NewHavenBIZ

n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | A u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 11 "We cut them open and stuff them like a sandwich," Cordido said. "You can build your own." Options for inside include Venezuelan specialties like carne mechada spiced beef, guasacaca avocado and cilantro salsa and queso de mano, a soft white cheese. A truly modern restaurant, Somos also offers tofu sofrito as a protein along with vegan cheese made from chickpeas. You can also get your arepas in a bowl with rice or salad. Another new restaurant that does much of its business through online ordering is Haven Hot Chicken on Whitney Avenue, a rousing success with lines forming outside many evenings for its spicy chicken "tendies" and southern- style sides. Dining outside You'd never know these days that the corner of Orange and Crown streets in Ninth Square was once home to a very slow traffic light where cars sat for what seemed like hours. Now that end of Orange is blocked off and home to a spacious outdoor dining area, aptly christened "Orange Street Promenade." Customers of restaurants including Life Bowls, Pho ai, Somos, Skappo and Skappo Merkato market can enjoy the space, which gets lively in the evening with salsa classes and other events. But the showpiece of outdoor dining in 2021 New Haven has to be the transformation of College Street between Chapel and Crown with a block-long stretch of outdoor seating. Each restaurant on the block has its own distinctive area — from the cozy groupings outside of Claire's Corner Copia to the stylish patterned chairs and bold red ashtrays on the tables outside of the Anchor cigar bar. Dining options range from upscale seafood at Pacifico and South Bay on one end to Elm City Social's cocktails and B-natural Kitchen's innovative grain bowls mid-block. Best of all, the scent of fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies was the length of the street from Insomnia Cookies. Less is more Call it the (relatively) senior shuffle: at moment you have to stuff the bills back into your wallet and root around for a card when the barista says "sorry, we're cashless." More and more cafes and restaurants downtown are holding on to "contactless" transactions even as other pandemic-era restrictions disappear. at means you'll be using a card for purchases as small as a cup of coffee or a single pastry. ose small transactions at trendy coffee shops also oen involve Square registers that display tips of 20% or more prominently on the screen so you are more likely to tap. Your barista gets more than some spare coins and you pay a bit more, so be ready for some sticker shock. You'll also be seeing less of other items downtown lately, like plastic straws, disposable cutlery and non-compostable packaging. Be prepared once again for that special frustration of a paper straw collapsing just as you finish up a cold drink. More is more It's long been frighteningly easy to edge into the triple digits on a bill eating out in New Haven with so many tempting options and upscale eateries. But quadruple digits? Yes, $1,000 for two. Plus tax. And it's BYOB. at eye-popping total comes courtesy of local celebrity chef Bun Lai, who announced his "Miya's Sustainable Sushi Masterclass" in July at $500 per person. For that price you get to "forage, harvest, and cook, all day and night with me," Lai said on Facebook. Your experience includes "weeds, invasive species, pestilent species, sustainable seafood, and wisdom," the announcement said. "Come hungry, leave enlightened." e class was scheduled to be held in Woodbridge on July 31 and camping was available for overnight guests. Although he closed Miya's at the end of last year, Lai continues to make headlines, most recently a May feature in the New York Times. e emergence of Brood X cicadas, early summer's celebrity insect, offered Lai an opportunity to promote foraging and sustainability along with his innovative cuisine. "[Lai] shaped sushi rice into a pizza and showered it with mozzarella and Parmesan. Just before it was done baking, he covered the top with cicadas, which provided a pepperoni-like crunch," according to the Times story. Other, smaller-scale splurges are on tap for evenings downtown, including artisanal ice cream at Arethusa on Chapel Street for $3.75 per scoop of sour cherry with chocolate chunks. Venture to Milkcra on Crown Street to pay $5.95 for a regular-sized cup of a mashup flavor like PB&J roasted banana. A decadent option aer a foraging feast could be a stop at the Devil's Diet dessert bar on Howe Street, next-door to Miya's shuttered brick-and-mortar restaurant. e layered treats incorporate ingredients like sesame paste, macha and fine chocolate — they also serve an indulgent brunch. n Last Modified Art Director 1" = 1" CT Commercial Lending Print Layout None Project Bleed Project # Document Name 21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M1_V2.indd 21-LBB-0045 Version # M1_V2 BB NB Colors In-Use Fonts and Linked Graphics Forma DJR Deck Regular DIN Condensed Light Cyan Magenta User Printer Output Date 7-15-2021 7:59 AM Becky Bowman None 7-15-2021 7:59 AM Mech Scale Mechd By: BB RTVd By: None M1_V2 For nearly 200 years, Liberty Bank has been behind companies that think big. We provide commercial loans, mortgages, and working capital lines of credit that can be tailored to meet your business's current needs and those in the future. Loans for $1,000,000 and up. Scan the QR code to call a Commercial Lending Officer today or visit liberty-bank.com/ct-commercial-lending to find a local lender. Loans, lines of credit, owner-occupied and investment mortgages up to $50 million. All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Seven-figure business loans for million-dollar ideas. Liberty Bank was part of a multi-bank fi nancing deal behind Goodwin University's acquisition of the University of Bridgeport in May 2021. CP26054_21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M1_V2.indd 1 CP26054_21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M1_V2.indd 1 7/16/21 5:05 PM 7/16/21 5:05 PM Diners outside Pacifico on College Street enjoy an al fresco dining area decorated with overflowing planters.

• Cover