Cookie Crawl through New Haven #NHVcookies

Social Media Promotion

This month we were able to participate in one of my favorite events courtesy of the folks from @DowntownNHV at ....

New Haven's First Friday!

Through seasonal months, on the first Friday of the month, the downtown New Haven peeps, celebrate all that is wonderful about the Greatest Small City in America (GSCIA) and throw a different "crawl" type event!  Each month has a theme, and December's theme has traditionally been about COOKIES!!!

Yup! In spite of being known mostly for pizza and a certain ivy league college - New Haven also has some pretty terrific bakeries and restaurants that donate cookies to this sweet event! After being called #CookiesOn9 for the past few years, this year they decided to spread out beyond the historic 9th Square into more parts of downtown New Haven. Woot! Woot! That just made it bigger and better than ever - and to incorporate more of the city it's now headlined #NHVcookies!

We checked in and received our cookie totes - and were asked if we were interested in taking part in one of Baobab Tree Studio's latest projects, the  "New Haven Story Project" - this one highlighting holiday cookie stories!

Photo Source: BaoBab Tree Studios Facebook Page

We shared some of our stories about cookie disasters (me) - and who our cookie bakers are (Gayle) and how our baking traditions all were passed down from our grandmother's kitchens (Carol). It was great fun to be in the recording studio and be part of this home grown initiative! (Learn more about the New Haven Story Project HERE)

Then we commenced with the cookie crawl!

In no particular order, here are some of the places we stopped. Some were cookie stops, and others were beverage stops, and there were also places to go for fun children's activities.

Claire's Cornercopia, known for their vegan menu, was offering up gluten free coconut macaroons and vegan pumpkin cookies.

Claire's Corner Copia 
(pumpkin vegan and gluten-free macaroons)

Capture Salon is one of the prettiest places we stop at as the interior is beautiful and they decorate for the holidays in the most amazing ways! The red and white theme matches their contributing "peppermint" hot chocolate! This year they offered fun holiday gear for photo ops and gifted us with keepsake Capture cups!

Capture Salon 
(Hot Chocolate)

G Cafe was serving up some chocolately good cookies!  YUM!

G Cafe Bakery 
(Flourless Chocolate cookies)

We had a lot of fun at English Building Market (EBM) and owner Carol snapped this picture of our visit and shared it on her IG feed!

Photo Source: EBM New Haven Instagram

And we absolutely adored perusing the aisles at English Building Market and seeing their one of a kind vintage items. And what fun it has been following their 12 days of Christmas spin on Instagram

English Building Market (Peppermint Crunch cookies)

Fletcher Cameron was one of our first stops and we love the sleek lines of their kitchen design decor - and these cookies...yeh, we loved those too!!!

Fletcher Cameron 
(Whole Wheat Ginger Snaps)

Thali was a great place to relax at their bar for a minute in their Zen lounge area!

Thali 
(Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut cookies)

This was my first time at Idiom Boutique - and it certainly had a little something for everyone - jewelry, clothing, and beautiful accessories.

Idiom
(Simply Sugar cookies)

Trinity was dishing out some delicious cookies too! And we just love talking to everyone there and hearing the lilt of an Irish accent!

Trinity Bar
(Toffee Coffee Crunch cookies)

We couldn't help but drool over both the AMAZING dresses at Bridal Trousseau and the cookies! Who wouldn't love to spend a day there trying on those gorgeous bridal designs!

Inspired Bridal
(Chocolate Chunk w/ Flax Seed cookies)

Meat and Co. may be a tiny space but they have an amazing menu! Check out the big flavor of sandwiches at Meat & Co.! And OMG - they have liverwurst on the menu for whenever you have a hankering for some big bold tastes!

Meat & Co.
(Nutella Peanut Butter & Chocolate cookies)

Always one of our favorite shops is visiting Neville and Lauren at Neville's Design Studio on Orange Street! What fun to pick up some cookies and look at some amazing fashions - designed and made right here in New Haven Connecticut!

Neville Wisdom Fashion Design Studio
(Ginger Cookies from Katalina's Bakery)

Another 'first' for us was our stop at Ordinary! What a beautiful place and we can't wait to go back for dinner!

Ordinary
 (Home made Chocolate Chip cookies)

Who loves warm cider?? I do! I do! And this cup of steaming hot cider at INFO New Haven certainly hit the spot with some cinnamon apple goodness on a cold winter's night!

