Since 2014, Genee Habansky’s Herbaceous Catering Co. has made the rounds all over. Catering, sure, but you’ve most likely come across her, if not at a private party, then it’s been at an event somewhere in Fairfield County (and beyond). If not there, then maybe you’ve picked up her food at the Westport Farmers Market where Herbaceous is a steady vendor. Habansky’s philosophy when it comes to her catering business is all about caring for the environment, plus, seasonality, locality, and super fresh as it pertains to ingredients she uses, something she became passionate about, first, at culinary school, then at Paul Newman’s The Dressing Room and her other stints at places like Pagano’s Seafood, Heirloom, Walrus + Carpenter, and Centro.
Spring is here, which means bringing lunch and dinner outside and enjoying the warmer weather. What better way to enjoy your next meal than at one of Connecticut’s many food trucks? Many of these businesses travel around their local regions and state-wide, bringing tasty food to your neighborhood. Or, you can have the food truck come directly to you and cater your next event, whether it’s a wedding, birthday bash, or corporate event.
Because the food trucks in Connecticut cater to such a wide variety of palates, we’ve broken this guide down by type of cuisine. Scroll to the food you’re craving and see which trucks suit your taste buds!
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO VIEW FOOD TRUCKS ORGANIZED BY CUISINE TYPE.
It’s been a year since Max Hospitality officially took over the bar at Hartford’s Goodwin Hotel, but after a two-month renovation period in the fall, Bar Max now boasts a fresh look with a brand-new menu.
The Hartford-based restaurant group, with multiple eateries throughout Hartford County and western Massachusetts, expanded its territory in the capital city by partnering with the Goodwin Hotel in early 2024. Restaurateur Tyler Anderson, who had previously operated Terreno Restaurant and Bar Piña in the space, closed his concepts there as he moved on to new projects, including a culinary director role at Ore Hill & Swyft in Kent.
It was a natural fit, as the boutique hotel is right next door to its flagship Max Downtown, said Steven Abrams, Max Hospitality’s vice president, who is a partner in Max Downtown and the group’s other city restaurant, Max’s Trumbull Kitchen. But the owners decided not to launch another restaurant out of the Terreno space.
Some days, you just don’t want to cook at home, but you want to serve yourself or your family a healthy delicious meal. Sure, you can order in from a local restaurant, but those dishes seldom come with an ingredients list, and more often than not, are a long way from locally or organically sourced. Enter Hemma Kitchen, a Fairfield County based meal planning solution to the never ending conundrum…what do I serve for dinner tonight?
In Swedish, the word "hemma" embodies the concept of home. In today's fast-paced world, the significance of eating at home and having healthy meals cannot be overstated and directly impacts our quality of life. Eating at home provides an opportunity to take control of our nutrition, allowing us to prioritize wholesome ingredients. Hemma Kitchen allows you to enjoy healthy home cooked meals every day of the week.
At the helm of Hemma Kitchen is a chef with whom you may already be familiar, Chef Molly Healey. Healey was the owner of the much beloved Manna Toast in Westport before launching Hemma.
Hemma Kitchen offers an a la carte menu, easily browsable online, that changes weekly. Menu items are based on the seasons as well as what Healey can procure at local farmers’ markets and specialty stores carrying organic ingredients. For Healey, finding the very best organic ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, is critical to her mission. 100% of her meat is from Matt Storch’s Saugatuck Provisions. Her organic salmon is from Maine. Everything you find on the Hemma menu is also free from: refined sugar, seed oils, preservatives, gums and fillers
The former ON20 Restaurant, known for its soaring views of the Connecticut River and other area landmarks, has been fully renovated and reimagined, with even more stunning panoramic vistas of the capital city. The industrial-chic interior has an expansive bar, an open kitchen with gleaming stainless-steel appliances, private dining spaces and jaw-dropping glimpses of the sky from nearly every vantage point.
ON20, a celebrated white tablecloth establishment for many years, closed during the uncertainty of the pandemic in 2020, but two years ago, Hartford Steam Boiler’s leadership began reaching out to key people to start conversations about reopening the restaurant.
Fire by Forge is a Pan-American inspired restaurant that opened in spring of 2023 and has been receiving accolades ever since. Flavors, ingredients, cooking techniques, and even the wines and spirits are drawn from across the Americas, with a strong lean toward what is local, sustainable, and fresh.
Forge City Works serves the community but also provides hands-on job training in customer service, hospitality, and culinary arts for people who have barriers to employment.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and restaurants across Connecticut are preparing countless turkeys and pumpkin pies to serve you and your family. Whether you’re preparing a meal at home or you’ve decided to visit your favorite local restaurant, there are tons of businesses that are hard at work to make sure your Thanksgiving is the most memorable one yet.
