “‘go to’ for healthy hair and scalp.”

“Achieving and maintaining a healthy scalp and healthy hair doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need a routine of products,” she notes.

Coveted tresses are possible in six steps, according to the stylists.

Step 1: Shampoo.
“Always start with a shampoo for your hair type,” Zweifel recommends. “This can change with the season and our age. Dede is a gentle daily shampoo that can be combined with any conditioner.”

Step 2: Conditioner, as needed.

Options abound—including Olaplex, any of the Davines conditioners or treatment masks, and Byrde + the b daily—so speak with a stylist about what best suits your hair.

Step 3: Use protective and/or reparative products.
“Hair and scalp will always need product after being cleaned to protect them from the elements, including heat styling, sun, pollution, and more. Davines OI milk, dede mist, and minu serum are three I turn to for all my clients,” reveals Zweifel.

OI milk, reparative and conditioning, is ideal for individuals with thick and/or damaged hair. Dede provides moisture for all hair types; Zweifel prefers it for fine hair and bleached blondes. Minu serum, a pH balancer and protector, is suitable for all color-treated hair.

Step 4: Layer in your preferred styling product.

Step 5: Dry and style as desired.

Step 6: Finish with your favorite oil, paste, or spray.

“Using the correct products that restore hair pH and even out porosity is the only way to truly achieve shiny, lustrous hair,” Bond emphasizes. “Using what your stylist recommends at home is not a sales pitch. It is about keeping your hair healthy between visits.” —byrdeandtheb.com

By Joseph Montebello

Although Jane Golding was born in Kokomo, Indiana, she has been part of the Litchfield County community since 1968. That was the year her father was made director of the Horace Mann School John Dorr Nature Laboratory in Washington, CT, where students learn about environmental science, conservation, and outdoor living. Golding became an instructor for various outdoor courses. It was during that time that she met her future husband Gary Golding. They bought a small farm in Bantam, where they raised their two sons. Golding went on to earn a Master’s Gardener’s certificate. She worked for the CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a full-time maintainer for 27 years. Much of that time was spent predominantly at Topsmead State Forest, where she volunteered for the state’s brush fire team. 

Since 2001 Golding has been part of the Bantam Fire Company and has worn innumerable hats: EMT, Firefighter 1, Health and Safety Officer, Pump Operator, Public Safety Diver—to name but a few. She got a commercial driver’s license so that she is able to drive fire and medical apparatus and she is part of the Region 5 Dive Team and the Swift Water Rescue Team. Additionally, she plants and maintains Bantam town flowerbeds, Bantam Firehouse flowerbeds, and plants and maintains Bantam River Park. And now she has attained another achievement: she was recently made a lifetime member of the BFC—the first woman to ever receive this award in the history of the company. 

She continues to work tirelessly for the causes that ensure safe living in Litchfield County. In addition to her responsibilities at Bantam Fire Company, she, along with her husband, help maintain the hiking trails for the Litchfield Land Trust and the CT Forest and Parks Association. She is currently a part-time employee of the town of Litchfield, where she drives the senior bus.

“Jane Golding is a shining example of community service and unwavering commitment to our town,” says Denise Raap, First Selectwoman of Litchfield.

That opinion is echoed by Fran Devon, a member of Topsmead, who has worked with Golding and says “She is just dedicated to our community and does all she can to contribute to the well being of the people around her. Her gracious smile lights up the universe.”

She never waits to be asked—she simply takes on a task and carries it through to its fruition. As an example, when Bantam Fire Department had its annual Haz-Mat (Hazardous Materials) refresher class, Golding took it upon herself to supply a full breakfast for its members, including her own homemade danish.

While Golding retired from her full time job at DEP she continues her volunteer work. She is a shining example of dedication and commitment and the Bantam Fire Department is showing its gratitude with this very special citation.

By Francis J. Bosco Schell

“My patients used to tell me that I needed a clone,” says Bente Dahl-Busby, doctor in physiotherapy. That was when she had a busy practice with a partner at NordCare in Sharon that lasted 23 years. Little did she know then that eventually that wish would come true, though not literally.

In 2015 Bente, born and educated in Denmark, went on her own and opened Danica Center for Physical Theory and Movement Integration, adding her long-accumulated knowledge of overlapping disciplines, among them restorative Pilates and Tai Chi, to her manual therapy and women’s health work. Patients from the tri-state area and beyond flock to her elegant, light-filled Sharon studio for one-on-one care or group sessions, whether they be recovering from an injury or joint replacement, suffering acute back pain, having balance issues, or merely warding off the mobility and other challenges of aging. “At any moment, Bente has 500 best friends in the area trying to see her,” says back-pain patient Joe Ellis. Indeed, Danica’s fee-for-service schedule is always filled.

