3 days of Connecticut Roadfood..... Day 1

quote:

Originally posted by BarbaraCt

I am glad you got to see Stew Leonard's. I hope you got some ice cream in, other than Stew's.

Oh yeah, I had lots more ICE CREAM, Barbara...(stay tuned for Day 2 and Day 3 !!)
And it was my first time in Stew Leonard's, although I had passed by it a few times in years past. So I am still in the "fascination" stage!

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

Ellen that New Haven pizza looked damn close to perfect for me...love that burnt,crusty crust!!!!!

I had not liked my NYC burnt crust experiences previously.
But I liked New Haven's, so I am now a reformed burnt crust lover!
After Sally's Pizza, we walked past Pepe's.
It was late and we were stuffed, so we passed on Pepe's , although Mark said it was very similar.

PEPE'S, New Haven, CT

quote:

Originally posted by FriedClamFanatic

Ellen:

While you're in the area, you ought to see if you can find a place that does linguica pizza

Okay, you've got me on this one, FriedClamFanatic..
just WHAT is linguica pizza? (sounds like it has something to do with linguine???) (Or clams and linguini??)

Linguica is a Portuguese sausage.

As Dave says, it's a Portugese sausage, garlicky, but not hot spicy. I live near Philly and you can't find it anywhere, but throughout New England (and Florida and California for some reason), it's easy to find.

I make my own or sometimes get it mail order. I grew up on Cape Cod and some of my best Roady meals was a linguica sandwich with sauce.

Once you try it, you'll shun any other sausage! OK, maybe not....but it is worth a taste. Have fun on the trip. And Don't forget the BLue Colony Diner at exit 10 off I-84. Just make sure you have plenty of time to read the menu!

Guess Willie had you in mind when he did "On The Road Again". You go Ellen -

Ellen, What a great trip.

My work takes me across Ct. on 1-84. I never had a bad meal anywhere along the Interstate. Exit 10 is my favorite.

Sometimes I take the long way(1-95)just for the food. Can't wait to see more.

Ellen, Sally's is similar, but Pepe's is the original.

Michael, do you have a preference regarding Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern? I haven't been to any of them. I don't know if you've had pizza in N.J. or N.Y., but if you have, how do they compare? Ellen, how would you compare New Haven pizza to, say, Maruca's?

Glad you had fun time throughout your whole trip. I was happy to be part of it, yet I feel I was only able to scratch the surface between Stamford and New Haven. Guess you'll have to come back for some more investigating.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

South Norwalk hip? My, how things have changed.

It is about all of one whole block, but there are some pretty upscale restaurants in menu and price.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Michael, do you have a preference regarding Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern? I haven't been to any of them. I don't know if you've had pizza in N.J. or N.Y., but if you have, how do they compare? Ellen, how would you compare New Haven pizza to, say, Maruca's?

My personal preference would have to be Pepe's, but that may just be because my first apizza, at age 4, was from Frank Pepe's. I always liked Sally's, too. However, my favorite place was The Spot, but that was long before Pepe's bought it.

quote:

Originally posted by ChiTownDiner

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

Nice report, and I have to add that you sure get to meet a lot of good looking men!

And Clover!

That was me sporting my serious scholarly look. I usualy wear a smile. I am wearing my new pair of thick framed geek glasses. I think that they raise my IQ in appearence up about 10 points.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Michael, do you have a preference regarding Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern? I haven't been to any of them. I don't know if you've had pizza in N.J. or N.Y., but if you have, how do they compare? Ellen, how would you compare New Haven pizza to, say, Maruca's?

I like New Haven pizza better than the Seaside Heights, NJ boardwalk Maruca's.
I know there are some Roadfooders, (like Signman) that swear by Maruca's... they really love the place.
....I gave it about 4 tries, and I just find it decent, but does'nt overwhelm me. That's just my own personal tastes, of course.

I remember my Day 1 partner, Mark, telling me that the Modern was his favorite, as far as New Haven pizza goes..
It was my very FIRST time trying this New Haven pizza, and it really struck a chord with me. Mark said to me the same thing I was thinking; he is realizing he just may be liking New Haven pizza even better than NYC pizza!

Hey, JOHN,
It's great hearing from you...(wow, twice so far in one thread!)
And I thought I had to stay on the HOT DOG threads to get your attention! (little did I know, you do check all around for hot dog coverage!)

And to John, (and all other hot dog devotees!)
One more important notation:
I have a CORRECTION that I made to my SWANKY FRANKS report.
I inadvertantly first wrote that they use HUMMEL'S.
What I should have said is that they use BOARS HEAD (a pork/beef mix)
(although almost every other place in CT seems to use Hummel's....)

quote:

Originally posted by doggydaddy



Glad you had fun time throughout your whole trip. Guess you'll have to come back for some more investigating.
mark

Yes, almost my whole trip was FUN, FUN, FUN.
Strictly a pleasure trip! (except for some annoying traffic in your home town of Waterbury) (I was glad to get out of Waterbury)

YES, I just want to come back for MORE now! Give me some more of your Connecticut!
I felt like a real JANE STERN wanna-be! Espescially being right there in her home state! (Hi Jane!)

