Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill

Social Media Promotion: 

New Haven Restaurant Week at Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill

In the historic City Point neighborhood of New Haven, is a fairly new restaurant, Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, that opened in early spring of 2015.

Shell and Bones - Hot Apple Cider with Brandy

Overlooking Long Island Sound, at the site of the Pequonnock Yacht Club, Shell and Bones menu focuses on fresh seafood and steak - and all items are prepared on premise. Those familiar with the area will remember the location as site of the former Chart House, and more recently, Sage Bar & Grill. New owners, Daniel Kay, Marc Knight and Robert Bolduc (of Geronimo Bar & Grill) have completely renovated the ground floor restaurant, with a light and airy design and contemporary nautical theme that features the restaurant's amazing waterfront views, with a large waterside deck with firepits extending the short New England patio season well into fall.

I recently attended a social media event as a kick off to New Haven Restaurant Week - I just love that New Haven features both a spring and fall restaurant week so patrons can experience different seasonal menus and specialties. 

At this fall New Haven Restaurant Week cocktail event we were were treated to a wide array of Chef Arturo Franco Camacho's specialties.

Red Pepper and Olive Deviled Eggs

Clam Fritters with House Made Tartar Sauce
Served in a Shell!

Seafood Scallop Ceviche with Crunchy Tortilla Chips

Beef Satay

Crostini

Tuna Tartare

Sun Dried Tomato Bites

Oh my goodness - everything was so delicious! We can't wait to return! 

Shell and Bones
Small Bites

Here is what Shell and Bones has on the menu for you for their Fall version of #NHRW!

Be sure you visit Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill for New Haven Restaurant Week - or any night of the week, for that matter!

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar

100 S Water Street

New Haven, CT 06519

(203) 787-3466

http://shellandbones.com/

Disclaimer: I was invited to this New Haven Restaurant Week preview event by members of Shell and Bones management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are my own.

© Home Place 2016

Shop and Nosh at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Social Media Promotion : Sponsored

The Shoppes at Farmington Valley in Canton CT

Last week I traveled to the charming town of Canton CT after an invite from Bird Social Media to visit the Shoppes at Farmington Valley for a fun round of Shop & Nosh in Connecticut.

The Shoppes at Farmington Valley is quite frankly the MOST beautiful shopping center I've visited in Connecticut.

Throughout the open air shopping center is a myriad of  over-sized lushly filled flower pots, hanging baskets, and window boxes each containing vividly colored flowers. The surrounding grounds are  well manicured and full of greenery. In the background are the Litchfield Hills and Talcott Mountain and a natural babbling spring runs through the center.

The shoppes are worth the drive simply for the the views of the property!

The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

The anchor store is Kohls and there are approximately 45 specialty stores and eateries to visit like (Shop) Loft, J. Crew, White House Black Market, Chico's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Talbots, (Nosh) Feng Asian Bistro, Flatbread Company, and Chipolte.  There are even specialty stores like O'Live A Little (a gourmet specialty food store) and Simply Mac (an Apple partner that sells and services Macs). There's even a Stop & Shop to load up on the family groceries!

Located at 110 Albany Turnpike (Route 44) in Canton, Connecticut just over the Avon/Simsbury line, the Shoppes at Farmington Valley provides convenient free parking, and is just about an hour drive from my home in Branford in the greater New Haven area.

And there's always something going on! Like evening music, store sales, cooking demos, and more!
Check out their event schedule here => theshoppesatfarmingtonvalley.com/eventscalendar

Time to Nosh!

Let's start with the food! We were treated to some of the delicious specialties at Feng's Asian Bistro where we enjoyed the great weather and setting sun on their open air patio while sipping on cocktails and noshing on some great sushi and small bites.

Noshing At Feng Asian Bistro

Feng Asian Bistro - Patio
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Feng Asian Bistro
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Feng Asian Bistro Summer White Sangria

Feng Asian Bistro - Tuna Wonton

Feng Asian Bistro
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Feng Asian Bistro
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Time to Shop!

After filling up on some great sushi and sashimi as well as small bites at Feng, it was time to ease into some of the great shopping at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley!

Shopping At Loft

I love Loft's casual and feminine brand style - and especially fell in love with that navy and white polka dot top!

I'd mix the patterns and pair it with a small flowered print bottom.

Shopping At J. Crew

There was a great tropical safari theme going on in this corner of J Crew.  The muted earth tones are the perfect transition from summer to fall.

Shopping At Simply Mac

This was my first visit to a Simply Mac store who specialize in all Apple products, and both service and training.

Carrie from Poet in the Pantry tried some new photo lenses made just for iPhone photography.

