Dish IV: Raise a Glass! Happening at Real Art Ways!

This year's theme is DISH: Raise a Glass! It is taking place on October 3rd at 7pm and it an event for all you local foodies that you are not going to want to miss. Check out the line up! Our conversation will turn to what has become one of the most interesting new Connecticut products; wines, spirits, beers and liqueurs moderated by Rand Richards Cooper of Bon Appetit. After the discussion, Real Art Ways will have a beverage sampling in the galleries. Joining Rand Richards Cooper will be: Jason McClellan,Owner of Olde Burnside Brewing Company. Olde Burnside Brewing Company specializes in creating Scottish syle brews; they are releasing a new Scottish Beer, Highland Wild this September. Michael Boissy, Founder of Ripe Ripe is a series of cocktail mixers created from fresh squeezed juices and other natural ingredients. Manny Mangiafico, a representitive from Peel. Peel are all natural fine Italian liqueurs. Louis & Margaret Chatey, Owners of Westford Hill Distillery Westford Hill Distillery blend European tradtion with American craftsmanship to create clear fruit brandies made from 100% natural fruit from the orchards of the northeast. Adam von Gootkin, Co-Founder of Onyx Spirits Onyx Spirists is a new start up distillery who recently released their first spirits in April. They will be soon taking part in the Farm to Chef Program. ...and more to be announced. ABOUT DISH DISH is Real Art Ways's discussion series on the restaurant business, with discussions and tastings with the area’s most outstanding chefs and restaurateurs. In 2006 DISH premiered, in 2009 DISH II followed, focusing on the front-of-house operations, last year's 2010 Dish III discussed the growing movement in Connecticut towards local, sustainable foods and organic cuisine.

      

Sundays = Movies and Mimosas

I am unsure if there is anything more appealing on a Sunday morning than a mimosa. Citrusy, bubbly, and cheerful, it greets you as liquid sunshine in a glass. While usually reserved as a morning cureall to be accompanied by one of the best inventions in known history...brunch, there is now an opportunity where you can enjoy these sunny elixers whilst viewing some cinema classics. Of course, this is not news for those familiar with the Criterion Club at New Haven's Bow Tie Cinemas, as this has been a feature that they have offered for quite some time. But for Hartford movie goers, this is reason for celebration! Especially as each month's selections have a theme! The list of upcoming movies for both locations can be checked out at: http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/cine-classics-plaza.php. The films begin at 11am, with doors opening at 10:30am every Saturday and Sunday. (If you are attending in New Haven, those films begin at 11:30am)

Film Offerings:
October: "Touch of Evil", "Chinatown", "Rosemary's Baby", "Dial M for Murder", "Psycho"
November: "Jezebel", "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte", The Little Foxes", "Now, Voyager",
December: "Miracle on 34th St", "A Christmas Story", It's a Wonderful Life", "The Wizard of Oz"
January: "National Velvet", "Father of the Bride", "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Why not try a "Taste of New Haven" food tour?

Take a Taste of New Haven! The city's latest culinary and cultural incarnation is led by the animated and knowledgeable historian and food and drink lover Colin M. Caplan. Take a taste that will fill you up and inspire you. Every week Colin leads a group of culinary adventurers through historic Westville. The tours included multiple food and drink stops with a carefully crafted menu that shows off some of the city's best cuisine and cultural surprises. The tours will be expanding to Downtown and East Rock soon. Private tours are also offered. You have two choices of tours in Westville: a Friday evening tour starting with a wine tasting, or a Sunday afternoon tour starting with the farmer's market. Both tours offer exclusive insider experiences showing where our food comes from and how the chefs prepare it. See why people are calling this tour the new "buzz" around town!

The Westville tour visits: City Seed Farmer's Market, Westville Wines, The Theater at Lyric Hall, Delaney's Tap Room, Manjares Fine Pastries & Tapas Bar & Frio Gelateria.

Ticket and other info listed on their website at: http://www.tasteofnewhaven.com/

Old World Italian Bakery found "Behind the Rocks"

Finding myself desperate a cup of real coffee and something sweet one morning I stumbled upon Roma Bakery the other day on my way to work. I entered the charming bakery that was bathed in sunlight and made my way to the pastries.  

I was so happy with the light and flaky cherry turnover that I followed it up with a raspberry one. In addition to pastries, the owner, Tanya (who has been in business at the same location for nearly 40 years) told me that they sell pizza, grinders, and arancini. They have a nice, spotless counter where I plan to spend my lunch hours sampling a Broccoli and Potato pie this week. So why should you check out Roma? 1. Price are terrific, dare I say "old-world prices". 2) They open at 7 am, so if you need to be at work early...this is the place to go. 3) Turnovers are beautifully light and I think the crust might be made of the same stuff as angel wings! Mmmmm. 


Address: 416 New Britain Ave, Hartford, CT 
Phone: (860) 527-3809

Meals on Reels Film Series at Real Art Ways

For your viewing pleasure, Real Art Ways has chosen three foodie film delights to coincide with Bated Breath Theater Company's production of Hunger. The films will screen on the last three Mondays of September.

