Thali Opens In Westport w/ Small Plates & Big Flavor

Credits clockwise from top left: Copyright 2010, Chuck Dorris, eDining.us, Amy Kundrat, Copyright 2010, Chuck Dorris, eDining.us, Amy KundratThe culinary muscle flexed by Thali's Chef Prasad Chirnomula has educated and perhaps even defined Connecticut's interest and demand for Indian cuisine. With the fifth Thali opening in Westport, and his thirteenth restaurant overall, Chef Prasad has clearly hit his stride. Mining the traditional and regionally diverse dishes of India with a contemporary interpretation is Thali's niche. Staying true to this, Thali Westport innovates with a small plate approach skewed thoughtfully toward our impatient palates and lighter wallets. Throughout his menus, Chef Prasad uses his homeland as a starting point with each Thali launch continuing to raise the bar for eclectic Indian culinary experiences and Westport is paving the way.

The beauty of the small plate style of eating is two-fold.  As a way to explore an interesting menu in greater depth, it offers you smaller proportions and more opportunities to experience different flavor profiles. It also offers a relaxed and steady stream of food, as the kitchen will send out each plate as it is prepared rather than slam you all at once. I much prefer this anyway as I know my shrimp, usually done in a flash will not be overdone or sit waiting for my lamb croquettes to catch up.  And if you prefer not to share, you can easily order an entree or make a meal out of your own small plates and hoard them for yourself, you selfish gastronome.

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Learn While You Lunch @ Sport Hill Farm: Season 2

Whether you were lucky enough to have experienced last year's Meet Me At The Farm lunch event at Patti Popp's Sport Hill Farm, or if you got shut out of this series, now is your chance to sign up! Educator and cooking coach, Amie Guyette Hall, (as well as certified holistic health counselor), has returned to walk small groups of guests though a lively lunch discussion centered around incorporating beneficial ingredients into your mealtime repertoire. But this is no lecture. This is learning through eating, and Annie demonstrates these valuable cooking technique while preparing a fresh seasonal lunch based on recipes you can take home with you. Of course, your kitchen may not be as idyllic as Sport Hill Farm's rustic outdoor open dining space, but the recipes were just as creative and flavorful at home. 

Sitting beside the rows of Sport Hill Farm's latest crops, Amie also gave us guidance on how to cook the locally harvested produce you run into at your Farmers Market or receive in your CSA (Community Supported Agriculture, or farm shares). This is a unique Fairfield County happening you won't want to miss. Read our review from last season to get the full scoop on this lunch series. RSVP is required. Email Patti @ farmgal596@yahoo.com

"Meet Me At The Farm" Dates

Tues May 18th, Tues June 15th, Tues Sept 21, Tues Oct 19th

Red Bean Sushi: New Contender in Westport

If you love sushi, you already have your favorite place to go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try something new to see if the wasabi is hotter on the other side of the fence. Red Bean Sushi is a very small and unassuming new sushi restaurant on the Post Road in Westport. It doesn’t look like much from the outside and it can be easily missed as its small storefront is surrounded by larger retail spaces – notably Stop and Shop across the street. But, this little place is worth a trip to expand your sushi options. Red Bean is the latest culinary venture for chef and owner Eric Xie. He also owns Village Gourmet, (arguably the best Chinese in the area).  I honestly didn’t expect much on my first visit but after 5 trips, this is the place I want to go when I crave sushi.   

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Re-creating leFarm's Golden Beet Salad w/ Lentils & Feta

I came across this post from a local blogger, Lauren Fister of chatNchow.com. The words "excellent dinner at leFarm" caught my eye, and I read on to find out that Lauren and I shared a common obsession with a new appetizer featured on leFarm's menu, the Beet & Lentil Salad.  In fact, she liked it so much, she went home and tried to re-create the dish in her own kitchen. From the looks of it, she did a pretty good job. Mind you, we're not promising Bill Taibe here, but check out her recipe for a delicious Golden Beet Salad (Nature's Candy) With Lentils & Feta.

