Come explore the delicious, locally produced food options available throughout Connecticut! Presenting the CT Grown Trail, uniting farm fresh food options, dining venues with locally sourced menu items, farmers’ markets, curated farm wine offerings, and more!
The CT Grown Trail provides suggestions for day trip itineraries allowing you to discover the diverse experiences available for finding locally sourced food. We invite you to review the itinerary for your region, and to continue exploring the fantastic opportunities for finding locally grown food in our state. Don’t forget to leave extra time for farm stands, locally produced ice cream, and other CT Grown attractions you may discover along the way!
Visit the CT Grown Trail to find more wonderful options and create your own journey. This blog offers suggestions for exploring the eastern region of Connecticut.
Morning
Breakfast
- Enjoy a hearty breakfast at The Farmer’s Cow Calfe & Creamery in Mansfield, featuring breakfast sandwiches with locally sourced eggs and meats as well as beverages featuring milk from Connecticut dairy farms.
- Stop in at The Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret, featuring creative menu options made with ingredients sourced from local farms.
- Visit Somewhere in Time in Mystic, known for its filling fare featuring farm-fresh ingredients.
Visit a Farm
- Make a stop at Foster Hill Farm in Stafford Springs, where you will find over 170 varieties of tomato and pepper plants, plus herbs, perennials, vegetable plants, and miniature donkeys.
- Browse the general store at Our Kids Farm in Canterbury to find handmade, homemade, and locally sourced products including eggs, meat, milk, cheese, ice cream, jam, and maple syrup. When you are done shopping, go visit their Nigerian Dwarf goat herd and horses!
- Pay a visit to Sweet Grass Creamery in Preston to find dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese. Their farm market also features several products from other local farmers, such as jams, honey, and maple syrup.
Afternoon
Lunch
- Make a reservation at Monet’s Table Restaurant, located in an 18th century farmhouse, and experience local ingredients in salads, savory sandwiches, lunch entrees, and more.
- Visit Stone Row Kitchen + Bar in Willimantic, whose menu offerings are driven by the latest products available from local farms and seafood producers.
- Get a table at Oyster Club in Mystic, which specializes in local foods like fresh caught fish, dry aged meats, and CT Grown vegetables.
Vineyard Tour
- Visit Cassidy Hill Vineyard in Coventry to sample a wine flight, wine slushie, or a traditional glass of white or red. Enjoy live music on the lawn on Fridays between May and September.
- Grab a beer or a glass of wine, tour the vineyard, and listen to live music at Taylor Brooke Winery and Brewery in Woodstock. Check their website for scheduled food trucks and special “meet the winemaker” events.
- Stop by Priam Vineyards in Colchester, a veteran-owned winery, to enjoy a delicious glass of wine as well as live music and other special events.
Visit an Oyster Farm
- Head to the shore to see Stonington Farms Shellfish, a small family oyster farm. Give them a call ahead of time and they’ll have a fresh order ready for you to pick up!
Farm Stand
- Stop by The Farm Stand at Lemek Farm in Tolland for fresh fruits and vegetables, salsa, sauces, goat’s milk soap, and other goods including hanging baskets with seasonal flowers.
Farmers’ Market
- Visit the Putnam Saturday Farmers Market (Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June through October) to shop fresh produce and local goods.
Evening
Dinner
- Book a reservation at The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, where executive chef David Standridge received the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast! This restaurant places value on sustainability, sourcing ingredients like kelp, fish, and vegetables from local farmers and producers.
- Dine at The Tavern at Spring Hill at Mansfield, part of an inn located in an 18th century building, for an extensive menu featuring local ingredients.
- Browse the menu at 85 Main in Putnam, which prides itself on menu items using freshly sourced seafood and produce from local farms.