50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #10

The hot lobster roll at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Westbrook and Madison. This is a Connecticut invention (born at a long-gone place in Milford called Perry's) that was, is and always will be blissfully simple: hot chunks of lobster meat and melted butter served on a sturdy split-top roll. There are lots of places that serve a very good lobster roll, but Lenny & Joe's does a particularly nice job of it.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #9

Ebibaba at Miya's, New Haven. One of the many unique treats to be found at this remarkably creative sushi restaurant, this sensual dish consists of tempura shrimp wrapped in a potato skin and topped with torch-toasted Havarti cheese and lemon-dill sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #8

The New Englander with fries at Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield. There are quite a few really good hot dog spots in Connecticut, but Super Duper Weenie stands out for the freshness of its homemade toppings, the creativity of its offerings and the sublime nature of its french fries. The New Englander, topped with sauerkraut, bacon, mustard, sweet relish and raw onion, is top dog.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #7

Seared wasabi and sesame-rubbed tuna at Match, South Norwalk. This memorable and very popular opener includes coconut sticky-rice cake, sweet soy, avocado crema, watercress and spicy saracha, a Thai hot sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #6

Potage Billi Bi at Ondine, Danbury. This venerable. romantic French restaurant makes the most of the cream-of-mussels soup with saffron. The curious name come from tin magnate William B. Leeds (Billy B.), who often sang the soup's praises at Maxim's in Paris.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #5

The Kobe beef appetizer at Feng Asian Bistro, Hartford. The beef is brought to the table raw in thin strips, along with a flat volcanic rock heated by a small burner. It is up to you to place the beef on the rock and cook it to your own taste. At $10 an ounce, this dish isn't cheap, but it is fun and delicious.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #4

The wok shrimp at Carole Peck's Good News Cafe, Woodbury. Described as "Always Good" on the menu, this is the go-to dish at one of the state's top restaurants. It's an inspired mix of wok-seared Gulf shrimp, green beans, peas, olives, roast potatoes and aioli.