Carbone's Prime for Brunch in Rocky Hill

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Brunch at Carbone's Prime

If you don't know about Carbone’s Prime new brunch offering yet - you need to! 

Carbone's Prime is a member of the Carbone’s family of restaurants in Connecticut. In early March of 2019 they launched an all new Sunday Brunch. 

There is SO MUCH on the menu! Everything from  traditional brunch dishes - to lunch and dinner specialties - to favorites from the chefs'  innovative take on classic dishes.

Carbone's Prime
Brunch and Cocktail Menu

My sister and I decided we deserved a "Sister's Sunday" and what better way to celebrate a sisters get together than with a weekend brunch! So we headed over to Carbone's Prime on Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill for a decadent brunch!

We loved two things right away! Plenty of parking and an 11am start time! We were seated promptly and as the restaurant filled up quickly, we noted that it was a great mix of guests; small and intimate group birthday and anniversary celebrations, family dining, and others, like us, appreciating a great spot for Sunday brunching and catching up!

We started with a couple of cocktails (in spite of the early hour - LOL!) My sister ordered the Mimosa, a great blend of bubbly and OJ. (They even have table side buckets of Mimosa where you can mix and match your choice of bubbly and juices! I KNOW!!! What fun!)  For me, it was a was a toss up between the Bloody Mary Bar and something non-traditional, and being a non-traditionalist, I ended up going with the Sunrise Margarita, a blend of Patron Silver, Blood Orange Puree, Lime, and Cointreau. Soooo good, with a nice tart taste to complement the smoky tequila and citrus flavors.

Carbone's Brunch Cocktails
(L) Sunrise Margaarita
(R) Mimosa

Then we moved on to some 'appetizer' like offerings, sampling the Caesar Salad and a delicious bowl of Shrimp Bisque! Mmmmm! Those garlic buttery parmesan crisps on top were the perfect texture for the salad.

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Caesar Salad

...and the Shrimp Bisque was ahhhh-mazing! I asked for an extra spoon so my sis could sample some, and not even knowing what it was, she devoured just as much as I did. She's not really a shrimp lover, but when I told her afterwards that it was a shrimp bisque, she noted she would have never tried it...but now she knows she loves it...or at least she knows she loves Carbone's Prime's Bisque! It was so creamy-good and well seasoned. We'll both be back for more!

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Shrimp Bisque

 For our brunch selections (where did we find room after the above, I don't know!) we went with the Wood Fired Eggs and the Lump Crab Benny. If you love a good Eggs Benedict as much I do, you'll love all their different 'benny' offerings! This crab benny was delicious - and as delightfully rich as I hoped it would be!

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Lump Crab Benedict

The Wood Fired Eggs were creatively presented in a cast iron pan! What I neglected to capture in the photograph, was the spinach, ricotta, and veggie hash. So savory and such a unique addition to an egg dish. 

Carbone's Prime Brunch 
Wood Fired Eggs and Vegetable Hash

For dessert, we couldn't resist! A creamy cappuccino and tiramisu. In spite of declaring we were full and couldn't eat another bite, the tiramisu was light and delicious and we finished EVERY. BIT. OF IT. 

Carbone's Prime Cappuccino

 I couldn't imagine a better happy ending to our Sunday outing!

Carbone's Prime Tiramisu 

Here's a little sampling of other items on the menu! You'll see there is something for everyone! 

•WoodOven Breakfast Pizzas ($13-$16) – all served with two farm fresh eggs – including “Everything” Lox (goat cheese crema, red onions, tomato, smoked salmon, capers, toasted everything sprinkle), “Denver” style (Levoni ham, peppers, onions, jack cheese), NewEngland (apple, walnuts, bacon, dried cranberries, maple syrup), Franklin Ave (housemade sweet sausage, roasted peppers, onions, provolone) and more.