Golden Beet Salad (Nature's Candy) With Lentils & Feta

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Kids Cooking Party With "Cindy's Sous Chefs"

It's not easy finding a unique kids birthday party activity in Fairfield County. Sure, there is My Three Sons and Pump It Up but what if your kid doesn't want to jump around or collect coins? What if you just want something with more food science and less bouncy castle? With the emergence of the Food Network's 24/7 culinary programming, kids have been acquiring valuable cooking tips during their sick days and developing an interest in all things related to food. In fact, so many of our readers are looking for "cooking themed birthday parties" we decided we had best do some research.  What better way to acquire data than to host a cooking party for my five year old daughter chez moi. Read on for Cooking Parties for Kids, Part 1.

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EspressoNEAT: Home Brewing Basics Class

espressoNEAT in my biased opinion makes the best espresso in Fairfield County. Located in Darien, their baristas are well trained experts, and their devotion to their craft is obvious from the first sip of any of their coffee based beverages. When I heard they were hosting a home brewing class, I had to share. For anyone who appreciates an excellent cup of coffee, this class is for you.  In this one hour session, NEAT will guide you in the fundamentals of buying, storing, grinding, and brewing and help you get the best out of your coffee. 

Who: NEAT folks who like good brew at home

What: 1 hour home brewing basics course

Where: NEAT (20 Grove Street)

When: Monday, April 12th @ 4PM Price: $10 RSVP: info@espressoNEAT.com

(10 person limit)

Bereket Turkish Restaurant: Istanbul in Bridgeport

It's been 24 hours since I left Bereket, a tiny hole in the wall Turkish restaurant located behind a Citgo station on Bridgeport's Main Street. As I write this I wonder, is it too soon to go back? 

Bereket has been dubbed by people in the know as Fairfield County's best kept secret, and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Mind you, this place is not fussy. Hidden beside of the gas station's mini mart, Bereket's small dining space has only 3 tables and boxes of Turkish beverages and pantry staples lining the walls. But what this single room Turkish delight lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in the quality, freshness, and flavor of the food. 

Owner Selahattin Cinar has been in business for 6 years, and chats with customers while holding court in the kitchen preparing a steady stream of take-out orders. He greeted us warmly as we walked in, and we were relieved to find that he spoke enough English to answer questions and help us navigate their extensive menu. When we asked what was good, we were led to a display case filled with cold mezes (appetizers) and kebabs awaiting the heat, and simply told, it's all good. And it was.

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Chef Talk: The Schoolhouse Serves Apple Tart Tatin

If you have dined at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, you have experienced the consistently inspired dishes that emerge from Chef LaBant's kitchen. LeBant's ingredients are pristinely fresh, locally farmed, and always beautifully prepared. An evening in The Schoolhouse's intimate dining room is always a treat.

With a strong background in French cuisine, LaBant does jutice to the classic French treat, Apple Tart Tatin. This recipe will take you right back to the great bakeries of Paris. Plus, it's surprisingly simple. Enjoy. 

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Artisanal Honey Tasting Event @ Red Bee Apiary

Join us for a Tasting Flight of Seven Artisanal honeys with Red Bee Apiary's own Marina Marchese. Learn how honeybees make this liquid gold we call honey, how location and nectar source determines a honeys color and flavor and how honey is harvested and extracted from the comb. Marina will show us how to taste and evaluate honey using the Honey Sommelier tasting guide in her new book "HONEYBEE Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper." Each guest will receive one sample 2 oz. jar of Red Bee's signature Wildflower Honey.

Go to the Red Bee website to RSVP and pre-pay to reserve your spot. 

Red Bee Honey Tasting Menu:
Farmhouse comb honey
Red Bee's signature wildflower
Alfalfa honey
Goldenrod honey
Blueberry blossom honey
Tulip poplar honey
Star thistle honey

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Free For Kids: Mondays Just Got A Little Bit Better

I just saw this post on Fairfield County Child and had to call to confirm as it seemed too good to be true.  Sure enough, your kids can score FREE disco fries every Monday at Burger Bar and Bistro in Sono. In fact, kids can eat everything free on that tough first day of the week! Who knew? 

You do need to read the fine print however. You can not...I repeat, you can not bring your Little League softball team for snacks after the game. There must be one parent for each child enjoying a free meal. 

We'll see you there next Monday.