The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events

Stew Leonard’s will welcome local cookbook author Dina Cheney to sign copies of her new cookbook, Meatless All Day: Recipes for Inspired Vegetarian Meals, on Saturday, March 8 from 12-2.  Dina Cheney has been the “Taste Test” columnist for Everyday with Rachael Ray for several years, is a regular contributor to Fine Cooking, and has written articles or developed recipes for more than 20 other publications. Cheney lives in Cos Cob, Connecticut.

DC Brau beer is officially in CT!  Come to Turnpike Wines in Fairfield to help celebrate the launch on Saturday March 8 from 1-5pm.  Free event.  For information on these delicious craft brews visit:

It’s the 2nd Annual Great Wall of Stouts at The Ginger Man in Norwalk.  26 stoutly stouts will be on tap Monday, March 10 through Sunday, March 16.  

Monday March 10^th, experience a “Cool and Fun Varietals” wine class at Napa & Co in Stamford.  If you’re tired of Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, try this class to find varietals lesser known like Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Tannat, Pinot Meunier, Petit Verdot, and more.  $45+ pp.

Tuesday March 11 at 7pm, Barcelona in New Haven will present you with “Foods from Chef Frank’s Trip to Spain.”  The trip provided some amazing culinary inspiration.  Experience some of the dishes he brought back with him. $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 

Also on Tuesday, “Celebrity bartender” Linda Kavanagh of Max Exposure Media will put her culinary skills and knowledge to work in support of Community Plates at Bistro 7 in Wilton.  Visit the link to see which guest bartenders will support different charitable causes throughout the month. 

On Wednesday March 12 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines in Darien will hold “Borgogno's Leading Ladies Come to the USA- Italian Wine Tasting.” Emanuela and Federica Borgogno are coming from Piedmont, Italy to introduce their outstanding line of Barolos: Serio & Battista Borgogno Dolcetto, Borgogno Nebbiolo, Borgogno Barolo, and Borgogno Barolo “Cannubi” Reserva.  Free event.

Wednesdays March 12 and 19, participate in a blind wine tasting class with Harry’s wines in Fairfield.  The wines will be 4 pairs of different grapes that you will attempt to decide the difference between in each pair. $70 for both weeks. http://harryswineblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/wine-class-basic-blind-tasting-like.html 

March 13 is “March Madness Brewfest: Steam into Spring” with City Steam Brewery.  At the 3rd Annual Brewfest in Hartford, CT, City Steam will host more than 20 breweries including Half Full, Relic, Firefly Hollow, Thomas Hooker, Thimble Island, Back East, Cambridge House Brew Pub, SBC, Weed, Beaver, Broad Brook, BAR New Haven... and many more!  They will provide a special Brew-Inspired Dinner Buffet. $35pp. 7pm. https://city-steam.seatengine.com/venues/city-steam 

Also on March 13, Cave A' Vin - A Wine Bar on State Street (New Haven) will have a free Italian wine tasting.  From 6-8pm, tryMontepulciano d’Abruzzo, 2010 Fattoria La Valentina (Abruzzo, Italy) Sangiovese, 2009 Cecchi Bonizio (Tuscany, Italy) Super Tuscan, 2009 Villa Capezzana, and more.  http://eventful.com/newhaven/events/free-wine-tasting-explore-wines-italy-/E0-001-067702381-9 

There will be a free Charter Oak Beer Tasting Friday March 14 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Mo's Wine and Spirits.  953 Post Road, Fairfield, CT.

Looking ahead...

On Wednesday March 19, join Dishcrawl for a restaurant adventure spanning Darien!  Dishcrawl will take you to 3 different restaurants offering mouth watering selections in this small town that packs a big culinary punch!  They’re keeping the names of the restaurants a secret for now, but follow them on Twitter @dishcrawlfct for hints. http://www.dishcrawl.com/dinearounddarien/

Saturday March 22, enjoy bourbon, bacon, beer, and bbq at the 4 B festival in New Haven!  Taste lots of brews and spirits, enjoy live music, watch demos, and more!  http://www.4bfest.com/