This Coffee Shop Is Not Common

During my first-time visit to Yale as a World Fellow, I used to spend time at the Wall Street Coffee on Wall Street, near the Yale Law Schoo. This time (2023) when I came back to New Haven, I cannot find the old Wall Street Coffee any more.

Instead, a new local coffee chain replaced Wall Street Coffee to be the new popular one. It’s called Common Grounds. I just happened to be witness of the new branch opening of Common Grounds on York Street in late April. Everyday the local coffee chain in New Haven will feature some house blend flavor coffee. I got a “today’s special” called Milkyway, which comes with natural vanilla flavor.

I also get its French vanilla muffin (yes, I’m a big fan vanilla fan, from ice cream to bakery), which is also said to be the coffee chain’s signature cake. New Haven now is too sweet, with a lot of new shops opening in a series!

Common Grounds Coffee
276 York Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Milkcraft New Haven

In comparison with my last visit to New Haven (two years before the pandemic happened), a very noticeable change is now we have many ice cream shops in the college town. Isn’t it amazing? I guess many Yale students must be big fans of ice cream.

This shop (which is said to be originally from Japan) is proud to make ice cream all on site. I got the “best vanilla ever” ice cream in cup and it did taste naturally good. It also has something called “bubble come”, which is just like Hong Kong’s signature street food egg waffle (雞蛋仔), and imagine if you get ice cream wrapped with that!

Watch the video to see how the ice cream was made on site.

Milkcraft New Haven
280 Crown St Suite 100, New Haven, CT 06511

Mory's, A True Yale Tradition

Mory’s is a true Yale tradition since 1849 in New Haven. It began as a British style bar for Yale students and later has grown over the decades to be a members-only cultural club for many fans from different fields. For example, many of Yale's superb singing groups visit the clubhouse often, making Mory's a haven for a cappella fans.

Since the early-to-middle 20th century, some of the parties of the Yale Political Union (particularly those on the right) have adjourned to Mory's, "as is traditional." Current and past club members include John Kerry, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Gerald Ford, John R. Bolton, George Pataki, Joe Lieberman, John Heinz, Paul Mellon, William Howard Taft, and William F. Buckley, Jr.

Perhaps the most famous dish (or more like “starter” at Mory’s — now located on York St and not too far from the Yale Law School — is The Rabbit, a version of Welsh rabbit. It is in fact just the name and has nothing to do with rabbit. It comes with some toasts and you can eat with strong flavour cheese or order more bacons and eggs to enjoy together. The other signature appetiser is called Baker Soup, a potage heavy on tomato, curry, and cream and topped with croutons.

Mory’s
306 York St, New Haven, CT 06511

紐黑文週末市集

好像幾乎每個美國城鎮都有週末「農夫集市」的傳統，紐黑文也不例外。星期六早上，紐黑文和附近城鎮的本地商戶和農家就會開著車到有紐黑文「小義大利」之稱的Wooster廣場集會，有賣雞蛋的、麵包、蔬菜，也有賣花以及一些手工藝作品的。

不要以為這樣的臨時市場賣的東西就會便宜，比如香蕉、雞蛋之類，因為是organic，基本上新鮮到屬於from farm to the table（從農場直接送上你的餐桌），所以賣價會比在沃爾瑪這種大型超市裡面的雞蛋更貴。

美國人保持「農夫集市」的傳統也不單單是為了吃的，這其實也是一種培育社區凝聚力的方式。我一直覺得英文community這個詞在中文中很難翻譯，感覺可能亞洲對社區的概念與美國還是有所不同。

Community可以是一個具體場所，也可以是大家對一個群體的認同感。每逢週末，附近居民知道總有一個地方可以聚聚，大家一邊買點食材，同時也互信打個招呼，聊一下最近的某場球賽，社區凝聚力自然也加強了，也由此更有了家的歸屬感。

紐黑文週末市集位於Wooster Square Park附近：
570 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06511

An Italian Family Story in New Haven

Lucibello's Italian Pastry is a story about immigration, family, and tradition, and its pastries are all about love, for friends, or you can just buy a bunch of yourself to celebrate your life. Why not?

The Faggio Family has owned and operated Lucibello’s for over 60 years. In 1959, Frank Faggio purchased the Pastry Shop at it’s original location on Chapel Street, where he worked since an early age and learned his craft.

His perseverance and hard work led to its rapid growth, moving the well-known bakery to its present location at 935 Grand Avenue (corner of Grand Ave. and Olive St.). Frank’s passion, pursuit of excellence, and incredible work ethic grew his business into a successful, honored establishment.

Presently, Frank’s son, Peter Faggio continues this family tradition of maintaining old-world skill in creating the pastries, cakes, cookies and Italian confections that have made Lucibello’s a landmark in New Haven, Connecticut, and a destination from surrounding cities.

The most famous cake at the shop? Don’t miss the mini-rainbow cake!

Lucibello's Italian Pastry Shop
935 Grand Ave, New Haven, CT 06511