USA Restaurants

Our favorite restaurants in the US

A Connecticut Shoreline Find (One That’s Not in My Zagat!)

I wasn't expecting to discover a new restaurant last night. Instead I thought I'd be dining with friends at their restaurant. But smartly — they chose to actually enjoy dinner instead of jumping up every two seconds to deal with something. I'm glad they did. That's how we ended up at Liv's Oyster Bar on Main Street in Old Saybrook with its small — yet interesting — space that was a former movie theater. As foodies often do, we shared everything, including a golden beet salad with goat cheese, an heirloom sliced tomato salad, Crispy Fried Panko-covered Lemon Sole Fingers and — cooked medium, as requested — scallops and wild [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:57-04:00September 12th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Regent Palms, Turks & Caicos

On a recent trip to the Caribbean, my friends and I toured Provodenciales, the main island of the Turks & Caicos. The island is up and coming, still attmpting to pull into the upper echelon of luxury beach destinations. Though the island is currently more well-known as a laid back 'beach town', there are a number of finer establishments flexing their culinary muscle, adding quality food experiences to this tropical paradise. After sampling our share of beach bar foods like chicken sandwiches and fried conch, we wandered our party into the Regent Palms, a recently upgraded hotel located directly on Grace Bay Beach. The main dining establishment, Parallel23, wasn't open [...]

By Bryan from BiteoftheBest.com|2017-08-31T16:20:58-04:00August 17th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Merkato55: Skip the Trip

African chants emanated from my computer as I clicked on the Merkato55 website to learn more about the restaurant before heading down to dine there. Wonderful sounds reminiscent of those I heard on my trip to Tanzania earlier this year. I wish I could report that my visit to Marcus Samuelsson's African restaurant in the trendy meatpacking district of Manhattan was as good. Marcus Samuelsson is the talented chef and co-owner at Aquavit (a Scandinavian restaurant located midtown). He was the youngest chef to receive a 3-star review from the NY Times and was named the Rising Star Chef (1999) and Best Chef in New York City (2003) by the [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:58-04:00August 6th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|7 Comments

Bespoke’s Warm Fig and Cherry Tart

I returned to Bespoke (New Haven, CT) with yet another friend, to introduce Arturo Franco-Camacho's creative cuisine... again I wasn't disappointed. After stopping by the table to say hi, Franco sent out the evening's dessert special for us to try. Even full (I should say stuffed) from our meal, we managed to demolish the warm fig and cherry tart. Bespoke had topped a strip of puffed pastry with fresh figs and cherries poached in red wine and added small dollops of a Belgian honey goat cheese, accompanied by a refreshing port and fig gelato ($12). Worth a visit just for the dessert! Bespoke, 266 College Street, New Haven, CT 203.562.4644

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T15:40:37-04:00July 23rd, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment

A French Bistro, A Couple Days Off

We were heading to Deer Valley in the morning, busy trying to pack and get everything we needed ready to bring for my dad's (Eric's granddad's) 90th celebration and the TV spot we'd be doing. I would have preferred not going out but had RSVP'd that Eric and I would be attending the opening of State Street Bistro in Bridgeport late last month. I couldn't back out, as I'd been told before by the PR person that the chefs plan a special multi-course sit-down meal for all the press invitees. Eric and I jumped into the car and headed toward 211 State Street, the address on the printed invitation. Ah, [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:59-04:00July 10th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

“Friendships Can Be Forged Over Food”

In today's Deseret (UT) News, food editor Valerie Phillips writes... To me, the best perk is not the food I eat but the people I meet. The last weekend in June was a case in point. That Thursday, I'd gotten a call from Bonnie Tandy Leblang, co-author of Supermarket Sampler, the syndicated column that appears in our Food section. She lives in Connecticut, but she and her two 20-something sons, Bryan and Eric, were in Utah for her father's 90th birthday. The trio had just finished a segment on KSL's "Studio Five" show about their new blog, Bite of the Best, where they review their favorite food products. During lunch [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:59-04:00July 9th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Providence Restaurant Weeks: The Capital Grille
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Providence Restaurant Weeks: The Capital Grille

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Providence Restaurant Weeks: The Capital Grille

PROVIDENCE: Like other cities Providence sets aside a period of time where people have a chance to experience the dining scene at reduced pricing. During restaurant week you can sample a variety of the city's restaurants from a pre-selected, three-course, fixed-price menu at lunch for $12.95 to dinner for $29.95 — not including of course tax, tip and the biggy — beverages. That discount pricing brings more customers into the restaurants — something well needed in today's economy. I just happened to be in the city during this offer. So what better time to try the Capital Grille, I thought, as it was located across the street from where I [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:59-04:00July 7th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

