Today we’re exploring all things “Made in Connecticut”.  Of course, this area is close to my heart since I was born and raised here. However, you would be surprised to find out that there are a lot of things that Connecticut is known for. That is both locally and around the globe. Let’s start with the things made in Connecticut in New Haven, Connecticut.

New Haven

New Haven Style Apizza

Pepe’s Pizza

Pepe’s Pizza is one of the pioneers for the New Haven style apizza (ah-beetz).  This is the area of Connecticut referred to as the “Pizza capital of the United States” by the U.S. Congressional Board. Pepe’s Pizza has been made in Connecticut since 1925. It was started by an Italian immigrant from Naples, Italy, named Frank Pepe.

The pizza is unique in that it is made with a fermented dough that is much richer than regular pizza dough. It is also still cooked in a coal oven to this day. That means it’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It’s very unique indeed.

Hamburger

Louis’ Lunch

Who’s to say where the first hamburger really came from. Louis’ Lunch believes the title belongs to them. The Library of Congress in the United States backs them up on their claim. Louis’ Lunch has been serving hamburgers, ground beef patties, in between sliced bread, since 1895.

They are not fancy and do not believe in condiments. Expect a simple burger cooked on a grill (below, far right side of photo) that is ancient. The whole place has a medieval feel to it and is definitely a must see if you visit New Haven.

Bridgeport

Connecticut Lobster Roll

BRYAC

When it comes to lobster rolls, there are two different kinds. The Maine lobster roll is served cold and uses mayonnaise. The made in Connecticut version is served warm and the lobster meat is tossed in warm butter. I may be biased, but that’s the one I prefer. Who wants a cold lobster roll!? Check out BRYAC for some of the tastiest lobster rolls around. They are located in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Subway Restaurant

This would not be a made in Connecticut food tour without mentioning Subway restaurant. Subway is known worldwide as one of the most popular submarine sandwich makers.

Subway was founded in 1965 by Fred Deluca and originally known as Pete’s Super Submarine Sandwiches. The headquarters are currently located in Milford, Connecticut. However, the first Subway location was located on the corner of East Main Street and Boston Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The location is no longer a Subway restaurant. Though, it was for many years. It’s a shame they didn’t keep it and make it into a museum or something, as my mom wishes. Especially since it was the very first one out of all the Subways in the whole world. See a picture of the original storefront here. Then compare it with how the location looks today (below).

There are so many other made in Connecticut food places that I did not mention. Others include the Pez Candy Factory, Bigelow Tea and Pepperidge Farm. Maybe we’ll talk about those in a future post. What is your home state or country known for? Let me know in the comments.