Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:14:34 GMT

BB,

Thanks again for the comments. I have really had some good pizza within the last month. Just this week I was able to eat at Pepe's in Manchester on Tuesday night and then have Modern Apizza on Wednesday evening as we finished what Chris describes as our epic journey into the CT Gold Coast. To be able to choose from Pepe's, Modern, and the other places is a true embarrassment of riches.

Gregg,

Sorry I did not contact you. I have just started getting in touch with RF people on my trips, as well as learning first-hand all the outstanding selection there is in CT. If you are around in a few weeks when I am back in the area, I'll send you a note. I wish I were able to make the western MA trip that you all have planned for May - it sounds tremendous.

Re:2nd trip (wheregreggeats.com)

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:54:19 GMT

Great report. Wish I knew y'all were doing this, I'm just up the road.

Re:2nd trip (billyboy)

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:37:54 GMT

BT,

Another great report and great pics! I'd have hauled your bags all over CT for a few slices of those Pepe's pies.

Re:2nd trip (doggydaddy)

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:53:59 GMT

sk bob

.......my inlaws live just south of Fredonia in Brocton.

Hail Freedonia!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8aKKF1-f-A

mark

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:16:17 GMT

exsquidao

I guess I take it for granted having grown up in East Haven, CT what real Apizza is and the appropriate beverage that goes with it.

I guess that's the beauty of the Roadfood site that we can find out about what else is around us. I had never heard of the term apizza before reading up on the site. I can see where someone who has access to the food would wonder why anyone else is so excited to find it. Having grown up eating eastern NC BBQ and all the appropriate side dishes (slaw, cabbage, collards, hush puppies, Brunswick stew, etc ... excuse me while I quiet my growling stomach), I would have taken it for granted that everyone can get this type of food. (Finding it here in NYS is a different story.) Anyway, the pizza from Pepe's and the beverages I had definitely were good eats.

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:10:41 GMT

sk bob

now those pizzas look great.
Buffalo Tarheel, forgot to mention my inlaws live just south of Fredonia in Brocton.

That's good to know. Your in-laws must be as glad as I am to see the end of winter, as I guess they have more of the lake effect snow than we do up in Niagara County.

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:08:58 GMT

mar52

Yummazing! You did great!

Who knew that simple items like hot dogs and hamburgers could be so different?

Loved the pictures and descriptions so much that I'm actually drooling. I had to send my co-worker out for some lunch for me.

I want a white pizza, but have to stick to what's available around here in the boring Valley of Los Angeles.

Thanks for the note. Your recent report about the hot dog places in the Valley was an inspiring one as well -- sorry I did not comment on it earlier.

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:07:17 GMT

Baah Ben

I see...Pepe's..Sorry.

Fantastic report! Thanks

Thanks for the kind words. One of these days I might travel someplace other than CT and have something new to report -- Wichita looks to be on the horizon.

Re:2nd trip (exsquidao)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:20:33 GMT

I guess I take it for granted having grown up in East Haven, CT what real Apizza is and the appropriate beverage that goes with it.

Re:2nd trip (mar52)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:11:14 GMT

Nancy!

So I have to now go to Carmine's and end up at the Fair Oaks Drugstore!

Thank you!

Re:2nd trip (sk bob)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:55:28 GMT

now those pizzas look great.
Buffalo Tarheel, forgot to mention my inlaws live just south of Fredonia in Brocton.

Re:2nd trip (Baah Ben)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:43:58 GMT

I see...Pepe's..Sorry.

Fantastic report! Thanks

Re:2nd trip (Nancypalooza)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:35:43 GMT

Marlene--I like Carmine's in South Pass, and Casa Bianca has to have a white pizza.

Re:2nd trip (mar52)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:26:08 GMT

Yummazing! You did great!

Who knew that simple items like hot dogs and hamburgers could be so different?

Loved the pictures and descriptions so much that I'm actually drooling. I had to send my co-worker out for some lunch for me.

I want a white pizza, but have to stick to what's available around here in the boring Valley of Los Angeles.

Re:2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:01:20 GMT

TnTinCT

LOL - Buffalo/Rob - a recommendation - we did the drive last year from Hartford to Buffalo for vacation, and stopped in Herkimer, NY (10 mins off 90) for what turned out to be a terrific roadfood experience - Frank and Burgys. One of my fave burgers so far from a roadfood recommendation.

PS - give us a ping next time you're in town if you're looking for some dining companions!

Terri & Tim

Thanks for the recommendation. Traveling on the Thruway is a bit of a culinary desert, so having a choice nearby is great. I read your report earlier (including seeing your pictures from Ted's Hot Dogs) but did not pick up on the Frank and Bergys visit.