Jasper Murdock’s Ales on Tap

"Do we have to go inside first to sit outside?" I asked Courtney, the effervescent waitress serving tables alongside the Norwich Inn as we walked into the open courtyard. She refrained from laughing, sported a big grin, and said, "Sit anywhere." "Can I get you something to drink?" We had read that in 1993 Jasper Murdock's Alehouse began producing traditional English-style ales, ones that are only available at the Inn, either to consume there or to take home in 22-ounce bottles. We looked over the ales on tap today trying to decide between their signature Whistling Pig Red Ale and the Yankee Wit. ($5 for an Imperial pint of 20 [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:20:59-04:00July 6th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Grilled Popeye Sandwich

The restaurant we had headed to for a bite was closed, which should not have been surprising as it was Fourth of July. As we stood there the aroma of grilled and fried food from the pub across the street enticed us to investigate. That, and hunger. The menu board at Salt hill Pub in Lebanon, NH listed a Grilled Popeye Sandwich — one they boasted had been voted "The Best Grilled Sandwich" by New Hampshire Magazine. I just had to try it. I guessed the spinach (which was lightly sautéed), but was pleasantly surprised at the rest: sliced tomatoes, cubes of feta on sour dough bread spread with "pub" [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:00-04:00July 4th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

Together in Utah at KSL TV – Studio 5

While at a family gathering in Deer Valley (UT) to celebrate my dad's 90th birthday, the boys and I visited Studio 5 in Salt Lake City with co-hosts Brooke Walker and Darin Adams to talk about both Bite of the Best and Supermarket Sampler — the latter appearing weekly in the Deseret News. Our segment was almost cut because of breaking news — a fire in Ogden — but instead they offered to move our bit up while waiting for their helicopter to get to the blaze. "Can you be ready to go in 30 seconds?" asked the floor manager, as they clipped microphones onto each of us. "Sure!" we [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:00-04:00June 26th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Thali’s Konkan Crab
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Thali’s Konkan Crab

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Thali’s Konkan Crab

During the second stop of Saturday’s restaurant tour, Amal Raj — a chef from Thali — demonstrated how to prepare Konkan Crab, their signature appetizer, the one I’d call a Bite of the Best. The restaurant and this mild flavored dish, which comes from from Goa, a state on the western coast of India, are helping to change the way Americans think of Indian food. It’s not all curry. Konan Crab Cook’s notes: Before beginning this recipe, prepare mise en place – meaning have all the ingredients chopped and ready to use. Chill the coconut milk until it is creamy (Chacko brand from Thailand, preferred). Also have a cover handy, [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T15:40:37-04:00June 24th, 2008|Recipes, Starters, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

I’ll Take My Sommelier Chilled

Last weekend, some out-of-town friends, Eric and I did a progressive meal around New Haven (CT). We had different courses at different restaurants, giving my Tennessean guests a true taste of Elm City. While sharing an entree at a restaurant in New Haven (one that’s named for a Spanish city), we asked the waiter which wine of the few we selected did he think best accompanied the seafood paella. His responses to our questions were vague, making it obvious to us he knew very little — if anything — about wine. So we asked, “do you have a sommelier?” He looked bewildered, stopped to think about it and responded, “We [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:00-04:00June 23rd, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Horned Dorset Primavera Restaurant

As you may or may not know, I also help run a travel company, www.VillasCaribe.com. We specialize in luxury vacation rentals across the Caribbean and Mexico. One of the best parts of my job are the travel perks; and my island-hopping allows me to find a variety of foods and restaurants I would never come across otherwise. I was recently invited to Rincon, Puerto Rico. The destination lies on the far West Coast of the island; a lush beachtown generally frequented by surfers and European tourists. Hillary Clinton beat me there by one day (it was the weekend of the Puerto Rico primary) , but I got to experience the [...]

