August 20th 2016: Running Around Massachusetts and Connecticut

I started out today in Auburn,

Town Hall,
104 Central Street

Checking out the Auburn Historical Society.

From here, I headed into Thompson CT,

House of Prayer

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Stump Pond, 188 Baker Road

Thompson Congregational Church

Thompson Historical Society

Town Common,
Thompson Road and Quaddick Road

Duck Pond, 87 Lambert Road

Creation Church

Acme Pond,
West Thompson Road and Riverside Drive

but the only place of note I visited today was in Putnam CT,

Putnam Congregational Church

Riverfront Commons,
215 Kennedy Drive

where I decided to have a meal at The Stomping Ground, a dive bar in town. Interesting decor to say the least.

I got the De Niro Pot Pie (chicken stewed with figs, cremini mushrooms and marsala wine topped with phyllo dough and shaved parmesan),

which was actually really good, because of the wine sauce and mushrooms.

Not feeling full though, I went to Nikki's Dog House nearby,

getting a Bacon and Cheese Dog

 and a Mushroom Burger.

Nothing special here though.

After lunch, I headed to the Rotary Park,

where I spotted the beautiful Cargill Falls

on the Quinebaug River, going under the Promfret Street Bridge.

From here, I went back to Massachusetts to pick my wife up before heading to Lexington, where we visited the Royal Pastry Shop, a small Italian bakery at 317 Marrett Road, where we got a Chocolate Cheesecake,

Alright I guess, nothing special.

We also stopped by next door to get a Black Tea Bubble Tea from Formosa Taipei, which were were at the last time we were in the area.

As it was Restaurant Week in Boston, dinner was at Grotto, a small Italian restaurant located in the basement in the downtown area.

As we both had to get the Restaurant Week menu, we got the Zuppa (Garlic soup, Black truffle, Parmesan, Bread crumbs),

and the Fonduta (Fontina cheese fondue, Beef tenderloin tips, Portobello mushrooms, Aged balsamic, Truffle oil)

for appetizers. The fondue was really delicious, especially because the mushrooms and steak were cooked so well, as was the soup, although it got a little intense after a while and I could not bring myself to finish it.

By the time our Anatra (Apple stuffed duck breast, Crispy leg, Prosciutto, Dried cherries, Potato gratin, Black truffle aioli, Madeira)

and Fra Diavolo (Butter poached lobster, Linguine, Spicy tomato sauce)

entrees arrived, we were too full to try much, although the duck meat was a little tough and the pasta was nothing special.

We still had space for dessert though, comprising the Panna Cotta (Lemon, Raspberry sauce, Crispy pizzelle cookie, Aged balsamic)

and the Mixed Berries (Zabaglione, Madeira, Simple Syrup).

Not too bad, but overall, probably not coming back again due to the failings in the entrees.