Fat and Happy [CT] update...

Good write up in the Hartford Courant today. Read it and then go there!


June 12, 2011
Finally got to Fat and Happy as a dinner destination!

Had two starters for the three of us: Guacamole with Salsa and chips [$9] which was fresh and creamy, great Pico de Gallo and super chips. Big Portion! Next was the Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls [$8] a nice concept but a little lacking as the wrappers sat a bit too long.

The three main dishes were all excellent: Pan Roasted Chicken [$15] with fried potatoes and broccoli; Creole Shrimp and Grits[$18] with four large shrimp over creamy corn grits and a sassy tomato sauce; my Guinness Braised Short Ribs [$20] came with horseradish whipped potato and garlicky [yes!] spinach. The boneless meat was super tender and tasty. This was relished along with a glass of Patch Block Pinot Noir [$6.50]. We all skipped dessert.



blognote: To the staff - bus, bus, bus the tables! Please don't try to serve the entrées onto a table loaded with dirty appetizer dishes. Otherwise the service from Nick was good.





April 22, 2011

Can't stay away from the Apps menu! Split [three ways] an order of Fat and Happy Thai Chili Wings [$8].

Then an order for me of Lager-Steamed Clams: Little Neck clams simply steamed with red pepper flakes, garlic, fresh parsley, lager and just a touch of butter. Served with grilled bread [$12]. These were fresh and briny in a simple broth that paired well with the grilled bread and let itself be spooned up and up. For one guest a rather large bowl  of Buffalo Chili [$8] and a Caesar Salad was the lunch of the day for one. The other hungry one had the Burger [pink or no pink? pink!] with Bison Chili, Pepper Jack Cheese and Sautéed Onions [$11.50 total with add-ons]. A great meal again with good service.

blognote: I promise to try an entrée next time, honest. [But the Tuna Tacos sound great!].

April 13, 2011

Fat and Happy Bar and Restaurant ended up as my lunch destination today. Both items I ordered were very good but not a good combination [my bad!].

The soup of the day was Lentil [$5] which was a tasty mixture of lentils, minced veggies, sausage and escarole; quite successful.

From the apps menu I had the Prosciutto-wrapped Shrimp [$14]. This dish was served as four grilled prosciutto-wrapped jumbo shrimp on a bed of micro greens splashed with a citrus vinaigrette. This is a very assertive dish with the chargrilling of the wrapping adding a bit of salty tang. If ordering this as an entrée again, I would pair it with a salad.

bloginfo: Located in the site of the closed 99 Restaurant and definitely an improvement.

blognote: Waitstaff all uniformed in black. This adds a classiness as does Madeleine Peyroux singing in the background.

Crab Shack

Had a good supper here at the Crab Shack [formerly Tinkers] on Park Street in Hartford [just behind O'Porto].

The cup of Shrimp/Corn Bisque [$3.75] was a delightful melange of flavors, served hot and spicy. I had the daily special of Blackened Salmon [$11.95] came with typical coleslaw, so-so fries and a piece of fresh, fresh salmon cooked perfectly. This was accompanied with a glass of Salmon Creek Chardonnay [$4.50].

This is a order/pay at the counter and get your number kind of place. I will go back and back. The menu is huge with both fried and broiled options.

bloginfo: Crab Shack is at 2074 Park Street in Hartford [almost to the West Hartford border for those who are afraid of anything with a Park Street address]. 860.231.9545

Joey Garlic's Pizzeria

Went back for another try at the great menu but had a disastrous time. Mistakenly ordered the SICILIAN ORANGE SALAD [$9.49] 'The Siggies love to use the island oranges in their salads. Mixed greens, sweet orange slices, kalamata olives, red peppers, onions, capers and gorgonzola tossed in EVOO and balsamic vinegar and served on a fresh baked warm flatbread.' Thought it was just a salad to go with the great Javy's Favorite Pizza we had last time. Turned out that it was just a HUGE pile of mediocre greens with some accoutrements mentioned above. The flatbread was a pizza shell underneath the size of a manhole cover; the greens were left at the table and took the flatbread pieces home to be salvaged. Should have figured this out when the House Salad came and the other entrée salads were held to be delivered with the pizza. Both the waitress and the manager tried to explain the whole 'this is the way it's done' deal but who knew?

June 11, 2011
Had an amazingly excellent lunch at Joey Garlic's today. Had eaten in the original in Farmington  years ago and had forgotten the size of the offerings.

We each had a House Salad [$4.99], one with Pepper Parmesan and the other with Gorgonzola dressings. For a starter we chose the Fried Ribs [$8.99] which were not excessively fried but covered in a sweet/sour glaze purported to be from someone's Vietnamese grandmother. They were delicious. Then we shared a 'small' pizza which was pretty big. Our choice from a long list was Javy's Favorite [$13.99] which is now my favorite also. It had pesto, sausage, hand-crushed tomatoes and mozzarella. The toppings were great and the tomatoes made the dish.

bloginfo: Joey's is located where Pizza Uno and many other restaurants have lived and died. Hope this one stays. I will return.
blognote: The Asian Calamari Salad [$9.99] looked super. The large pizza are gigantic.

ANOHO [CT]

update: CAL Review to be fair as I did not review it kindly!

