Tuesday, September 29, 2015

ALTA STRADA AT FOXWOODS

After playing the slots at Foxwoods, check out one of their fine restaurants. Eat Up New England enjoyed an Italian dinner at Alta Strada recently.

This spacious restaurant boosts a full bar, tons of seating and all of the Italian favorites. Every meal starts with a generous portion of bread. Appetizers include clams, fried calamari, veal meatballs and a giant shrimp cocktail. There are many pastas to choose from for dinner. There's spaghetti, rigatoni with sausage and peas and mushroom ravioli. If you can't choose just one pasta, they are happy to serve you two small plates. Eat Up NE enjoyed the tagliatelle bolognese. It was hearty and fresh, just like a good bolognese should be.

There's also an "old schools favorites" section on the menu. It's filled with dishes like chicken under a brick, prime boneless sirloin, zuppa di pesce and chicken milanese. In the mood for a burger? You can get Alta Strada's Killer Burger with homemade French fries.  

If you can't make it to Foxwoods, Alta Strada has a second location in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

www.altastradarestaurant.com
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Saturday, September 26, 2015

FIGHT BREAST CANCER AT P.F. CHANG'S THIS WEEK

Please stop by any P.F. Chang's this Wednesday to help in the fight against breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. It's time to end breast cancer and all cancers. Starting at 4 pm on September 30th, the national chain kicks off their annual campaign to raise money for this very important cause. If you have time to eat, order their Jicama Street tacos and $1 will be donated to the cause. If you don't have time to eat, take a pic with one of their famous warrior horses. Post it and tag it #PFChangsPink and they'll also donate $1. ,

FALL FAVORITES: APPLE CRUMB CHEESECAKE

Fall is officially here. Start it off right with this sinful cheesecake at Junior's at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. This apple crumb cheesecake is simply amazing. If you try it in September, proceeds will go to Citymeals. It's also on the menu right now at Junior's other locations in New York City. , ,

Sunday, September 13, 2015

FARM FRESH ITALIAN AT TUSCAN BRICK OVEN BISTRO IN MAINE

 
Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro in Freeport, Maine prides itself on using only the best fresh ingredients from local farms and businesses. The ingredients combine to make some unforgettable Italian-inspired dishes.

Tuscan Bistro has a full bar stock full with several Maine beers, ciders and wines. I was very excited see Shipyard's Pumpkinhead on tap. They served it was a tasty cinnamon rim. There's no better place than to kick of fall beer season than in Maine. 

Dinner began with the burrata caprese. Served with red and green tomatoes and crisp crustini, this was one of the best caprese salads Eat Up NE has ever tried. Other apps include Maine mussels, brick oven wings, antipasto, calamari and a meatball stuffed Portobello mushroom.

The menu is made up of brick oven pizzas, including white clam, fennel sausage & burrata and funghi. The pizza looks so good! I went for one of their homemade pastas. All of my favorites are on the menu including lobster mac & cheese, chicken parm and potato gnocchi. I loved their Bolognese, which consists of trumpet pasta, beef & sausage ragu and is topped with ricotta. It was amazing. I would order this dish over and over again.

Tuscan Bistro is also open for lunch, where diners can choose from several sandwiches including twin lobster rolls, bistro burger, chicken parm sandwich and a crispy cod pocket.

Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro is a new Eat Up New England Favorite. What food! Not to mention the ambience is beautiful, from the lighting fixtures to the bar. There are even small sofas for some lucky diners to sit on. There is also some outdoor seating while it's still warm out.

www.tuscanbrickovenbistro.com
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Thursday, September 10, 2015

DICKINSON'S CANDY FACTORY IN OLD ORCHARD BEACH

A visit to Old Orchard Beach, Maine just isn't complete without a bag of candy to bring home. Dickinson's Candy Factory has a mega selection of candy to satisfy any sweet tooth. Eat Up NE bagged some of their taffy, which comes in fun flavors like blueberry pancake, orange creamsicle and beach ball. Dickinson's also has several flavors of ice cream and fudge. , ,

