Treat Yourself to the Griswold Inn in Essex Connecticut

Stay at the Griswold Inn!

Whether you refer to yourself as a Nutmegger, a Connecticuter, a Connecticotian, a Connecticutersian, a Connecticutian - or simply a person who lives in Connecticut - there are exclusive deals for you!

The Griswold Inn

Photo Courtesy of the Griswold Inn

You may be yearning to get on a train, a plane or take a longer road trip but don't feel comfortable venturing too far from home. If you're in need of shaking up your daily experience, this may just do the trick!

Consider a weekend getaway to the Griswold Inn, or "The Gris" as we like to call it!

Photo Courtesy of The Griswold Inn

The folks at the Griswold Inn can arrange a relatively contactless experience from start to finish if you so choose. They offer curbside check-in and many of their suites are located within historic buildings across the street from the Main Inn and have their own entrances.

Eat at the Griswold Inn

Dine in The Gris' historic dining rooms, as Executive Chef Toppin prepares classic American cuisine to perfection in simple, but imaginative ways. His menu showcases fresh seafood, aged beef, and the highest quality chops and poultry. After any meal, Chef Toppin’s house-made desserts are a “must”. 

Their historic dining rooms exude character, charm, and tradition, where one can be as comfortable in casual attire as in “black tie.” 

The dining room is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and they are now offering outdoor dining (weather permitting), dine-in and "Gris To Go" with curbside pickup, all available from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm daily. 

For Indoor Dining you are encouraged to make a reservation by phone, 860.767.1776, or online. 

Outdoor Dining is available on a first-come, first-served basis, although they do accept reservations for seven or more.

One of the oldest continuously operated inns in the country, the Griswold began business in 1776. Although the Inn exudes the charm of days gone by, they are anything but dated. From their sophisticated cuisine, extensive wine offerings, comfortable accommodations, and modern amenities, The Griswold Inn, located in the historic seaport village of Essex, Connecticut, offers the best of times. 

Read about my stroll through historic Essex Ct with the #LetsMeetCT event at Home Place Blog with the Let's Meet CT group.

The Griswold Inn

36 Main Street

Essex, CT 06426

(860) 767-1776

https://griswoldinn.com

Double Date Night at the Guilford Mooring

Social Media Promotion: Portions Sponsored    

Dinner at the Guilford Mooring

The summers are short in New England and we try to pack as many fun nights out with friends as often as we can. One of our favorite places to meet up is the Guilford Mooring in Guilford CT. 

The Guilford Mooring
in Guilford Connecticut

Our friends Wendy and Greg from Connecticut Lifestyles live out in East Lyme, and we're in Branford CT, so an 'almost' halfway point for us to meet up is in Guilford. We all love great seafood and casual dining over good conversation, and the Guilford Mooring is the perfect place for it! What makes it even better is that regardless of the season, the Guilford Mooring is the perfect place to enjoy with water views to drink in in the spring and summer, and a cozy fireplace to curl up in front of in the fall and winter!

And the food? The food is simply incredible! 

Although they do have some of the typical fried seafood offerings, most of the food is a bit more elevated, featuring items like Pan Seared Diver Scallops with Creamy Risotto, Blackened Swordfish with Smashed Red Bliss Potatoes...and so much more! And, if you're more of a 'by land' protein lover ... they are equally well known for their amazing beefs and chops. like their 18 oz Bone in Rib-Eye and their 14 oz "Tomahawk" Veal Chop.

We started with some of cocktails from the specialty cocktail menu. There are so many innovative combinations. These pictured are the Blackberry Vodka Cocktail and the Mai Tai!

Then we moved on to appetizers! My colleague June at work had highly recommended the Stuffed Quohogs, so of course, I had to try that! Wendy ordered the Fried Artichokes, Greg the Thick Bacon, and the cowboy went with the Iceburg Wedge Salad. 

Fried Artichokes
Parmesan Truffle, Lemon Aioli,
Garnished with Parsley

Thick Bacon
Local Tomatoes, Carmelized Onion
Smokey BBQ Drizzle

Iceburg Wedge Salad
Blue Cheese, Bacon, Grape Tomatoes
Creamy Peppercorn Dression

... and now I know why June urged me to get the stuffed clams! They were sooooo good! Stuffed, and I do mean STUFFED with a variety of seafood, like clams, shrimp, scallops AND crab -- they could not have been better!