Shopping At O'Live A Little

Our last stop of the night was at O'Live a Little a unique food boutique specializing in olive oils, vinegars, gift baskets and pottery.

And I loved the beautiful Himalayan salt blocks. Just what I had been searching for!

I loved this trip to the Shoppes at Farmington Valley! The area is so scenic - as is the center itself.

It's the perfect place to meet up with friends for lunch and shopping, or for a quick drink after work and picking up the evening meal. There are so many shoppes to visit and parking is plentiful!

Do visit them soon and have your own Shop & Nosh excursion!

The Shoppes of Farmington Valley

10 Albany Turnpike
Canton, CT 06019

http://www.theshoppesatfarmingtonvalley.com/

Disclaimer: I was invited to the Shoppes at Farmington Valley by members of their management and marketing team, however all views expressed are my own. 

© Home Place 2016

The Patio is Open at Rooftop 120 in Glastonbury CT

Sponsored: Social Media Promotion

It's finally spring in Connecticut! The temperatures are rising, spring menus are getting ready, and outdoor patios are open! We had an invite last weekend from Kat at Bird Social Media to visit Rooftop 120 in Glastonbury Connecticut and sample some of their NEW spring cocktails and items from their small plates menu.

This was my first time at Rooftop 120 - and my first time in this particular area in Glastonbury - an area that surely must be known as 'restaurant mecca"! There were some great restaurants that I had heard of all in this square block and Rooftop 120, with its third story location, overlooks them all with an absolutely amazing view of the area. Don't let the third floor scare you off - there is easy access via a lobby elevator.

We started off our tasting with a "Red Flavored" Strawberry Sangria - a fruity bright way to start the day!

Strawberry Sangria

Our first small plate sampling was the absolutely delicious Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Avocado Butter on a lightly toasted French Baguette. Seasoned  with a slightly spicy piquillo pepper relish this was a dream.

 Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Avocado Butter
on a lightly toasted French Baguette.

Next, we sampled what was likely one of the favorite cocktails of the day, the Havana Breeze, made with muddled lime and zesty mint, with coconut rum and lemonade. It was light and tasty and perfect for a summer afternoon rooftop gathering.

Havana Breeze

Then, we sampled the Nosh Watermelon, made with vodka, watermelon puree, and lemonade. So refreshing!

 Nosh Watermelon

We then moved on to our next sampling, the Smoked Salmon Rillete with pickled onions, chives, and a sour cream and green onion sauce, with a side of fresh greens with a blood orange vinaigrette. What fun this was to dig in and eat and I could have eaten every drop in that Mason Jar, scraped the sides, and licked the spoon clean. So good!!

Smoked Salmon Rillete
Salmon rillettes topped with a green onion sour cream
 grilled pita bread and a simple pickked green salad and citrus vinaigrette 

Smoked Salmon Rillete

Next up we paired a bit of Beef Tartar with a White Guava Cosmo. The tartar had a nice blend of pickled chilies with a mustard vinaigrette with fresh herbs, allowing for a hearty, but bright flavor profile.  And really, who doesn't love a pretty cosmo with an edible orchid garnish.

 Beef Tartar with a White Guava Cosmo

Our final food tasting was Octopus Bolognese made with squid ink pasta, a San Manzano sauce, and roasted tomatoes.

Octopus Bolognese

Our final cocktail sampling was another perfect patio cocktail, the Pineapple Mojito, with muddled mint, rum, lime, mixed with sour mix and pineapple juice.

My tablemates and I made a final toast to good friends, great food, delicious cocktails, and vowed to return as soon as we could to another patio afternoon at Rooftop 120 in Glastonbury Connecticut!

Pineapple Mojito

Be sure to visit Rooftop 120 and enjoy some fabulous food and fine cocktails on their patio and enjoy the view!

This ultra-chic restaurant is open year-round, and features an outdoor lounge with fire pits, small plates, shared plates, flat bread specialties, large plates, & signature cocktails. All that and weekend live music, too!

See more pictures  HERE on the Home Place facebook page

and while you're there don't forget to "like" us!

Rooftop 120

120 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone:(860) 430-9989
http://www.rooftop120.com/


Disclaimer: We received an invite to sample Rooftop 120's small plate and cocktail menu by members of the public relations and management team, however, all views expressed in the review are our own.

Cookshop Plus in West Hartford CT

West Hartford welcomes Cookshop Plus!

There's a new kitchen store in town! It's Cookshop Plus, located on Farmington Avenue in beautiful West Hartford CT. This fun store offers unique and useful kitchen and houseware items, and hosts some really fun events!

Cookshop Plus is the newest venture of Australian natives, Terry & Joanne Ryan and James & Samantha Hines.

