Mitsuo's Profile
Cheap and delicious in Coudersport
Okay, you don't really have to go through Coudersport to get anywhere and it's almost fifty miles to the nearest 21st century city (i.e., one that has both Starbucks and Wal-Mart) but if you have a weekend to spare, then step back into the past and visit this little town in the valley. Main Street has one stop light, but there are four delightful places to get good food cheap and plenty. My favorite for take-out is Costa's grocery on Route 6, where Tuesday is chicken & biscuits day. A HEAPING portion of whitemeat chicken and country gravy over fluffy high-rise biscuits... don't plan to do much for the rest of the day. Costa's has daily specials of hot meals and also makes sandwiches to order.
For very pleasant casual dining, Erways on Route 6 is terrific. Erways may also come in under the sustainable foods category since they still run their own farm and have a considerable local produce/honey/syrup and chgeese shop behind the restaurant. Deep-fried cauliflower and home-made beef-noodle soup are terrific. All their soups wonderful, just like grandma used to make if your granma was a REALLY really good cook. If you go to Sunday brunch at Erways, try not to eat much on Saturday. This feast deserves your full appetite's attention: pancakes, biscuits, every kind of breakfast meat, corned beef hash, creamed chipped beef, fruits, jams, muffins galore and darned good coffee. While you're there don't forget to pick up some delicious locally-made cheeses and delicious honey from local farms. Oh, and take home a Dutch apple pie if you don't feel too heavy to carry one away!
Downtown has two restaurants a stone's throw from each other, The Maple Tree and The dining room of The Crittenden Hotel, both delightful. The Critttenden is the pnly place in town for something close to fancy dining and its decor and lighting make it a very enjoyable dining experience. Their steaks are top flight and there are many excellent dinner and lunch choices. A rather sweet French Onion soup is an interesting srtarter. Check out the dragons on the outside walls while you're there... or even buy a shirt withe dragon logo.
Maple Tree is a classic breakfast spot but also serves decent lunches and dinners. Like Erways, terrific soups, handsome portions and low prices prevail.
And at any of these places you'll be surrounded in the middle distance by the beautiful Alleghany Mountains. A nice time to visit woudl be the first weekend in May when the snow will have begun (usually) to melt and the town brings its best local flavors to the annual Maple Tree festival. I went there for three weeks on a work assignment in 2005 and stayed for nine wonderful months... wish I could find work there and move back!
Best Hotdogs in Conn.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Bart's in Windsor. I don't know what brand they use but the finished product is old-fashioned buttery grilled goodness. In happy weather you can take your shake and your dog outside and sit at picnic tables overlooking the river. All Bart's diner fare is as generous and flavorful as 1957 summer nights in a Mercury Bel-Air!
West Hartford Indian take-away and grocery find
The Russian market is called Delicacy Market and I recommend their small, tasty cherry puffs at 89 cents a good breakfast treat. Aby's South American coffee and home made bread also make for a great start to your day. She makes you a large coffee for $1.25, medium for a dollar the best coffee buy in town. In addition to great food at Cosmos, you can find a delightful variety of real incense, a whole tube of nag champa for only 99 cents, for example.
