Winfield Street Coffee Introduces New Culinary + Coffee Directors and Expanded Lunch Menu Interview Restaurant Winfield Street Coffee Stamford Westport Westchester New York New York City Coffee Lunch Andrew Dominick April 05, 2023 reno Donatti recalls being in the Bronx and trying to get back to Stamford’s branch of Winfield Street Coffee. “I punched in Winfield Street Coffee in Google Maps, and for the time, it gave me the ‘see locations’ option,” he says. “I thought, Oh! This is awesome!” Read More
The Taco Project Introduces Former Alinea Chef as Culinary Director—Stamford Location Launches Brunch Interview Restaurant The Taco Project Stamford Westchester Brunch Interview Chef Talk tacos Mexican Fast Casual Homepage Andrew Dominick March 02, 2023 Less than a year ago, we introduced readers to Stamford branch of The Taco Project, a fast casual Mexican restaurant whose roots began in Tarrytown in 2014.Since April of 2022, The Taco Project and its brand grew even more outside of its existing Westchester locations (Tarrytown, Yonkers, Pleasantville, Bronxville) and its High Ridge Road spot in Stamford, as they’ve set their sights on the Florida market and opened up shop in Coral Springs.But with growth comes some additions. Read More
Roadtrip: Augustine’s Salumeria Dazzles with Seasonal, Modern Italian in Mamaroneck Features Road Trip Restaurant Homepage Mamaroneck Westchester New York Hudson Valley Italian Chef Chef Talk Andrew Dominick January 12, 2023 If you listen to Marc Taxiera talk about his style at his newly opened Mamaroneck restaurant, Augustine’s Salumeria, he speaks about it passionately.“It’s born in Italian cooking, but I’m using ingredients from the market, things that turn us on,” he says. “My food was always about taking ingredients that we can get and showcasing them in the best way. Most Italian tends to be heavy on the sauce, fried calamari, chicken parm, but we’re taking the seasons and playing with it, doing it a little differently.” Read More
Bona Bona Ice Cream in Port Chester Launches Savory Bites Menu + Boozy Milkshake Bar Features Ice Cream Interview Restaurant Ice Cream Milkshakes Bona Bona Ice Cream Bona Bona Port Chester Westchester Greenwich Andrew Dominick January 05, 2023 Those who are newly familiar with Nick Di Bona’s namesake Bona Bona Ice Cream should know he’s not just an ice cream man.It’s no surprise that Di Bona’s small batch Italian interpretation of American ice cream has taken off. Nutella S’mores, Italian Rainbow Cookie, and Key Lime Pie are a few, but throw in Bona Bona’s signature toasted meringue topping, and it’s not only delicious, it’s highly photographable. Read More
8 Home Meal Delivery Services in Connecticut: Don't Cook! Order Up! Features Home Delivery Meal Delivery Delivery Service Prepared Food Best of CT Roundup Highlight April Guilbault June 07, 2022 Tired of cooking? Or maybe you love to cook but just can’t face the stove one…more…night. There are a million reasons why help is sometimes needed in the kitchen: a dear friend had a baby and hasn’t slept in 3 weeks, a neighbor is sick, your parents are getting older and you want to make sure they eat well, you’ve been away on vacation and would love to have some meals for when you return, or, well, you’re just plain sick of cooking (as we mentioned). It is vacation time, after all. Whether you need prepared meals for someone special or just to supplement your own cooking and streamline life a bit, there are plenty of options that make it easy. And delish! That’s precisely why we are highlighting these eight fantastic services. Some cater to dietary needs, some focus on local or organic ingredients, and all offer many tasty options to satisfy.Here are 8 home meal delivery services we have enjoyed in Connecticut. Read More
The Granola Bar in Rye Launches After Hours Upscale Bar Menu Features Interview Road Trip Restaurant The Granola Bar Rye Westchester bar cocktails bar food burgers Homepage Andrew Dominick March 23, 2022 Riddle me this. The Granola Bar begins each morning frothing lattes, stacking egg sandwiches, and spreading avocado on sourdough. If they switch it up after hours by dimming the lights, mixing cocktails, popping corks, and serving up dry-aged smash burgers, caviar topped hash browns, and trout roe deviled eggs, what’s it called then?The Bar.Sorry that wasn’t as clever as a puzzle presented by a certain Batman villain.But nevertheless, what’s happening at The Granola Bar’s Rye location is something worth spilling. And it all goes down in a setting that’s fit for Gotham City. All the marble, mirrors, palms and live garden walls make it feel like a cross between Manhattan chic and Miami Beach. It’s fit for date night, girl’s night (or guy’s night!), and a quick after work drink. Psst! The Bar opens at 5. Just an FYI for those who need a fast post-work fix. Read More