From roasting a whole turkey yourself to heat-and-serve meals to a fully-plated multi-course meal served at the table, you can find your level of Thanksgiving exertion among the restaurants in this roundup. Time is running out, so don’t delay – order your Thanksgiving dinner or book your reservations today!
For your convenience, the guide is organized by county – simply find yours to see what local options are available! We have also made note of which locations are providing Vegan options this year. And, finally, if you want to pick up a fresh turkey to cook at home, there is a section devoted entirely to Connecticut farms at the bottom of the guide.
We have long loved Alison Milwe Grace of AMG Catering. Not only does AMG elevate the catering industry in Connecticut, but she also supports the community in so many other ways. We are excited to announce the release of her first cookbook, SAVOR, Recipes to Celebrate, just in time for the holidays.
“I have always loved how cooking brings people together and I wrote this book to share my love for food and encourage others to savor time with family and friends. Savor, A Reason to Celebrate is a collection of some of favorite and simplest recipes. I want everyone to see that we don’t need a major holiday or a complicated recipe to gather with friends and family and celebrate,” says Milwe Grace.
Savor is a carefully curated collection of Milwe Grace's favorite recipes, themed classes, and menus for enthusiastic home cooks to create festive gatherings for friends and family. Whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, need inspiration for a backyard barbecue, or want to impress your guests on New Year's Eve, Savor will be the cookbook you reach for again and again.
Ah, the “ber” months-filled with so many great holidays and events! I think we can all agree that while we are excited for the holiday season, it can also be a bit daunting. Happily, at our beck and call are a plethora of fabulous resources, such as these skilled, creative, and enthusiastic caterers. Your work just got easier, your event just got more memorable, and the food just got more delicious. Book ‘em soon so you can lean back and enjoy these “ber” months! A note: We are listing towns where the caterers are based, but many of them work throughout CT, so don’t hesitate to call them. Enjoy!
Fall is on the horizon and with that comes the celebration of two major Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These events are incredibly significant to many in our community, as both are packed with thousands of years of history and generational traditions. While every religion has its own beliefs and customs, I think each culture can agree on one single truth: food is good and good food is even better. This list we’ve compiled includes restaurants, caterers, synagogues offering communal dinners, and markets, all of which are offering traditional, mouth-watering High Holiday favorites (plus a little extra). From our CTbites community to yours, we hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season. Shanah Tovah!
Having a party? One way to get the good times rolling is with a glass of wine or beer or cocktails from a mobile bar. These niche bar service ideas offer a way for you and your guests to unwind with a stylish and modern mobile truck, converted horse trailer, or vintage car. Many of these mobile bar services are customizable, offering specialty cocktails, beer, wine, mocktails, food, and even photobooths to align with the theme of your special day. Check out more below to find the perfect mobile bar for your special day.
Warm weather is back, which means it’s officially food truck season! Food trucks have enjoyed a growing trend in recent years that allows fully mobile, restaurant-quality food to come right to your doorstep in the form of private events. Or, simply stop by your local farmers market or street fair to find them lined up, ready to serve! No matter what kind of cuisine you enjoy, there is probably a food truck out there in Connecticut that has exactly what you’re craving.
Since Food Trucks are mobile and can pop up in different towns around Connecticut, this guide is separated into food categories such as pizza, tacos, ice cream, seafood, etc. Simply scroll down to whatever you’re in the mood for and discover some of the great food trucks the state has to offer.
Keep your eyes peeled for a separate Cocktails & Beer Food Truck guide coming soon!
I was recently lucky enough to find myself in the small town of East Hampton, CT on the day of their annual Harvest Stroll. While there were supposed to be several food offerings at this annual event, the rain kept most of them away. Thankfully for me and my fellow rainy (and hangry) day adventurers, Jayy’s Little Red Trailer was not afraid to get wet…and seriously flavorful!
Offering strictly comfort food, Chef Jayy Riera and her wife Tamara Riera have been running this food truck for a little over a year. The pair travel all over Connecticut to cater weddings, birthday bashes, office parties, apple orchards, and even ski resorts. Notably, Jayy and her crew catered a few healthcare facilities this past spring during National Nurses Week. Jayy and Tamara definitely stay busy as they travel around and cook for the people of Connecticut, so I asked them what their favorite experience has been thus far and they both had the same answer: they get to meet and interact with all types of people and the food they serve is so different from what customers are used to getting from food trucks. Jayy’s excitement and her love of cooking exudes from her food and her presence. While I was secretly hoping to try everything on the menu, I did not want to appear too…gluttonous? She insisted that try everything, and she’s the boss so I was in no position to break the rules.
We don’t have to explain how big of a deal Thanksgiving dinner is. Arguably, it is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year – not just for the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie, but for the time spent with loved ones.
