The Cook and the Bear in West Hartford

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We finally made it! The Cook and The Bear is one restaurant I had been waiting and waiting to have an opportunity to visit. I loved the origins of this great collaboration between Millwright's chef and owner Tyler Anderson and the talented Jamie McDonald of Bear's Smokehouse. 

Made on Premise BBQ sauces
served in cute lil' honey bears

The duo first came together at a farm to table dinner, and then paired up in a series of pop up dinners. The sheer popularity of these dinners demanded a permanent pairing, and hence, the inception of "The Cook and The Bear" resulted in a win win!

Small and cozy and located in the heart of West Hartford's popular Blue Back Square, the Cook and the Bear continues to win over the locals and offers up a casual barbecue menu in a fun setting. 

Fresh Pickling Going' On!

Patrons order off a cute clipboard menu that features small bites, salads, sandwiches, snacks, entrees after 5pm, and smoked meats, sides, and combos.

The Cook and the Bear Clipboard Menu

A small but satisfying beer, wine, and cocktail menu is also available that features some fabulous specials!

So many of the cocktails at The Cook and The Bear are made with fresh ingredients. The marinated cherries served in many of the drinks are marinated on premise in bourbon and are incredibly delicious! So good that I thought they were made of chocolate!

Drinks at the Cook and the Bear
(Left) Draft Beer.   (Right) 90s 2.0 Appletini 

Wendy from CT Lifestyles and I shared this fun cocktail found below - the Tom Selleck! It was fruity-juicy, potent, and oh so tasty! And it was served up in a fresh scooped out pineapple. 

Another great thing about their cocktail menu is that there are 'mocktails' available of several of their offerings - for those that want the flavor but not the 'punch'!

After sipping on some cocktails we moved on to our appetizers and starters enjoying everything we sampled! A simply MUST ORDER when you visit are the bacon wrapped dates! 

Grilled Corn, parmesan, poblano

Bacon Wrapped Dates
Chorizo Stuffed - Spiced Yogurt 

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Everything Bagel Spice

Crispy Pork Rillette - Fried Green Tomato
Sauce Choron

Burnt End Sliders
Flavors of French Onion Soup 

Charcoal Roasted Chicken Wings
Sesame Seeds - Buttermilk Dressing

Believe it or not - after sharing all those starters we found a little bit of room to move on to some smoked meats and proteins. We sampled some delicious thick cut pastrami, chicken, short ribs, and briskets.

Chicken-Smoked and Grilled
Smoked Brisket

Did someone say BURGER??? 

The Rodeo Burger
Wagu Beef - Cheesy Sauce - Onion Rings

And accompanying our proteins we ordered an assortment of sides. 

Traditional in their origins, but each had such an interesting twist. Wonderful flavors to add to our meal! Mac and Cheese Gratin, Broccoli Casserole with Rodeo Cheese and Crispy Shallots, Cabbage and Fennel Slaw, and Grits with Fennel Jam. 

Hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to it would be that amazing Broccoli Casserole!

Well, our dinner wouldn't be complete without dessert, and The Cook and The Bear rose to the occasion with some seasonal happy endings! 

Think of flavors like pumpkin pie, and apple spice, and you've got  just a bit of an inkling of what's in store for you at this incredible new barbecue restaurant!

Be sure you visit The Cook and the Bear soon!

The Cook and The Bear

50 Memorial Road
Blue Back Square
West Hartford, CT
860.595.3345
https://www.thecookandthebear.com

DISCLAIMER: We were invited to this sampling by members of The Cook and the bear's management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are our own.

© Home Place 2017

New Haven Barbecue at Bull and Swine

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Barbecue comes to New Haven at Bull & Swine on State Street!

Bull & Swine, a recently opened barbecue establishment on State Street in New Haven, does a great job of combining the major styles of BBQ into one central East Coast location! Merging the more traditional Carolina and Memphis styles that focus on pork, and Kansas City and Texas style which emphasize beef as well as poultry, owners Al Greenwood and Craig Hotchkiss have a winning combination in this homey and comfortable restaurant.

We received an invite to drop in and sample some of this New Haven's eatery's specialties a few weeks back and here are some of our favorites.

