Shoreline Out and About » Dining

Reintroducing You To The Bee And Thistle.

Edwin Bartlett — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:56:09 +0000

The Bee and Thistle is that special place to celebrate that special occasion. But here’s the thing. You don’t have to wait for that in order all that goes on here.

They have added specials throughout the week in order for you to enjoy The Bee, and since I am a huge, I figured I might share a few with you, starting with Tuesdays. Every Tuesday night The Bee opens it’s doors to some of the finest musicians in the area. This is all acoustic, so it fits The Bee just fine. To top it off, all cocktails are half priced, so grab a friend, or an instrument just relax.

Wednesday is Flight Night at The Chestnut Grill Restaurant at The Bee. Chef Chris will select three very distinct wines for you to sample, plus create a very distinct entree to match for only $15.

Thursday is Boule Night. What is Boule ? French Lawn bowling. And what is the difference between Boule and Bocce ? First, the ball. It is approximately one half the diameter of a Bocce ball, and made of metal, so it is actually heavier. The other primary difference is that the grip is an overhand one, which causes you to throw the ball differently, and requires a different strategy. As in Bocce, the greatest part of this is the socialization, and the competition. They are really starting to build a great showing each week, and quite a few people just come for the casual conversation, and by the way, all beer and wine are half price.

Finally, the Chestnut Grill has a Prix Fixed Meal on Wednesdays and Thursdays that allows you to enjoy multiple courses for $28. So, any night is a good night to get to The Bee and Thistle. If it is a special night, or if you want to have a meeting or any other event, give them a call, and Linnea will be more than happy to help you plan it in every detail.

Wifi Where?

Lisa Mikulski — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:42:22 +0000

Every now and again a business guy or gal just wants to get out of the office. Make your next business meeting or work escape at one of the Connecticut Shoreline WiFi enabled eateries. Go on now . . . grab some great food, maybe a cocktail and get to work.

Branford:

Parthenon Diner

374 East Main Street

Branford, CT 06405-2938

203-481-0333

HOURS: Open 24 hours

Starbucks 7485

6 N Main Street

Branford 06405

Chester:

Brushmill by The Waterfall

129 West Main Street

Chester, CT 06412

860-526-9898

HOURS: Lunch 11:30-4

Dinner 5-9 Sunday – Thursday,5-10 Friday & Saturday

Tap Room 4-10 Sunday – Thursday

4-11 Friday – Saturday

Sunday Brunch 11:00-3

Clinton:

Aqua Restaurant

34 Riverside Drive

Clinton, CT 06413-2625

664-3788

HOURS: Open 7 days, lunch and dinner from 11:30am – 10pm

East Haddam:

La Vita Gustosa

9 Main Street

(Across the street from Goodspeed Opera House)

East Haddam, CT 06423

1-860-873-8999

Monday: Closed

Essex/Ivoryton

Pips Brasserie at Copper Beech Inn

46 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442

(860)767-0330

Griswold Inn

36 Main St

Essex, CT 06426-1132

767-1776

Guilford:

Cilantro

85 Whitfield Street

Guilford, CT

203-458-2555

Monday-Friday 7:00am-8:00pm Saturday 7am-6pm Sunday 7am-4pm

The Stone House Restaurant

506 Whitfield Street

Guilford, CT 06437

203-458-3700

High speed wireless throughout the restaurant and adjoining the Little Stone House and marina.

Open Tue-Thu 11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm; Sun 12pm-9pm

Shoreline Diner and Vegetarian Enclave

345 Boston Post Road

Guilford, CT 06437

458-7380

Open 7 days a week: 7am – 11pm

Madison:

Starbucks 7701

613 Boston Post Road

Madison 06443

Saybrook:

Parthenon Diner

809 Boston Post Rd

Old Saybrook, CT 06475

395-5111

HOURS: 6:00am – Midnight

7 Days a Week

Starbucks 7986

15 Main St

Old Saybrook 06475

Westbrook:

Water’s Edge

1525 Boston Post Road

Westbrook

860-399-5901

Harbour Seal

110 Boston Post Road

Westbrook, CT 06498

(860) 669-1269

HOURS:

Breakfast – 7 Days a week

6:30 – 11:00 am

Lunch Hours – 7 Days a week

11:30 am – 4 pm

Dinner Hours – 7 nights a week

4:00 pm – Close

For those of you with an Android cell phone there is a great little app called PDAnet which will locate wifi hotspots based on your present location. Iphone also offers Wifi Finder which includes an offline directory.

