New Day Trip and Picnicking

I recently spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon in Colchester visiting both Cato Corner Farm and Priam Vineyards.

Cato Corner Farm is a small family farm with a mother-son team, who raise 40 free-range jersey cows without the use of hormones or subtherapeutic antibiotics. From the cows' raw milk, a dozen styles of aged farmhouse cheese is produced, such as: "Bridgid's Abbey," our most popular cheese...smooth, creamy, & medium mild with a rich finish; "Drunken Hooligan," rubbed in wine grapes from Priam Vineyard; and, "Fromage d'O'Cow," Hooligan's bigger brother, a wide flat wheel that is especially stinky & rich.

This was my first taste of fresh farm cheese, and it was a memorable treat. Of the several I tried, each was consistently outstanding in taste and texture.

The farm welcomes visitors for cheese tasting and purchase on Saturdays. For more information, plus directions and hours: www.catocornerfarm.com.

Close by, Priam Vineyards is a 40 acre farm with 24 acres of grapes grown free of insecticides. Their wines have won numerous International Wine Competition medals each year, including six in 2008. Tasting is on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and some holidays, from 11-5, with extended hours on select Fridays. Wine tasting, including a wine glass with logo cost $6.50.

What about picnicking? A wine patio adjacent to the barn is convenient and attractive, or consider a walk to the top of the vineyard. There, you will not only find a picnic table or spot of lawn, but a striking 35 mile view of the countryside.

It if isn't convenient or desirable to pack a picnic, no problem. Menus are available at the winery to order lunch or dinner delivered right to the wine patio. Or, on Sundays from 11-3, enjoy a Farmer's Market with fruits and vegetables grown by Priam Vineyards and local farmers, some of whom also bring baked goods.

Check it all out on their website (www.priamvineyards.com) by clicking on "Events & Tasting."

A Potpourri of "stuff" to Share

--In my 2nd Edition of Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket I added a note to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre chapter to the effect that musicals were expected to be offered only intermittently during the year.

So, I was particularly pleased to receive a mailing announcing that 42nd Street "Direct from the Tropicana in Atlantic City" will be playing from November 21st to January 4th. Personally, I am looking forward to this production and wanted to share the information with my readers.

Check their website for other scheduled shows during the coming months. http://www.downtowncabaret.org/.

--There is a new website that showcases products grown in Connecticut. Check out http://www.buyctgrown.com/ for a list of fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products, seafood and much more. They are all listed with easy access to the farms (including maps) where these items can be found.

I was curious about the season for broccoli, but it seemed to be the only vegetable not on the list. Although there is a "Chart of Seasonality" it wasn't coming up, so I simply telephoned the farm. I was told that broccoli should be available in a couple of weeks, which will be in time to make my Bleu Broccoli for an upcoming picnic. (If you do not have my book but would like a great new broccoli salad recipe, email me and I'll send it to you. (jan@cruisingconnecticut.com)

The other information on this site wasn't as impressive. For example, when I clicked on Events, there was only one listed, for October 11, 2008. And the exciting Topics on this page, like Farmers' Markets, Farm Tour, Cooking Demonstrations and the like all brought up the same message, "No events. Sorry. Please choose another category." I guess because the site is new, they do not have all the information posted yet.

--Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic (http://www.dpnc.org/) always has a lot of special activities planned. One in particular, a July 22nd trip to Garden in the Woods, home of the New England Wildflower Society in Framingham, Mass. caused me to reflect on my six week Connecticut Spring Wildflower Hunt back in 1973. That adventure turned my day tripping into a passion, which in turn led to writing Cruising Connecticut. Isn't it fascinating that just one step out of our normal routine or comfort zone can lead us to the most wonderful places!

Soup is a refreshing addition to a summer picnic

I used to think soup was something you served hot on a cold winter night. That is, until I wrote Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket and asked my daughter to help me find some suitable picnic recipes to go with my day trips. Surprise, surprise, she concocted Melon Strawberry Soup and I quickly expanded my narrow concept about soup. Try it and let me know what you think.

Melon Strawberry Soup
(Courtesy of Holly McCarthy)

Soup course ~ side with salad or sandwich ~ dessert. Take your pick. This soup will remain chilled for hours so it is a practical yet delicious addition to a summer picnic menu.

1 package (12-ounce) frozen whole strawberries (will only use half)
1 large cantaloupe
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 bottle (16-ounce) lemon-lime carbonated beverage

* If strawberries are a frozen block, partially thaw, break apart and refreeze.
* Remove rinds and seeds from cantaloupe and cut into chunks. Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add orange juice, lime juice, and honey. Whirl until well blended.
* Pour into a pitcher and chill for 2 or more hours. Before leaving for your picnic, cut one-half of the frozen strawberries in half and add to soup mixture. Pour into a 2-quart wide mouth thermos to transport to picnic.
* To serve, measure 3/4 cup soup into bowl and add 1/4 cup of the carbonated beverage.
*Yield: 5-6 one cup servings.

** Fun Alternatives! **
For a festive occasion, replace the carbonated beverage with champagne.
For a little more color during blueberry season, add a few to each bowl.

For those of you who already have Cruising Connecticut, don't forget about the delicious Gazpacho contributed by Chris Prosperi of the Metro Bis Restaurant in Simsbury (Page 24.) You'll love this one.

National Picnic Month

July is National Picnic Month! I discovered this fact on the website, http://www.foodreference.com/.

This caused me to wonder about other special days, so I checked Chase's Calendar of Events at the library, where I found the following interesting days coming up in July. You may want to note them on your calendar:

1. July 2 is "I Forgot Day." This is a day to make up for all the birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. that you forgot to acknowledge during the year. Personally, I'd be in trouble if I only had one day a year to catch up on all my "forgots."

