While the current crop of local and high-end espresso bars and coffee shops are making a move away from giant coffee drinks, Starbucks is answering a call from customers for even bigger iced drinks.
According to a a release from a public relations representative, you’ll be able to grab a 31 oz. iced coffee or tea at some (undisclosed) Connecticut Starbucks stores. They’ve already rolled this out in other test markets like Pheonix.
I can’t endorse this for coffee, but I could go for a ginormous iced tea right now.
From a Starbucks release:
In response to customer requests for a larger size cup for their favorite shaken iced tea, iced tea lemonades and iced coffee, Starbucks is testing the Trenta size cup (31 oz.) in select New England stores. Unsweetened iced coffee, iced tea or iced tea lemonades in a Trenta cup are fewer than 90 calories, and sweetened, the beverages are fewer than 260 calories. Starbucks is testing this cup size to provide customers even more refreshing options to enjoy their favorite beverages this summer.
PAESANO’S: 152 WEST GIRARD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA
8/23/2010
Settling on a place for lunch in Philadelphia was an agonizing experience.
I’ve been meaning to visit a friend who recently moved back to her home city and since I was down that way shooting a wedding Saturday, this was my chance to catch up.
My guide, reporter Devon Lash, is an unapologetic booster of her hometown, so after being bombarded with links to Philly food blogs and magazines for restaurant ideas, she made a command decision.
We were going to Paesano’s.
In a city where the hoagie is a symbol of civic pride, being named the best in town at just over a year old is quite an accomplishment and deserving of a visit.
Sure, I’ve been to Philly before so I’m familiar with the cheesesteak. I’ve had Pat’s and Geno’s. I’ve had a few steaks on South. On this trip, I was even introduced to Dalessandro’s, a cult-favorite in North Philly. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in this arena, but let’s just say I’m familiar with the ways of Cheez Whiz.
But the hoagie is a different beast altogether and Paesano’s outclasses the competition.
Roast pork is the dark horse favorite in Philly and at Paesano’s it comes from a roasted whole suckling pig, is topped with broccoli rabe and seasoned with a touch of red chili flakes. It’s giant, it’s $8 and it’s awesome.
I’m not going to tell you this is the best hoagie in Philly because I’m obviously not qualified to make that call, but it’s damn good.
Oh yeah, and the roasted potatoes ($2), dripping with fat and garlic are worth the drive to Pennsylvania alone.
I screeched to a stop on Mill River Street in Stamford today. “What in the hell is that?” I said, pointing toward a shiny new food truck, “I haven’t seen this guy before.”
It turns out Javier of Jav’s Pa’ Comer hit the streets only yesterday and will be slinging burgers, dogs and sandwiches on the West Side. From what I understand he’ll either be at Mill River Park, or over by the El Charrito taco truck on Richmond Hill.
The menu ranges from American classics — they seem to specialize in hot dogs — to more Latin-American fare (he’s Colombian). Some of the sandwiches include ropa vieja, Cubanos, and arepas.
Having just downed lunch at Taverna Kyklades in Astoria, and witnessing Joey “Jaws” Chestnut eat 50-something hot dogs, I wasn’t about to try to tackle one myself, but I’ll try and hit it up this week.
WILLIAMS-SONOMA: 125 WESTCHESTER AVE., WHITE PLAINS
Thomas Keller – one of the most celebrated chefs of our time – will sign copies of his book Ad Hoc at Home at noon Friday at the White Plains Williams-Sonoma.
Keller, who opened the landmark French Laundry in Yountville, Calif, and now runs a mini-empire “up-valley,” has won numerous James Beard Foundation awards and continues to be at the forefront of American restaurant scene.
His latest addition is Ad Hoc, which was to be a temporary restaurant set up in an old diner while a permanent restaurant was to be built. But the $50 prix fixe menu that changes daily and the laid-back atmosphere proved so popular Ad Hoc became permanent.
I’ve almost bought the book when I had dinner at Ad Hoc in January, but didn’t want to lug it back to Stamford…so if I can get away from work for a little while, I might see you there.
POST SCRIPT: If you haven’t seen the DVD extra on Disney’s Ratatouille where Keller talks about his cooking philosophy and describes the detailed process of working with animators to create the cooking scenes, you gotta check it out.
ABOVE: The Lobster dinner at Stew’s Grill at Calf Pasture beach.
5/11/2010
STEW’S GRILL AT CALF PASTURE BEACH, NORWALK
I just got an email today from Stew Leonard’s about the start of their summer season at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. The popular consession stand opens this Saturday serving up burgers, dogs, ice cream and, yes, the $14.99 Lobster dinner.
But more importantly, according to Stew’s, you can have your beach parking fee validated and refunded if you buy a meal at the grill. Not a bad deal, considering it cost me $20 when I went up there to roll bocce a couple of weeks ago…
In other non-failed-terrorist-related-news, the chef of Greenwich’s Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar will make an appearance tonight on the Food Network show Chopped:
Catch the season premiere of Food Network’s hit show Chopped on Tuesday, May 4th at 10:00pm (ET/PT) and watch as our own Christian Petroni, Executive Chef and General Manager of Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant of Greenwich, CT (www.barcelonawinebar.com) goes head-to-head with his competitors for a chance to win $10,000.
Chef Petroni began his career as a DJ at Trotters Tavern in White Plains, NY under the direction of his friend and mentor Anthony Goncalves. Upon graduation from the New York Restaurant School, Petroni worked the line at Marriot Hotels. When Goncalves reconceived Trotters, he contacted Petroni to work with him in the kitchen. Petroni oversaw the kitchen and worked his way from expedition to sous chef. Petroni then moved on to Peniche Tapas Restaurant in White Plains, NY with his friend Goncalves where he oversaw the kitchen and continued to explore Spanish and Portuguese-inspired tapas utilizing local and organic ingredients. Now garnering rave reviews for his inspired menu at Barcelona, from critics and consumers alike, Petroni continues to raise the bar of the area’s food scene.
The Courant has an interesting business article about Chocopologie, everyone’s favorite Connecticut chocolatier. They are expanding, not to Stamford or Greenwich, but to Dubai.
“They Googled ‘world’s most expensive chocolate,’ and we come up as that,” Knipschildt said of the Middle Eastern investors who tracked him down and convinced him that the United Arab Emirates needs his $250 chocolate truffles.
Now everybody in the U.A.E. will know why I’m so obsessed with the caramel and lavender truffle.
ABOVE: Click the arrows to navigate the slideshow.
04/01/2010
Last night a reader dropped me an email asking why I haven’t posted on the LBC in a while. It’s a fair question.
Like exercising, after taking a hiatus, it’s difficult to get back on the wagon.
As some of you know already, I’ve changed roles here at the paper and now produce both the stamfordadvocate.com and greenwichtime.com websites. It’s really a big change and I was more than a little worried about the combination of taking a desk job and writing a food blog. This concern was validated last week when I went looking for a new pair of jeans – let’s just say that according to Levi’s, I’ve crossed a line I’m not entirely comfortable with.
But I’m still around and in the month that I’ve totally neglected the LBC there have been some notable dining experiences, I’ve just been too busy to write about them. I’m sorry.
So bear with me as I get settled into this new job and I’ll be posting again soon. I hope.