Do you know of any other great wifi hot spots in the area. Please leave a comment below so our list can grow.

Donovan’s Reef To Serve Italian Feast Palm Sunday

Edwin Bartlett — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:15:25 +0000

Donovan’s Reef restaurant will offer a traditional style family dinner on Sunday, March 28^th from Noon – 6pm. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Community Dining Room. Call (203) 488.5573 today to make your reservation!

The dinner includes an antipasto salad, broccoli rabe and sausage, fried calamari, rigatoni in a Bolognese sauce, lemon chicken, fish, and Tiramisu dessert.

About the Community Dining Room

Serving the Connecticut shoreline since 1985, the Community Dining Room (CDR) provides nutritious meals 365 days a year through a home delivery program, Sunday through Friday as well as each 2^nd and 4^th Saturday lunch in our dining room, Saturday morning family breakfast and Tuesday family dinner and Wednesday Night Take Out dinner. In addition, the CDR offers community service opportunities for local youth and vocational training for the disabled. For more information about the CDR, visit their website at www.communitydiningroom.org.

A Deliciously Stinky Adventure Into The World Of Local Wine And Cheese

Wendy Crispell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:08:02 +0000

After weeks of cold snowy weather I start daydreaming of spring road trips in the country. As a food and wine consultant this is quite often a foodie road trip. I love discovering new wineries, specialty shops and local gourmet destinations! The American Slow Food movement is growing every day and many excellent artisan producers of wine, cheese and other delicious treats are popping up all over Connecticut.

Cato Corners Farm in Colchester is one such destination. I met Elizabeth MacAlister owner of Cato Corners at a local tasting event held at the Artisanal Cheese Center in NYC. Her passion, spunky personality and obvious love of her craft shows in every delectable taste and funky whiff of her carefully crafted farmstead cheeses. In an effort to make her farm more sustainable in 1997 Elizabeth studied cheese making both in California and with a Belgian master to hone her skills. Using raw milk from Cato’s herd of mainly Jersey cows she produces some insanely delicious stinky cheeses that have been named in the top 10 of artisanal American cheeses. My favorite is her “Hooligan” a ripe washed rind cheese that is an excellent pairing with many local wines. Another offering “Womanchego” is a rustic delight full of buttery, nutty flavors and a play on words of the Spanish classic Manchego. It is also the perfect accompaniment to many medium bodied red wines.

You can stop by on weekends from 10 am to 3 pm to visit and buy directly from Elizabeth and her son Mark who now has taken over the job of creating these cheeses that have gained nation wide attention. Cato Corners cheeses are available in many specialty food shops in Connecticut and at a few local wineries on the state wine trail. A detailed list of products and availability is listed on the web at www.catocornerfarm.com

When it comes to pairing local wine and cheese one can’t miss in the world of Connecticut wines is Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington. Producing a tasty array of wines from both local estate grown grapes and Napa Valley this small production Connecticut property is building quite a fan base! The selection of estate grown whites includes Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. Red wines are made from West coast grapes not able to reach optimum ripeness levels in the East with the exception an estate Cabernet Franc that is a grape that prefers a cooler climate. With an East/ West mind set this winery has the best of both worlds! From rich bold reds full of flavor to the elegant and exotic whites Jonathan Edwards has wines to appeal to every palate.

There is no better way to spend a day than sipping a local wine while enjoying the views off a beautiful vineyard. Pairing this with a picnic of locally produced gourmet treats or attending one of the many special musical or food themed events planned throughout the year can make for a truly memorable experience.

