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Twilight at Morningside

Welcome to  Twilight at Morningside. This blog is dedicated to all my weekend adventures, but let’s give up the pretense…there’s an awful lot of food photographs on here. I’m still committed to more armchair travel posts, so look for more globetrotting in the near future.  Feel free to say hello in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.
cheers, liz

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Good News Cafe in Woodbury, CT

May 16th, 2013

Before this year’s annual visit to White Flower Farm we stopped in at Carol Peck’s Good News Cafe for a late lunch. D was a big fan of the X-Limited Edition Ale from Cavalry Brewing in Oxford, Connecticut. Jack’s Pecan-Crusted Fresh Oysters, Cherry Jicama Tomatillo Salsa – Chili Aioli Drizzle Pistachio Crumb-Crusted Pork Medallions – [...]

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Before this year’s annual visit to White Flower Farm we stopped in at Carol Peck’s Good News Cafe for a late lunch.

D was a big fan of the X-Limited Edition Ale from Cavalry Brewing in Oxford, Connecticut.

Jack’s Pecan-Crusted Fresh Oysters, Cherry Jicama Tomatillo Salsa – Chili Aioli Drizzle

Pistachio Crumb-Crusted Pork Medallions – Kale & Green Beans

Black Bean Burrito with Spiced Beef, Rice, Red Pepper, Cheese, Tomato “Pico de Gallo”, Avocado & Sour Cream

Usually I like to get dessert while we’re here, but Lily was ready to move on. Plus this left us free to get an ice cream cone at Arethusa in Bantam later in the afternoon!

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First Mother’s Day

May 12th, 2013

I’ve been meaning to share these maternity photos of another first time mama. Last Fall, Lesli asked if I would do a maternity shoot and by the time we got our schedules coordinated I believe she was only about a month away from her due date. I actively avoided the camera for the full 40 [...]

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I’ve been meaning to share these maternity photos of another first time mama. Last Fall, Lesli asked if I would do a maternity shoot and by the time we got our schedules coordinated I believe she was only about a month away from her due date.

I actively avoided the camera for the full 40 weeks, but after this shoot,  it was Lesli who convinced me to take a photo of myself so I didn’t have any regrets later on.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there! Hope your day was filled with lots of love and laughter.

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Don’t Forget Mom

May 11th, 2013

The problem with being the resident ‘staff’ photographer is that you hardly ever make it into a photograph. Usually this suits me just fine, but last week was the end of my maternity leave and I demanded to be photographed with Lily. We took a road trip up to White Flower Farm and made a [...]

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The problem with being the resident ‘staff’ photographer is that you hardly ever make it into a photograph. Usually this suits me just fine, but last week was the end of my maternity leave and I demanded to be photographed with Lily. We took a road trip up to White Flower Farm and made a stop at Carol Peck’s Good News Cafe for lunch. Of course the one nice shot didn’t end up metered properly, but it’s better than nothing!

As I write this on the eve of my first Mother’s Day, I couldn’t resist re-posting this photo with my mom. While she is busy spoiling Lillian rotten, I have a whole new appreciation for everything she made possible in my life.

On a side note, what is going on with my bangs?

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Bufalina Wood Fired Pizza in Guilford, CT

May 9th, 2013

Have you read the scoop on Bufalina, written by my dear friend Amy of CT Bites? She’s the one who first told me about this little gem on the Boston Post Road, not far from the Guilford green. It’s been on my list, but somehow we never found time for a trip down the shoreline. [...]

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Have you read the scoop on Bufalina, written by my dear friend Amy of CT Bites?

She’s the one who first told me about this little gem on the Boston Post Road, not far from the Guilford green. It’s been on my list, but somehow we never found time for a trip down the shoreline. Instead, Amy & Ryan kindly delivered a Bufalina pizza to our house one evening in late February. We tucked it into the fridge, planning to eat it for lunch the following day, but my daughter had other plans. I went into labor the next morning and never got to try that margherita pizza.

It’s only fitting that our first dinner out as a family was at Bufalina Wood Fired Pizza. Lily’s car seat fit perfectly in the window ledge and she (thankfully) slept through the whole meal. Bufalina is teeny, so if you want to be guaranteed a spot, call ahead. If there’s 2 of you, ask to sit by the window! Otherwise, pull up a bright red stool and make a few new friends at the bar.

