A Change of Eatery

I seriously wait every year for this. Ok, this is only the 3rd year it’s been on my radar, but stil. La Petit France (alright, France in general) has a good thing goin’.

French Candlemas, La Chandeleur, Crêpe Day. Whatever. All I hear is CREPE.

Every year in February, the French celebrate La Chandeleur, a day when everyone cooks crepes (there’s more to it but I’ll leave it at that). To mark the occasion at West Hartford’s La Petite France Bakery, the cafe will offer a variety of crepes with a selection sweet and savory toppings and fillings.

Image from LPF Bakery

Not drooling yet? Let me elaborate with an excerpt from LPF’s trusty Facebook post:

It’s time to get creative, build your own combination from the many delicious toppings we offer:

Swiss, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Goat, Munster, Brie, Chicken, Smoked Turkey, Ham, Prosciutto, Tomato, Cucumber, Artichoke, Red Peppers, Spinach, Nutella, Chocolate, Pear, Strawberry, Strawberry jam, Sugar and butter, Vanilla ice cream, Whipped cream… 

Only available February 4th & 5th!

Come celebrate!

So Nick and I aren’t really the *flowers & chocolate* couple when it comes to Valentines Day. Or any day, really. Although, to his credit, he DID make me a bouquet of garlic bulbs on kabob skewers once (and we roasted the crap out of them! omnom)

I digress.

So, we decided to use The Half Door‘s Night of the Funk to celebrate Valentine’s a few days early this year. Because nothing says love like funky brews and stinky cheeses.

Details: Tickets are $50 (incl. tax/gratuity)

You should come by too. Wanna know why? You’ll savor a selection of the world’s stinkiest, funkiest beers and cheeses, (as well as some less stinky choices for an occasional breather to cut the funk). There’s a pretty good chance I will not be participating, but feel free to dress in 70′s gear. There’s also a funk band on board.

Onto the menu!

Unlimited Samples of the Stinky Dozen
1 – Boon Oude Geuze
2 – Ichtegem’s Grand Cru
3 – Kasteel’s Rouge
4 – Stillwater Cellar Door
5 – Rodenbach Ale
6 – Scires Sour Cherry
7 – Hanssens’ Oude Kriek
8 – Hanssens’ Oude Geuze
9 – Hanssens’ Cassis
10 – Hanssens’ Raspberry
11 – Rodenbach Vintage ’07 Oak Aged
12 – So Stinky We Can’t Tell You What It Is Yet!

See you there, sez Stinky Cheese Man

Stinky Cheese

Camembert – Muenster – Epoisses

Roquefort – Limburger – Stilton

Taleggio – Pata Cabra – Raclette

Passed Apps & Belly Fillers to Soak Up the Funk

The Passed Apps:

Curry Peanut Crusted Turkey Lollipops
Fried Clam & Andouille Bites
Mini BBQ Walnut Goat Cheese Stuffed Brioche

The Belly Fillers:
Espresso Rubbed Beef Sirloin Over Egg Noodles
Grilled Sardines With Lemon, Caper & Thyme
Coca Cola Chicken Wings
Israeli Couscous Arancini with Olives & Cherry Pepper Salsa

The Odds & Ends: 
Ancho Pepper Chocolate Bark
Honey Roasted Pistachios Dusted with Cardamom
Fig Relish
Fresh Cantaloupe
Fresh Honeydew
Fresh Strawberries
Red Grapes
Hand Torn French Baguettes

Order your tickets and get psyched for stink!

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly! And what better way to celebrate?

Ah, yes. One of the tastiest meals in recent memory is a perfect way to finish off another year of blog posts.

I stopped into Abyssinian Ethiopian Restaurant with some Hartford friends for lunch last week– it’s a bit of an underrated gem with a great location (I’m biased because I can walk there- parking otherwise stinks) and friendly service. More importantly, excellent food.

We started by sharing two appetizers, Ayib Be Gomen: cottage cheese mixed with mitmita and chopped collard greens, as well as (I forget the app’s name) beef meatballs served with salad. The Ayib Be Gomen reminded me of a spicy saag paneer. Super delightful.

For an entree, I ordered Doro Alcha, chicken (on the bone) simmered in a mild sauce of butter, onions, ginger and turmeric- among plenty of other spices- and a hard-boiled egg. Glorious. One of the best parts of the meal? Eating with your hands. Alongside our bowls of seasoned meats and stew-like sauces sauces, we were served what can only be described as an edible platter: a huge spread of injera- a spongy crepe-like bread dotted with vegetables and curried lentils to scoop up the meats and stews.

Other dining companions opted for lamb dishes, including Yebeg Wot, comprised of lamb simmered in red pepper sauce, berbere seasoned with ginger root, garlic, green pepper and cardamon.

The full menu includes a broad range of lamb, chicken, beef, seafood, and vegetarian options. Gluten free. The veg options might even be vegan-friendly but I don’t swing that way so it’s up to you to figure it out.

I will be back. And soon. It is (almost) a new year, after all.

Abyssinian Ethiopian Restaurant

533 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT

860.218.2231

I can’t believe this place exists.

I vow to visit Il Bambino every time I’m in NYC– it’s well worth a trip to Astoria, Queens. The panini with prosciutto, gorgonzola dolce and fig spread has won my heart over so many times, mastering the balance of strong flavors that expertly combine savory and sweet. The brunch menu is pretty magnificent– I’m a sucker for We Got Nuttin- a panini spread with Nutella, banana, and strawberry preserve. Pair that with a mimosa for one happy Emily.

Photo by Nick Caito

This past weekend I sampled some of the crostinis, which absolutely knocked my unassuming Connecticut socks off.

2 winners:  Crostini with prosciutto, basil pesto, parmesan
& a Crostini with an absurdly flavorful combo of goat cheese, honey, and rosemary oil

Photo by Nick Caito

Bambino also features a fantastic selection of meats and artisanal cheeses to create some pretty epic meat/cheese platters.

Perfect remedy to warm up a winter day? 4 words: peanut butter hot chocolate.
le sigh. I’d kill to have a spot like this in Connecticut.

If you find yourself in Astoria any time soon, go here and thank me later.

You’re welcome in advance.

http://ilbambinonyc.com/

34-08 31st Ave

Astoria, Queens

New York, New York 11106

(718) 626-0087

Huong Viet on Park Street.

Go there.

I loved it.

pork banh mi

Best pho and banh mi I’ve had in Hartford so far. (Although favorite banh mi in the area is Chau’s in Manchester). I stopped into Huong Viet with a few friends for lunch today and ordered the grilled pork banh mi sandwich and beef pho (spruced up with sriracha, hoisin & lots of other goodies). The food was incredible. The prices were incredible. The ambiance wasn’t much and service was polite but minimal– and the superb food shone through it all. I WILL be back. ASAP.

beef pho

With a Vietnamese iced coffee (sweetened with condensed milk), banh mi & steaming bowl of pho, the bill rang me at $11 or something ridiculously low like that. Can’t be beat, friends.

2014 Park St., Hartford, (860) 233-0888