Branford Restaurant Week 2013 - Jalapeno Heaven

Review

It's Branford CT's 2nd Annual Restaurant Week!

#BranfordRestaurantWeek2013 
April 14th through the 20th 2013

And although last year we were able to go to about five participating restaurants, this week was so busy that we were only able to squeeze in two!  But those two were FANTASTIC! If you'll remember, in a previous post we told you about our visit to Ballou's Wine Bar.

Moving on, for our second stop for Branford Restaurant Week 2013 was with our good friends at Jalapeno Heaven!

Saturday night we set out for Jalapeno Heaven as guests of the Flores family who have owned and operated Jalapeno Heaven since 1992.

Jalapeno Heaven is such a great place to go.  Always cozy, always fun, my favorite part of going is entering the parking lot and smelling all the good food grilling and cooking! The sign of a great restaurant!

Of course, as soon as we were seated, our good friend Ellen, who was waiting on us, brought over the customary basket of warm chips with two kinds of made on premise salsas, the traditional red salsa, and a salsa verde.

For beverages, I started with a Karma Tequila Margarita, on the rocks with salt, and I also sipped on a tiny little bit of Karma Tequila  neat, separately in a snifter, as I wanted to sample this 100% blue agave tequila on its own. It was light but flavorful, with a distinctly smooth and mellow taste, and just the right amount of "heat".

Jalapeno Heaven had a couple of great specials for Branford Restaurant Week, but we decided to go with the "order two entrees and receive a complimentary appetizer"

For our appetizer we ordered Mexican Crab Cakes, listed in the menu as: Four spicy crab cakes served on a bed of our spicy con queso sauce, garnished with scallions, tomatoes and sour cream.

I know what you're thinking, and the answer is YES!  They taste just as good as they look!

For our entrees, the cowboy ordered Chili Dogs: Oscar Mayer goes Tijuana with two hot dogs in rolls topped with Hector’s chili and melted cheese...

and I ordered the Tequila Lime Shrimp Combo: Four jumbo tail on shrimp tequila lime marinated then char grilled. Served with one tangy Mexican shrimp cake over a bed of fresh spinach and then drizzled with a warm tequila lime sauce.

I cannot begin to tell you how good this was.  Three days later, as I am writing this post, my mouth is still watering for the tequila lime sauce that flavors this dish.

We decided to go ahead and split a dessert as well, and ordered Jalapeno Heaven's Bananas Foster. This delicious dessert is flambeed tableside and served over creamy vanilla ice cream. I even videotaped Ellen's tableside presentation...go ahead, view it...and ENJOY! I certainly did!!!!

press the arrow to begin

Don't try this at home without instruction!  

Staff members are well trained in this technique.

If you live in the Branford area, or if you are traveling through the southeast Connecticut shoreline, I highly recommend Jalapeno Heaven!  It's a cute little place with loads of charm...and the food is amazing.  The best thing is that the staff is super-knowledgeable about all the food, and if you have any questions they are always happy to help with answers.

There's also a full takeout menu, a seasonal patio, and upstairs cantina/lounge, a huge vegetarian menu, a "lite" creations offerings menu, and for the "gringos" there's plenty of gringo-food!

We truly enjoyed participating in #BranfordRestaurantWeek2013 and visiting Jalapeno Heaven!

Jalapeno Heaven is open year round and accepts most major credit cards.

Jalapeno Heaven

40 North Main Street

Branford, CT 06405

203.481.6759

Website: www.jalapeno-heaven.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jalapeno-Heaven/

twitter: @JalapenoHeaven1

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Have you visited any restaurants for Branford Restaurant Week 2013?

Do you have a favorite Mexican dish?

I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

Disclaimer: We were the guests of Jalapeno Heaven for this visit, however, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Margaritas & Manicures with SensatioNails, L'Oreal Paris, & Master of Mixes

This weekend the Sweeties Reviews Team asked the CT Blogging Community and friends to participate in a Margaritas and Manicures (#margaritasmanicures) Product Review and Party Event.

Products that were featured were SensatioNail, a gel nail polish kit,

Master of Mixes Margarita Mix (traditional and strawberry),

and L'Oreal of Paris Nail Polish Products

And, to top it off, the great folks at Jalapeno Heaven in Branford, CT sent over some delicious chips, salsa, guacamole, potato poppers, popper bites, and mini-chimichangas to go along with the Margaritas!

What a great time everyone had!

Let's start with the SensatioNail Starter Kit. The starter kit comes with the Pro 3060 LED lamp, gel cleaner, gel primer, color gel polish, and gel base and top coat.  Everything you need to get started!