The family also operates Cookshop Plus Bowral, which is located south of Sydney Australia.  

This unique and amazing store offers a wide range of products in their new location in West Hartford, from everyday kitchen gadgets to high end items, like Le Creuset and MasonCash Stoneware, to select, unique Australian products - such as Hutwoods Candles, which are handmade in Sydney.

In addition to bringing unique items from their native continent, the Cookshop Plus family is committed to sourcing locally within the community. They are proud to stock their in-store coffee bar with Neat Coffee and pastries from the Hartford Baking Company.

Cookshop Plus is excited to be a part of the West Hartford community and looks forward to serving their new customers in Connecticut.

Visit them soon!

Cookshop Plus
977 Farmington Ave
West Hartford, Connecticut
(860) 461-0667


Find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/cookshoppluswesthartford/ 

Shop The Blue Back Square in West Hartford CT

Social Media Promotion

 #ShopTheBlueBackSquare
#BlueBackSquare (Part II)

Last weekend I received an invitation from Kat of A Little Bird Told Me to attend a lunch and shopping promotional event at the beautiful Blue Back Square in West Hartford CT. Of course I was on board with this event! Shopping and Food? Count me in!

If you haven't already read my recap of Part One you can read it HERE. (It's all about lunch at Vinted Wine Bar and the merchants (ElyseRyan Jewelry  and Nelson Salon and Spa) that met with us there.)

And here is Part Two, all about the stores we visited at the Blue Back Square, West Elm Furniture Store, Ooh La La Boutique, and the NoRa Cupcake Company.

West Elm Furniture Store

I started at West Elm Furniture Store and almost didn't make it out. Seriously. This is a store you could spend all day in and still keep finding great little vignettes you didn't see the last time you walked by.

West Elm features modern furniture,  bedding, room decor, and dinnerware and offers complementary design services by their in-store style experts.

Here's a slideshow of more finds at West Elm Furniture Store.

West Elm Furniture Store is located at 91 Memorial Road in West Hartford's Blue Back Square.

For more on West Elm visit http://www.westelm.com/stores/us/ct/west-hartford-blue-back-square/

Ooh La La Boutique

Next I visited the cute little Ooh La La Boutique, whose items feature "the playful side of sophistication" !

#ShopTheBlueBackSquare at Ooh La La Boutique

I especially loved their jewelry and picked up a few sparkly statement necklaces for holiday parties and date nights!

#ShopTheBlueBackSquare at Ooh La La Boutique

And I absolutely ADORED this deep navy dress with a bold tomato red peony print! I was even more happy when I learned that fellow event attendee Rosa from the fashion and lifestyle blog Lady Diana's Pearls purchased it!

#ShopTheBlueBackSquare at Ooh La La Boutique

Find accessories, jewelry, scarves, dresses, and more at Ooh La La Boutique!

Ooh La La Boutique is located at 80 Memorial Road at the Blue Back Square in West Hartford.

For more on Ooh La La Boutique, visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/The-Ooh-La-La-Boutique

NoRa Cupcake Company

I finished my shopping at NoRa Cupcake Company, a company I was very familiar with - but had never been inside their store! Lucky me was in for a treat as I perused their seasonal cupcake flavors and settled on one special flavor to bring home to the resident grinch in our household. LOL!!

Shop the Blue Back Square at NoRA Cupcake

With all these amazing flavors of cupcakes, like Drunken Santa, Butterfinger, and Buddy the Elf, it was so hard to choose!

Shop the Blue Back Square at NoRA Cupcake

But I just couldn't resist the fun flavors of The Grinch! Chocolate coconut cake, white chocolate mousse filling, green vanilla bean frosting, and a smattering of shredded coconut. Hello YUM!

Shop the Blue Back Square at NoRA Cupcake

NoRa Cupcake Company is definitely NOT your mother’s cupcake company!
NoRA's recently opened at 103 Memorial Road in the Blue Back Square in West Hartford and their main shop is in Middletown CT. They also have a Lil' NoRA Cupcake Truck!

For more on NoRa Cupcake Company visit them at http://www.noracupcake.com/

Again thanks to Kat of A Little Bird Told Me for inviting me and to all the merchants who hosted us, West Elm Furniture Store,  Ooh La La Boutique, and the NoRa Cupcake Company!


For more information on the Blue Back Square visit http://www.bluebacksquare.com/

Read Part One of this event ==>  HERE.

For more pictures of this event 

visit the Home Place facebook page HERE

and while you're there, don't forget to "like" us!

Disclaimer: I was invited to this event by members of the merchants' public relations and marketing firms, however, all views expressed are my own.