Jonathan Edwards is open from 11 am to 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday. Tours are available at 3 pm. Call ahead of time to schedule your visit and for complete details visit them on the web at www.jedwardswinery.com

With so much diversity of local flavor available I urge you to support your local farmers. The Slow Food movement is based on this concept. For more information on dining, imbibing and businesses that support this vision visit them on the web at

www.buyctgrown.com/slowfoodconnecticut

Sauce And The Single Girl

Juliana Gribbins — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:00:48 +0000

Mom asks me a very stove-specific question one day when I’m over to visit. I respond with a blank look. She asks, “I know I was never much for cooking, but do you cook at all?”

“Is the stove the one that turns hot if you turn those little knob things?” I reply.

She laughs, but my response isn’t too far from the truth of how little I use my stove. Sure I make the occasional chili or stew, but for the most part I’m not into cooking. I eat a lot of salads and other low-labor meals. Cooking for one is no fun. Trouble is, it’s not easy to find something affordable to bring home that doesn’t involve a lot of grease and a dollar menu.

I’m as Irish as they come, but my favorite foods are Italian and Mexican. Keep your corned beef, I’ll take pane cotta or a big fat burrito any day. One Tuesday as I stare down my oven in a war of cooking wills, my friend Barbie calls. She works at C&C Pizza in Guilford.

“Do you want to come down for some pizza? Tuesdays are generally slow so you can hang out,” she says. It only takes as long as my putting down the phone and grabbing my coat before I’m out the door.

“Sorry pal, it’s not you, it’s me,” I say to my oven as I leave. “I hope we can still be friends.”

I’ve had C&C Pizza and love it, plus this gets me out of my too-quiet apartment on an otherwise dreary and lonely Tuesday. I meet up with Moo, and we order a large pie with meatballs and roasted red peppers. I wish I could claim credit for creating this combo, but the props all need to go to Moo. It’s a winner, and I crave it again the very next night.

I usually write about my experiences and not places because I don’t generally write straight-up, informative type articles. But when it comes to living on your own and finding an affordable, yet good, place to eat, I feel I can make an exception. Just this once.

A couple of Tuesdays later I meet John, the owner of C&C Pizza. He came to America across the big pond from Italy in 1966, so what he makes is no imitation. To prove this he sets down a plate of chicken marsala for me to try. The chicken is tender, the sauce is to die for.
He has a smooth Italian accent, which makes everything he says sound tasty. “We have our regular menu with our pizzas and subs, but we also have a new catering menu, featuring the antipasto, the lasagna, chicken marsala like you have right now, and lots of others,” he explains. My mind lingers over words like antipasto and lasagna.
His pizza is original Italian pizza with homemade sauce. As John says, it’s the “real deal.” He also has an entire lineup of specialty pizzas with names like “The Bomb” and “Coppola Special.” They take up an entire side of a 3 x 11 tri-folded brochure.
As I sit in a cozy booth, I eat my chicken marsala and listen to John’s story. He came to Guilford in 1974 to escape the crime that was erupting in the Bronx, NY. He worked in both New Haven and Florida at Italian restaurants before taking over C&C Pizza with a partner five years ago. One year ago he took on the place on his own. Now, through word of mouth and, more importantly, great cooking, the place is catching on.

While I’m enjoying my meal and conversation, my friend Yalie pops in to pick up his usual Tuesday order. When he hears I plan to do a write-up, Yalie says, “I think John feeds everyone I know!” He’s probably right. Guilford is a small town and word-of-mouth travels fast.

But there’s one thing Yalie and others may not know. Not only can John create an amazing, authentic Italian meal, he can also sing. He sings mostly for family and friends but has been told he’s quite good. He belonged to an Italian group that was so new it didn’t even have a name. But now he sings solo and only by special request.

I ask John if he’ll serenade me the next time I come in. He delivers a wide smile and says, “For you, anything!” And I think he may even mean it.

