Where Being a Shell of Oneself is a Good Thing The Chocolate Shell, Old Lyme February 2020 I've struggled for a decade to figure out how the state's tourism folks decide on what chocolate shops get to be on the Connecticut Chocolate Trail and which are left off. Most are no-brainers of course, but then there are … [Read more...]
Hillside Sweet Shoppe (Closed)
A Hillside I'd Die On... Hillside Sweet Shoppe, East Haddam June 2016 This placed closed at some point during the pandemic. ... And what is the "Hillside I'd die on?" That it's okay for me to write about candy shops that used to be on the Connecticut Chocolate Trail just because they used to be on the … [Read more...]
Chocolate Geeks
Shot! Shot! Shot! Chocolate Geeks (Formerly Truffle Shots), Essex Feburary 2020 Here we are. Back in Essex. Connecticut's "cutest town." Our "quaintest village." And, of course, "Quintessential Connecticut." Poor Essex, always having to live up to these expectations year after year. And somehow it does … [Read more...]
Isabelle et Vincent
Oui, Oui, Oui All the Way Home Isabelle et Vincent, Fairfield April 2020 I have been known to bore people with the following story about our trip to France in 2004: A cheap baguette from a random little shop in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere in France is better than a baguette from any American high-end … [Read more...]
Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti
Pure Aarti Le Rouge Chocolates, Westport February, 2020 Check this out: The owner and chocolatier at Le Rouge Chocolates is named Aarti Khosla. She specializes in making high-end chocolates and cakes with hand-painted artistic flourishes. Her little shop is in Westport. And Westport? Arguably Connecticut's … [Read more...]
Sweet Cioccolata
Sweeeet, Bro Sweet Cioccolata, Wallingford May 19, 2018 I joked before that downtown Wallingford must have the most bars per capita in the state. I have no idea if that’s even close to being true, but at least one Walli-World resident noted, “Yeah, there are a lot.” So there you have it. Data Science at its … [Read more...]
Tschudin Chocolates & Confections
Tschop NoTsch Tschudin Chocolates & Confections, Middletown January 9, 2015 I have no idea how to pronounce Tschudin. Is the ‘T’ completely silent, or is it a whisper of a ‘T’ sound? Or does it not even matter, because the mad (in a good way) polymath behind the eponymous chocolate shop has the full name of Rob … [Read more...]
Food & Drink
Restaurants, Foods, Diners, Taverns, Ice Cream, Cheese, Chocolate, Breweries, Brewpubs, Cideries, Kombucheries, Wineries, Meaderies, Distilleries, & Soda Makers This page now serves as a fairly robust jumping off point for the many food and drink sections of CTMQ. The state has maintained some culinary “trails” over … [Read more...]
Fascia’s Chocolates
Fascianably Old School Fascia’s, Waterbury Multiple Visits Going to Fascia’s reminds me of going to a really good Connecticut brewery. You exit the highway and drive to a somewhat blighted industrial area and park at a non-descript beige and brown building. But once inside – hoo boy – it’s magic. … [Read more...]
Munson’s Chocolates
C'Mun Sons, We've Chocolate to Buy For Mama Munson’s, Bolton February 16, 2013 (and many others) Everyone in Connecticut knows Munson’s, right? They are, by far, the biggest and most far-reaching chocolatier in the state. After all, there are Munson’s stores all over the state - which you can find here. Of … [Read more...]