Waterbury Foodies

Summer!!!!

2010-06-25T10:27:00.001-07:00

nom, nom, nom, summer, nom, nom.

Chick's Drive-In
183 Beach Street
West Haven, CT
(203) 934-4510

Plan B Burger Bar in West Hartford

2010-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

By: Scott

If you wanted to show a foreign exchange student the essence of the U.S. via food, you would bring them to Plan B Burger Bar in West Hartford for its beer, burgers, and bourbon trifecta. The Burger Bar, perhaps more aptly called a Burger Temple, is a glowing tribute to the All-American classic, and produces a variety of burgers where the emphasis is on the holistic subtlety of the meat and toppings. Not one flavor stands out in any of their custom burger compositions. Instead, all of the components complement each other to form a harmonious and understated gestalt. The focus of the burgers is the actual patty, which scores high marks all areas and are themselves magnificent testaments to the potential of ground meat. Thus, dining at Plan B is a pilgrimage for the hamburger purist.

Top: Baja Burger (all beef patty, fresh avocado, jalapenos, tomato, jack cheese, lettuce, chipotle) with truffle fries. Bottom: 3 Shroom burger (all beef patty, mushrooms, portabella spread, truffle mayo, and Swiss cheese) with mini-wedge salad

The characteristic subtlety is also true of their fries. They use a fine cut for their fries and consistently accomplish a crispy texture, never soggy. The Truffle Fries offer a hint of truffle flavor, although not as powerful as we had hoped. The Parmesan fries are a textural sensation, but without the true Parmesan flavor we craved. The Disco Fries, however, Plan B's take on Canadian poutine, is the overall winner in our book. How Plan B manages to create a delicate dish out of the traditionally messy combo of French fries, gravy, and cheese sauce is bewildering, but we sure are happy they've done it. Plan B also offers tater-tots, sweet potato fries, green bean fries (basically green beans flash fried), onion rings, and side salads. We've sampled a few items from their appetizer menu, including what amounted to blue cheese nachos, and we've never been disappointed (except by the fact that we usually can't finish our burgers!).

Cuban Burger(ground pork, bacon, spicy mustard, cheddar and pickles on a grilled bun) with disco fries

If you're a hamburger buff, you really need no other reason to go, but for all those who aren't convinced, there is also a rotating seasonal beer menu (domestic beers only), a few vegetarian options, a few diet-conscious options, large salads, a mac & cheese that is to die for, and an atmosphere that is at the same time humble and sophisticated, making Plan B good for a quick bite or a night out.

New Englander Burger (all beef patty, lobster, smoked Gouda cheese, roasted onions, corn spread) with Parmesan fries

Renee’s go-to burger is the New Englander, an all beef burger topped with lobster, smoked gouda, roasted onions and a corn spread. She says that the sweetness of the lobster offers a surprising balance to the beef patty. Scott prefers the Cuban (ground pork, bacon, spicy mustard, cheddar and pickles on a grilled bun) and the Squeeler (a half pork, half beef patty with bacon, cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, mustard, and mayo).

3 things we like:
1. The variety of options for burgers, fries, sides, and a rotating beer menu means endless possibilities and endless excuses to go back.
2. The atmosphere of the restaurant is both upscale and laid-back.
3. When Renee is babysitting in West Hartford, she can always lure Scott to come visit by offering to go to Plan B.

3 things we don't like:
1. The name sounds like an emergency contraceptive.
2. Food (including meat patty) tends to be undersalted. Fear not, Plan B chefs! Salting the burger will not destroy the taste of the meat! See this very important article for more information.
3. Scott understands the whole Americana themes but thinks it wouldn't kill them to offer a few import beers. Every once and a while, burgers call for a Guinness.

Will we go back?
Well, we pretty much go all the time. :)

Plan B Burger Bar
138 Park Road
West Hartford, CT
(860) 231-1199
http://www.planbburger.com/flash.html Check out their menu and awards! Yum!

NYC Food Porn

2010-02-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

Though Connecticut does have a lot to offer, as dedicated foodies, we take frequent trips to New York City. I finally uploaded the random photos from my iPhone and camera from the past few months, so here are some pictures of food we've enjoyed while in the city. I'm not going to review any of the restaurants here, since this is a blog about Waterbury, but suffice it to say that all are recommended! Enjoy!

Shabu Tatsu, East Village
http://shabutatsueastvillage.com/

Garnishes for Shabu Shabu at Shabu Tatsu

Seafood Hot Pot from Shabu Tatsu

A round of beer at McSorley's Ale House, East Village
http://www.mcsorleysnewyork.com/

Fry flipping at Pommes Frites, East Village
http://www.pommesfrites.ws/

The Woodie Allen Sandwich, Carnegie Deli

Blueberry Blintzes, Carnegie Deli
http://www.carnegiedeli.com/home.php

Cretan Graviera, Feta & Tomato Saganaki, Uncle Nick's Greek Cuisine, Hell's Kitchen
http://unclenicksgreekrestaurant.com/

I think this was an appetizer special at Uncle Nick's. It was delicious.

Daisy Mae's BBQ, Midtown West
http://www.daisymaysbbq.com/

Daisy Mae's

Rueben from unknown deli near Times Square (Can't remember!)

Patsy's Pizza, Harlem
http://www.patsyspizzeriany.com/

Some sort of late night indulgence, Big Nick's, Upper West Side
http://bignicksnyc.com/

Salumeria Rosi, Upper West Side
http://www.salumeriarosi.com/

Cured meat plate from Salumeria Rosi

Cheese plate from Salumeria Rosi

Octopus Salad and Shrimp Cocktail, Umberto's Clam House, Bronx
http://www.umbertosclamhousebronx.com/

Yonah Schimmels Knishery, Lower East Side
http://www.knishery.com/

Cheese Knish from Yonah Schimmels

Smoked fish at Russ & Daughters, Lower East Side
http://www.russanddaughters.com/

Smoked fish bagel from Russ & Daughters...so worth the $

We're in NYC all the time, so we'd love to hear your recommendations!

"Please, May I Have a Bite?"

2010-02-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

A Plea

2009-10-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Waterbury,

Please open up a restaurant that has a decent raw bar. Scott and I have recently become really addicted, and we are tired of traveling to West Hartford (Max's Oyster House) and NYC. Also, we tried to open our own clams from Big Y ourselves and I almost cut my hand off.

Thanks,
Renee & Scott

Umberto's Clam House, Arthur Ave, Bronx

Rant of Devastation/Frustration

2009-03-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for ranting, but I need to get it off my chest...

Here at Waterbury Foodies, we like to paint a picture of a socially and culturally diverse Waterbury. But every once in a while, things happen that make us curse the very city of our birth, and last night was no exception. Scott was dying for Los Arcos tacos, so we stopped by to see our good friend Paula. We hadn't been in a while, both because we are on diets and because I was in Ecuador. The outside looked a little different, and when we went inside, we realized that Los Arcos was no more, the family was forced to sell the business. No more tacos, no more chats with Paula and the kids, no more mole. The new owners were selling only some groceries, no fresh food. I was so upset that I almost cried. Although I no longer had an appetite, Scott suggested that we go to the Peruvian Corner to cheer me up. Approaching the Peruvian Corner, I noticed unfamiliar colors...A PUERTO RICAN BAKERY?!?! This one was a real shocker. I knew Los Arcos was struggling, but the Peruvian Corner was hands down one of the best restaurants in Waterbury. I WAS DEVASTATED. I know I should be at least thankful that they have been replaced by other cultural food places, but it kills me to see them go. You can argue that the economy is to blame, and it is, in part. But what I will never understand about Waterbury is why places like that fail so miserably, meanwhile there are lines outside of Chili's and The Olive Garden. It actually disgusts me. Do people not appreciate real food and diversity? How could the Olive Garden even EXIST in a city with the largest Italian American population in the state and more Italian restaurants than you can shake a fist at? I cannot for the life of me understand the mentality. Are people afraid to try something new? What is wrong with this city that it falls into the trap of commercialization, chain restaurants, and a billion cell phone stores, all the while letting local businesses suffer? It really makes me ill. And do you know what makes me even more ill? Last night we ended up eating at Brass City Bistro, which is celebrating its one year anniversary. We ordered 1 drink each and two appetizers, and it cost us $50, which is about 6 times what we would have spent at Los Arcos for a much better and more filling dinner. Additionally, Brass City Bistro is not even a bistro, it's horrendously overpriced. The food was decent, but their menu was EXACTLY THE SAME as every other Vasi's/Mario's/Bacco's/Diorio's/Nino's/San Marino's/Gagliardi's/Aldo's of Italy/City Hall Cafe/Ragozzino's/D'Amelio's/Paisano's/La Tavola/Grotto's/Bertucci's/Pizza Castle/Carmen Anthony's. BRANCH OUT, PEOPLE. With minor exceptions and slight variation, these places all have THE SAME MENU. Is no one else's palate sick of it?