By Bryan from BiteoftheBest.com|2017-08-31T16:21:01-04:00June 19th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

A Taste of Bespoke with Arturo Franco-Camacho in New Haven
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A Taste of Bespoke with Arturo Franco-Camacho in New Haven

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A Taste of Bespoke with Arturo Franco-Camacho in New Haven

"Day boat scallops smell fresh, like sweet milk," explained Arturo Franco-Camacho, owner and creative chef of Bespoke (New Haven, CT) as he began his demonstration of porcini encrusted sea scallops served with a cauliflower puree, fava bean shiitake ragout and truffle vinaigrette. The demo was the first stop on the "Elegant American & Contemporary French Masters" restaurant tour at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. I stood right behind Arturo so I could attempt to look over his shoulder as he cooked. I tried to jot down each and every action so I could share the details. Here goes: Porcini Encrusted Sea Scallops Served with a Cauliflower Puree, Fava [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-09-01T15:20:50-04:00June 14th, 2008|Recipes, Starters, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|4 Comments

Baked Apple BBQ

I don't know how the chefs did it. The temperature hovered around 98-degrees in Madison Square Park — and that was standing in the long lines, not near the blistering hot BBQ grills where the pitmasters did their craft. The crowds didn't seem to be fazed by the heat at the sixth annual celebration of mouthwatering barbecue — some waited hours to sample the foods that the 14 top pitmasters produced for the event. Smart New Yorkers purchased a $100 fast pass — the food equivalent of E-Z pass — that got them to the fast service area with a much shorter line. Worth it for the time savings alone. [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:02-04:00June 8th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

SoNo’s Osetra

For those who don't live in Connecticut (that's most of you), SoNo is the nutmegger term for a neighborhood in the South of Norwalk. It's a play on New York's SoHo (that name btw comes from South of Houston). Both are artsy and both have lots eateries. Early this month, while attended a press dinner for the opening of the restaurant, I met Bruce Nevins and two of his sons, family owners of Osetra. (I'm always a softy for family businesses.) Chef Dave learned his craft working beside Todd English in Boston; wine director Doug — who runs the front of the house — also trained in Boston, while Bruce [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:02-04:00May 28th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Best Fried Chicken in America: NOLA’s Willie Mae’s Scotch House

Fried chicken so good that when it was served last week at a Food Media Seminar in New Orleans, LA (or NOLA as it's called) there wasn't even part of a piece left on the serving trays during a midday break. There were — though — many editors looking for more. That's how delicious Willie Mae's fried chicken is. Knowing that many foodies are heading to New Orleans this week for the International Association of Culinary Professionals convention, I wanted to post this info quickly so those visiting NOLA could try this incredible fried chicken while there. I learned about Willie Mae's last week from her great granddaughter Kerry Seaton [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:03-04:00April 16th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|8 Comments

Eric’s Visit to Melnik, Bulgaria

I have recently returned from an 8-day vacation in Bulgaria (a present my girlfriend gave me for my 24th birthday). It was my fourth trip to her country and this time we traveled south, to the town of Sandanski, near the border of Macedonia & Greece. From my understanding, most tourists know Bulgaria for the areas of “Sunny Beach” & Nesseber. These growing destinations on the coast of the Black Sea were also my only perceptions of this country that I first visited in 2004 with a fellow Hotelschool classmate, and resident, Ivan Kalinov. In the past few years, with a combination of over-construction in building new hotel properties, the [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:03-04:00March 29th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment

A Find: Tuscany Restaurant

Sometimes it's not easy to find a decent — and convenient — locale to meet a friend for dinner in certain parts of Connecticut. But sometimes in that search, I discover a gem worth the trip. Tuscany Restaurant in Bridgeport is just that. I hadn't planned on writing about this Northern Italian restaurant when I dined there last week. But I knew I was in for something worth sharing when the waiter served the whole head of garlic. I grabbed my phone to take a photo as he carefully squeezed the fully roasted cloves onto a plate and mashed them for us. (Had I had my digital camera the photo [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:04-04:00March 17th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Fraîche: A Newcomer to the CT Restaurant Scene

A newcomer to Connecticut's restaurant scene, Fraîche offers a fresh twist to its menu with market driven dishes pumped with flavor. This inviting restaurant with sophisticated country touches is tucked in a small strip mall in Fairfield, an easy drive for locals and a just over an hour's train ride from Manhattan. I have followed Chef Marc Lippman's culinary career from his Manhattan days as executive chef at Wild Blue at Windows on the World to Las Ventanas at Cabo San Lucas. A few years ago, Marc returned to Connecticut with his wife and young baby in tow to head up the kitchen at Ocean Drive in South Norwalk. Now [...]

By Melanie Young|2017-10-24T17:41:30-04:00March 9th, 2008|USA Restaurants|1 Comment

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