2. July 23 is "Hot Enough For Ya Day." On this day, we are permitted to ask the following question when nothing of intelligence comes to mind: "Is it hot enough for ya?" I actually asked this question today, first because it really was hot, but also in the event it's not that hot on the 23rd, I didn't want to miss my once-a-year opportunity.

3. July 27 is "Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day." Supposedly, if they get to know their neighborhood, it will bring on wellness. They didn't say, but I feel sure this would work for humans as well.

Well, I'm not sure about the other events, but with the July 4th weekend, school being out, the first full month of summer, etc. there will certainly be plenty of opportunities to picnic.

So, in honor of National Picnic Month, anyone ordering a book from my website (http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/) during July will pay just $12.00 rather than the retail price of $15.95. However, you must use the online order form for this offer. Just print the form and mail with check for $12.00 (plus tax) for each book, along with appropriate shipping and handling charges. Just write "Per Blog" anywhere on the form.

Speaking of all the birthdays, anniversaries, etc., at this price, why not order an extra book for a gift. Then you won't have to worry about "I Forgot Day."

Happy Picnicking!

Check Out These Upcoming Special Events

Many of the destinations in Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket offer special events during the year that should not be missed. I recently learned about the following:

June 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. & June 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Haight-Brown Vineyard sponsors "Taste of Litchfield Hills" including "fine cuisine, upscale shopping, live entertainment, plus winery tours & tastings." I will be signing books on Sunday. Find out more at http://www.haightvineyards.com/ or call 860-567-4045.

July 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the Mark Twain House & Museum presents "Twain at Twilight" on the lower lawn. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy their picnic supper while listening to New Orleans Jazz. I will be listening as well, and signing books. Find out more about this free concert and another on June 22 at http://www.marktwainhouse.org/. or call 860-247-0998.

July 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Florence Griswold Museum takes part in the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival with the "En Plein Air" market on the grounds of the museum. Over 20 Connecticut vendors will offer fresh flowers, breads, cheeses, and specialty foods, or enjoy a prepared lunch under market umbrellas along the Lieutenant River. Find out more at http://www.flogris.org/ (Click Upcoming Events on left; click July on right) or call 860-434-5542.

The last Sunday in June, July, August, and September, and October 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine opens its Viets Tavern for tours and skittles. In my book, I write that prison guards frequented Viets Tavern during their free time to "eat, drink, and play skittles, a game first introduced in England in the fourteenth century." At the time my book went to print, the tavern was open to visitors "occasionally." So, I was happy to learn of these specific dates. Find out more at http://www.eastgranby.com/ or call 860-653-3563.

Be sure to check the above websites for costs and full description of these events. And, check the websites of the other destinations in Cruising Connecticut to learn about additional offerings throughout the year.

Have fun!

Connecticut Open House Day

What a curious day!

Having no commitments for a change, I decided to take advantage of Connecticut's annual Open House Day. Like a kid in a candy store, I poured over the 200 or so tourist attractions listed in the brochure. Many were offering reduced or free admission, complimentary product tastings, or special demonstrations.

I circled five possibilities, but as it turned out I had a few things to attend to in the morning, and with a couple of the venues having limited hours, I ended up revising my original list to just two destinations. I left home at 12:00 and drove to Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam for a free tour of the Victorian Theater, something I had been wanting to do for years. The hours listed were 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the drive, I listened to the rebroadcast of Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze, having missed it during the week and knowing there was a call-in segment for listeners' favorite picnics. By the time I got to the parking lot, it was 1:45, and I sat in the car to finish listening. At approximately 1:03 I walked into the theater and was told they had just ended the tours. When I questioned the fact that the brochure had said 2:00 I was told the reason for the change was that today's performance time had been moved up to 3:00 and the actors would be coming in soon to get ready.

Although I was disappointed, it was a lovely day and the drive was pleasant, so I simply set off for my next destination, Rose's Berry Farm in South Glastonbury. At least the pick-your-own strawberries, plus "free snacks, beverages and wagon tours of the farm" was offered until 5:00, although really, I was only interested in picking berries. By the time I arrived, my mouth was watering for the first native strawberries of the season. But, when I arrived, I was told there was no picking after all because the berries were not quite ready.

As I headed for home, I thought, so much for the information listed in that glossy colored brochure, until I remembered the quote in my own book by John Steinbeck in Travels with Charley, "What I set down here is true until someone else passes that way and rearranges the world in his own style."

Isn't that the truth!

Yale University Art Gallery Exhibit

I recently read that Vincent Van Gogh's 1889 painting, "The Starry Night" will be on display at the Yale University Art Gallery, as will his "Cypresses", both on loan from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The dates are June 15 through September 7.

"The Starry Night" is said to be Van Gogh's "most celebrated" and because of the anticipated popularity of this exhibit, crowds will be limited to insure that viewing will be the best experience it can be. Advanced timed ticketing is available online at http://www.artgallery.yale.edu/.

Folks who have my book, "Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket" already know that this art gallery is the oldest university art gallery in the United States, founded in 1832 with Colonel John Trumbull's gift of his paintings of the American Revolution.

AND, that all exhibits are FREE, all the time, not only at this gallery, but across the street at the Yale Center for British Art, which has the most comprehensive collection of British Art outside the United Kingdom.

What a wonderful time to visit these renowned museums. And, do take a picnic to enjoy at the lovely town Green, just one block away, either before or after your museum visit. For more information about New Haven, visit http://www.visitnewhaven.com/.