Review of Lune de Miel

"That trip—with its pilgrimages to landmarks and great art, and exploratory meanderings through the avenues and bars of Montparnasse, the Latin Quarter, and other locales favored by writers Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Anais Nin, and Henry Miller—does not unfurl in Lune de Miel in the frenzied swirl of action one typically associates with travel. Instead, Nawrocki’s poems are filled with detail that is evocative and almost holy..."
Read the rest here.

Revolutionary Connecticut


This is the new ad campaign for Connecticut. It's a great thing that Governor Malloy and the state have decided to start promoting tourism here again. I couldn't be happier. However, I'm seeing a lot of mixed reactions to the ad campaign. What do you think? Good? Bad? Both? I think they could have removed "Still," and just made it "Revolutionary." However, that's nitpicking.

Connecticut Learns to Say Momofuku

On my way to a friend’s apartment, I walked the New York City sidewalks with a full backpack pressing my feet into the concrete. Block after block, across each rush-hour street. Restaurants and vendors beckoned, but I ignored them. I strode past busy women in long trenchcoats and sleepy-eyed hipsters. Turning left on 13th street, I reached my destination on the corner of 2nd Avenue: Momofuku Ssam Bar. No one stood in line at the Milk Bar “take-out” section of the restaurant, and I put down the pack and ordered two pork buns. Three minutes later, I squirted generous helpings of Sriracha onto the tender pork belly cradled in the pillowy bun, and bit into one of the best things I’ve ever tasted...

Read the rest at Connecticut Food and Wine.

Ginger Cookies


Here are ginger cookies from an old recipe that we tried out. It was not the one we ended up using for A History of Connecticut Food, but another, less molasses-rich recipe. Once people started finding cane sugar more readily available, they used molasses less in cookies and other sweets. However, I tend to think that in some cases, that switch is a huge mistake. Molasses and ginger go so well together - why mess with perfection?

James Novoa at Lobster Landing



Up and coming writer James Novoa at Lobster Landing in Clinton. They serve the best lobster rolls in Connecticut that I have tried so far. And I have tried a lot. For an excellent recipe for lobster rolls in our new book, out in a month...A History of Connecticut Food. Now your mouth is really watering.

Keep your eyes and ears out for James and his excellent poetry.