Nurturing my inner... plan b is plan a

You may think Plan B is always the second choice, but in this case, it was the first.  Lunch before some shopping.  Need to build up strength before hitting the ever exhausting mall.  Plan B Burger Bar, in Milford, CT.  It's actually the corner shop in a swankified, upscale, strip mall that also has stores like Banana Republic and Whole Foods.

Boy, was it cold that day. Tell you what.

Inside was a chalkboard with the specials and draft beers.  I like the way they took a lot of time to use different colors and fonts.  Quite artistic.

Would be fun to frame a chalkboard in your
house to advertise kitchen specials.

While we waited for our table, I noticed some unusual (for several reasons) artwork on the wall.  It was a characterized standing bull made from different colored faux animal fur.  And he was drinking a glass of red wine.  (Um, okay, why not.)  To each his own creativity.

Gotta give them points for odd use of
texture and unusual technique.

I seem to have an obsession with wall coverings and lights in restaurants.  (Nope, no explanation for this that I can find from investigating my childhood.)  This place had a steely grey tin ceiling and industrial, exposed bulb light and wire creations.  The theme was silver, grey and black for a back drop of neutrals and then a big pop of dark red for contrast on the walls.  I dug the restrained palate.  Colors were very deep and complementary to the surroundings.  Masculine, but inviting.


If you liked an industrial theme in your house,
these lights would be so cool for a kitchen!

 The three of us split the lobster "sliders," which really were a single lobster roll cut into three pieces.  A good tummy tantalizer.  The other two ordered full-sized burgers, which you tell your waiter your preference for one of two options: pink or no pink.  They use only superior quality, natural, never frozen, daily ground, in house beef.  (And maintain a sustainable disposition in general.)  I got the mini cheeseburgers.  We all ordered different starchy sides so we could try the tots, Parmesan fries and the sweet potatoes.  All delish.  My mini burgers were a big hit with my mom too, as she traded me some of her burger for one of mine.  This is not an unusual practice of ours.  Thank goodness I'm not possessive in nature.  (Though food does tend to bring out the selfish two year old in me. Mine, mine, MINE!!!)

Stack 'em up! A tower of baby burgers inside
a sea of tater tots. (Food can be poetry.)

If you have a mind, and a taste, for bourbon, they make boutique, small batches. Sounds like fun, if you're into that sort of stuff.  I've never had a glass of bourbon and probably would have just to try it if it hadn't been noon when we were dining.  (And if my mommy wasn't there to give me a hard time.  She does that.  Like I'm still 14.)

I think anything artisan made is amazing.  Shows true craftsmanship and care as long as people still hand down old traditions and care more about making a small amount of high quality product instead of giant vats of cheapy junk.  I raise my glass to you, the keepers of processes from days long ago!  (Though at the time, my glass was only filled with iced tea.)