FarFar's Profile
Do you blow on your containers before closing them?
How do you get carbon dioxide from a bicycle pump? Doesn't that just replace the oxygen with new oxygen?
Six Pence Pie Company
Sign in a store front window in my small (Connecticut) town announcing the imminent arrival of the Six Pence Pie Company. Has anyone ever heard of this establishment in any other location? How is it?Are the pies dessert types or are they English meat pies (ala Cornish pasties)?
Excellent Northern Italian on Cape Cod
At the suggestion of the staff of the B & B at which we were staying on the Cape (Captain's House Inn, Chatham..see my review on TripAdvisor), my wife and I went to Buca's Tuscan Roadhouse in Harwich for a fine meal to celebrate a special occasion. In a small house right on Rte 28 near the Chatham/Harwich line, Buca's presents a warm, welcoming, tastefully decorated aspect inside and out. It consists of a small cozy dining room (maybe a dozen or so booths and tables) and a separate bar area. They seated us in a booth in an alcove (almost like a short corridor) that ran between the dining room and the bar area. At first I was concerned that they were sticking us in the bar when I really wanted a more "formal" experience. After all, you don't celebrate your 38th anniversary in a bar It turned out that they really did us a favor. Even though the single booth in this little nook has a view into the (very pleasant) bar area, it truly is the most secluded spot in the restaurant and was, that night, insulated from several groups enjoying holiday parties in the small dining room. The wait staff was friendly (without being overly familiar) and attentive (without being intrusive). The menu is extensive having a regular menu, a winter specials menus and a menu with specials of the day. It made it hard to select, but select we did and a good job of it we did. I started with "lattuga rumania ala Griglia", a salad of grilled romaine lettuce, lemon gorgonzola vinaigrette and tuscan croutons. My entree was "sole invernale", pan fried sole with roasted almonds, peas, basil and roasted garlic topped with a preserved lemon fennel butter sauce,all over fresh pappardelle pasta. Surprisingly, all the ingredients went perfectly together to create dish that was incredibly favorable yet subtle enough to let the freshness and flavor of the fish shine through. My wife had bruschetta (fairly standard fare, but perfectly prepared), followed by "pasta carbonara alle Buca". This was fresh tagliatelle pasta, egg, applewood smoked bacon peccorino romano cheese and pancetta. Unlike your usual heavily creamy carbonara sauce, this sauce coated the pasta with a light glaze, enhancing rather than hiding the pasta's freshness. For dessert, I had a dish of honey gelato. Intense, but not cloyingly sweet, it was the right end to a fine meal. From now on, Buca's will be our "go-to" restaurant whenever we're lucky enough to get back to the Cape.
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Bucas Tuscan Roadhouse
4 Depot Rd, Harwich, MA 02645
Is creamed chipped beef only liked by the people who were or are currently in the military?
We were passing through Ocean City, MD last year and saw a restaurant named "House of Chipped Beef". Unfortunately, we didn't have time to stop and check it out.
The virtues of Doublestuff Oreos
I read in my paper this morning that they're about to roll out "Triplestuf Oreos" (or are they "Double Double Stuf"?). There will be three chocolate cookies filled with one layer of vanilla cream and one layer of chocolate cream. This type of Oreo apparently has been available previously in Argentina and now they're going to introduce it in the States.
Wine Tours in Napa for good reds
Don't know why this didn't update when I added the above post Friday night. Maybe this will cause it to refresh.
Wine Tours in Napa for good reds
Gia: I just reread your post and realized that you had inquired about several specific wineries, including Rubicon. During our trip we also visited Rubicon. It too was excellent, but was an entirely different experience from Conn Creek. The word I'd use to describe the Rubicon experience is "elegant", from the imposing building and grounds to the formal feel of the tasting area. The reds were, of course, excellent, but generally pricier than Conn Creek. The basic tasting flight was $25.00 a person. The tasting experience concluded with Rubicon's flagship red that runs $150.00 a bottle. Ruined me for Ripple for life!!! The wines, the experience etc were wonderful. We bought a couple of bottles of their (not $150) wines, but overall Conn Creek just appealed to us more. If you do go to Rubicon, make sure you get to the small public museum at the top of the large central staircase and see the perfectly restored 1948 (?) Tucker automobile they have on display.