BUFFET LUNCH AT MAINE'S BROAD ARROW TAVERN

Enjoy a taste of Maine at the Broad Arrow Tavern inside of the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. Monday thru Saturday, they offer this delightful buffet for lunch. There are a couple of salads to choose from, lots of veggies and chunks of fresh cheeses. Fill your plate with hot entrees like fried haddock, mussels, steak, veggie pasta, mashed potatoes and cheese pizza. Save room for dessert! Eat Up NE loved their creamsicle cheesecake. The buffet items change daily and with the seasons.


www.harraseeketinn.com
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Tuesday, September 08, 2015

ISABELLA'S STICKY BUNS IN FREEPORT, MAINE


One of my favorite high-calorie breakfasts is the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit at McDonald's. Isabella's Sticky Buns in Freeport, Maine also has this classic sandwich on their menu, but of course, theirs is so much better. It's made with bacon and eggs right off of the grill. I enjoyed mine with some cheddar cheese. The biscuit was warm and crumbly.

Isabella's serves breakfast and lunch all day. Their coffee is from Maine's Coffee By Design. Other breakfast options include pancakes, French toast, scrambles and omelets. Their famous sticky buns are topped with walnuts and raisins. They even have a sticky bun French toast on the menu. For lunch, there are grilled sandwiches like the turkey & granny smith apple, baked ham & Swiss cheese and the vegan burger. There are also several soups and salads on the menu.

Isabella's is open daily in the summer and fall. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays January- May. It's just steps away from the L.L. Bean headquarters in Freeport.

www.isabellasfreeport.com
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Saturday, September 05, 2015

CEREAL MILK ICE CREAM AT MILK BAR IN NYC

Milk Bar in New York City is the buzz of foodies because of their clever twists on traditional dessert favorites.  Eat Up NE recently stopped by their Midtown location and tried their cereal milk soft serve. It tastes like the milk leftover in the cereal. They'll even sprinkle it with some cornflakes. It's very good. Eat UP NE was addicted from the start. Milk Bar also has a cereal milk shake on the menu.

Milk also has some very tempting looking cakes, like apple pie and chocolate chip cakes. Creative cookies include the blueberry & cream cookie and their famous compost cookie with pretzels, potato chips, butterscotch and chocolate chips. They're also known for their "crack pie," which is described as "gooey butter cake meets chess pie."

If you're mouth is watering right now, you can order many of their tasty treats online:

www.milkbarstore.com ,

BREAKFAST WITH A VIEW AT ROSE'S BERRY FARM

The best breakfast Eat Up New England enjoyed all summer was at Rose's Berry Farm in South Glastonbury, Connecticut. Every Sunday, Rose's offers their highly popular Breakfast With A View. Choose from pancakes, French toast or a Belgian waffle. They are all topped with blueberries picked right there in the farm and some delicious homemade whipped cream. Eat Up NE loved the pancakes with a side of bacon.  

Not only is the food amazing but you get to enjoy it on a large open air porch overlooking Rose's Berry Farm. Breakfast With A View goes from June to October, so there's still time to have one of the best breakfasts in New England.

www.rosesberryfarm.com


UPDATE: Rose's Berry Farm closed permanently after the 2022 season, with its owner retiring to North Carolina.
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Tuesday, September 01, 2015

INSIDE THE NEW ULTRA MODERN NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE'S IN WALTHAM

Check out the sparkling new Not Your Average Joe's in Waltham, Massachusetts. The place is beautiful inside and out, with high ceilings, a bar with flatscreen TV's, booths and high-top seating. There is also some patio seating outside which will be a nice place to sip on some fall beer in a few weeks. The food seemed to tasted better than ever when eat Up NE stopped by. Every meal begins with their fresh focaccia bread with oil, cheese and red pepper flack dip. My favorite meal is their mustard crusted chicken.

The new NYAJ location is right across from Jake 'n Joes in the new 1265 Main Street development.
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