Warmer weather is right around the corner, and you may find yourself along the Connecticut shoreline this spring or summer looking for a romantic dinner or a fun night out with friends. With seaside communities ramping up for the busy season ahead, we were invited to check out the re-christening of The Crow’s Nest, the bar and lounge area found within The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel.
The restaurant and bar have been mainstays at the hotel since the building was rebuilt in 2012, and new this season is the re-imagined lounge area dubbed The Crow’s Nest. We were able to get a sneak peek at the beautiful space ahead of its opening to the general public, and we can safely say that this will once again be a popular summer destination for both overnight guests and those passing through town for the day.
How can I help? What could I possibly do to help?There’s always a way you can show support and no action is too small. On a global scale, these are organizations where you can donate that will help support Ukrainian families and children with much needed food, housing, and medical supplies. Locally, we have listed our state’s Ukrainian and Eastern European restaurants, delis, and grocers. Placing an order or simply stopping by to say hello sends a message of support of our fellow man.
And by all means, please add your favorite Eastern European establishments in our comments section if they aren’t already on the list-the more the better. Thank you.
Inspired by a recent inquiry from a local chef, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to take a flavorful break on the way to or from Connecticut’s casinos. No need to gamble on where to stop for a bite; the southern shoreline towns along I-95 dish up some amazing food—from banh mi to seafood, donuts, Greek specialties and more.
Branford
You’ve heard us say it before, but the recommendation bears repeating: look no further than Takumi Sushi, Ramen & Lounge for the finest sushi and ramen around!
Of the many immigrant groups that have shaped the state of Connecticut throughout the decades and centuries, the Polish have been among the most prominent. (And not just in New Britain!) On Main Street in Ansonia, across the street from the Europol Deli (where you can take home a full Polish dinner) is Eddy’s Bake Shop, where one can find one of the state’s most popular versions of the Polish delicacy, paczki (pronounced PUNCH-key). Resembling a doughnut, the paczki is traditionally stuffed with a filling, such as a jam or custard. So beloved in Ansonia and the Naugatuck Valley is Eddy’s paczki, that every February the bakery hosts a paczki-eating contest, in which contestants have five minutes to eat as many as possible.