INFO New Haven
 (Hot Cider & Coffee)
Coffee Courtesy of Elm City Games!

Unfortunately we didn't make it to all of the stops - here are some of the ones we missed!

• 101 Art Threads (Vegan Chocolate Chip cookies)
• Duc's Place (Vietnamese Sesame balls)
• Cedarhurst Cafe (White Chocolate Cranberry cookie)
• Artist & Craftsman (Secret Cookie Stop) 
• Vovo Organics (Hot Tea) 
• EcoWorks (Raspberry Sandwich Cookies from Sweet Mary's) Fortune cookie activity. 

We had such a great time visiting with the local merchants and we are already making plans for our next New Haven visit -- Although it's not a "First Friday" event - it's a fun one none the less --

 Next up is Info New Haven's Flights of Fancy Winter 2017 Crawl! 

That's right! This creative and for 21+ only crawl takes place on Thursday, January 26th 2017 and is produced by Town Green District, with support from The Broadway Merchants Association, The Shubert Theatre, and participating merchants!

ONLINE REGISTRATION for Flights of Fancy: www.squadup.com/events/flights/

Hope to see you at an upcoming crawl soon!


© Home Place 2016

Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters and Two Roads Brewery

Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters Collaborates with
CT Beer Icon Two Roads Brewery
To Create Espressway Cold-Brew Coffee Stout

If there's one thing I love it's a great coffee stout! So you can imagine how excited I am to hear that Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters is pairing up with Two Roads Brewing to create Espressway Cold-Brew Coffee Stout!

A little background on Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters... they are Fairfield County’s first and only 100% USDA* Certified Organic & Artisan Coffee Roaster, and continue to evolve as the region’s premiere coffee roaster, supplying their small batch roasted coffee to specialty markets and high-end restaurants and cafes throughout the state.

Owner Ed Freedman, who recently added Running Rapids Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew Coffee to his repertoire, can now lead consumers to a different type of “brew” which utilizes his premium roasts with the launch of Two Roads’ newest year-round beer style – Espressway Cold-Brew Coffee Stout. Espressway merges the flavors of Shearwater’s locally-roasted, organic Ethiopian/Sumatra blend of coffee beans with a rich oatmeal stout utilizing a proprietary cold brew beer process.

 Two Roads combines Shearwater’s ground coffee with their oatmeal stout under pressure (like espresso but without the steam) using Two Roads’ German-built “Brewnik” device. The coffee then steeps in the stout for several days, resulting in a true, cold-brewed coffee stout. The end product has the aroma of fresh ground coffee and the distinctive taste of roasted English malts with the nuance of light brown sugar and cold-brew coffee.

"I’m thrilled to be a part of this process “beams Ed, “It further reinforces the quality and rich flavor of the coffee we are producing and the diversity in its uses."

Two Roads’ brewers went through extensive coffee training with Shearwater in order to secure the right blend of beans and brew. From “coffee cupping” classes to extensive tasting sessions with Ed, Two Roads spent months in search of the perfect coffee to complement the full-bodied stout taste.

“I really enjoyed working with Ed Freedman of Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters and my old friend Gerry ‘The Educated Bean’ Nichols, who has become quite the legit coffee expert,” added Two Roads Brewmaster Phil Markowski.

Espressway will be sold in all Two Roads markets on draft starting in late February and in six pack bottles starting in mid-March. The draft version will also be previewed at their first annual Winter Classic outdoor event at the brewery on February 20th.


Shearwater is a family owned and run business. With over two decades of coffee roasting experience, Ed took his passion for producing high quality coffee from the home-roaster stage to a full USDA certified organic 2,000 square foot production facility in Trumbull in 2013. Shearwater Organic Coffee Roaster’s commitment to creating a premium organic product, and their presence as a local artisan producer, is the cornerstone of their success. www.shearwatercoffeeroasters.com/

Valentine's Day in West Hartford at A'vert and Treva

The most romantic day of the year is approaching! 

Valentine's Day!

Here's what some local Connecticut establishments in the Hartford area have in store for you and someone you love!

Both are offering a three course brunch menu (for $45 per person, including a glass of champagne), and a four course dinner menu (for $69 per person) on Valentine’s Day.

Treva Restaurant is Chef Dorjan Puka’s signature Italian Restaurant.

