Cheesefurter at Shady Glen Dairy Store

Ever have a cheesefurter? Probably. But the one at the Shady Glen Dairy Store has wings! Or at least that's what the pieces of griddle fried cheese look like here. They put them on the burgers, too, of course, and it works even better there. Of course, Shady Glen is also known for its retro waiter/waitress outfits, and its ice cream. We tried "mince" and "grape nuts" ice creams, both good. The photo of the grape nuts will be in A History of Connecticut Food, out in May.

Filipek's Market, Meriden, CT

This is the strange and wonderful Filipek's Market. Located in a residential district (262 Elm Street) in Meriden, this fascinating slice of Americana - a family run market - used to be the rule, not the exception. Now you have to know where to find these little miracles (the sign is barely recognizable). Filipek's has so much to recommend it, but what it is most famous for is kielbasa. The home made kielbasa will greet you as you walk in, tempting and tasty. They have several different preparations...the spicy one is the best. I have a photo of their wonderful kielbasa, but I'm saving it for A History of Connecticut Food, out this spring.

Poetry Round Robin at Best Video

Had a great time at the Poetry Round Robin at Best Video last night. It's really a great way of getting a taste of many styles, and staying engaged with the words. I'll be posting a video soon. In the meantime, here are some of the luminaries who participated.
Best Video founder and visionary Hank Paper introduces the poets.
Pulitzer Prize nominated Franz Douskey reads his clever, biting poems.
Award winning poet Amy Nawrocki reads her poetry, even though she had a bad cold.

Slapjacks

Frying up corn slapjacks on a cold morning. Though I expected them to be gritty and less palatable than wheat flour pancakes, they are surprisingly good, especially with a nice smear of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Smoked Duck Nachos

A plate of smoked duck nachos at ZINC in New Haven. When they first opened back in the day, I thought their prices too high and their food just okay (they are right next to where I worked at Kaplan Test Prep). Now, they have cutting edge local/global cuisine, with great drinks and creative fusion dishes. Check them out!

Fondue for Dinner

Either my Swiss heritage or a simple love of cheese draws me back time and time again to the joys of fondue. However, here we have some beef tips simmering, to be dipped into a Chinese five-spice sauce while they are oily hot. Delicious. Do you due the due, too?

A Plate of Oysters


Above is a plate of Wellfleet Oysters at the Squealing Pig in Provincetown, Massachusetts. I had tried oysters before I met Amy, but together we really became fans of these ugly little slurpers. We enjoy them straight, or maybe with a little lemon or vinegar. A properly shucked oyster is a beautiful thing. If you've never tried one raw, work up to it by eating them fried, or in other dishes, and then slurp one down with a nice glass of beer or a white wine. Riesling is my preferred choice.

Time for Hiking Again


As the semester winds down, it's time to get out the backpack and start hiking the winter forests, searching for tracks. Of course, my cats are not happy with me being gone so often during the semester, and here Django is trying to accompany me on a hike, while Maple looks worried.

I need to recharge my batteries, and a walk through the forests of Connecticut always does the trick.