Some years, you want to go all out and embrace your inner Martha Stewart. There are businesses in Connecticut ready to supply you with the highest quality fresh turkey. Other years, you want to kick back and let someone else do the cooking. There are countless restaurants and catering companies across the state ready to take your order for a fully prepared meal. Or, maybe, you want to switch things up and take the family gathering on the road – as you might imagine, there are tons of excellent Connecticut restaurants open on Thanksgiving with special menus just for the holiday.
For your convenience, the guide is organized by county – simply find yours to see what local options are available! We have also made note of which locations are providing Vegan options this year. And, finally, if you want to pick up a fresh turkey to cook at home, there is a section devoted entirely to Connecticut farms at the bottom of the guide. The time is now to make your Thanksgiving dinner plans, and either place your orders for a catered meal or book those reservations at your favorite restaurant!
Parkville Market, a hub of international cuisine, has graced Hartford with four new vendors. Taiwan Night Market, the Taste of Portugal and KOJI2GO have opened, and we hear that Flor do Mar has launched since we visited with a completely gluten free menu, each adding new, exciting, flavorful dishes to an already highly tasty market.
Parkville opened during the height of the pandemic in May of 2020, starting with only five vendors, all take-out. Now, three years later, the market is vibrant.
“Now being at 21 vendors we’ve really rounded out the different, uniqueness to the food that we offer,” Matt Sousa, Vice President of Operations at Parkville said. “If we’re lacking something then we go out and try to find whatever it is.”
We are all rolling, rolling, rolling into the summer months-Yay! Between parties, vacations, and just plain ol’ exploring, the warm and sunny months have us on the move. And what better info to have in your back pocket than plans for where to eat-trucks offering food of all kinds, whether you’re stopping mid-trip or renting for your next party! We have broken down this behemoth of a list by categories so you can high-tail it to the foods that interest you: Pizza, Tacos/Mexican, BBQ, Ethnic, Lobster & Seafood, All-American, Plant-Based/Alternative Diet, Ice Cream & Sweets, Cocktails & Beer and Coffee & Tea. Happy summer, everyone, roll on!
Your search for the perfect party has finally arrived. Connecticut now has a mobile Hibachi caterer who is ready to roll into your house and create the ultimate custom Hibachi party…just for you.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of “Hibachi “it’s a type of cuisine that was first introduced to Japan, a meal typically including meat, vegetables and seafood, cooked over very hot metal plates. The word “hibachi” comes from Japanese meaning "fire bowl."
Just like your favorite local Hibachi spot, Mr Hibachi pulls out all the stops for a hands on, interactive culinary experience. Guests (including kids) can take over the grill, score a cooking lesson, and learn some serious spatula skills. And then, of course, there is the time honored game of chefs throwing food into guest's mouths, and a REALLY fun twist, the Mr Hibachi SAKE GUN!! (a crowd favorite) Diners can “shoot” Sake at each other….or just enjoy some for themselves. Good times all around.
The Hartford Yard Goats baseball season begins Thursday, April 6, 2023, with the first pitch against the Bowie Baysox scheduled for 7:10 p.m., but all who partake in the experience at Dunkin’ Park – as the stadium has been recently renamed – know that watching the game is just one element of the overall experience.
For West Hartford residents and others from throughout the area who enjoy the Yard Goats, a night at the Dunk includes a chance to sample some unique and perhaps not-all-that-healthy food items. And while this year’s menu of offerings is a bit less “extreme” than it has been in other years, there are many delicious must-try items.
“It’s definitely one of the more exciting years for food here at Dunkin’ Park,”
said Yard Goats President Tim Restall, who has a food and beverage background and looks forward to the annual reveal of the menu created by chef Joe Bartlett and his team.
“We’ve kind of drawn away from the crazy, crazy foods,” Bartlett said a sneak peek showcase event for reporters Monday. “We wanted to draw back to the ‘classic ballpark.'”
Chef Tyler Anderson and Hands On Hartford have launched a remarkable new restaurant concept just in time to dine out and give back this holiday season. Gather55 restaurant opened this Fall in Hartford with a monthly rotation of guest chefs who will serve up a “by-reservation-only” $42 prix fixe menu. Chef Tyler Anderson, who is handling the Chef programming kicked things off, followed by Chef Billy Grant of Restaurant Bricco in December, and then Emily Mingrone of Tavern on State in January. Each evening, approximately 20% of the tables are reserved for diners who can’t pay the full price. The goal is to create a place where everyone can celebrate and enjoy a delicious meal in a comfortable and caring environment.
Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Cora Cora Peruvian Restaurant and the Ludena family that own it, are finally getting the recognition they deserve. All of their hard work and dedication to serving traditional, authentic Peruvian food handed down through family recipes has helped not only them, but Connecticut also, gain recognition on the national food scene with not one, but two nominations by the James Beard Foundation. First for Outstanding Restaurant, and second for Best Chef: Northeast.