Fortina Stamford Launches New Brunch Menu...And It's Damn Tasty Features Interview Restaurant Italian brunch Homepage Stamford Westchester Fortina Andrew Dominick February 10, 2022 Paul Failla uses the word “afterthought” when describing the brunch that was previously offered at all four Fortina locations in Stamford, Armonk, Rye Brook, and Yonkers.“The old menu was like five items,” he says. “People didn’t come here for brunch. They’d always get pizza. Brunch was always an afterthought here.”One of Failla’s first orders of business as the restaurant’s sole culinary director was to all but scrap the former “barely a brunch” format and make Fortina a place you’d seek out for daytime drinks, yolky goodness, breakfast sandwiches, sweets, and more.Failla joked that the only thing that would stay on the brunch menu are the bottomless mimosas, and while that’s true, the only other holdover will be a tweaked version of eggs in purgatory, but with a spicier marinara sauce.The rest of the menu is a switch-up entirely. Read More
Road Trip: Crotty's Cheesesteaks: A Taste of Philly in New Rochelle Features Interview Restaurant Road Trip cheesesteaks New Rochelle Westchester Hudson Valley Fast Casual Homepage Andrew Dominick February 07, 2022 Imagine NOT having to drive over 100 miles for a cheesesteak.No, I don’t mean just any cheesesteak. I’m talking about thin-sliced, practically shaved steak, drippy golden yellow Cheez Whiz, translucent onions, and a hoagie roll that strikes that balance of soft and chewy.Your neighborhood pizza joint that claims to have a “Philly” doesn’t count. It’s fine if you made the mistake and ordered that dry, sorry excuse for a cheesesteak once, just don’t let it happen again.You no longer have to settle for less. Crotty’s Cheesesteaks—located directly across from Hugenot Park and a hop, skip, and a jump from Iona College—is here to save you from all the bad cheesesteaks that exist in the general area and beyond. Read More
Tina Zaccardi: The Woman Behind The Italian Cookie Features Baker Cottage Bakers Custom Cakes Cakes Cookies Caterers Westchester Donna Monaco Olsen July 20, 2021 Do you follow Tina Ziccardi Bakes, aka @theItalianCookie? Her media pages are loaded with baked deliciousness that is not only drool worthy, but is downright eye-candy perfection! Following her grand win on “The Great American Baking Show” Season 4 (Hulu), Augustina Zaccardi (Tina) became a bit of a local celebrity right here in Westchester. Her huge fan base from her hometown of Eastchester rooted her on with each baking challenge, becoming more difficult as each week passed. We all watch in amazement as contestants fly through the challenges on each food competition, but meeting with Zaccardi and listening to her describe what it is really like to be on a cooking show was enlightening. She described the experience, which filmed in England, to be competitive yet jovial and the contenders to have more comradery than might be expected in a contest pitting bakers against each other in difficult timed elimination assignments. Although they were in a heated competition, they became somewhat of a family and are still in close contact with each other today. Read More
The Home Cook: ‘Heat & Eat’ Meal Delivery Service Features Ingredients Home Delivery Dining At Home Delivery Service Catering Caterer Meal Delivery Homepage Stephanie Webster June 23, 2021 I’ve got to be honest. I really don’t like to cook. I LOVE to eat, but like many parents, the daily dinner drama is, well, just that…a ground hogs day “oh lord not again” situation. For this reason, I have spent a good deal of time, sampling and reviewing the local meal delivery services/caterers who can provide me with a dinner experience that feels “home cooked” but only involves my heating things up in and around my oven. #lazyandlovingitOne might think that identifying this type of local ‘heat & eat’ meal delivery service would be an easy task, but the requirements involved in successfully prepping large quantities of food that fares well in transit, and then is to be re-heated by an “at home cook,” is trickier than you might think. Meal prep like this requires determining the proper balance of par-cooking dishes, heating instructions for dummies, and developing meal plans that work for any and all family dynamics. Read More
Marcia Selden Catering Creates Perfect Picnicking for Greenwich Polo (sponsored post) Features Catering Caterer Home Delivery Picnic CTbites Team June 04, 2021 Wanna do something totally different and truly tasty thanks to Marcia Selden Catering and The Greenwich Polo Club? All summer long, you can get on the field and in the competitive horse action at Greenwich Polo Club’s Sunday public matches. Fun Fact: Polo is the world's oldest known team sport.So, what’s better than dressing up and watching beautiful horses and skilled players compete on a nice summer day? I’ll tell you what….Marcia Selden Catering has created custom polo picnic boxes available weekly for pre-order. Each picnic box feeds 2 people and each is packed with its own deliciousness. Read More