Bufalina in Guilford, CT

CIPOLLE
Blistered red and spring onions, mozzarella, local applewood smoked bacon

CIPOLLE pizza at Bufalina

TRE CARNI
San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, speck (lightly smoked prosciutto), salame piccante, and Lamberti sausage

TRE CARNI pizza at Bufalina

My favorite: FINOCCHIO
Caramelized fennel, olive tapenade, Tuscan salame, toma (semi-hard cow’s milk cheese)

FINOCCHIO pizza at Bufalina

Bufalina
1070 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT
203.458.1377
www.bufalinact.com 

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Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain Westport

April 29th, 2013

Fans of design*sponge will recognize the talented artists in this post. After visiting Frances Palmer’s studio last summer, I was eager to see her pottery in the hands of florist Amy Merrick. A few weekends ago their collaboration was on display at Terrain in Westport, CT. Frances Palmer (left) Amy Merrick (right)   Frances mentioned she’ll [...]
 

Fans of design*sponge will recognize the talented artists in this post. After visiting Frances Palmer’s studio last summer, I was eager to see her pottery in the hands of florist Amy Merrick. A few weekends ago their collaboration was on display at Terrain in Westport, CT.

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

Frances Palmer (left) Amy Merrick (right)

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

Frances Palmer & Amy Merrick at Terrain in Westport, CT

 

Frances mentioned she’ll be spending  a month in residence at a studio in China. You can follow along on Instagram @francespalmer

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Lillian – First Month

April 4th, 2013

This blog has been know to go wildly off-schedule with posts, but I set a goal to share a few photos of Lily every month. Day 1 at Yale New Haven Hospital In mom’s favorite MAGNETIC gown by Magnificent Baby. Snaps should be outlawed. Smiles became more frequent starting at week 4… First hat, from [...]

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This blog has been know to go wildly off-schedule with posts, but I set a goal to share a few photos of Lily every month.

Day 1 at Yale New Haven Hospital

In mom’s favorite MAGNETIC gown by Magnificent Baby. Snaps should be outlawed.

Smiles became more frequent starting at week 4…

First hat, from Aunt Grace Anne.

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Welcome Lillian

March 27th, 2013

7 lbs, 5 oz, Lillian Grace arrived precisely on her due date, February 25, 2013. I struggled to take any photos of anything during my pregnancy (as you probably noticed from the long silences on the blog), but after embarking on a maternity shoot for a friend last Fall, she convinced me to do the [...]

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7 lbs, 5 oz, Lillian Grace arrived precisely on her due date, February 25, 2013. I struggled to take any photos of anything during my pregnancy (as you probably noticed from the long silences on the blog), but after embarking on a maternity shoot for a friend last Fall, she convinced me to do the same. I’ve never done a self-portrait before, but sick of waiting… I broke out the tripod at week 38.

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digging out

February 10th, 2013

Greetings from snowy Morningside.  According to the National Weather Service, Milford got 38″ of snow over the weekend.  Many roads have yet to see a plow, but a few of our neighborhood streets were cleared on Saturday so we set out on foot to explore.

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Greetings from snowy Morningside.  According to the National Weather Service, Milford got 38″ of snow over the weekend.  Many roads have yet to see a plow, but a few of our neighborhood streets were cleared on Saturday so we set out on foot to explore.

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The Tree

December 27th, 2012

December always tends to slip away in a bit of a blur. This year was no exception, so here I am, late with my holiday post and left with loads of unshared photographs that date back as far as February. I won’t get to all of them before the year closes out, but stick around [...]
 

December always tends to slip away in a bit of a blur. This year was no exception, so here I am, late with my holiday post and left with loads of unshared photographs that date back as far as February. I won’t get to all of them before the year closes out, but stick around because one of my immediate goals for the new year is to finish blogging about some of our trips from 2012: Boston, Charleston, Savannah and of course Iceland.

 

This year was our fourth December with my cousin Brent living nearby in Massachusetts. A few weeks ago, he packed everything up after completing his graduate work at Boston University and headed back home to Hawaii. But before he left, we returned to Jones Farm in Shelton to get our Christmas tree.

