Kumo, Hamden


Kumo in Hamden is one of the most reliable traditional sushi restaurants around. Of course, if I want something new and crazy I will go to Miya's Sushi in New Haven. But for rolls and sushi of the 'traditional' or rather the 20th century variety, I will go to Kumo every time, despite having a dozen or more sushi options in Hamden alone. It is interesting that we have so much Japanese food here in Connecticut, and so little Chinese (relatively). Does anyone know the reason for this switch of the usual ratio?

Future Authors of America


Here are some of the future novelists and poets of America - some of our creative writing majors at the University of Bridgeport. We have dozens more, and we're growing all the time.


Left to right - Michelle Calero, Michael Doran, and James Novoa.


At the annual poetry slam and literary journal release party - James Novoa giving one of his excellent readings of his long poems, which don't seem long at all when he reads them out loud...

Becoming Tom Thumb wins its First Award

Becoming Tom Thumb has won its first award, the 2014 Henry Russell Hitchcock Prize from the Victorian Society in America.

They write:

“Deeply humane and splendidly researched, we believe that Becoming Tom Thumb is the first to do justice to Charles Stratton...It shows him to be a charming and dynamic entrepreneur who shrewdly exploited his international celebrity, by no means a hapless victim, and it does so with great insight and sympathy.”

         —The Victorian Society in America, awarding the 2014 Henry Russell Hitchcock Award

Zeno's, State College


Stopped by my old haunt of Zeno's, in State College, Pennsylvania. It was fun to take my wife back to this legendary graduate school pub.


I'm afraid I don't have the tolerance for alcohol I did back in grad school, when I could drink two pitchers of beer myself. But I still had a great time visiting this English department mainstay.


In related news, I have an elegant solution to Zeno's paradox. But I'll keep that to myself for now.

The Walrus and the Carpenter


The Walrus and the Carpenter in Black Rock is the best new thing to appear in Bridgeport for a long time. It took the place of the Ash Creek Saloon, of which the less is said the better.


I went there with some colleagues from the University of Bridgeport and we dug into a menu full of heart-stopping treasures, from poutine (above) to maple pork belly (below).


Fried oysters...

Pulled pork...


Scallops and pork belly (a different cut as you can see, thick and wonderful)...


 And ribs, which I had. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention their cornbread, which was delightful. Not a bad dish in the lot; everyone went home satisfied and pleased. High-quality smoked meats (done right on the premises) served with class and genius. Keep up the great work!


Big Book Club Getaway 2014


Enjoyed appearing at the Big Book Club Getaway this year. Dr. Ruth (above) appeared with her usual energy, and Debbie Macomber headlined. We actually had no idea what she looked like and offered to sign the copy of History of Connecticut Food that she was carrying around!


I was on a panel with Diane Smith (the "ambassador of Connecticut" for those who don't know), Garrison Leykham of Those Diner and Motorcycle Guys, and Chris Jones of the Monte Cristo Bookshop in New London.


It as an honor to meet Diane Smith, who is currently reading Becoming Tom Thumb in preparation for another event, my appearance at the Old State House in Hartford this summer.


And Garrison and I had a good time signing each others' books and chatting about Connecticut diners! The event had more people than last year, and I can only hope that every year gets bigger and bigger.