Can you drink hot chocolate in the middle of August on a 100°F day? Of course you can, if you are a psychopath. This tells us something important: there is a time and place for hot chocolate. So now having…
The Hot Dog Days of Summer
I always thought the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ referred to the tail end (get it) of summer. It’s not that. It isn’t even the end of summer. The source of the name is…astronomical. The term ‘Dog Days’ refers not to…
Early Fall is Picnic Season, Picnic Season is for Fried Chicken & BBQ
The best fried chicken in the world is in New Orleans. At a place called Willie Mae’s Scotch House in the 9th Wars (don’t go to the outposts). There is no real competition. I used to think it was in…
On Connecticut’s Imported BBQ
CT is in the north. We don’t have a long bbq tradition (clam bakes aside, depending on how loose of a definition you want to use for a barbecue). Most of our bbq places are imported. Texas seems to be…
Don’t Confuse The Number of Sauces With the Quality of a Wings Place
I’ve heard nonstop about how good Bidwell Taverns Cafe wings are. And after trying, I couldn’t figure out why people would believe this. The wings are small, with minimal meat, and they are overcooked. I’ve tried a couple times, overcooked…
Whiskey Distilleries in Connecticut
Looking for a local Whiskey Distillery in CT? Let’s try these: AppStrawBrandies Distillery Bourbon-style whiskey made with 51% corn. Also known as Branford Distillery. Website Address: 11 Sycamore Way, Branford, CT 06405 Hours listed as Monday – Thursday 9am-6pm Friday…
Bobby Burger; Lake Zoar Drive-In
Lake Zoar Drive-In in Stevenson is “home of the Zoar burger”, as they say all over the place. But here I’m going to describe why you should completely ignore that and go for the Bobby burger instead. The reason, in…
Where Was Greek-Style Pizza Invented, Really?
Greek-style pizza is not pizza with feta and olives on it; it’s a pan-style pizza that was invented here in Connecticut… Instead of the dough being spread out on a peel (that wooden thing they put pizza in and pull…
Don’t Get the Hottest Wing Sauce
I used to be a cook. I’ve cooked at a few restaurants, and have close friends still in the restaurant world. Here’s something I’ve learned: Don’t get the hottest hot sauce. There are obviously some caveats here, but I will…
On Coffee Shops and Fast Casual Restaurants
As I’ve been trying to locate the best coffee shops in Connecticut, I’ve come across a few that roast their own beans (e.g. J. Rene), some that use the roasted beans from other coffee shops (e.g. Dom’s coffee; using beans…