It’s raspberry season here in Connecticut. Many folks seem to be surprised that it comes so late in the summer, but typically picking starts in mid August and runs into September. On Sunday, Eunice and I drove out to Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford. Hours vary so be sure to call ahead. (203) 458-PICK.
It was hot out there, even at 10 am. My advice? Go raspberry picking on an overcast day. 
Every year “sin bin” sign is out. I never realized the proceeds go to the Guilford Land Trust.
I don’ t snack in the fields. I’m there to fill that white bucket up as fast as I can and head for some shade!
Check back after Labor Day, next week the blog will feature a raspberry lemonade recipe from leFarm in Westport.
Posts Tagged ‘Connecticut’
raspberries at bishop’s orchards
September 1, 2010souterrain: underground food
August 3, 2010This year I just wasn’t excited about another Dinner at the Farm or feeling up for the fight to reserve a spot at Outstanding in the Field. With no outdoor fine dining on the horizon, our summer was rescued by Souterrain, Chef Bill Taibe’s latest dining series connecting good food and the people who love it. There didn’t seem to be much marketing around this first-time event, but you all know how much I love Le Farm. After reading a Facebook post, I gamely reserved 2 spots for dinner at a top secret location. Beside all the mysterious intrigue, what really sets Souterrain apart is the communal nature of the meal. Guests sat at small tables of 6 or 8 and the courses were served family-style. We didn’t know a soul, but there was no shortage of conversation at our table. Bruce, Carol, John and Judy all possess a knowledge of the local Connecticut food scene that blew me away. I have to reconsider calling myself a foodie in the midst of this crowd!
Sure, it’s really cool to tour an actual working farm at one of those other dinners, but I had no complaints with this beautiful backyard. 
A refreshing summer cocktail: I believe this raspberry lemonade is spiked with vodka and St. Germain.
I’m just going to digress for a second and completely swoon over the Rowayton home where this event was hosted. This house was made to entertain and the decor was so perfect, it was like being at a photo shoot for a food mag! I only got the teeniest taste through the many doors- flung wide open onto the back patio, but I could photograph these interior details all day long. 
That’s one lucky dog:
Love this photo of the bar, just as I love the servers from Le Farm.
D looks a bit pensive here. The bike makes the photograph, don’t you think?
Oh and the food? Well, of course it was fabulous. I’m no food critic and I’m sure Stephanie Webster of CT Bites (or some other blogger) will give you the low-down.
Below is the surprise course: oysters, topped with a corn fritter. 
Watermelon and chevre… I wish I had photographed it all, but it would have been so impolite to make the other dinner guests wait for the camera!
Shooting at a beautiful outdoor location is absolutely inspiring. Unfortunately for my readers, I was too busy enjoying myself to get really focused behind the lens. I copped out and mostly used the point & shoot. If I have another opportunity to dine at one of these events, I’d like to take more time with my dSLR! I can’t exactly make any promises, the food and location will probably be equally as tempting.
I LOVE: the place in guilford, connecticut
August 2, 2010This past weekend a few college friends came to town and I wanted to show them a unique summer dining experience, so we headed to The Place in Guilford, Connecticut. I’m not sure why it’s so much fun to sit on a tree stump and enjoy your food in the great outdoors, but everyone always loves it here.
I HATE eating corn on the cob in public, but I’ll make an exception for this roasted version. Our table always ends up littered with black bits of charred corn husks. My other favorite is the roasted clam special. The littlenecks are served up on a hot grill, already doused in cocktail sauce. By the time our 1 lb lobster arrived, it was too dark for photos. Plus conditions were *way* too messy to be touching my camera.
Everything (including your lobster) can be cooked on the outdoor grill and below is the one-and-only menu:
The Place is BYOB and you can fill-in the rest of your meal by bringing other sides from home. You may have read about my incomplete broccoli quinoa salad, but we still did manage to put out a nice cheese selection from Villa Gourmet, a tomato and mozzarella salad and a strawberry JELL-O pie.
If you go: A tablecloth isn’t a bad idea and forget the plastic, The Place is cash only.
at compo
July 23, 2010There’s plenty of shoreline in our hometown, so I always forget about trying other beaches in Connecticut. Luckily for us, Eunice still has a pass for Compo Beach in Westport as the day rate for weekend parking is $40!!! Recently, we found ourselves there spending a lazy Sunday afternoon of sun & surf, with grillmaster Dave dishing up some great sliders and grilled corn. Thanks Team Z, I think we pulled off the perfect beach picnic!
Don’t you love the curls on Nina’s younger son?
