Downtown Hartford will be teeming with live music and an eclectic variety of local cuisine by restaurateurs in the region as the city welcomes back Hartford Taste, presented by The Hartford, Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, on Pratt and Trumbull streets.
The 2025 event will feature more than 35 restaurants, 30 musical acts, live visual art and a brand-new cultural stage experience called The Kitchen Table – Good Food & Good Conversation, where chefs, mixologists and creatives will share live demonstrations, storytelling and interactive dialogue about what food and culture mean in Hartford today.
The Hartford is the presenting sponsor for the third year in a row and will continue to cover all vendor fees, allowing restaurants and food businesses to participate at no cost.
Celebrate Shelton, a private city-wide initiative in its 11th year is thrilled to announce Food Trucks on the River, and several exciting community collaborations.
Food Trucks on the River, an exciting two-day festival will take place on Friday, May 30th, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, and Saturday, May 31st, from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Shelton. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is set for Sunday, June 1st.
CTbites & The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater are excited to announce a NEW DINNER SERIES taking place ON STAGE this Summer. The first event will be held on June 7th at 6PM, with James Beard Nominee CHEF BRIAN LEWIS of The Cottage & OKO alongside CRAZIES “Chef Of The Year” Finalist CHEF DAMON SAWYER of 29 Markle Court. These chefs will be creating a very special dinner for ONLY 150 guests!
The evening will include 4 courses of extraordinary food, live music, cocktails, wine & the unique experience of dining on the same stage on which your favorite band has performed.
All proceeds will benefit FILLING IN THE BLANKS, the Norwalk based organization that fights childhood hunger.
Join Anna and Raven of Star 99.9 & CT Foodshare for the Inaugural Taste of SoNo on May 22nd.
Taste of SoNo will feature a curated lineup of Fairfield County’s best restaurants and drink purveyors. Proceeds from the event benefit Connecticut Foodshare and help fight food insecurity across the state.
Taste of SoNo will include a silent auction, premium cocktails, live demonstrations, and live entertainment.
The event is hosted by Anna and Raven of Star 99.9.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 22nd
Time: VIP session begins at 6PM and general admission is at 7PM
Location: The SoNo Collection (Magnificent Room), 100 North Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854
Are you ready for the most exciting two minutes in sports? The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 3, and TVs will be tuned in at restaurants across the state. Whether you’re looking for a spot to catch the race with friends or you want an all-out extravaganza where you can sport your favorite fascinator, there’s a Derby event in Connecticut for you! Check out the restaurants and businesses below that are hosting special events for the Derby. Keep in mind that the post time is just after 6:50 PM – don’t miss it!
Less than a year ago, we covered Amanda Eng in our Q&A series, “It’s a Woman’s World,” with a focus on her coffee pop up, Kash & Liv Coffee Creations. Along with popping up all over the Newtown, Sandy Hook, and Danbury areas, Eng found a home as a coffee vendor inside of Uncle Matt’s Bakery and Cafe in the fall of 2023. Just over a year later, right before the holiday season, Eng teamed up with her customer-turned-friend, Meghan Jefts, to open a spot of their own. At AM Coffee & Co. in Southbury, Eng, a self-professed coffee nerd since she was 14, is continuing her coffee journey that saved her from corporate America.
Westport, get excited. The highly-anticipated opening of Fatto a Mano is happening this Wednesday, February 12. If you’re not familiar with Fatto a Mano already, we’re guessing the name rings a bell. The Italian bakery moved to Westport about two years ago and sells at the weekly Westport Farmers Market and directly out of their kitchen space located at 971 Post Road East (next to Pop Up Bagels).
The new storefront has been a long time coming for founder Pierluigi Mazzella, who originally started Fatto a Mano out of his home kitchen under the Connecticut cottage food operation license back in 2022. Since then, Mazzella has quickly made a name for himself and his artisanal bakery; Mazzella was named the 2022 Baker of the Year by the Connecticut Restaurant Association, his Panettone was featured on Martha Stewart’s Roku channel series, and Forbes even dubbed him the “Prince of Panettone.”
If warm temperatures aren’t in the air, at least love is this time of year! If you want to book your Valentine’s Day dinner reservation, now is the time. Fortunately, many restaurants and businesses across the state are ready to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember. If you prefer to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year, there are businesses ready to cater the perfect dinner for two.
Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this February, making it even more convenient to spend the evening out with a special someone. And don’t forget, Valentine’s Day isn’t all about celebrating with your significant other. It’s the perfect holiday to celebrate the love shared between our family and friends, too! On that note, several restaurants around Connecticut are offering Galentine’s Day festivities – gather your closest friend group and paint the town red and pink!
This guide has been organized by county, so you can quickly locate a Valentine’s Day special near you.
Chef Tyler Anderson & Millwright’s have just announced a special series of 4 collaboration dinners with Chef Tyler and his friends. Guest Chefs are Chef Prasad (Indian Kitchen), Chef Billy Grant (Bricco), Chef Renee Touponce (Oyster Club/Port of Call), and Chef David Standridge (Shipwright’s Daughter). All dinners are 5 courses with wine pairings for $150 per person (not including tax and gratuity). These dinners will begin promptly at 6pm.
Anderson says, “Chefs work a lot. Sometimes the only way we get to hang out is doing a dinner together. It's a great way for us to reconnect and to learn from each other. I'm excited to be cooking alongside some of the best in the state and we will have more to come!”
Beyond the basic and hydrating beverage of water, tea and coffee seem to be duking it out for the number two spot as the most consumed drink on the planet. About 80% of them regularly partake in a cuppa at home, with drip coffee coming in first, and cappuccinos and ice coffees picking up the rear. Overall, Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day, roughly 1,095 per person, per year and overall- hold onto your stirrers-as a nation, we swill 146 billion cups a year. Our beans overfloweth. Knowing that you will be soon looking for your next cup, read on…
Summer vacation has come to an end, which can only mean one thing…it’s Oktoberfest season! Known for its abundance of excellent beer and German food, you’ll find restaurants, bars, and festivals across the state offering an Oktoberfest celebration in the coming weeks. You can find one-day events or, in some instances, festivities that span multiple weeks.
As the name implies, Oktoberfest originally took place over 16 days in October. These days, the festivities usually begin sooner, with the first festivals starting in September. That means your favorite Connecticut town or restaurant is in the final preparation phases for this year’s Oktoberfest. Organized by county, you’ll be able to find an Oktoberfest celebration near you.
Join Bridgeport Rescue Mission for an unforgettable evening of exquisite cuisine and community spirit at Harvesting Hope, a special event dedicated to fighting hunger in Fairfield County. This year, they are thrilled to feature the culinary creations of renowned chef Michel Nischan, alongside other local celebrity chefs, in a night of delicious food tasting and philanthropy.
DATE September 19, 2024 6:00 PM
CHEF LINEUP
Bill Taibe — Don Memo, The Whelk, Kawa Ni Arturo Franco-Camacho — Camacho Garage, Shell and Bones Tyler Anderson — Millwright Matt Storch — Match Burger Lobster Renee Touponce — Oyster Club, The Port of Call Eamonn Keyes — The Chelsea Roshara Sanders — 29 Markle CT. Damon Sawyer — 29 Markle CT.
Five chefs will cook with wish kids in the kitchens at Aitoro Appliance at Taste of Wishes event to benefit Make-A-Wish® Connecticut
Taste of Wishes, Make-A-Wish Connecticut’s s annual event, celebrates scrumptious dishes and magical wishes. This incredible evening - on Thursday, September 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Aitoro Appliance at 401 Westport Avenue in Norwalk - will feature local celebrity chefs cooking alongside Connecticut wish kids to raise funds to make life-changing wishes come true.
An evening of fabulous food and drink, attendees will get a taste of each chef’s specialties and a of sense of the many wishes that Make-A-Wish Connecticut has granted.
Celebrity Chef Lineup
Jes Bengtson is the Executive Chef at Terrain Garden Café in Westport.
Dan Kardos, born and raised in Stratford, is the Chef/Owner of Café Melba.
Anthony Kostelis, Chef of the Whelk restaurant in Westport.
Robin Selden is the Managing Partner & Executive Chef of Marcia Selden Catering and Naked Fig Catering.
Matt Storch, a Chopped winner, is the Chef/Owner of Match in Norwalk and Match Burger Lobster in Westport.
