Carmen Anthony

I'm in Avon, CT right now. MDA is paying our prime contractor to pay a company in Simsbury (about 5 miles up the road) to develop a safety system for us. I like to describe it as "strapping explosives on a giant explosive to keep it from exploding." I'm up here for some testing (of explosives). This is my fourth visit to Connecticut - January for System Requirements Review, March to develop a test plan, April for testing, and now. Except for the SRR, it's been just me, so I've explored a little: looked for places to eat, driven through some neighborhoods, scared yankees by exaggerating my Southern twang. Tonight, I ate at a place at the recommendation of my boss, who did not make the trip, but suggested the location when I called this afternoon with my EXSUM (long story, maybe later).

The place, as you might have guessed, is called Carmen Anthony. It advertises itself as a Steakhouse and Fishhouse. It is kind of cuisine (instead of just plain food), but it was delicious. I debated what to get. They had a three course special with choices of Cheeseburger Soup or something, 6oz filet (steak) or grilled Mahi (fish), and three choices for dessert, two of which slip my mind. I got the Cheeseburger Soup, Mahi, and Bananas Foster Creme Brule (which is why I can remember that appetizer and dessert). The soup, when delivered, smelled just like a greasey cheeseburger. It was excellent, and not greasey at all. It had tiny pieces of ground beef in a mostly cheesey soup. Mahi is a firm white fish, and it was well prepared. It came with a mango salsa, Basmati rice, and two sauces. The mango salsa was good, not great, not its own and the sauces didn't seem to go with the fish. One of them was almost a Granny Smith apple flavor that didn't suit the fish (it was good with the bread and the rice, though). I liked the fish by itself, but the mango salsa was a nice balance. For dessert, there was a chocolate no-flour something that sounded good, but I wanted to try the creme brule. I like Bananas Foster, but, honestly, I'd rather have banana pudding. By the time I got dessert, I'd forgotten the flavor of the creme brule, and it took me a few bites to place what it was. I enjoyed dessert, and the entire meal was top notch. I overtipped, and the entire meal was still $40 (which isn't bad for three courses at a restaurant that's trying to be gourmet).

In case you're wondering why I'm so forgetful, it's because I woke up at 4:30 this morning to catch my flight. Stupid terrorists, making me get to the airport an hour before my flight. But now, I'm going to sleep.

Happy birthday, Sheena.

More eventually.