These days my kitchen has been cold, left on its poor lonesome as I travel around the Eastern coast. The last 2 weeks has been a whirlwind of family visits, and special ocassions. Babies have been kissed, kids have been hugged, and regional food has been consumed in alarming quantities. As usual, I have been a bad little blogger, scarfing down these tasty morsels without pausing for a photo. So, you'll just have to take my word for it when it comes to the deliciousness and attractiveness of my food-ventures. On this particular summer vaction I had a set of edible goals to meet during my travels in Connecticut and Maine. I am happy to say that I met every one!
New England Eat List
- Hard Rolls – They just don't do these right in Texas. The tri-state area is the one and only place to get a great hard roll. I like them moist, chewy, and covered in poppyseeds.
- Bagels – Another thing that New Yorkers, and their close neighbors do right. I have yet to discover a truly good bagel down South.
- Deli Sandwiches – Not only does a great deli sandwich depend on kickass bread, it depends on the quality of cold cuts too. Nothing beats a good Italian or Jewish family deli.
- Red Checker Italian – There is a lot of tasty Italian in Austin, but it's mostly fine dining. What I get homesick for is far less classy. Think red sauce and baked ziti. It's the comfort food I never knew I loved until I lost it.
- Coffee – I hate creamer. I'm a milk in my coffee kind of gal, and while this is more or less standard in Connecticut, it's almost unheard of in Texas.
- Ice Cream – There is nothing like your favorite local ice cream. I haven't found a favorite in Austin yet, so I thoroughly enjoyed visiting my old flame in CT.
- Clams!! – I have come to the conclusion that clams might just be my favorite thing ever. Steamers, fried whole bellies, clam strips, yum yum yum.
- Lobster – Another competitor for my all time favorite, a great lobster is a thing of beauty. My lobster this year was very sweet, but a little scrawny.
Tomorrow we hit the road again and head to Florida. There isn't much in the way of regional food to excite me down there, but I do look forward to whipping up some fun goodies in the kitchen with my Mom and little sister, Caitlin. On the agenda are homemade marshmallows, French macaroons, and maybe even plum dumplings. My Dad might just have an experiment or two up his sleeve, as he is known for his wacky kitchen antics.
I'll leave you with a few pics from my recent adventures. Hopefully I'll be back soon with a nice, new post!
Here's my hubby with his brand new niece.
And here she is with her new cousin, our brand new nephew! Yes, it is baby city around here.
We threw one hell of a bridal shower for my sister. More details on that later.
The days we spent in Maine were full of beautiful views and precious lazy hours.
I spent my birthday with a heap of friends, beer, and pasta. I received some fun cooking-related gifts too! Here I am with my new rasp grater and kevlar glove.
Talk to you soon, my bloggy friends. XOXO MH