“Let’s take a drive and get something to eat.” That’s in invitation I find hard to resist. It could be across town to Ripka’s for a burger at the beach or ice cream at Sweet Ashley’s. It could also be an offer to head out of town for a food destination somewhere in Connecticut. What could be better than a driving trip with some good food at the end (or along the way).

The Food Lover’s Guide to Connecticut by Patricia Brooks is an essential source in finding good food and out of the way destinations in our state. Brooks, the long-time Connecticut restaurant reviewer for the New York Times, has put together this helpful guide to the delicious side of Connecticut.

The current edition, updated in 2013, has been enlarged by about 50% to incorporate changing food trends like the locavore movement, farm to table provisioning, growth in vegetarian and vegan eating, and a spate of new restaurants reflecting the diversity of these trends. Lots of new craft breweries, wineries and distilleries made the book as well.

The state is divided into five regions. Within each, Brooks organizes her attractions into categories: Made or Grown Here; Specialty Stores & Markets; Farmer’s Markets; Farm Stands; Food Happenings; Nibbles; Learn to Cook; Learn about Wine; Landmark Eateries; Brewpubs & Craft Breweries; and the Wine Trail. In addition, there is a section of recipes from some of the restaurants and food sources in the book. A handy appendix cross references the entries by food category in case you want to track down ice cream sources across the state or take a tour of bakeries (Yum).

Locally, Brooks takes us to differing food experiences like the Fairfield Meat Emporium for Hungarian house-made cold cuts, and more; the massive but comprehensive Fairway Market in Stamford; and the Fratelli Market (also in Stamford) for authentic Italian specialties including over 30 types of ravioli, pasta, sauce, sandwiches and cheeses. Three wonderful bakeries are highlighted as “Guilty Pleasures” – my kind of eating – at Chocopologie (Norwalk), Isabelle et Vincent (Fairfield) and Versailles Bistro and Patisserie (Greenwich).

Diagonally to the northeast across the rectangle of Connecticut in what is known as The Quiet Corner, the emphasis is much more on farms. Dairy operations include Beltane Farm and Meadow Stone Farm for Goat’s milk products and Cato Corner Farm for cows’ milk cheese. The Farmer’s Cow and The UConn Dairy Bar are noted for their ice cream. The Westford Hill Distillers and Martha’s Herbary along with several excellent bakeries make a trip even more enticing. Twenty-nine farmer’s markets are included in this large region as well as thirteen farm stands. The wine trail includes six stops here.

All sections of the book include Brooks’ well chosen restaurants, both casual for nibbles or landmarks for a meal. In New Haven, special attention is given to the combatants in “The Great Pizza War” and to food trucks serving the bustling city. Waterfront dining along the eastern coast, a motivation for a summer drive if there ever was one, includes the Dog Watch Cafe, Kitchen Little, Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough, and the Blue Oar.

Both the Northeast region and the Hartford area chapters are packed with mouth-watering destinations. Hartford, with a vibrant beer culture, features nine breweries and brewpubs. The Northeast, up Rt-7 from here, includes ten stops on the Wine Trail.

Books like this are hard to keep up-to-date in the rapidly evolving Connecticut food scene. A few entries have already closed, and I’ll bet there are lots of new ones worthy of inclusion. But the value here is in Brooks’ carefully curated choices. Her lifetime of food writing and restaurant reviewing along with a well-connected network of food professionals enable her to spot the winners and guide us to them. Her well-made choices and welcome guidance are a relief from the frantic barrage of reviews, blogs, and opinion on the internet.

The author recommends keeping a copy in the car to find some good eats on the spur of the moment. More than once, I wish I’d had it with me, but it was at home available for trip planning. I guess I need another copy for those unplanned road trips – in case hunger strikes!