As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect venue for your corporate holiday party in Norwalk, CT is key to setting the right tone for celebration. From classic restaurants to modern event spaces, Norwalk offers a range of venues designed to accommodate every style of corporate gathering. Join us as we discover seven standout locations known for their charm, amenities, and ability to create memorable experiences for your team.
June has arrived and summer is in full swing. While it is an exciting part of the year because adults finally get to take a much needed beach vacation and children are released from the grips of the early morning wakeups combined with the daily monotonous classroom routine, the month also means something entirely different to others.
Pride represents the celebration of LGBTQ+ values, identity, and a longing to be accepted. Pride is celebrated in June in honor of the Stonewall Uprising that occurred in New York in June of 1969. The first Pride marches and festivities were held the following year and every year since, protesting the hatred and brutality that the Queer community experienced in the past and still continues to experience. While we can all be thrilled that the cold and cloudy days are behind us, it is equally as important to recognize the historical significance that the month of June holds for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
These bars and restaurants are all safe spaces, with exciting events and specials happening all Pride-month long! Also listed are the many town-wide celebrations taking place in June, ensuring a place for you to celebrate no matter where you live in CT!
CTbites is excited to be the Media Sponsor for an incredible dining event going down on June 22nd, DINNER ON MARKLE, “Cultivating Seeds of Community.”BUY TICKETS HERE
29 Markle Court, awarded “Best New Restaurant” at the 2023 “Crazies Awards” is taking the “Outstanding In The Field” concept and bringing that long communal table dining experience to the streets of downtown Bridgeport. This is going to be an unforgettable event you will not want to miss.
The community dinner, "Dinner on Markle," will be held Saturday June 22nd, 3-8PM and the experience will span the entirely of Markle Ct in front of the restaurant. Chef Damon Daye and Wesley Arbuthnot have created an evening filled with local artists, creative drinks, live music and a four-course dinner al fresco that will focus on the bounty the season has to offer from our local CT farms.
The evening will be set under the stars, surrounded by an exhibit of incredible community art brought to you by Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
“Cultivating Seeds of Community” will elevate local creativity, community, and art. A portion of the proceeds will benefit “The Green Village Initiative” and “The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.”
That’s exactly what Amanda Eng did. And now she’s making waves with her craft coffee concoctions that have included creative, original flavored lattes, cold brews with fruity sweet cream cold foams, and decadent cups of hot cocoa.
Amanda, and her coffee biz that’s named after her twins, Kash and Liv, is seemingly everywhere in the Newtown with pop ups at PTA meetings, to Newsylum Brewery, and others. Now with a home base inside of Uncle Matt’s Bakery and Café in nearby Sandy Hook, you’ll at least always know where to find her for your caffeine fix.
I recently caught up with Amanda to get Kash & Liv Coffee Creations’ origin story, to talk coffee and coffee inspiration, and what’s in her very near future.
Grab a cup (of her coffee if you have access) and check out our Q&A!
Join the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomyand the Culinary Arts and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Julia Child Award, June 1st at 6PM.
On June 1st, join Jacques Pépin and the Jacques Pépin Foundation, in his home town of Madison, CT, alongside CT celebrity Chef Renee Touponce for a Jacques-inspired menu at the coastal Madison Beach Hotel. They’ll be raising a glass to Jacques & Julia.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner! Do you have your reservations booked yet? This holiday, in particular, is a very popular day for restaurants across Connecticut, welcoming families in for special brunches and buffets. Some even keep the party going into the evening with special dinner menus, too! Celebrate Mom or the many special women in your life by taking them out to one of the state’s great restaurants.To help you easily navigate this guide, we have broken the restaurants up by county.
Cinco de Mayo is here again, baby! This year the holiday falls on a Sunday, which should be the best news you’ve heard all year because it means you get to celebrate all. weekend. long. Restaurants all across Connecticut are kicking it into high gear this time, with great food, drinks, live music, and prizes! No matter where you are in this wonderful state of ours, you’ll be able to find sick menu specials, fire DJs, and strong margaritas. Get ready to shake your booty this Cinco de Mayo weekend, because we’re all friends here so we can admit – nothing quite makes you dance like a shot (or four) of tequila. Check out what these talented chefs and mixologists have in store this holiday…you won’t be disappointed.
