Back from St. Pete and straight into a whirlwind week: packing boxes, signing papers, and eating our way through the bittersweet goodbye to our family home of 23 years. With big emotions comes big comfort food, from cozy diners and new Fairfield finds to a riverside Italian feast that stole the show.
Leaving Home, Finding Flavor
This was a week off from work, but hardly restful. We’re officially moving out of the home we’ve loved for 23 years. It’s bittersweet—filled with memories and heavy lifting. In the midst of it all, food was our soft landing.
Early in the Week: Comfort Comes First
We kicked things off with Vazzy’s Osteria in Monroe, a longtime comfort spot. I went for a classic Chicken Parmesan—crispy, cheesy, saucy. The kind of meal that gives you a hug when you need one.
In Fairfield, I stopped into Little Pub for an early dinner of filet mignon steak tips served with mashed potatoes and sautéed veggies. Hearty and satisfying, just what moving week called for.
Vazzy’s Osteria ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Little Pub in Fairfield ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Midweek: Flavor Adventures
Dinner at Puerto Vallarta in Fairfield was a highlight. I had the Birria de Taco—slow-braised beef with fresh guacamole that had a bold, spicy kick. Their homemade chips are the real deal, and of course, I had to pair it with a classic margarita. Around the table, we sampled the taco salad and taquitos lindos—fresh, flavorful, and filling.
A quick trip back to Sandy Hook Diner for what may be my last breakfast there. The classic combo: scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and a short stack of pancakes. It hit different, knowing it might be the final time.
Puerto Vallarta ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sandy Hook Diner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dining All’Aperto: A Night to Remember
Dinner at Arezzo in Westport was the standout this week. We sat outside by the river—the breeze was cool, the vibe was perfect. The Calamari e Zucchine Fritti was light and crisp. I ordered the Bistecca, a large NY Strip cooked perfectly medium rare—not a Tuscan bistecca but still top-tier.
My daughter ordered the Cavatelli ai Piselli, made with pea-flavored ricotta pasta and a sweet-and-spicy sausage ragù. I had order envy. The Orecchiette con Salsiccia e Broccoli is now on my list for next time.
To drink: a Black Manhattan (made with Averna) and a glass of Franco Amoroso Barolo. We ended with a rich Ricotta Cheesecake and a luscious Tiramisu, dusted with gianduja chocolate. A perfect night.
Arezzo Ristorante and Bar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Franco Amoroso Wine – Barolo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wrapping the Week: Casual & Coastal
Later in the week I circled back to Little Pub in Fairfield. This time I ordered “The Birds and the Bees” sandwich—blackened chicken, bacon, pepper jack, and honey Dijon on a roll. Fries and a Sloop Juice Bomb IPA on the side. Perfectly casual.
We drove around Milford and stopped by Fire Engine Pizza Co. I had the Margherita pizza and really enjoyed the crust. The location was great too—a converted firehouse by the beach with lots of character and coastal charm.
Then we capped off the day with an early dinner at one of our favorite spots, Testo’s. We celebrated a friends birthday with great food and wine. I ordered the Testo’s Lasagna, talk about comfort food. The enormous proportion along with the great tastes makes it an easy go to each time. The Italian Gentlemen cocktail was a great starter along with the Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico (Gran Selezione Gold) to go with dinner. Perfetto!
Fire Engine Pizza Co. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sloop Brewing Company ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Testo’s Monroe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico (Gran Selezione Gold) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This should be one of the last weeks were eating out was something that was done EVERYDAY. Not by choice, packing up the home and moving makes cooking dinner at home very hard. Now that we are settled some good home cooking will be next!