So, I’ve decided that Tuesday is a good day for home-style Italian that I don’t have to cook myself. John says, “If anybody comes here to C&C and they mention Shoreline Out and About or your column, they get 10% off their order. How does that sound?”
Sounds good to me. How about you?

Red Rooster Baking. The Best Cookies Bar None.

Edwin Bartlett — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:58:28 +0000

As many of you have probably guessed, I am a cookie fanatic. I am beyond the point of being able to buy something off the shelf. I guess that I am actually a cookie snob. Not just any cookie will do. It has to be fresh baked, it has to have substance to it, and it has to be unique. So when Kim asked if Shorelineoutandabout.com could help her with some advertising for Red Rooster Baking, I jumped at the opportunity.

Obviously, in order for me to convey my thoughts and opinions of Red Rooster Baking’s cookies, I had to do a little research. So I popped into the bakery to do a little scouting. Okay, it was all about the cookies. What I found was an experience far beyond what you would think possible in this little cookie boutique. We are talking Cookie Nirvana. The smell of fresh baked cookies just blows you away. Samples on of the cookies for you to try, and an absolutely wonderful business owner to greet you, and answer your questions, and provide exceptional service. Exactly what you want from a business like this.

So, for the past week, I have been pondering over how I could spread the word about Kim and Red Rooster Baking, so that you all could get the feel for the business, and pay her or her website a visit, so asked her to tell me her story, tell me why she started this business,and she did. I read it, and reread it,trying to figure out what quotes to use,but it wasn’t working for me, because I felt I was leaving something out. So, I decided that the best way is for you to read her story,and here it is.

“ I developed a passion for baking at a very young age. I never pursued it as a career until 3 years ago. At 18 I followed in my father’s footsteps and went into the insurance business. Well, I did this for 20 years and always in the back of my mind thought how cool it would be to have a business related to baking. I always baked cookies but then started playing with the recipe so that I could come up with a soft-baked cookie that was crispy on the outside and doughy in the middle. My first cookie which is now called the “Signature Rooster” has butterscotch, white chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and cranberries. It turned out to be a hit among friends, family and anyone willing to try it. From there, all hell broke lose when the ideas for flavors would keep me up at night. The possiblities were endless!! Then I started incorporating liquors with glazes and frostings. Flavors like Raspberry Amaretto, Key Lime, Kahlua Espresso Bean, Carrot Cake, Apple Pie and so on. I love to make cookies and I really love to make people happy. I’ve heard hundreds of times how “this really is the best cookie I’ve ever had.” That makes it all worthwhile! It’s hard work and at times I feel overwhelmed as I am doing this all myself right now. I’m in a small space but I’m very clean and very organized so I can accomplish a lot. During the holidays last year I worked 18 hour days for 2 weeks!!! The gift boxes are a real hit for holidays or any occasion. Bottom line, I finally love what I do and I put my heart and soul into every cookie I make!

For your information, just note that each of these cookies weighs 3.5 ounces each. Although one cookie weighs 3.5 ounces each, and should be enough to satisfy any craving, I think that you should always play it safe, and get the dozen. Buy them as that special treat, or to make an incredible desert. How about taking two triple chocolate cookies, and putting a layer of Ashley’s coffee ic cream between them? Send them as gifts to your friends during the holidays,and Kim makes that easy, as she will ship them for you. So get out and about, and get to Red Rooster Baking located at 2614 Boston Post Road (rear) Guilford or visit the website Redroosterbaking.com

Tell kim where you saw the story,and receive your discount!!!

Eating Milford: The Woodmont Section

Pam Landry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:54 +0000

There are a number of great bars and restaurants in Milford these days and I’d like to bring four of them to your attention, all of which are “off the beaten path”…in the Woodmont section of Milford: Sloppy Jose’s, Bazso’s, Beach House and Scribners. If you aren’t familiar with Woodmont, it is the eastern-most section of Milford along the Sound, just before you get to West Haven.

