We explored the "Quiet Corner" of the Nutmeg State, from the Rhode Island border south as far as Route 6 and west as far as Willimantic. This area is home every August to the Brooklyn Fair, the oldest agricultural fair in the country, in bucolic Brooklyn, CT.

We had lunch in Putnam, a cute little town known for its antiques shops.

The downtown area of Putnam centers on a crossroads on Rte 44. On the south side is a short block of restaurants and shops, including 85 Main, a wonderfully creative locavore establishment.

I enjoyed the cutest lightweight summer salad: a slab of ripe seedless watermelon grilled and drizzled with balsamic vinegar, served with caramelized shallots and medallions of chocolate goat cheese from Capri Farm in Hubbardston, MA. This would be excellent at a late summer afternoon tea!