We were too busy eating, but some people were just there to take in the sunset.
because bastille day
July 14, 2010only comes once a year… Somehow I managed to spend $30 on box of macarons and a Perrier from Isabelle et Vincent in Fairfield, Connecticut. Perhaps it’s La Fête Nationale or maybe it’s because I bought them for my father-in-law who is getting ready for a really big day on Thursday. I knew they were just the melt-in-your-mouth treat everyone needed. And for the record, the coconut ones are my favorite.
freestyle fireworks in bayview
July 7, 2010On the fourth we like to stick close to home. We were lucky enough to have the golf cart at our disposal, so we hopped in and drove to Point Beach to watch the Bayview fireworks. I have to say this vantage point is absolutely perfect in my book. It’s a great spot overlooking Bayview (and this year’s killer sunset) and you’re bit out of the fray. As Officer Smitty wisely noted, watching the Bayview fireworks can feel like you’re in a war zone. I cannot even begin to convey the amount of illegal fireworks that were launched here on Sunday night! Our former neighbors were still going strong an hour after it got dark. Aerials were shooting above our head and showering us with debris and ash. It was smoky and noisy and a bit even felt a bit dangerous… but I suppose that just added to the thrill of it all!
Point Beach gets in on the action and now the debris starts to rain down.
We started and ended the evening driving by the Morningside shoreline. It was a quiet oasis next to the activity in Point Beach and Bayview. 
wilton outdoor sports center
June 24, 2010A few months after D tried stand up paddleboarding in Hawaii, he announced he wanted to buy a board. Little did I know we would have one this summer! He is now the proud owners of this seriously stunning Ali’i board, designed by Donald Takayama. 
He decided to special order the paddleboard through the Outdoor Sports Center. Last weekend was our first visit and we were super impressed at the sheer size and inventory of the shop! I work near an EMS and D is used to shopping at TrailBlazer, but both of these pale in comparison to this 50+ year old business on Route 7 in Wilton, CT. In many of these photos you’ll see their employee Mark, who embodies the very reason you patronize a shop like this. His knowledge and enthusiasm were undeniable. Mark is meticulous in matters of transport and he also made sure we got the board home safely. He’s a great resource to anyone looking to make a purchase in the paddling department.
The board looks like a heavy traditional longboard, but it’s really just covered in a very thin wood veneer. I think this makes the beautiful finishwork all the more amazing! It’s much lighter than a kayak, and much easier to transport on top of our car. I’m sure it was an unusual sight on the Merritt Parkway as we drove home. Despite its light weight, the board is still over 11 feet long! 
We’re hoping for lots of calm days on the Long Island Sound this summer. Yesterday, D took the board out on its maiden voyage – I suspect to keep away from prying eyes. The camera and I were still stuck at the office.
c’est magnifique
June 18, 2010Last night we kicked off our anniversary celebration with cocktails at the Dressing Room bar. Their dining room was buzzing before showtime at the Westport Playhouse. We saw some tantalizing dishes coming out, but had already decided to dine at Le Farm. We enjoyed a light meal, 4 appetizers, a salad and one wicked little chocolate pot-de-creme. It’s a splendid time of year for farm-to-table dining in Connecticut and I deeply wish Chef Taibe would adopt me so I could spend every day exploring the wonders of his kitchen! We’re talking about my favorite chef in Connecticut (we were crushed when Relish closed in South Norwalk) and I’d follow him anywhere, but I’m so thankful he’s serving up his amazing food at this low-key spot in Westport. I also want to give it up for our charming server Frank, who, with the true memory of an elephant, remembered us AND where we sat during our last visit in October of 2009!
Don’t you love the long days of June when there’s enough light to shoot without flash at 8pm? Below is our local lettuce salad with grapefruit, sunflower seeds and creme fraiche lime dressing. I’m not one to get excited about a salad, but it was so simple, yet so unexpectedly pleasing. Unfortunately the light disappeared before I could photograph the rest of dinner and sometimes, you have to put the camera down.
On our way home from dinner we listened to Ella’s Twelve Nights in Hollywood as she sang the Cole Porter classic, C’est Magnifique. So true, Ella.
huntington street café
March 25, 2010Last Friday night we broke out of the usual routine and drove over to Huntington, CT to keep it tropical and catch some surf rock. The North Shore Troubadours were playing at Huntington Street Café and we met up with friends and the always welcoming Peter Vouras, who owns this fine neighborhood spot along with his wife Salem. Besides live music & comedy, the café has free wifi and is a great spot for
• a cup of joe (you may remember this was the former home of Rhapsody in Brew)
• lunch/lite dinner (check out their cleverly named sandwiches and the famous steamed cheeseburger)
• evening with friends (wine/beer and desserts are calling your name)
simply outstanding
March 19, 2010After giving southwestern Connecticut quite a thrashing of wind and rain last weekend, mother nature has relented and offered a few sparkling days, with sunny skies and warmer temps. This is causing spring fever and has gotten me thinking about the summer ahead. It’s no secret, I’ve got a thing for eating good food… outdoors. This not without peril as I found out on my wedding day, but I still can’t resist the allure every summer. We’ve been to a few Connecticut-based Dinners at the Farm, but for years I’ve been waiting for Outstanding in the Field to come to town. This year, they are FINALLY headed to Wilton’s Millstone Farm, with guest chef Michael Nischan of Wesport’s Dressing Room.
These celebrations of food and farmer take place all summer-long across the US, so visit the newly re-designed Outstanding in the Field website to find dinner near you. If this type of meal is right up your alley – don’t delay – many of these dinners sell out. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 27, 2010. ,
Photo from our first Dinner at the Farm event. This magical evening ended under a full August moon. White Gate Farm in Old Lyme, CT (2008)