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!
With the spring season in full bloom, Easter can’t be far away! This year, restaurants across the state are preparing special menus, including prix fixe meals and buffets, to celebrate the holiday. Whether you’re looking for a festive brunch or dinner, there are options all over the state. If you are hosting an Easter gathering at your home and you are looking for catering options, there are businesses ready to help out with the cooking! No matter how you choose to celebrate Easter this year, it’s sure to be delicious.
This guide has been organized by county to help you locate a restaurant nearest you. Scroll to your home county to see what businesses offer Easter specials this year.
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.
Every year has its ups and downs, its highs and lows, and 2024 was no different. Maybe it was your best year yet or maybe it kind of stunk and you’re looking forward to 2025. Either way, I hope you were able to eat great food and share yummy drinks over inspiring conversations with family, loved ones, or by yourself if that’s what you really wanted (alone time is okay!). So no matter the type of year you’ve had, it’s important we all go out with a bang, collectively. This list will provide you with the many New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day dinners, parties, brunches, and celebrations that our great state of Connecticut has to offer. The list is also broken down by county, so you have no choice but to throw some glitter on, dig out your 2024 glasses that you’re planning on turning into 2025 glasses somehow (you’re creative, you got this), and get yourself to a great restaurant or a rockin’ club. Do we love clubs 364 days out of the year? Maybe not, but on December 31st, we do! Happy New Year to my fellow CT brethren and here's to 2025! And don’t forget the advil…you’ll thank me later.
The holidays are quickly approaching; before you know it, it’ll be time to set out your milk and cookies for Santa. This also means it’s time to book your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day reservations! Restaurants across the state will be open on Christmas Day, with even more open on Christmas Eve for a festive holiday lunch or dinner. If you plan to prepare a dazzling holiday feast at home but need an extra set of hands in the kitchen, why not call up your favorite local restaurant? Many offer catering with pick-up and delivery options, with menus including all of your Christmas needs, from appetizers to desserts.
We’ve broken this guide up by county to make it easier to find a restaurant near you – Fairfield, New London, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and Windham. Simply scroll down to the region of the state you live in (or wherever you and your family are gathering this Christmas) and check out which restaurants are open on December 24 or 25. Happy holidays!
SHOP LOCALLY at these 9 Connecticut dairy farms this holiday season. Here’s where you can find delicious eggnog, made in CT, and in some cases, delivered to your doorstep!
And here we are again, on the threshold of the holiday season! The weather might be a little warmer than usual (but then again, it snowed this morning. Anyone else keeping up with all of this?) but the holiday spirit is in full swing! With that comes the quest for the perfect gifts for all those lovelies on your list. We have scoured and explored and found some delicious and interesting gift ideas for you…fresh delivered milk anyone? We have divided this curated list into four sections: Gifts, Cookbooks, Subscriptions, and a few “Beyond Connecticut” items not to be missed.
Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays to you, our fellow foodies!
Get those stretchy pants out of the deep, dark depths of your closet…don’t worry, we all have a pair! Once a year, these pants are necessary, as holiday excitement overtakes the part of the brain that tells us we’re full. We fight that voice that tells us to stop, that third and even fourth helpings of mashed potatoes and red wine aren’t going to help us cope with that obnoxious uncle your mom sat you next to out of spite. You know what will help? Pie and pie only. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as you can eat as much as you want without being judged, though they’ll still try. But keep your head held high, as this year you can brag about the wonderful pies you’ve spent hours upon hours picking out. You even preheated the oven and scooped out perfect balls of vanilla ice cream. So don’t let anyone tell you that you did nothing, because ice cream is not easy to scoop.
All throughout Connecticut you can find plenty of delicious pie options, whether you want your pies fruity, custardy, creamy, or gluten free. As they say, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and while we celebrate our family, friends, furbabies, and crazy uncles we’ve never met, it is important to recognize the true Thanksgiving savior: pie. Lucky for you, this guide is organized by county, so scroll down to find yours! Gobble, gobble.
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.
Connecticut is gearing up for the holidays with both the long running Miracle Christmas pop-up cocktail bar opening at three Connecticut bars, as well “Joy-ah for the Holidays! A Winter Wonderland” and “Ordinary’s Spirits of Christmas Past”, in New Haven. Make sure you hit up all of these as each has uniquely kitschy holiday décor, signature holiday themed cocktails, nibbles, and all the cheer and vibes you could possibly want or need.
Miracle Bar Pop-Up CT Locations
For those unfamiliar with Miracle Bar, this beloved Christmas themed holiday pop-up cocktail bar launched in 2014 in New York City, will continue spreading holiday cheer this year with over 100 locations around the world. Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. Grab your ugly Christmas sweater and head to their following 3 CT locations featuring over the top holiday decor, holiday cocktails and oh so much more:
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!”
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.
Welcome to New Haven, CT, where hidden gems await to host your next company get-together. Nestled amidst the vibrant cityscape are venues that promise to elevate your corporate events with charm, delectable cuisine, and unique atmospheres. Whether you're seeking the cozy ambiance of a café, the fresh flavors of a seafood restaurant, the warmth of an Italian eatery, the sophistication of a bar and steakhouse, or the soulful tunes of a jazz cabaret, New Haven offers a variety of settings to suit every occasion. Join us as we unveil six of the city's best-kept secrets for company gatherings, each offering its own distinctive appeal and the promise of a memorable event.
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.