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Breakfast Pizza
Photo Courtesy of Carbone's Prime

•The Benny’s ($14-$18) – all served with two fresh poached eggs – including Italian (imported mortadella & fontina “Roman wheel,” fresh hollandaise,mixed green salad), Veggie (seasonal veggies & asiago “Roman wheel,” fresh hollandaise, mixed green salad),  Smoked Salmon (potato latke, imported smoked salmon, hollandaise, arugula salad) and more.

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Smoked Salmon Benny
Photo Courtesy of Carbone's Prime

New Brunch favorites including Italian Poutine ($14) (homemade mozzarella, shoestring potato, smoked bacon, mushroom marsala gravy, poachedeggs), Polenta & Eggs ($15) (roasted mushrooms, blistered tomato, creamy polenta, arugula, poached eggs, crispy prosciutto, Italian toast), Wood Fired Eggs ($14) (farm fresh eggs, roasted cauliflower, sautéed spinach, ricotta, veggie hash, Italian toast), Sausage Scramble ($14) (3 farm fresh eggs, housemade sweet sausage, provolone, broccoli rabe, calabrian chili flakes, veggie hash, Italian toast), Vegetable Breakfast Bowl ($16) (poached eggs, farro, broccoli rabe, white beans, grape tomatoes, tarragon vinaigrette,fried leeks), Chicken Saltimbocca Sandwich ($15) (prosciutto, fontina, sage pesto, arugula, cherry pepper aioli, ciabatta, salt & vinegar chips) and more. 

Selections from the restaurant’s Raw Bar & Crudo menu, Soup, Salads, Steaks, Eggs and more.

  
Tableside Mimosas will allow guests to select their fruit juices (orange, grapefruit, pineapple, peach, mango or strawberry) and “bucket of bubbles” selection, ranging from four cans of Archer Roose Bubbly from Veneto Italy ($28) to Dom Perignon from France($300).  
The  Bloody Mary Bar will allow diners to select a brim and Vodka or Tequila Spirit ($12-$15) before heading to the  Bloody Bar for fixings (olives, lemons, hot pickled peppers, bacon, cheeses and more).  

Carbone's Prime Brunch
Bloody Mary Bar
Photo Courtesy of Carbone's Prime

Other specialty Brunch cocktails (all $11) include the Sunrise Margarita (Patron Silver, Blood Orange Puree, Cointreau, Lime), American Mule (Tito’s Vodka, Fresh Lime,Ginger Beer) and Honey Julep (Bulleit Bourbon, Mint, Lemon, Honey Syrup), among others.


The full menu is available online here:   https://carbonesprime.com/brunch; the restaurant also accepts reservations via  OpenTable or by calling 860.969.8088.  

Make the trip to Rocky Hill Connecticut and visit Carbone's Prime for a wonderful Sunday Brunch! Let me know how much you loved it too!

Carbone's Prime
838 Cromwell Avenue
Rocky Hill CT 06067
860.969.8088
www.carbonesprime.com

Carbeone's Prime Restaurant
The Perfect Steakhouse and Brunch Place!

About Carbone's Prime

Carbone’s Prime, the newest to the Carbone’s family of restaurants in Connecticut, is a reinvention of the classicItalian steakhouse with a range of menu items – signature steaks, daily raw bar specials, wood-oven pizzas, updated Italian dishes and Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free options – with all breads, doughs and sauces made in-house from scratch.  Easily accessible off of I-91 at 838 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill with ample free parking, the restaurant’s sleek and modern décor lends itself to business lunches, date night, happy hour with friends and family dinners.  Serving weekday lunch and dinner seven days a week, Carbone’s Prime also offers an extensive bar menu, weekday happy hour specials, takeout options and private dining, and accepts reservations for parties of all sizes.  

For more information, visit www.carbonesprime.com,or visit the restaurant on Facebook (CarbonesPrime) or Instagram (CarbonesPrime).

Disclaimer: We were invited to Carbone's Prime by members of the restaurant's management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are our own.

