The return of the midweek hangovers, part 3

     This week's happy hour picks include the brand new Salute' restaurant and a downtown favorite, Vito's on the Park.
     Salute' has already established quite a following since it's recent opening. Personally, I credit it's burgeoning popularity on one of the owner's, James Cosgrove, the man infamously associated with Hot Tomatoes. After Jimmy left Hot Tomatoes, and the staff followed him, the changes were immediately noticable. The dining room was uncomfortably restructured, portions literally shrank in size, and the customer service took an appalling turn. Soon after, and predictably so, they closed their doors. I am so pleased to see so many familiar faces working together at Salute' and again providing a seamless dining experience. The happy hour scene here is quite noteworthy, including the 1/2 price starters which include; Sweet Potato Ravioli, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Crisp Flatbread, Spicy Fried Calamari, Bruschetta Tricolor and Spicy Tuna Tempura Maki. And I am happy to report, that their ALL of their standard martinis are $5, the only exception being their Espresso Martini. Hopefully that will change in the future. The only reason that I can see for this exception is that if I was behind the bar, it would be very irksome to have to pull espresso shots all during happy hour.
http://www.salutect.com/
     Later, you might decide to traipse down the street to the nearby Vitos on the Park. The vibe in Vito's is decidedly more casual and seems to be popular with the local downtown folks who enjoy noshing on the free gourmet pizza that are displayed on the bar like works of art. The bartenders are very attentive and it's a good place to relax after an exhausting day of work when you just want a drink and don't want to suffer through a terribly trendy scene. Vito's also has half priced apps, if you are not content with pizza alone, as well as $5 martinis, $2 drafts, $3 wines. Most important information however is that this is the only happy hour that I have ever found that lasts till 8pm! Wow!!!!
http://www.vitosct.com/

A visit to Cosmos is a foodie adventure

How I love thee Cosmos! I could spend hours visiting this small international grocery store. It is so much fun to roam the aisles checking out the spices, curries & chutneys, teas, desserts, dried fruits and other items. It is a great place for picking up lunch for the week too, and I always stock up on several of the frozen lunch options made by Deep. They are around $3 dollars each and you can get all of the classics like Saag Paneer and Aloo Gobi. Unfortunately if you are looking meat options you might feel slighted as they are mostly vegetarian options. Pick up a package of paratha bread to accompany your selections, and you have some awesome lunches to look forward to. Beats a cold sandwich any day of the week! While you are there, head to the back of the store and sample some of the goodies from their lunchcounter. Lunch dosa which is light and crepeish are under $5, and they come stuffed with a mixture of onions, yellow lentils and potatoes. Incredibly on top of this great deal, they also give you a cup of soup with it! Other things that I love about Cosmos is finding things like Neem toothpaste, Marmite, Rosehip Tea, and spicy Plantain chips. Definately don't see those things everywhere.

The very tasty "Taste of Hartford"

It's that time again. To take part in this restaurant tradition, you have to act early and make reservations in advance. Trust me, I completely missed New Haven's Restaurant Week because I wanted to be spontaneous and then I couldn't get a reservation ANYWHERE! Hartford's week begins on July 26th and it costs only $20.10 to enjoy a 3 course gourmet dinner at a variety of restaurants throughout the city. Some of the ones that I plan on trying to visit are: Costa De Sol, La Casona, Salute, and VIVO. Let's face it, since this recession hit, I have had to cut back on eating out quite so much. But at $20.10, it's a great opportunity to check out some of the restaurants that my wallet hasn't afforded me the luxury of visiting yet. Hope to see my fellow foodies out on the town next week! 

http://www.letsgoarts.org/Page.aspx?pid=295

Fun Food Facts

~ The word "salary" comes from salt

~ In France, people eat approximately 500,000,000 snails per year

~ Potato crisps were invented by a North American Indian called George Crum

~ Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries

~ The onion is named after a Latin word meaning large pearl

~ Cream is lighter than milk

~ Over 1,000 litres of beer are drunk in the House of Commons each week

~ Instant coffee has been in existence since the middle of the eighteenth century

~ Temperature can affect your appetite, you are more likely to be hungry if you are cold!