Its sister restaurant, A’vert Brasserie, features a French menu with romantic, bistro style dining.

Both restaurants are located in the heart of West Hartford.

A’vert Brasserie

www.avertbrasserie.com
35 A LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: 860-904-6240
Valentine's Brunch==> Menu
Valentine's Dinner ==> Menu

Treva Restaurant 

www.trevact.com
980 Farmington Ave
West Hartford, CT 06107 
860-232-0407
Valentine's Brunch==> Menu
Valentine's Dinner ==> Menu


Reservations are recommended.

Flights of Fancy 2016 in New Haven CT

Flights of Fancy Returns to New Haven!

That's right, New Haven's BIGGEST wine crawl, Flights of Fancy returns this January to the Chapel Street Historic and Broadway Districts on Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 5-8 P.M.

Join the fun for an evening of shopping, mingling, and wine tasting.

Participation for the public is $20* and includes the exclusive Flights of Fancy wine glass, a sample of each featured wine, a map of participating shops, entry into the grand prize drawing, validated parking, coffee and dessert.

Flights of Fancy is sponsored by The Broadway Merchants Association, The Wine Thief, The Study at Yale Hotel, and organized by the Town Green Special Services District. Online registration will close at 11:00pm on Wednesday, January 27.

Online registration will close at 11:00pm on Wednesday, January 27.

CLICK here for tickets==>> http://flightsjan2016.bpt.me/

Walk-in registration will be available at The Study at Yale.

Live music, raffles and more!

REMEMBER, Free parking is available with event validation at The York Street Garage, 150 York Street.

PARTICIPANTS:

•Ashley’s Ice Cream (280 York St.)
•Barbour (27 Broadway)
•Blue State Coffee (276 York St.)
•Campus Customs (57 Broadway)
•Canditopia (1022 Chapel St.)
•Denali (13 Broadway)
•Derek Simpson Goldsmith (1094 Chapel St.)
•Elm City Social (266 College St.)
•Harvest (1104 Chapel St.)
•Hello Boutique (1090 Chapel St.)
•Hull’s Art Supply (1144 Chapel St.)
•Idiom Boutique (1014 Chapel St.)
•J. Press (206 College St.)
•L’Occitaine en Provence (1042 Chapel St.)
•Lou Lou (23 Broadway)
•Merwin’s Art Supply (1052 Chapel St.)
•SHiFT Cycling (199 Crown St.)
•Thali Too (65 Broadway)
•The Green Teahouse (1008 Chapel St.)
•Trailblazer (296 Elm St.)
•Willoughby’s Coffee (194 York St.)
•Yale University Bookstore (77 Broadway)
•Yorkside Pizza (288 York St.)
•Yurway Boutique (1130 Chapel St.)

*Some exclusions may apply. Participation is limited to 650 attendees. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Valid ID required. You must be present to win.

Stags' Leap Wine Dinner at Fresh Salt Restaurant in Old Saybrook CT

Fresh Salt Restaurant at Saybrook Point To Host Exquisite Stags’ Leap Wine Dinner

Photo Source: Saybrook Point Inn and Spa Facebook Event Page

Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point is hosting an elegant opportunity for guests to experience one of Napa Valley’s finest winemaking estates. On Friday, January 22, the award-winning AAA Four Diamond restaurant will present an exquisite wine dinner featuring an exclusive selection of whites and reds by the Stags’ Leap Wine Cellars of Napa, California.


Guests will enjoy Chef de Cuisine John Cortesi’s creative dishes expertly prepared using the freshest locally grown ingredients.

This luxurious 4-course food and wine experience begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception featuring imported and domestic cheeses along with assorted bruschetta, followed by a Potato Encrusted Diver Scallop with Osetra Caviar and Crème Fraiche, paired with Aveta Sauvignon Blanc 2012.

The second course on the menu features Herb Seared Halibut Cheeks with celery root puree, grilled zucchini and leek and sweet potato gnocchi, paired with “Hands of Time” Chardonnay 2012.

The third course offers a wonderful Pan Roasted Venison Loin with caramelized shallot and fig pudding, white asparagus and blackberry demi-gace, paired with “Hands of Time” Red Blend 2012.

The fourth course of the evening features Candied Bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon, Seared Foie Gras and Wild Mushrooms in a Puff Pastry with glazed organic carrots and Pinot Noir demi-glace, paired with Artemis Cabernet 2012.

