From the New Haven pizza scene to West Hartford Center to shoreline seafood joints to historic taverns, the Connecticut restaurant industry seems to have it all. I was surprised to learn it is an 11 billion dollar industry.

I invite you to join me this Sunday for This Week in Connecticut as I talk with Scott Dolch of the Connecticut Restaurant Industry. He has some fascinating insight about the dining business and where it is going in 2024.  To illustrate the point he made about our state becoming more influential in the culinary world, the day after our taping, Scott posted a picture from Fort Lauderdale of a Frank Pepe’s, headquartered in New Haven.

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale I worked at a few restaurants there for a short time right after college. In all I worked at a half dozen restaurants in my life in my hometown of Norwood, Massachusetts, Boston, Worcester and on the Cape.  I did everything from a dishwasher to bus boy to waiter to host to bartender.  

Here are the restaurants where I worked along with a few photos complete with 80’s hair. All of the restaurants are long gone except for the totally awesome Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis, which you must visit.  More on that here: https://dennishouse.tv/2016/06/23/a-return-to-one-of-my-favorite-places/

I’ll see you Sunday morning at 10 on WTNH.

I’ll see you Sunday morning at 10 on WTNH for This Week in Connecticut.  

Ben White’s  Norwood

Franco’s Norwood

Legal Sea Foods, Boston and Worcester

The Lighthouse Inn, West Dennis

Anthony’s Cummaquid Inn, Yarmouth Port

Frankie & Johnny’s, Fort Lauderdale

The Waterfront, Fort Lauderdale

The Pillar House, Newton