Okay, phew, I'm glad I got that out. And BCB, sorry for hating on your restaurant, your food was actually pretty tasty (or what I could afford of it anyway) and your waitstaff was gracious and helpful. You just caught me at the worst possible moment, at the height of my frustration with the Waterbury food scene and commerce culture. Tonight I will dust myself off and try to get excited about Waterbury food again...

Foods of Ecuador!

2009-03-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ensalada de camarones

Waterbury and its 'burbs are experiencing a recent increase in Ecuadorian immigration, so I thought I would post a few pics from my recent trip to Ecuador, where I did some work in Emergency Medicine. I didn't get to eat out nearly as much as I hoped to, but here are some highlights. I hope to find an Ecuadorian restaurant in CT soon!

Encocado de mariscos

Ceviche mixto con patacones

Ceviche de corvina con patacones

Limones

Desayuno criollo (con pescado, huevos, y bolon)

Gaseosa de inca, fresa, y manzana

Humitas

Empanadas

Bollo

Tigrillo

Bolon de verde

Paradilla mixta (Yes, I ate intestines and kidney!)

Mixed Ecuadorian fruits

Inside a granadilla

Ecuadorian fruits

Cazuela de mariscos

Arroz con camarones y maduros

Cangrejo ajillo

If you can't find Ecuadorian food near you, you can always make your own! I suggest you visit one of my very favorite food blogs, which has loads of great Ecuadorian recipes and mouth-watering photos: http://laylita.com/recipes/

CT Magazine's Best Restaurants Issue

2009-03-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, this year's Connecticut Magazine's "Best Restaurants" issue is on bookshelves. No real surprises this year, I think. Overall excellence winner went to Napa & Co. in Stamford, reflecting the new foodie trend towards local, organic foods, and Runner-up was Union League Cafe in New Haven, an old classic. The Waterbury area was a little less represented than I would like it to be, but isn't that always the case? Our notable winners included:

Statewide Best New Restaurant Winner: La Tavola in Waterbury (Congrats!!!)
Statewide Winner Best Steak Restaurant: Carmen Anthony Steakhouse in Waterbury(no surprise here)

The New Haven County Dining Guide section did feature a few of our other favorites, including New Haven restaurants like Bentara, Bespoke, Caseus, L'Orcio, Miya's Sushi (this year's Valentine's dinner), Pacifico (last year's Valentine's dinner), and Thali. The only other Waterbury restaurant noted was Diorio's (our very first Valentine's dinner, cute, I know). So we are a little disappointed. While we agree that the Waterbury food scene could be better, we think there are restaurants that deserved to make the cut much more than Señor Pancho's of Cheshire, which won some award.

So here is the Renee and Scott list of "Waterbury Restaurants that we think Connecticut Magazine should pay more attention to next year":

Drescher's Restaurant (German)
Peruvian Corner Restaurant (Peruvian)
Kumo Japanese Cuisine (Japanese/French)
Lisboa Restaurant (Portuguese)
Frankie's/Big Franks (Hot dogs and BBQ)
Vasi's (Greek/Italian)
Avventura's (Italian Deli and the first place I take my non-Waterbury friends when they visit)
Nardelli's (Grinders)
Anatolia's (Turkish)
Sweet Maria's (Bakery, I know it's not a restaurant, but sometimes dessert can be dinner)

By the way, we just wanted to mention that recently Waterbury has begun to show yet another side of its cultural diversity with the opening of Fattoush Restaurant and Market (an Arabic/Lebanese Restaurant and Market) and Quick Falafel. Scott and I can't wait to get out and try both, and you should too!

East Side Restaurant in New Britain

2009-01-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

"Noisy" dining area. Hanging from the ceiling are the mugs that belong to members of the "Mug Club."

New Britain reminds me of Waterbury in a lot of ways. It, like Waterbury, "the Brass City," is an ex-manufacturing/industrial town, affectionately known as "Hardware City." Both cities have fallen into a bit of urban decay in recent years, with new nicknames reflecting the decline, such as "The Dirty Waters" and "Hard Hittin' New Britain." But I think the most interesting thing that both cities share is tremendous cultural diversity. I'll get into the diversity of Waterbury in another post, but one only needs to stroll down Broad Street in New Britain to appreciate its various cultural and ethnic influences. New Britain is home to the largest Polish community in the state on Connecticut. In fact, New Britain Hospital is the only place in the world I've seen signs in English, Spanish, and Polish. In recent decades, there has also been an explosion of Puerto Ricans moving into New Britain, making New Britain the city with the 7th fastest growing Puerto Rican population in the United States, and inciting a change from the old nickname, "New Britski" (reflecting the large Polish population) to "Nuevo Britain" (reflecting the large Spanish speaking population). New Britain is also home to a wealth of other ancestries, among them Italian, Irish, French, and German.

Beer sampler platter

Anyplace where you find that many cultures melting together you are sure to find some good eats. Now I have to admit that I have not visited many of New Britain's restaurants, but when I saw the sign for East Side's German restaurant on I-84, I knew I had to go. Scott loves German food and beer, and has been dying to go to Oktoberfest for years. Now New Britain is no Munich, but East Side restaurant was certainly a memorable experience nonetheless...

Appetizers: Stuffed mushrooms and bratwurst

Atmosphere:
The idea behind East Side Restaurant is to recreate the camaraderie (and debauchery) of Oktoberfest, complete with lederhosen, accordions, and "Ticky Tocky" chants. This is not your typical restaurant. A visit to the East Side's website is a good way to get an idea of what you're in for. The dancing and singing German men on the screen will actually be at the restaurant, may try to get you to wear a ridiculous hat, and will undoubtedly make the entire restaurant chant "Ticky-Tocky, Ticky-Tocky, Oy! Oy! Oy!" if you order a large beer or a das boot. Some might find the atmosphere a little cheesy, but we actually had a good time. It isn't a place you go for a romantic date, certainly, but I think that it is absolutely perfect for a large group of friends that are looking to just let go and have a good time.

Our beers, bread, and salad

Service:
Not going to lie, the service was not spectacular. Most of the waitresses are actually German (we heard them speaking German) and are probably not too happy about having to wear traditional dirndls. But it's hard to even notice the service with all of the excitement going on. The food came out in a timely fashion, and they were very nice when I had to send my filet mignon back because it was literally still mooing. Incidentally, this was the first time I ever had to send meat back for being too rare, so caution if you plan on ordering red meat here, they err on the side of rare. And I'm a poet and I didn't know-it.

