Young Artists Studio – Fairfield – Emphemeral Art Study at Devil’s Den

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin

Last week, we had a Girl Scout meeting at The Young Artists Studio. One thing they were talking to the girls about was Andy Goldworthy and Ephemeral Art and how that inspired them in many ways in starting their business.

Well, that inspired us to try some ourselves. We went out to Devil’s Den and brought along our cameras/phones. Here are some of the shots we took of the project. We found an old saw mill by a pond.

Initial phase, silvery bark.

ChowderGirl added some leaves.

The moss was a brilliant addition - and required so many trips up and down the waterfall.

Finished work.

With editing/filtering.

Since we were on a kick with man made messes and natural elements, someone smooshed part of a Hostess orange cupcake onto a tree.

Hostess Cupcake in a tree with a waterfall.

Don't worry, we removed it.

And finally, not our work, but a great example of humanity spitting in the face of nature. Right at the edge of 1756 acres of nature, a Capitol like glittery glimmery home.

Take THAT Nature Conservancy!

P.S. Check out The Young Artists Studio for some wonderful inspirational kid and family friendly activities!

First & Last Tavern in Middletown CT – Great Chowder, Great Food

Posted on April 5, 2012 by admin

We were in Middletown recently for a sad occasion. My grandmother passed away and we were having the funeral there. But, as always, there is a positive. We got to visit with ChowderUncle, ChowderTia, ChowderCousins, and ChowderGrandparents.

Before we get to the review, I need to show the slickness that was my Nana.

Back when travel meant style.

So, the night before the funeral, we went to First & Last Tavern, near our hotel (The Inn at Middletown which I also highly recommend).

On to the review.

The chowder was OUTSTANDING. The waiter asked us if it was okay that there was bacon in it. Uh. Yeah. We are okay with bacon.

ChowderGirl protests her involvement but still eating.

Slurp! This chowder was so good! We loved it so much!

Give me a thumbs up, ChowderNiece!

ChowderBoy was obsessed with being with his cousin so he wasn’t interested in the chowder. He took one bite and walked away. But then…

I just want another taste.

He came back to steal the bowl.

You took my chowder!

Overall, we loved that chowder. It was perfect in so many ways. And of course, the bacon was great. And the drinks were fantastic! Always.

Kiraku in Fairfield – Sometimes You Feel Like It’s Awesome. Sometimes You Don’t.

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

We’ve been to Kiraku on the Post Road in Fairfield a number of times but we’ve never reviewed them. And we have really enjoyed our experiences there. This time was no exception, though some of the selections may not have been the smartest choices ever made.

Great miso!

ChowderGirl loves their miso soup. She says “It’s fantastic. Sometimes miso is mostly broth but this one is full of tofu and greens. And we all love the saltiness. It isn’t all thin and gross.”

Next up, we tried the shrimp shumai and the edamame. ChowderBoy loved them but was just keeping his stomach empty for his pad thai. We all thought the edamame was perfect. Not mushy. Not too hard. Juuuuuuust right.

Then the dumplings arrived – they are huge! ChowderBoy says they are good, not great. Here’s his potential thumbs up on the whole dumpling test.

Thumbs headed up for dumplings!

ChowderMom asked for a tuna roll with crunchy (yes, we know, what a terrible order). They decided to bring it with mostly cucumber and very little tuna. This is disappointing – their tuna is typically very good!

Too much crunchy, not enough tuna.

ChowderGirl always gets a Philadelphia roll, no matter where we go. This one was so good, she insisted she needed a second order.

She is going to hate this picture.

ChowderMom and ChowderDad usually split some interesting kind of roll when we get sushi. This time, we tried their Matt Roll. Honestly, I have no idea what was in it but it was so fracking good, we were semi-speechless.

"Holy smokes! Ridiculous. So fantastic. We love this roll."

Sadly, after his long wait, ChowderBoy was less than impressed by the somewhat bland Pad Thai. He said “Bland. Why is this bland? Yuck. It makes me sad.”

Overall, we love when we order the special rolls. We are less than impressed with the more boring stuff and highly recommend their sashimi which we did not order this time.

Bored Kids? Try Using Getty Stock Images to Judge Chowder

Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

“Mommmmmm. I’m bored. Can I turn on a screen of some kind? Any kind? Please?” says ChowderBoy.

ChowderMom thinks they get too much screen time but says “Sure! Come over to the computer and let’s use Getty Images to look at pictures of chowder. We’ll pick which one looks most interesting or tasty!”

“Um…that isn’t what I meant.”

“Too late!”

"Clam Chowder"	"Healthy Chowder With Bacon"	"Clam Chowder and a Bucket of Clams"
"Cups full of Chowder"	"Bowl of New England Clam Chowder with biscuit"	"New England Clam Chowder"
"Clam chowder. Thick clam soup (USA)"	"Five bowls with soups on tray, view from above."	"Bowl of clam chowder"

Victory for mom! This exercise was so annoying to him…he wandered off to go build a Battlestar Gallactica raptor with Lego.

