By the time the opening cowbell rings at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria of Coventry High School, folks are already browsing, eager to sample and indulge in local specialties. From Connecticut cheese to artisan teas, jams, preserves and sauces, it’s not just about the food, though there’s all that and more to explore. You’ll also find unique handcrafted items to help you prepare, serve and store your food with style.
The Coventry Winter Farmers’ Market provides a local taste and a welcome break from cabin fever. We tend to think of farmers’ markets as warm weather events. After all, that’s when fresh fruits and vegetables grow. But a small group of vendors banded together to seek support from the town council to keep the market running through the cooler months. And due to the town council’s unanimous support, the show goes on from mid-November through mid-March.
Before you even step inside, Lizzie’s Catering/Taking Care of Tummies LLC is right outside the door to start your shopping excursion with breakfast sandwiches. Or stop by this food truck to try the Cajun corn chowder with thick chunks of red-skinned potatoes on your way out.
Blink and you can easily miss the little white house as you drive down Park Street in Hartford’s Parkville section. So keep an eye out, because it’s home to a fine family business specializing in Thai and Lao dishes—generous portions, reasonably priced. And if you head east of the river, you’ll find the exact same menu and great food in Manchester.
There are many choices closer to home when it comes to Thai, but when the craving hits, I make tracks for King & I. It’s changed management over time, but the food remains just as delicious as it ever was. In fact, it’s amazingly consistent. How is that even possible?
The secret to their success starts in a tiny kitchen with their cook. Behind the scenes, the same woman has been busy stirring up deliciousness for the past 10 years. When the previous owner sold the restaurant four and a half years ago, Hongkham Munesaleum was already part of the kitchen. But now, with her husband, Lam, washing dishes, and his daughter Lilly, serving the front of the house (literally!), it’s all in the family.
Step through the door at Sayulita in South Glastonbury, and, right away, you’ll see: this is no ordinary Mexican restaurant. Clean and simple, with lots of wood and natural light, Sayulita features what’s fresh and local from the farms of South Glastonbury to the shores of Stonington. A poster of a surfing contest with a sugar skull, a thick turquoise glass bottle for the water that’s brought to your table. On my last visit, ’50s music played in the background. It’s casual. It’s comfortable. It’s a departure from most Mexican you’ve ever had before. Named after the seaside surfing town north of Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita is the most recent restaurant endeavor of Adam and Bill Driggs, owners of 2Hopewell and Birch Hill Tavern. With Chef Van Hurd, of Hell’s Kitchen fame, at the helm, you’re in for a uniquely tasty adventure here.
Sometimes the most excellent feasts can be found at the beginning and end of the menu—appetizers and desserts. Add quality cocktails and out-of-the-ordinary tacos to round it out and what you’ve got is my favorite way to enjoy a meal at Sayulita.
By the time the opening cowbell rings at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria of Coventry High School, folks are already browsing, eager to sample and indulge in local specialties. From Connecticut cheese to artisan teas, jams, preserves and sauces, it’s not just about the food, though there’s all that and more to explore. You’ll also find unique handcrafted items to help you prepare, serve and store your food with style.
