Tuesday, July 31, 2012

New Haven, CT

Home to the prominent Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut is a neatly unique town to visit, inclusive of good food, good shopping, and of course, New Haven style pizza.
Yale University
When my husband and I are driving up from DC to Boston, or Newport, or Maine, New Haven makes for the perfect stop to rest our heads for the night. It's conveniently located just off I-95 and has certain hot spots that we cannot seem to go without.  For example, Pepe's Pizza.  This is New Haven pizza at its best.  Don't be foiled by the line out the door because the restaurant's concept gives it the convenience of a quick turnover, so you shouldn't have to wait more than ten to twenty minutes to get seated.


The classic New Haven menu item is the Clam pizza. It's uniquely delicious and a real local fare.  The base is a white pizza topped with cheese, garlic, and of course the main star of the dish - New England clams!
Clam Pizza
We are real suckers for the classic Tomato pie.  Our first introduction to this splendor was at Pepe's and we have been trying our best to recreate this masterpiece at home ever since.  It's back to basics - pizza dough, tomato sauce, and grated Parmesan cheese.  Simple, easy, but not at all boring to the taste.
Tomato Pie
Adam Richman, of Man v. Food, swears by Modern for pizza, and one day I would like to give it a try because I'm sure it is also a classic New Haven delight, but when we just have time to squeeze in one seating, we have a hard time straying from Pepe's...


New Haven, CT is also home to the original J.Press clothiers.  With only four physical stores along the east coast - New Haven, Boston, New York, and of course my beloved Washington, DC - stepping into a J.Press bricks and mortar can always be a treat.  The original New Haven store may not be as spiffy as the newer ones, but cut it some slack since it dates back to 1902!

262 York Street, New Haven, CT