Enters the clone. Bente and her husband, sculptor Peter Busby, have lived in Cornwall for 31 years, raising their three children there. Sabina, the oldest, was always interested in healthcare, (her sister is a sculptor like daddy, her brother, a neuro- scientist) and she chose to pursue the physiotherapy doctoral program at Quinnipiac University. “I liked that in this program I would have my doctorate in seven years”, she says. She did it in six, graduating in 2016. She remembers her mother saying: “Now go out and get really good, then come back.” Sabina spent four years as a physiotherapist in Colorado, while becoming a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health, and a Pilates Rehabilitation instructor. In 2020, at 28, she came home to join her mother at Danica.

It has proved an ideal partnership. “Working with someone you have known all her life makes everything so much easier,” says Bente. “Sabina now has deep knowledge of our field, I trust her, and we think very much alike.” Adds Sabina: “I get to work with my best friend and we are always drawing on each other’s knowledge and experience to offer the best treatment plan for our patients.” When necessary, Mother and daughter can interchangeably treat the same clients.

While Bente has decades of experience, Sabina has brought youthful energy and fresh knowledge to the practice. She has added Board Certification in Orthopedic. (“I’m impressed with the specialization opportunities offered to this young generation of PT’s,” Bente says.) Sabina is expanding their work in Women’s Health issues, a much sought-after and needed specialty, be it for pelvic pain, pre- and post-partum health, or bowel/bladder function (also extending to men). She is also attracting a younger clientele.

Says Broadway actor and Sharon home-owner Blair Brown: “I have been working with Bente for years and she is constantly reconceiving your exercise programs and treatments, a rare combination. Now with her marvelous daughter, we are reaping the benefits of the next generation’s take on physiotherapy.”

101 Gay Street, Sharon, 860-397-5363, danicacenter.com

By Clementina Verge

Summer often leaves behind plenty of beautiful memories, but abundant sunshine also leaves behind compromised skin, making the seasonal shift into autumn an important time to assess overall skin health and establish a restorative routine for the months to come.

“It is very important to have a dermatologist carefully examine your skin after the summer months, to identify any new sun damage and implement steps to correct it,” admonishes Dr. Andreas Boker, whose New Preston Dermatology practice offers comprehensive and highly specialized care, ranging from skin cancer surveillance and treatment, to injectables, lasers, and expert facial rejuvenation.

Seasonal sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer—the most common cancer in the United States, affecting one in five Americans in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. 

“Especially in Litchfield County, where people spend much time outdoors, skin cancer poses a serious concern, and unfortunately, it is often asymptomatic until it is too late,” cautions Dr. Boker, who is extensively experienced in treating cancer using highly-specialized, minimally-invasive Mohs micrographic surgery. “This is why preventative care is so important, to address any new suspicious lesions or changing moles before they become a problem. A detailed full-body skin exam and evaluation should, therefore, be an integral part of everyone’s yearly routine health check-up.” 

In addition to these risks, the sun’s ultraviolet rays also gradually deplete our skin of its collagen, antioxidants, and healing abilities, dulling its complexion and fostering premature aging. Restoring sun damaged skin back to health is possible with the use of specific medications and procedures, including periodic chemical peels or resurfacing techniques to regenerate the skin’s outermost layer. In addition, injection of hyaluronic acid gels in combination with microneedling or lasers can help boost deeper restructuring of collagen layers, leading to a long-lasting rejuvenation. All such procedures are expertly performed by Dr. Boker—an award-winning, Board-certified, and fellowship-trained dermatologist who splits his time between private practice in Manhattan and his satellite office in New Preston.  

In a state-of-the-art and chic environment, New Preston Dermatology also offers an extensive array of facial treatments and skin care services performed by Barbara Tilley, an experienced licensed aesthetician with special certifications in intimate hair removal, full body sugaring, microcurrent, dermaplaning, and brow/lash enhancement. Her work has been recognized in Litchfield Magazine’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards for three years running, in categories including Best Spa, Best Facial, Best Brows, and Best Lashes. 

“Expert skin care starts at the doctor’s office but is maintained by patients at home, using simple and clean products to preserve and enhance our results,” adds Dr. Boker, who prides himself on practicing honest, evidence-based medicine. “Especially going into the fall and winter months, it’s important to establish a daily corrective but also preventive skin care routine” he advises. “And as with everything else: consistency is key.” —newprestondermotology.com

By Brandee Coleman Gilmore

Rejuvenating is serious business. We work hard, and we’ve all been through a lot lately. 

