All Photos Courtesy of Katie Palatucci!
Santa is coming early this year, thanks to Adventure Dinner’s pop-up restaurant at Peg + Ter’s in Shelburne. The Adventure Dinner team, led by founder Sas Stewart, h
as been creating joy-filled, immersive dining experiences and delicious themed menus since opening their residency at the Shelburne-based restaurant in October. Launching with their Halloween-themed Great Pumpkin Spooky Menu and followed by Gourds & Glam, a celebration of fall’s bounty. For the holiday season, Santa is bringing the heat and taste of the tropics with him to Adventure Dinner’s pop-up with Santa's Luau—an island-inspired menu, tropical drinks, and all the festive vibes to match.
Adventure Dinner is known for their pop-up speakeasy-style dinners in unassuming Vermont locations. Their sweet spot is the intersection of an immersive dining experience, welcoming and personal service, and innovative food and drink. Behind each of Adventure Dinner’s experiences are weeks, if not months, of planning, but Sas Stewart will be the first to tell you that they don’t follow a script. Their focus and priority is to foster opportunities for joy and exploration for their guests. It’s about the discovery of the new and the discovery of delight—taking pleasure in food, drink and the tightly-knit community of Vermont. 
For Santa’s Luau, Adventure Dinner Exec Chef James Kitchens and Chef Eric Hodet have crafted a tropical menu of sharable bites and bountiful plates that’ll warm you to your core. A few of the most mouth-watering options on the menu include the Crab Rangoon Bao, the Half Chicken Teriyaki with grilled pineapple, dry-fried green beans, rice, and Togarashi, and the Sticky Pork Ribs with Szechuan BBQ sauce, Furikake, mac salad, and jicama slaw. Vegan diners will rejoice with equally satisfying dishes like the Citrus + Chicories and the Misoyaki Celery Root main dish with cilantro puree, Bok Choy, and pickled pineapple. Many of the dishes are also gluten-free or dairy-free or have options for either.
The “Dealer’s Choice” four-course prix fixe option is perfect for those who want to make the most of their visit. Chefs Kitchens a
nd Hodet have the pleasure of crafting the four-course experience for this option, complete with an off-menu surprise. Pair with the “Booze Pack,” which includes one off-menu cocktail, one off-menu glass of wine, and one house-made aperitif, for the ultimate experience of surprise and delight in the hands of the capable and gracious Adventure Dinner staff.
Lauren Hayes, director of beverage and operations at Adventure Dinner enjoys crafting unexpected twists to classic cocktails like the Halo Halo slushie, a traditional Filipino drink known for its over-the-top garnishes, now taken a step further in being converted into a gulp-able cocktail. And as a company that firmly believes alcohol is not the life of the party, there is always a selection of delicious mocktail versions (including a mocktail of the Halo Halo) to savor that receive the same attention to detail from Hayes.
For each of their pop-up themes, Stewart and the team dress to impress—both themselves and the Peg + Ter’s space. So diners should be prepared to be welcomed by a space festooned with delightful decorations…and consider dressing themself to match the mood (a special treat on the house for those who arrive dressed to celebrate). “This is the place your inner child is hoping exists this Christmas…but your adult self is happy serves cocktails,” says Stewart with a wink.
If you’ve never experienced an Adventure Dinner before, this is a great opportunity to see what it’s all about. Come for small plates and a drink or to enjoy a full dinner experience. Either way, you’ll be satisfied with a menu that’s flavorful and filling and a vibe and service that are heartfelt.
If a ticketed dinner is more your vibe, Adventure Dinner is hosting three at the Peg + Ter’s space through January. Feeling nostalgic? Join their A Christmas Story Dinner, a nod to the classic holiday film, complete with Pecking Duck and an Ovaltine-inspired cocktail. Their Candlelit & Cozy series includes two nights focused on our favorite comfort food—Fondue Night in January and Dumpling Night in February. And they’ll be welcoming back one of last year’s partners, Trencher Farmhouse, for another 5-Course Italian Feast in January.
The Adventure Dinner Residency Pop-Up at Peg + Ter’s is open for reservations and walk-ins (no tickets required) on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Nov 30 through Dec 23, 5-9 p.m. Menus and reservations are available on the website. Seats are always reserved for first-come, first-serve walk-ins. Holiday revelers in the know will book tickets for Shelburne Museum’s Light Show right down the street from Peg + Ter’s to make it the ultimate evening of festive joy.