Ellen,

Are you sure about Swanky Franks using Boars Head? They always used Hummels, although that might have changed. I am fuzzy on the history but I know that there was a legal battle going on between old and new owners some years back. The Norwalk location was even closed for awhile. I'll try to find out.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Michael, do you have a preference regarding Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern? I haven't been to any of them. I don't know if you've had pizza in N.J. or N.Y., but if you have, how do they compare? Ellen, how would you compare New Haven pizza to, say, Maruca's?

My personal preference would have to be Pepe's, but that may just be because my first apizza, at age 4, was from Frank Pepe's. I always liked Sally's, too. However, my favorite place was The Spot, but that was long before Pepe's bought it.

I took Ellen to Colony because it was my first pizza that was recommended by the locals...in Norwalk. But there was a thread once about 'bar' pizza, and I thought "Hey it's in the Roadfood guide" and right around the corner from the station.

After that, I felt that she would get a good pizza at Pepe's other locations, or if she stayed another night in New Haven.
Either way that sort of left Sally's or Modern. Of the three, I have eaten at Sally's only twice. I really love Modern and was originally swayed there by asking the locals. They are neck and neck in popularity.

I figured hitting Wooster was essential so Sally's it was. The only thing that disillusioned me was that they did not serve Foxon Park soda.
But I had a great lemon ice at the corner Italian bakery.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Ellen,

Are you sure about Swanky Franks using Boars Head? They always used Hummels, although that might have changed. I am fuzzy on the history but I know that there was a legal battle going on between old and new owners some years back. The Norwalk location was even closed for awhile. I'll try to find out.

I asked the young counter-girl, and she said the all-too-common "I don't know" answer. I then asked "Can you please FIND OUT for me?". (I'm getting tired of all these places that "don't know" anything) She gave a yell to someone else, and they said "Boars Head".

Ellen,

Linguica is a Portuguese pork sausage.

Ellen - I was not familiar with Stew Leonards so I visited the website...they have a live cow cam set-up! Was there anything in the store to call attetion to this? Pretty cool1

http://www.stewleonards.com/cowcam/

quote:

Originally posted by ChiTownDiner

Ellen - I was not familiar with Stew Leonards so I visited the website...they have a live cow cam set-up! Was there anything in the store to call attetion to this? Pretty cool1

http://www.stewleonards.com/cowcam/

Hi Rick,
If there was a live "cow cam", I did'nt notice any signs about it.
It definitely was a real happening store. A good feeling being in there.

The only thing that disillusioned me was that they did not serve Foxon Park soda.

What? this is sacreligious...LOL...I grew up in East Haven and ALL and I mean ALL the Apizza parlors had Foxon Park, there is nothing finer than a plain pie and a Foxon Park White Birch.

quote:

Originally posted by exsquidao

The only thing that disillusioned me was that they did not serve Foxon Park soda.

What? this is sacreligious...LOL...I grew up in East Haven and ALL and I mean ALL the Apizza parlors had Foxon Park, there is nothing finer than a plain pie and a Foxon Park White Birch.

Truthfully, that is how I felt!!! It is important for me to have their birch beer too. It's one big ass bottle.
I wish that I could find a link to their recent TV commercials touting that the soda has all the sugar.

mark

Ellen,

great start to the report! I wish I could have carried your bags through CT too on this tour. That pie from Sally's looks right on and I've always wanted to make it up to Stew Leonard's! Keep 'em comin'!

Wow!Are you making me so homesick.I Hit most of your first day stops last October during my 7 days in CT. Hope you didn't have any difficulties, Tweed NH airport so huge lol. No wonder growing up in CT I achieved 6'4" 260 status.I'd venture to guess 240 of my pounds came by way of Swankie's and NH Pizza. Here in Beijing they sure seem to be trying to bring in the Western food if you call it food lol Pizza Hut Starbucks KFC. China been so good on the waist line but not on my pallet. Thanks Hubert

quote:

Originally posted by beijinger

Wow! Hope you didn't have any difficulties, Tweed NH airport so huge lol. No wonder growing up in CT I achieved 6'4" 260 status.I'd venture to guess 240 of my pounds came by way of Swankie's and NH Pizza.

Hi Hubert,
You are right about New Haven being such a HUGE airport ! (NOT!!!)
It's even way smaller than AC airport. At least we have jet planes there; New Haven just has the puddle jumpers. (propeller planes)
Actually, I just had Mark take me there to rent my car, but I did'nt fly in or out of there. (I started in my Atlantic City area and took a bus to NYC, then the Metro North Train)

260 pounds & 6'4", huh .... I just might hire you to carry all my doggie bags of Roadfood ! My load gets heavy!

Thanks for checking in with us from China, Hubert!

Ellen, yes I do like Maruca's a lot, but I don't think we ever had the discussion do I like it more than Pepe's. Hands down it's Pepe's.

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Michael, do you have a preference regarding Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern? I haven't been to any of them. I don't know if you've had pizza in N.J. or N.Y., but if you have, how do they compare? Ellen, how would you compare New Haven pizza to, say, Maruca's?

A John Fox post with no mention of hot dogs......Pigs must be flying somewhere.

Man does not live on hot dogs alone.

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Man does not live on hot dogs alone.

We've always thought you were the one exception to that rule