Stuffed Quohogs (Two per order)
But I wanted a good closeup!
Stuffed with Crab, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams
Stuffing made with a Focaccia Bread Stuffing

For dinner we went with a medley of different seafoods! Wendy ordered the Scallops, the cowboy Swordfish, I went with the Salmon, and Greg ordered one of the evening's specials, a Lobster "New England" Boil, with everything from lobster, to shrimp, to mussels, to clams, to corn on the cob! Greg's New England dinner was inclusive, accompanied by an appetizer (clam chowder) and a dessert (Raspberry Cheesecake). 

New England Dinner's inclusive chowder
New England Clam Chowder

Greg was a good sport and donned
the obligatory Lobster Bib!

The Guilford Moorings'
New England Lobster Dinner
Lobster, Mussels, Clams, Shrimp,
Corn on the Cob
YUM!

Pan Seared Diver Scallops
Maine Lobster White Truffle Risotto
Citrus Beurre Blanc

Pan Roasted Salmon
Soba Noodles, Vegetable Broth, Red Peppers
Carrots, Edamanm, Mushroom, Sriracha Honey Drizzle with Sesame Seeds

Blackened Swordfish
Red Bliss Mashed,
Smoked Pineapple Salsa

We took a breather before dessert and sipped on a creamy delicious cappuccino!

Cappuccino

Desserts were also fantastic! I continued with the cappuccino and ordered a Cappuccino Gelato, Wendy went with the Crème Brûlée the cowboy called himself 'done in' for the night (whatta light weight!) and Greg enjoyed his New England Lobster Dinner's final item, the Raspberry Cheesecake!

Cappuccino Gelato

Crème Brûlée

Raspberry Cheesecake

We had such a wonderful time! Afterwards we wandered in the cocktail lounge to watch a round or two of Tuesday Trivia.

Tuesday Trivia at
Guilford Mooring

And then we wandered out on the dock to watch the sun set and see the fisherman bring in some of the day's catch! We had some fun taking pictures of one another!

Greg and Wendy from
Connecticut Lifestyles
https://connecticutlifestyles.com/

The Guilford Mooring is definitely Dingus Family approved! 

The Cowboy and Bonnie
Note: Dingus Family placard
from Coastal Creators CT

Be sure you visit the Guilford Mooring in Guilford Connecticut soon and enjoy the waterviews and great food! Reservations are accepted and there are some great specials all season long such as Happy Hour Monday - Friday 3-6 in the bar and sunroom, Thursday night Ladies Night with food and drink specials in the bar and sunroom, and Tuesday Trivia in the lounge!

See more specials here => https://www.guilfordmooring.com/page/28732-Specials

Guilford Mooring

505 Whitfield Street

Guilford, CT 06437

203-458-2921

https://www.guilfordmooring.com/

About the Guilford Mooring

Guilford Mooring, located on the shores of the Long Island Sound at 505 Whitfield Street in Guilford, Connecticut, honors its waterfront location by offering classic preparation of timeless seafood dishes, in addition to land lover’s favorite meat options.  The seasonal menu includes Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Vegan options, and a special $5 children’s menu honors young foodies.  The restaurant is open year-round, seven days a week for lunch and dinner, offering unparalleled views from an outdoor bar and deck, as well as the newly-renovated indoor bar/dining area, featuring a rustic stone fireplace for the New England winter months and air-conditioning for the heat of summer.  

For more information, visit www.guilfordmooring.com. The restaurant can also be found on Facebook (GuilfordMooringCT)and Instagram (theguilfordmooring).

Disclaimer: We were invited to the Guilford Mooring by the restaurant's management and marketing team, however all views are our own. 

©  Home Place 2019

Brunch at the Historic Roger Sherman Inn and Restaurant

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored 

The Roger Sherman Inn in New Canaan for Brunch!

Don't you just love historic buildings that turn into town treasures? Well, the Roger Sherman Inn in New Canaan CT is just such a gem!

Welcome to the Roger Sherman Restaurant and Inn
New Canaan CT

This beautiful New England Restaurant and 17-room Inn has recently received a culinary transformation with the amazing Chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo at the helm. We were lucky enough to get an invite to join Chef and the Inn's team for a delicious Sunday Brunch.

The Inn is a history lesson in New England buildings with immense crown mouldings, crystal chandeliers, sweeping staircases, and incredible architecture. We also learned that the Roger Sherman Inn was established in 1746! That's thirty years before the Declaration of Independence was even signed! Talk about historic! 
   

We were thrilled to meet Chef Kwaku-Dongo and discover his take on offering a seasonally-inspired menu, showcasing fresh, locally-procured ingredients. 