I love being up high on a hillside and though we’ve also been to Treat Farm and Maple Row to search for a Christmas tree, Jones Farm has my favorite views.

Here’s D on the hunt.
Waiting until mid-December means searching a little further afield for the right tree. This year was probably the longest we’ve ever been on the hunt, but we’re never out there for more than 20-30 minutes.

We’ve got our final choice. Note to self: trees on a hillside may not be as tall as they appear.


Once inside the house, it was quickly apparent that our tree was vertically-challenged. It was raised up on a box and flanked by the yard reindeer. Every year there are a few strings of Christmas lights that won’t cooperate. Less than half the reindeer lights worked, so we didn’t bother even bringing these 2 fellows outside. Brent was in charge of tree trimming, which is why all our ornaments are hung with such perfect care.

Next Fall, Brent will start dental school – probably in the Midwest. I’ve never been to Kansas City, but it looks like we have a few years to arrange a visit.  Brent continues the white coat tradition in our family. Both my grandfather and his father graduated from the same dental school. We are proud of him, but will miss him dearly. Next December just won’t be the same.

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Souterrain 5

November 13th, 2012

It’s been over a year, but Chef Bill Taibe and his team from leFarm/Whelk are finally back with a new Souterrain! As always, the evening began with a cocktail. This one was bourbon-based. Details, details… Yes, I love slow-melting, giant ice cubes! If you’re familiar with this underground dining event, you know part of the [...]
 

It’s been over a year, but Chef Bill Taibe and his team from leFarm/Whelk are finally back with a new Souterrain!

As always, the evening began with a cocktail. This one was bourbon-based.
Details, details… Yes, I love slow-melting, giant ice cubes!

If you’re familiar with this underground dining event, you know part of the allure is the secret location. For Souterrain 5 , we were directed to the Westport Arts Center on the final night of the Foodies Exhibit. It was a pleasant surprise to find this charming photograph across the table. Other Souterrain experiences have ranged from Sport Hill Farm to the Lillian August showroom.

A few years ago, I made the rookie mistake of over-eating early on at a leFarm family meal. I was careful to pace myself.

Warm olive bread (I believe) from SoNo Baking Company.

Salt Cod

White Salad

Cornbread with maple drizzle

Ever since I ordered a duck breast with cherries at Relish in Sono I’ve been a devoted follower of Chef Taibe.  Any time he’s serving duck, I’m ready to eat.

Our “bowl of beans.” Unfortunately for the vegetarian at our table, even this dish was was off-limits.

Chef Bill Taibe thinks of Souterrain as his “3rd restaurant” and it’s obvious how much he enjoys the break from the typical dinner service demands at leFarm and the Whelk.

More duck, this time a leg confit surrounded by acorn/delicata squash and brussels sprouts

A simple ending: root vegetable 3-layer cake.

Souterrain 5 – Novemember 4, 2012:

- Green olives, salt cold, duck fat
- White salad, Ewe blue
- Cornbread, local maple
- Duck ham, duck liver, huckleberries + onions
- Bowl of beans
- Duck leg confit, squash, brussels
- Root vegetable 3 layer cake

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Details on Souterrain can be hard to come by, so here are a few items to note:

  • Souterrain is usually held on a Sunday.
  • The location is always a secret, but within a reasonable distance from Westport, Connecticut. The address is provided via email the day before the event.
  • The menu is set by the chef. If you’re a picky eater, vegetarian or have lots of dietary restrictions, this is probably not the event for you.
  • Price $160, including tax and tip. Also included: a cocktail on arrival and red/white wine served with the meal.
  • There’s only one way to get a seat at Souterrain: Request to join the mailing list at: ffoodllc@optonline.net and provide an email address that you monitor all the time. These meals typically sell out in 10 minutes or less. If you’re not quick enough on the reply, you can always ask to be added to the wait-list in case of cancellations.

Good luck getting a seat at the next event!
Let me know if you have any other Souterrain questions or you can view more of my photos:

Souterrain 1 Rowayton, private residence
Souterrain 4:  Part 1 Easton, Sport Hill Farm
Souterrain 4:  Part 2

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