Fall Visit to West Hartford's Delamar Hotel and Artisan Restaurant

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After staying a weekend at the beautiful DELAMAR in Greenwich CT I was so excited when I was included in an invite to tour the newly opened DELAMAR West Hartford and dine at the Artisan Restaurant!  Located close to West Hartford's Farmington Avenue business, shopping, and restaurant district, and at the foot of one of my favorite shopping destinations, the Blue Back Square, this hotel is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

We loved Hartford county's newest boutique hotel with onsite amenities that includes fine dining at the Artisan Restaurant and a full-service luxury spa.

We started our visit in the lobby where we viewed the gorgeous artwork on display from the New Britain Museum of American Art. This ever changing gallery of curated art at the DELAMAR is absolutely amazing. As an added bonus guests of the hotel are invited for a complimentary visit to the museum. 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible chaise sculpture made entirely of quarters that is certainly the centerpiece of the hotel lobby.

We viewed several of the rooms, suites, and junior suites, some with balconies and beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Rooms are light-filled and roomy - perfect for the busy traveler or for a relaxing weekend getaway.

Every room included comfortable seating perfect for unwinding after a business meeting or shopping excursion.

True to boutique hotel standards, the artworks and decor, both in private rooms and public areas, is absolutely spectacular. 

The Delamar West Hartford is sure to be a destination for corporate conferences and business meetings, as well as a special event and wedding venue, offering both interior and outdoor facilities and spaces.

After our tour of the hotel we returned to the adjoining Artisan Restaurant for some cocktails and dinner.

The Artisan offers happy hour cocktail specials and has an extensive list of specialty and signature cocktails.

Seating is available in the tavern, the garden (weather permitting) and in the beautiful restaurant. The menu features local and seasonal flavors with New England-inspired cuisine with Chef Frederic Kieffer's own twist and European flair. Chef Kieffer has an on-site garden, where he grows a variety of produce used in his seasonal menus.  Artisan provides all room service and catering for banquets and special events.

We enjoyed some delicious salad - with veggies fresh out of Chef's Garden and some delicious seafood, chops, and steaks. My tuna pictured below was absolutely divine!

And for dessert I went with a creamy luscious custard with a sweet little Madeline cookie on the side! 

For my next visit to the Delamar you'll find me at the DELAMAR Spa for one of their wide array of full service treatments - offering everything from manicures and pedicures to custom treatments. There are even bridal services available.

Photo Source: The Delamar West Hartford

The newly opened DELAMAR Spa offers some of the best and newest treatments straight from Europe. DELAMAR Spa’s primary partners in skincare are Valmont, specializing in cellular skincare from Switzerland, and Biologique Recherche from France. Both companies are long time family-owned businesses where the owners are personally vested in the science, results, and the overall experience. 

Learn more about the spa's many treatments at https://delamar.com/west-hartford/spa/treatments/

If you are looking for a place for your next conference or special event, be sure you view the DELAMAR Hotel! It's located 20 minutes from Hartford's Bradley International Airport, and less than two hours from both Boston and New York City.

Visit the Delamar West Hartford and Artisan Restaurant soon!

Delamar Hotel and Spa

1 Memorial Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 937-2500
https://delamar.com/west-hartford/our-hotel/amenities-services/

Artisan Restaurant

27 LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 726-4090
https://delamar.com/west-hartford/dining/

Disclaimer: We were invited to the Delamar Hotel and Artisan Restaurant by members of the hotel's management and marketing team, however all views expressed are our own. Portions of this review were sponsored.

© Home Place 2017

The Cook and the Bear in West Hartford

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored

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

Shop and Nosh - Max Burger Bar and the West Hartford Holiday Stroll

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Shop and Nosh at the West Hartford Holiday Stroll

There's nothing quite like finding new places that offer fabulous food that are just steps away from great shopping, right?! Now add a celebratory and festive atmosphere to the mix - and you have the annual West Hartford Holiday Stroll!  When Kat from A Little Bird Told Me PR firm reached out to me about attending this hosted event, I couldn't wait to find out more about what this whole Holiday Stroll was about - and have another opportunity to Shop and Nosh!