Bull & Swine Cocktails:

I just loved all the cocktails we sampled! Bull & Swine offers all sorts of specialties from gin to tequila - to vodka - to bourbons and whiskeys. The cocktails we ordered were from their specialty "nitro" menu and most were served in over-sized mason jars - each packing plenty of kick!

Bull & Swine
Specialty Nitro Cocktails

Like tequila? Me too! I especially love the smokey flavor of a good tequila. That's why 'hands down' my favorite cocktail of the night was the Smoked Watermelon Fresca made with Corralejo Silver, Xicaru Mezcal, a bit of watermelon, mint, and a splash of tonic.

Another favorite, True Blood, made with Boodles Gin, Raspberry Liqueur, Triple Sec, Lime Juice and Ginger Ale.

True Blood
Nitro Cocktail

Bull & Swine Appetizers

For appetizers we jumped in and ordered a bit of everything - from deviled eggs to grilled corn on the cob!

Here are some of our favorites!

Deviled Egg
Smoked Deviled Eggs with Chives, Dusted with BBQ Rub
Garnished with Okra

Fried Pickles &
Fried Okra
Served with a Creamy Chipolte Dip

The Sweet Heat Bacon (pictured below) was another favorite - but be prepared for the after heat! It's the perfect combo of hot and sweet made with a delicious habañero honey topping.

Pictured clockwise from top right
Fried Okra & Pickles, Deviled Eggs,
Elotes (Corn on the Cob with Sweet Pepper Butter),
Cajun Fries, Sweet Heat Bacon

Entrees and Sides

Time for the dinner! We tried everything from meatloaf, to sausage, to chicken, to brisket.

And for sides, everything from collard greens to potato salad. There's truly something for everyone at Bull & Swine - and most entrees come in half and whole portions. Perfect for when you're REALLY HUNGRY! Or for when you just want that perfectly paired portion.

Favorite sides? The Mac & Cheese and the Grits! Oh, the GRITS, yup, they were pretty dad-gumb good for being cooked this side of the Mason-Dixon Line. They were creamy, cheesy, and cooked perfectly!

Clockwise, from top right
Mac & Cheese, Grits, Corn Bread, Dill Potato Salad
Cole Slaw, Sweet Potato Mash
Center, Collard Greens

The Island Chicken, incredibly moist, jerk marinated, smoked, and then buttermilk fried to retain all that amazing flavor.

But, oh, the BRISKET! Flavorful, moist, and delicious. In spite of the array of tempting table top sauces, I ate this just as Chef Paul Cordero prepared it - with its wonderful crispy and tasty rub sans sauce. No need to slather that baby with anything!

Brisket

Dessert at Bull & Swine

For dessert we went with what I called the "Holy Trinity" ! A Peach Pie, a Sweet Potato Fluff, and a pretty decent Apple Pie Crisp.

Peach Pie
Sweet Potato Fluff
Apple Pie Crisp

If you are looking for some homey barbecue in the New Haven area - stop by Bull & Swine and get that brisket! And grits. And those fried pickles!! Yum! Can't wait to go back for more!

Bull & Swine

969 State Street
New Haven, CT 06511
 203-915-6806
http://bullswine.com/index.php

Disclaimer: We were invited to this sampling as guests of Bull & Swine's management, however, all opinions are our own.

Johnny Utah's Country Fun in Connecticut

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Two Step over the Threshold to Johnny Utah's in SoNo

In the township known as South Norwalk or SoNo for short, is a community of small shops, boutiques, and some of Fairfield county's best restaurants.

We finally were able to make it up to one we've been waiting to try for what seems like forever, Johnny Utah's on Washington Street in South Norwalk.

Why have we been so anxious to try this place?

How about it's a country-western inspired destination that I knew my husband (aka the cowboy) would love - and it serves great Americana pub food with a fun flair that I knew I would adore!

How country-western is it? Try a mechanical bull, a beer can flag wall, deer antler chandeliers, and cowhide covered chairs and booths! And country line dancing on Friday nights!

What? A bucking bronco is not your thing?

How about a swing over the back bar on your way to the outhouse instead?