Notable for being the winery that won the Cabernet Sauvignon competition in the 1976 Judgment of Paris, Stags’ Leap was founded in 1970 on Napa Valley's eastern side. The 240-acre estate features 90 acres of vineyards among the watershed of the Stags Leap Palisades where wine grapes have grown continuously since the 1880s. Considered one of California’s earliest wine estates, Stags’ Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.


This sumptuous culinary experience will feature a delightful 4-course menu paired with exclusive selection of reds and whites from one of Napa Valley’s finest wine making estates that you won't want to miss!

The Stags’ Leap Wine Dinner at Saybrook Point’s Fresh Salt is $99.50/person plus tax and gratuity.

Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point

2 Bridge Street
Old Saybrook, CT 06475

http://www.saybrook.com/restaurant/

Reservations are required and may be made by calling 860.395.2000.

St. Patrick's Celebrations all Week at Parallel Post in Trumbull CT

Social Media Promotion

The Luck of the Irish - Parallel Post Celebrates St. Patty's Day with Weeklong Specials ‏            

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Parallel Post at the Trumbull Marriott in Trumbull CT is switching things up by offering patrons a week-long opportunity to celebrate and enjoy traditional Irish menu samplings. 

That's right! The Irish are coming to Parallel Post!

From Tuesday, March 10 through Tuesday, March 17, get into the shamrock spirit and enjoy dishes such as Corned Beef Sandwiches, Shepherd's Pie, and Irish Themed Cocktails!

Never one to pass up a good Irish meal - we ventured out to Trumbull this weekend to sample some good Irish fare!  Our hosts for the evening were Chef Chris and Mixologist Greg (aka Bootleg Greg!)

Bootleg Greg and Chef Chris Molyneaux

We started with that delicious Corned Beef Sandwich! Made with house cured corned beef!

Corned Beef Sandwich made with sliced house cured corned beef,
stone ground mustard, Gruyere cheese served on Peasant Rye Bread ($9) 

And then moved on to the delicious Shepherd's Pie! So good we asked for spoons to get every last morsel!

"Ox Hollow" Shepherd's Pie with sautéed beef, 
seasonal vegetables, and truffle mashed potatoes ($17)  

And the Irish Breathylzer was minty good! Similar to a grasshopper - but a bit more potent!

Irish Breathalyzer Test Cocktail 
blended with Godiva, Creme de Menthe and Vodka ($8). 

Irish Breathlyzer Test cocktail recipe 

1 part Godiva  

1 part Creme de Menthe  

1 part White Godiva 

1 1/2 vodka   

Combine all ingredients and shake well.  Garnish with Irish colored thin mints or colorful candies

Of course we finished the night with some amazing desserts!

And we finished the night off with an Irish Coffee!

The Irish Specials are all available through March 17th, 2015!  

The Irish are Coming to Parallel Post!

My sister Sue and Me!

Stop by and enjoy some modern Irish Fare now until March 17, 2015!

Parallel Post Restaurant

180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull CT 06611

Phone/Reservations  203-380-6380

Located in the Trumbull Marriott - Merritt Parkway

On the Web: http://parallelpostrestaurant.com/

Like them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ParallelPost

Follow them on twitter: https://twitter.com/ParallelPostCT

 visit www.parallelpostrestaurant.com for more information

Overseen by James Beard nominated Chef Dean James Max, Parallel Post  www.parallelpostrestaurant.com is a modern-American restaurant based in Trumbull, CT. focused on seasonal and regional cuisine. Offering a bold and flavorful menu featuring modern American cuisine with Northeastern regional flair, Parallel Post brings an unseen level of quality and creativity to the culinary landscape of Trumbull, Connecticut. The intimate, yet casual eatery uses seasonal, local ingredients prepared with contemporary, healthy techniques. The menu is comprised of a wide array of options from snacks to small plates, large entree, and a multi-course tasting menu. 

********

Disclaimer: Although some of the items shown in this post were complimentary through Parallel Post's Marketing and Management, the views expressed are herein our own. 

Viale Italian Ristorante in Bridgeport CT

Some of the best kept secrets in Connecticut are the amazing restaurants found throughout the state.

And one of the coziest places we've found recently is Viale Ristorante in Bridgeport CT!