West Hartford Holiday Stroll

It turns out that on the first Thursday of December the West Hartford downtown area rolls out an amazing Holiday Stroll. The event is complete with horse drawn carriage rides, local school carolers and street entertainment that included a flashmob style dance! Local merchants throughout the downtown area are open with all sorts of specials - and the atmosphere is fun, festive, and most importantly, family friendly!

We started at Max Burger where our media group was treated to a wide array of small plates and appetizers, and of course, a few cocktails!  Max Burger is located at 124 LaSalle Road, in West Hartford, CT 061073 Phone: 860-232-3300.

Need to pick up few gift cards for those very special foodies in your life? (hint-hint) - Look no further than Max Restaurant Group who own and operate several area eateries throughtout New England and South Florida - and the best thing is your recipient can use this gift card at ANY of the Max locations!

Purchase your Max Gift Cards on site or online at  http://bit.ly/2gd1Dak

Next we moved on to Cook Shop Plus a store that I had visited before and was doubly happy to return to. Here's another great place to visit for the foodie and wannabe chefs in your life. This store has every kitchen gadget and some great ideas for personalized gifts for someone you love!

Want more ideas from Cook Shop Plus? Visit them at 977 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: (860) 461-0667 or online at http://bit.ly/2fDT9gj

I can't begin to tell you how amazing this event is! My most memorable takeaway from the evening was seeing the children truly enjoying all the festivities that were planned for them! From balloon making hats and animals, to the wonderful carolers and local school bands, to the horse drawn carriages taking families up and down the city streets. It truly was a festive time for all!

Next we visited a store I have been hearing such great things about - BK & Company! Really, this beautiful boutique has it going on with frequent fashion shows and shopping specials. So much is packed in this quaint little store from clothing to jewelry to accessories!

And guess which one of these purses is at the top of MY Christmas list???

Stop in to BK & Co.'s new location at 983 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: (860) 232-6225 or visit them online where you can sign up for B&K's email list to get on the SPECIAL mailing list at http://bit.ly/2fE0lsI

Next we stopped and watched a high energy flash mob "ugly sweater" holiday flash dance performed by members of ConnecticDance.

Our next stop was every woman's dream! Lux Bond & Green Jewelers! You simply must visit this store to see all the beautiful crystal decor they have on display and of course, their beautiful jewelry!

Our group had so much fun trying on rings and enjoying just about everything in this store! For more on Lux Bond Green visit them at 45 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT 06107 Phone 860-521-3015 or at their many locations throughout Connecticut (Yay! There's one at Mohegan Sun!) and Massachusetts, or visit them online at http://bit.ly/2fDSImi

Our final stop of the evening was for a nightcap at another of Max Restaurant Group's places, Savoy Pizzeria. and what a way to cap off the night. This fun pizzeria is amazing!

Savoy Pizzeria focuses on the tastes and flavors of Southern Italy's cuisine and specializes in Neapolitan and Craft Pizza. Visit them at 32 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT 061073 Phone: 860-969-1000 and online at Savoy Pizzeria - http://bit.ly/2fE04Gd

Here are some of the strollers that we joined for the West Hartford Holiday Stroll!

Here's a condensed list of all the places we visited. Be sure to have your own holiday stroll in West Hartford's downtown shopping district and visit these and other fine places!

• BK & Co - http://bit.ly/2fE0lsI
• Cook Shop Plus - http://bit.ly/2fDT9gj
• Lux Bond and Green - http://bit.ly/2fDSImi
• Max Burger Bar - http://bit.ly/2gKneH9
• Savoy Pizzeria - http://bit.ly/2fE04Gd

And save the first Thursday of December 2017 (December 7th 2017) to experience the magic of the West Hartford Holiday Stroll for yourself!


Disclaimer: I was invited to the West Hartford Holiday Stroll, an event that is free and open to the public, by members of the establishments I visited management and marketing team, however all opinions and views of this event are entirely my own. 


