The restaurant business can be brutal. It's evident by how quickly some places open up and then shut their doors forever. Yet some eateries have serious staying-power and go on to serve generations of hungry customers.

Tropical Storm Irene was a big wake-up call for Vermonters in 2011. Severe weather events, like flooding and drought, have been on the rise in our region and are causing farmers to adapt by altering how and where they grow.

When Winooski replaced its downtown with urban renewal and then with a traffic circle, who could have guessed it would turn into a dining destination? Well it did, and it continues to grow and offer a wide array of cuisine.

The idea of farms diversifying their offerings is not a new one, but it's always interesting to hear how the concept is put into practice. After a challenging start, one Bristol farm is standing out with everything from grass-fed beef and laying-hens, to a sugar house that produces both maple and birch syrup.

Growing from a farmers market stand, to a food truck, to a full-fledged restaurant, Lebanon, New Hampshire's Phnom Penh Sandwich Station recently crossed the Connecticut River to open a second location in Vermont. Taking over the space once occupied by the legendary Polka Dot restaurant, Phnom Penh's Cambodian cuisine is now available in White River Junction.

In a 12,500-square-foot former granite warehouse in Barre - free of sunlight, rain and insects - with cement floors, artificial lighting, and a sensor-controlled climate, you'll find trays upon trays of beautiful greens. The vegetation found in this space includes various styles of lettuce and basil, and is part of a wave of a new style of farming.

Everything about this VPR Cafe episode is pretty sweet. We'll hear about two medical writers who shifted career paths to become candy makers, the confections they create in South Hero, and the love story that made it all possible.

At 7 Bakery Lane in Middlebury, two very different restaurants occupy the same space. One starts the day with baked goods and caffeinated beverages; the other operates in the evening serving Italian fare and sophisticated cocktails. These coupled eateries are owned and run by the couple of Caroline and Matt Corrente.

Ludlow, Vermont, is a small town with a big ski resort and a vibrant culinary scene. Like many Vermonters who leave the state only to eventually return, some of Ludlow's restaurants are run by locals who moved away but then came back with cooking skills in tow.

Visitors to Burlington tend to focus their attention on The Church Street Marketplace for shopping and dining. But just a few blocks away - on the fringe of the Old North End - is North Winooski Avenue, and it appears to be evolving into a restaurant zone.