Of the four restaurants, the one I have spent the most time at is Sloppy Jose’s.

I love Mexican food and Sloppy Jose’s is my absolute favorite. Over the years I have found Sloppy’s food always to be excellent, whether ordering from their extensive menu or opting for one of the weekend “blueplate specials” (yes they named them in my honor when I had a radio show by the same name….). Sloppy’s salsa and guacamole are always fresh and delicious. I believe the bar stocks four thousand and six different brands of tequila…well it seems that way, anyway. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. Sloppy’s is decorated with all sorts of Mexican trinkets, the bar is cozy (with a few tables for dining) and the dining room has a combination of tables and booths. Sloppy Jose’s is small and comfortable with a fireplace that warms the restaurant in the winter months. Off the beaten path for sure but worth the trip. They even sell tee shirts!! Ask for Mike O’Brien (the owner) or Larry (head chef) and tell them Landry sent you. They might throw you out. Oh and their soups are EXCELLENT too.

Sloppy Jose’s

186 Hillside Ave

203-878-9847

www.sloppyjosesmilford.com

dinner only/closed Mondays

Just across the way from Sloppy Jose’s is Bazso’s Italian Restaurant.

When we moved to Milford seven years ago, we started spelunking for pizza that we liked. We are both native New Yorkers so we are pizza snobs. Bazso’s (pronounced BAY-ZOHS) was the closest pizza place to home but we didn’t try it until we sampled several others in Milford. Too bad we didn’t get Bazso’s pizza first; it would have saved us the disappointment of trying the others. Bazso’s has the best pizza that we have had in Milford (and heaven knows there are more than a few pizza places in Milford) with a crust that is more on the thin side (which I prefer) but not TOO thin…perhaps I should call it “goldilocks crust”…just right. Friends recommended their food and so we finally had dinner there a few years ago….and again wondered why we had waited so long. Bazso’s is BYOB which we love because it keeps the bill lower. On our first dinner trip there I had a pasta Bolognese that was incredible…fresh, home-cooking and portions that are extremely generous. Bazso’s is chef-owned and the atmosphere is super casual with the restaurant space itself very small and cozy. There are also a few tables outside for warm weather dining. Try it, you’ll love it.

Bazso’s

1 Seabreeze Avenue

203-877-9818

(no website…call for hours)

A little further down the road heading toward West Haven is The Beach House Restaurant. The Beach House is a bit more upscale in menu, price and atmosphere than are Sloppy Jose’s and Bazso’s. My favorite thing about The Beach House is their beautiful bar area and the best kept secret of The Beach House is their burgers. We love to go to Beach House on Friday or Saturday evening (early so we can get a table in the bar area…there are only 3) and order their gorgonzola burgers that come with great french fries (or a salad if you prefer but I say go for the fries). Gorgonzola burgers, crispy fries and a couple of glasses of Pinot Noir and I am in heaven. Live jazz music happens Friday and Saturday nights around 8. The Beach House’s “real” menu is pricey and we’ve only eaten in the dining room twice for that reason but both times the food (and service) was excellent. Great place for “special occasions” when money isn’t a concern. The Beach House also has a very nice Sunday brunch buffett from 11-3 for $19.95.

The Beach House

141 Merwin Avenue

203-877-9300

www.beachhousemilford.com

dinner only/Sunday brunch/closed Mondays

And last, but certainly not least, deep in the heart of Woodmont and smack dab in a residential neighborhood is Scribners. For 34 years this Milford landmark has been serving some of the best seafood (and other dishes) around at what I would call moderate to kinda expensive (17.95-24.95 entrees) prices. I love the atmosphere at Scribner’s; it’s like being in a quaint New England Inn. The bar area is especially cozy at Scribner’s with a few tables and a smaller bar menu available. We haven’t been to Scribner’s in awhile but have always had a great meal and terrific service there. They now have an early dining menu for $14.95 with a generous menu of entrees to choose from.