© Home Place 2016

Weekend Brunch at Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford

Social Media Promotion: Sponsored
This post contains affiliate links

You didn't think Sunday Brunch could get better right?

Well, it just did!

How could that happen, you ask?

How about adding a SATURDAY brunch to your weekend?

That's right! Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford has a Sunday AND Saturday brunch!

So, of course we traveled to West Hartford's beautiful downtown Farmington Avenue shopping and restaurant district to visit Barcelona Wine Bar WeHa-Style and sample their weekend brunch!

Bloody Mary Bar
Design your own Bloody Mary!

I started with a Bloody Mary from the Bloody Mary Bar! So much to choose from but I stayed with my favorite heaping spoonful of horseradish and added some briny olives (stuffed with blue cheese) and some pickles! YUM!  I garnished it with a cucumber, radish, and lemon. And, of course, a thick piece of bacon (or two!) as a stirrer.

Bloody Mary Bonnie Style

Also a popular favorite at brunch was this cool refreshing White Sangria

We also learned about the Porron - a shared drinking vessel that is a cross between a wine carafe and a watering can. One tilts the spout without it touching the lips, opens wide, and drinks away! Of course, the cowboy was the immediate expert. Go figure.

And this is why I love him!

The wine in the porron was a delicious Spanish wine, Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina.  Nice and fruity and light.

And then the food fest began! What I like most about Barcelona's Brunch, is that although they do have specialty brunch small plates and tapas on the menu, you really have the opportunity to order anything you like! This means you don't have to limit yourself to breakfast-type items, and because we went in the early afternoon, we wanted to try a bit of everything!

Below are some of the items we sampled.

 Pork Belly Bocadillo
with Egg and pickled onions

Albondigus
Spicy Meatballs in a Ham-Tomato Sauce

Grilled Asparagus
With Egg, Shallot, and Truffle

House Made Bacon Steak
Served with a Whole Grain Mustard Sauce

Pickled Beet Salad

Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
With a creamy whipped ricotta topping and sweet maple syrup

Roasted Bone Marrow
Served with beets, green onion, and capers.

Manchego Cheese and Jamón [ham] Croquettes
Served on a creamy bed of garlic aioli drizzled with smoked paprika 

Grilled Duck Hearts
With Red Chimmichurri

Torrijas (French Toast)
Served with a delicious coffee vanilla syrup

Huevos a la Flamenca
served with spinach, manchego cheese and a baked egg

Watermelon Salad
Pickled Red Onions and Feta Cheese

Paella Mariscos
Seafood Paella with prawns, clams, mussels and squid

Patatas Brava
with salsa brava and garlic aioli 

Poutine
Mangalica Cheese Gravy, Egg, Ricotta

Sardinas  in olive oil

Jamón Serrano
Sliced Spanish Ham

Grilled Summer Squash
in a Red Pepper Aioli Sauce

And, believe it or not, after all that food we found some room for desserts!

Churros with Hazelnut dipping sauce

Dulce de Leche Crepes
topped with coconut ice cream

My personal favorites were

• Pork Belly Bocadillo, a delicious breakfast sandwich with a bit of an earthy spice to it 
• Huevos a la Flamenca, a nice balanced dish full of flavor
• Watermelon Salad, the salty cheese brought out the sweetness of the melon
• Torrijas, this 'french toast' type dish was executed PERFECTLY, the bread was correctly saturated with the egg mixture making the inside almost custard-like, and the outside crisp and cinnamon-sugary. Hands down the BEST Torrijas I've ever had!

If you are looking for a weekend brunch spot Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford is a great place to visit! There's so much to do in the area, and brunch specials are available SATURDAY and SUNDAY!

Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford

971 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 218-2100
http://www.barcelonawinebar.com/location/west-hartford/



Disclaimer: We were invited to Barcelona Wine Bar's Saturday Brunch by members of the restaurant's marketing and management team, however, all views expressed our are own.



© Home Place 2016