October | 2012 | cali coast foodie

Archive | October, 2012

Main Fish Market Restaurant, East Windsor, Ct

If you are anywhere in New England, you have to have a lobster Roll, I moved to seek out the best seafood restaurant in East Windsor, well, because that is where I was. This restaurant came highly recommended by some family friends so we decided to jump in and sample the fare.

The restaurant was large, with a good sized seating for both the bar and restaurant. The portions didn’t disappoint either…massive dishes with good flavor. As a Monterey, Ca native, I have had my fair share of clam chowder, however this chowder could rival them all…very good and rich and creamy. The stuffed mushrooms were a bit greesy but tasty…and the Lobster Roll. Well the Lobster roll was stuffed to the brim with delicious and succulent, sweet lobster in a light mayo, but the roll was cold and arduous. It should not be served at all if that is the roll chosen; it was thick and hearty…like for a grinder or a hoagie.

Lobster rolls need to be served on light airy hotdog like buns…it is imperative to the symbiosis between what is going on with the delicate lobster and the bread…well the food was very good and I enjoyed it…however Neptune’s Oyster in Boston is still the best roll that I have ever had!

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Categories Restaurants

Rutt’s Hut Clifton, New Jersey

17 Oct

Well I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a hot dog from a New Jersey Institution. Rutt’s Hut has been an establishment in the state for over 80 years. Why is this so…well it is not for ambiance…no it is certainly for their signature deep fried hot dog aptly name the RIPPER. Check this expert out from Road Food. The venue itself hasn’t changed in 80 years, which in my opnion is what give the place its authentic feel. Very fun indeed. Oh yeah, and make sure you wash it down with a delicious Boylan Birch Beer (kind of like root beer but not…).

“The magnificent hot dog served by Rutt’s Hut is known as a ripper because its skin tears and crinkles when it is deep fried. The oil bath turns the pork-and-beef link rugged, dark, and chewy on the outside, while the interior remains soft and juicy. With mustard or spicy-sweet relish, this is one of America’s great hot dogs.”

This is a definite road food grub spot…make sure you try the ripper if you are in New Jersey!

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Sammy’s Pizza and Grill LAX Airport, Ca

17 Oct

Well, well…I must say that I NEVER anticipated a wood fired pizz in an airport. Sammy’s is pretty good too. As far as wood fired pizza goes…its not wood fired, its gas, with wood in it for flavoring…however at least they use some real wood, great effort.
I recently posted that Cat Cora’s in Houston was one of the best airport restaurants that I have ever been in…and that is true…but this place edges it slightly out. This edging may be due to my personal affinity for wood fired pizza, or because it is much cheaper then the Cat Cora restaurant. Either way…this is the place to eat at LAX, and I have eaten there many times…

The Pizza itself was slightly undercooked in the dough, and it had lots of cornmeal or semolina in the crust…like I said, not the best wood fired pizza ever…but darn good for an airport (and i have been to CPK in an airport and it was awful).

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Categories Restaurants

Cat Cora’s Houston Airport, Tx

17 Oct

I certainly cannot say that airport food in general has much to offer in a culinary sense; they are usually reminiscent of cafeteria food; all prepackaged and not properly prepared…however this restaurant wasn’t too bad.
Cat Cora, the Iron Chef, has done quite a little job here in this airport…we came from three terminals over to try it out. From the edamame hummus, to the potato chips with blue cheese dip, this little restaurant sets itself apart…with still easy to reproduce food without a full kitchen and resources, but with seemingly quality food. As you can see, the size of the steak portion on the tacos leaves much to be desired…as does the 19 dollar price tag…in fact the meal was 100 dollars. But the restaurant was better then any other airport food I have had…except one little wood fired brick oven pizzeria at LAX…Woodies…see my review on that. Must visit if on layover…

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Categories Restaurants

Frank Pepe’s Pizza Napoletana – New Haven Connecticut

11 Oct

As many of my readers know, I am on the ultimate quest for the best pizza in the entire world. One of the pizzerias that I have heard of time and time again as quite possibly the best, is Frank Pepe’s Pizza Napoletana in New Haven. I finally made it to the east coast and there was no way I was going to be so close to this famed “Clam Pie” and not get my fair share.

As you can see from the photo’s I did make it, and did all the hype let me down?? Heck no. This place was fantastic. The salad was basic, the wine was cheap, but the pizza was world class. The snap of the dough, the cheese, the sauce, the old school coal fired oven. I am not sure what makes this so good, but this experience was religious. I wish we had one of these in the central coast because I would be there every day! In the mean time I will just try to replicate that amazing clam pie with the fresh shucked little neck clams.