~ A portion of the water you drink has already been drunk by someone else, maybe several times over

~ Bakers used to be fined if their loaves were under weight, so they used to add an extra loaf to every dozen, just in case....hence the expression " baker's dozen".

~ It takes 3500 calories to make a pound of fat

~ Peanuts are used in the manufacture of dynamite

~ It has been traditional to serve fish with a slice of lemon since the Middle Ages, when people believed that the fruit's juices would dissolve any bones accidentally swallowed.

Best darn Capirinha in the city of Hartford!!!

Late on a Friday night, catching up with my good friend that I haven't seen in years, we decided to visit a Columbian restaurant called La Fonda, since they have a great bar and we had a real craving for their empanadas. La Fonda is one of those places that instantly makes me feel welcomed. It has warm burgandy splashed walls, hanging lanterns, spanish music, friendly staff and always smells delicious. We sat at the corner of the bar and I could barely wait to order one of my favorites, a Capirinha which is a drink made with Cachaca, sugar and crushed limes. When made correctly, it is sweet and pungent and is not for the faint of heart. I was definately in luck because the bartender supersized my drink and made it just how I like it! Yay! And then our empanadas came. We ordered the chicken, although they have beef too. We dunked them into the spicy house made hot sauce and marveled at the fact that they were not as greasy as other ones we have tried. It was around this point that we were approached by an elderly gent who said that he couldn't resist telling us how lovely we were and kissed us both on our cheeks. Hmmm.

Anyway, back to the food. Besides the empanadas, I highly recommend trying their Arepa which is a cornmeal tortilla loaded up with fried plantains, tomatoes, avocados, and queso (white cheese). It is one of my favorite things to eat and if you are a meat eater, they have one with beef on it also. Tip for the uninitiated: A majority of the menu is in Spanish, but they do write the English translation underneath each item. Also the servers are mostly from Columbia, so if they don't speak English, don't get frusterated, just point at what you would like to try on the menu. It works every time. Next time you are in the South End of Hartford, give them a try.

http://www.lafondahartford.com/

Mmmmm Ice cream...

As ridiculously intense as the heat has been over the past few weeks, I am irritated with myself that I haven't made a trip to Salem Valley Farms to cool off with a luscious cone before heading to the beach. This ice cream is made on their premises and is wonderfully creamy. They have the most inventive flavors and I have to admit that I haven't ventured past my favorites which tend to be Mocha Almond, Peppermint Stick or Purple Sable (Black Raspberry Ice cream with chocolate chips). There are some very interesting combinations however that are begging to be taste tested. So if you try some of these... please report back. They are: Banana Walnut, Birthday Cake, Blueberry Cheesecake, Bubblegum, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Cow Tracks, Ginger, Grapenut, Grasshopper, Peach Melba, Pumpkin, Smores, Blueberry Pomegranate, Whopper, Apple Pie and Egg Nog. And of course, they have all the standard flavors if you don't feel like being experimental and want to just get on to eating to your cone filled with melting goodness.

I don't typically post schedules, but this one is so involved, that I think I have to. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the ice cream. :)

Schedule:
~ Thursday through Sunday the first 3 weeks of April from 12-8pm.
~ 7 days per week beginning April school vacation, daily 12-8
~ Beginning Memorial Day, close at 9pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday
~ Daily hours change to Mon-Thurs 12-9, Fri- Sun 12-10 all summer
~ After Labor Day, hours go back to 12-8 Mon-Thurs 12-9, Fri- Sun for September
~ October Schedule: Thur- Sun 12-8pm daily

www.salemvalleyfarmsicecream.com

Noodles, Noodles, Noodles...

Noodles have to be one of the best creations in foodie history. Whether it's used in a spicy drunken noodles dish, slurped up in a classic Italian style, eaten in Afghan ashok, or just stir fried quickly in a lo mein...noodles are one food item that I cannot live without. Thus, I am always in search of new places that are getting creative with my favorite item. One such place is York Street Noodle House in New Haven. I love them because I can eat a ton of food for under $10, it's all relatively healthy and despite eating there practically every time that I visit the city, I still haven't tried all the dishes! The dish that I am currently craving is their "Spicy Mee Yok". It has a really fun noodle that is awesome to slurp. It's sauteed lightly in sesame sauce and comes with brocoli and chopped up collard greens. Could be my favorite light summer noodle dish. They make really amazing soups too, and what makes theirs stand out is the nice use of coconut milk in their broth and selection of noodles to pick from. Definate winner!