For more information on Hunger (Sept. 16 - Oct. 2):
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177022875697837
Sex, chocolate, death. Two women share the same man and the same recipe in Hunger, a new play that explores obsession, narcissism and consumerism. Audiences at Hunger will be immersed in an intoxicating world of desserts, desire and excess in a unique and unconventional look at who we are as Americans. The evening begins as the audience participates in a wine tasting and ends in a shared feast of cream and chocolate. This is an experience as much as it is a play. Hunger is for ages 18 and up.

Tickets: Non-Member: $32/ Member: $28
Tickets can be purchased by calling 860.232.1006 x222, in person at Real Art Ways or at http://realartways.eventbee.com/event?eid=898812363

Performances:
Fri. Sept. 16, 8 PM
Sat. Sept. 17, 3 PM, 8 PM
Sun. Sept. 18, 3 PM
Thurs. Sept. 22, 8 PM
Fri. Sept. 23, 8 PM
Sat. Sept. 24, 3 PM, 8 PM
Sun. Sept. 25, 3 PM
Fri. Sept. 30, 8 PM
Sat. Oct. 1, 3 PM, 8 PM
Sun. Oct. 2, 3 PM


The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover
Monday, September 12, 2011
A gang leader, accompanied by his wife and his associates, entertains himself every night in a fancy French restaurant that he has recently bought. Having tired of her sadistic, boorish husband, the wife finds herself a lover and makes love to him in the restaurant's coziest places with the silent permission of the cook.

Eat Drink Man Woman
Monday, September 19, 2011
Directed by Ang Lee, chef Chu is a long-time widower who lovingly cooks large Sunday dinners for his three un married daughters, who view the meals as too traditional. Jia-Jen, a chemistry teacher converted to Christianity, Jia-Chien, an airline executive, and Jia-Ning, a student who also works in a fast food restaurant. Life in the house revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday, and the love lives of all the family members.

Big Night
Monday, September 26, 2011
In this witty drama, a pair of brothers debate integrity versus compromise as they try to succeed in the restaurant business. Primo and Secondo have journeyed from Italy to New Jersey in the mid-1950s, determined to make a killing with an authentic Italian restaurant, The Paradise. But their food is a bit too authentic; Primo may prepare a superb risotto, but most of his customers are wondering why they can't get a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. The restaurant is failing and the two brothers gamble on one special night to try to save the business.

Solutions for the ceaseless problem of.....what's for lunch!?

As both a busy working gal and chipping away at finishing my masters degree, I always find myself strapped for time, and cash. But lately I have taken the time to structure my weekly lunch options that are under $5 a day and that are still healthy, and have had a bevy of folks approach me to express jealousy when my lunch is compared with their boring sandwiches or leftovers. So, I figured it was time to share my discoveries.

Indian food is a staple in my life. I love spice, I love curries, and there are many vegetarian options. I have previously written about Cosmos in West Hartford for their lunch counter, but what I really like to stock up on there, are their frozen lunch meals and frozen naan bread to accompany.

A package of naan bread will cost you $2.99, but has 4-5 pieces so I usually individually wrap them in plastic wrap and use one to accompany each lunch. The lunches made by DEEP really are the best, but there are other offerings in the freezer that you may want to check out too, and they are even cheaper. DEEP entrees are between $3.39-$3.99. They are all vegetarian. DEEP has recently come out with a new meal as well that includes basmati rice, entree and a side dish (usually a dal or other bean dish).

Kashi meals, which you can find in the health food section of Stop & Shop (and probably any other mega supermarkets) have recently come out with a whole bunch of healthy frozen meals. They are around $4 an entree, and the selections include; Tuscan Veggie Bake, Black Bean Mango, Lemongrass Coconut Chicken, Red Curry Chicken, Veggie Chana Masala and Pesto Pasta Primavera. I would have to say handsdown though that my favorite is the Mayan Harvest Bake which has Quinoa (when do you ever see that in a frozen meal?), plantains, polenta and 7 whole grains. YUM!

I see nothing wrong with headed over to your local Trader Joes (hopefully there is one near you) and visiting the frozen food aisle to raid their latest offerings. My sister who has worked there for years has turned me on to many good products that I probably wouldn't have considered otherwize. Today's meal was Shitake Mushrooms and Tofu in a Spicy Pepper sauce over Basmati Rice. Seriously not bad for under $5.

My friends jokingly call Whole Foods, the "Whole Paycheck" and while there is certainly some truth in that, I have found a single instance where that isn't true. If you head over to the prepared food section, usually near the baked goods, there is a fridge that is chock full of goodies for the amazing price of...2 for $5!!!! Yep, for just $2.50 you can get a Ceaser Salad, Mixed Greens with Goat Cheese, Quinoa salad, Chicken Salad (which really lasts when you buy a baguette to enjoy it with), Golden Sesame Tofu and other offerings.

So there you have it! Some of my recent discoveries under $5. What are some of yours?