Chef Kwaku-Dongo

If you want a a REAL culinary tour of New England that showcases our coastal seafood, local family farms, and talented artisans, the Roger Sherman Inn is the place to go! Using these East Coast ingredients as a foundation for his flavor profiles, Chef Kwaku-Dongo adds his unique twist and blend of spices to bring out the savory or sweetness of each dish. We arrived a bit early and I was completely intoxicated by the aroma of simmering cloves while walking through the dining room. It was pure heaven!

Here are some of the items we sampled for brunch, starting with some delicious brunchy cocktails, like Mimosas, Peach Bellinis, Spicy Bloody Marys, and a creamy Espresso Martini!

Cocktails at the Roger Sherman Inn
Mimosa, Creamy Espresso Martini,
Peach Bellini, Bloody Mary

While still in the lounge we sampled a delicious cured meat platter, served with a side of nice crusty sliced bread.

Cured Meat Platter

Next we moved into the dining room where we sampled some soup and starters. Like this delicate clear broth soup of the day

Market Soup

... and this fresh fruit nestled in a beautiful mango champagne sauce.

Seasonal Fruit & Berries

Preserved Mango Champagne Sauce

Then we shared some small plates and salads at our table, like this tender lettuce salad with apples, walnuts and blue cheese croutons.

Little Gem Lettuce

Pickled Apple, Candied Walnut, Blue Cheese Crouton

... and this light crepe topped with a fresh egg with side greens!

Crepe and Egg
Side Greens

We all scooped up this hearty steak tartar with dueling mustards, aioli, and a farm fresh egg.

Steak Tartare

Herb Aioli, Farm Eggs & Two Mustards

We topped that off with some chicken and sausage hash! Soooo good!

Chicken & Sausage Hash

with Tomatoes

Then we each ordered our own individual entrees. Of course, if eggs benny are on the menu, you know I'm ordering them! These with some smoked salmon were the perfect brunch order!

Eggs Benedict

Smoked Salmon, Tomato Confit, Hollandaise Sauce

My tablemates ordered french toast, Tuna Nicoise, and the brunch special of the day a Baja inspired Cali breakfast dish with black beans, chipolte, and an avocado salad.

Brioche French Toast

Stewed Apples, Vanilla Mascarpone, Home Fries

*Tuna “Riviera Nicoise”

Hard Boiled Egg, Haricot Vert, New Potatoes

This dish truly showcased Chef's West Coast to East Coast journey!

Chef's Special - Poached Eggs
Chipolte & Black Bean
With Avocado Salad

We found a bit of room for sharing a few desserts, and of course, we selected everything CHOCOLATE!

Dacquoise Cake

Almond Cake, Praline Crispy Layer, 

Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Glaze

Here's where Chef's heritage showcased his love of spice, 

in this case the cocoa!

Chocolate Crepe
Fresh Gelato

I simply couldn't resist ending my meal 

with a creamy foamy cappuccino!

Cappuccino 

Although they are the consummate place for brunch, the Inn is also open for lunch and dinner, as well as having some light bites in the cozy tavern. Each menu is comprised of from-scratch recipes which run the gamut from burgers and bites to more refined dishes, including; House Cured Smoked Salmon; Grilled Octopus with chorizo vin, olives, and fingerling potatoes; Woodbridge Farm Oxtail Raviolo with sun-dried tomato and rosemary jus; Roasted Bronzini with salsa verde, roasted fennel, and fregola; and -Truelove Farms Grilled Pork Chop with braised red cabbage, apples, pancetta, and red wine jus. 

Tavern favorites and bar bites consist of; Lump Crab Cakes with roasted pepper aioli; RS Lobster “Club” Sandwich layered with walnut bread, rocket, tomato, and bacon; USDA Prime Black Angus Beef Mini Burgers with Vermont cheddar, shallot marmalade, garlic aioli, and hand-cut fries; artisanal cheese and charcuterie; and Tuscan Kale tossed with chicory, pecorino, walnuts, in a lemon yogurt dressing. Sunday Brunch is made special with organic Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, tomato confit, and hollandaise sauce, and decadent Brioche French Toast topped with stewed apples and vanilla mascarpone.
  
The restaurant also is available for catered events, weddings, and any special occasion. These milestone celebrations are made all the more special under this quintessential New England setting with the addition of Chef Kwaku-Dongo’s new menu, gifted team, and forward-thinking vision.

Be sure you visit them soon!  

