Thank You!

A Couple in the Kitchen had a couple of successes this week, and we wanted to express our gratitude. First, our dessert photos from CT Restaurant Week at Market Grille in Manchester, CT won the CT Restaurant Association Photo Contest. Then, thanks to our readers, family, and friends, our recipe for Curried Mussels with Lemongrass won Whole Foods Market's "Your Best Recipe with Lemongrass" contest, and they will be featuring a   Q and A with us starting Monday morning, so check it out if you get a chance. We have to say that we love the photo they took of our recipe. So, thanks to everyone who voted, all of our readers, CT Restaurant Association, and Whole Foods. You made our week!

CT Restaurant Week 2013: Market Grille

Are you aware that it's Connecticut Restaurant Week 2013? You must not be if you live in Connecticut and you are at home reading this! Yes, there are over 100 restaurants throughout the state participating in this awesome promotion. Most restaurants are offering 3-course meals (some lunch, some dinner) for the steal-of-a-deal price of $20.13 (some charge a little more). Yes, you are reading that correctly. If you click on the link above, you can see a list of participating restaurants with links to their special menus, and they will make you drool! So get out there, enjoy a girls' night or a date night, or heck, treat yourself to an amazing experience and support Connecticut's restaurant businesses! 

The two of us had a nice date night at Market Grille in Manchester. The philosophy behind this restaurant is all-American, from the creative cuisine to the extensive beer, wine and spirit offerings. The location is perfect for this time of year, too, as the restaurant sits atop Buckland Hill with a beautiful view of the surrounding woods (foliage!) with the Hartford skyline (and sunset!) in the distance. So romantic! It's still warm, so take advantage of their outside seating area, which is heated for those upcoming chillier nights.

Chris enjoyed the beautiful heirloom beet salad, slow-roasted pork osso bucco that was served with a roasted tomato and zucchini risotto, and a slice of pecan pie. Amy loved her cheesy baked penne appetizer that she followed up with the grilled hangar steak with sides of roasted carrots and a delicious root vegetable puree (although to have both seemed a little redundant), and a chocolate peanut butter sundae made with Manchester's own Shady Glen ice cream. An added bonus? They had a small selection of wines available at a special $25 per bottle!

We're hoping our exuberance and photos will encourage you to head there or to your favorite CT spot. Restaurant Week ends Sunday, so get out there and enjoy!