James Novoa at Lobster Landing

Up and coming writer James Novoa at Lobster Landing in Clinton. They serve the best lobster rolls in Connecticut that I have tried so far. And I have tried a lot. For an excellent recipe for lobster rolls in our new book, out in a month...A History of Connecticut Food. Now your mouth is really watering.

Keep your eyes and ears out for James and his excellent poetry.

The Sleeping Giant from I-91

How many times have we seen this iconic view, heading up I-91 from New Haven? One of the true symbols of Connecticut, the Sleeping Giant mountain is a state treasure.

Red Tailed Hawk Who Lives in Our Back Yard

The red-tailed hawk who lives in our yard. Eating part of what I think was a squirrel. Can't wait to see the baby hawks this spring...

Rye Oatmeal Bread

Yet another yummy bread from the Tassajara Bread Book - Rye and Oatmeal, perfect together.

Fishing Season in Connecticut

Fishing season starts this weekend. In celebration, here's a classic photo of my father holding a striped bass at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Good luck everyone!

Insiders Guide Growing in Popularity

My book is the number one 'hot new release' in the Northeast U.S. on amazon.com. Get yours now!

Ted's Restaurant in Meriden

In our upcoming book, A History of Connecticut Food, we will tell you how to make these delightful treats at home. In the meantime, head to Ted's (or one of the other great steamed cheeseburger joints) to try one of these Connecticut originals.

Fresh Oatmeal Bread

The Tassajara Bread book has really been a wonderful friend these past couple years - and breaking free of the bread machine (which has its uses) has been great. Here's a loaf of my wife's latest oatmeal bread - rich and delicious.

Cutting certain breads out of the bread chapter in A History of Connecticut Food was difficult - there are so many individual traditions. Oatmeal bread is one of my all time favorite, and will be part of my tradition from now on.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum

Is the Mashantucket Pequot Museum the best Native American museum in America? I make that claim in the Insiders Guide to Connecticut. It's better than any other one I've been to, which includes the Smithsonian.  

Here is the view from the tower of Foxwoods Resort Casino, the business venture that allowed this amazing museum to be built. If you haven't been there, get there this summer and be blown away.

Beef: It's What's for Dinner

Source: FrugalDad

From Frugaldad.com.

Joey Garlic's

Tried Joey Garlic's (the Newington one) for the first time a few months ago. Good pies, with a little bit of nice brick oven charring on the bottom. They offer "New Haven Style" but I can't taste that they are actually using coal-fired ovens like Sally's or Pepe's. The pizza is also a little thicker than at either of those two places. Essentially they are splitting the difference between a New Haven Style and regular brick oven pizza from a crappy chain restaurant. The result is very good, but not as good as true New Haven Style. Five thousand times better than a place like Bertucci's, though.

They also have too many things on their menu, without really doing anything interesting with most of them. Mostly Italian dishes done in a fairly traditional (meaning American-Italian restaurant) way. Their milkshakes, on the other hand, are divine. This is a great Connecticut restaurant chain that could be even better. Here me guys? You're almost there. Just cut down the menu a little and get more inventive with what's left.

R.J. Julia's Reading for Insiders Guide to Connecticut

Nardelli's

Call them grinders, submarines, or just plain sandwiches, these delightful American traditions are delicious. And Nardelli's Grinder Shoppe does them right. Their Italian Combo sandwich is the best I've ever had, quite frankly. This summer, you'll be able to get a recipe for it in A History of Connecticut Food. Keep your appetite ready!

At R.J. Julia's This Week

This week I'll be at R.J. Julia Booksellers - the most storied independent bookstore in Connecticut.

You can catch me there talking about the Insiders Guide to Connecticut at noon on Thursday, April 5. Find details and sign up here.