Treva

Lunch this afternoon with friends at Treva in West Hartford Center. I remember this place as Edelweiss so that tells how long ago I entered this building. Would have been a nicer lunch if the waitress hadn’t had an attitude about serving us outside of her area. We needed to be in a more handicap accessible place so sat alone in the back dining room. 

I had the Pesce Panini: crispy cod, spicy aioli, watercress, tomatoes [$12]. The cod was perfectly done and served on a poppy seed brioche with home-made kettle chips and a side salad. The salad needed a bit more oomph to make it an equal part to this nice sandwich. The other two panini were also quite successful. One a Tacchino: turkey, pork belly, fig aioli, lettuce, tomatoes [$11] and a Bistecca: roast beef, horseradish aioli, spinach, mozzarella [$12]. Two of us shared the Torta Dates which was a moist round of date cake with chantilly cream.

looking for lobster...

THIS BLOG ENTRY WILL BE REFRESHED UNTIL I FIND THE ULTIMATE LOBSTER ROLL!

This is my summer venture, my seasonal search, looking for lobster. Where is the perfect Lobster Roll? I will try my best to find it for you [and me]!

Stop #1: Lenny and Joe's at their new New Haven location at Long Wharf on April 13th. This was an underwhelming start to my lobster roll quest.

'Our famous hot buttered lobster roll' [$15.50] was just that as seen above. Aside from the lemon wedge, this is what you get for your money. It was hot and it was buttered. The roll was nicely toasted. The amount of lobster was small and a tad chewy. You could make it a platter by adding french fries or salted potatoes for $1.99. Not anywhere near the best I have had and really not  recommended at all.

Stop #2: Ate today April 16th  at  Zerio's in Cromwell in my lobster roll quest and in one word it was so very AWESOME! As I said to those within shouting distance: "It was freaking awesome!".

Now the details. Was it awesome because of the beautiful Spring day? Or was it awesome because I had just had a wonderful massage or that Zerio's is just a couple of doors down from Body Wellness? No, it was awesome because it was so delicious and fresh and tender. The roll was perfect and the extra serving of melted butter made my heart sing. It included a nice portion of tasty potato salad [and could have had my choice of several other salads]. It even had a little hand wash packet which I truly needed. And it only cost $12.95.

Stop #3 was at Blue Lobster on the Berlin Turnpike today, Saturday the 20th. This was a very good lobster roll [$12.99] and they had the honor of Connecticut Magazine's Best Lobster Roll 2011.

The lobster was fresh and tender with a coating of hot butter. The roll was toasted perfectly and the coleslaw [choice of coleslaw or potato chips] was tangy and not overly sweet. It was beaten by stop #2 because the lobster pieces were a bit small but overall it was fine!

Stop #4: Didn't go to the luncheon I had planned on but went to Spoonshoppe Brooke in Meriden instead.

This 1/4 pound hot lobster roll was filled with buttered-drenched good sized pieces of tender lobster and came in a long buttered hot dog roll. It was delicious and definitely a bargain at $10.99. Bare bones but could be dolled up by making it a platter with coleslaw [+$1] or fries [+$2].

This Deli and Farm Market will be the place to go to when the weather gets warmer.  Outdoor seating and luscious looking desserts will make for a lunch destination; then pick up something fresh for dinner.


Stop #5 was by popular demand at Ninety-Nine in Cromwell and I am glad I followed through. The lobster presentation was beautiful.

Lots of claw pieces, nicely toasted bun, loads of french fries [if a trifle salty], some good coleslaw and a little pot of drawn butter. It ranks up there but didn’t beat the best because the lobster was a tad chewy and could have been a lot hotter. For $16.95, it is a full meal, close to home and pretty darn good.

Stop #6 dawned on me the other night when I was thinking of another place to go in the area. Well Saybrook Fish House is very close and I have had many good meals there. Found out that lobster rolls were available but only in the bar. Stopping there today in the mid afternoon, I found the lobster roll to be delicious. This place does specialize in seafood and they don’t miss the mark here.

The hot buttered lobster roll [$16] is chock full of very large, fresh and tender pieces of lobster and is served on a lightly toasted hot dog roll. The plate included very good french fries, a tangy coleslaw, lemon wedges, drawn butter and three melon slices and a wedge of dill pickle. Good value for the money.

Stop #7 was at Jessica’s Garden on a rainy Saturday. I wanted to try the hot buttered lobster roll [$12.95] here as so many local people raved about them.

It had its good points and not so good. For the good, it was fresh with lots of large pieces, tasty and a choice of chips or cucumber slices for the ‘diet’ crowd. For the not so good, it was small, not buttery enough and had two pieces of cartilage to mess up the package deal. Ate in the rain under a tent but don’t think that influenced my rating any.

