CondeNast Traveler recently spotlighted MYSTIC, Connecticut one of 7 small towns in America that are Secret Food Destinations: the places to go for a food-fueled getaway, for travelers who plan their itineraries based on their taste buds.

According to the magazine:

Mystic Pizza has long been a hotspot since the titular 1988 rom-com, but the town is so much more than that. “Mystic is an eccentric amalgamation of chefs and purveyors with innovative approaches to using the best products in the region and a commitment to sustainability,” Whaler’s Inn and Shipwright’s Daughter restaurants president Amanda Arling says. She adds that sugar kelp harvesting, an operational commercial fishing fleet, and rich history of organic and sustainable farming has also made an impact on the food scene.

Start at Deviant Doughnuts, a small-batch gourmet doughnut pop-up shop located in the Olde Mistick Village. While flavors change weekly, recent choices have included peach bourbon (fritter with peach bourbon jam and cream cheese glazed) and The GOAT (brioche with a strawberry goat cheese filling, cream cheese glaze, and a balsamic reduction drizzle).

Then head to Rise, owned by Mystic native Melody Pere, for elevated lunch options, like a grilled cheese with provolone or a Buddha bowl made with seasonal ingredients. Fill your afternoon with visits to Bank + Bridge Brewing, Barley Head Brewery, Jonathan Edwards Winery, or Saltwater Farm Vineyards (or all of them) for brews on tap, wine tastings, and snacks.

Make a reservation at Oyster Club for the dinner party experience, a five-course tasting menu, curated daily. The restaurant also has walk-in bar seating or tables in its treehouse. Other dinner options include Red 36 Bar + Grill for the sea views or local Italian favorite Bravo Bravo, renowned for its house-made pasta.

For full article, go to: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/small-towns-in-the-us-that-are-secret-food-destinations