Roger Sherman Inn

195 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-4541
https://www.rogershermaninn.com/

Disclaimer:
We were invited to the Roger Sherman Inn by members of their management and marketing team, however, the opinions expressed are entirely our own.

©  Home Place 2018

Shop and Nosh at the Cafe at Middlebury Consignment

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored

Cooking Class at the Cafe at Middlebury Consignment

If you follow my blog even semi-regularly, 

you know there are two things that I absolutely love to do 

SHOP and NOSH!

And now I've found a way to roll my two very favorite things to do into ONE, by taking part in a cooking class held at The Cafe at Middlebury Consignment! When an invite rolled into my inbox to visit the Middlebury Consignment Store, needless to say, I was thrilled!

I was familiar with the store through some television advertisements, and several friends have visited on a "destination day' to shop Middlebury, but until now, I've never had the opportunity to visit Middlebury Consignment for myself.

Opening in 2009, Middlebury Consignment is a one stop shopping store for all your home design needs. Not your typical 'consignment' store - Middlebury Consignment mixes a bit of  upscale consignment pieces with new design furniture and fixtures.

I spotted pieces from Lillian August, Howard Miller, Barkman, and more! The original store has since expanded to three buildings, the second two dubbed "the annex" located a few miles down the road. In addition, full design and decorating services are offered, as well as culinary accessories, tools, and utensils.

But on this visit we primarily spent time in the kitchen of the Cafe at Middlebury Consignment, taking part in one of their popular cooking classes. This particular class featured the preparation of appetizers, but they offer a wide and varied range of classes! A quick glance at their cooking class events lists dates that feature Cowboys and Campfires (Aug 6. 2017) Trip to Morocco (Aug 16, 2017) A Tuscan Grigliata (Aug 27, 2017)  End of Summer Tapas Party (Aug 30, 2017) Provence Inspired Steakhouse (Sept 7, 2017) and many, many more in the months to come.

Check out their event calendar at https://www.middleburyconsignment.com/cooking-events/

We started with a nice glass of wine and some cheese and crackers. Our cooking group consisted of a wide range of Connecticut social influencers invited to experience the fun of an 'appetizer' based cooking class led by The Cafe's own Chef Mary Kravec.

In attendance were Natalie from New England Foodie,  Brittny from Basic Britny, Hannah from Sometimes Social, Amanda from the Amanda Bella, Christine from Vigora and Vogue, Nonee from Nonee's World, and Yinka from Yours Truly Yinka and Linked Media.  (If I missed anyone - let me know and I'll link back to you too!)

Visit them all in the days to come for their details of this fun event!

Chef Mary instructs her cooking enthusiasts!

We jumped right in and donned our aprons and Chef Mary would rotate around the kitchen island recruiting the nearest participant to prep that particular portion of the meal. By the end of the cooking class everyone had some "hands on" experience and she included lots of great tips for food prep like how to use a spoon to peel ginger, blanching the broccoli rabe with salty water to draw out the bitterness and retain the crisp green color, and so many more!

Here are some photos of our food preparation:

Here I am --
so intent on stuffing those artichokes
Photo Courtesy of Linked Media

Voila! Stuffed Artichokes -
Ready to pop in the oven!

Amanda works on the flatbread dough!

Nonee works on the rosemary kebobs

Marinating the Balsamic Wings

While everything cooked up in the oven 

we had a wonderful tour of the store!

Yassss!

I'm definitely making a return trip just to shop!

When we finished touring the multiple floors of furniture and home decor we returned to feast on the fruits of our labor!

We made this!

My plate full of goodness!

Broccoli Rabe

Stuffed Artichokes

Roasted Grape Flatbread with Ricotta 

Balsamic Wings

Polenta Squares

Blueberry Lavender Crème Brûlée

I think I can speak for everyone and say we ALL thought the cooking class was a wonderful experience! We each felt like we had a part in the preparation and we certainly walked away with some great tips! I've already replicated the roasted grapes into a chicken dish I prepared this weekend with the same great results. DELICIOUS!

If you haven't already, visit Middlebury Consignment and treat yourself to one of their upcoming cooking classes!  You'll be glad you did!

Middlebury Consignment
The Cafe at Middlebury Consignment

1365 Whittemore Road
Middlebury, CT 06762
Phone (203) 528-0130
https://www.middleburyconsignment.com/

Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 11AM - 5PM
Sunday 11AM - 5PM

Disclaimer: I was invited to tour the store and take part in the cooking class by members of Middlebury Consignment's management and marketing team, however, all views expressed are my own.