Zen's Pyramid Roll
Restaurant Week promotions are foodie paradise. Multicourse meals for less than the cost of an entree? Sign me up, several times over.
Northampton held its annual event this past week, and when the menus came out, everything looked incredible. Several of the restaurants stepped up their game, incorporating high-end ingredients like lobster and good cuts of steak with lots of variety, like appetizer and dessert samplers. Remember, all three-course meals cost a mere $20.10.
Diana Guay / ctnow.com
When we posted notice of it on A La Carte, the response was overwhelming. It was as if no one in the area had ever eaten fast-casual burritos. Despite the fact that Moe’s Southwest Grill is about a mile away.
So, my coworker Sara came up with a brilliant plan: a blind taste test of the restaurants’ burritos.
After a blind tasting of chicken, steak and veggie burritos from both Chipotle and Moe’s, our nine Courant tasters voted. Chipotle won 5 to 4.
As I was running the test, I stayed out of the tasting fray. But I snagged some leftover Chipotle later – and gotta say, Moe’s was the clear winner for me. Really not a fan of Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice.
What do you think? Got a favorite?
Meet some of Connecticut’s entertaining, passionate food bloggers.
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:
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.
Leeanne Griffin is a freelance writer and food enthusiast.