Across the Connecticut shoreline there are many small liquor stores, restaurants, pizza and burger joints to get your foodie fix. While there are many to choose from, not all of them are worth your time or money. Here are three must visit spots for the locavore with high expectations.
1. Saybrook Soup & Sandwich Co.
It took some time to finally visit and grab a bite, as I was skeptical of the neon green clad store front and snazzy menu options. After tasting many of the soups and sandwiches, I can say this is one of the best if not THE best sandwich shop on the shoreline right now.
The cherrywood smoked turkey sandwich is outstanding: Smoked in-house & topped with a house-made spread of mild cayenne, baby spinach, sun-dried tomato & goat cheese. Another excellent choice is the grilled cheese made with brie, prosciutto, fresh sliced pear on a crispy grilled roll. Sandwich prices vary from $5.95 to $8.95.
Their soups are also delicious, with my favorite being the roasted butternut squash, pumpkin & saigon cinnamon bisque. They also offer house spun gelato, cookies, brownies and other premium desserts at affordable prices.
2. Fromage Fine Foods & Coffees
Fromage is an elite gourmet store catering to high end clientele that demand nothing but the best. They offer a medley of imported cheeses, coffees, chocolates, oils, honey, cookies, pastas, spices- everything gourmet you’ve read about in magazines or saw on Food Network but couldn’t find at your regular grocery store.
With elite gourmet selection also comes high prices. But when you feel like splurging on a $10 bar of chocolate made with the finest ingredients from Brooklyn’s Mast Brothers, Fromage stocks all of their bars. Imported, hard to find coffees and Italian delights will have your mind racing as you peruse the aisles stocked with the best products the culinary world has to offer.
It’s Friday and you’ve been put in charge of selecting the wine or beer for the weekend; you have twenty minutes to run in and pick something up. You emerge back into the parking lot several hours later after scouring the thousands of options on the shelves, having in-depth discussions with the expert staff who has actually tasted nearly everything you ask about. If you haven’t had this experience, you haven’t been to Coastal Wine & Spirits yet.
Nothing bothers me more than a wine merchant that tries to sell you something, who has never tasted it for themselves. Next time you’re shopping at your local shop go ahead and ask for that advice. When they tell you “it’s very good”- ask them more closely, “What did YOU think of it?” They will most likely say, “Oh, I haven’t tried it but I’ve been told it’s very good”.
You won’t find this treatment at Coastal, not to mention they have the best selection and prices (that are legally allowed) around. But that’s another issue all together. How would you like to pay $8 for wine that currently costs you $15? To make it happen, visit End CT Blue Laws.
That sandwich place sounds amazing. Goat cheese? I'm sold! I'd love to try a cup of joe from the second place.