Roadfood’s “Eat Before You Die” List
Shortened from the 500 across the nation, this is Connecticut’s 62 Things to Eat Before it’s too Late (with some overlap elsewhere on CTMQ). Michael and Jane Stern are noted foodies and in their latest book, they list the best, relatively affordable stuff people may not know about – what they deem “Roadfood.” WAY too many hot dogs, but other than that, it’s right up my alley.
Left: Damian enjoying ice cream from the Big Dipper in Prospect
Note: Pulling this list together from the book was rather difficult. The ordering doesn’t mean anything, but the * means it’s one of the “National Best” and *** means it’s the best in the US according to the book.
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Breakfasty Items
Doughnuts:
- 1. Tastease, Hartford
2. Dottie’s Diner, Woodbury
3. Neil’s Donut and Bake Shop, Yalesville
4. Coffee An’, Westport
Pancakes:
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Burgers and Fries
Cheeseburgers:
-
*1. Louis’ Lunch, New Haven
2. Shady Glen, Manchester
3. Harry’s Place, Colchester
4. Clamp’s, New Milford
Louis’ Lunch burger
Steamed Cheeseburgers: (It’s a Connecticut thing.)
-
1. Ted’s, Meriden
2. O’Rourke’s Diner, Middletown
3.
French Fries:
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Hot Dogs
The Sterns love their hotdogs and have even broken them down into three categories.
Deep-Fried Dogs:
-
1. Blackie’s, Cheshire
2. Rawley’s, Fairfield
3. Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield
4.
“Other Worthy” Hot Dogs:
-
1. Capitol Lunch, New Britain (“for the sauce”)
2. Doogies, Newington (“home of the 2-footer”)
3. Guida’s, Middlefield (“10 inches”)
4. JK’s, Danbury (“Texas hots”)
5. Lake Zoar Drive-In, Stevenson (“foot-longs”)
6. Mr. Mac’s Canteen, Monroe (“fire-breathing chili dogs”)
8. Windmill Restaurant, Stratford (“for brats and kielbasa too”)
Hot Dog Wagon:A THIRD hot dog category? Wow.
-
1. Carolyn’s Weenie Wagon, Seymour
2.
3. Top Dog on Route 66 in Portland
4. Chez Lenard, Ridgefield
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Pizza
(Some of the best in the US.)
-
***1. Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven (Best in the US)
*2. Modern Apizza, New Haven
*3. Sally’s, New Haven
4. Carminuccio’s, Newtown
5. Colony Grill, Stamford
6. Pizzeria Laurentano, Bethel
White clam pizza, Pepe’s
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Seafood
Clam Chowder:
Fried Clams:
LobsterMania!
Lobster Roll:
Shore Dinner:
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Other Stuff
Chicken Pie:
Pain de Campagne:
Pierogies, Globacki & Other Polish Foods:
-
1. Polish National Home, Hartford
2. Staropolska, New Britain
Summer Sausage Sandwich:
-
Karl Ehmer Quality Meat Products, Danbury
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Sweets and Ice Cream
***Chocolate Truffle:
-
Bridgewater Chocolate, Bridgewater & West Hartford (Best in the US)
Crumb Top Apple Pie:
Dirt Bomb:
***Donut Bread Pudding:
Fried Dough/Doughboy:
Ice Cream: (CTMQ’s list of Other homemade ice creams around the state.)
-
1. Ridgefield Ice Cream Shop, Ridgefield
2. Shady Glen Dairy Store, Manchester
3. We-Li-Kit, Pomfret
4. Big Dipper Ice Cream Factory, Prospect
5. Timothy’s, Bridgeport
6a. Dr. Mike’s, Monroe & 6b, Bethel
7. Buttonwood Farm, Griswold
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Enjoying We-Li-Kit in the Abington section of Pomfret
Hello, My name is Mike Basso and I’m the owner of Lake Zoar Drive-In during a recent search I came upon your site. At this time I just wanted to stop by and invite you to visit us and see for yourselves the great menu items we have to offer.
Comment #1 on 04.30.10 at 9:46 pmThanks , Mike Basso
Lake Zoar Drive-In
14 Route 34
Stevenson, CT 06491
203-268-8137
in due time, Michael, in due time…
Comment #2 on 05.03.10 at 8:08 am[...] He’s also making his way through two “eat before you die” lists, compiled by the Sterns of Roadfood and Connecticut [...]
Comment #3 on 06.07.10 at 2:26 pmHello:
It is nice to find a fellow forager & foodie in CT, though maybe not my end (New London County). So comments on this page:
-I’m not far from Flanders Fish Market, but don’t really see how their chowder is special. Do you rate it higher than all others you’ve had?
-Custy’s is closed.
-Pepe’s now has a Mohegan Sun Casino location, in case you’re ever by there (another place in my county). However, I personally prefer Ocean Pizza, especially w/eggplant, artichoke, & portabella mushrooms on top.
Let me know next time you’re coming to my area, and we can meet up, eitehr the two of us or our families.
Meanwhile, to get more ideas on cooking w/foraged foods and what’s avail. in CT for foraging, check out my site.
Lastly, how’ve you done w/finding morels in CT?
Comment #4 on 04.04.12 at 11:47 pmI feel fat just thinking about all the places I’ve already been to on this list.
R.I.P. Custy’s all you can eat lobster buffet!
Comment #5 on 04.26.12 at 3:46 pm