Vacation News

For the past two weeks Pat has been on semi vacation with me. The first week of vacation she was not supposed to work. The second week she was only supposed to work 1/2 days. She did manage to fit in her fair share of work both weeks. I'm not complaining - she is too conscientious to let things go long.

I did find out that a job I was a finalist for went in another direction. To go from one of two finalists for two positions to not getting a job in less than a week was very disheartening but survivable. When discussing the job possibility with my fellow campers I did point out that many jobs are withdrawn or filled internally rather than result in an outside hire these days. In this case one position was filled by a contract employee and the other left fallow.

I was supposed to not look for a job the first week. However, having lost the "sure thing" I did do a little employment dumpster diving. I do have a bunch of little fires in the iron. Some of which are pretty off the beaten path.

So, what does one do on vacation? We go to breakfast.

One of the complaints that Pat had when moving to Wethersfield was that no one could tell her were a good breakfast spot was. So, with trusty computer in hand, I went in search of new locations. Here are the results (so far):

• Cheesecake Factory (West Hartford): This is more of a brunch location. We found it to be a disappointment. While Pat enjoyed her omelette I ordered the Crab Hash with poached eggs. The eggs were underdone to the point of being barely able to hold their shape and there were crab shell pieces in the hash. They crunched just like egg shells which is an absolute no no to me. Anyone who knows me knows that raw eggs are a no no as well (I reference an international raw egg on ham incident in the mid 80's that caused me to for forego breakfast on the continent).
• NY Pickle Deli: This is the closest to us in nearby Rocky Hill. We actually went here before this weekend but this truly marked our first excursion. The food is good but the menu is rather brief in it's listing of possible items. Pat, who wants eggs without potatoes or meat, could order "off menu" but that is never a best bet. Try the wheat pancakes. This is the closest breakfast place to our house but the service is atrocious.
• Anna's Pizza Restaurant: This is where the old folks go to meet the children. The food was good, the place homey. Pat loved the Spinach Feta Omelet (they let her get a two egger rather than three). My pancakes were a bit crisp and the syrup was corny =without a hint of maple flavor. Still this would be a great place to eat if I had my teeth in a jar.
• Mitchell's Family Restaurant (Coffee House): This is a great find near the house (just over the Rocky Hill Border on the Silas Deane). It was crowded (we sat at the counter) but there were plenty of choices (even for those who did not want potatoes or meat) and the food was served promptly. The Hash was a bit peppery but the potatoes (sliced rather than cubed and with onions) were wonderful. This is an easy repeat location.
• Pepper Pot: Location, location, location. This is right off the beautiful green in Southington. There is plenty of space and a good menu and the neighborhood to walk off the food afterwords. If you could transport the green and the restaurant to someplace closer it would be a favorite.
• Ken's Corner Breakfast and Lunch: This place is loaded with both variety and the ability to order a la carte. This has the best service in a restaurant that we have ever seen. These folks are phenome ally attentive to the elderly that come in alone; helping them sit, order and even open a sugar packet if needed. This is a family spot (either that or every waitress in Glastonbury has the same features) and it shows in how they respect and handle folks. Your coffee never hits bottom here and just about every breakfast junk food item is represented (kielbasa, Italian sausage, fresh fruit, and pumpkin pancakes). Unfortunately, the line is long and the wait can be difficult.
• O'Rourke's Diner: If only they were closer. O'Rourkes has been featured in Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network. For years I had friends tell me about this place. I even thought I knew where it was. Still, when we entered Middletown I was happy to see that the Local Fire Department was out making a boot collection so I slowed down, tossed in a couple of bucks and asked, only to see the diner right behind him (so much for being suave). We managed to get right in and grasp the thick, long menu. Pat immediately found items that she could warm up to; brown bread and beans are a common side in their tribute to Ireland. This was a special trip so we both ordered from the specialty items. Pat ordered a Mexican themed dish that included both brown bread and beans - a most English interpretation. I had the meat lover's dish that included Pancetta, Maple Bacon and Jalapeno Bacon as well as Irish Bangers. Thankfully I have no cholesterol screenings for a while. Everything was cooked excellently (Pat even said it was the best tea she has had). As we left there was a line of folks standing in the sun waiting to get in. This and the distance makes O'Rourkes only a mid-week, special occasion trip.

So there you have it, an obscure thing to do on vacation (finding breakfast restaurants) but fun none the less. Its the little things to do with your special friend that makes them special.

I thought I should mention that Stu, currently between semesters and without current employment, made only one of these breakfasts. Now that is a boy who can vacation!