A Change of Eatery

Three years later, I still maintain that one of the hardest parts about moving from Norwalk was the separation anxiety of moving away from Michele’s Pies.

In this post, I will be a traitor to the Hartford area. When I’m back in southern CT, my heart and appetite loyally return to Fairfield County favorites.

Big, enthusiastic shout out to Norwalk’s very own Michele’s Pies. I’m currently enjoying a plateful of not one, not two, but three different varieties. I’m visiting the parents for my Mom’s birthday– and the parents are undeniably the source of my tragically insatiable sweet tooth. Family favorites include the Chocolate Pecan Bourbon, Apple Cranberry Crumb, Banana Cream and Maple Pumpkin with Pecan Streusel (you know I couldn’t pick just one!). I’m now working through miniature versions of the Raspberry Pie, Pineapple Mango Pie, and Apple Crumb. Everything is blissfully perfect.

image from www.michelespies.com

Some quick facts about Michele’s:

• Seasonally changing menu of award winning pies- the shop only uses fresh, seasonal fruit
• Wide assortment of fruit, nut, cream and savory pies, along with handmade cookies, tea breads, pastries, muffins, and other exceptional baked goods.
• Pies are featured at farmers markets in southern Fairfield County
• Owner Michele Albano has been featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay for her incredible pumpkin pie! Check out her impressive press and awards collection here
• Winner of multiple national pie championships

Also, Michele is so friendly and welcoming- which gives me yet another reason to enjoy her shop! I’m gently coaxing my parents to join the Pie of the Month  club so I’ll have a reason to visit them more often. :) If you’re in the area, definitely pay Michele a visit. If you’re not in the area, this is a bakery worth etching out some serious drive time for.

666 Main Avenue, Norwalk CT 06851 

203.354.7144

http://www.michelespies.com/index.html

…Pie places in Hartford County? Anyone?

Time to sneak in another recipe to disrupt the usual pattern of eatery adventures.

Goat Cheese, Tomato and Basil Tarts- an Ina Garten classic and personal favorite of mine. Easy, flavorful, summery, and quick to prepare. I don’t think my final product is as lovely as Ina’s but the taste is still worth raving about.

a piece of my lovely creation

Ingredients

• 1 package (17.3 ounces/2 sheets) puff pastry, defrosted
• Olive oil
• 4 cups thinly sliced yellow onions (2 large onions)
• 3 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons dry white wine
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
• 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, plus 2 ounces shaved with a vegetable peeler
• 4 ounces garlic-and-herb goat cheese
• 1 large tomato, cut into 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices
• 3 tablespoons julienned basil leaves

Directions

Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square. Using a 6-inch wide saucer or other round object as a guide, cut 2 circles from the sheet of puff pastry, discarding the scraps. Repeat with the second pastry sheet to make 4 circles in all. Place the pastry circles on 2 sheet pans lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and thyme and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Remove from the heat.

Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.

Place 1/4 of the onion mixture on each circle, again staying within the scored edge. Crumble 1 ounce of goat cheese on top of the onions. Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. The bottom sheet pan may need an extra few minutes in the oven. Serve hot or warm.

Recipe taken from The Food Network. Enjoy!

Now I’m stuck with another sheet of puff pastry. Any ideas for what I should do with it?

Over the last few months, I’ve heard plenty of rave reviews about The Russell in Hartford, which serves a menu of Caribbean and Jamaican inspired cuisine. Naturally, I was happy to get the chance to check it out so I could stop feeling envious of anyone who so much as mentioned fried plantains.

The restaurant has a warm, funky vibe with a first floor bar, mezzanine-style second level, and tall ground floor windows to let in tons of light and fresh air. One of my friends accidentally jumped through one of these windows (they’re so tall! Mistook it for a doorway)- but that’s another story. I’ll just discuss the food.

Anyway…a few friends and I savored a phenomenal meal in The Russell’s outdoor seating area on Pratt Street. The menu features a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and entrees so it took a while to settle on some appetizer & entree decisions. Here are a few highlights of our dinner:

The bruschetta is certainly one of the best dishes I’ve had in a while. I’ll elaborate: bruschetta topped with smoked salmon, red onion, fresh basil, and tomato-avocado salsa– all drizzled with truffle oil ($8)

My entree pick (and I’d pick it again) consisted of hickory smoked BBQ chicken. Mashed sweet potatoes. Fried plantain strips. Enough said. No other details necessary.

Oh my land. $15 of mouthwatering feast. I could eat nothing but fried plantains and die a happy woman.

On a final note, the mango chicken wrap was also a hit: baby spinach, fresh mango, provolone cheese, mango vinaigrette ($10). Fantastic flavor combination

Well, that’s all she wrote.

Visit the website for a full menu, list of events, and more: The Russell hosts a jazz brunch every Sunday, plus lively happy hours and more.

103 Pratt Street, Hartford CT

A Change of Eatery has been featured in a fantastic article about food bloggers in Connecticut!

Leeanne Griffin, from the Hartford Courant, wrote Growing Ranks Of Connecticut Food Bloggers Pursue Passion For Cooking And Dining in a June 3rd special to the Courant, which takes a look at food enthusiasts around the state & finds out what they have to say about the best of Connecticuisine.

Some great stuff here! I suggest that you check out these blogs:

Dave’s Cupboard

CT Bites (focus on Fairfield County)

CT Food Blog (authored by a food journalist & regular NY Times contributor)

A La Carte (The Courant’s own food blog. Leeanne Griffin regularly contributes)

Fun With Carbs

Thanks to Leeanne for her great work on this article! I’m honored to be a part of it.

Learned a lot on Twitter this morning. The following are 4 local activities/events gleaned from tweets worth mentioning. In other words, sneak a glimpse at my agenda for another action-packed week…

1. Pick Your Own (Before it’s too late…)

Image from Rose's Berry Farm

I’m going to follow Rose’s Berry Farm’s lead and attach a fresh sense of urgency to strawberry picking. The berries are in full season 2 weeks early, so you’ll want to collect some & get the freezer bags ready to squirrel away what’s left of your personal stash. Plan ahead, as this pick-your-own season might not last beyond Father’s Day.

2.  Black Eyed & Blues Fest

Come celebrate the 11^th annual Hartford Advocate Black Eyed & Blues Fest at the Bushnell Park Pavilion. Here’s the lineup: renowned national and regional artists Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts, River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs, Larry Garner Blues Band, Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles and Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood.

Details? Thursday, June 3rd, 5-11 pm. Rain or shine. Free!

3. Hartford Treasures: The Art and Artifacts on the Artwalk

On Friday, check out “Hartford Treasures: Art and Artifacts on the ArtWalk,” an exhibit showcasing some of the  holdings in the Library’s historical Hartford Collection. This collection will be on display from June 4 through September 30, 2010 with an opening reception Friday, June 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public

ArtWalk at Hartford Public Library: 500 Main Street.

4. Connecticut Trails Day

Some excellent options for walking tours, trails and other excursions this weekend, particularly Saturday, June 5th. There’s even a Wallace Stevens educational walk (great poet. This makes me happy) in Hartford.

For more options in Hartford, I’m going to refer you to Kerri’s Trails Day post over at realhartford.com. For the rest of CT, visit CTWoodlands.org.