Road Trip: Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Sum in White Plains

Upon our return to the United States this summer from living abroad for 13 years, with our most recent move from Hong Kong, my family and I were faced with a serious food challenge.  We hadn’t had access to good pizza, bagels and deli for years, so the first few weeks after we moved back, we became “born again” NY carb fanatics, showing our faces at every bagel and pizza joint north of NYC.   After a month or so, this eating frenzy thankfully began to wear off.  One of the things we miss most about Hong Kong is going out for Dim Sum, or yum cha, as it’s also called in Cantonese. After a friend mentioned Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Dum in White Plains, I knew we had to go to bridge East meets West food chain.

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Pacific Foods Reopens in Fairfield as Saigon Deli

Lovers of Bánh mì, the Vietnamese sandwich, were crestfallen when Pacific Foods (1561 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield (203) 220-9450) closed just a few months after opening.  I’m thrilled to report it’s back, under the same management.  Good news is that this hole-in-the-wall storefront now has three tables for eating in.

As CT Bites previously reported, the menu offers summer rolls, pho and bubble tea, and there’s a small grocery section.  But here’s what you have to order: the bánh mì.  It could be described as a Vietnamese sub.  Like a sub, the classic version combines cold cuts and crisp vegetables. But this light, well-proportioned sandwich is not an over-stuffed meat- feast, and each component reveals the way that the French colonization of Vietnam melded the flavors and cooking techniques of the two cultures.

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Asian Treats at Pacific Food in Fairfield

Every once in a while something new comes to town that we just have to explore! This time, it’s Pacific Food on the Black Rock Turnpike that adds a little bit of Asian flavor to the shopping options in Fairfield. We visited Pacific Food recently to see what kind of eclectic goodies we could fill our shopping carts with. After all, it’s about time we started using our wok pans for something worth wok-ing!

Pacific Food is a unique Asian market open almost three months in a small shopping center just as Blackrock Turnpike splits into Tunxis Hill. The small footprint of the grocer packs a punch – offering counter-style favorites such as Vietnamese sandwiches, Japanese-style smoothies in a rainbow of flavors and a decided-upon favorite, traditional Chinese Bubble Tea.

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Kids Review: Bond Grill Hibachi and Asian Bistro in Norwalk

Carly Monson is our roving 10 yrs old food critic. She hopes to get Fairfield County kids excited about eating in new venues like this one...

Do you love to have fun while eating delicious food? Well, then Bond Grill Hibachi and Asian Bistro in Norwalk, C.T. is the perfect restaurant for you!

I felt very welcomed when I first walked in. Bond looks very modern and most Asian restaurants look very ancient. Bond offers Hibachi and traditional Asia food, we chose Hibachi.  The Hibachi dining room has a totally different vibe (from the main dining area), you feel like you’re in Asia. The walls are painted a dirty green and the texture looks created by hand.

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Ten China Bistro in Wilton: 10 For 10

Why TEN? The new TEN China Bistro in Wilton had a lot to live up to, giving itself a number like that. We would be the ones to decide if TEN was indeed an appropriate rating. We were diners on a mission. Chef/Owner Eric Xie would have a lot of "splainin" to do if the food at TEN ended up as anything less. There was only one way to find out...EAT! So eat we did. There are many reasons to try this new Asian fusion restaurant, (in the same plaza as SOUP ALLEY). Would we give it a 10? Well, here's the verdict:

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Kids Review: Toro Asian Fusion in Newtown

Carly Monson is our roving 10 yrs old food critic. She hopes to get Fairfield County kids excited about eating in new venues like this one...

Do you enjoy going out to an Asian fusion restaurant with your friends and ordering loads of things to share? Then you will love Toro, a fun family restaurant for all ages. 

My family and some of our close friends, including my BFF celebrated New Year's Day by going out to dinner. I thought Toro had a calming and welcoming feeling when I walked in. We started out by ordering soup, edamame and seaweed salad. Almost everybody at the table ordered miso soup. I thought that the miso soup tasted a lot like seaweed, it was probably because there was more than enough seaweed in the bowl. The seaweed salad had a little kick right when you swallowed. The edamame was served with a lot of salt. 

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Sesame Crusted Tuna w/ Wasabi Creme Fraiche

When Chef Nicole came over with her sushi grade tuna claiming that she was going to make that great Sesame Crusted Tuna appetizer I tend to gravitate towards on any sushi menu, (and she was going to prepare the whole dish in under 5 minutes), I was dubious. 

If you watch the video below you will bear witness to the simplicity of this recipe and you will have a new go-to menu item for any dinner party or gathering. These days, sushi grade tuna can be found at many local fish mongers. We like Fjord Fisheries, but if you live in Westport, the Double L Farm Stand is now getting shipments of tuna and salmon every Thursday from Boston and it is spectacular!

