Bette's Profile
Is King Arthur Flour worth the price?
A couple of months ago, in order to get a leg up on my holiday baking/shopping, I purchased a less expensive flour and was extremely disappointed with it. It felt DEAD to me, like it had been processed so much that it had literally no life left to it. It also clumped badly and made biscuits as heavy as hockey pucks. I pawned those bags of flour off on family members and purchased my usual 25 lb bag of King Arthur AP at Costco. Will never make that mistake again, I will always use King Arthur flour.
For anyone interested in storage for such a large amount of flour (keeps for a good year), you can buy at Lowe's or Home Depot, the large WHITE PLASTIC containers with lids - those are food safe. BUT ONLY THE WHITE ONES!!! They are sold in the paint aisle. DO NOT USE THE ORANGE OR CLEAR PLASTIC containers!! I cannot stress enough - only the white number 2 (that's the recycling number) HDPE containers. If you use the others, harmful chemicals will leach into your stored foods. If you have questions, call the number on the bottom of the containers and the companies will let you know what is food safe and what is not.
Regarding price, there was such a small difference in price per pound between the cheap, awful flour and the excellent KAF flour that I had to kick myself for even thinking it was worth it.
Sushi in CT--let's talk about our favorite places
Can't beat the deal at Sushi Palace - all you can eat, $20, and it's GOOD! I suggest you read the reviews at Yelp for helpful tips on getting the best dining experience as possible at Sushi palace.
Crystallized Ginger
Edge of the Woods. http://www.atlanticspice.com/ also has it in bulk at very reasonable prices. It will keep for years if properly stored.
Great Cake Maker in New Haven, CT?
Lucibello's is an Italian pastry shop. Their specialty cakes are made with cassata filling and sweetened whipped cream.
Road food trip...CT
Sally's and Pepe's on Wooster St are overrated, and Modern burns their crust. Try Abate on Wooster, or Dayton Street on the corner of Whalley and Dayton in the Westville section.
ANY good Chinese in CT?
I think this is the restaurant that Faith Middleton raved about. We're going to try it next time the gang gets together for dinner.
Need a special cake in Norwalk, CT area
I DISAGREE HEARTILY REGARDING JULIA'S. Low on taste, and I ordered a few custom cakes that were never exactly as ordered. Also, I once ordered a chocolate cake with ganache and they FROSTED IT WITH CHEESY PINK ICING!! They are clueless. Also, their pastries lack flavor.
Best Burger in CT
What?? I was just there a few weeks ago! The place was plenty busy.
Sushi in CT--let's talk about our favorite places
Definitely still loving Wasabi in Orange. Consistently fabulous, but I cannot afford the daily specials!
Il Forno, Milford, CT - closed
I just dined at the Il Forno in Branford. It was delicious. Was the location in MFD the same owners?
Looks like the last Krispy Kreme in Milford CT is going!
That location has been dead for a long time. I mean...passing by, looks like no one is ever there, but it's still open, dead.
I think the low carb craze contributed to killing KK (I hardly ever allow myself a doughnut) , along with Starbucks and the desire for gourmet coffee. Market saturation also, for sure.
Best Burger in CT
I had a good burger at Hops (in Newington), with a great stout beer. It's a microbrewery restaurant.
http://www.hopsrestaurants.com/home/openmenu.asp
I'm going to try Joey Garlic based on what I have read here.
Whole Foods in Milford, CT?
You had better be a millionaire if you're shopping WF. I won't step foot in that overpriced, over-imaged, trendy place. As for negative comments re M&M, it's a farm market! Do you all think they're going to bleach down the floors and walls everyday??? It's crowded cos the prices are good.
Good bread in New Haven, CT?
Abate on Wooster St sells bread and it's fabulous. As BiscuitBoy suggested, DiSorbo's is good. I suggest that you do NOT have DiSorbo slice it - their machines completely alter the texture of the bread.
Grilled Cheese Chain?
I am listening to Faith Middleton and she mentioned this restaurant on today's show. I figured it would be downtown Milford, because she did not state. I'll check it out, though I'm hardly ever at the mall.
Tea Shop in Hartford
As someone else suggested, Willoughby's is going to have the best selection. But I do not think they are in Hartford. New Haven, Madison...
Really, I wouldn't focus on finding high quality teas locally when there are so many excellent places to find teas online. I'll recommend a few : www.AtlanticSpice.com (best prices and low, quick shipping from Mass), www.FrontierCoop.com and http://www.starwest-botanicals.com.
Good delivered pizza in New Haven, CT?
If Abate delivers, definitely use them. Dayton St also makes really good pizza AND subs. (Their calzones are unpredictable.) They deliver, but not sure if they travel all the way downtown. I know I see them all over Westville and near Woodbridge. 389-2454.
Lao Sze Chuan - Could there be authentic Chinese sit-down in Milford CT?
I'm willing to experiment, but stomach, kidneys, ears?? NO WAY!!
Thanks for the info on Hot Pot.
ANY good Chinese in CT?
Wow, zucchini in Chinese food, that is BIZARRE!!! I would have sent it back.
Hotel dining in CT
Yes, the pool hours are limited. The hotel was originally opened as a post-surgery therapy recovery hotel. When that failed, they rented the pool out. I used to swim there when I was a member of the now-closed Downtown Health and Racquet Club (Yale took over their space, what's new). The maintenance people say that the pools are super expensive to keep running and maintained properly, so they'll probably always have this setup.
Great Bakeries in New Haven where they make everthing on site
Marjolaine is overrated and sometimes tasteless.
ANY good Chinese in CT?
Someone in another thread recommended this place in Milford :
http://www.laoszechuan.com/index.htm
Apparently it's quite authentic, right down to the kidneys, ears, stomachs, etc.
Lao Sze Chuan - Could there be authentic Chinese sit-down in Milford CT?
I don't think I'm up for pig ear and pork stomach!!!
I checked out their menu online. Can someone tell me what HOT POT is?
I think I'll be there for LUNCH, as dinner prices are too expensive for my unemployed self.
FYI, to out of towners, Linens N Things is closing, so if you're using that as a marker...
Do you have a "Liquor Cabinet"
I come from a traditional Italian family that definitely enjoyed to drink socially, while entertaining, and at the holidays. Every family member had a liquor cabinet, and most of the time it came with the dining room set. But there were a few separate pieces, for instance, my parents had this hideous gold bar that I could never forget, especially since mom refuses to get rid of it. She doesn't use it anymore, she just keeps it in the front hall as an object of sentiment. Trust me, this ting is UGLY. But I guess for the 60's and 70's, it must have been groovy. Maybe. LOL
Anyhow, all sorts of antique bar items were found in these relics, such as pink quirrel mixes, wine bottle openers, pourers, colorful plastic stirrers collected from lands visited (aka souvenirs), bar towels, etc. I swiped my Aunt Dora's frosted glasses with gold leaves after she died and THE UNCLE came to live with us. I saw them on Mad Men recently!!
China Buffet, North Haven, CT
Ever since Hamden's East Buffet went out, I've been dying for a decent chinese buffet.
ANY good Chinese in CT?
There is an excellent place in Derby. Fortune Pavilion. It's dine in and takeout, is on 34 and is in the congested area of all of the shopping marts.