©  Home Place 2019

LUCAS LOCAL in Newtown CT

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Sunday Brunch at LUCAS LOCAL

If you haven't noticed by now, a good weekend brunch is one of my favorite ways to gather with friends or family. There's just something about a late morning / early afternoon get together that simply demands casual food and fun! When I received an invite to a sample tasting of some of the items featured on LUCAL LOCAL Oyster Bar and WoodFire Cookery's Brunch Menu I knew I would be in for a treat!

And I sure was! At first I was a little surprised by the name pairing of "oyster bar" and "wood fired" - as one name implies 'seafood'  and the other 'meat or chops' - but after talking with owner Vince Capelletti, it all began to make sense. I mean, really, who doesn't love seafood on a wood fired grill? That delicious wood fired smokiness enhances any protein it meets! And who doesn't want to visit a restaurant with a great land and sea combo?!!

Capelletti's love for great food and a relaxed atmosphere 'bistro' all comes together at LUCAS LOCAL! The ambiance is an elevated seaside tavern style - and all re-purposed! The floors are comprised of beautiful wide wooden planks from the barns of nearby tobacco farms from over 100 years ago. Walls have been knocked down, opened up, re-arranged, and re-positioned to expose the original wood stove from the building's former home, and some cute little dining nooks.

Exposed Fireplace Hearth
LUCAS LOCAL Oyster Bar and WoodFire Cookery

In addition, there are the most incredible slated wooden and steel chairs, that were made to be super comfortable (they were!!), and a church pew salvaged from an New Haven church.

Wood and Forged Steel Chairs - So Comfy - Honest!!
Lucas Local

Re-purposed Church Pew
Lucas Local

Now that you've seen a bit of the decor, let's highlight some of the delicious food and drink we sampled. 

Of course, for brunch, you must start with a Bloody Mary, and I took bartender Sarah's suggestions, and ordered her  "Bacon Me Crazy" prepared with bacon, shrimp, mushrooms, celery, and kalamata olives, and had some super-spicy spices on the rim. 

So. Dang. Good.

Others at the table sampled signature cocktails like their Mermaid's Garden, Tito's Moscow Mule, the Sappy Old Fashioned, and the French 48.

Sappy Old Fashioned
Taconic Distillery, Maple Bourbon, Maple Foam

The Mermaid's Garden Cocktail
Sombra Mezcal, St. Germain, lavendar bitters, lime foam

Yup, some pretty good cocktails and a really fun cocktail menu!

Moving on to our food sampling, we stayed with mostly the seafoods that were featured on their brunch menu, like...

'Clear broth' Rhode Island Clam Chowder. 

Rhode Island Clam Chowder
Point Judith Little Necks, Potatoes,
Fresh Herbs, Clear Broth

and Oysters Oregano - a hopefully soon to be brunch staple.

Oysters Oregano

How about this take on Eggs Benedict? Made with some delicious lobster!

Lobster Eggs Benedict
Fresh House Cured Bacon, Poached Eggs,
Hollandaise, Potato Hast and Lobster

Some savory Linguine and Clam Sauce!

Linguine and Clams
Rhode Island Little Necks, Fresh Oregano, and Garlic Infused Oil

This beautifully  plated octopus was as amazing as it looks!

Fire Kissed Octopus
Roasted Eggplant and red pepper hummus,
crisp garbanzos, lemon infused oil

And my favorite brunch staple - Shrimp and Grits!

Down South Shrimp and Grits
Grilled Shrimp
Stone Ground Course Grits, Poached Eggs

Some dreamy good waffles!

Waffle Love
Bourbon Maple Syrup, Vanilla Ice Cream,
House Cured Bacon
Fresh Fruit

Everything we tried was so good! We can't wait to return and try some more items from their brunch menu -- and to return for a nice relaxing weekday lunch or dinner. Be on the lookout for their soon to be opened front patio for some summer dining pleasure!

Note that many of the items we were served were sample size portions so your portion sizes may differ.

Be sure you visit LUCAS LOCAL Oyster Bar and Woodfire Cookery soon!