When it’s time to breakaway for a reboot, our local spas make sure no (massage) stone is left unturned. Whether you want the sort you’d see in the movies, or a totally hidden individualized experience, there’s a spa in the Litchfield Hills for you.

A Balanced Body Massage & Spa

A Balanced Body Massage & Spa is a beautifully-appointed oasis in the middle of Thomaston. Balanced Body offers a comprehensive line of body work and skincare, including cupping and express facials with top of the line products. Ask about their spa parties, military discounts, and direct billing for Teamster members.

10 Marine Street, Thomaston, thomastonspa.com

Altorelli Med Spa

It’s one-stop shopping at Altorelli Med Spa in New Preston. Their staff boasts decades of experience in non-surgical cosmetic and wellness treatments. In addition to several options for facials and massages, Altorelli also offers organic spray tanning, lash tinting, and even chiropractic work. Weekends are by appointment only, making it the perfect place for a midweek mental health break.

131 New Milford Turnpike, New Preston, altorellimedspa.com

Byrde + the b

Yes, it’s a wicked luxurious hair and nail salon in Washington, but Byrde + the b also offers full service aesthetics. Their signature facials promote the good stuff like collagen production and vitamin A absorption…throw in some great art (for sale) and the hip vibe, and this spa visit qualifies as an outing in and of itself.

10 Titus Road, Washington, byrdeandtheb.com

DPZ Spa

The technicians at this spa have experience and education and want to give their clients exactly what they are looking for—whether that be classic or trendy. Their services range from lashes & brows, to facials, manis & pedis, make-up artistry, and waxing. 

469 Bantam Road, Litchfield, thedpz.com

Faces in Thyme

For the client seeking privacy in a spa (because, honestly, that post-treatment look is hardly pretty!), this one-woman operation, Faces in Thyme, offers one-on-one services at their location in Bantam, or at your home. For 25 years, Faces in Thyme has offered manicures, pedicures, a myriad of facials, and other body treatments, by appointment only. Note, however, no massage therapy is available.

10 Cobble Court #7, Litchfield, facesinthyme.com

Joe’s Salon + Spa

This place is in its twentieth year of touting progressive, effective spa treatments enveloped by top-notch service. Clients flock to New Milford for their Vital Defense anti-aging facial, and we like “The 1/2 and 1/2” offering 60 minutes split between a facial and back/shoulder massage.

25 Bank Street, New Milford, joessalon.com

Salt of the Earth

The staff at this spot in Woodbury are prepared to cocoon you with care. Salt of the Earth in Woodbury can customize holistic, outside-the-box approaches for pain, anxiety and lingering health issues, or simply offer you a salt cave session to clear your head (figuratively and literally). Services range from cellular vibration and red-light therapies, to sound healing and reiki.

787 Main Street S, Woodbury, naturalsalthealing.com

Skin + Tonic

From their pretty Instagram feed to their pretty environs in New Milford, Skin & Tonic promotes clean beauty. The owner’s deep background in skincare rejuvenation and makeup artistry is met with a passion for holistic wellness. They’ve recently added an infrared sauna, and boast a menu of exclusive body sculpting, waxing, and lash procedures.

66 Railroad Street, New Milford, skinandtonicct.com

The Lulu Face Co.

Want to follow up your facial treatment with a custom makeup application? Litchfield’s The Lulu Face Co. offers a unique experience, blending both lipstick and mineral powder cosmetics solely for you. They also offer makeup application lessons, and go through your current bag of tricks to help you sort out what works and what doesn’t.

7 North Street #4, Litchfield, lulufaceco.com

The Spa at Litchfield Hills

A locally owned and operated outfit in Litchfield, The Spa at Litchfield Hills consistently checks all the boxes—peels, massages, hair, nails, and waxing that get you picture perfect for the big events on your calendar…all done with professionalism in a lovely, calming space. One unique offering: flower essence tinctures customized for your wellbeing.

407 Bantam Road, Litchfield, litchfield-spa.com

The Well at Mayflower Inn
As part of the Auberge network of world-class spas, reality meets expectations here in Washington. The countryside-chic interior ribboned with greenery sets the stage for services ranging from customized facials to innovative East-meets-West healing…and even foraging hikes that culminate with tea. Watch for their unique seasonal retreats.

118 Woodbury Road Route 7, Washington, aubergeresorts.com/mayflower

Winvian Farms Spa

This 5,000-square foot sanctuary fits right into its winsome surroundings in Morris. The nationally-ranked spa offers a solid menu including barefoot (Ashiatsu) massage, yomassage—a blend of yoga and massage, and oxygen facials. The infrared sauna is free to all spa guests, and you can enjoy a farm-to-table lunch after your treatment.

