Harold Ford to usher in opening of new eatery

By Derek Liebig

One of the area’s most popular musicians will help celebrate the opening of one of the area’s newest businesses.Harold-as-Johnny-Cash12

Johnny Cash impersonator Harold Ford will be the headline entertainer at the grand opening of the What’s Cookin? BBQ and Soft Ice Cream Stand at 6 p.m. next Friday, May 22, in Hartford.

Tickets to the show, which also feature a buffet dinner comprised of items from the eatery’s menu, cost $20 and are available at What’s Cookin? restaurant in Hartford.

“Harold Ford does a lot of local shows and is really good,” What’s Cooking? owner Debbie White said.

A Greenwich resident, Ford has played throughout the Northeast and routinely attracts large crowds at local shows.
White, who has operated What’s Cookin? since 2011 and has owned the building, which has housed a number of popular restaurants, for 25 years, said the new eatery fills a need in the community.

“There are a lot of people who love to get ice cream and love to be outdoors,” White said.

The new restaurant will be located on route 196, near the intersection of route 40 in Hartford. It will feature both a covered pavilion and outdoor seating. The eatery will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

White said the plan is for the eatery to be open through the end of October.

Although the food will be prepared at What’s Cookin?, she said the style of fare will differ.

“We’re really using the barbeque theme,” White said.

White aid the menu includes home style pastries, breakfast sandwiches with barbecued meats, pancakes, Belgian waffles, barbecued ribs, pulled pork, ribeye steak, chicken, burgers, hot dogs and grilled barbecued pizza. Ice cream will be available in chocolate, vanilla and twist, and there will be an assortment of different styles of sundaes.

The Grand Opening Premier Dinner will feature many of the items from the menu.

In addition to Ford, the grand opening event will feature a number local dignitaries, including Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff , who will serve as ribbon cutter, and Reverend Patty Girard. Invitations have also been extended to Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.

For more information about the event or the eatery, call 632-9900.