Posts Tagged ‘Connecticut’

winter at community table

January 15th, 2012

In an attempt to escape watching NFL playoffs, I left D at home and took a little road trip to meet Amy at Community table. I’ve come to enjoy the 70 minute drive up north. For this visit, my GPS decided I should exit Route 8 in Thomaston. On Northfield Road there was a stunning [...]

 

In an attempt to escape watching NFL playoffs, I left D at home and took a little road trip to meet Amy at Community table. I’ve come to enjoy the 70 minute drive up north. For this visit, my GPS decided I should exit Route 8 in Thomaston. On Northfield Road there was a stunning view of the Litchfield hillside. Rt 254, westbound approaching McBride Road (I recommend 30 minutes before sunset). Amy and I are already on a mission to return and visit Arethusa Farm which is not far from this spot.

Here are the highlights last night’s meal:

Green House Greens
radishes, beets, fennel, basil, lemon & olive oil

Pancetta Wrapped Monkfish
sauteed mushrooms, risotto, spinach, thyme, mushroom jus

Slow Roasted Organic Turkey
chutney glaze, kale, barley

Chocolate Cake
spiced dulce de leche sauce, chocolate sauce, candied coco nibs, toasted almond ice cream, toasted almonds

Photos from past Community table meals

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what is a whelk?

January 7th, 2012

No secrets here, Bill Taibe is one of my favorite Connecticut chefs. After reading yesterday’s scoop on CTbites, I spent the better part of Friday wondering about the name of his new Saugatuck restaurant set to open in a few weeks. {Update: my photos of The Whelk’s opening week} What the heck is a whelk? [...]

 

No secrets here, Bill Taibe is one of my favorite Connecticut chefs. After reading yesterday’s scoop on CTbites, I spent the better part of Friday wondering about the name of his new Saugatuck restaurant set to open in a few weeks. {Update: my photos of The Whelk’s opening week}

What the heck is a whelk?

It sounds to me like something from a Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach movie.
With impeccable timing, the latest issue of Food + Wine just arrived to prove me wrong.

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fire and muster parade – milford, ct

January 6th, 2012

It’s the first week of the new year and while everyone else has been busy with recaps and “best of” lists, here in Morningside I am busy cataloging all the posts that never made it up 2011. Revisiting my on-going January resolution, one day I hope to get all my posts online in a timely [...]

 

It’s the first week of the new year and while everyone else has been busy with recaps and “best of” lists, here in Morningside I am busy cataloging all the posts that never made it up 2011. Revisiting my on-going January resolution, one day I hope to get all my posts online in a timely fashion. In the meantime get ready for some randomness, starting with this fortuitous find on a summer-like day back in September. It feels good to see some leafy green trees, now that we’re deep in the heart of winter.

I have a favorite spot for blueberry pancakes, a little dive called Little Lasse’s. Breakfast here involves a drive across town and on this lucky day, we were heading towards Naugatuck Ave when we noticed folks lining up on the sidewalk with flags and lawn chairs. We couldn’t figure out what everyone was expecting in this residential neighborhood (honoring 9/11 anniversary?), but we clued in a few minutes later when we happily put the car in park and watched the 40th Annual Engine 260 Antique Fire Apparatus Show & Muster parade drive by. I had seen signs for the event, but had no idea what went on at a fire muster. D explained show and competition and I so badly wanted to continue on to Eisenhower Park, but in an ironic twist, we had the Danbury fire chief coming to dinner that night and needed to get it together back at the homestead. This year I hope to see the fire fighter team competitions and get a close up look at the fire engines.

When we stumbled across this parade, I didn’t have my dSLR. I dug out my point & shoot camera and since these photos are uneven in quality, I decided to have a little fun and apply a filter effect… kind of like a giant Instagram.  Today’s post is a reminder to never leave home without a camera!

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so long 2011

January 2nd, 2012

This year there was a lot of procrastinating on plans for New Year’s Eve. After our trip to NYC,  I was unsure what we could handle after the holidays.  On Thursday, we finally looked into Union League, but with a 1920s dress optional, it sounded a bit too fancy. We considered Oaxaca Kitchen and mention [...]

 

This year there was a lot of procrastinating on plans for New Year’s Eve. After our trip to NYC,  I was unsure what we could handle after the holidays.  On Thursday, we finally looked into Union League, but with a 1920s dress optional, it sounded a bit too fancy. We considered Oaxaca Kitchen and mention of dj /”dance on all-time hitz” made us nervous. In the end, we squeaked in an early reservation at Caseus and followed dinner with a cocktail at 116 Crown. In the words of Goldilocks, that NYE plan ended up being “just right” for us.