LUCAS LOCAL Oyster Bar Woodfire Cookery

48 S Main Street

Newtown, CT 06470

203-491-2992

https://www.lucaslocalct.com

Disclaimer:

We were invited to LUCAS LOCAL Oyster Bar and WoodFire Cookery by members of their management and marketing team, however, the opinions expressed are entirely our own.

©  Home Place 2018

Brunch at the Historic Roger Sherman Inn and Restaurant

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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

Plan B Burger Bar for Sunday Brunch

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored

Plan b in Fairfield for an Early Brunch

Last weekend I headed out to Plan b Burger Bar in the beautiful town of Fairfield Connecticut after being invited to sample their Sunday Brunch. 

The b restaurants bill this brunch as a Boozy, Bourbon-y, Burger-y Brunch.

Heck, yes. Now we're talking!

And what I love best is that on Sundays, this particular b opens at 10 a.m. to celebrate everyone’s favorite excuse for day drinking --- BRUNCH! Perfect for early get togethers - that allow you plenty of time to fit more fun into the last day of the weekend!

And hey! 

You've got to love a place that bills a portion of their menu as SUNDAY FUNDAY!

Plan b Brunch Menu
(June 2017)

And every good brunch has some great brunch cocktails!

Of course, we started with their well known version of a Bloody Mary, the “Meat” Our Mary - made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka,  house-made bloody mary mix, lime, olives, tomatoes, half sour pickle and a mini cheese burger.

Yes, people. A cheeseburger slider size comes with the cocktail!

"Meat" our Mary - at Plan b Burger Bar

Now that's what I call a garnish!

If Bloodies aren't your thing, there's lots more to sample, like the Hand Squeezed Salty Dog, the Modern Screwdriver, and the The American Cucumber Basil Gimlet. There's coffee specials like the Rejuvenator  (cold brew coffee, Myers’s rum, coconut water, simple syrup & almond milk on the rocks) and the Kentucky Coffee (making coffee very interesting with some bourbon & cream).

And there's always something special being offered, like this delicious Berry Sangria, that was the special of the day when we visited!

Plan b
Berry Sangria

And then we were off to the brunch samplings!

Who says you can't have an appetizer at Brunch? 

We certainly did! Like this amazing dish of Breakfast Tots!

Breakfast Tots

Crispy tots, 

cheddar-jack cheese, bacon, 

scallions, gravy & a fried egg

How about this delicious duo of Hot Fried Chicken and Biscuits?

Hot Fried Chicken & Biscuits “Nashville style,” 

country pickle & home fries

Or do it up right with this Breakfast Burger!

Bacon, cheddar cheese, 

fried egg, spiced maple aioli 

on a croissant bun

Is sweet more your thing? 

How about this Bourbon Soaked French Toast?

Bourbon Soaked French Toast 

V Thick cut brioche & bacon maple syrup, 

with seasonal fruit

Looking for something more traditional?

How about the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict:

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Poached eggs, toasted English muffin,

Boursin cheese, chive hollandaise & home fries

Feeling like a little something more 'south of the border'?

Try this Breakfast Burrito on for size!

Breakfast Burrito

House-made sausage burrito,

crispy potatoes, cheddar cheese & pico de gallo

I mean, really. 

Just look at that fluffy light goodness backed in one crazy good burrito!

Breakfast Burrito

House-made sausage burrito,

crispy potatoes, cheddar cheese & pico de gallo

Be sure you visit participating Plan b Burger Bars for brunch soon!

These offerings are from Plan b Fairfield. Other participating b restaurants for brunch are located in Glastonbury and Milford CT.

Plan b Fairfield

1262 Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824

http://www.burgersbeerbourbon.com/fairfield/

Phone: 203-955-1208

Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11:30am – 12:30am
Fri-Sat: 11:30am – 1:30am
Sun: 10:00am – 12:30am

Disclaimer: We were invited to this sampling by members of Plan b Burger Bar's marketing and management team, however all opinions expressed are our own.


© Home Place 2017