| IN 1979 BOBBY VALENTINE, A NATIVE OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT OPENED A RESTAURANT NEAR MY HOUSE IN MILFORD, CONNECTICUT CALLED "VALENTINE'S". IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SPORTS BAR/RESTAURANTS AROUND, SO HE WAS KIND OF AHEAD OF THE TIMES. IT WAS LOCATED ON OLD GATE LANE NEAR THE JAI ALAI PALACE, WHICH CLOSED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT IS NOW CALLED GIPPERS. I WAS A REGULAR THERE AND BOBBY WAS IN EVERY NIGHT. SINCE HE HAD JUST OPENED, HE WROTE THE MENUS HIMSELF UNTIL THE REAL ONES WERE IN. THE MENUS WERE TRIFOLD AND WERE HANDWRITTEN BY BOBBY ON THE INSIDE ONLY WITH NOTHING ON THE OUTSIDE...NOT EVEN THE RESTAURANT NAME. THE FARE INCLUDED SUCH GOODIES AS "EGGS-PANSION TEAM EGG CASSEROLES", "HALL OF FAME SANDWICHES" AND "SWEET TASTES OF VICTORY" DESSERTS. THE MENU IS A PHOTOCOPY OF COURSE, BECAUSE HE WROTE IT, THEN RAN THEM OFF FOR THE RESTAURANT. THE WRITING ON THE OUTSIDE IS IN BLUE BALLPOINT PEN AND READS " TO ROSE-HOPE TO SEE A LOT MORE OF YOU! LOVE & LUCK- BOBBY VALENTINE" THIS IS FROM THE OPENING IN 1979.
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