I came for the climate and calm.

Connecticut's food culture gets under-appreciated nationally. We have some damned fine cuisine and some of the best chefs in the nation working in this fine state.

CT, particularly New Haven and Fairfield counties, is a traditional testing-ground for people looking to test recipes or concepts before splurging on NYC rents. Also, a training ground for young chefs and line cooks.

As a Connecticut-born trained-chef (I've left the field...I got tired of the late nights, the rush, the never-having-a-weekend), I take that history with pride.

I lived in Hartford, CT from 1969 to 1980 and never heard of ‘steamed hamburgers’.
Where are they sold?

Ted's in Meriden and Jack's lunch in Middletown (now closed)

http://www.tedsrestaurant.com/
A must go to is you are in the area.

Hardly makes steamed burgers a "Connecticut" thing.

at the time you were living there. They were exclusively steamed cheeseburger places. Many other Mom and pop's places have them on the menu.

People either hate or love steamed cheeseburgers.

Not Meriden or Middletown.