Thanks also for the invitation. I will be sure to give you a note before the next trip. These visits with RF'ers have been great so far, and I imagine we would also have an enjoyable time.

Rob

Re:2nd trip (TnTinCT)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:47:44 GMT

LOL - Buffalo/Rob - a recommendation - we did the drive last year from Hartford to Buffalo for vacation, and stopped in Herkimer, NY (10 mins off 90) for what turned out to be a terrific roadfood experience - Frank and Burgys. One of my fave burgers so far from a roadfood recommendation.

PS - give us a ping next time you're in town if you're looking for some dining companions!

Terri & Tim

Re:2nd trip (Nancypalooza)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:54:38 GMT

You should have been taking pictures of each other with a mirror and really blown our minds. So is Mark in BT's post, and Rob's in doggydaddy's post? That's pretty funny.

I have got to try a white clam pizza one of these days; with all that garlic it has to be in my wheelhouse. And that is *quite* an oven.

Re:2nd trip (doggydaddy)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:35:37 GMT

My part of the story had some possibilities of some photos that would have covered the recently discussed Vietnamese Banh sandwiches and the inclusion of Chinese roast duck from another place. I figured that I would leave early, stop there on the way and eat half a sandwich and take a photograph with the rest to be eaten later.

I went to my favorite Asian mall, and it turned out the Vietnamese restaurant served only pho and I did not want to fill myself up on that. Also the supermarket had run out of duck. In fact, everything that they offered from their hot area was sold out. I did buy the last four BBQ pork buns...
It was okay as Rob called and said he got off of work early, and that gave me the appetite to eat the pizzas.

So I proceeded onward and met up with Rob. Here are some extra shots of the pizzas from my side of the table. You can see that one side was closer to the heat...
Here is the tomato pie with one half having added mozzarella to it.

The clam pie is just straight clams and garlic. The plump clams were real fresh and did have that briny flavor which cannot be found from a can:

You always need to include a shot of the oven:

And finally, a picture of a Roadfooder taking a picture. It was a pleasure meeting Rob and I hope to do it again.

mark

2nd trip (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:08:14 GMT

Perhaps this should be a separate trip report, but it does relate to my trip. After returning home, I found that I needed to return to Hartford the following week (March 15-19). It was a hectic trip, and I did not have as much time for Roadfood as the first trip. As you can tell from Chris's posts, he is in Iowa this week working his way through the Breaded Pork Tenderloins. I did contact Mark (doggydaddy) and asked if he would care for some RF adventures. Even with the short notice, he was available, so we had one evening to visit and check out some good food.

We went to Pepe's in Manchester. Showing no imagination, I ordered the white clam pizza and the basic tomato pie (although we did get mozzarella on half of it). Why mess with a good thing? Of course we also had the Foxon Park clear birch beer. Here is a shot of the pizzas, and you can see that the tomato pizza was a bit less burned than the one we had last week:

Of course here is the obligatory picture of the RF-er taking a picture of the other RF-er taking a picture of the first Rf-er... (what happened to the food?):

Although this was my only RF night of the trip, it was a blast. Mark, thanks for taking the time to visit with me. It was a great time.

Of course I had to get three extra bottles of the clear birch beer to take home. On the next trip I will have to find time to go to Foxon Park and buy a selection of beverages.

On this trip I drove down instead of flying because of the short notice and also the fact that it takes just as long to connect and make two flights as it does to drive. Heading up the I-91 in Springfield to reach the I-90, I happened to look over at one of the exits and saw a sign for Donut Dip. As soon as I saw the sign, I thought, "That sounds like a Roadfood place." (It is certainly not Dunkin Donuts, which I have seen all week in Hartford.) When I got home and looked up the name on the Roadfood site, of course I saw that Donut Dip is a great place to go to. Aargh! I should have made a U-turn and gone back for more good stuff to take home. Oh well, that's another stop I will take on the next trip.

Once again, my thanks to Chris and Mark for their kindness and for being great company.

Rob

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:48:32 GMT

HotDogHead and sk bob,

Thanks for your kind words. I had a great time and even had a second visit the next week (more details in a new post). The weather is no fun, considering we had a bit of snow last night in Buffalo, but spring has be coming soon. Right? (I may be delusional.)

