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The Making of a Chef

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The Making of a Chef

Tag Archives: Potatoes

The Harvest Cafe and Bakery

08 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by A Budding Chef in Cafes/Bakeries

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Brunch, Connecticut, Dining Out, Eggs, Food, Food Photography, local eats, Pictures, Potatoes, Sausage, Simsbury

Harvest Cafe & Bakery
1380 Hopemeadow Street
Simsbury, CT, 06070
(860) 658-5000

Lately, I’ve been a later riser of sorts on the weekends. As such, breakfast is long past by the time I head upstairs to start the day. This was not the case Sunday morning when mum asked Sydney and I to join her and our grandfather for brunch. “Brunch? What’s that?” I remember jesting. But all jesting aside, we would be meeting them for brunch at the Harvest Cafe & Bakery. According to mum, it was well worth the wait. But before I tried the food and on the drive over, I had scoffed to myself. Surely no place here in Connecticut would be so popular that there would be an hour wait.

Oh how wrong I was.

When we arrived, a little after 10, this place was absolutely bustling. 

We stood just inside the entrance, trying to ward off the chill of the late February morning. The door opened a multitude of times as people came and went. Most people who came after we did only stopped in to get a pastry from the case right next to the door. Some who stopped in were with first timers, bits of their conversation going as such:

“Is it always this busy?”

“Yes and the food makes the wait worth it.”

I was rather skeptical about it. I could still be home sleeping, but here I was a half hour away from home, my stomach growling ferociously while I waited. After some time, my sister, Grandfather and I were joined by mum who had been running a little late. Shortly after she arrived, and just as my patience began to wear thin, we were seated.

Though the dining room was busy, it was still cozy. Along the back wall was a counter where you could sit, drink a cup of your drink of choice and people watch if you so pleased. There were tables lining the enormous picture windows that made up most of the exterior wall. Just imagine that… sitting at one of those tables on say… a snowy morning and just watching the snow fall while drinking a cup of fresh coffee and eating your breakfast. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Though I hadn’t eaten the food just yet, I began to think from the way the dining room smelled that perhaps my skepticism was unfounded. We were seated at a table that was a handful of steps from the entrance to the dining room and it wasn’t long before our server came over to start us off with some drinks.

After ordering a water, I perused the menu. My stomach had long since given up on growling and now I just felt that hollow pang, made all the worst by the aroma in the dining room.

What to get?

The menu was on the larger side, it abundant with both breakfast and lunchtime fare.

I was torn as to what I should get. Though I liked the fact I could make my own omelet, the breakfast burritos sounded just as good. When I finally tore myself from them, it was the thought of waffles or pancakes that sounded just as good. How could I try everything without it costing an absolute fortune, though?

Finally, I saw it and I couldn’t believe that I had missed it to begin with.

“The Hungry Harvest: 3 eggs*any style, double order of  breakfast meat, homefries, and choice of toast OR one French toast OR one Pancake.”

Sydney had the same idea I did, except where I went for breakfast sausage and a pancake on the side, she went after bacon and some French toast. Mum and my grandfather both went with their favourites, the names of which evade me now.

While we sat and waited for our food, I continued to take in the Cafe. Overall, I was impressed so far and I could see why mum had been telling us about it for ages. The environment was great and the coffee must have been amazing because mum was working on her third cup just as our food arrived.

I stared down at my plate and it was all I could do to get a picture of the food before I tucked in (pancake not included):

20130304-131632.jpg

I doubt the aroma from the sausage had even hit my nose before I was tucking into the food. Though the eggs were a bit on the bland side, salt and pepper were a quick fix and they were fine, better than the eggs I end up making half the time, even. The potatoes reminded me of mum’s. I smothered them in ketchup and enjoyed them to the very last bite. But truly, my favourite part of the whole meal was tied between the breakfast sausage and the pancake. The pancake (unfortunately not pictured) was enormous and lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. Unlike my pancakes, each bite was fluffy, airy and simply perfect. There was no need for butter or syrup on it and if I wasn’t so full, I’d have liked to order another. The sausage was definitely not box stuff. It was fresh, delicious, savoury. The whole meal made me question my breakfast choices in earnest. Why spend $10 at Dunkin Donuts when for the same price I could get better, more delicious food and be in a wonderful environment?

Now the million dollar question: will I go back?

Absolutely. Maybe even this weekend.

