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As most of my
longtime friends will attest, I have never been known for
my culinary skills. I am able to give a talk to a group
of 300 without experiencing too many butterflies, but a
dinner party for eight would be the occasion for a breakdown.
As a result, we eat out quite often, and in order to be
able to do so, have devised ways to stretch our dining-out
dollar by frequenting buffets, going to lunch, rather than
a higher-priced dinner, and using early bird or coupon dinner
specials.
One of our favorite “go-to” places for excellent
food, warm atmosphere, extensive menu and very reasonable
prices is the Shoreline Diner and Vegetarian Enclave on
the Boston Post Road in Guilford.
Webster’s defines “enclave” as “a
group of people who are culturally, intellectually or socially
distinct from those surrounding them.” If a diner
can be called distinct or unique, Shoreline certainly qualifies.
Anything on the menu is available any time of day. The vegetarian
section of the menu is not only extensive, it is developed
with the help of a consultant, Mary Lawrence.
A wheat- and gluten-free menu will also soon be available.
Kerim Ayvaci, one of the partners, who is from Turkey, is
a graduate of a hotel and tourism school, as well as the
Parve French Culinary Institute in New York. He is the diner’s
pastry chef and baker, and arrives early in the day to make
the fresh bread and bagels daily. Kerim is also responsible
for the large selection of mouth-watering desserts. (Val’s
favorite is the baklava). Kerim and co-owner Nic Anthis
are also unique in background and outlook. Kerim came to
America from Kastamonu, Turkey, a town near the Black Sea.
He met Nic, who is of Greek heritage, when he worked for
Nic’s father at their family restaurant.
Although Nic started out as an electrical engineer, he
and his father opened a restaurant in Fairfield. But when
the former owner of the Guilford diner passed away, Nic
and Kerim teamed up, and along with Nic’s sister,
Georgette, who is also a partner, bought the diner and brought
in new and innovative ideas.
I am always impressed by the friendly, helpful wait staff,
and the small but important touches, like beautiful orchid
plants, a fresh flower at each table, a selection of herbal
as well as regular teas, and freshly squeezed orange and
grapefruit juice.
The partners are fanatics when it comes to cleanliness
and using healthful food sources. The handy take-home bags
are reuseable and biodegradable. There is a new cocktail
menu, which features a variety of house wines, and Nic tells
me their lattes are “amazing.”
New this year are some outdoor tables, or if you live within
a 5-mile radius, you may have your dinner delivered right
to your doorstep.
The Shoreline Diner at 345 Boston Post Road is off Exit
59 from Interstate 95 and is worth a special trip from other
areas of Connecticut. It remains our favorite, “Don’t
have to plan ahead, let’s eat out place” on
the Shoreline.
For more information, go to www.shorelinediner.comwww.shorelinediner.com
or call (203) 458-7380.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