There's a multi-step process that must take place when using SensatioNail, just like when gel nail polish is applied in a salon. The drying, or "curing" process between steps is critical in order to obtain maximum results.  The good news, the curing is quick, and only requires 30-60 seconds under the LED lamp, depending on which step you're on.

You MUST use the LED lamp to cure between each step.

The SensatioNail polish itself drys immediately upon application - it's truly AMAZING.  Best of all - they have such a wide array of colors.  I used color #71594 taupe tulips (shown below to the right).  It truly is INVINCIBLE nail polish and should go two weeks without chipping when applied correctly.

 (L)gel top coat--and polish(R)  

It's a relatively easy process to do by yourself.  Here, Hilary from My Own Blog Review applies a coat of polish. You can read Hilary's review, which includes directions (!!!) by clicking: HERE

We were lucky to have a designated (non-drinking!) bartender in Nicole from OberBargains preparing the frozen margaritas for the review crew. 

This was my first time trying Master of Mixes Margarita Mix and I was pleasantly surprised! 

I'm traditionally a purist and prefer my margaritas made from scratch with fresh lime juice, triple sec, and tequila.  The taste from Master of Mixes is almost the same as from scratch, with an ever so slightly sweeter flavor. Nice -- and natural tasting!  I will definitely use this mix for parties or when serving more than just a few people, as it is so much easier than squeezing all those limes (!!!) ... and the flavor is great!

Here's Wendy from Connecticut Bloggers and Sweeties Reviews, enjoying a much deserved mammoth margarita at our event!

Those who didn't use the gel nail polish used the L'Oreal of Paris Nail Polish and every participant completed a survey at the conclusion of the review and received a complimentary L'Oreal polish and professional emery board!

I loved the L'Oreal color I selected, #300, Walk on the Beach (seen above)!  What can I say?  I'm a beigey - beachy type of gal! It's a great neutral shade that I can wear every day, yet pretty enough that it will work for those special occasions!

All in all it was an informational and fun event!  

Here's a link to the Sweeties Review Wrap Up on Margaritas and Manicures: Click HERE

If you have an event you would like promoted or a product you would like reviewed by our group, 

please contact us at info@connecticutbloggers.com or http://sweetiesreviews.com/contact/  

Or contact me at homeplaceblogger@live.com

Have you tried any new nail products?  

How about margarita or drink mixes?

Did you like them? Why / Why Not?

Disclaimer: The products featured at this event were complimentary and provided by SensatioNail, L'Oreal, Master of Mixes, Jalapeno Heaven, and Sweeties Review.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Brunch at Jalapeno Heaven in Branford CT

During the month of August 2012 Jalapeno Heaven is featuring a scrumptious brunch - and last Sunday I was invited to be part of their promotion and partake in sampling some of their yummy brunch offerings.  Well --- OF COURSE I said YESSSS!!!!

Jalapeno Heaven is owned and operated by Gail and Hector Flores. I've been a friend of the Flores family ever since they returned to Connecticut.  Gail was born and raised in Branford, CT but moved to Florida in the 70s. Hector originates from Zacatecas Mexico and immigrated to the United States when he was 18. Hector and Gail met while she was managing a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and they married soon thereafter and returned to Gail's hometown in 1985 to fulfill their dream of starting a family and opening a restaurant.  Their beautiful daughter Nicole was born in 1987 and they opened their Mexican restaurant in Branford CT on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 1992.

I joined Nicole for brunch as soon as the restaurant opened at 10am and because we were "first" we contemplated whether to eat on the patio or in the dining room.

Air conditioning won out (83 and humid outside) and we started off with a mango mimosa to cool us down and celebrate Nic's last weekend in CT before returning to her work in upstate New York.

I ordered the Mango Mimosa, a frosty and refreshing libation - the perfect blend of bubbly Asti Spumonte sparkling wine and mango puree, with a sugared rim. Yes. I. had. a. drink. at. ten. in. the. morning. Don't judge!  (smile)

Also available was a Karma Tequila Bloody Mary, made with a balanced mixture of Karma Tequila, tomato juice, with a blend of spices, garnished with celery, lime and a salted rim.

And of course I had coffee! This is how it should always be served!  

See the steam coming off the top?  

Followed by a fruit plate which consisted of a fresh fruit salsa served with cinnamon sprinkled crispy flour tortillas.

Nicole ordered the Huevos Con Chorizo, three eggs sauteed with Chorizo sausage, served with home fries, refried beans and soft flour tortillas.

She piled the still warm tortilla with a mixture of everything. ( I helped myself to  She let me have a fork-full of the egg and chorizo mixture.  DELICIOUS!)

 I ordered the egg, potato, and cheese Breakfast Burrito.  Look at this beautiful baby!