Langres Cheese of Champagne with Berry Compote & Fresh Berries

House Made Egg Parpadella, Black Truffles & Wild Mushrooms
with roasted Hedgehog, Nebrodini and Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, freshly grated black truffle & Sottocenere al Tartuffo grilled cheese crouton crumbs

That’s right, a dinner interlude with mad libs. I’ll spare you the completed version.

Taleggio Crème Caramel
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Popcorn
St. Germain Lemon Dream Bar

On to 116 Crown

Bubbly is flowing, but it’s not ours.

A new favorite: Forth & Clyde


I was fascinated by the attire at this table. If you look closely you’ll see a few of the details, the bowtie, the pleats, the kilt pin, the buttons…

D was driving and he often refers to NYE as amateur night, so we were safely back in Milford in time for the downtown fireworks.

Wishing you a 2012 filled with wonderful adventures and delicious meals! Thanks for visiting, for enduring errors, typos and long stretches with no posts. I’m not much good with resolutions… but I’m working on it. As always, I love hearing from you guys, so (please) say hello in the comments section.

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maple row farm – easton, ct

December 22nd, 2011

It’s Brent’s third and final holiday season in New England. During his time in CT, we’ve gotten a bit of a Christmas tradition going. Fortified by our fully loaded hot dog at Super Duper Weenie, we set off to find a tree at Maple Row Farm in Easton, Connecticut. I know it looks like fields [...]

 

It’s Brent’s third and final holiday season in New England. During his time in CT, we’ve gotten a bit of a Christmas tradition going. Fortified by our fully loaded hot dog at Super Duper Weenie, we set off to find a tree at Maple Row Farm in Easton, Connecticut.

I know it looks like fields and fields worth of options, but I’d guess we searched for 5 minutes or less. D does not really have the patience to obsess over tree shape.

Brent selected and cut our tree. It is shorter than usual, but it fits perfectly in our front living room window.
What is the deal with Christmas lights? Designed to fail? This string was purchased last year and is already on the fritz!

Late in the day there were still some elaborate tailgate setups in the Maple Row parking lot. We just sipped hot cider and listened to our holiday playlist, which of course includes a little Bing Crosby:

Brent is already long gone,  jetting off for a month-long holiday with family in California and Hawaii. Have I mentioned how smart my cousin is?

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meet your cake maker

November 28th, 2011

More unexpected Thanksgiving visitors: How do you lure 2 Ogunquit-bound Brooklyn residents into a Connecticut stopover on the busiest travel day of the year? Easy -tempt them with an apple crumb pie and an eclair at at Scratch Baking. Lesli made the cake for M+B’s 10.10.10 wedding, but this is their first visit to the bakery.

 

More unexpected Thanksgiving visitors:

How do you lure 2 Ogunquit-bound Brooklyn residents into a Connecticut stopover on the busiest travel day of the year? Easy -tempt them with an apple crumb pie and an eclair at at Scratch Baking.

Lesli made the cake for M+B’s 10.10.10 wedding, but this is their first visit to the bakery.

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studio 8

November 27th, 2011

When you still live close to your high school hometown, the Thanksgiving holiday often brings surprise visitors. Lisa (remember, from New Orleans?) flew back to Connecticut to co-host her parents’ 60th birthday party at Studio 8. Who knew, this party space is right next to Bucks Ice Cream on Pepe’s Farm Road in Milford, CT. [...]

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When you still live close to your high school hometown, the Thanksgiving holiday often brings surprise visitors. Lisa (remember, from New Orleans?) flew back to Connecticut to co-host her parents’ 60th birthday party at Studio 8. Who knew, this party space is right next to Bucks Ice Cream on Pepe’s Farm Road in Milford, CT.

Mr & Mrs B.

We stopped in briefly to say hello and to see some dance moves that would do James Brown proud. I was shooting with my G10, so I grabbed a little video for you.

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thali too in westport, ct

October 19th, 2011

Thali in Westport has converted to Thali Too, featuring an all vegetarian menu. A week ago we stopped in for a light, late lunch and I’ve been thinking about this eggplant pagoda ever since. I’m going back for it tonight! The original Thali Too (also all vegetarian menu) is New Haven, on the Yale campus behind [...]

 

Thali in Westport has converted to Thali Too, featuring an all vegetarian menu.
A week ago we stopped in for a light, late lunch and I’ve been thinking about this eggplant pagoda ever since. I’m going back for it tonight!

The original Thali Too (also all vegetarian menu) is New Haven, on the Yale campus behind the Co-op. I prefer this dining room to the Westport location. It might be because I miss the koi swimming underfoot at Taipan.