Scribner’s

31 Village Road

203-878-7019

www.scribnersrestaurant.com

dinner only/open 7 days

These four Woodmont restaurants are all gems and all offer something different. And one of the really nice things about the area is after your meal you can take a stroll on the beach since they are all a short walk away from the water. Just because Woodmont does not involve Route 1 or the Milford Green don’t deprive yourself of the experience. It’s a charming area and the restaurants are, well, pretty terrific.

Great Dining For A Great Cause

Edwin Bartlett — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:51:15 +0000

I have a passion for charities, as many of you know. I feel that no matter what our situation is, we can always find a way to help. Whether it’s 10 bucks, a pint of blood, or just volunteering an hour of your time, it goes a long way, and it will not go unnoticed. I walk,volunteer, run events, whatever it takes. Mark O’Brien, one of our contributors recently completed a 100K with the Tour de Shore this fall. Steve Spurrell is committed to building a new VFW Hall , at no cost to the veterans, and the list goes on and on.

This is why I take great pride in posting this little note to you all. This Sunday, November 15th, Whitfield’s in Guilford will again hold a fundraiser, as they do every third Sunday, to raise money for the Guilford Food Banks. Local artist Brendan Laughlin donates one of his extremely popular oil paintings, and Jim Paradis provides some really great music. All for the cause. Every third Sunday. All you have to do is get down to Whitfields this Sunday, and enjoy one of Guilford’s finest restaurants, and you to have helped those who need it most. Great dining, Great cause, and a Great dinner.

Friday Night Happy Hour Gives You The Chance To Show That You Care

Edwin Bartlett — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:29:52 +0000

We are pleased to annouce that we have partnered up with Eli’s on the Hill, 624 West Main Street, Branford for Shoreline Out and About’s Friday Night Happy Hour. They will be putting out their usual amazing spread, which includes platters of peel & eat shrimp, a carving station, pasta, nachos, and other great Happy Hour fare. Throw in a great ambiance, and it is shaping up to be a can’t miss event.Starting at 4:30, so get there as soon as you can!

Now, here comes the best part. We are not just there for the socializing. We are there with a very specific cause in mind. Eli’s feels the same way about the reality of hunger on the Shoreline as we do. So they are partnering up with us on our Shoreline Cares: A Month Of Giving. And we are going make it real simple. Just grab a can or three of food and bring it with you to Eli’s on the Hill. That’s it. So before you leave for work, just grab a can or two from the cupboard. We will take care of the rest. So get out and get socially responsible.

What Do You Do On Dreary Sundays?

Tracey Scheer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:49 +0000

Sunday was a dreary day, chilly, gray and with more bare branches showing against the sky. My husband and I were on our way to Guilford to check on the boat and thought we would grab a sandwich and eat it on the way. Passing Quattro’s on River Street, we spotted a small group sitting at a table by the window, and so decided to wander on in and have lunch off a white tablecloth. Inside we were handed a regular menu and the Sunday brunch menu.
Well, well, we had just stumbled across what has to be one of the best bargains on the Shoreline: a three course meal with an aperitif or beverage for $20. Make that $13 for kids 12 and under.
We settled down at a table near the bar and considered our choices. Mimosa or Bloody Mary? Hot appetizers including calamari and crab cakes, lobster bisque, or a couple of interesting salads. For a main course, salmon with lobster cream sauce, eggplant rolatini, chicken saltimbocca, homemade gnocchi or the omelet of the day.
For dessert, there is a choice of homemade tiramisu or chocolate mousse, both excellent and definitely not for those on a low fat diet. Also possible, sorbets in a fruit shell or ice cream.
Everything we tried was very good indeed. Service was reasonably attentive, and the check was the cure for the Sunday blues. Why there were only three parties taking advantage of this deal I cannot guess, other than folks just don’t know about it. So the cat’s out of the bag. Head on over to Quattro’s next Sunday and have a midday meal worthy of any Italian grandma. You won’t be hungry for dinner.