German onion soup, slaw, and cottage cheese spread

Food:
So given the dinner-theater feel of this place, we had pretty low expectations for the food. Boy, were we wrong. The food was amazing. We started off with 2 of the beer samplers so we could decide what kind of beer we would have. The waitresses brought out a cottage cheese spread and slaw that are served with crackers. After deciding on the (giant) Spaten Oktoberfest and Franziskaner Hefe-Weiss, we thought we would try some appetizers. The stuffed mushrooms were different than any stuffed mushrooms I've had. They were barely cooked, so retained some crunch, and had a crunchy crabmeat filling with a white wine butter sauce that I soaked up with bread. The burgermeister plate was a simple but delicous bratwurst over sauerkraut, which Scott devoured. We didn't realize that at East Side, entrees come with soup AND salad, so next up came a German onion soup, which reminded me a bit of French onion soup minus the bread and cheese, and a fresh salad. They also served a house made bread which I believe had some fennel seeds baked into the dough. Yum. The entrees are served with family-style corn and some sort of turnip/carrot mash. I didn't actually eat much of my filet mignon until the next day (because I was so stuffed), but it was pretty good. Scott's prime rib, however, was definitely the best prime rib I have ever tasted in my life. It was perfectly soft and flavorful, and will be my first choice when we go back. Overall, we ate more food than I care to admit. East Side is big on both portions and flavor, and provided us with one of the best and most filling dinners we've had in a long time. I cannot speak for the authenticity of the menu items, as I am not very familiar with German food, but many dishes sounded unique and interesting, and we are excited to back and try more!

Scott's Prime Rib

Overall: An awesome restaurant if you love good food, good beer, and German culture, and especially good for large and rowdy groups. It is a tad on the expensive side, but the quality of food makes it worth every penny.

Renee's 3 Favorite Things:
1. Scott's prime rib :)
2. Beer selection was impressive
3. The value. You get tons of food, all great quality, for your money. It's a little expensive, but worth it. There is also good attention to detail for such a busy restaurant.

Scott's 3 Favorite Things:
1. Beer quality/selection
2. Size of the beer
3. The amount of food you get!

Will we go back?
New Britain is a little out of the way, and East Side is a bit pricey, but we look forward to going back relatively soon with a large group of people.

East Side Restaurant
131 Dwight St
New Britain, CT 06051
(860) 223-1188
http://www.eastsiderestaurant.com/

Caseus in New Haven

2009-01-10T23:18:00.001-08:00

While we really try to focus on Waterbury and the surrounding towns in this blog, every once in a while something must be said about our travels outside Waterbury, and this was definitely one of them.

CASEUS, from the Latin word for 'cheese', IS A CHEESE RESTAURANT. EVERYTHING ON THEIR MENU IS BASED AROUND ARTISAN CHEESES.

I'm not sure what else I can say to make you go, except that Scott and I LOVED it. Here's a link to their delicious menu. We went during restaurant week, so we had a slightly different menu, but we got to sample their poutine, which for the non-French among us is essentially French fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy. It's very popular in Canada. Delicious! My appetizer was some sort of breaded goat cheese salad, which was to die for, but doesn't seem to be on their dinner menu. For the meal, Scott went with the Mac&Cheese, and I can't say I blame him. I was digging in his plate in between bites of my own. It's really the way macaroni and cheese should taste. I had the Moules Frites, which were mussels in a white wine and garlic sauce served with fries for sopping up the juices. Not cheesy, but perfect. For dessert, we had chocolate pots de creme, which we really couldn't eat because we were so full. Add to that wonderful wine and an amazing atmosphere, and Caseus has become one of our new favorite New Haven dinner destinations. We can't wait to go back and try the "cheese board."

93 WHITNEY AVENUE
NEW HAVEN, CT 06510
Reservations: (203) 624-3373
(Note that the number spells out 203-6CH-EESE. Awesome.)
http://www.caseusnewhaven.com/

Tequila's Mexican Restaurant

2009-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

So I really don't like to give bad/mixed restaurant reviews. But I also try to offer a comprehensive review of Waterbury food culture so here it goes. I'll be brief:

1. Scott got the most horrific food poisoning of his life at Tequila's. My friend Brandon also got food poisoning there about 3 years ago, so I can't get either of them to go back with me. I have never been sick from their food, however.

2. This is probably my first choice for "Best Margarita Selection in Waterbury." My faves are the jalapeno, jamaica (hibiscus flower), and avocado, but they have a ton of other flavors to choose from. Plus they are not stingy with the tequila, but it does not overpower the flavor.

Did you know that "margarita" is Spanish for "daisy?"

3. This is not Mexican food. I practically had to beg to get a corn tortilla (instead of flour) for my tacos. And even if you understand and accept it for the Tex-Mex Americanized creation that it is, it still is not very good. Although take this opinion with a grain of salt, for as I have mentioned, I am a huge Mexican food snob.

See? A mixed review. Here is what I think Tequila's is GREAT for: Getting together a few girlfriends, ordering a bunch of margaritas, and maybe getting some nachos, sans meat (you can't screw up nachos). After you've had about 4 margaritas, throw some coins in the jukebox, key up a little Luis Miguel, and pretend you are celebrating your friendship in a Mexican beach oasis. Just don't order any pork.

P.S. I should also mention that Tequila's has a sister restaurant (also named Tequila's) in Oakville. This place is hoppin' on Thursday nights for kareoke night. They have the same great margarita selection and a pretty good crowd as well.

P.P.S. I'm fairly certain I remember a late Tequila's night that involved shots of mezcal, which is a distilled spirit from the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico. It tastes God-awful (sort of like smoked tequila), but I think that Tequila's is one of the only places in Waterbury where you can find it. Try it!

Tequila's Restaurant
733 Lakewood Rd
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 755-4806
or...
471 Main Street
Oakville, CT 06795
(203) 274-9408
http://www.tequilasrestaurant.com/twolocations.htm

P.P.P.S. If you are still searching for real Mexican food in Waterbury, all is not completely lost. There's always Los Arcos, although it isn't really a "restaurant" per se. What I've been doing lately is making my own Mexican food by hitting up Compare Foods on Thomaston Ave, which is not only a Mecca of ingredients for all sorts of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, and other South/Central American and Caribbean dishes, but also one of the most inexpensive and largest grocery stores in Waterbury. It's my new favorite, actually. I spend about 1/2 of what I would spend at Stop and Shop and find all sorts of neat-o ingredients.

Btw, the above photo was NOT taken at Tequila's, but is like the margaritas you will find there.

La Tavola in Waterbury, CT

2009-01-01T18:51:00.001-08:00

Special Note: This is Scott's first blog post! He said he needs to pick up my slack :) -Renee

Recently, we made our second excursion to La Tavola Ristorante, located in Town plot, Waterbury's Italian enclave. La Tavola's menu is best characterized as a chic take on upscale Italian fair. The stars of the menu are the fine appetizers, which were both creative and elegant. We had the cured Italian meats, which were delectable and perfectly complimented by Mostardo fruits, and the antipasto, which was impressive in its own right, featuring tomato, pea, and prosciutto risotto balls, asparagus, soft onion, and prosciutto frittata, buffalo mozzarella and fire roasted sweet peppers, and Roman marinated artichokes. In fact, we were tempted to skip the entrees entirely and stick to apps, they were that good. As for the entrees, they were less imaginative than the appetizers but were well executed. The NY strip was flavorful and cooked exactly as ordered and was accompanied by smooth and creamy mashed potatoes and garlic spinach. The vodka sauce that came with the penne alla vodka was not the best we've had, but the dish was satisfying. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the shrimp was cooked just right as well. It was supposed to contain prosciutto, but it's presence in the dish was scarce.

To be frank, the service the first time we ate at La Tavola was horrendous. We waited at the door for the host for several minutes, all the while making eye contact with several servers that continually ignored us. Eventually one member of our party ventured into the restaurant in search of the host, upon which we found him to be unwelcoming and very short with us when we asked about table availability. He told us we could wait at the bar while he checked on what was available, but after an hour of waiting for an answer from the host, we decided to order appetizers at the bar. The bartender was rude and condescending, and seemed almost annoyed that he actually had to serve drinks and take orders, and took it out on the customers. The service was much more amenable the second time around. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly, yet lacked the annoying insincere pep that is ubiquitous at chain restaurants and the up tight precociousness of the upscale ones.

