And so it would be a Memorial Day weekend that was only intermittently pleasant (the weather on Saturday certainly didn't help). If it's one thing I did do, however, it was eat and drink...a lot.
The festivities started with an impromptu dinner of sorts on Friday night at Mancuso's in Fairfield. While my pork tenderloin smothered in broccoli rabe (and I mean smothered!) was decent, the entire experience was indicative of what's become of local "Italian" restaurants. They remain Italian in name and design only, but the dishes are too heavy and oily to truly be considered authentic. Don't get me wrong, the entree was tasty, but I left Mancuso's feeling like I had just eaten at a mediocre wedding. At least there wasn't a DJ encouraging everyone to dance to the Electric Slide. And speaking of music, the bizarre 80s R&B mix that was playing at Mancuso's was about as Italian as a trip to Sbarro's.
On Saturday afternoon I stopped by Paradise Pizza in Stratford (I hesitate to consider Stratford part of the CT Gold Coast, but I was in the area). When I had told people that I had never once sampled their supposedly famous pizza, I was met by gasps of shock. So on a rainy afternoon, I bellied-up to the bar, ordered a pint and a small pizza.
A large crowd was assembled to watch a soccer game, and the poor bartender (who was quite friendly and lovely) was frantically trying to cater to the needs of every demanding patron. I remained patient, but eager to try the pizza. When it finally did arrive (topped with spinach and black olives), I was disappointed to see that it was Greek pizza (nobody told me that). All in all, it was good pizza, but in keeping with the Greek style, a tad too doughy for my taste.
By Sunday afternoon I needed to skip town desperately. I hopped on I-95, and was pleasantly surprised that there was minimal traffic as I headed north. I essentially left the geographic area referred to as "The Gold Coast" and went way into the outer-reaches of the sometimes enjoyable and often mellow Connecticut Shoreline. It was there that I stopped at one of my favorite hideouts, Water's Edge in Westbrook. This enormous and sprawling seaside resort is probably the finest of its sort in Connecticut.
It was a rather mellow there Sunday afternoon, though the crew was hard at work setting up for a beachfront wedding that was to happen in a few hours. The outdoor bar was set to open in less than twenty-four hours, but I took my drink from the indoor bar and sat outside. The sun finally started to come out, and the weather warmed up a bit. For a moment, I felt like I was on an actual vacation. And I suppose that's one of the joys of Water's Edge: it's a classic resort bustling with weddings, bachelorette parties and various other activities, nestled in an otherwise low-key and quiet coastal town. My only complaint about Water's Edge? The nearly hour drive for me to get there. If it were only even twenty minutes closer, it would warrant far more regular visits.
I concluded the long weekend at a rather peculiar establishment: Ruby Tuesday's at the Trumbull Mall. Foodie and barfly purists alike shun such chain establishments, this I know. But, frankly, I don't care. The drinks were cheap (a mere $5.00 for a rather large mojito), the atmosphere laid back, and the service was quite good. And though I didn't eat there, the menu looked pretty good (and the surf and turf the old-timer sitting across from me at the bar was inhaling looked very tasty).
Perhaps most important was the fact that- on Memorial Day- Ruby Tuesday's was open for business. If Memorial Day is in fact one of the more authentically American holidays, then I suppose that I am glad I spent it at a venerable nationwide chain that serves hamburgers and fries, grilled sirloin and lobster tails, cheesecake and lemonade.
No comments:
Post a Comment