The Negroni experienced a bit of a viral moment in 2022 when actor Emma D’Arcy from the HBO series ‘House of the Dragon’ shed light on their drink of choice: “a Negroni Sbagliato with Processo in it.” While bars around the world likely saw a boom in customers ordering the “broken” or “mistake” version of the Negroni, the classic version – one part Gin, one part Sweet Vermouth, and one part Campari, garnished with an orange twist – has been a favorite among cocktail connoisseurs for decades.
This year, from September 16 through 22, bars across the country will participate in Negroni Week, a celebration of all things, well, Negroni. Many restaurants and bars around the state will serve Negronis the classic way, or you may encounter several fun variations that experiment with the traditional gin/Campari/Sweet Vermouth formula.
Negroni: one part gin, one part Vermouth Rosso, one part Campari, garnished with an orange peel. Possibly first mixed up in Florence, Italy around 1919. Supposedly, Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender of the evening to spruce up his favorite Americano with a splash of gin. Had an orange lying around and ka-pow, a classic poured into being! Well, from September 12-18th, Negroni Week heralds 7 days highlighting this classic cocktail, all the while raising money for important causes. This year, monies raised at these establishments will support Slow Food, a movement that seeks to change the world through food and beverages. Their goal? To help create a world where “everyone can enjoy food and beverage that is good for them, good for the people who grow it, and good for the planet”. Raise those glasses and enjoy this classic along with some new spins…
help raise funds for LivFree, a local non-profit that supports families of children battling pediatric cancer. Campari (including Aperol) is matching their $1 per cocktail donation. RHK Seafood Boil + Bar will donate a percentage of Negroni Sales to benefit the James Beard Foundation’s Industry Support Programs, and Shipwirght’s Daughter in Mystic will gives back to No Kid Hungry, whose mission strives to end child hunger in America by ensuring that all children get the healthy food they need. Lastly, Ordinary Bar in New Haven will be donating to CORE Children’s Charity.
Go forth a drink at any of the spots listed below, and if you’d like to celebrate in the comfort of your own home, check out the Negroni Cocktail recipe c/o MECHA’s new Beverage Director, Dan Rek.
Nestled in a strip mall in the Broad River section of Norwalk, you could easily miss Antojos Columbian restaurant. You’ve probably driven by, and barely noticed it, or you may remember our write up on this hidden gem back in 2017. Whether you’re new to Antojos, or a loyal customer, you’ll want to pay attention. They are serving up some seriously tasty authentic Columbian fare, and some exciting new menu items have recently dropped. We felt they were ready for their close-up. Enjoy the photo journey, complete with menu names for easy ordering. Get that drool cup ready…
I can admit when I have a problem. Connecticut has several great food trucks, and I social media stalk a bunch of them. The addiction is obviously the food, then there’s this game of being able to track down the truck or trucks in question. Will I be free? Where will the truck be? What time? And for how long will they be there?
One that I played cat and mouse with recently was The Colombian Hot Dog, a mobile trailer that specializes in Colombian fast food. They were put on my radar by a local photographer friend who spent some time shooting The Colombian Hot Dog crew in action one summer night. He suggested I check them out, but it took a while since the truck is only parked in Norwalk one night per week.
You could speed right through the Broad River section of Norwalk and not even know Antojos was there. Being from Norwalk, and still residing here, I pride myself on knowing what’s in the area, but this small Colombian restaurant that opened last December was off my radar until recently. If not for a couple of friends—both of whom are Colombian—who posted mouthwatering photos and their own rave reviews of Antojos, I still might not have noticed Antojos as it sits in the corner of one of New Canaan Avenue’s strip malls, in the space that was formerly Lou’s Pizza.
Antojos is a small spot, with seating for maybe 25 customers. There’s booth seating on one side of each table, with cushy pillows for added back comfort, and chairs on the other side for non-booth loving people. Also, there’s a wooden bin of silverware on each table, so you won’t have to bother asking for an extra fork or spoon should you require a fresh one, or for sharing purposes. Walk in, have a seat, and you’ll promptly be greeted with fast, friendly service.
Just as the crisp Fall air reminds us that winter is around the corner, Brasitas in Norwalk (and the original location in Stamford) transports us to the warm Caribbean or to sunny South America.
Colorful in tropical hues of marine blue, coral and yellow, the decor of Brasitas feels very much like a Caribbean beach front café…as authentic native art from Colombia, hand picked by owner Jaime Guerrero and his wife, Nubia, adorn the walls, and brightly colored embroidered pillows line the banquettes. Two to three times a year the husband and wife travel to their native Colombia in search of new recipes and native art.
The Norwalk location, opened in 2008, is managed by Jaime’s nephew, Fabio Rojas, and has a loyal following among lovers of authentically prepared and beautifully presented Pan-Latin cuisine.