Wine Tours in Napa for good reds
On a recent trip to Napa, a local steered us to Conn Creek Winery, on the Silverado Trail in St. Helena, saying that they had cabernets "to die for'. We stopped there for a wine tasting and were so impressed that we signed up for their wine club, the only club we signed up for out of all the tastings we tried that week.. We've had one shipment to date, opened one of those selections and immediately ordered another case of it.
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Conn Creek Winery
8711 Silverado Trl S St, Helena, CA
Breakfast in Berlin (CT)?
We had breakfast this morning at Josie's Corner and enjoyed it very much. We had hash and eggs. The hash was good (not fully homemade, but nicely embellished in the kitchen). The homefries were flavorful and crispy/crunchy the way I like it, although next time we probably won't spend the extra money to get the sauteed onions on them. As Hotwing said, their home made bread was excellent. Next, we will try the restaurant in the former Even Steven (now I remember that name) location. Thanks to both of you for the suggestions.
Breakfast in Berlin (CT)?
We were driving on Farmington Ave. through Berlin, CT the other day and noticed a number of small diner/mom 'n pop type restaurants along the way. We're always looking to try different places that have great breakfasts. We've gone to places in other area towns (e.g. Southington, Plainville, Bristol), but have never given Berlin a try (other than the late, great Steve's many years ago). Are there any great breakfast places in Berlin these days? Thanks.
Ice cream container size question
I'm pretty sure that I'm getting ripped off by the ice cream people. I notice that the cartons say that there are 12-14 servings in the carton, but I only get 4-5!! ;>)
Hot chocolate, eggnog, hot spiced cider, wassail, ponche (fruit, chocolate or crema) - your favorite holiday drink and what makes it special?
Swedish Glogg. Made at home from port wine, brandy and rum, lightly simmered with an orange, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, almonds and raisins. Served warm by the fireplace while the snow falls outside
Need Restaurant near Essex CT with kids
The perfect place for you would appear to be Pizza Works in Old Saybrook. About a 10-minute drive from the Essex RR, Pizza Works is located in the Old Saybrook train station right off Route 1 as you come into town. Not only is it situated adjacent to the Amtrak railroad tracks, which constitute the main line between New York and Boston so is a prime location for train watching, but the restaurant also has a large HO model train layout upstairs built by local modeler/artist, Steve Cryan, as well as a large-scale model train circling the upper walls in the main dining room. The menu is almost entirely pizza. My grandkids insist on eating there everytime they come to visit us at our shore cottage in the Summer. Oh, and for Dad, it's got an extensive selection of bottled beers.
Lunch in Orange, CT
Ok, so the four of us made our shopping excursion yesterday to the New Haven/Orange area (IKEA, Talbot's Outlet, L.L.Bean outlet, Trader Joe's) and had lunch at Mark Barry's. Thanks to you guys I was given high praise for my selection of a restaurant. Service was very good, attentive without being intrusive. The food was good and just what my non-Chow companions were looking for. Two of us had the special soup of the day. Although the on-line menu claims that they serve "Charleston-style she-crab soup", it was not on the printed menu. Instead, the soup special was a crab bisque which was quite good. For entrees, one of us has a hamburger, one had the day's special Philly cheese steak wrap and two of us each had an open-faced sandwich consisting of diced chicken with cherry tomatoes, shiitaki mushrooms, and asiago cheese on garlic bread. All sandwiches came with your choice of french fries or sweet potato fries. We all enjoyed our respective meals. Three of us each enjoyed a creditable martini. I probably wouldn't make a special trip down there just for the purpose of eating at Mark Barry's, but as part a day's outing, it was pretty good.
Lunch in Orange, CT
Thanks, Kattyeyes, and Harrie. Based on a quick on-line review of them, several of your suggestions seem to be just what we're looking for. I'm going to pick several of them and let the others in our party make the final decision. It's really difficult for a 'hound (who will eat just about anything...and has) to have to pick a restaurant for a several people who, although they enjoy good food, do not really fit the description of a "Chowhound". Thanks also to the others who took the time to respond. Happy holidays to all!!
Lunch in Orange, CT
Thanks, but the reason I specified "no ethnic" is that the others in my party are really not into chinese, etc. So I was hoping someone could steer me to some non-mediocre American food in the area. Guess not, so we'll just have to settle!
Lunch in Orange, CT
Don't know anything about it. I saw it mentioned in a list of restaurants in Orange and from the name it sounded interesting. Guess not!!