In all, La Tavola offers a refreshingly modern and stylish interpretation of traditional Italian cuisine that stands out from rest of the Waterbury's saturated backdrop of Italian eateries. This comes through more successfully in the food than in the decor, which is more of a clash these two vibes than a fusion. The jury's still out on the service, but you will get a interesting and delicious meal at a reasonable price, that may leave you dozing off into satiated sleep on your couch when paired with a bottle of wine.
-Scott

4 things Scott liked:
1. Creativity of the appetizers
2. Vibe
3. Good steak
4. Wine (Napa Ridge Cabernet) was excellent

3 things Renee liked:
1. The Mostardo fruits of the cured meat platter was the most successful fruit compote/cured meat combo I have ever tried, and Scott and I are practically experts in cured meats.
2. Our waitress (Jacqueline?) was fabulous. We really thought the service was stinky the first time we went, and we heard lots of "bad service" reviews from friends and neighbors, but she really made us feel welcome and also did not make us feel bad for being totally disgusting gluttonous pigs. She renewed our faith in a restaurant that we previously intended to boycott for stinky stuck up service.
3. I like being presented with olives, bread, and garlicky bean paste as soon as I sit down. It makes me happy.

3 things we didn't like:
1. (Renee): The walls in the bar section are absolutely atrocious. I think they were going for an old Italian "stucco" like look, but it clashed so horribly with the sleek, modern reds of the quasi Asian-fusion design of the rest of the bar room. Also where the wall met with the black ceiling, yuck. Scott thinks I am overreacting, and I definitely am, but I just really don't understand the look the restaurant is going for.
2. (Scott): The Jekyll and Hyde Service switch. We heard lots of really bad things (and experienced some) regarding the service, and this past time was phenomenal. Hopefully it stays that way.
3. (Renee & Scott): They still have a Fall menu, even in the middle of winter. They let us know that some of the things (like pumpkiny desserts) were no longer available, but you would think that in their first winter season they would follow through and update to a winter menu.

Will we go back?
Yes, for several reasons, but largely because the food is the closest thing we can get to gourmet around here (literally, we could walk there in 5 minutes). But next time, I think we will probably order a bottle of the house red Cabernet and a bunch of appetizers, they were really the star of the show. They are a much better value (both in price and taste) than the entrees.

La Tavola Ristorante
702 Highland Ave
Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 755-2211 (call for reservations)
http://latavolaristorante.com/index.html

Last Minute Waterbury Foodie Gift!

2008-12-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

What should be on every Waterbury Foodie's Christmas wish list? How about a heaping helping of delicious lasagna recipes from one of Waterbury's most famous foodies? The New Lasagna Cookbook is a delicious collection of recipes for everyone's favorite comfort food, ranging from classic Italian recipes (like Lasagna Bolognese and Lasagna alla Norma) to modern lasagnas (like Beet Lasagna with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce and Arugula and Prosciutto Lasagna) to somewhat strange lasagnas (like Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Lasagna). PLUS it is written by our very own Maria Bruscino Sanchez of the landmark Sweet Maria's Bakery. I am so excited, I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

Anyway, if you are looking for a gift for your favorite foodie or if you're looking for a great recipe for your holiday get-togethers, pick up a copy of the New Lasagna Cookbook. Help support local foodie culture!!! We have some great cooks in Waterbury!

Happy Holidays! I promise to write more after the New Year!

Best Wedding Food EVER

2008-11-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

Basically I don't have to much to say besides the fact that all true foodies should look into Glen Island Harbor Club in New Rochelle, NY for their wedding day. These pics represent about 1/10 of the "cocktail hour," which was then followed by an extravagant 5 course meal. I don't know how much it costs, and I definitely don't want to know, suffice it to say it was one of the most delicious days of my life. More to come (about Waterbury) soon, I promise!

Overheard in Panera

2008-09-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

I've had a hectic few weeks trying to make up all of the work I missed while in Ireland. But luckily I am entirely caught up, so now I have more time for Waterbury restaurants again!

Today I had an hour to kill, so I went to Panera to grab some food and use the internet. Unfortunately it was not working, so I mainly listened to other people's conversations while munching on my creamy tomato soup and tomato, basil, and cheese panini combo (yum). Here were some of the highlights...

"So I says to her, 'Get a job?! But you're married! How can you have a job when you're a wife?!'?"
"Well, what are you gonna do? It's what all the girls are doing these days."
-2 women well into their golden years

(flirty) "No, I swear, my wife is gonna be out of time next week... She's not gonna find out, you're panicking... Come on, just come have lunch with me and we'll talk about it, I miss you."
-man on phone

"Well I'll tell you what...he's got a grill on his balcony and that's totally illegal in an apartment building like that. I'm gonna call the cops. That'll show him to mess with me!"
-an eccentric middle aged woman

And my all-time favorite:

"Nice sandwich..."
-Perhaps the single worst pick-up line I've ever heard in my life, by a 20 something male to a young woman who way out of his league. I practically choked on my food, but she clearly did not think it was as funny as I did.

Foods of Ireland

2008-09-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Scott and I got back from our 11 day journey through Ireland, which was absolutely amazing. We were really surprised about Irish food. I had always heard it was boring, but we had some of the best meals of our lives there. I even bought 2 Irish cookbooks, so perhaps some recipes will come soon. Here are a few food photos from our trip! (Sorry for the bad quality, we didn't have lighting or tripods.)

I wish there was an Irish restaurant in Waterbury!!!!

Potatoes! (of course)

A fabulous quiche

Guinness

A traditional Irish breakfast with both black (aka blood pudding) AND white pudding.

The world's nosiest cattle

Onions

Jameson whiskey

Irish coffee, delicious!

"Garlic Cheese Chips," probably not the best decision but we had a few pints

Irish Potatoes

Breakfast spread

Soda Bread

Traditional Irish Breakfast

Bangers and Mash

Kilkenny Ale, a new favorite

Steak

Scott and his shrimp cocktail chips

Pint of Guinness at the Guinness Factory

Barley, a key ingredient in Guinness

Dublin meat market

Market in Dublin

"Happy Snacks" after a night of heavy Guinnessing

Fish and Chips

Famous Fish and Chips

Afternoon tea

Dublin Coddle

Bangers and Mash...SO good

Smoked salmon and brown bread

Fried Brie with a fruit chutney was a popular appetizer in Ireland

Guinness

Creamy Guinness head

By the way, the two cookbooks I picked up are called Irish Cooking by Biddy White Lennon and Georgina Campbell and Irish Food and Folklore by Clare Connery, and they both look like pretty good representations of the foods we saw on our trip. Anyway, we're back, and will dive back into the Waterbury food scene soon!

FYI: Waterbury's Brass City Brew Fest is coming up! Click here for more info.

San Marino's House Sauce

2008-08-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

My lasagna was merely a vehicle for San Marino's sauce

I won't even claim to have tried all of the Italian restaurants in Waterbury. I feel like that would require its own blog. But I have been to many, and I have to say that my overall favorite is San Marino's on Thomaston Ave. There are many reasons I love San Marino's, including price, authenticity of the food, and the interesting menu options (I love their rabbit special). But the reason that I always bring my mother to San Marino's is that we both share a love (obsession?) for their house sauce. I mean, this stuff is perfect. So while trying to plan a "welcome home" meal for my parents, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that San Marino's sells it's sauce by the container!

San Marino's sauce

The $6 price tag for a container of their house sauce is actually not bad considering that you can pay $5 for a smaller jar of lower quality sauce at the grocery store. Plus it's super thick, so you can always thin it out, which is what I did for the lasagna. Their ingredient list is long and includes whole tomatoes, tomato puree, onions, olive oil, basil, parsley, celery, carrots, sausage, bacon, butter, garlic, salt, bay leaf, sherry wine, white wine, sugar, and black pepper. They all come together like magic. My mother can't wait until her next dinner party, she says she's going to buy a few containers and tell everyone she made it from scratch.

George also loves San Marino's sauce. And lasagna.

