Madison Arts Night – Two Great Examples of Food Fantastic

The Madison Exchange Club brings its eighth annual Madison Arts Night back to downtown Madison on Thursday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event features culinary delights from as far away as New Haven to the west and from Old Saybrook to the east as well as fine beverage tastings and great live entertainment. As an example of what having Jacques Pépin as honorary chairman brings to the table, half of the 20 restaurants at the event return from years past while the other half are new and exciting participants including Aspen Restaurant, L'Orcio, Liv's Oyster Bar, Boom, Splash, Terra Mar, Café Routier, and Donohue's.

One of the Mainstays

The Stone House Restaurant was renovated in 2000 by its head chef and primary owner James P. Quinlivan in every aspect. Considered among the finest restaurants along the shoreline, The Stone House has been an active participant in the Madison Exchange Club's annual Food Fest since its Madison Arts Night first began eight years ago.

When Quinlivan's sister relocated to Guilford in the '90s and loved it, Quinlivan decided to pick up the culinary experience he developed in New York City as executive chef of Windows of the World and the West 63rd Street Steakhouse and follow. As The Stone House evolved, Quinlivan found his life mate Dolores at its front door. In charge of all special parties and restaurant operations up front, she is an active and vital part of Quinlivan's total management team.

An Exciting New Entry

A long-awaited happening has finally occurred on 8 Scotland Avenue in Madison-the arrival of an intimate eatery, Bar Bouchon, complete with really special food, special fun, and warmth all around. Opened in mid-August by Jean Pierre Vuillermet, owner and operator of the Union League Café in New Haven, Bar Bouchon is a bistro typical of its many predecessors in Lyon, France, offering comfort food such as escargot and steak frites along with a fabulous selection of inexpensive wines.

Open seven days a week from 4 p.m. until closing at 10 p.m., Bar Bouchon seats 20 in the dining area and 30 at the bar, but plan ahead as it's already been "found" and fills quickly. With entrées averaging $10 to $15 each, Bar Bouchon seeks to be an affordable home for regular visits.

Photos and information courtesy of Ashton Edwards

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