Lunch in Orange, CT
Wife and I and another couple will be in Orange, CT next week at lunchtime. What's a decent lunch place in Orange (would also consider Milford)? Nothing too adventuresome or ethnic. Prefer a place with pub fare or american standard (i.e. sandwiches, burgers, salads). I've been doing some research on-line and have focussed on places like Jacob Marley's, Orange Ale House, Bear & Grill, and Restaurant Depot. Are any of these any good or what's better? Thanks
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Ale House
37 Friend St, Amesbury, MA 01913
Bear & Grill
385 Boston Post Rd, Orange, CT 06477
recommendation--new britain CT
Starpolski--polish
East Side--german
Great Taste--chinese
Capital Lunch--chili dogs
Diner in Old Lyme?
The Hideaway in Old Lyme, while not a diner per se, is fairly casual and has acceptable, but not really great, food. As its name implies, it's a little difficult to find. If you get off the first Old Lyme exit after the Baldwin Bridge over the Connecticut River (assuming you're traveling North on I-95), you take a left at the end of the ramp, go under I-95, and take a right at the next traffic light. Continue for 1/2 mile or less and there will be an L-shaped shopping center on your left. The Hideaway is tucked in the elbow of the "L".
Restaurants by Boat on the Southern CT River
I'm sure that there are many, but the only ones that readily come to mind are:
Skipper's Dock in Stonington
Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Niantic
Boom in Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook
several places up the Mystic River both before and after the drawbridge
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Skipper's Dock
66 Water St, Stonington, CT 06378
Restaurants by Boat on the Southern CT River
Now that I think of it, there are two restaurants, besides Dock and Dine, that are downriver from Essex and that have dockage facilities available. They are The Back Porch, just North of the Baldwin Bridge, and Terra Mar at the Saybrook Point Inn right next to the Dock and Dine. I haven't been to either one recently so I can't give you a useful review.
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Back Porch Restaurant
142 Ferry Rd, Old Saybrook, CT
Restaurants by Boat on the Southern CT River
If you head upriver, there is the Blue Oar in Haddam (outdoor eating, very casual, BYOB) or the Harborside (I think) in Middletown.
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Blue Oar
16 Snyder Rd, Haddam, CT 06438
Places I wish were Good...in Hartford Area-CT
Yes, they were. The location is now T. D. Homer's, a sports bar also owned by the W&T chain.
Beaufort, NC
The Inlet Inn was comfortable, clean and convenient. Very friendly staff and had rooms with balconies overlooking the waterfront. We enjoyed it. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to try other restaurants in the area. We arrived in town about 3:30 pm Monday afternoon and had to be on the road by 8:00 am Tuesday in order to get to the Cedar Island/Ocracoke ferry in time for our 9:30 am reservation. The Inn provided a continental breakfast. Loved Beaufort and wished we had planned to stay several days. Monday night was the only time we had for a meal and the Blue Moon was closed.
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Blue Moon Cafe
310 Hay St, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Beaufort, NC
We're back from our travels. Stayed at the Inlet Inn last Monday night and had dinner at the Beaufort Grocery. The four of us loved it! The ambiance, the service and the food were all top-notch. I had that evening's special.... flash-fried whole flounder. It was fresh and perfectly cooked. I ate the whooole thing. Thanks again for all your recommendations.
Beaufort, NC
NXS: You and the others who are lauding Blue Moon Bistro as "the best" are killing me! We'll only be in Beaufort for one night and it happens to be Monday night....and the Bistro is closed!! Oh, well, the Grocery sounds like a pretty good consolation prize and we plan to go there. Thanks, everyone for your help.
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Blue Moon Bistro
119 Queen St, Beaufort, NC 28516
Beaufort, NC
We'll be spending one night in June at the Inlet Inn in Beaufort, NC. An internet search shows a goodly number of restaurants in the area. Which one is your "don't-miss" favorite? Thanks.
Favorite Oysters?
I recently at at a restaurant in Williamsburg, VA and had locally harvested Hog Island oysters. They served them with three sauces. A classic ketchup/horseradish cocktail sauce, a mignonette (sp?) sauce and a light soy-based japanese style sauce they called shoyu. Delicious!!
Best Places in Connecticut to eat outdoors --> April 2010 version
The Blue Oar in Haddam, CT is a great place for outdoor eating. It's right on the Connecticut River. You go into a small shack to place your order, great sandwiches, burgers, seafood and desserts, and then sit down at the picnic table-style seating right on the bank of the river and wait for them to bring you your meal. BYOB is encouraged and people make the most of it..
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Blue Oar
16 Snyder Rd, Haddam, CT 06438
