Category: Food & Beverage

Not All Package Stores Will Be Open Easter

Package stores have the option to be open Easter Sunday but you can count on most to be closed according to Patrick at Premier Wine and Spirts on 525 Tunxis Hill Rd in Fairfield.  Beer and wine distributors told Patrick that most of the package stores they service said they will be closed for the holiday.  Premier Wine and Spirits will be closed as well but will be open until 9pm Saturday night.

Wine Tasting in Fairfield

Stop by and have a taste of 3 great Spanish wines – a Vintage Cava sparkling, a Ribera del Duero, a Verdejo and a favorite CA Pinot Noir!!!  Come match a wine to your Easter Dinner!!!!  Many selections available.  Will, my distributor’s rep, will be here from 3 to 6pm so come learn about these wines.  Tasting is today, Saturday from 1pm to 6pm.  Premier Wine and Spirits  525 Tunxis Hill Rd, Fairfield   (203) 345-9088

Lil’ Moe’s Scores Again With Big Flavored Steaks!

Ah the Rib Eye!

There are restaurants known for their seafood and there are steakhouses.  It’s not often you find a place that exceeds at both.  When I first met Maureen the owner she bragged about the freshness of the food at Lil’ Moe’s.  This indeed has to be the case because when I reviewed the seafood two weeks ago I just could not believe how flavorful everything was.  You didn’t have to smother it with lemon or cocktail sauce.  Well we had to give the steaks a try!

I learned my previous lessons on how easy it is to overstuffed at Lil’ Moe’s.   The four of us shared one shrimp cocktail and a side of onion rings as appetizers.  I had to see how good the shrimp cocktail was and we weren’t  disappointed, the sauce was excellent and the shrimp super fresh.  The onion rings aren’t an appetizer but oh how good they are I had to order it!  All the dinners came with salad but skipped it because I didn’t want to over stuff myself.  I did sample a bite or two of my families salad because you can just smell the homemade dressing and not try it!

The steaks arrive and cooked the way we like it.  My son and I ordered the Rib Eye, my daughter the Petite Sirloin and my wife ordered the Flank Steak.  All the steaks were tender and juicy.  I normally reach for the salt shaker with steak but it wasn’t necessary with any of them.  Each had its own unique

The nicely marinated Flank Steak. Note the kosher salt on the baked potato skin.

delicious flavor.  The Petite Sirloin had a nice buttery taste throughout.  The Rib Eye had a nice I want to say smoky flavor but it’s not like the smoky flavor of a barbeque.  It was more like from the grill, very tasty!  I’m not a big marinade fan and I don’t like it when my wife wants to do it at home so I knew she would go for that.  This is the way it should be done!  Being the purist I want the flavor of the meat, not masked.  This was really good, the marinade was a hint of flavor, yet the true flavor Angus comes through!

I was able to get Mushroom Risotto as my rice/potato side.   Everyone knew I had to take the photo of each meal and as

The buttery tasting Petite Sirloin with fries.

soon as I took mine everyone jumped in at the risotto.  It was like lions jumping on the prey!  If you have never had it like me two weeks ago you have to try it!   My wife had the baked potato and found the outside was textured in kosher salt and made for flavor in what could be an everyday baked potato.  My son had the mashed potato and like the creaminess to it.  The fries that came with my daughter’s petite was excellent.  The veggie sides were very fresh, a nice snap to the broccoli and carrots.  Again, afraid of over stuffing ourselves the four of us shared a double chocolate cake and a Tiramisu Layer Cake both highly recommended!

Freshness is the key.  Maureene said she gets her meats from a butcher in Stratford.  Tender and juicy are the best descriptions of the steaks!

You can easily drive right by Lil’ Moe’s at 2415 Main Street in Stratford  like I’ve done a dozen times.  Now its our favorite destination!  I steak my reputation on them!  (no typo pun intended).

Lil’ Moe’s is located at 2415 Main Street, Stratford. Across from the old movie theater.

 

Wine Tasting In Fairfield

Two great wines from Sicily today! Don Tomaso Nero d’Avola and Grillo-Chardonnay!!! These wines, served at Liana’s in Fairfield, are a delicious. The Nero d’Avola has an intense ruby color with a soft, full and velvet flavor. The Grillo-Chardonna has a wonderful fragrance of exotic fruits mixed with a note of vanilla. Both will delight your palate!! We are also featuring Zestos, a Spanish Garnacha which is juicy on the palate, offering gently sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of dark chocolate. Stop by for the treat!

Premier Wines & Spirits–525 Tunxis Hill Rd, Fairfield, CT–(203) 345-9088

Freshness is the key for great seafood at Lil Moes

Lil’ Moe’s is located at 2415 Main Street, Stratford. Across from the old movie theater.

Two weeks ago on my quest to find the perfect burger was successfully finding quite a few of them  at Lil’ Moes at 2415 Main Street in Stratford.  My daughter however opted for a shrimp roll.  The rule for these tastings is for me to try a bite!  OH MY GOSH that shrimp roll was out of this world.  I forgot just how good shrimp tasted with out needing to smother it with lemon or cocktail sauce!  We had to try the seafood next!  The timing is good since many of our viewers practice lent.  Maureen the owner also wanted us to try entrees this time around.