So one day I will actually write a review on San Marino's restaurant, but I just wanted to briefly share how excited I am that I can buy their sauce! Go out and pick some up, I promise you'll be glad you did. :)

San Marino's Restaurant
111-23 Thomaston Ave
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 755-1148
www.sanmarinos.com

Tomato Season

2008-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Stop & Shop Heirloom Tomato Tart

I am posting this because it came to my attention today that my MOTHER still thinks that we're not supposed to eat tomatoes because of the whole salmonella outbreak. Well, Mom, and others, the salmonella probably wasn't from tomatoes to begin with, and if you miss tomato season because you're afraid, well quite frankly, you're a baby.

I found these heirlooms at Super Stop & Shop on Wolcott St. (I know, right?), so there are plenty to be had, but your best bet is to hit up a local farmer's market. Enjoy!

Destined to become Renee & Scott's dinner...

Sesame-Chile Chicken with Gingered Watermelon Salsa

2008-08-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've decided since 1. Gas prices are killing me and preventing me from eating out, 2. Scott and I are saving up for our Ireland trip, and 3. I need to work on my food photography skills, I would once in a while post recipes that we've tried and thought were really tasty. Sure, it doesn't really have to do with Waterbury, except maybe that I bought all of the ingredients in Waterbury. But it's my blog and I can do what I want! :P

This recipe I first tried at one of my professor's houses, and found that she actually got the recipe from Cooking Light, one of my favorite food magazines. It is an absolutely spectacular summer dish that I like to serve with rice and sometimes with a little side salad. I love the watermelon salsa so much that I usually double the recipe so I have extra for pita chips. Yum yum yum.

Sesame-Chile Chicken with Gingered Watermelon Salsa
adapted from Cooking Light

Chicken:
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 to 2 tablespoons chili sauce with garlic
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Salsa:
2 cups diced seeded watermelon
1/4 cup diced yellow bell pepper
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

Remaining ingredients:
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
Cilantro sprigs (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)

Preparation:

To prepare chicken, combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning bag occasionally.

Prepare grill.

To prepare salsa, combine watermelon and next 8 ingredients (through jalapeño); cover and chill until ready to serve.

Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place chicken on a grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from grill; let stand 5 minutes. Cut chicken diagonally across grain into thin slices; serve with salsa. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Yield:

4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and about 1/2 cup salsa)

Mario's Pizza

2008-08-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

My parents had a brief "fling" with Mario's pizza a few years back. I think there was something about a "giant party-sized pizza" and a "white chicken pizza" that they really liked. What do I remember about Mario's pizza? THICK CRUST! Bleh. I'm a thin-crust girl, through and through. Needless to say, the affair was short-lived, and my parents soon went back to Vinnie's of Middlebury for their weekly pizza night. If pizza night ain't broke, don't try and fix it, I always say.

Brandon resting after a very filling meal

So I was a little surprised when my friend Brandon invited me to Mario's to celebrate my return to Connecticut. "But I don't remember liking their pizza," I told him, and he said, "They have tons of other stuff besides pizza. Plus, I'll pay." Deal.

Mario's dining area

ATMOSPHERE AND SERVICE

Considering that I had never realized that Mario's had an actual restaurant component, I was very impressed with their facilities. There are two sides, a deli side and a restaurant side. We went restaurant side because I was immediately drawn to a sign for a gorgonzola/roasted red pepper/polenta appetizer. Yum. I guess I'll have to leave the deli review for another day.

The dining area, pictured above, is rustic Italian style, and a cool feature that is not in the picture is that you can actually sit at the bar and watch the cooks making pizza. I would imagine children would love that. We arrived at the end of lunch hour, and Mario's appears to be quite the popular lunchtime destination. And of course it is! The food is incredible and unbelievably well-priced! Oops...I'm jumping ahead of myself.

My delicious entree, which I couldn't eat because I filled up on the appetizer. :(

FOOD

I was so thankful that Brandon made me retry Mario's. I found the food to be exceptional but also simple and homey. It actually reminded me a lot of my Italian grandmother's cooking. Brandon was excited to introduce me to the appetizer mussels in fra diavolo sauce, since mussels is the appetizer we always order, and is the basis upon which we generally judge a restaurant. Until now, the reigning champ had been Vasi's mussels right next door (Vasi's also wins for fried calamari, martinis, and several other things, I'll post on it soon...). But I have to admit, Mario's mussels have taken the crown. They were perfectly cooked in a delicately spicy tomato broth, and came with plenty of fresh bread to soak up the juices. Which I did, possibly too much, since I could barely finish the rest of my meal. Just writing about those mussels makes me want to go back tonight.

Anyway, looking over the rest of the menu I was impressed by the sheer number of items they offered, and also the price. This might be the best value for down-home Italian food in the area. I ordered an entree, whose name I have since forgotten, that came with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and calamari in a fra diavolo sauce over linguini for under $13!! How do they even do that? And Brandon's clams and linguini was even less expensive. Bravo, Mario's, really.

Brandon's clams and linguini in white sauce

My 3 FAVORITE THINGS:
1. The fra diavolo sauce
2. The price!
3. The ambiance, at once completely casual and elegant

WILL I GO BACK?
Yes, hopefully soon. I've been raving about it to Scott since I went, and he is dying to try!

Mario's Pizza and Deli
1650 Watertown Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 575-0485

Panera!

2008-08-12T10:56:00.001-07:00

Well, first off, let me say that I don't think Panera needs an actual review because it's PANERA and chains just don't need reviews.

Second off, I almost got the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, because I thought, "That would photograph better for the blog..." But after almost a year with no Panera, I had to go with the Turkey Artichoke, which comes with smoked turkey, spinach artichoke spread, Asiago-Parmesan cheese, tomatoes and caramelized onions on fresh baked focaccia. Now THAT is a panini.

Third off, I just want to say that of all of the "new" food openings that I came home to this past year, I may have been most excited about Panera. Sure, it's a chain. I acknowledge it and I recognize that it goes against my character to support them. But when I walk in and see smart-looking Waterburians using their (free!) Wi-Fi, sipping on some fresh squeezed lemonade and munching on their soup/half sandwich combo, I almost feel transported back to the academic ambiance of Boston. Sitting outside on their patio, you almost forget you are on Wolcott Street, one of the noisiest and busiest roads in Waterbury, and among the scariest places to be behind the wheel. It becomes irrelevant that within walking distance there is a Wal-mart, TWO over-sized (and over-visited) "Chinese" buffets, and possibly the world's busiest Wendy's. This little yuppie oasis in Waterbury is the perfect place to get away for a few minutes and enjoy a delicious meal or pick up some freshly baked artisan bread. As long as in the process you don't forget about Waterbury's locally owned delis and sandwich shops, which I promise I will address soon.

Happy Eating!

Panera Bread
920 Wolcott Street
Waterbury, CT 06705
(203) 753-8344
http://www.panerabread.com/

I'm Back! And...All You Can Eat Sushi!

2008-08-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm back!! After two months away from good 'ole Waterbury, I've returned. Puerto Rico was an interesting experience, I feel that I learned a lot about Puerto Rican history and culture, which was my goal in the first place. I was a little underwhelmed by Puerto Rican food, however. The cuisine itself is good, but very rich, and heavy on the deep-fry, starch, and meat. I think I will be able to go quite a while without seeing another plantain. And I didn't find too many restaurants in San Juan that really impressed me. Puerto Rican cuisine might be best when it's home-cooked.

Needless to say, I was very excited to get home. I told Scott that the first thing I wanted when I got back was Kumo's sushi. Kumo is a phenomenal gem of Waterbury cuisine, and far and away some of the best sushi I've ever had (including weekly sushi trips to Boston's Chinatown and Cambridge's Porter Exchange during college). Scott said, "Well, we can go to Kumo, but I may have found some place better..."