Rob

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (sk bob)

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:07:27 GMT

Excellent report, it must have been a great roadfood experience.
having lived in central CT for 50 years and eaten at all those places except Ted's (I won't eat steamed gound meat), & Pepes in Manchester ( wasn't there when I left).
my observations from the pictures;
both Pepes pizzas, evidently the cooks throw the pizzas in the oven & take them out when they start burning.
Ted's,thats why I don't eat steamed ground meat.
it sounds like you had a great time & ate some good food, thats what its all about. to each his own.
I don't miss that weather,but I miss the food.
welcome to Roadfood Buffalo Tarheel

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (HotDogHead)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:03:54 GMT

Excellent report! Please keep them coming.

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (buffetbuster)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:16:20 GMT

Buffalo Tarheel-
Thank you for what you said. Having another person with you also taking photos of their food does definitely make it easier. Yeah, I was definitely self-conscious at first, but that went away quickly. Now, I am used to funny looks and hearing people around me whispering to each other about the nutjob taking pictures of his pie.

The weekend I will be in Hartford is April 17 & 19. If you are in town, I would to share a meal with you. I also plan on making it to Buffalo & Rochester sometime this Summer.

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (MiamiDon)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:01:49 GMT

Great choices of food and dining companion! I appreciate that you took the time to describe everything well, instead of just a few captions on the photos.

Keep up the good work.

Nancypalooza: I chuckled out loud at the image of you in a cheese skirt!!

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (Nancypalooza)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:46:13 GMT

You become used to it, but then I think it's easier, frankly, for a woman who can stash the camera in her purse. Sometimes my pictures are not good because really I've taken them too quickly. Or I don't catch in the viewfinder that it's blurry or overexposed, although I'm getting better about that. I take a lot of pictures of weird random things though in general, so that has somewhat made it easier. I'm just kind of used to whipping out the camera now.

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:33:19 GMT

buffetbuster

Buffalo Tarheel-
The problem with posting such an excellent report the very first time out is that we will be expecting it from you all the time now!!! Such good photos and descriptions, you obviously have an enthusiasm for the subject. Were you selfconscious at all about taking the food photos?

I will be in the same area in about a month, so it is nice to see what some of these places look like. Ted's for sure will be on my "hit list".

Looking forward to your future reports.

Thanks very much for your nice words. I had an excellent person to take me on the site visits. I have read many of your reports in the past and don't think I could approach your level of zeal and hard work. I have really enjoyed reading about the places you have been to (and have them in mind for stops if I am in the area). It was definitely an enjoyable experience the few days we were visiting the restaurants.

Please let me know when you will be in CT, as maybe that will be the same time I am there (or I could do some creative scheduling). I'd be glad to see you at Ted's or any of these places.

Yes, I did feel funny about taking pictures, but it helped having Chris with me. From your experience, is it something that you just become used to doing and not feeling self-conscious?

Rob

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (buffetbuster)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:22:43 GMT

Buffalo Tarheel-
The problem with posting such an excellent report the very first time out is that we will be expecting it from you all the time now!!! Such good photos and descriptions, you obviously have an enthusiasm for the subject. Were you selfconscious at all about taking the food photos?

I will be in the same area in about a month, so it is nice to see what some of these places look like. Ted's for sure will be on my "hit list".

Looking forward to your future reports.

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (Buffalo Tarheel)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:13:41 GMT

Ribdog, Rumaki, Nancy, and Ann,

Thanks for your kind words as well. Having finally taken the plunge of taking pictures when at RF places, maybe now I can generate other reports in the future. You all have written many posts that I have looked at, so I hope to be able to add somewhat to the site. I have business trips this year coming up to Wichita, KS; Bakersfield, CA; and of course back to Hartford, so the opportunities are there.

Chris was an excellent guide and a great person to spend time with. He definitely has a PhD in Roadfood and teaches from practical experience.

Rob

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (ann peeples)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:49:07 GMT

Great report! You picked some great places, and your descriptions of the food was excellent.Pictures are fine-keep it up!

Re:Hartford, CT area trip March 9, 2009 week - Pepe's, Ted's, Guida's, and Shady Glen (Nancypalooza)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:05:15 GMT

/me starts measuring myself for a cheese skirt

This is a really excellent report, and let me just say that I sympathize about the coming from North Carolina and trying foods that are unfamiliar to you part. Whenever I get up there to sample some stuff, things will be unfamiliar to me too. Chris has like his PhD in that though--well versed on both planets. And super lovely about it too.

I think it's like what we were talking about in the 'foods that don't photograph well'--the camera likes sharp edges, so when you're taking a picture of something like a hot dog covered with relish, it starts to go 'huh?'

I would have thrown down on that pizza with the burnt parts.

Lovely job Rob--I hope there are many more to come from you in the future!