My 7 Favorite Restaurants near Newtown: #6

There are certain things in this world I would rather not see or hear — one being, Jeremiah from Caraluzzi's. It’s harsh, but I can be as harsh as I want with an audience of fewer than 50 people. I, for one, enjoy going to the grocery store due to the fact eggplants and canned artichokes give me a sense of consolation. This is not the case when Jeremiah is involved. I completely commend his energy to sprint towards the deli department just to pick up sliced ham for Jim as Jim mistakenly picked up prosciutto by mistake. That said, returning with gleaming sweat droplets upon his too unnaturally perfect waxed eyebrows, handing the ham to Jim while panting, is too much for me. Jeremiah isn’t the sole deterrent regarding my displeasure in the Caraluzzi’s brand.

Caraluzzi's prices are painstakingly high. Around a week ago I was making pho from scratch. Usually, I would go to TBS Asian Food on White Street in Danbury but time restrictions prompted otherwise. I needed beef bones. So I approached the butcher and like any other young adult, politely asked, “Hey, Mr.Butcher sir, do you sell beef bones?”. After an uncomfortably long gaze straight into my eyes, Mr. Butcher responded, “For your dog to eat?” Slightly annoyed at the snark tone of Mr. Butcher, I proudly made it clear I would be enjoying the beef bones in that of a Vietnamese beef pho broth. Mr. Butcher did not like this. His displeasure in me being an elitist asshole showed in the price, two beef bones for $6.

I’m sure the few reading this have had similar undergoings. That is why #6 on my best restaurants near Newtown list is a compilation of rival markets. I know, it doesn’t necessarily align to the title of this blog post, but more than half of the markets offer some form of a takeaway option. These are markets in which value for individual products is astronomically affordable, to the extent of questionability coming into play. I assure you, most, if not all products, are appropriately handled. I hope those reading can use this as a jumping off point for further gastronomic enlightenment as I have.

TBS Asian Food:

290 White St Ste 4, Danbury, CT 06810

Mon - Sun 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Finding an Asian market devoid of smelling like rotting fish or cut durian is arduous. TBS Asian food almost fits the mold, and that’s good enough. If you’re looking for some form of amusement, walk straight upon entry and open the fridge on the right. Frozen bugs, such as four to five-inch water bugs, legs still attached, or perhaps the more appealing silkworm if you’re lucky, should be right in front of you. Don’t feel afraid to be the uncouth white person you are, ask questions. The ladies behind the counter are more than friendly and are already well aware you’re an uncouth white person. Vietnamese instant coffee, practically Trung Nyguyen, should be avoided like any other form of packaged instant coffee. I made such a mistake of purchasing the Trung Nyguyen XL pack which carries 100 bags. Don’t do that. Instead, if for whatever reason you can’t hold back your temptation to purchase, keep only ten packs or so and re-gift to your Uncle for Christmas! That’s what I did, and you should have seen the expression on his face! If you have a stable immune system, I would recommend the spring rolls in the fridge next to the checkout counter. TBS Asian Food won over my heart this New Years. My father went in to buy bean sprouts and lo and behold complementary calendars were right in front of his face. I can’t confirm that’s still the case now, but just in case you were wondering what the TBS Asian Food calendar looks like, well, here you go.

Danbury Food and Spice

39 Pandanaram Road RT37, Danbury, CT

I actually found this market due to the Newtown Arts Festival. Unlike the fried Oreos and gypsy made venison stew their competitors featured, I remember being impressed by their lamb vindaloo. It was above 80 degrees so I can’t say I shared the same emotions for my lukewarm liquid pureed mango yogurt. Danbury Food and Spice is significantly close to Pho Vietnam. I’m not sure whether that’s a good or bad thing, it just is. Pickled limes, romantic incense, basil drink, Sri Lankan eggplant, a potpourri of haphazardness yet all deniably Indian (let’s just ignore Sri Lankan eggplant). What I find to be the case with each of these markets is regardless of a language barrier, interaction between the customer and worker is genuine. Conversations not forced in any way, detailing the origin of a particular item or how to cook an item accurately, is just rudimentary and it’s refreshing. I go into Caraluzzi's three to four times a week. Jeremiah and his ever-revolving staff of minions still approach me cautiously. My long hair and thrifted clothing almost prompt this feeling of treated peasantry. At Danbury Food and Spice I’m a star. I feel like Bappi Lahiri. I just threw the Bappi Lahiri reference in to boast about how cultured I am. But when I walk into Danbury Food and Spice they usually make eye contact, sometimes if lucky, it’s followed by “Hello boss!”. The only thing better than public acknowledgment is Danbury Food and Spice chili naan. The menu isn’t extensive, but it holds up.

Brazilian Market Danbury

290 White St

Danbury, Connecticut 06810

Conveniently located in the same plaza of TBS Asian food as well as the neighboring laundromat, cash for gold shop, piercing/tattoo studio, lays Brazilian Market. Before you get overly emotional regarding the creative name of Brazilian Market, I must come forth with a confession. I was poisoned at Brazilian Market. Now maybe the sausage I purchase needed at least twenty minutes of cooking time and reluctantly I did half of that. I guess it was more of personal failure but for good measure don’t buy their sausage. After getting that out of the way, everything else is completely sanitary. Their fresh produce “department” isn’t as ample as the previous two markets, but nonetheless, it doesn’t need to be. A copious display of fridges cheeses, canned items are prolific, Brazilian Market excels where others don’t. Brazilian market not only has soccer accessories but when looking for pictures upon their Facebook page, it came clear to me every Easter the Easter Bunny visits. Now, this might seem somewhat out of context but if you’re looking for a fun time with the kids on Easter Sunday just look at this picture below.