Friends, may I present you to Sushi Palace in Hamden, CT. Yes, it's true that Sushi Palace loses a few points for not being IN Waterbury, but this is certainly worth any Waterburian's 1/2 hour drive. From the outside it is entirely unassuming. We actually drove right past it the first time, expecting a much more fancy exterior for a restaurant owned by one of Chef Morimoto's protégés. I was only mildly excited, as I was expecting the equivalent of a Chinese buffet's "all you can eat sushi," which I generally skip altogether because of it's low quality and hideous texture. Although I also generally skip Chinese buffets, but that's a story for another blog. Anyway, at Sushi Palace, I was greeted by a sign that said "Order all you want, but eat all you order." Turns out, Sushi Palace is NOT a buffet, but an actual restaurant with a menu from which you place your order. Except you can order as much food as you want, assuming you can eat it all. Genius!! Why aren't their more restaurants like this?!

ATMOSPHERE and SERVICE
Sushi Palace offers a casual dining experience. The interior is not overly sophisticated or chic, which provides the perfect environment for stuffing one's face. There is a sushi bar and several tables, but the restaurant was not huge, which I assume may lead to wait times on busier days. We went on a Sunday afternoon, and it was not crowded at all. The decor is in the style of "traditional Japanese sushi restaurant," with nothing too exciting to report. Upon seating, we were provided with two different checklists for ordering. The first was a menu from the sushi bar, and the second was a menu from the kitchen, which included appetizers, tempura, teriyaki, and desserts. Our waitress was gracious and speedy. I recommend tipping the waitstaff based on restaurant (not buffet) tipping standards, since this is not a traditional buffet. The price for one person is $16-18, depending on the day of the week. Which is about half what Scott and I usually pay for our sushi gluttony.

FOOD
I cannot believe that an "all you can eat sushi" place that offers amazing sushi actually exists in this world, especially in my area of Connecticut. But let me tell you, this sushi is worth the trip. For under twenty dollars, you get a large selection of not only sushi, but also traditional Japanese appetizers, soups, and even teriyaki for the raw-fish squeamish. Scott and I swore we would skip the appetizers and make the most out of our money by only ordering the sushi, but we have no willpower. We sampled Sushi Palace's Seaweed Salad, Gyoza, Shumai, and Agedashi Tofu, which were delicious but pretty standard. Sushi Palace is a great place to sample appetizers and soups you've never tried before, as they are representative of what you will find on most Japanese menus. For the sushi, we ordered several pieces each of sashimi and sushi, along with a few specialty rolls (pictured above), such as the Soft Shell Crab Roll, Dragon Roll, Summer Roll, and Crunchy Eel Roll. The selection of rolls and sushi is not as extensive as you will find in some more upscale Japanese restaurants, but then again, most upscale restaurants aren't "all you can eat." I was quite surprised at the quality of the sushi. It was freshly made, the ingredients were all fresh and high quality, and the flavors were delicious. I will say that I have only in my life have had better sushi at Kumo, and I have had A TON of sushi, so that's saying a lot. We finished up the meal with a scoop of Red Bean Ice Cream. I can't remember the last time I was that full and satisfied for under twenty bucks. Thanks, Sushi Palace, we'll be seeing you again very soon.

WILL WE GO BACK?
Oh, definitely.

THINGS WE LIKED:
1. Price!
2. Quality of Food, delicious!
3. The motto: "Order all you want, but eat all you order."

THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE:
1. We wish it were a little closer to Waterbury
2. We wish they had a larger specialty roll selection

Sushi Palace
1473 Dixwell Ave
Hamden, CT 06514
http://www.sushipalace.us/

Oh and by the way, we topped off the day with a trip to see Van Gogh's Starry Night, which is only showing at the Yale University Art Gallery until September 7th, so you should go!

Chew On This Until August!

2008-06-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Relax! We did not get this sandwich in Waterbury. This beast is the Woody Allen Sandwich from Carnegie Deli in New York City. After a heated debate about whether to go with the Reuben or the giant stack of pastrami and corned beef you see to your left, we went with the stack. Scott couldn't resist.

All I'm saying is that together, were able to finish it. PLUS we had some fries and blueberry blintzes. Think you're up to the challenge?

I would also like to say that Waterbury Foodies, even though just launched, is taking a brief (2 month) sabbatical. I am away on business, by which I mean "getting to know" the people, language, and culture of Puerto Rico, by which I mean eating, laying on the beach, following some doctors, and more eating. Work will be done at some point, I swear. Scott has the monster task of finishing the stockpile of food in our pantry, as well as planning for his own visit to La Isla del Encanto.

So for now, thanks for visiting us, and let us know about any Waterbury food finds, we'll be sure to partake when we are back!

Town Plot IGA

2008-06-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Town Plot IGA
286 Fairfield Ave
Waterbury, CT 06708

I'd pretty much eat anything if it was wrapped in prosciutto. It's a good thing I live within walking distance of so many places that sell it!

IGA is the neighborhood grocery store of the Town Plot section of Connecticut. It is small and well stocked, specializing in (but not limited to) Italian foods. I've even seem some employees that speak Italian, and on some days you can find older Italian Americans conversing in front of the meat case (their meat, for the record, is molto bene, see below). This makes IGA one of the focal points for what I like to call the "Town Plot Italian American Movement," which is a seemingly desperate attempt by the people of Town Plot to maintain the area as "Italian" as humanly possible. Young people around here tattoo themselves with Italian flags and hang flags off their car, people bring up their "Italian-ness" in the first 10 minutes of conversation, and there are literally 4 Italian restaurants/delis within 1 square block of each other on Highland Ave, which are always swamped with people. Incidentally, this area is also the home of the infamous "Mt Carmel Feast/Italian festival," where people drive from all over the state for delicious fried dough and sausage. But I digress...

IGA is a small, clean, and recently renovated grocery store, and the place to go if you are looking for any sort of dried, cured, marinated, or other Italian ingredients. They've got it all. If you are looking to make any other sort of ethnic dish, save the possible (and gross) fake Mexican taco shell/ground beef/jarred salsa dinner that still gives me nightmares, then IGA probably will not have what you are looking for.

The produce section is somewhat small, but has things like Italian long hot peppers, broccoli rabe, tomatoes, basil, arugula, Cubanelle peppers (which my Italian Aunt insists are actually called "Italian peppers"), garlic, and other crucial Italian veggies. They quality of their produce is good, and often you can get a deal on produce that is just past ripe, which they will put on a cart towards the back of the section. Because this section is so small, it can often run out of things quickly. Sometimes I will go there specifically for fresh basil or avocado and there will be none left. Overall though, decent produce section.

There is a little "to go" section in the back of the produce section that has pre-made homemade dinners to heat up yourself. They often have eggplant or chicken parm, clams and linguini, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, etc. I've only had a few things, but they've all been tasty.

The meat section is fabulous. Although it isn't huge, it's impossibly fresh and good quality. In fact, if meat (especially sausage) is the focal point of my meal, I will probably pick it up from IGA. My mother says that she also "trusts" IGA's meats more than other store's meat, which I suppose is a creepy way of saying that the meat is consistently fresh. They often have specials on certain meats as well.

IGA's deli is very good for a small grocery store. It has to be, with places like Avventura's right around the corner (I'll blog on that place soon). They have a good selection of meats and cheeses, all fresh sliced to order, and a small but good selection of deli salads, marinated things, meatballs, etc. Their prosciutto is delicious, but a whopping $17.99 a pound! I wish either 1. it were less expensive or 2. I had an ounce of willpower over that delicious meat!

(Side story- This is how I knew Scott was the one for me: One day I said, "Screw toasters, on my wedding registry I am going to have things like '1 leg Prosciutto di Parma,' " to which Scott replied, "Oh, can we also add '1 large wheel Parmigiano Reggiano'?" True love. Fat, right?)

IGA also has a lot of baked goods, many from the Gina Marie bakery across the street. They have a small seafood department, with very fresh seafood, but limited selection. The grocery section is good, especially for Italian imports, many from the local Napoli import company. The health/beauty/medicine section is practically non-existent, but there is a Rite Aid across the street.

Overall, IGA is a wonderful neighborhood grocer that supports local businesses and adapts to the needs of its shoppers. If you are looking for a genuine Italian American shop with a real "hometown" feel, this is the place for you!