Also, they make a mean bubble tea and I am dying for a passionfruit slushy. Too bad I can't get them to deliver to Glastonbury.
http://www.yorkstnoodlehouse.com/

Underground Dining Revolution, part I

Underground restaurants or supper clubs have been around in the U.S. since the prohibition era and they are hugely popular not only here but also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Guests find out about these parties through word of mouth, email lists or now as they are becoming more popular, lists like the one published on www.saltshaker.net. It has been a way for chefs who want to experiment or show off their skills to host a party outside of the confines of a restaurant. They can be held in locations that range from garages, office buildings, apartments, farms or basements and hidden back rooms. Sometimes there are passwords, scavenger hunts used to find the location to shake off authorities, dazzling cuisine, tons of liquor, and a fascinating band of renegade diners to share the experience with. Although this is becoming more and more popular, and less clandestine, it is largely a hidden concept to most of the world, thank god. Let's just hope it stays that way and doesn't become commercialized and trendy.

To start your dining revolution juices flowing, You MUST check out this video. I think these kids have the right idea and are truely taking the concept of underground dining to a guerilla level. While I am not sure that I would EVER want to do this on the NYC subway, I applaude them for their creativity.

The return of midweek hangovers... part 2

Ah, Thursday. Time to check out some more of the local happy hour scene. Tonight's itinerary includes O'Porto and Churrascaria Braza in Hartford.

Churrascaria Braza is a Brazilian steakhouse where you can gorge yourself at their buffet and with the 12 nightly selections of meats that they will bring to your table. I would rather hang at the bar during the week enjoying one of their nightly specials, as I am not a big carnivore. If you are however, this is your spot. Daily Bar Specials include:
* Basket of wings & a beer on Mondays $7
* Burger, fries and beer for Poor Student Night on Tuesdays $8
* Rotisserie plater and beer for Gaucho Night on Wed $12
* $5 martini and karaoke night on Thursdays.
* Also from 3-6 you can get $3 draft beers, $4 wines and $6 mojitos and caipirinhas. The Caipirinhas have my name written all over them.
http://www.brazarestaurant.com/

Later I will swing my Oporto since their happy hour lasts till 5-7pm. Not on Mondays though, I have tried showing up on several different mondays to discover that they are closed. I don't know why I can never remember that! Other than that, Oporto's bartenders spoil me. I love the buy one get one drink concept. Don't know why that hasn't caught on with other restaurants yet. And they have a cute little patio that I can always find a table at. I am a fan of any bar / restaurant where I can sit outside sunning. All appetizers are half off during happy hour and there are so many offered, that you really won't know which one to try. I suggest the Batata Frita a Portugesa which are fried potatoes with different dipping sauces. They compliment any drink choice!

Good days to remember at the bar:
* Wednesday- Buy one, get one free Wine Day
* Thursday- Portugese Sangria Day (buy one, get one glass, or pitcher free)
* Friday- Premium Beer Day- $2 off each bottle or $6 martinis off their martini menu.
http://www.oportohartford.com/

One of my favorite cookbooks of all time is called "Surreal Gourmet: Real Food for Pretend Chefs" written by Bob Blumer. And I feel like mentioning it now because it is such a hoot! It's perfect for someone who feels like they are the kind of person that somehow manages to burn something as easy as pasta whenever they set foot in a kitchen. Yet equally worthwhile for a foodie. I love it because of the great recipes, funky food art (who doesn't love a broccoli headed chef?), technical instructions on useful things like drink garnishes, and because it always inspires me to cook when I am feeling less than motivated. Plus it's on sale on amazon.com for a mere penny right now. Hence this post...

Upcoming Food Events for July and August

July 17-18, 2010 Stonington Vineyards Wine & Food Festival
Stonington, Connecticut
Wine tasting offered continuously throughout the day. Samplings and sales of New England products including jams, mustards, chutneys, herbs, spices, olive oil, fresh-farm organic produce and locally produced cheese. Tours and live music.