Sesame Crusted Tuna w/ Wasabi Creme Fraiche

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Thai Coconut Curry Lentil Soup c/o Healthy Living Blog

Jeanette Chen is a resident of New Canaan. Her Healthy Living Blog is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition.

Lately, I've been craving both Thai coconut curry soup and lentil soup. Perhaps, it's because I wanted to relive the heady bowl of Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup I had for lunch last week when it was wet and dank outside. There is something warming and completely comforting about spicy Asian noodle soups. Thick lentil soups have also been on my mind, as it's getting cooler out, calling for heartier fare. These two comfort foods inspired me to come up with a recipe for Thai Coconut Curry Lentil soup.

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Food Writing 101: Write Your Appetite w/ Corinne Trang

Want to learn how to write about food from an award-winning cookbook author? Corinne Trang has written numerous cookbooks & has been dubbed the "Julia Child of Asian cuisine." She has published in Food & Wine, Health, Cooking Light, and Saveur.

If you ever wanted to write a cookbook, start a food blog, review a restaurant, or write a food memoir, join Corinne Trang for a FREE workshop on food writing. She'll guide you through your first short food piece starting with describing your favorite food, learning to create a recipe and a story around it. Space is limited, RSVP and be sure to bring your favorite fruit and vegetable!  

Thursday, Sept. 30th is Corinne's Free Workshop: "Write Your Appetite" @ 7:15pm, Writers' Room, 252 Post Road East, Westport.

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PHO or FAUX - Authentic Vietnamese in Westport

Ready for a little PIK me up? Head over to PHO GARDEN at 1620 Post Road in Westport for some authentic Vietnamese delights! This brand new Asian dining offering, (formerly Zole'), has simple decor and an unimpressive neon sign outside the door, but don't let this turn you off. PHO GARDEN'S authentic menu is a welcome addition to the Westport restaurant scene. Plus, with Pho Mekong closing its doors across the street, PHO GARDEN is definitely worth checking out!

We started with the COLD SUMMER ROLLS (Goi Cuon)

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Corinne Trang: Asian Pulled Pork Sandwich 3 Ways

L to R: Raw, Rubbed, Smoked

Corinne Trang, author of The Asian Grill, and local Fairfield County resident, is back with some sensational summer smoking. These week she is serving up recipes for ASIAN PULLED PORK SANDWICH including her famous ASIAN FIVE-SPICE DRY RUB, ASIAN BBQ SAUCE, and ASIAN COLESLAW. Get smoking tips for your next cookout, or just enjoy her tasty take on this American classic 

My Asian-inspired pulled pork sandwich...yes, I dared!

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In Search of "Chinese Mirch:" Good Chinese in FC

"Chinese Mirch"? You mean the month before Chinese April?  Oh, you mean Mirch as in "merchant?" Not that either, eh? Maybe as in, "not mirch, what's new with you?" - close but no cigar, I guess. But it turns out that there's quite a bit that's new with this trendy Chinese/Indian hybrid currently in full swing on Stamford's bustling Atlantic Street. "Chinese Mirch," founded by third generation restaurateur Vik Lulla, is a labor of love for Mr Lulla and his wife Sienam. The couple opened the first "Chinese Mirch" in NYC in 2003 to great critical acclaim. Now, the couple owns two "Chinese Mirch" restaurants in Manhattan, this new Stamford location with another opening in Farmington this Summer, and one in Cambridge, MA coming soon. But what's this Mirch business all about?  As someone who HATES not knowing the true meaning of things, I just HAD to find out.

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Thai Coconut Curry w/ Chicken, Shrimp & Veggies

I don't know about you, but I'm often daunted by Asian food prep as the list of ingredients always seems to require multiple pages. I'll admit it...this scares me. My lack of fortitude is unfortunate as Asian flavors rank high on my list of preferred meals. When it comes to a food conundrum of this magnitude, I always rely on Chef Nicole of Time to Eat! to streamline the situation. I told her I wanted a simple weeknight dish with Asian flavors that would not require a trip to the specialty market in Norwalk (not that I don't relish walking those aisles). She came up with this great Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables.  Vegetarian? No problem. Simply omit the chicken and shrimp and use diced extra firm tofu.

Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables

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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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Flavorful Lunch Bargain @ Thai Pearl in Ridgefield

If you're looking to give your brown bag a break or if you just can't face another sandwich, you'd be hard pressed to find a better and more affordable lunch alternative than Thai Pearl in Ridgefield. With a prix fixe lunch menu featuring ten traditional Thai dishes and three courses starting at just $8.95, I'd say it's easily one of the most affordable and most satisfying lunches in town.

On a recent snowy afternoon, I began with the shumai as a warm and savory amuse bouche to start the meal. A combination of shrimp, tofu and vegetables fill three wonton wrappers. I presume these are steamed and then pan fried given their chewy exterior and crisp edges, and then finished with a chili and soy sauce. The other lunch appetizer options include soup, salad or spring roll. One course down, two more to go.

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