Thanksgiving from the Nonchef’s Point Of View

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Meals

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Food, green bean casserole, Holidays, Meals, Potatoes, Stories, Stuffing, Thanksgiving Dinner, Turkey

Again, Thanksgiving has come and gone.
Continue reading →

Comfort Food: Bisquick Chicken

16 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Dinner, Food Critiques, Meals, Pictures, Recipe Thoughts, Recipes

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Baking, Bisquick Chicken, Chicken, Chicken Recipe, Comfort Food, Comfort Food Recipe, Cooking, Food, Food Photography, Homecooking, How To's, Personal Posts, Photography, Potatoes, Prep Work, recipe

During the vlog this week, I mentioned nostalgia brought on by tasting food. The movie I was referencing was Ratatouille. For those of you who don’t know what the premise of the movie is, it’s that anybody can cook, even if you are a mouse. It follows the narrator, Remy through his journey from the Parisian countryside to ending up in the heart of Paris at the restaurant Gusteau. The scene I was referencing comes toward the end, where this critic Anton Ego is coming to the restaurant and they bring him out a plate of ratatouille. He studies it almost sceptically and then takes a bite. The next thing that happens is that we are taken to a glimpse of his childhood. He’s standing in the kitchen looking like he’s just been beaten up. The scene cuts to the young Ego sitting at the table, his mum handing him a bowl of what looks like ratatouille and he tucking in, a smile forming on his lips before we’re taken back to present day. Continue reading →

Giving The Queen A Run For Her Money

18 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Dessert, Dinner, Food Critiques, Meals, Pictures, Restaurants

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broccoli, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Cherry Dipped, Coffee Heath, Cupcakes, Dining Out, Food, Frozen Yoghurt, Ganache, Garlic Bread, Grilling, Ice Cream, Ice Cream Cake, Italian, Mum's cooking, My birthday, Potatoes, Ravioli, Steak, Stonewall Kitchen, Stuffed Shells

Thursday through tonight has been a celebration of my birthday. It was supposed to end last night with Stuffed Shells and family time with Mum, Dad, and my 2 sisters, but things got crazy: I had work, dad worked, and my sisters weren’t really home. Continue reading →

Eggs Along the Way

19 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Breakfast, Food Critiques, Meals, Pictures

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Bacon, breakfast, Breakfast Burrito, Bunch, Burritos, Chef Things, Cooking, Egg Scramble, Eggs, Food, Fried Eggs, Green Peppers, Ham, how to make eggs, Omelet, Potatoes, Red Peppers, scrambled eggs

I forget how this endeavour to perfect eggs began. I think Josh may have mentioned something to me, some months ago about how to be a chef, you have to know how to make eggs, and not just scrambled either. Even at that point, however, I could make scrambled eggs, just without the pretty display. It was, however, every other type of eggs that I could not make and was rather disheartening.
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Prepping for Dinner: Pork Chops and Potato Pancakes

16 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Dinner, Meals, Pictures

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Chef Things, Cooking, Dinner, Espresso Rub, Food, Ingredients, Meat, Pork, Pork Chops, Potatoes, Prep Work, Russet Potatoes

After work, I did myself a favour and did some prep work for dinner tomorrow.  Continue reading →

Thursday Dinner at My Gran’s House: Ah Grilling Season

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Dinner, Food Critiques, Meals, Pictures

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broccoli, Broccoli and cheese, Caesar Dressing, Cooking, Dinner, Food, Grilling, House dressing, house salad, Italian Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, nicoise salad, Onions, Photography, Potatoes, Salad, salad dressing, Steak, Vegetables

Do you know what it’s like to have to bake a steak in the oven?  Continue reading →

The Belated Easter Post

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Meals, Pictures

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Beans, breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Chef Things, Chinese Food, Dining Out, Dinner, Easter, Eggs, Food, Ham, Homecooking, Personal Posts, Potatoes, Rice, Sausage, Tomatoes

This year, we did Easter brunch instead of Easter dinner.  Continue reading →

Out On The Town: Nat Hayden’s Deep Pit BBQ

05 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Dinner, Food Critiques, Meals, Pictures, Restaurants

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BBQ, Brisket, conversations, Corn Bread, Dining Out, Dinner, Food, Homecooking, Mac & Cheese, Out To Dinner, Personal Posts, Pork, Potatoes, Restaurants

There’s nothing like a plate of BBQ on a nice spring day.  Continue reading →

A Day In The Life Of A Foodie

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by A Budding Chef in Anecdotes, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Meals, Pictures, Restaurants

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breakfast, Cheese, Chef Things, Chicken Rice, Dining Out, Food, Homecooking, Pizza, Potatoes, Salad, Sunday Dinner, Wine

Today was an interesting day, food wise.  Continue reading →

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Who Am I?


Steffanni Daddario. Aspiring, budding chef. Some people are born to go into mathematics, science, interior design. Whatever. I was born to cook.

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