stuck in Hartford County

Real Name:

Stuck in Hartford, County was the way I felt post-divorce. Away from home, away from friends, away from the water... Bleeech. But it's not so bad, now. Except when it's not summer.

Location:

West Hartford, CT

Best meal I ever ate:

Raw oysters at Cooter Brown's (New Orleans)

My current drink of choice:

fruit only smoothies

I really wish I could:

Stay up late enough to be a professional chef

My "Go-to" dinner party dish:

It really depends on the crowd and/or occasion. I particularly enjoy making sides and appetizers. I hate baking!

My favorite comfort food:

Chicken pot pie, steamed crabs, short ribs, osso bucco, BBQ (plus those delicious sides!), raw oysters, steamed lobster, mashed potatoes, runny cheeses, dark chocolate, shrimp&grits, polenta....

My top 5 favorite restaurants:

Neeley's BBQ (Memphis), August (John Besh's place in New Orleans), Pascal's Manale (DIE for their BBQ shrimp!) New Orleans, and CityZen (Washington D.C.)

My most tattered cookbooks:

Saveur Cooks Authentic American, Arthur Schwartz's New York City Food, Jaques Pepin's Fast Food books, The New Glorious American Food (Idone), Essentials of Cooking (Peterson), Barefoot Contessa, Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver...Right now I'm into restaurant-specific cookbooks.