3 Things Renee loves about IGA
1. They tend to stock local everything, breads and baked goods from local bakeries, meats from a local sausage place, relish from local hot dog joints, etc. I try to buy local whenever I can, and IGA, with its sweet local hometown feel, really helps one support local businesses. :)
2. The hometown feel. I almost always run into people that I know
3. The quality of their meats and Italian imports is unparalleled.
4. (I never follow this 3 things rule) I also like how they put foods that are just slightly past ripe/fresh (baked goods, produce, meats, etc) on super special sale, which means it's a great place to run in and grab quick and cheap stuff for dinner that night.

1 Thing Scott loves about IGA
1. Scott only gets to love one thing because he almost never comes with me to IGA (probably because of their somewhat stinky hours). He picks IGA's meat, including regular, sausage, and cured as his favorite thing.

Things Renee dislikes:
Well, insulting IGA is sort of like insulting a family member, but...
I will say that, given the proximity to my house, I wish that they carried a few more items, as I couldn't make it my prime grocery store. Basically, if I am too lazy to go anywhere further, I say, "Scott, what Italian food would you like me to make for dinner tonight?" The other thing is that IGA is a lot more expensive that big chain stores. My mother was lured away by the "buy 1 get 2 free" appeal of the Naugatuck Big Y, and never looked back. I love the community feel and local selection offered, and if I had a few more dollars, I would definitely shop there more often. Also, IGA's hours are not the greatest, and often when I go, it's closed.

Healthy Chinese Food in Waterbury?

2008-06-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

Zheng Zheng Chinese Food
1457 Meriden Road
Wolcott, CT 06716
(okay so it's just over the Waterbury line)
(203) 879-0021
www.zhengzheng.com

I've never had strong feelings about Americanized Chinese take-out, in fact, I generally try to avoid it at all costs. Every time I partake, I feel completely disgusting. Chinese take-out is, for the record, pretty disgusting, and if you don't believe me, take a look at that egg drop soup after it's sat in your fridge for a while and become nice and congealed. Mmmmm.....

But every once in a while, things (like final exams) happen, and you need to get take-out from somewhere. Chinese food was usually not my first choice, until now. Zheng Zheng Chinese take-out on Meriden Road has developed a new "Special Health and Diet Menu," which features steamed versions of a few take-out classics, like steamed Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu with Broccoli, Buddhist Delight, and Long Life Vegetarian. The steamed Chicken and Broccoli is literally just that, pieces of broccoli and chicken steamed in just water. I imagine the other dishes are the same. It tastes pretty plain (but good, nice texture), but what do you expect? They will give you a side of brown or garlic sauce if you want, and at least having the sauce on the side lets you control how much fat you are eating. But without sauce, you could eat a whole container of steamed Chicken and Broccoli and feel awesome about yourself! Trust me, I'm 1/4 doctor. ;)

Even though Zheng Zheng is my favorite Chinese take-out place (Golden Palace wins for my favorite Chinese restaurant), I'm not going to review it here. I just wanted to give all you healthy eaters out there a heads up about a place to grab a quick and healthy bite that won't leave you feeling guilty or bloated.

Oh and one more thing, if you spend more than $20, Zheng Zheng will throw in some delicious fried shrimp, which may defeat the whole point of their "Special Health and Diet Menu," but we aren't really complaining.

Los Arcos Mexican Store (and Restaurant)

2008-06-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

Los Arcos Mexican Store
Corner of Washington St. and South Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06706

Los Arcos is actually what inspired Scott and I to make a blog about Waterbury food finds. It was a typical Sunday, Scott and I were shoving tacos into our mouths to make room on the table for the menudo that was about to be served, and Scott said, "It is unbelievable that more people in Waterbury don't know about these tacos."

So here you are, Waterburians. We are telling you about these tacos.

Let me give you a bit of history. I had the good fortune to spend 9 months of my life in Oaxaca, Mexico, a place I consider to be the culinary heart of the country (and possibly the world, sorry my fellow Waterbury Italianos). Upon my return, I became ravenous for good tacos, and searched everywhere. Let me assure you, if you are looking for an authentic Mexican dish of any kind, Señor Panchos, Tequilas, Agave, or their equivalents, are NOT the places to go. Not to say they aren't fun places, certainly their margaritas pack a punch and nothing screams hilarity quite like Thursday night karaoke. But for good Mexican food, you've got to do a little dig a little deeper than inflatable corona bottles and $10 "combination plates."

Out of desperation, I started making my own Oaxacan/Mexican foods. One day I happened upon Los Arcos Mexican Store while on a quest for guajillo chiles. And, lucky me, not only did I find a decent supply of dried chiles and other imported goods, but also learned that the owner of Los Arcos was from Oaxaca, knew how to cook my beloved red mole, and sold to-go food, including tacos!

So here is the low down on Los Arcos. First of all, it looks like it is just a small grocery store. You have to ask Paula, my dear friend and the owner's wife, if they have food that day, which they almost always do. Tacos are a sure deal, they have those all the time, but you may be surprised by other menu items de jour (see below).

Second, it may be difficult for you to ask Paula about the food if your Spanish is a little rusty. One of the things I love the most about Los Arcos is that it reminds me of the little Mexican corner stores in Oaxaca, right down to the owner's children climbing on your lap while you eat. Which trust me, will happen. Part of that endearing authenticity is that everyone speaks Spanish. So if you are willing to challenge yourself a little, dust off your old high school Spanish book and head down to South Main Street for some real Mexican food.
*Update: While I was away, Scott ate at Los Arcos and said that Paula DOES speak English! You still may want to be familiar with the menu before you go, though, so read on!

Okay, so you probably want the actual review. I am including some helpful information for those of you eager foodies who are ready for the challenge but might have accidentally taken French in high school.

ATMOSPHERE:
As previously mentioned, you may as well be walking into a corner grocer in Mexico. Likely Paula will be behind the corner, her children running around the store, maybe they will even talk to you. If her older children are there, you are in luck, because they speak English. Use them, they like helping! To your left you will see a tank (literally) of warm chicharrón, which I suppose everyone should try, but I don't care for. You might see the owner behind the wall, cooking, especially on the weekends, when they have a larger selection of food. There are customers rushing in and out of the door picking up odds and ends. If you are going to take your food home with you, ask for comida para llevar or food to-go. If you're up to it though, tell Paula that you're going to comer aqui (eat here) and have a seat at one of the tables. This is certainly not going to be a fancy dining experience, and you might have a 3 year old running around your table and trying to climb on you, but for those of us who have spent any time living in Mexico, it feels just right. :)
Oh, and I should add, if it's Sunday and you see a blond haired, blue eyed couple sitting at a table, chatting with Paula and the kids and eating what looks like a meal for 6, that's Renee and Scott. Come say hi to us!

FOOD:
Mmmmm I love Oaxacan food. I'm telling you, once you eat here, you will forget that Señor Panchos ever existed. Blanket statement: all of the food is delicious. I recommend everything. With the possible exception of the chicharrón and the menudo, not because it isn't well prepared, it's just that despite forcing myself to eat it so many times, fried pig skin and intestine soup still doesn't float my boat.

Our most common order at Los Arcos is tacos. I recommend 4 per person, which will definitely fill you up. Once Scott ate 6, and he had to lay on the couch for a few hours afterwards. There are quite a few different varieties to choose from. So far I have had:

Tacos Al Pastor: Pork marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce and roasted

Tacos con carne enchilada: Beef that was coated in a chile rub before cooking (The favorite of both Renee and Scott)

Tacos con chorizo: Tacos with spicy Mexican sausage

Tacos con res de barbacoa: This is their barbecued meat, which is finely shredded, almost like pulled pork but more fine. This doesn't have a strong spice flavor, it tastes like pure beef.

Tacos con carnitas: The infamous Mexican pork dish, served taco style

And no, I don't think they have chicken. The tacos are served with chopped onion, cilantro, lime, salsa verde (green salsa) and red salsa. Yum!!