Jackie’s Empanadas On The Go: Artisanal Argentine Food Delivered Ingredients Features Empanadas Home Delivery Cottage Bakers Latin American Bakery Argentine Comfort Food Caterer Camille Vynerib May 26, 2021 Due to the pandemic, many families have primarily been eating at home for the past year. Home-cooked meals are great but can get monotonous, and let’s be real -- sometimes you just don’t want all the work. Jackie’s Empanadas On The Go is a great solution for tired parents, young adults craving a quick delicious meal, and anyone looking for a unique alternative to the meal-time grind. They can be purchased frozen or baked, picked up or delivered… how easy is that?!Jackie Mendive, the founder of Empanadas On The Go, said her journey began by preparing empanadas for her family and friends. Mendiv grew up in Argentina, and she wanted to keep her upbringing and culture alive. Jackie says she would often think to herself, “I wish I could just order them online” since the actual preparation was extremely time-consuming. In January of 2017, she decided to begin selling her empanadas to local families. Since then, Empanadas On The Go has expanded to all of Fairfield County, Westchester County, as well as delivering to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Read More
The Food Crate Delivers Ultimate New England Seafood Experience To Your Doorstep (sponsored post) Features Ingredients Home Delivery Seafood Delivery Service Lobster Lobster Roll Lobster Bake Catering CTbites Team May 05, 2021 Is there anything more perfect than hosting a dinner party for 6-8 people, where the meal is delivered to your doorstep, arrives in a single pre-made pot, and you don’t have to do ANY of the work? I think not. It is for this reason that I sing ALL the praises for THE FOOD CRATE’s customizable ATLANTIC STEAMPOT. This quintessential New England seafood experience comes ready to cook in its own container, complete with Snow Crab, Peeled White Shrimp, Atlantic Clams, Mussels, Smoked Sausage (optional), Potatoes and Corn….and the best part is…everything has been done for you. This dinner party in a box arrives perfectly layered. No muss. No fuss, All you need to do is pour wine or beer and cook as per the directions on the label. Bonus: Want more yum? Add up to 2.5LBS of mixed King Crab, Lobster, Shrimp and more Snow Crab a la carte and invite a few more guests.BONUS!! CTbites Readers Get 10% OFF with Code FC10 Read More
Grammie's Donuts & Biscuits: Get your Breakfast Sandwiches, Donuts & Cronuts DELIVERED! Restaurant Openings Ghost Kitchen Breakfast donuts Cronut Egg Sandwich Delivery Home Delivery Brunch Homepage Stephanie Webster March 02, 2021 I often fantasize about waking up to a 6 pack of donuts and a warm bacon egg and cheese sandwich nestled on a freshly made biscuit. Seriously…all the time. I’ve got issues. Well, now there is a ghost kitchen in Westport, CT where such dreams can become a reality…and they did last weekend. Introducing Grammie’s. For those not familiar with the concept of a ghost kitchen, it just means there is no actual restaurant—not in the traditional sense. You can't come and cozy up to a table, but you can order Grammie's donuts, cronuts, flakey biscuits, croissants and breakfast sandwiches (made on ANY of the above freshly baked carbs) for curbside pickup and delivery through their website. Yup. Lay in bed and hit send…Voila! Read More
Nala’s Kitchen: Healthy Food Delivered & Now Available Throughout CT Features Restaurant Take Out Home Delivery Healthy Eats healthy Meals To Go West Hartford Kristin L. Wolfe February 05, 2021 As of February 1, fans of Nala’s Kitchen will be able to get some of their delicious, wholesome meals at various Noble Convenience Stores across Connecticut. Sure, You can order their meals online whenever you’d like, but what a radical shift for your gas and go stops! Imagine going to a convenience store, after pumping gas, and, instead of coming out with candy, soda, and some unidentifiable colorful snack you’d likely feel guilty and sick over twenty minutes later, you could leave your local Noble’s munching on something that will be both healthy and gaa’damn delicious. Read More
Geoff Lazlo Food: Chef Driven Gourmet Food Delivery To Your Door Daily Features Ingredients Delivery Service Home Delivery Catering To-Go Stephanie Webster October 22, 2020 Chef Geoff Lazlo has been cooking delicious locally sourced, elevated comfort food for years in Fairfield County. CT diners will remember him from Bill Taibe’s The Whelk in Westport, and most recently from the very popular Mill Street in Greenwich, but he also spent time at both Gramercy Tavern and Blue Hill Stone Barns. When I got on the phone with Lazlo last week to discuss his new chef driven gourmet food delivery service, I had to laugh when I asked “what’s going on chef?,” and he replied with “honestly I don’t even know anymore.” Restaurants and chefs across the state have had to be nimble and do some pivoting to stay relevant in the current pandemic economy, and Lazlo is no exception. “I’m always figuring out the next thing to do, and I’m always thinking about moving forward,” says Lazlo. That forward motion propelled him to launch Geoff Lazlo Food, serving Fairfield and Westchester Counties, and giving food-lovers the opportunity to enjoy hand-cooked meals in the comfort of their own homes. Read More
