Connecticut Specialties to Try Before You Die

In conjunction with an upcoming article in our May issue, we're running a survey to find Connecticut specialties you should try before you die. We're looking for dishes from Connecticut restaurants that you feel everyone should try at least once -- from the white clam pizza at Pepe's in New Haven to the steamed cheeseburgers at Ted's to the clam hash at Pat's Kountry Kitchen.

Have any suggestions? Please click here and share what local dish you think everyone should try.

Annual Readers' Survey

One of our most popular reader features is back: Our annual readers' restaurant survey, where our readers tell us who they think are the best eateries in 27 different categories, from American to vegetarian and every cuisine in between. This year, we've added a few new categories, such as best sushi and hidden gem. And of course, there's best new restaurant and best overall.

And as in years past, you can profit from giving us your opinion -- vote for your favorites and you will be entered in a drawing to win $750 or dinner on us! Not bad for taking a few minutes to complete a survey.

To cast your votes, simply click here.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

End of An Era

As someone who grew up in Milford, I was saddened to see this story this morning in the Connecticut Post about the closing of Paul's Famous Hamburgers after 62 years. Like many in town, I ate there on occasion, and although it was never really a hangout of mine, I do have good memories of their delicious burgers.

I don't know the particular reasons for its closure, and the story in the Post doesn't shed any substantial clues, but I would hate to think it was forced out of business because of too many competing burger chains. As I've railed here before, although I understand the convenience and attraction of chains, they really are poor substitutes for places with genuine atmosphere (not just old tennis rackets and eclectic photos hung up on cookie-cutter walls to create "ambiance") and more importantly, better food and service.

Paul's won our Best of Connecticut award for "best hamburger," an award won this year by Plan B Tavern -- who, despite having three locations (West Hartford, Glastonbury and Simsbury), is still a local business and not a national chain.

For now.

Fresh from the Farm

This is the time of year to enjoy the produce coming from Connecticut farms, and it's also the time when a lot of Connecticut restaurants are allowing us to do the same thing. One example we enjoyed the other night was the "Connecticut Farm To Chef Seasonal Tasting Menu" offered by Max Downtown in Hartford. The limited menu includes three courses for $32, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Connecticut Farmland Trust. More to the point, the dinner was perfectly fresh, creative and delicious. The first course was a creamy Rosedale Farms Sweet Corn Soup that included bacon and, delightfully, popcorn; the second was a Grilled Ox Hollow Farms All Natural Pork Chop accompanied by a chorizo-stuffed sunburst squash, tomato marmalade and red wine jus; the third course was a lemon blueberry cake featuring perfect, plump berries from Rose's Berry Farm in Glastonbury. The "Taste of Connecticut" is all around right now--and restaurants are among the best places to enjoy it.

Fair Weather Friends

What could be more summery than a dining spot that's open only in summer? There aren't as many as there used to be in Connecticut, but for the July issue of Connecticut Magazine we visited a few and like what we found--in fact we put one of them on the cover! In the issue, we write about Harry's Place in Colchester, The Place in Guilford, Sea Swirl in Mystic and Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank, but I think my favorite was Clamp's on Route 202 in New Milford, right near the Washington line. Clamp's is a real throwback, right by the side of the road, open only six hours a day. I liked the hamburger with grilled onions and ordered a second one right after I finished the first. But what I liked even more was the feeling of thoroughly enjoying the season--and summer hadn't even officially begun yet! If you know of any seasonal operations with good food and a good vibe, please post it here. I'd love to visit as many as I can this summer.

Favorite Summer Dining Spot?

Even though it's just beginning to finally feel like spring, we here at Connecticut Magazine are already thinking about this summer, and in particular, our favorite warm weather dining places -- outside patios at restaurants, small waterside shacks, hot dog stands, etc.

But we already know what our favorites are, and now we'd like to know some of yours. To that end, our new online survey (the results of which will appear in the "First" section of the magazine) is an opportunity for you to share. Click here and tell us what's your favorite summer place to eat (Chick's Drive In? The Spot? The deck at The Blue Oar?). In addition, you can share with us your favorite place along the water (Hammonassett Beach? Candlewood Lake? Waterside in Essex on the Connecticut River?).

We look forward to seeing what you have to say!

Satisfying a Craving

Last week we went out for dinner to Crave, downtown on Main Street in Ansonia. We enjoyed the meal tremendously.

For many of you familiar with The Valley and Ansonia, you'll understand when I say that Crave is very "un-Ansonia." Not to be disrespectful -- dining-wise, the town has long been known more for pizza joints and blue collar-type eateries. Crave is a breath of fresh air, bringing a very upscale cosmopolitan feel (with a hint of Nuevo Latino cuisine) to an area that seems to be lacking in such dining experiences. Think paella, grilled salmon topped with mussels and cilantro-lime butter, and braised beef ribs in a house island BBQ sauce. Crave also has a very good wine list, and the service is top notch.

The room itself is a bright, high-ceilinged space in an older building with exposed brick on one side while the other is painted bright orange. My only problem with Crave was that the layout of the room -- with the bar right next to the close tables and nothing to absorb the sound -- makes for a noisy night.

Still, if you're looking for an alternative to the same-old, same-old from the lower Valley, you could a lot worse than Crave.