There’s a phenomenon I call “the bubble,” where a restaurant’s food, drink, service and atmosphere are executed so seamlessly that you forget about everything beyond your table. This immersion is what hospitality professionals strive for when they subtly dim the …
Third-Time Charms

I closed my eyes as the wash of gin and honeydew hit my tongue. It brought me back to June, when the first rays of the season were crowning our little inlet city. The rush of Aperol carried me through …
Girls Next Door

Tomorrow is the 7th Annual Compassionfest, a vegan festival in Hamden aiming for “just[ice], kindness, equality and compassion.” Over in Guilford, at Three Girls Eatery and sister spot Three Girls Bakery, you can aim for them year-round, in homemade …
Immaculate Confection

Saint Patrick’s Day gets most of the attention in March, but the festival day of Saint Joseph falls just two days later—a celebration of the “foster father” of Jesus, a humble carpenter descended from King David. …
Class Action

If you want to see Daniel Brelsford in action, you could search for the episode of Food Network’s Chopped where—spoiler alert—the Milford chef walks away with the top prize. Or…
Gangster’s Paradise

“I don’t know nothing about the restaurant business. Nothing. All I know is how to sit down and order,” says Paul Cicero, a high-ranking mafioso, before taking a draw from his cigar. …
Double-O

John Brennan, the restaurateur behind Elm City Social and the new Olives and Oil, where he’s also the executive chef, says he doesn’t believe in curses. …
Flour Power

In a quiet residential neighborhood in West Haven, a few hundred square feet of Italy lie tucked away under a green, white and red sign that reads “Durante’s Pasta.” …
Oil Man

Tradition and modernity are like oil and vinegar—they’re not supposed to mix, but sometimes, they surprise you.
Extra Virgin Oil Store, recently opened on Chapel Street downtown, specializes in…