4/4/09-Bricco, West Hartford, CT

I really do love West Hartford--the amount of really good restaurants in this town astounds me. Today, I had the luxury of trying yet another--Bricco. Met up with a friend I haven't seen in a good number of years--it was nice to reconnect. We had both heard that Bricco was good and she is the type of person that enjoys the finer things in life like lunch at a nice restaurant, so off we went. Cute decor, with a very warm, classy feeling to the place. We had the crispy fried calamari w/ lemon caper aioli & spicy tomato sauce to start--very good, with nice dipping sauces. Sheri had the rustichella d'abruzzo rigatoni bolognese w/ classic meat sauce, fresh ricotta & grated nutmeg which she really enjoyed (ahh, comfort food!) and I had the special--homemade cavatelli with broccoli rabe and a hot sausage--just the right amount of kick, very flavorful. Sheri then topped her meal off with a double espresso (I don't think I'll ever get into coffee!).

Had a great time catching up on old times and our current lives (thanks for experiencing a new one with me!). Maybe I'll have a new partner in my restaurant adventures!

www.billygrant.com/bricco.htm

4/3/09-Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven, CT

The original. The best. The one you have to try. Pizza so good, you are licking up the grease as it drips down your arm. All these phrases are things that Tom and I (and now Dan!) experience when we visit this legendary place.

Dan's first visit here tonight, so we pulled out the stops and ordered a large pepperoni and a large white clam pizza. The pepperoni is the favorite for Tom and I but Dan really enjoyed the white clam pizza (I am not a fan of clams and Tom liked it but would rather stick with the pepperoni--he just didn't feel that the white clam pizza lived up to the hype.) Piping hot, greasy, cheesy and covered in toppings, the three of us just about polished it all! In short, this is a historical restaurant with a great neighborhood vibe that any foodie should move to the top of their list of places to visit before they die.

www.pepespizzeria.com

4/1/09-Francescos Pizzeria & Restaurant, Suffield, CT

Out to lunch with the best salesman ever after a day of touring job sites and spending a little time with my boys. We stopped at Francescos--one of the places he frequents (the waitress, Anna, knew his name!). On recommendation, he suggested their grinders so I had the Veal Parmigiana grinder and he had their Meatball grinder--both very good. Quick friendly service--Anna was such a sweetheart! Nice neighborhood restaurant, good for a quick stop in.

No website, located on Rt. 168 in Suffield.