A Change of Eatery

Ok. If you know me, you know how much I love NoRa Cupcake in Middletown. The funky vibe (oh, I don’t even know how to describe. Let’s just call it vintage-punk shabby chic) makes for a perfect hangout on Main Street in Middletown. If you’re looking for a sweet treat to celebrate mom, NoRa just posted their Mother’s Day cupcake menu. I was drooling too much not to post. Here ya go:

Order now. NOW!

Anyway, here’s why I love this place so much. Nick Caito and I stopped in after lusting over NoRa’s cupcake menu since it opened on New Year’s Eve– and this sweet little shop certainly didn’t disappoint. (Great locally roasted coffee as well.) We sampled four gorgeously creative cupcakes- the “Bubbly”: champagne cake filled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with vanilla buttercream and a strawberry…and the “Lemon Drops”, lemon cake filled with lemon curd and frosted with almond buttercream.

We also got two to go, chocolate filled with raspberry ganache and an espresso cupcake. And even though we got them to go, we ate them right in the store.

Sigh.

Self control is the name of the game.

Well, Trumbull Kitchen has done it again.

I stopped in last Monday for a Goose Island beer sampling and multi-course tapas dinner. Apart from the delightful Chicago craft beers (and generous pours!), I need to pour my heart out about the food for a moment. Truly, one of the best meals AND deals in recent memory – at just $25.

We started with a small plate consumed by a huge, rich bay scallop in the shell with sweet, tart blood orange and fennel salad dressed in tangy citron mignonette. A total delight, paired with Sofie, a tart, dry Belgian farmhouse ale.

The next course almost caused me to sensually, disturbingly lick the last morsels off my plate. Lamb with sumac, pickled ramps (wild leeks) and mint lebna, paired with Matilda, a slightly spicy, fruity Belgian pale ale.

We followed up with some of the sweetest, smokiest pork ribs with molasses barbecue sauce, a sprinkling of cashew tidbits and parsley dust. I know it’s trite to say “fall-off-the-bone” but that’s exactly what happened. Extra omnom for THAT. Paired brilliantly with a hoppy hoppity IPA.

The last course…well, I can barely write about it. It’s the reason Nick and I were interested (understatement) in attending this dinner in the first place (we were actually the first people to make reservations– I don’t know if that’s admirable or gluttonously embarrassing). Foie gras doughnuts with blackberry compote and black pepper powdered sugar. Absolutely freakin DIVINE . The chef mixed the foie gras with vanilla custard for the richest, butteriest treat I’ve perhaps ever enjoyed. O, foie gras, the brilliant forms you take! (Oh, and the dark, slightly peppery Pepe Nero brew pairing was 100% right ON).

Anyway, as always, I love Trumbull Kitchen. For happy hour tapas, a full meal, or a special prix fixe dinner. They rock it all. Hard.

And now I’m a newly converted fan of Goose Island brews, so that’s a big plus. They’re taking CT by storm these days – and other restaurants are hopping on board with Goose Island dinners, tastings and tap specials. Eli Cannon, Wood-N-Tap and Plan B have special events/deals up their sleeves as well – check out the deets on the CT Beer Trail site!

Foodies and do-gooders assemble!

The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Connecticut Chapter invites you to their annual gala on Saturday, April 21st at Mohegan Sun’s Uncas Ballroom. Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine will be creating and presenting a special dinner, while guests will additionally enjoy an evening of amazing live and silent auction items, inspiring stories and dancing to the Bernadettes.

Join hosts Joe D’Ambrosio, “Voice of the UCONN Huskies” sports announcer and Joan Dylan, WRCH LITE 100.5 FM’s midday host, at the Evening of Wishes Gala.

Tickets are available online or by calling 203-261-9044. (Processing fees will apply to online ticket sales). Please have your contact information, number of tickets and payment (credit card or check) ready when you call. Dress is black tie optional.

Even if you’re unable to attend the event, please consider making a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the wonderfully inspiring work they do.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Connecticut grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. We want to provide children with the hope for better times, the strength for the tough times and the joy to experience the present. Our chapter has granted over 2,000 wishes since its’ founding 25 years ago. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, please visit our website at ct.wish.org.” 

I vote yes to this dinner. For $55, that’s a ton of food and wine. This menu looks spectacular (and I LOVE Mill on the River…and Manchester Wine & Liquors. Big fat win all around). Apparently the March 8th dinner was so successful that they’re holding another dinner event on Thursday, March 15th (same time, same place, same price.) Call for reservations!

Oh, and disregard the silly pig and dolla dolla bills, yo. I don’t know what they were thinking.

No meat, no ambiance, no waiters, no alcohol.

No problem.

Because y’know what? Udupi Bhavan doesn’t need that stuff. The food outshines everything.

I had the pleasure of redeeming a Living Social deal to Udupi Bhavan with a friend last night. Like so many amazing restaurants in semi-unfortunate locations, the restaurant is located in a strip mall on Saybrook Road in Middletown. Menu selections are on boards above cash registers and everything is pretty DIY from ordering at the counter to retrieving your own pitchers of water. Paper plates and plastic utensils are the extent of tableware. The staff is fabulously friendly (and lets you bring in wine/beer/whatever from the liquor store next door, although they don’t advertise being BYOB) and the food. OH, the food.

Gulab Jamoon

Between the both of us, we enjoyed the veggie samosas (filling, flaky, beautifully seasoned) baigan bharta– a smoky eggplant curry (one of my favorites), spicy navatran korma (WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN), fluffy, flaky fried flatbread (poori) and my delicious syrupy-cardamom-laced gulab jamun.

The entire meal was remarkable- some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had. And I’m usually the first in line for lamb, chicken, or whatever meat I can throw in a korma, but this vegetarian selection spared no flavor whatsoever.

Udupi Bhavan

749 Saybrook Road, Middletown CT

Who’s with me?