An Eclectic Experience

Chef Robert Milano (a graduate of International Culinary Center) wants to bring quality and convenience to the masses, with his new eatery, Eclectic, on Vitti Street in New Canaan.  He is employing all his past culinary knowledge and rolling it into one eclectic experience as he offers a casual eat-in/take-out/catering menu, rich with scrumptious and feel-good dishes like uniquely-flavored savory soufflés, finger-licking melts, healthful and delicious salads, and fabulous take-out family meals like Cranberry Chutney Glazed Ham w/Gorgonzola or Breaded Sole with Garlic Cilantro Tarter Sauce - to name a couple!

It was so fun to stop by at Eclectic for a press reception last week - where I got to try a whole bunch of goodies prepared by Chef Milano.  Food came out one by one, non-stop, at perfect serving temperature and in single serving sizes.  Just listening to the servers’ descriptions made my mouth water.  And each bite was as good as it sounded.  Like the Beef Ossobuco Melt with Honey Truffle. Or the heart-warming, soul-satisfying tomato bisque with housemade garlic naan.  Mmm... so divine! 

Chef Milano is a master at soufflés.  They are perfectly moist and ever so soft.  I got to try two of them.  The pulled pork soufflé is topped with house sweet+spicy pepper aioli.  It really worth trying.  The ham and cheese soufflé may sound pretty everyday, but it was taken to a whole new level with a brown sugar topping and poppy seed glaze.  

This chef is really comfortable with the balance of flavors.  His use of sweet in savory makes each bite feel more rounded in flavor profiles and makes it really quite extraordinary.  Nothing was too spicy, but everything was super-flavorful. Most of the his dishes will do really well at any party because they can easily feature in bite-sizes at a cocktail party as well as a whole platter at an elaborate sit-down dinner.

Eclectic also offers a casual eat-in option for lunch and dinner.  Salads, sandwiches, melts and soufflés abound!  Give them a try... you will be pleasantly surprised.  Each dish is prepared in a gourmet style and may prove to be totally addictive.  :-)

I got to meet Chef Milano and chat with him for a few minutes.  He is a very personable and talented guy.  He is not interested in an elaborate sit-down restaurant.  He sees a need in the market for a quick lunch/dinner spot, or for grabbing a quality prepared family meal on the go - on one’s way home from work, or for making one’s next party a breeze with catering options offered at Eclectic.... and he went for it.

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