SoNo Works - Virtual Office Days

 SoNo Works at the SoNo Collection

Exclusive Event 

Virtual Office Days!

You're invited!

Here's a fun event to take a break from your 'remote' working at home - and work from the SoNo Collection's Magnificent Room.

This is quite a different event that The SoNo Collection is hosting called SoNo Works “Virtual Office Days” by The SoNo Collection. 

This February 15th, 16th and 17th from 11am-6pm, give yourself permission to take a break from your home office, and experience The SoNo Collection's Magnificent Room. 

Here you can enjoy a complimentary Café Oui coffee card, lunch discounts at their Marketplace eateries, and enjoy a special Happy Hour from 5-6 PM at Pinstripes. Now that sounds like a productive work day!

Register to work on any of those select days here at: https://bit.ly/SONOWORKS

Plus, you can register for a free D1 Fitness Workout (morning, afternoon, or evening) on those days. What a great way to unwind during after a stressful work day! 

Sign up for your workout here: www.d1training.com/norwalk/try-us-free/ 

Where: 

The SoNo Collection

100 North Water Street

Norwalk, CT 06854

When:

February 15th, 16th and 17th from 11am-6pm

Carlson's Landing in Essex Connecticut

Social Media Promotion: Portions Sponsored        

New! In Essex Connecticut

If you're looking for scenic views, great food, and a gorgeous modern and airy setting, I've found the place for you! 

Look no further than Carlson's Landing in Essex Connecticut! We were recently invited to experience Carlson's at a sample menu tasting courtesy of owner Robert Rabine, and executive chef Kyle Bledsoe.

Owner Robert Rabine is the former owner / operator of Cafe Routier (Old Saybrook / Westbrook) and started fine-tuning  his Connecticut culinary heritage with stints at Robert Henry Restaurant (New Haven) and Cafe Lafayette (Madison). Connecticut shoreline locals will likely remember Robert's food and beverage column, the Oedipal Epicurean in the Shoreline Times (2011-2019). 

Carlon's Landing's newly built structure overlooks the Connecticut River and the River Museum. The beautiful exterior gives way to a bright, open, and tastefully decorated interior. 

The attention to detail is amazing, from the porthole arched door frame - to the mermaid door handle. 

Mermaid Door Handle

Outdoor seasonal decks are wrapped in Brazilian mahogany with custom stainless rigging by Greyson Metalworks. How wonderful it will be to sit out on that deck in warmer weather and enjoy some great food and spectacular river views!

Patio Views at Carlson's Landing

The intimate dining room comfortably seats thirty, with added seating at the bar for twenty. The restaurant vibe is tasteful New England nautical at its best!

Carlson's Landing Dining Room

The restaurant’s gray and white canvas is accented with custom mahogany tables and bar by local cabinet maker Bruce Therott.  

Carlson's Landing Lounge
Amazing River Views!

Spectacular oceanic artwork by local artist Melissa Barbieri, adorns the space with large scale oil paintings of nautical abstracts and sea creatures. 

Vestibule and waiting area with
Artwork by Melissa Barbieri

We started our dining adventure with some of their signature cocktails from their creative cocktail menu that features martinis, premium spirits, unique cocktails, craft beer, and an all-American curated wine list. 

My personal favorite was the Hot Buttered Rum, made with spiced rum, brown sugar, spiced butter batter, and cinnamon and nutmeg. Believe it or not, I made a secondary visit to Carlson's just so I could have another!

Cocktail Time!
Strawberry Mint Mojito, Martini, 
the Paloma, Hot Buttered Rum

The Paloma
silver tequila, grapefruit, 
simple syrup, lime, and club soda

Hot Buttered Rum
Photo Source Carlson's Landing

Then Chef Bledsoe starting dazzling us with his appetizers! Chef is a Johnson & Wales alum with classical training under Chef Pascal Barbot of Astrance in Paris, France. Prior to Carlson's Landing Chef Bledsoe was the Chef de Cuisine at Arrive Hotel in Palm Springs, CA and the Head Chef at The Danforth Inn in Portland, ME. 

The all-day menu is seasonally and geographically inspired featuring  both land and sea favorites.

Fish house favorites include a classic fishwich, deviled crab fritters, fried calamari with pickled sweet peppers and chipotle aioli, a buttery lobster roll, and market-fresh fish.  Chef is also steaming little neck clams in ham broth and charred leeks (CAN YOU SAY YUMMMM??!!)  and making a unique dish of tuna meatballs with pomodoro sauce and grilled crostini.

Grilled
Giant Heads-On Prawn

Deviled Crab Fritters

Deviled Eggs
with Fried Capers

Swordfish Puttanesca

linguini, garlic, onions, capers, 

black olives, tomato, parsley

From the "by land" or turf menu we sampled some delicious beef and poultry, a mouthwatering perfectly cooked and rested petit filet mignon, and tender grilled quail. 

Grilled Petit
Filet Mignon

Grilled Boned and Marinated Quail

For our wonderful happy ending we sampled a heavenly apple crisp, churros, and other decadent delights!

