Bufalina: Not Your Usual New Haven Pizza

“New Haven Style Pizza,” or “apizza,” is so much of a thing it has it’s own Wikipedia listing. For the record, I choose Modern Apizza when I’m back in New Haven.

During my recent summer trip to Connecticut I discovered a new pizza restaurant in Guilford that really stretched me outside of my pizza comfort zone in the most delectable way.

Bufalina Wood Fired Pizza on Boston Post Road is in a charming quintessentially old Connecticut building, with outdoor seating in season. The dining areas are rustic but comfortable.

You can bring your own wine. Bring your own wineglasses, too, if you don’t want to drink out of the plastic cups they are happy to provide.

The menu is limited, and changes seasonally. I just read their new fall menu with a tear in my eye. Where is that fabulous white pizza with fig and gorgonzola and bacon?  I guess if I make it back before the menu changes again I will have to try the “Zucca,” which is a pie with roasted autumn squash, sage oil, fontina and sausage. That sounds good, too.

My friend and I ordered two pies to share, and a salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. We had a few slices left over to take home for breakfast.

No matter how it changes, the Bufalina menu seems to offer something for the pizza traditonalist, something for the vegetarians and vegans, and something for the culinarily adventurous. For me, fig on a pizza was a pretty big leap, but fig with gorgonzola and bacon was too crazy not to try. When would I ever get another chance to taste something like that?

Now my question is, when can I have it again?

I will make sure to visit Bufalina the next time I’m in Connecticut.

Lucky Jack’s a Lucky Find

Lucky Jack’s a Lucky Find

Driving back to the hotel from the last gig of a ten-day working trip to Connecticut we needed a place to eat dinner. We wanted a celebratory meal since it would be our last night in Connecticut before we started making our way back to Florida.

But where does one go to eat at 9 pm on a Sunday night in Northeastern Connecticut?

We remembered there had been a restaurant right off exit 87 in Plainfield. In fact, in the time we had lived in the area there had been many restaurants there.

We were happy to find Lucky Jack’s in that spot. It turns out they had opened only three months prior. Although it was late and the restaurant was just about to close, we were welcomed in and seated graciously.

The décor is marvelous; luxurious brown leather chairs and a western theme understated enough not to be brash or tacky.

The menu is extensive, with something for every taste and diet.

The house salads were large, including a variety of greens and veggies. I didn’t think one could find a great salad in Plainfield, CT, but obviously I was wrong. The dressings were made in-house as well.

My entrée was a chicken dish with arugula, artichoke and sun-dried tomatoes. The flavor and presentation were exquisite.  My traveling partner had a steak, which was a special of the evening. He was equally impressed.

Although we traveled for sixteen days total, I had the best meal of the entire trip at Lucky Jack’s. The service was spectacular, the food was well-prepared, creative, high-quality and delicious. The very reasonable check was a nice bonus, too.

It seems that particular spot, right off 395 at exit 87, has not always been a lucky place to have a restaurant. I hope it will be lucky for Lucky Jack's! If you are in the area check out their website and give them a visit!