50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #13

Rabbit "Olivier" at Still River Cafe, Eastford. Good things come in threes at this superb locavore restaurant; for example, this dish consisting of poached saddle-of-rabbit medallions, roasted stuffed rabbit leg and chilled rillette of rabbit served with farm onions and a leek-filled crepe. It's so worth the drive.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #12

The fried whole-belly clams at Sea Swirl, Mystic. This converted Carvel is closed for the season right now, but one of the rites of spring is grabbing a half-pint of these hand-battered beauties and savoring the taste of the sea.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #11

A crab cake at Carmen Anthony Steakhouse or Fishhouse, Waterbury, New Haven, Woodbury, Avon or Wethersfield. This generous and spectacular take on a ubiquitous dish consists of Maryland lump crab that's potato-encrusted, pan-fried and served golden brown with a remoulade sauce.

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.