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bill’s seafood in westbrook

October 15th, 2011

A bit like a summer bookends, I get the urge to go to Bill’s Seafood in May and September. This Connecticut shoreline seafood shack with cash only/ no reservations policy and an overflowing parking lot can often be so crowded during summer weekends that we’ve gotten in the habit of making the drive to Westbrook [...]

 

A bit like a summer bookends, I get the urge to go to Bill’s Seafood in May and September. This Connecticut shoreline seafood shack with cash only/ no reservations policy and an overflowing parking lot can often be so crowded during summer weekends that we’ve gotten in the habit of making the drive to Westbrook during the shoulder season.

There’s always one constant, we order Rhode Island Clam Chowder. I love the perfectly cubed potatoes this clear broth soup. It’s also far more appealing to eat soup when there’s a little chill in the air.

When we order oysters, D’s request for hot sauce is not far behind. Our server brought Tabasco and then slyly slid the D Train’s Hot Pepper Sauce onto the table. I took one look at the word habanero and sensed imminent danger. My fears were unfounded.  With its carrot base, this hot sauce has a barely-there sweet flavor and no dominating fiery or acidic punch. Not exactly what you’d expect from the “habanero express” mentioned on the label. We liked this locally-bottled condiment so much that we bought one to bring home. Bottles are available for purchase at Bill’s. Ask your waiter.

Calamari, with more peppers: this time jalapeno.

Steamers

A hot lobster roll with butter (I’m from CT, I don’t eat the cold version with mayo)

It’s always a good day when you can snag a seat right along the waterfront edge of the deck.

If you’re meeting us at Bill’s, look for us at the outdoor bar. It reminds of us Key West. We’ll be the ones sitting next to the bikers.

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connecticut farm wedding

October 14th, 2011

Christine and I met day one at Smith College.  From the boardwalk in Wildwood to the parking lot of a Masspike tollbooth, we have been on too many adventures to count. She is a dear friend, a true world traveler and a fellow foodie. Without her, I would have never met my husband. In turn, D [...]

 

Christine and I met day one at Smith College.  From the boardwalk in Wildwood to the parking lot of a Masspike tollbooth, we have been on too many adventures to count. She is a dear friend, a true world traveler and a fellow foodie. Without her, I would have never met my husband. In turn, D also helped Chris find a new job in Stamford, where she met her husband-to-be, Ryan.

One of my early memories of Christine is of her family’s farmhouse in Bedford. My first visit was a snowy night, we had just finished our first round of (self scheduled) finals and were celebrating with tickets to the Nutcracker the following day. Over the years, I made many more trips up Long Ridge Road. Navigating the long driveway to farmhouse, you had to keep your eyes peeled. There were always guinea hens or other animals wandering freely around the property. Though her family longer lives on this idyllic property, it was absolutely no surprise to me that Christine chose to get married on a farm. Welcome to Candlelight Farms Inn in New Milford, CT. This is my bridesmaid’s view of Christine and Ryan’s wedding day.

Christine’s mom’s family hails from Kansas.  Here’s Christine and Ryan’s new monogram branding iron, made by her aunt and uncle.

And the denim quilts each were made by different aunts who brought them all the way from the Midwest.

I wondered if these were a throwback to our Morrow House dining hall days. Mondays were occasionally grilled cheese and tomato soup day at Smith. While I was excited enough to take a picture of the grilled cheese and tomato soup shooter… I was not smart enough to grab one on the spot. By the time I was done with wedding party photos, there were none left.

Chris and Ryan love to entertain. Visit their home in Stamford and you’ll likely be presented with a cheese board! Accordingly, there was a lavish spread during cocktail hour.

Christine’s aunt and uncle showing off their great moves before the dance floor fills up.

Little sister, MOH Lynnie.

The Best Men (or 3 Wise Guys)

Little man Cole, hitting the dance floor with mom and grandma Carolyn.

Cole’s coming for me!

Isn’t Christine’s nephew the cutest?

Deanna and Lynnie

I love bold colors: especially when it comes to shoes and nail polish.

D’s checking out the branding iron, while E gives her new camera a workout.

The happy couple with their photographer, Maggie Conley from Stonington.

Dinner served family-style.

Fried chicken at a wedding? I’m a fan.

It’s a Morrow House reunion

The obligatory Smith College photo (Photo courtesy of Eunice from Adventures by the Shore)

Time to fire up the dance floor

Even years later, Chris S is unmistakable on the dance floor.

Christine and her dad. The closeness of their bond is beyond words.