155 Alain White Road, Morris, winvian.com

By Nancy McMillan

Step into the lobby of the Salisbury headquarters of National Iron Bank and you’ll see a modern bank with historic touches: an old wall clock from the original bank building in Falls Village and a mural representing iron workers. Take a few steps further into the back office, and you’ll enter history, all the way to 1847 when the bank was founded.

The first teller counter, moved from the Falls Village office, fills one wall. Its bow-front counter is topped by two windows—one each for the cashier and the president—covered in scrolled wrought iron. Next to it sits the original vault door; on the wall behind it hang framed exhibits of the silver currency print plates and currency sheets. Security consisted of a guard dog and a gun in the drawer.

Iron Bank took its name and its logo—Iron Works—from the community it served when it opened 175 years ago with $193,000 in assets. Today, there is little evidence of a thriving iron industry in the northwest corner but beginning in the late 1700s and continuing into the early 1900s, ten towns from Canaan to Washington along the Housatonic River were home to iron mining pits; the area was known as Iron Country. The Ore Hill Mine in Salisbury, with three mining pits, was the greatest of these, known worldwide for the quality of the iron cast in its furnaces.

Back then, banks produced their own currency. Transparent, tissue-paper sheets showing the stamp of the iron worker were burned in a pot-belly stove at the quarterly board of director meetings; the currency had to be destroyed before fresh bills could be printed. At the end of the Civil War in 1865, President Lincoln created a federal currency and all banks ceased printing their own bills. Iron Bank then became National Iron Bank (NIB).

From the start, the bank has taken its role in the community seriously. “Community banks are important all over the country,” says Steven Cornell, CEO and President. “And it’s always about relationships. We live in our community, and we want our local businesses to thrive.” The bank services Litchfield County through four branches and two loan offices.

During the pandemic lockdown, NIB did not close. “The employees wanted to be here,” Cornell says. “Many of the bigger banks didn’t want to deal with the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans. People were desperate; their businesses needed that money to survive.” The bank wrote personal letters to every business in the area to “make sure they knew they could come to us, and that we’d do it quickly—as fast as we could with the changing rules.” NIB administered $20 million in PPP loans. 

What does the future hold for the oldest private bank in New England? In the short-term, a series of 175th anniversary celebrations throughout the county; in the long-term, a new state-of-the-art office in Litchfield, and a consideration of cryptocurrency. 

National Iron Bank, with current assets of $250 million, has weathered wars, recessions, depressions, and economic panics by adapting to change while maintaining its values and living up to its logo: Iron Works. —ironbank.com

By Charles Dubow

The pandemic was a challenge to restaurants across the U.S. Some were forced to close, others had to reduce staff and hours, but to Brook Noel and Andy Stowers, owners of Saltwater Grille in Litchfield, it became an inspiration. In October of 2020 they converted one of their two dining rooms and opened Salt 2.0, exclusively offering healthy takeaway food with an emphasis on seafood and vegan options. The concept has been so successful that not only has Salt 2.0 continued on after indoor dining returned but they have gone on to open up two new outposts in Brookfield and Torrington. 

“We saw an opportunity,” says Noel. “I’m a pescatarian, my daughter’s a vegan, and my husband’s a carnivore. We wanted to offer food that was affordable, fresh, and healthy and still have something for everyone.”

And it does. The beauty of Salt 2.0’s menu is in both its salubriousness and its mutability. Want a salad? There are over 50 different ingredients one can choose from ranging from different bases (rice, beans, shaved Brussels sprouts, romaine, etc.) to veggies (artichoke hearts, red beets, jalapeno, etc.) to proteins (chicken, steak, blackened shrimp, etc.) to toppings (peanuts, guacamole, shredded pepper jack, etc.) to dressings (Caribbean-mango, chipotle, fire-roasted salsa, etc.). Additionally, Salt 2.0 offers a nice variety of bowls, soups, wraps, burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. (There are even gluten-free desserts.) 

Salt 2.0 has caught the wave at the right moment. Healthy eating has never been more popular. Sales of organic food have doubled over the past decade and saw a spike during Covid when millions of homebound Americans sought out healthier food options. McDonald’s is now offering the McPlant burger and in 2021 award-winning Manhattan restaurant 11 Madison Park switched to a plant-based menu. Salt 2.0 proves that healthy food can be not only good for you but also delicious.

Open Daily 11:30am – 8:00pm. Delivery available through GrubHub and DoorDash.

salt20togo.com
26 Commons Drive, Litchfield
84 Main Street, Torrington
802 Federal Road, Brookfield

Photos by Miki Duisterhof