Experiencing Harpoon’s Oyster Stout At Lattitude

Harpoon Oyster Stout, brewed with real Island Creek oysters

I’ve been reading a lot about Harpoon Oyster Stout this week – a new, limited-edition dark beer brewed with Island Creek oysters from Duxbury, Mass. And I became a little obsessed with finding it. But it seemed like the tasting events set up to accompany the beer’s release were all located closer to Boston. And if you’ve ever lived an hour or more outside of Beantown, you’re familiar with the “Boston gets everything good” jealous-stepchild mentality. (Or if you’re in Hartford, it’s: “New York gets everything good.”)

But the beer heavens must have aligned, because a rather serendipitous check of Facebook led me to Lattitude’s fan page. Could it be? Yes! The trendy West Springfield restaurant had Harpoon Oyster Stout on tap, paired with Island Creek oysters. Within 45 minutes, my favorite foodie friend Kat and I were seated at Lattitude’s bar, awaiting a pour.

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February 12, 2010 | Leeanne Griffin | 2 Comments »

Valentine’s Day: Stay In? Go Out?

Some people can’t imagine Valentine’s Day without candy, flowers, jewelry and dinner at a swanky eatery. And while that’s all well and good, these are the exact types that restaurateurs go after with their overpriced prix-fixe meals, glasses of champagne and towering chocolate desserts.

I’m really not against Valentine’s dining. Hell, I’m a restaurant blogger – eating out is my favorite thing to do. I understand people love to plan special dates, and I respect that couples have favorite restaurants that they return to year after year. I just believe that restaurant owners go out of their way to make these diners pay for so-called romance.

Therefore, this post by food blogger Brooke Burton spoke to me. She explains the reasons why couples should think twice about dining out on (or in this case, around) this holiday. Among the rationale: high-stakes dining (with elevated expectations), inflated prices and rushed seating times.

For years, my now-husband and I would go to Chandler’s Restaurant at the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, Mass. The dining room is candlelit and cozy, and outdoor lighting reflects off the snow. But on our last visit, two years ago, we were utterly unimpressed by the tiny prix-fixe menu and absurd pricing.

So last year, for a fraction of the price, we stayed home and cooked. We made a seafood casserole and homemade chocolate-dipped strawberries, and I picked up an $8.99 cava at our local liquor store. This year, we’re having tenderloin and I’m going to try to replicate the ridiculous fontina fondue we had at Bin 228 last month. To drink? A gift bottle of Veuve Clicquot we’ve been saving since our wedding. Maybe. I also have a $10 bottle of Mionetto prosecco. Try ordering a martini for under $10 at a restaurant this weekend.

The only problem – I’d really love some fresh raw oysters. and I don’t want to shuck them at home.

And do not even get me started on Valentine’s Day proposals…

February 10, 2010 | Leeanne Griffin | 4 Comments »

Free Burger Day At TD Homer’s In Southington Thursday

The only thing better than a gourmet burger is a free gourmet burger, so get yours at TD Homer’s in Southington on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The burger promotion was designed to launch TD Homer’s all-new menu. Diners can choose from the Coach’s burger (mayo, fresh lettuce, vine-ripened tomato and Bermuda onion); the San Francisco Sourdough Melt (caramelized onions, melted Swiss); the Sante Fe (avocado, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos); the Brattleboro (with private-stock Cabot cheddar); the Big BBQ, the Chesapeake Bay crabcake burger and the vegetarian Portabella with roasted peppers, goat cheese, arugula and citrus vinaigrette. Hungry yet?

The half-pound burgers are made with fresh Angus beef. All burgers can be substituted with a grilled chicken breast or portobello mushroom.

The promotion is limited to one burger per customer. If the line gets too long (and it might, don’t underestimate people’s love of freebies), TD Homer’s will issue vouchers to anyone who doesn’t get to participate on Thursday. The vouchers will be good for the rest of February.

TD Homer’s is owned by the Hartford Restaurant Group, which also includes the Wood-n-Tap chain in Hartford, Farmington, Rocky Hill, Southington and Vernon; Vaughan’s Public House in Hartford and Agave Grill in Hartford.

TD Homer’s is located at 461 Queen Street in Southington. Phone: 860-329-0387. Website: www.tdhomers.com

February 8, 2010 | Leeanne Griffin | No Comments »

Connecticut Wine Trail: Curing Winter Blues

One of Haight-Brown's impressive reds

Family and friends of mine know that my hatred of New England winter is pathological. (I’ve been known to threaten groundhogs’ lives.) So from November to March, I’m always looking for something to distract me from subzero temps, snow and ice.

Lucky for me and other winter haters, several of Connecticut’s vineyards stay open year-round. If you’re not familiar with Connecticut’s wine trail, you should be. Spanning the entire state, from Canaan to Stonington, the trail offers exceptional wine and beautiful scenery.

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| Leeanne Griffin | 3 Comments »

Am I A Food Critic? This Guy Says No.

Robert Sietsema, restaurant critic for the Village Voice, has a feature in the latest issue of Columbia Journalism Review about the credibility of food critics. It’s a must-read for journalists, food bloggers, wannabe food critics.  Sietsema details the history of professional food critics and how the Internet, among other things, has diminished this role.

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February 7, 2010 | Leeanne Griffin | 7 Comments »
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