Yes, I know. We seem to have over-extended our chowder eating for a while. We did go out for some chowder last weekend and have a review but then we all got hit with various flu like issues and haven't been able to update until now.
Good news though! We discovered that there is a Chowdafest right here in Fairfield County! Tomorrow and Saturday! Big plans ahead for chowdering, geo-caching, and resting up after today's turkey coma!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Hiking + Chowder
So we've been doing a decent amount of hiking this fall and are heading to the Northwest region of Connecticut to check out some foliage and then get some pumpkins.
Naturally, at some point we will need to warm up with some chowder. Any Litchfield County recommendations?
Naturally, at some point we will need to warm up with some chowder. Any Litchfield County recommendations?
Max's Oyster House - West Hartford, CT - 10/3/09
At the recommendation of our friendly neighborhood creative director, we stopped at Max's on our way back from the Connecticut Science Center. Which, by the way, is excellent and had a great exhibit on sailing and wind.
So here's the thing about the chowder we had. It was flavorful and the clams were OUTSTANDING. But it was thin - not surprising in CT but still, not a great joy for me. The bigger issue for me was that the kids were tired and we were tired and the place was a bit fancier than the kids could easily manage without being distractive nutjobs.
I will say, I absolutely loved the way they presented the chowder in pewter cups before they dumped it into a bowl.
ChowderBoy was very unhappy with the oyster crackers though. Turns out, if it doesn't come in a plastic bag, he doesn't want it.
So here's the thing about the chowder we had. It was flavorful and the clams were OUTSTANDING. But it was thin - not surprising in CT but still, not a great joy for me. The bigger issue for me was that the kids were tired and we were tired and the place was a bit fancier than the kids could easily manage without being distractive nutjobs.
I will say, I absolutely loved the way they presented the chowder in pewter cups before they dumped it into a bowl.
ChowderBoy was very unhappy with the oyster crackers though. Turns out, if it doesn't come in a plastic bag, he doesn't want it.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Black Duck - Westport, CT - 09-13-09
The Black Duck is a local treasure. And I can see why. Reasonably priced food with plenty of sports and fresh seafood. OUTSTANDING Bloody Mary. I mean, absolutely exceptional. So I can give it a thumbs up in general.
But oh the chowder. Chowder Girl sums it up in a single sentence:
As usual, ChowderBoy's enthusiasm for all kinds of chowder knows no limits. And we love him that way. He did say it needed more salt and then proceeded to pour a TBSP or so in there. Which was actually too much.
The thing is, it takes a lot these days to make us cry out for more chowder. But we are hopeful.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Paradise Bar and Grill, Stamford CT
The kids and I took our new au pair to lunch even though she didn't want to eat at all. We got chowder and it was pretty tasty.
It was thick enough and had a more than acceptable amount of very fresh and tasty clams.
ChowderBoy gave it a big thumbs up and then had a fit that we didn't bring any for ChowderDad.
ChowderGirl started waxing poetic about chowders we have loved.
Thickness: 6
Quantity of Clams: 8
Quality of Clams: 8
Buttery: 2
Temperature: 3
Seasonings: 5
Potato: 4
Freshness: 9
45/80 = F (ack! - maybe I should call it D-)
It was thick enough and had a more than acceptable amount of very fresh and tasty clams.
ChowderBoy gave it a big thumbs up and then had a fit that we didn't bring any for ChowderDad.
ChowderGirl started waxing poetic about chowders we have loved.
Thickness: 6
Quantity of Clams: 8
Quality of Clams: 8
Buttery: 2
Temperature: 3
Seasonings: 5
Potato: 4
Freshness: 9
45/80 = F (ack! - maybe I should call it D-)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Flanders Fish Market - Niantic
Friday night we stopped at Flanders Fish Market for dinner on the way to the Cape. That may well be the friendliest restaurant I've ever been in - everyone was just so darned sweet, I thought I was no longer in the Northeast.
So the problem here is, it was just such a nice sweet place. And the rest of the food was great. And the kids stuff came in a boat!
The problem was. The chowder was not great. Maybe Connecticut will never get it right. Maybe I am so cranky and suspicious of thin chowder that they will never please me enough. Once I get the map rolling and add the grades to it, we will see a pattern.
Tweet: "flanders fish market in Niantic...chowder is tasty but very thin. ChowderDad tried to doctor it with a pat of butter but it didn't help"
Both ChowderKids were cranky and just wanted to go to the Cape. So their reviews were all kinds of negative and sad and whiny too.
LESSON LEARNED: Flanders Fish Market is a PERFECT place to stop for dinner on the way to the Cape from lower CT and the tri-state area. Friendly staff, good food, but skip the chowder.
So the problem here is, it was just such a nice sweet place. And the rest of the food was great. And the kids stuff came in a boat!
The problem was. The chowder was not great. Maybe Connecticut will never get it right. Maybe I am so cranky and suspicious of thin chowder that they will never please me enough. Once I get the map rolling and add the grades to it, we will see a pattern.
Tweet: "flanders fish market in Niantic...chowder is tasty but very thin. ChowderDad tried to doctor it with a pat of butter but it didn't help"
Both ChowderKids were cranky and just wanted to go to the Cape. So their reviews were all kinds of negative and sad and whiny too.
LESSON LEARNED: Flanders Fish Market is a PERFECT place to stop for dinner on the way to the Cape from lower CT and the tri-state area. Friendly staff, good food, but skip the chowder.
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