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Have you been?

Have you ever tried it? What’s it like? Fill me in!

I confess: I am a MAJOR Mexican food junkie. (No surprise to those of you who followed my last blog.) I’m still working my way through the most-recommended Mexican food restaurants in the state – Monte Alban’s next – but those places aren’t really practical for on-the-go eating.

You know what IS practical? Chipotle. And it’s delicious. It’s like eating a football. A warm, chewy, gooey, meat-filled football. Unfortunately, the closest one’s in Providence.

But wait: an epiphany, thanks to Channel 3 photographer and future Eyewitness News guest blogger Mike K. We’re in New Haven, about to drive back to Rocky Hill, when I mention I need to grab some dinner. We’re on the green, sort of near Bruegger’s, and I thought I’d run in for a bagel. That’s when Mike blew my mind.

“Have you ever been to the Whole Enchilada?”

One mango-chicken-salsa-heaven-rice-guac combo later, and I vowed my burrito allegiance. You know what I liked about the place? It’s totally unassuming. Small storefront, little window, dinky sign. I’d have walked right by if I didn’t know where to go.

Is your mouth watering yet?

While the ambience ain’t anything to write home about, it’s fine for chowing down and moving on. The price seemed fair, too.

Now, I should point out that apparently there is a whole other Whole Enchilada chain. Never been there, and I’m not sure if there’s a connection between the two. It’s on my list, so hopefully I’ll get to one of the other WEs soon. 

So for now, Whole Enchilada in New Haven – you’ve officially been Chews’ed!

Happy eating, and keep the comments coming

Touché. I’d rather have a sandwich than a slice of pizza, and sometimes it’s hard to say no to a five-dollar footlong. Still, I’m always looking for to-die-for delis. I have foodtopian dreams about juicy, well-made hoagies created with quality ingredients on thick, tasty bread.

Yes, I realize they’re called “grinders,” but don’t ask a Philly girl to break her hoagie habit.

(True story: I once called a sandwich shop and asked if I could get a turkey hoagie. The lady put me on hold, then came back. “Sorry, we don’t have any hoagies. But we can make  you a turkey sub if you want?” Long pause. Me: “Yes please.”)

So about a month or so ago, my photographer and I get sent to a bank robbery in New Britain, at the credit union on Curtis Street.  We show up first on the scene, so you can imagine the investigation’s in full swing when we arrive.  We talk to witnesses, get information from police, interview anyone we can. When things die down a little, we realize we should seize the opportunity to grab a quick bite. But where? In a situation like this, we can’t leave the area.

Luckily, we happen to be parked in the lot of this little market. I figure, hey, let’s go check it out. At the very least, I could get a water and some trail mix.

Right place at the right time.

We walk in. I gasp. Everywhere: Italian food. Pastries. Meats. Olives. Cheeses. Oils. Paradiso!

I walk up to the deli counter and ponder my options for a solid four minutes. I finally decide on an old-fashioned Italian hoagie (how could I not?) While the guys behind the counter work their magic, I circle the store. I wanted to eat everything. If I’d been on my way home (or had access to a refrigerator,) I would have bought some mozzarella. I’m a sucker for a good caprese salad.

I’m happy to report that my hoagie did not disappoint. It was delicious, and my photographer Melissa S. loved hers, too. I don’t remember exactly how much it cost, but I do remember it seemed very reasonable given the size. I can’t wait to get back there again.

So – Angelo’s Market, on West Main Street in New Britain – you’ve officially been Eyewitness Chews’d!

Thanks for the good eats. See you all in a day or two

Every night, I’m crisscrossing Connecticut with a photographer, chasing leads and hunting down stories. We stop to grab a bite to eat at some point. Usually, it’s a turkey sandwich in the car. Sometimes, it’s beef jerky and a Diet Coke. Very occasionally, an actual table is involved.

Thing is, the impromptu dinner break’s one of the unintended perks of my job. I get to sample food from all over the state. We stop at pizza joints, hole-in-the-wall taco stands, and gas stations that serve great grinders.

I want to share my food experiences with you, and I want you to share yours with me. That’s “Eyewitness Chews.”

One warning: you won’t find any white tablecloths here. When we’re on the road, we don’t have time for fancy sit-down restaurants – that’s why I want you to send me your suggestions for great fast food that’s not “fast-food.” You know your town’s dining selection much better than our GPS does. Whether it’s the undiscovered newcomer or the longtime standby, I want to hear about it!

I love food. I bet you do, too. I love talking about food. I hope you do, too. This blog, at best, will be a conversation about your favorite places to eat. At worst, it’ll be a great motivator for my New Year’s Eve 2011 Diet Plan.

So get ready to join me in my quest for tasty delights. I’ll be snapping photos and emailing updates with my Palm, so forgive any blurriness or typos. I’ll also let you know via Facebook when I post something new. Can’t wait for this brand-new adventure! I think it’ll be delicious.

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Thanks to promo producer Andy L. for coming up with the name of this blog. It’s so bad, it’s good. Kind of like Taco Bell, “Hannah Montana” and any song by Duran Duran.

[For the curious, here’s a sampling of rejected blog titles:

“3 Eats,” my idea (too boring)
“Dinner Dates,” a Dennis House original (slightly formal)
“Hungry Hallie Hits the Road,” submitted by Dan Kain (do I even need to explain?) 

I’d also like to send a shout-out to Dan Kain for his list of six other possible blog titles, few of which are re-printable here.]