Me, I liked the middle top one but I am not sure how healthy and bacon work together with chowder.

ChowderKids Hit Sage American Grill – Waterfront Dining in New Haven

Posted on March 15, 2012 by admin

The last day with Flat Stanley, we brought him to Sage American Grill & Oyster House in New Haven. We’ve enjoyed the chowder there before so we thought we would try it again.

The only complaint here was that the chowder was very very hot. Scalding hot.

Chillin out, maxin' relaxin'...

We are so glad we went back. Their chowder had great dill, tons of clams, perfect potatoes, and it was pretty thin. And you know what? We are developing a taste for thin chowder!

Love the pewter!

We thought it was so good. “The chowder is totally fantastic.” says ChowderBoy.

Flat Stanley, don't drink!

Bloody Mary’s will put hair on your chest, Flat Stanley! Be careful!!!!

Great brunch!

ChowdaFest – It Was SO Bad, They Shall Remain Nameless

Posted on March 12, 2012 by admin

Nameless Restaurant’s Classic New England Clam Chowder

We rarely do this but I was just remembering back to a horrible sample at ChowdaFest.

It was so bad, these were the only comments:

“You stinkeroo.”
“Unbearable. Gets a 1.”
“It gets a 2. But only because I am not mean enough to give it a 0.”
“I’ve never given anything under a 5 but this was so bad. Ew. It is a 1. I SPIT IT OUT.”

And we are just TOO NICE to tell you which one it was!

Double Blech!

Boston Beer Works – Where The Beer is Better than the Chowder and the Company is Divine.

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

For those of you following along, we took Flat Stanley on a trip to Boston last week during school vacation. He stopped in Newport, Rhode Island for a night at the Goat Island Hyatt and then we went to Cambridge.

Naturally, Flat Stanley wanted to visit Fenway. We had the pleasure of taking Flat Stanley to dinner with ChowderAunties.

Flat Stanley visits Fenway

We enjoyed the chowder here very much but it is possible that we were so overwhelmed with joy at the Hyatt Chowder that we couldn’t enjoy this too much.

Flat Stanley's second chowder test.

It was thick but not flour-ey – something much appreciated by the ChowderFamily. It was, overall, quite good. And nicely baconey.

I love ChowderAuntie’s review.

It at least has more detail than ChowderBoy who seems to have gone mute.

Now that’s style.

In any case, we would highly recommend a night on the town that includes Boston Beer Works if you are in The Hub and interested in trying some great beer and great chowder.

Chowda Fest – The SoNo Brewhouse Review – Good Chowder Was Had By All

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

The SoNo Brewhouse Seafood Chowder

“Not very thick but tasty, I suppose.” says ChowderDad. He’s right – the flavors were outstanding!

“It was OK.” says ChowderGirl. “It gets a V.O. for very odd. But awesome.”

Great display!

I love when they give crackers. Not everyone does that and it really is important for some people. And by some people, I mean ChowderBoy and ChowderGirl, who went over and tried to take fistfuls.

If only it was thicker!!!!

In other news, we may reconsider our constant need for thick chowder. We may be…wrong.

ChowdaFest – Old Post Tavern Clam Chowder

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

On first taste, the Chowder Grown Ups loved it. It had a lovely amount of sherry floating on top and it was quite tasty.

Except ChowderGirl who thought the sherry in it might kill her.

In her defense, it really was very sherry.

Thumbs up, Old Post Tavern!

The overall seasoning and consistency was nearly perfect.

Typically, we are not carrot fans but it was tasty!

The carrots were undercooked. So that was a slight issue. But it was good enough to warrant a personal visit!

See you soon, Old Post!

Flat Stanley Arrives and Becomes…Flat ChowderBoy

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Flat Stanley: Guest ChowderBoy

Flat Stanley joined the Chowder Family this week, courtesy of our cousin/nephew in Northern California. So we decided to take him on a Chowder Journey to help him tell a story about New England.

First Stop: Newport, Rhode Island

We brought him to the Five 33 Lounge on Goat Island, home of one of our all time favorite chowders.

Aquidneck Clam Chowder

ChowderBoy ordered a cheese plate. Flat Stanley was not interested. But ChowderCheeseBoy thinks it is amazing. Most of it. Some of it ended up in our mini-fridge.

Rubbing his hands in anticipation...

ChowderGirl ordered the Aquidneck Clam Chowder.

Flat Stanley! Don't bogart the chowder!

ChowderMom ordered a Coddington beer of some kind!

Stanley! You are too young for this!

Stanley Says: These couches are the most comfortable couches ever! If we lived here, we would be the happiest people in the world! And they have the Bruins on! It’s like heaven!

Stanley Says...

The chowder was outstanding. Unlike many chowders we’ve tasted before, it was unusual. Extra buttery, red potatoes with the skins on, the perfect amount of dill and seasonings and holy clams, Batman.

ChowderBoy and Flat Stanley were so happy with the chowder that they ordered more from room service.

Room Service!

You jerks! But hey, thanks for the extra beer!

Tomorrow – Black Pearl!