June 16, 2011
Ate at anoho  in Middletown on Main Street for lunch today. I had been waiting to eat here since I first saw the signage. It was not, however, a memorable lunch. All in all the place is beautiful, the food is fresh and the menu is rather varied but it just didn't make it. I  had the Scallion Pancake [$3.50] and the Fried Chow Fun noodles [$7.50] with vegetables and the Tokyo Style Soba sauce. They were fine but nothing special.

Scallion Pancake

bloginfo: The website is very nicely done with the menu and pictures of some of the dishes.

blognote: When you enter the restaurant go to the right and sit in the yellow colored area. If you end up sitting in the main room, face the window not the rear of the restaurant. The view from here is the untidy service station. With all the beautiful artwork and paneling they should put a folding screen to hide this mess! 

Black Bamboo [CT]

Got lots of take out from Black Bamboo this afternoon. I almost got a hernia carrying the bag from the car to the porch. All five of us enjoyed our choices and not much sharing went on with everyone guarding their prized possessions. Exception: the Steamed Dumplings [$5.50] were shared and delicious. There were two orders of ...and Cashews [one Chicken and one Shrimp] [$8.50] and one order of Lo Mein [$4] and I don't know which kind. Then two orders of Dinner Special [D21 $7.50] with Chicken and my Pork. These came with Pork Fried Rice and an Egg Roll. Good noodles! Average Egg Roll! Yummy rest of the meal most of which is now sitting in my fridge. The orders are huge.

bloginfo: We did call ahead and everything was ready when we got there.

blognote: Parking sucks but there is plenty of space in the rear.

RIPE [CT]

UPDATE:

Just found out that Willow Brook Spirits carries RIPE Cocktail Mixers. This is my favorite liquor store [Cromwell] and I will now get to try all the other flavors.

June 15, 2011

Tried this new cocktail mixer at Whole Foods in Glastonbury today. It was the Agave Mojito from the current line-up of RIPE 100% Natural Small Batch Cold Cocktail Mixers. It was delicious and I could even imagine being back in Havana [without the rum, however]. Try it from the chill in the produce section.

Patti Wagon [CT]

Summer is officially here for me; I just had Italian Ice! Stopped at the Patti Wagon, a big white kitchen truck, parked at 95 Berlin Road, Cromwell.

They get their Italian Ice from Libby's in New Haven and it is super good. I had a cup of the original Lemon [$2.50] but they have other flavors too. They serve breakfast [6 to 10] and lunch [11 to 2]. There are breakfast sandwiches [$3 to 3.50]. home fries [$1.50] and a giant breakfast burrito with all sorts of good stuff and home fries for $5. Lunch offerings are hot dogs+trimmings and hamburgers/cheeseburgers.

bloginfo: The site is at the old location of Smigel's greenhouses across the street from Lowe's.

blognote: You can call ahead and order at 860.212.4770.

Firebox Restaurant [CT]

Another going-away luncheon at the Firebox Restaurant for someone we don't want to go away. The food here is awesome and lunch [usually have been here for dinner] was exceptional. 

Started with their homemade ciabatta bread which had been drizzled with olive oil and encrusted with salt. Two orders of the 'inspired' soup: Asparagus [extra smooth and full of flavor]. There was an order of Steak and Frites and another of the Salmon special with Fiddlehead ferns, asparagus and an English pea/basil butter. My luncheon was Little Neck Clams with chorizo and broccoli rabe in a tasty broth with a slab of toasted bread to sop it up. A glass of Sauvignon Blanc complemented the meal.

Two desserts:  a very eggy smooth Crême Brulée with a really well done toasty topping and the Rhubarb/Strawberry Crostada [tartlet] with a topping of Vanilla Bean ice cream. Neither dessert was exceptional. My Latte was fine and ended the meal on a sweet note.






blognote: Valet parking is available in the evening [$7]
blognote: Parking during the days on which there is the Farmers' Market can be challenging. We were lucky and got the last spot.

First and Last Tavern [CT]

Ate dinner this evening at the Avon location of First and Last. I have eaten in two other of their locations: Hartford [the original] and Middletown. This location worked out very well for the group.

The three of us were very satisfied with our selections. There were orders of Stuffed Eggplant and Scallops over Risotto. Both looked very good and my taste of the eggplant was excellent. We chose to sit in the Pub and I ordered from this menu. My choice was the Flatiron Steak Sandwich [$9.95] which was a huge [half of the sandwich came home with me] grilled sliced marinated [soy sauce and brown sugar] steak sandwich with grilled onions and mushrooms on grilled bread and served with Parmesan Fries [a little weak needing a stronger cheese and more time in the fryer]. This was accompanied by a glass of Smoking Loon Pinot Noir [$7.25]. This wine is super.

Humacao Restaurant [CT]

Stopped off in East Hartford for a late lunch at Humacao Restaurant. Had my Mofongo con Pernil [$5.50] and a mango snapple. That's mofongo as in mofongoman and it is smashed/fried plaintain with a load of garlic. The pernil is roast pork. The mofongo here is a tad salty and the pernil a tad dry but it did sate my mofongo hunger.

bloginfo: Don't worry about the sign-in pop-up on their website, just cancel to see the menu.

blognote: I just decided that my summer culinary quest will be to sample mofongo around town. Yes!