Locally Made Canned Cocktails We've Been Lovin' in Summer 2020 Features Ingredients Cocktails Canned Cocktails Drinks Home Delivery homepage Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe August 15, 2020 Not gonna lie. I’m sucked in by looks. What’s on the inside counts, sure, but when I see a sharp, sexy...wait a minute. I’m talking about my drinks. What were you thinking?Ok, weird intro aside, there seems to be an endless list of new canned drinks out there and room for even more. And, although nothing these days seems to be “normal” we are trying to enjoy ourselves however we can; and to me, sun, water, and delicious cold drinks, certainly helps that effort. So, while some of your pandemic hobbies might have revolved around expanding your mind or being creative with activities like puzzles, knitting, or cooking grannies old recipes, mine sorta kinda included drinking on the beach; and drinking delicious, creatively designed canned beverages, in particular. I started out with the popular seltzers like White Claw, Stoli’s yada yada, then moved to a few hard ciders from the 1911 suite (from Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards), like the Rosé in a tall, gorgeous soft pink can; then my fam and I fell in love with punch of the Watermelon Mint with graphics as a bold as the taste.But then my new “hobby” got a little more interesting, uh...well, bolder, with stronger boozish. Here are a couple of brands created in our lovely state, then a few others you just have to try, especially since there’s still at least six weeks left of sunshine. However, I gather these will still be enjoyed well beyond the end of summer. Read More
The Food Crate Launches, Delivering High End Specialty Prepared Foods to Your Doorstep Features Ingredients Delivery Service Home Delivery BBQ Asian Meat Specialty Market Homepage Stephanie Webster August 12, 2020 CT based startup, THE FOOD CRATE has launched in the tri-state area (and just beyond) with overnight delivery of chef-sourced specialty and high end prepared foods to residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Why is this food delivery service different from all others? After eating my way through several of these fully loaded crates, enjoying everything from gluten-free chicken meatballs and marinated shrimp kabobs to Hawaiian Baby Back Ribs, a Lobster Pot for 8 and restaurant quality crab cakes, I can report with great certainty that The Food Crate is a delivery service that relieves the pressure of the dreaded nightly “what’s for dinner” conundrum, and will surely be on repeat order in my home. (Also thru Aug 31st CTbites readers get 15% OFF with Code: CTB15) Read More
"The Barn" at The Bedford Post Inn: Yep...It's THAT Good Restaurant Bedford Westchester American Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe August 02, 2020 There are very few meals that truly linger days after I have them. Ohhhh, but when one does, I’m inclined to get out my imaginary megaphone and shout. The Charred Octopus at The Barn has had me positively awestruck. Our very editor here at CTbites asked me, “It was that good?” “Yes, Boss Lady, it was realllllllly good.” As one of three new eateries housed within The Bedford Post Inn, The Barn is in the midst of a fresh start. Again. Chef Roxanne Spruance and her crew had only just taken on the restaurants, and restructured and revived The Barn, just a few months before the pandemic hit, so the June Phase 2 re-opening has given them yet another chance to really open. Chef feels lucky. She says, “Thankfully, despite the timing, we’ve hardly skipped a beat.” Read More
Takeout Chronicles: Mr. Frosty and David’s Soundview Catering Features Restaurant Take Out To-Go Home Delivery ice cream Dessert Caterers Lobster Lobster Roll Norwalk April Guilbault June 23, 2020 This review is going to go in reverse because the first thing my family ordered for take-out in the early weeks of quarantine was…ice cream. We fancy ourselves pretty healthy eaters in this house, so our intense want of ice cream one evening will get chalked up to the need for some unabashed comfort food in the face of world events. Mr. Frosty’s Ice Cream in Norwalk is an institution. It (ice)screams summer and salty air evenings, sweatshirts, sandy hair, and flip-flops. However, their newly minted pickup kits will keep you entertained while we wait for any semblance of summer to return. We ordered the “Survival Kit.” Our next take-out order involved another hungering for summer. A summer in our house is not complete without a lobster roll and we knew where to get a good one: David’s Soundview Catering in Stamford. Read More