The last time we visited we all fell in love with the French Onion or as they call it Five Onion Soup, some of the best we have ever had!  My daughter reordered it but my son and I ordered the  Lobster Bisque my wife ordered the Clam Chowder.  It was interesting since I feel in love with the chowder and my wife loved the bisque so we switched.  My son who loves trying the most interesting a menu can offer said the bisque is now his all time favorite topping the Five Onion Soup from Lil’ Moe’s.  He verified it by re sampling it.  I the traditionalist absolutely loved the chowder as did the rest of us, but the bisque was the clear favorite.  The worst we had tonight was wonderful!

Getting a very fresh salad these days are easier than in the past and that is exactly what we received very fresh.  I knew the key was going to be the dressing, it was homemade.  I’m sorry but I can’t remember what everyone ordered, all sample was great.  The key for me was Thousand Island Dressing.  I know what good Thousand Island tastes like and this was probably the best I’ve had.  It was thick but easily spreadable on the salad.  There wasn’t too much of one ingredient a great blend.  Again, freshness and homemade made for a great salad!

There is no need for lemon or cocktail sauce when the shrimp is the fresh. Taste the beautiful flavor of the shrimp!

I had to go with the stuffed shrimp for the main course.  I wasn’t disappointed.  5 large shrimp (oxymoron I know) overstuffed with a delicious seafood stuffing was wonderful. The stuffing was a delicious blend that gave a nice flavor every time you chewed it, a masterful blend.  The shrimp I had to eat plain.  It was awesome, like I said no need for lemon or anything else, just enjoy the true delicious taste of shrimp!  I even dug deep into the tail to get every single morsel out of it!  Tiffany Hawley recommended the mashed potatoes, being the traditionalist I was happy to oblige!   They were excellent, again freshness is the key along with the broccoli they were served with.

I knew my wife was going to order the poached salmon.  I’m the big deep seafood fan, she’s the salmon, bass, tuna fan.  For over twenty years we have shared a bite or two not knowing it was training DoingItLocal.com!  This salmon just flaked with the touch of your fork.  It had a nice flavor that did not have  dominant fish flavor  of what you often get when the fish isn’t one hundred percent fresh.   This was very fresh and nicely seasoned.   It was served over spinach and mashed potato and an orange glaze  which my wife said is “out of this world!”

I expected my son to try the clams or cod but being the adventurist he went for the Mushroom Risotto which came with shrimp, scallops and calamari in a lobster cream sauce.  I sampled the calamari and it was so tender.  My daughter who has traditionally been the picky eater shocked all of us and tried it for the first time and loved it.  To quote my son ” There is nothing worse than bad calamari and nothing better than good calamari.  This was great calamari!”   I never had mushroom risotto before and all I can say was it was awesome!  If you have never tried it you must!  It is great!

THE best Fettuccini Alfredo I’ve EVER had!

My daughter had the Fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp.  Having my own shrimp she was safe.  I was getting overstuffed when it came time to try her Fettuccini Alfredo but it was the very best I have ever had. That alone would have made a great dinner let alone the shrimp!  I did over-stuff on the Alfredo and risotto, they are a must try!

It was dessert time and I was going down for the count!  My daughter had what I would have ordered, the double chocolate cake.  My wife and son the Tiramisu Layer Cake.  I’m not a huge coffee flavored anything other than coffee (the traditionalist in me) but this was something delicious to try.  If I wasn’t so full I would have opted for this as my dessert.  I’m a big chocoholic and my daughters double chocolate cake was awesome, but the Tiramisu Layer Cake was something so good and unique it trumped my love for chocolate!

Some changes are in order if I continue reviewing Lil’ Moe’s.  I have to throttle back!  The food is so good I eat everything on my plate let alone the sampling from my families dishes!  I have to take a doggie bag home to enjoy the next day. I remember enjoying the salad and not finishing it. The waitress asked if it was ok and if I enjoyed it.  I did very much!  Oh and the warm fresh rolls!  How can I forget them!  I just didn’t want to overfill knowing what was coming up.  The portions are very ample!  There is no way most people can finish a full entree and then have dessert without a doggie bag or throwing the remainder out.  Don’t miss out on the dessert, it is a true treat!

We are privileged living in this part of Connecticut.  Some of the very best restaurants with a wide variety of cuisine is available to us within a 30 minute drive.   Lil’ Moe’s cannot be missed.  As I mentioned before I’ve passed by this place dozens of times without giving it a thought.  Thankfully her husband messaged me to try it, I’m so glad we did and I know you will to!

I’m in trouble next week….steaks!  This is mine, my daughter and son’s very favorite entree.  I can’t wa

it!

Tender Calamari and oh the Mushroom Risotto is a must try!
The Poached Salmon was “out of this world” my wife said!
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