Wines of the World: France -- Litchfield, CT
July 18, 2010
Immerse yourself in French wines and light fare while learning about wine making, grape growing and regulations applicable to the region. Location: Haight-Brown Vineyards, 29 Chestnut Hill Road. Time: 3 p.m. Cost: $25 per person, reservations required. Information: 860-567-4045 or visit www.haightvineyards.com.

Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Pairing -- Litchfield, CT
July 31, 2010 to August 1, 2010
10 Haight-Brown wines will be artfully paired with French cheeses and mouth watering chocolates during this educational and delicious event. Location: Haight-Brown Vineyards, 29 Chestnut Hill Road. Time: Saturday, 1 or 3 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Cost: $25 per person, reservations required. Information: 860-567-4045 or visit www.haightvineyards.com.

Cocktails with the Whales -- Mystic
Now through August 19, 2010
Enjoy drinks and food by Ocean Blue Catering, as well as music in front of Mystic Aquarium's Arctic Coast exhibit, home to the aquarium’s resident beluga whales. These gatherings take place on Thursday evenings, April 15, May 13 and 27, June 10 and 24, July 8 and 22 and August 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Location: Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd.Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $5 admission per person. Cash bar and food for purchase. Information: 860-572-5955 ext. 336

August 22, 2010 Old-Fashioned Corn Roast
Coventry, Connecticut
Celebrate high summer at the market by serving up roasted ears of corn with garlic or herb butter, or lime and chili pepper butter. Enjoy a full farmers' market and live New England Fiddle music; 'Cook Fresh with a Chef' demonstration focusing on delicious preparation of fresh, local produce.

August 29, 2010 Heirloom Tomato Festival
Coventry, Connecticut
Sample the many varieties of heirloom tomatoes, like Black Crim, Cherokee Chocolate, and Brandywine, now in season and available at one of the market's premier events. Learn more about selecting, planting, and harvesting heirloom tomatoes.

Downtown Culinary Tours -- New Haven
Now through October 16, 2010
Experience a guided culinary walking tour through historic downtown New Haven with Stephen Fries, New Haven Register food columnist and professor of hospitality management. Enjoy tasty samplings along the way. Location: Tours depart from John Davenport's Restaurant at the Top of the Park (Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale). Time: 10:45 a.m. Cost: $59 per person Dates are June 12, July 10, August 14, September 25, and October 16. Information and tickets: 203-777-8550.

Creativity gone too far?

I am open minded as anyone when it comes to new and creative ways to cook. However this guy might have taken it too far. Daniel Angerer, of Klee Restaurant in NYC was stuck with the unique problem of having an excess of breast milk from his fiance. He decided to experiment with it and try and make cheese. While I can see the originality in his idea, I can't see the usefulness of this endeavor. Firstly it's creepy. Even the fact that he says that he is not grossed out by cooking with it, because he looks at it technically...is CREEPY. Secondly, I don't even want to start thinking about what kind of market is out there for people interested in purchasing breast milk cheese. Thirdly, how would he plan on the continued production of this cheese? His finance won't be producing milk forever. Would he have to purchase it from other lactating women? Despite assurances that he won't be serving his creation at Klee, and the NYC Health Department's statement that breast milk is not for human consumption, you can bet that his restaurant is not my list to visit in the near future.

Spris Restaurant Tonight- CLOSED

I just found this out and had to share it...another well kept secret that shouldn't be kept secret anymore. Spris Restaurant on Constitution Plaza in Hartford has a happy hour on Thursdays and Fridays (hint, hint) that has Dj Many Rivera spinning. He is one of my favorite Dj's in the Hartford area. I love that he actually brings his vinyl records with him when everyone else has opted for cds, ipods or a laptop. Ugh. And his selection of deep house vibes are just plain sexy. I just found my plans for tonight.

Also noteworthy:

• 5 for $35 food and wine tastings, the last Thursday of every month.
• 40% off wine bottles on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Happy hour - 1/2 priced apps and pizza, $3 beer, $4 martini, $5 wines

http://www.sprishartford.com/

Quotes from one foodie to another

Bored at work and started to wonder if there were quotes by other foodies. Here's a smattering of what I found. Enjoy!

"Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my god...I could be eating a slow learner." ~ Lynda Montgomery

"You can tell alot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans" ~ Ronald Reagan

"Americans have more food to eat than any other people and more diets to keep them from eating it"

"No man is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention" ~ Christopher Morley

"You've got bad eating habits if you use a grocery cart in 7-Eleven okay?" ~ Dennis Miller

"Statistics show that those who contract the habit of eating, very few survive" ~ George Bernard Shaw

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." ~ Voltaire

"If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends." ~Orson Welles

"Eating rice cakes is like chewing on a foam coffee cup, only less filling" ~ Dave Barry

CT Vineyards for Fourth of July Weekend

Sadly, I have not yet started to collect stamps in my CT Wine Trail passport. Usually by this time, I have started a pretty impressive collection. The passport promotion is one of my favorite things about summer. Since Monday is a holiday (yay!), seems like this weekend I may finally have a chance to catch up with all the other CT wine connoisseurs. In case you don't know what it is about, the promotion goes something like this:

• pick up a black passport at any vineyard
• take note of how many you are required to visit (this changes yearly)
• check out the trail maps and make your online itinerary at http://www.ctwine.com/
• start drinking...
• don't forget a picnic lunch
• drop off completed passport (with your notes about each vineyard...they like that)
• enter to win fabulous prizes such as trips to wine country :)

I have heard many people complain that Connecticut's wine is terrible. Some say it tastes sour and it lacks a certain something. I want to take a minute to address this by saying...have you been lately? Or was your last visit in the eighties? Connecticut wine growers have evolved in recent years and there are more vineyards springing up in the state year after year. Throngs of people are visiting them every season! Some of my favorite vineyards are Jerram in New Hartford and Priam in Colchester.
Priam grows a very unique grape on their property which is extremely finicky. It is the St. Croix grape and the wine that it yields is a local favorite. When it does become available I advise going early in the season because the bottles fly off the shelf.
I will be there to secure a bottle of Nor' Easter to bring with me to the Hartford Jazz Festival this weekend. See you there!

The return of midweek hangovers... part I

I had many fond memories of dashing between restaurants trying to squeeze into that elusive time slot between 4-6pm when I was a broke college student. Two dollar drinks or even cheaper...I vaguely recall one happy hour that only asked me to empty my pockets and sprinkle the bar with silver. Oh and then there was the free food....there was pizza, mini burgers, cheese plates, interesting tidbits that can only be classified as "bar food creations" veggie crudites, and of course more pizza. Nowadays, my budget is different and so is my tastes. I have traded in the well drinks in favor of martinis and sangrias, but I still like to find a great restaurant that offers up good happy hour specials for it's thirsty patrons.

Last night, I went by Feng Asian Bistro on Asylum St in Harford. For some reason, this happy hour has always remained somewhat of a secret. They offer a terrific menu where you can try their designer rolls for $5 when they usually are over $10, and regular rolls and sushi prices linger around $2-$5. Sweet Potato rolls for $2? This is sushi bliss. Even more incredible, this is one of the only places where you can get a full sized (not a teensy sized, hard to hold, can't believe I am being seen with this) martini chock full of top shelf liquors for only $5!!!!! Best deal in town in my opinion, and I am addicted. My favorite is their Lychee martini. http://www.fengrestaurant.com/

Next on my list of great happy hours, please please please do yourself a favor and stop by Barca in the Design Center off of Park Street in Hartford. For some reason, this place just doesn't seem to pull large crowds, which I certainly cannot figure out. It has amazing food, plenty of parking (which people in Hartford always lament over), great atmosphere...I mean the lights in the entrance way are made out of wine bottles for gods sakes, and you can wander the halls of the Design Center lusting over the fabulous finds for your abode. So, what's not to love? At happy hour, you can find me perched at the bar enjoying their $5 sangria specials and basically inhaling their selection of tapas. I am constantly burning the roof of my mouth because I can't stand waiting for the codfish and potato fritters to cool off. You can try 2 tapas for $6 or 4 of them for $11. I particuarly enjoy the open air part of the restaurant, somehow it makes me feel like I am in California. Best of all- their happy hour lasts an extra hour and doesn't end till 7pm!

http://www.barcahartford.com/

More happy hours to come as I continue to sip my way around the city and the state. Because really, there is nothing better than the creation of happy hour.... well maybe besides the invention of the spork. That was genius.