Other things that may be offered:
Barbacoa de res: Barbecued meat, which falls of the bone and is so flavorful. Scott asks for it every time.
Tamales: We've had the tamales de pollo (chicken) and de puerco (pork) and we liked the pork better, but both are excellent.
Menudo: Oh, you brave soul. The menudo is heavy on the tripe, low on the spice, so all of the delicious stomach-y flavors come through. You may want to ask for extra lime.
Mole: I won't get into a diatribe about mole in this post, since I could write all day. Suffice it to say that mole is phenomenal, and the owner's specialty, mole rojo, is one of my favorites. I just gave Paula a gift of a Oaxacan cookbook that featured all 7 "moles of Oaxaca," so Los Arcos may see some other flavors coming soon!
Arroz y frijoles: If you're in the mood for rice and beans.
Agua de jamaica: Sweetened water of the hibiscus flower. Note that it's pronounced "ha-my-ka"
Pollo asado: Delicious roasted chicken, but why would you?

I know we've had other things, but I just can't think of them right now. I'll probably add more photos of the food later in the summer.

SERVICE:
Get over it, you aren't at a restaurant. Someone from the family will bring out your food, possibly one of the kids, but everyone is very attentive if you need anything at all!

WILL WE GO BACK?
Well, we ate there tonight. And we will probably eat there Sunday. And we eat there basically every week, so odds are, yes.

RENEE'S 3 FAVORITE THINGS:
1. I love the whole family that owns the store!
2. The food is so authentic, and brings back memories of Oaxaca.
3. We can afford to eat good food all the time! Plus it feels like home!

SCOTT'S 3 FAVORITE THINGS
1. Authentic flavors.
2. Attention to detail with garnishes, flavor on meat, etc.
3. Watching the local Mexican community look befuddled when they hear Renee speaking Spanish
4. Mexican Coca-cola tastes different and better. It is not a myth! (Okay, Scott gets 4 things. He also really likes taking his friends here, they are always very impressed)

FOR MORE INFO:
You won't get more info from any website, and you theoretically could call, but they have to unplug their phone line every time they use the credit card machine, so your best bet is to just go there! Tell them Renee sent you. But if you have any questions at all, I can probably answer them for you, since I am there all the time.

Lisboa Restaurant

2008-06-01T06:59:00.001-07:00

Portuguese Cuisine
19 Layfayette Street
Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 754-0789
www.lisboarestaurant.com

ATMOSPHERE:
So this Portuguese restaurant has been hidden off a little street near my house for years and I finally decided to try it out. Lisboa is not it in the best section of Waterbury, surrounded by old and often abandoned factory buildings, so many people have never heard of it. The decor of the restaurant is very informal, it appears that the bar area has been remodeled recently. The dining room was simple, white walls with a few random framed posters of Portugal. Scott and I aren't too concerned with the looks of a restaurant (actually, our favorite places are holes in the wall), but based on the amazing food of Lisboa, a few new coats of paint and a meeting with an interior designer would probably send this place over the top. On the other hand, it is clear that many of the guests are repeat customers, warmly greeting the waitresses with kisses and updates on their lives. So perhaps the feel of the dining area is perfectly suited to Lisboa's family of regulars, in which case, who are we to judge?

FOOD:
My favorite part! Okay the cool thing about Lisboa's food is that while it is amazingly impressive, it isn't stuffy or over the top. While not an expert in Portuguese cuisine, I get the impression that this is traditional peasant food of Portugal, featuring a menu of simple dishes of potatoes, seafood, Portuguese chouriço, and simply prepared meats.

We also loved how the food is presented. Many of the dishes are very interestingly served, leaving diners to ask "What was that dish you just brought to that table?" The chouriço appetizer is served in a little pig serving dish (sorry vegetarians), the shish-kabob comes hanging off this sweet contraption, and we got very excited when someone ordered Steak on a Rock, which unfortunately I cannot find on their online menu, that was served almost raw on a hot granite stone, leaving the diner to sear and cook the meat to his liking. All of the regular dishes have links to photos if you look at the pdf menu on Lisboa's website, but no pics of the specials. And Scott and I weren't savvy enough to bring a camera this time.

So when you first arrive, after ordering drinks (good wine list and full bar), you get a heaping plate of olives and a basket of warm and crusty Portuguese rolls, which is one of my favorite breads in the world. Scott and I actually ended up eating two baskets of bread, and for people who try to be somewhat carb-wary, this speaks volumes for Lisboa's rolls. Our salads came out next. Nothing fancy, I thought the blue cheese dressing was very good. Scott just had oil and vinegar because he felt bad about how much bread he had eaten. Then we had the Clams Spanish Style , which was probably a little big for two people. The sauce is divine, make sure you save your bread for it!

My entree was Shellfish Casserole, a combo of shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and lobster, with the red sauce. I wish I had known that the red sauce in this entree was the same as the sauce from the Clams Spanish Style, because I felt like I was just eating the same thing with different seafood. The sauce was simple, thin and perfectly spiced, it tastes like a broth I made once with tomato sauce and clam juice, but I didn't ask the secret. And Lisboa, bless its heart, was not stingy on the seafood at all. Two halves of a small lobster (which was just a tiny bit overcooked), and enough shrimp, scallops, mussles, and clams (all perfectly cooked) to make a delicious leftover lunch the next day. Shellfish Casserole is one of the pricier things on the menu, but if you are a seafood lover, definitely worth it.

Scott had one of the specials, Roast Suckling Pig, which was slow roasted and melt-in-your mouth good. A word of caution, it is super-garlicky, which we love but know that some people hate. It was served simply with a dipping sauce and Lisboa's Portuguese fries, which are sort of a cross between French fries and potato chips. I didn't like them, but then again I don't particularly care for fries or chips. Scott ate a few, but I could tell they were not the most impressive part of his meal.

SERVICE:
The service was good. While not overly-attentive, our water glasses never went empty. Although that could be because we were drinking wine and beer. Plus the food comes out slowly, but this is almost certainly a reflection of the slow-cooked style of the food, not of the waitstaff. Another thing we liked was how it seemed like the waitresses knew many of the repeat customers, and even knew what they would order. Scott and I were a little jealous that we weren't a part of the Lisboa family!

WILL WE GO BACK?
If we had an infinite budget, then we would go back today. Not to say that Lisboa is expensive, it just isn't $2 tacos, which is more our financial style these days. Our bill for a mini bottle of wine, 2 beers, a good appetizer, and 2 of the more pricey entrees was about $76 before tip. I would eat there every week if I could. We discussed the fact that we could go back and just split the Clams Spanish Style appetizer with plenty of bread and olives, and that would make a cheap and delicious supper.
So yes, we will go back, and hopefully soon.

RENEE'S 3 FAVORITE THINGS:
1. I love hidden gems, and this restaurant perhaps defines one.
2. GREAT food at a good value, and they weren't stingy with the seafood.
3. They have $10 mini-bottles of wine, perfect for one person. And so cute.
4. At the end of the meal, instead of a crappy mint, they give you a mini chocolate cup filled Beirao liquor. I know this is more than 3 things, but CHOCOLATE CUP WITH LIQUOR?! How delicious is that?

SCOTT'S 3 FAVORITE THINGS:
1. The beer mug was thoroughly frosted.
2. The first thing they bring you is a huge dish of olives.
3. The Portuguese bread is crusty and absolute perfection.

THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE:
There was really nothing we didn't like. The dining room area could probably use some renovations, it certainly doesn't match the high caliber of the food. But we hardly even noticed the decor, we were too busy stuffing our faces.

FOR MORE INFO:
Visit their website, you can see links to pictures of menu items (Warning: the pics really don't do the food justice), and also see links to other articles by the New York Times and New Haven Register. Or just go, trust us, you won't be disappointed.

About Us

2008-06-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

After discovering we would be living the Waterbury, CT area for the next 3 years, we decided to start exploring the food. Shoot us any recommendations!