Golden crispy on the outside and as light as air and fluffy on the inside.  Oh and cheesy, in fact, nice-n-stringy-cheesy!   My burrito was cooked perfectly.  My only regret was that I didn't ask for some tiny minced jalapenos to be tucked inside for a quick burst of heat with every bite.  And lazy me.  There are always jalapenos on the table at Jalapeno Heaven.  I could have just added my own!

Everything was OH SO GOOD and I was honored to be invited and  sample some of these brunch treats!

Thank you Gail, Hector and Nicole!  

Link to their brunch menu: Jalapeno Heaven August Promotional Brunch Menu  

and remember there are only two dates left to this special promotion!  Check out the Lobster and Scallop Omelet on page 1!  (I'll be there for that next week for sure!!!) Or the Chipolte Shrimp Omelette.  Or the Mexican Eggs Benedict. Ut.OH. So little time left. So many choices!!!

Come down and enjoy this promotion while it lasts

(Final dates 8-19-12 and 8-26-12)

and tell them Home Place sent you!

Jalapeno Heaven

40 North Main Street

Branford, CT 06405

203.481.6759

Disclaimer for the folks in the back:  I was a guest of the Flores family for brunch but the opinions expressed are those of my own.

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A Mother's Love...

It happened. Every mother’s nightmare.  In late February 2012, Glendina (Dina) Flores, a single mom living in Summerfield, Florida experienced every parent’s  worst fear. 

Dina’s only child, Bradley Reed, was in a horrific car accident.  Suffering from shock, and not knowing how injured he was after the accident, he was brought home by friends, where he “bled out” from his numerous internal injuries.

He was “life-flighted” (airlifted by helicopter) to Shands Memorial Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainseville.

Brad’s prognosis was grim.  He was pronounced dead 17 minutes before the helicopter arrived at Shands – but the air-medics refused to give up on him.  That was just the beginning.  He bled out several more times, during multiple surgeries on his lungs, spleen, intestines, and pancreas.  Day after day it seemed another organ was found to be injured or still bleeding, and another surgery was needed. After surgeries they couldn’t even suture him closed because of the swelling from so many internal organs being damaged.  For days Bradley was kept in a medically induced coma.

(I am so sorry but sometimes you need to see the graphic pictures)

I’m sure you can imagine the pain his mother was also in. Her boy, her “gumdrop” as she had always called him, was hurt badly.  Critically.  Most were telling her probably fatally. They were telling her it was likely her son, her gumdrop, wouldn’t make it.

Prior to each surgery, day after day, his surgeons summoned the barely functioning Dina to explain what they would be “trying” to do.  Each time they would tell her there wasn’t much hope, but they would do what they could.  They explained they didn’t want to give her false hope.  Dina, sobbing, would argue with these surgeons.  She would tell them they were going to do the best job they’ve ever done.  She told them how much she needed her gumdrop.  She showed them pictures of him.  She showed them phone texts where Gumdop and she exchanged “I love you” and “I love you more”. 

And the surgeons responded.  Surgeons who are used to cold clinical worlds responded.  From giving this mother daily grim diagnosis – they took to looking in on them. They took to calling Bradley “Gumdrop” as well.  Or "Super-Gumdrop."  They themselves were amazed at not only Bradley’s recovery, but their part in it. One miraculous surgery after another they succeeded in bringing Bradley Reed back from not just the brink of death, but from death itself. 

Each day Bradley improved is a testament to his will, to his surgeon’s skills, but mostly to his mother’s love.   His mother who would not, could not, let these surgeons give up.

Bradley has since been released from the hospital.  His prognosis is promising.  He will require more surgeries, but he will survive.  Thank God. Thank surgeons.  Thank the life-flight medics who didn’t give up.  

 Dina tells Bradley, "Don't worry - chicks dig scars"

Unfortunately there are now massive expenses.  Bradley had no health insurance.  In addition to the astronomic hospital bills, Dina is unable to work as she needs to care for Bradley until he fully recovers.  Dina’s parents have been trying to help, but as restaurant owners (Jalapeno Heaven, Branford, CT) in an economic downturn, they are reaching their limit as well. 

If you could help with a donation, please do.  If you can help by supporting them at their restaurant, please come.  Anything.  A dollar or two.  It all adds up.

It’s part of A Mother’s Love for  her Gumdrop.

 

(Gumdrop & Dina)

Link to: A Mother's Love - Fundraiser

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/dJkXd
You can also contact Gail Flores at Jalapeno Heaven
40 North Main Street, Branford, CT 06405
 Call 203.481.6697 or contact gflores40nmain@yahoo.com 

Super Gumdrop and his chief surgeon