Apple Crisp

Sweet dreams are made of this!

Dessert at Carlson's Landing

We loved the earthiness and subtle Mediterranean flavor perspective that Chef Bledsoe brings to Carlson's Landing. 

Our visit was highlighted by the elevated dining experience and hospitality that our host, Robert Rabine, is known for. Thank you Robert and Kyle for a wonderful evening! 

Boat Launch
Carlson's Landing

Carlson's Landing is certainly a friendly and welcoming addition to the Connecticut shoreline! Visit them soon!

Carlson's Landing

63 Main Street

Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-2727

www.carlsonslanding.com


Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:30 AM-9 PM 
(Closed Tuesdays)
Friday & Saturday 11:30 AM-10:00 PM
Sunday 3:00-9:00 PM
 

Disclaimer: We were invited to this menu sampling by members of Carlson's Landing management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are our own.


© Home Place 2020

Norwalk Now - The Norwalk City Hunt

Join Norwalk Now 

in a City-Wide Adventure

 -The Norwalk City Hunt -

Saturday, April 28, Meet-up 10:30 AM, 
Norwalk City Hunt 11 AM-1 PM, 
Norwalk Now After Party 1-3 PM

It's time for a community wide celebration of fun! Join the folks at Norwalk Now, the collaborative marketing group comprised of local Norwalk businesses who have come together to promote their city, in their "Norwalk City Hunt", an interactive, “amazing race” throughout the Wall Street and SoNo neighborhoods of Norwalk, Saturday, April 28. Meet-up 10:30 AM, Hunt 11 AM-1 PM, After Party 1-3 PM 

YOU

can take part in this

entertaining and interactive afternoon 

of clues, challenges, and a 

RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

with an after party to follow!

Participants (adults only) are put into teams of four and are guided through the hunt on the City Hunt phone app. From there, a series of clues, challenges, and tasks are tackled with the successful completion of these activities being recorded or photographed on the team leader’s phone. 

Meanwhile, at City Hunt home base and the unknown location of the after party, City Hunt officials are monitoring everyone’s progress. Participants will be walking, running, or catching a Norwalk Now Circulator Van, shuffling them between neighborhoods. The vans will continue to run throughout the day/night as part of a special promotion and trial run for future use.

Norwalk Now Director Linda Kavanagh, a huge fan of City Hunts throughout the country, views Norwalk as an ideal location for such an adventure. “I have participated in these crazy mad dashes across cities such as New York, Boston, and Charleston. You really get to know a city and find yourself doing things that only social media should be allowed to capture!”

Destinations are comprised of Norwalk Now businesses, supporters, and public domains. The final destination is found by solving the clue. 

Upon completion of the Hunt, winners will be announced and the after party begins! Prizes include a $500 Norwalk Now gift card package and Free Parking gift bundles. Norwalk Now Circulator Van will continue service throughout the night and discount parking for the day will be offered. Go to the Norwalk Now Facebook to obtain the code.

How can you participate and sign up for Norwalk Now? 

Tickets are $40 per person and include the City Hunt challenge and phone app, NCH swag, and the after party. 

Sign-up solo and form your team at the meet-up or sign-up your foursome at www.norwalknow.org

About Norwalk Now:

*Norwalk Now was launched in October of 2017. Sponsored by the Norwalk Parking Authority, Norwalk Now is a non-profit organization with vested participation from Norwalk businesses. Norwalk Now is managed by MaxEx Public Relations, LLC. 

The Beach House Cafe in South Norwalk CT

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored  

Brunch at the Beach House Café in South Norwalk CT

There's a new restaurant serving up a delightful brunch in South Norwalk CT - the Beach House Café of SoNo! Located right across the street from The Maritime Aquarium and Museum and the Norwalk Seaport Dock, the Beach House Café features some delicious offerings for brunch on Sundays that are sure to please. We received an invite last week to sample restaurateur Kane Xu's new brunch menu. Fairfield county foodies may remember Xu from the popular French-Asian Fusion eatery in Cos Cob, Nuage). Xu re-opened the Beach House Café in Old Greenwich in the fall of 2016, and also took over South Norwalk’s low-country cuisine locale, Mama’s Boy. Xu made the bold move to convert SoNo's well know Mama's Boy Restaurant and Southern Refuge into another seafood themed Beach House Café, the Beach House Café of South Norwalk!
  

“As bold as it may have seemed to some, for me it made perfect sense to create a seafood restaurant being located in a coastal community, just steps away from the Maritime Aquarium and the Seaport Dock,” explains Xu, “And the seafood concept is really where we shine.”

The Beach House SoNo is nautical in theme, taking a page from an ocean-side hotel bar and restaurant. Dockline roping drapes above the reclaimed wood-paneled bar. Massive boating prints, hanging canoes, mounted oars, and dock master lanterns complete this waterside retreat. 

Sunday brunch, also featuring live music by local artists, and private party capabilities round out the Beach House Café experience. On his brunch menu, Xu also kept some of the 'southern favorites' that the location was well known for, like Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken and Waffles, and my personal favorite, Shrimp and Grits. 

