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.
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
One of my favorite shows growing up was The Twilight Zone. Most episodes included Rod Serling’s famous, “Imagine, if you will…” and his describing a “fifth dimension” between reality and imagination. I sometimes think of those days, a simpler time when life moved more slowly, where information was absorbed from the three-dimensional surroundings versus the two-dimensional computer screen, where families viewed eating out as a bonus, not as a plan B because everyone was too tired to cook and when every meal was not measured by its TikTok and Instagram potential. Sometimes a restaurant is a place to bring family, outside the Internet measurements, outside the stars, likes and looks, and just serve simple fare at reasonable prices.
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!
This daily heat and humidity can only mean one thing: it’s summertime in Connecticut. It’s also hot dog time in Connecticut! Meat-grilling season is here and Independence Day is right around the corner and with that brings the pressure of entertaining friends and family, lighting off “legal” fireworks, and curating an outdoor feast. But what if you didn’t have to worry about any of those things and instead decided to celebrate the season and holiday somewhere else, say, a local CT eatery that offers delicious hot dogs and other festive culinary options? As someone who grew up working at a hot dog stand, I know what makes a true dog standout from all the rest. Sometimes it’s about the basics, like mustard and kraut, and for others it’s about the chili, cheese, and other specialty toppings that cover the dog. No matter what you have in store for the summer and for the Fourth of July, the hot dog stands, restaurants, and drive-ins on this list will surely make you want to say “screw our plans, let’s keep it simple and leave the food to those that know it best.” And to that we say, “we’ve got you covered!” Goodbye, summer stress. Hello, mouth-watering hot dogs.
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!
You’re vegan. Or you’re not. You’re trying to eat healthier, or well, maybe you’re not, but however you slice it, you’re missing or craving a good burger. So how about a burger that has no meat, but has peanut butter, jelly, and jalapenos?…stick with us here…
SoulFully Vegan in Berlin, is pretty much smack in the middle of CT, with Rt.9, I-91, I-691, and the Berlin Turnpike running through it. Long story short, you can reach Berlin easily as you find yourself criss-crossing the state. Berlin now also has the distinction of being the site of the vegan brick and mortar eatery that will have you rethinking your next fast food craving.
Allison and Calvin Vaughan are the dynamic duo behind SoulFully Vegan. Their new eating adventure began not that long ago in 2019 when a call to action was needed after an eye-opening health diagnosis for Calvin. What followed for this couple was a slew of analysis of their current eating situation, followed by investigation and education on how to eat healthier, and an impactful viewing of the documentary “What the Health?” (currently on Netflix). They knew they wanted and needed to eat healthier but finding food that satisfied their cravings was a search that was coming up empty.
When Antojos closed at the tail end of 2023, it left a void in Norwalk as it pertains to Colombian fast food. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about; those humongous hamburgers, those loaded hot dogs, and massive orders of fries topped with every ingredient imaginable. Seemingly appearing out of thin air to answer those prayers was La Colombina Burger, that unbeknownst to me (and I’m sure a bunch of you) opened last July very under the radar, in a little strip of stores, in a parking lot I hadn’t pulled into since Tony’s Pet Shop was there all those years ago. The Tony’s shout is for the Norwalk heads. IYKYK.
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!
Swing by the Norwalk Town Green on any given day, and you’ll see at least one food truck parked out there. If you meandered over there this summer, you may have noticed a silver trailer that’s about as big as your smallest clothes closet. It’s also where you’ll find Darlene and John Banks slinging Jamaican…hot dogs and burgers?!
This just in. Chef Emily Mingrone of Tavern On State, Provisions on State, and her most recent addition, Fair Haven Oyster Co, is off on another exciting culinary adventure. After winning “CT’s Restaurant Of The Year” in 2022, Mingrone is expanding her New Haven footprint and launching a NEW FOOD TRUCK, this weekend, Friday, September 1st. The truck’s name is “The Pearl At Fair Haven Oyster Co.” and you can find it just next to her restaurant, Fair Haven Oyster Co., in the marina picnic area. The Pearl will be open Fridays-Sundays, noon to 7pm in the season, and depending on demand, Mingrone may keep the party going all year long.
“A lot of the food we serve is inspired by being a kid,” says Fryborg owner Jonathan Gibbons. “In Milford, an older guy in his 80s comes in regularly and he remarked that my food is like when he was a kid. That made me feel really good. The food, the video game table, the bubble hockey, it’s all about nostalgia.”
For many, me included, “nostalgia” is the right work to describe Fryborg.
The beloved New Canaan burger joint, Press Burger, has opened its second location in Wilton with even more delicious and creative eats. Co-owners Seth Leifer and John Gallagher set out to continue Press Burger’s mission as a delicious and fresh form of fast food, while expanding beyond its classic burgers and fries with new sauces, fried chicken sandwiches, the carrot dog (you’d be surprised how good it tastes), and more. As Leifer puts it, Press Burger is the Cava, Sweetgreen, or Chipotle of the burger world, a type of “cleaner, finer, fast casual.”
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!
