My story for the Courant’s Flavor section ran June 3. I spoke to several bloggers across the state about their experiences documenting restaurant visits, cooking adventures and finds at specialty food stores and farmers’ markets.
Here are links to those mentioned in the story:
Emily Cahill, A Change of Eatery: Emily focuses mostly on dining experiences and food and wine events in the greater Hartford region.
Jan Ellen Spiegel, CT Food: Jan, a professional food writer, focuses on fresh food, local farming and Connecticut farmers’ markets.
CT Bites: A multi-author blog covering the food scene in Fairfield County: dining, cooking, kid-friendly eats. Stephanie Webster serves as editor-in-chief; ‘taco specialist’ Amy Kundrat contributes (she also authors MotoAmy)
I also spoke to Zoe of Nutmeg Kitchen and Michelle of Fun and Fearless in Beantown, but was unable to include the interviews because of space limitations. (my apologies!)
Another worthy visit: CT Museum Quest. Steve Wood has taken on the daunting task of documenting Connecticut’s museums, attractions, parks, trails and other noteworthy spots. Along the way, he eats. His archive of visits to diners, pizza places, burger joints, clam shacks, bakeries, cheesemakers, dairies, wineries, breweries is vast and extensive. He’s also making his way through two “eat before you die” lists, compiled by the Sterns of Roadfood and Connecticut Magazine.
If you’re looking to add to your blogroll, check them out. Fun, interesting, vibrant writing and some excellent photography.
We have a winner! Of the three exotic cuisines Sara has tried thus far, she’s liked Thai best. We gathered at Sukhothai in Manchester the other night and Sara ended up loving her chicken pad see ew dish.
Unfortunately, this means we didn’t really get any of the epic facial expressions she’s demonstrated during her other adventures. Relive them here: Vietnamese (and the bubble tea incident) and Indian.
What’s next? SEAFOOD. Yes, to most New Englanders, this isn’t exotic. But this Connecticut native has never even tried lobster. That’s all about to change.
Connecticut, I’m sorry I ever doubted your awesomeness. Twenty-four years of life in Massachusetts, with its superior sports teams, world-renowned attractions and lovable regional diction, will do that to you. But I’m on my knees begging for forgiveness now, Nutmeg State.
But if you had just told me you had such great wine…and beer…and cheese…
Unlike past years, we New Englanders have been spoiled rotten by a gorgeous spring. Thanks to steady sunshine and a few days of record-setting temperatures, trees and flowers bloomed two or more weeks in advance. Meaning there’s no better time to get outside and do what you’ve been dreaming of all winter.
We spent an amazing, sunny weekend with friends, enjoying some of the best wine, beer, cheese and seafood Connecticut has to offer. But perhaps more amazingly, we got our resident picky eater to sample fresh, raw oysters. Video evidence here:
For those unfamiliar with Connecticut, the town where my husband and I live, Enfield, is a bizarre blend of contrasts. While certain sections of town are overdeveloped with chain restaurants and big-box stores, it also retains much of its beautiful working farmland. The majority of the farms grow tobacco, but several focus on dairy products.
We’ve been hearing for years that one of these farms, Powder Hill, was home to Collins Creamery. And as an entertainment website producer at the Hartford Courant, I kept seeing Collins come up in the “best ice cream” polls and forums. It was always on my local bucket list of places to visit.
Grocery shopping. I don't know if we've ever needed groceries more desperately in the years we've lived together. lolabout 41 minutes agofrom UberTwitter
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Leeanne Griffin is a freelance writer and food enthusiast.