It’s been awhile since I’ve hopped on here. I’m still eating, don’t you worry. Between laziness and quarantine, it’s been hard to find my groove. But I’m back! I’m going to start this new thing where I recap my top 5 favorites from the month (in no particular order).

1. Terrain – Westport, CT
It’s taken me a bit of time to feel comfortable venturing out again. Terrain does a great job at outlining the steps they are taking to keep their customers safe. You will need a reservation to eat here, which you can easily make online via OpenTable. Upon sitting, you are given a paper bag to house your mask while you dine. Also, they have had all the lavender drinks for me to try!

Side note – quarantine has turned me into a crazy plant lady, so it’s pretty much a one stop shop here. You can shop for plants til you’re hungry, or shop after you’re full and in a daze (aka buy all the plants in the store).

2. Haruki Ramen & Izakaya – Norwalk, CT
Izakayas are hard to come by in this area. They opened their doors earlier this year, and I’ve finally had the chance to go. Needless to say, I’ve dined in 3x and gotten takeout once in the month of July. Some notable dishes – agedashi tofu, karaage (fried chicken), and takoyaki (octopus pancake balls). They have a good variety of dishes here and highlight the other sides of Japanese cuisine. If you are looking for sushi, sorry to say, but this isn’t the place for you.

3. Buttonwood Farms – Griswold, CT
If you know me well, you will know that I am an ice cream lover. I went with very summery flavors – peach and strawberry cheesecake. Their homemade waffle cone is one of the best I’ve had. This spot is easily top 5 on my list of ice cream shops. It is a blessing in disguise that they are located 1 hour and 45 minutes away from me.

I also loved the sunflower fields nearby. They were in 99% bloom when we visited. We missed the event by 2 days. Every year, at full bloom, Buttonwood Farms has a fundraiser called Sunflower for Wishes. There is a standard walking field to see the beautiful blooms, but also another field where visitors can cut sunflowers for $2/stem. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

4. Du’s Donuts – Brooklyn, NY
No, I did not venture out to another state. But thanks to The Corbin District, they’ve brought Brooklyn to us. Our pre-ordered box came with 2 coffee cakes, 2 blueberry crumbles, and 2 chocolate and lime donuts. The chocolate and lime was my favorite…I have a weakness for old-fashioned donuts.

5. Shanks – Clinton, CT
A summer season isn’t complete until I’ve had my fair share of fried clam strips from Shanks. Their clam strips and potato wedges never disappoints. Plus, with a view like that, there are no complaints here. They have outdoor seating and the staff carefully mark which tables have been cleaned so that we are stay safe during this weird time.