Giant turkey legs are a faire tradition. The Shamrock Turkey Leg stand also offers turkey dinners, turkey sundaes, macaroni and cheese, and lemonade.
Mel’s Magical Meals delivers soups and stews served in a boule bread, as well as hand pies, scotch eggs and loaded fries. Master Tater specializes in baked potatoes with all the fixings, while The Pickle Place is the place for pickles, both dill and garlic half-sour. Mystic Meats features a delicious variety of jerkies, including beef, chicken, turkey, vegan and a few exotic options. Pierogi are the featured item at The Polish Kitchen, in addition to sausage and peppers, and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
The selection of dishes and drinks is suited to a variety of tastes, including affordable meal deal options, with traditional menu items such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken, fries and more. Another affordable option are “Royal Subs,” priced at $5 and $6, featuring options like steak and cheese, meatball and cheese, or chicken barbecue. The sub stand also will offer fried mozzarella sticks and pickle fries.
For sweet treats, visit Bear & Co. Bakery, Pirate Ice Cream, I Want Something Sweet, The Fudge Lady or Stella & Olivia’s Royal Kettle Korn.
Jester’s Bazaar features “penny” candy, including nostalgic selections.
The Roost is the place for beverages like Boba tea, hot and iced coffee, Dole Whip, and more. Buccaneers Cafe has soft serve ice cream as well as milkshakes and “mermaid” grog. The Half-Pint Pub features craft beer, local cider, fresh mead, sweet wine and more.
The faire will be on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 22.
DETAILS: Harwinton Fairgrounds, 150 Locust Road, Harwinton; robinhoodsfaire.com.
'Taste Train' includes Naugatuck eateries
Ditch the crowded highways. Take the train for a taste-bud adventure. The new “Connecticut Taste Train,” designed by students from the University of New Haven in partnership with the state’s Marketing and Tourism office, features independently owned restaurants within walking distance of train stations.
The trail is featured on an interactive Google Map and highlights diverse restaurants along the state’s rail line, including a stop at the Naugatuck station. Naugatuck culinary hot spots listed are Chiangmai Thai Restaurant, which is just a 0.3-mile walk; and Salvadoreños Restaurant, a half-mile walk. The menu at Chiangmai Thai features drunken noodles, iced teas and curry puffs. Salvadoreños specializes in home-style cooking from El Salvador and Central America.
Other towns on the map include Stamford, South Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Danbury, New Haven, Madison, Old Saybrook, New London, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin and Hartford.
DETAILS: Connecticut Taste Train, ctvisit.com/articles/ct-taste-train-cultural-eats-along-connecticuts-rail-line.
Patrotic treats at two Stew Leonard's
The “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” is cooking up fun for kids for Memorial Day. A Memorial Day workshop for children will take place today at two Stew Leonard’s locations: from 5 to 7 p.m. in Newington and 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Danbury.
The workshops for ages 6 to 12 will include decorating cupcakes and a craft. Participants will decorate six cupcakes, create a patriotic parfait and make a patriotic craft. Lemonade and water will be available. The event is a pop-in workshop.
The cost is $30 for the Newington workshop or $28.50 for the Danbury workshop.
A toddler version of the workshop is slated for Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Newington store. The workshop is designed for kids ages 2 to 5 who are accompanied by an adult. The tiny set can decorate four cupcakes, a patriotic fruit wand and make a patriotic craft during the pop-in workshop.