Viale  Ristorante in Bridgeport CT

Located on Fairfield Avenune in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, Viale Ristorante has been serving fine Italian food since 2005. Walking in to Viale is like stepping back through time, when dining out felt special, food wasn't overly-complicated or pretentious, and the atmosphere was friendly and fun.

Well...welcome to Viale Ristorante, where music is soft in the background, service is fast - but not rushed, and enjoying great food with good friends is encouraged!

We started with some delicious crusty bread (made on premise) and some great red wine. You know you're at a traditional Italian restaurant when a cruet of fine olive oil, and both parmesan and crushed red pepper are on the table when you arrive!

Appetizers
Luckily, we were with a group of six and decided to share appetizers, so we each selected one apiece and passed our plates around!

We ordered some traditional favorites like the Viale Antipasto, Broccoli Rabe, and the day's special a creamy Burrato; some seafood, Calamari Meditteranean and Garlic Grilled Shrimp; and a simple salad, the Iceburg Wedge, that wasn't simple at all! It was packed with a creamy dressing and bacon pieces!

Viale Antipasto

Broccoli Rabe

This was the first time I've sampled Viale's Burrata Mozzarella and it was wonderful! So creamy good, made from mozzarella and fresh cream and was the perfect consistancy to mix with the red peppers, fresh tomatoes, pesto, and greens served with it.  Did you know that the word "burrata" means "buttered" in Italian.

Burrata Mozzarella

The Mediterranean Calamari was another beautiful dish and we loved the aromatic herbs, olives, and red peppers that flavored the dish.

Mediterranean Calamari

Iceburg Wedge

The shrimp was perfectly prepared and the toasty grilled garlic added a wonderful zest to the dish. And see that beautiful light garlic and herb infused oil? It was mopped clean with some of Viale's baked on premise crusty bread! Mmmmm good!

Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Entrees
We ordered a wide variety of dinners too! Everything from a pasta, to seafood, to pork, chicken, and beef! That's the great thing about going out with a group of people - you get to see, (and if you're really good friends, you get to sample - chuckle-chuckle) a bit of everything and find out what YOU might like to order the NEXT time you return!

Lasagna

Pork Chops Scarpielo

Look at this rich sauce on the Shrimp Fra Diavlo! Did you know that Fra Diavlo translates loosely to "brother of the devil" - referring to the spicy hot fire from the spicy hot sauce! But don't let the definition scare you off, because we felt that this sauce packed more of a "medium" heat than a super hot fire - and was the perfect blend of spicy goodness!

Shrimp Fra Diavlo

Rich decadent Gorgonzola cheese made this chicken dish sing - and the mushrooms added an earthy and grounded flavor.

Chicken Gorgonzola

And I absolutely loved my dinner, a beautiful dish of Zuppa di Pésce. Although the name means "Fish Stew" - it's actually a seafood pasta dish.. This one was delicious! The pasta (linguine) was cooked to a perfect al dente (still firm)  - and it was chock full of sweet mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, and scallops, gently covered with a wonderfully light broth-like and flavorful sauce.

Zuppa di Pésce

And look at this beautiful rib-eye, which was char-grilled beautifully, and cooked to a perfect medium rare.

Ribeye Steak

Desserts
Believe it or not, after all this food we decided we simply had to sample dessert as well, ordering a medley of some of Patricia's made on premise cakes and treats.

Blueberry Creme Roll

Carrot Cake

Tiramasu

While each dessert was incredibly good - I'm still raving over the New York Style Cheesecake which was quite possibly the best I've ever had. In spite of being creamy rich - it was also light. Even after all that food, it hit the sweet spot and felt like the perfect ending to a wonderful night with good friends and great food!

Over dessert we toasted happy birthday to me (YES to me!!!) over some sweet dessert wine and my favorite after dinner drink, an espresso martini, with three beans reflecting health, wealth, and happiness in the coming year.

Dessert Wine and an Espresso Martini

It's no surprise that Viale Ristorante is standing the test of time. After almost ten years you know they're doing something right!  Be sure you visit them soon.

Viale Ristorante Bar and Grill

3171 Fairfield Ave

Bridgeport, CT 06605

Phone:

(203) 610-6193

On the Web: http://www.vialeristorante.com/index.php

Like them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viale-Ristorante/274047240426

Follow them on Instagram: http://instagram.com/vialerist

Disclaimer: We were invited to this menu sampling by members of Viale's public relations and management team. However, all opinions are our own.