Dining establishments distinguish themselves in numerous ways; from the mundane and expected methods of hosting famous chefs, serving top-notch gourmet dishes and offering impeccable service, to those unusual establishments that set themselves apart by virtue of their unique and off-beat marketing approaches. Toronto’s cosplay-themed iMaid Cafe (slashfood review here) and Bradenton, Florida’s Linger Lodge, which features such treats as Guess That Mess - their meat is “so fresh, you can still see the tire tracks” - are two great examples of the latter. Though I certainly have a penchant for the unusual and decidedly bizarre (just look at what I do for a living), one restaurant that is particularly close to my heart is the much more reserved, though always delightful, Traveler Food and Books.

Travelers passing through north-central Connecticut on I-84 would do well to make a quick stop in that state’s smallest town, Union (population 693), where just off the exit you will find this splendid little establishment. Recognizable from the road by their large sign advertising in all caps FOOD AND BOOKS (enough to lure any even moderately hungry bibliophile off the road), inside you’ll find a wood-paneled diner-style dining establishment that is lined with, you guessed it, books.

The first time that I stopped at this little gem of an eatery they were offering one free book with your meal. Over the years, as more and more books are donated, they have steadily increased the number of books given away with each meal from one to, as of this writing, three free books.

All books are used and, as I understand it, either donated directly or procured in the purchase of large lots by the owners. Though much of the collection is your standard run-of-the-mill fiction and romance, much as you’d find at any used bookstore, there are an exceedingly high number of gems amongst the collection - which is constantly rotating. The last time that I stopped to eat I walked away with The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill, The Chemical History of a Candle by Michael Faraday (what a find!) and BIAS by Bernard Goldberg and on previous trips I have picked up other wonderful books related to my field - from philosophy to mentalism - such as classic Aristotle, texts on modern German phenomenology, many, many books on the history of art and works on and by Uri Gellar and Kreskin. But don’t let my own interests bore you and scare you away, they have books on absolutely everything - on this last trip I was terribly torn between BIAS and a compendium on the X-Files television series, and was delighted to see a book that I myself helped promote on television, in conjunction with Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Planet Eccentric.

In addition to the free books available with your meal, Traveler features a fully stocked, if comfortably cramped, used bookstore in their basement. Not only does it carry a great variety of texts for every interest, but they also offer rare and hard-to-find books as well. Prices are exceedingly reasonable and the service is friendly. Take note though, as of this writing the downstairs bookstore is open only on the weekends.

Of course, what really makes this place so eclectic and charming is the combination of food and books, and the food is just as varied and unusual as the books. I myself am a vegetarian and it is true that there are technically only two vegetarian dishes on the menu, yet both are simply fantastic. My favorite is the portobello and roasted red pepper sandwich served on a basil focaccia with their fantastic sweet potato fries, but their vegetarian bean burger is great as well. While you wouldn’t expect a gourmet meal at this place - and why would you want to, it would distract from the books - the food is certainly a step above diner-quality and, as is evidence by the basil focaccia, not exactly bland (I have it on good authority that their buffalo sauce for their chicken is quite spicy!).

Whether you’re on a long trip and need a break or are already in the area, I highly recommend a stop at Traveler Food and Books - it’s an experience that will leave both your belly and mind full and contented.

Traveler Food and Books
1257 Buckley Highway, Union, CT
860-684-4920
Exit 74 off I-84, East or West
Open 7am daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

tags: bernard goldberg, i-84, john stuart mill, linger lodge, michael faraday, planet eccentric, ripley’s believe it or not, traveler food and books, union ct, books, bookstores, cosplay, imaid, restaurants, used books

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 at Feb 13, 07 | 4:26 pm and is filed under Books, Just Noumenon Posts, Miscellaneous, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.