What ever your thing, Johnny Utah's is a fun destination to grab some great bar grub and have a good time.  Operated by the same management group who oversee Stamford's popular Sign of the Whale at Harbor Point, Johnny Utah’s is a one-of-a-kind social hybrid which embraces its inner Blake Shelton, wrapped in Cowboy Boots, Old No. 7 Jack Daniels Sippin' Whiskey,  Respectable BBQ, Burgers and Brews.

Here's a snapshot pictorial of some of the items we sampled on our visit.

Cocktails at Johnny Utah's

The Johnny Utah Moscow Mule

 The Johnny Utah (Jim Beam Ghost White Whiskey,
coconut rum, spiced rum, pineapple and cranberry juice);

Appetizers / Small Plates / Sides at Johnny Utah's

Lo and Slo Barbecue Ribs

Johnny Utahs Down Home Chili

Johnny Utah Fries

 Onion Tumbleweeds
(thinly sliced onions battered and fried and served with chipotle mayo)

Johnny Utah's Egg Rolls

And we really had some fun with Johnny Utah's over the top chicken wings prepared every which way! lightly dusted and deep fried and sauced up, Guinness, Sriracha, house spicy, teriyaki, or even smothered with peanut butter and jelly and served with a Fluff dipping sauce. You name it! They make it!

Johnny Utah's Wings

Burgers at Johnny Utah's in South Norwalk

The true stars of the show that night were the 10 ounce grass fed, certified all natural beef burgers in every shape and form that are available. This juicy, all natural, naked burger can be topped with any number of saucy, cheesy, fried, cold, hot, or even healthy additions. Because a fried egg is considered healthy, right???

Johnny Utah's Burger
The simple burger is always best
Red Onions, Tomatoes, and Crisp Lettuce

Johnny Utah's Burger
Is it a nacho or is it a burger?
With Spicy Pepper Jack Cheese, Jalapenos, and Peppers

Johnny Utah's Burger
Man oh Man! With Mushrooms and Fried Onions

Johnny Utah's Burger
With Diced Peppers, Tomatoes, Garlic, Onion
and Slices of Red Onion on a Brioche Bun

Johnny Utah's Burger
The Breakfast Burger with a Fried Egg
Cheddar Cheese and Slab Bacon

Johnny Utah's Burger
Red Peppers and Grilled Onions with Melted Artisan Cheese

And you can even have a pulled pork selection

Johnny Utah's Pulled Pork
Jalapenos, Cheddar Cheese and BBQ Sauce

Or, the Big Bucking Burger, a beautiful burger stuffed between TWO grilled cheese sandwiches (on the top and the bottom of course) slathered with pulled pork, with slab bacon, lettuce, tomato and house made burger sauce.

The Big Bucking Burger
at Johnny Utah's in South Norwalk

Dessert Milkshakes at Johnny Utah's

Believe it or not after all that beef we saved some room for dessert. This dessert came more in the liquid form as in some decadent summer milkshakes. Flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake topped with Hershey's chocolate bar, Reese’s peanut butter cups, whipped cream and roasted marshmallows, Cookies & Cream Milkshake topped with cookie crisp, whipped cream and Oreos, Cherry Milkshake blended with skittles, rimmed with vanilla frosting and various candies, topped with whipped cream, skittle shavings, a cherry pop-tart and cherry pie, Blueberry Milkshake rimmed and topped with vanilla frosting blueberries, blueberry muffins and whipped cream, Vanilla Milkshake blended with bits of bacon topped with bacon, whipped cream and French fries. (well, maybe we should have tried that one for dinner instead!)

Johnny Utah's Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake

Johnny Utah's Blueberry Muffin Milkshake

So, embrace your inner Johnny Cash or Brad Paisley or Patsy Cline or Miranda Lambert and head on down to Johnny Utah's for some country western fun and grub!

And, best of all, it's cowboy approved!

Johnny Utah's SoNo

80 Washington Street
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854
203.299.0711
http://www.johnnyutahssono.com/


Disclaimer: We were invited to this sampling event by members of Johnny Utah's management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions expressed are our own.


© Home Place 2016