Here are some of the items we sampled - starting from their creative cocktail menu!

Although I'm typically a Bloody Mary Brunch person, and the Beach House serves a killer one called "Ring of Fire" (uh, YUM!) on this particular day I thought I'd go with something a bit more fruity, selecting the Blood Orange Margarita! Definitely a great choice - smooth and frothy and the perfect tang to clear the palate and start the day!

Blood Orange Margarita
Jose Cuervo Tequila, Thatcher's Blood Orange
Tripe Sec, Fresh Lime 

Here are some of the offerings that my tablemates selected - starting with the aforementioned staple at brunches, the Ring of Fire Bloody Mary.

Ring of Fire Bloody Mary
House Bloody Mary Mix - Jalapeno Peppers
(also available by the pitcher)

If that Bloody Mary causes too much 'heat' - how about a cool Coconut Mojito to simmer down the fire?

Coconut Mojito
Cream of Coconut, Captain Morgan White Rum
Malibu Rum, Muddled Fresh Mint with Lime, Club Soda

If you prefer something a bit lighter, how about the crisp and clean "Dutch Boy"?

The Dutch Boy
Ketel One Vodka, Fresh Lemon
Simple Syrup, Champagne

Prefer bourbon and whiskey? They have the Nutty Bulleit and the Best Dang Manhattan. Both made with Bulleit bourbon.

Best Dang Manhattan
Bulleit Bourbon, Cocchi,
luxardo brandied cherry

Another traditional brunch drink is the Mimosa, and at The Beach House, they're almost bottomless. Pay $9.50 for your first glass, and refills are only $2.00 (prices are from March 2018). 

Almost Bottomless Mimosa

Another table favorite was the Pear Necessity - another great way to start a brunch day!

Pear Necessity
Absolut Pear Vodka, Elderflower Liquer
Pear Nectar, Champagne

After sipping and getting caught up with one another over cocktails we moved on to our tasting portion of the day, starting with a delicious 'charcuterie' or Meat and Cheese Plate. This fun platter would be great any time of day to sip some cocktails and nibble on some fun flavors!

Meat & Cheese Plate
prosicutta sopressata and capocolla, marinated olives
house select gourmet cheeses

On our visit this meat and cheese plate included a blueberry and vanilla goat cheese that was out of this world good! I couldn't get enough of it - and I'm on the search to find some or recreate it myself!

Then it was time for some starters and small plates like brunch wontons, deviled eggs, and tuna tartare. 

Delicious Brunch Wontons
with cream cheese, lightly fried with pepper jelly

Deviled Eggs

Tuna Tartare
avocado, scallion, masago, spicy sesame soy

After whetting our appetite with these delicious teasers we moved on to the plate portions of the brunch menu, sampling an Organic Salmon BLT, Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs with Sausage Gravy, Chicken and Waffles, Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict (!!!), and a southern favorite, Shrimp and Grits!

Organic Salmon BLT
Grilled salmon, lettuce and tomatoes, bacon,
dressed with cilantro jalapeno aioli,
served with french fried

I love that the Beach House had so many classic southern dishes on the menu, while adding their fresh new spin on the flavor profiles.

Chicken Fried Steak
Tender pounded 'chicken fried' steak (breaded and country fried)
Smoked paprika pork sausage gravy, breakfast potatoes
sunny side egg

Chicken and Waffles
marinated country fried chicken,
fresh made waffle, habanero jelly,
Brookside Farms Maple Syrup

Oh - the Crab Cakes Benedict was a DREAM! This crab cake nestled under the Eggs Benny was a surefire way to win my heart over! As much as I love a classic eggs benedict - this version was equally delicious with a sweet little crab cake accompanying the poached eggs. There was also a "Lobster Benedict" version available that substituted a grits cake with the lobster. 

Crab Cakes Benedict
Poached Eggs, hollandaise, baby greens
Crab Cakes

And how about this creamy delicious bowl of Shrimp and Grits! 

Shrimp and Grits
Slow Cooked Grits, Smoked Tasso (pork) Spring onions
Pimento Gravy

Moving on to our finale tastes of the day were two incredibly good desserts, a Pistachio Cake with the perfect balance of pistachio flavors, and a decadent Gorilla Bread (which is actually on the starter menu - but would make for the perfect "happy ending")

Pistachio Cake

Gorilla Bread
Cinnamon Roll filled with cream cheese,
dulce de leche sauce, praline pecans

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful everything we sampled was, and I'm so glad I'm ending with the Gorilla Bread because it was truly one of the highlights of our sampling. Light and fluffy and so decadently delicious, I could have it as a starter, as a dessert, or anything in between. It was definitely soooo good - and the 'exclamation point' to a fun brunch at the Beach House!

Be sure that you visit the Beach House Café in South Norwalk soon! 

Beach House - SoNo

19 N Water Street
South Norwalk CT 06854
203.956.7171

http://www.beachhousecafe.com/
http://bhsono.com/


Disclaimer: We were invited to Beach House So No by members of their management and marketing team, however, the opinions expressed are entirely our own.

©  Home Place 2018