Stop #8 was at Max's Oyster Bar in West Hartford Center today. A nice lobster roll in such a civilized atmosphere.

Started with crackers and a roll with real butter. Then a demi-pitcher of iced tea followed by two Oy-Komo Gway oysters $2.50 each] perfectly presented over ice with two dipping sauces. The lobster roll [$18.95] was chock full of large but slightly chewy lobster on a perfectly toasted roll. The plate was finished with a good coleslaw and frites. Service was impeccable.

Stops #9 and 10 and beyond will be who knows where...

Café 56

Dinner of the Month for May. This month’s theme was Peru. The menu was again a wonderful prix-fixe [$25] Here is the menu:

Papa a la Huancaína [potatoes in a Huancina sauce which is a rich creamy tangy delight to spread on baby boiled potatoes. Delicious. We had to have an additional serving of potatoes to use up the sauce.

Peruvian Ceviche: Halibut ceviche with corn and concha. Tangy with a bite and so fresh tasting.

Duck and Chicken for the next course served with white beans and cilantro rice. This dish rocked and worked so well together. The sweet beans and the rice served as a beautiful background for the chicken and the gorgeous piece of duck.

Dessert was Arroz con Leche [rice pudding] with Alfajorres [the shortbread stuffed with dulce de leche]. A sweet ending to a spicy, tasty and well prepared dinner. Loved it all!

Next month’s theme is Southern Spain with Tapas and Paella.

4/12/13

Dinner of the Month for April. This month's theme was Guatemala. The menu was a wonderful prix-fixe [$25]. Here is the menu:

Antojitos: Chojin de Rabano [radish relish] and Guacamole Chapin [Guatemalan guacamole] both very delicious with a side basket of chips.

First Course: Jocon Maya de Vegetales [green vegetable stew Mayan style] hearty and smooth.

Main Course: Tamales de Marrano Guatemaltecos servidos con Ensalada de Berro [Guatemalan Tamales with pork and olives served with a Watercress Salad]. The best tamal I have ever eaten. Was it Guatemala or Chef Sabrina [or a combination of both]?

Tamal on a Banana Leaf

Dessert: Torrejas y Manjar servidas con Almibar de Anbis y Dulce de Leche [Spanish 'French' Toast filled with Pastry Cream and Anise Syrup with Dulce de Leche]. Not too rich, not too sweet, just the right ending to a great meal.

I'll be back next month for the Peruvian theme!

February 18, 2013

Wonderful breakfast this morning at Café 56 with friends. We all took advantage of the warm booth in front of the window and the specials:

My Crab Hash with Poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise sauce was delicious but did not photograph well. A Farmers Pancake: Dutch pancake topped with ham two eggs and melted Vermont cheddar finished with a Tomatillo sauce. Two Omelets: scarmosa cheese and sautéed sopresatta rolled and topped with a spinach cream sauce. Everything was great and Chef Sabrina and Baker Ed are such good hosts.

Farmers' Pancake

'rememberable tastes'

Tried this new Spicy Chocolate Pineapple Pop from What's the Occasion by Chad Wallace. What a great new fresh taste. More please...

The Corner Pug

Great lunch today on a Hartford tour [I was the tour guide] at The Corner Pug in Elmwood. One order of Fish and Chips [$9.99] and my Roasted Vegetables with Salmon [$13.99]. The roasted vegetables represented the dietetic me [honestly there is one] and our shared dessert of Chocolate Bread Pudding [$6.99] with Ice Cream represented the chocoholic me. The Groupon for $30 [paid $15] helped out also.

The vegetables were delicious and roasted to perfection and the added salmon was cooked perfectly.

The chocolate portion of the bread [chocolate bread?] was great and the regular bread was just chewy enough. Chocolate sauce and ice cream and whipped cream certainly didn’t take away from the taste.

news flash.....Mama Roux’s Anew.....news flash

Thanks to the dear neighbors that tucked a menu from Mama Roux’s Anew in my door. What a surprise when I got home! I remember Mama from her childhood at Fong’s in Middlesex and then her superb eatery on Main Street in Cromwell. My last entry visit was May 7th in 2007 [see Cajun on left in Labels column]. I had heard rumors that she was back and now I have the proof. I will eat there soon and report back. No website info yet but from the menus it’s breakfast and lunch.

Matthew’s Restaurant

Just a simple Steak & Frites; just what I had been longing for [ordered rare/served rare]. This was at Matthew’s in Unionville at their Sunrise Supper deal for $21: salad/soup of the day, entrée, and dessert. I had the Mussels Manhattan Chowder before my steak and the Pineapple/Prickly Pear Mousse after. A super glass of Shiraz [$10.50] lifted the meal to another level.

There are quite a few entrée choices including a lamb pasta dish that was delicious. Cheesecake was the alternate dessert to the mousse of the day. Service was excellent with Nico as our server.