Broken Symmetry Introduces New Chef, New Menu, and Teases Expansion Brewery Interview Restaurant Brewery Broken Symmetry Bethel Interview Beer chef Andrew Dominick September 13, 2023 It wasn’t all that long ago that we covered Bethel’s own Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery and some of the changes that were happening at the time. Read More
29 Markle Ct Introduces Chef In Residency Series—First with Chef Roshara Sanders Events Interview Restaurant Damon Sawyer Bridgeport Roshara Sanders Black Owned Chefs Interview Andrew Dominick September 06, 2023 After he gave the closed-to-the-public dining room a warm welcome on a summer Saturday in August, Damon Sawyer told diners that they were about to experience something rare.“To my knowledge, this has never been done in Bridgeport before.” Read More
Chef Forrest Pasternack Returns to Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield CT Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Bailey's Backyard Farm To Table Interview Chef Talk Ridgefield Andrew Dominick August 27, 2023 Ask Forrest Pasternack about being back in Ridgefield and he’ll tell you that “there’s nothing quite like home.”Already well traveled in this area and in New York as a renowned chef at several acclaimed restaurant, Pasternack may be best known to locals from his five-years when he headed up the kitchen at the O.G. farm-to-table restaurant Bailey’s Backyard from 2013 – 2018.After a handful of years away, Pasternack is back!But where’s he been all this time?Well, a bunch of places and one big one at the same time. Read More
It's a Woman's World: Executive Pastry Chef Melissa Knauer of The Benjamin Interview It's A Woman's World Interview Pastry Chef pastry Dessert Andrew Dominick August 23, 2023 Earlier this summer, I was in attendance for one of the friends & family previews of The Benjamin, a new French – American restaurant in Ridgefield that took over the historic property that was once home to Bernard’s and Sarah’s Wine Bar. Read More
Los Charros Cantina: Must Eat Mexican In Branford From Chef Colt Taylor Features Interview Restaurant Colt Taylor Los Charros Cantina Branford Mexican Homepage Interview Tacos Burger Andrew Dominick July 28, 2023 Ask any fine dining enthusiast in our state and there’s a strong chance The Essex, owned by chef Colt Taylor, get a glowing recommendation.While writing this, it’s important to mention I’ve personally never been to The Essex. I simply know its reputation and I’ve heard the raves from my nerdiest food friends. I’ll get up to Old Saybrook soon, but before I check off The Essex, I wanted to meet Taylor at his other concept, Los Charros Cantina, where the menu marriage is a co-existence of authentic Mexican cuisine and L.A. style Mexican. Read More
Taco Guy Food Truck Opens Restaurant in Norwalk Features Interview Ingredients Restaurant tacos Norwalk Openings Interview Homepage Mexican Andrew Dominick July 20, 2023 Soul.That’s the word Adrian Hurtado uses when he describes the food he serves at his newly opened restaurant in Norwalk that’s an extension of his food truck, Taco Guy.“I have chicken tinga on the menu because it runs in my family, going back to my great-great grandparents,” he says. “When you’re eating here, you’re getting my culture, my family tradition, and a piece of what’s in my soul.”But for Hurtado, who grew up in the hospitality industry learning the ropes at the popular Super Taqueria Las Salsas in Bridgeport that’s owned by his father, he chose to not be a taquero as an adult.Instead, he started making pizzas at Bar Sugo in Norwalk before hopping behind the bar as a bar back. Read More
Greer Fredericks Returns to Norwalk with Greer Southern Table Features Interview Restaurant Homepage Norwalk Southern Food Openings Restaurants Interview Andrew Dominick July 18, 2023 You’ve just sat down at the newly opened Greer Southern Table in Norwalk. You either order a refreshing, fruity, ice cold cocktail, or you’re like me and despite it being 90 degrees, you still order an old fashioned. You scan the menu. You probably ponder over a few tasty dishes to share with your dining companions. Read More
Fryborg Food Truck Opens Restaurant in Trumbull Features Interview Restaurant Trumbull Homepage Openings French Fries Burgers Hot Dogs Sandwiches Interview Andrew Dominick July 13, 2023 “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. Read More
Mike’s Organic Grocery Opens in Greenwich: 6 Questions with Owner Mike Geller Interview Seasonal Events Grocery Store Shop Local farm fresh Greenwich Mike's Organic Cos Cob Interview Andrew Dominick July 06, 2023 In July of 2021, Mike Geller and his dedicated team at Mike’s Organic held an announcement event in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich where the bones of the former Patio.com store stood a vacant eyesore for about two years.That day, in the parking lot, friends and family gathered, food was devoured, and drinks were sipped as Geller enthusiastically spoke about the expansion of his Stamford-based grocery delivery service that would be taking over the 600 E Putnam Avenue space as a grocery store, selling all the finest local, farm fresh produce, meat, seafood, and top notch products that Mike’s Organic has become known for over the years.Fast forward to less than two years later, like right now, in the present, and Mike’s Organic Grocery is a real thing, as in, you can officially shop there! Preorder. Pick up. Push a cart and browse the shelves. Swing by for a grab-n-go lunch or dinner by their own “Made By Mike’s” lineup of salads, sandwiches, entrées, and more that are all made in-house. And we’re positive that there’s more in store when it comes to this new grocery store.I recently caught up with Geller for an interview because, honestly, there’s no one better than him to speak about the brand he has created through years of cultivating relationships with farmers and purveyors the way he can. Read More
Don Rene Taqueria: Tasty Mexican + Fusion Tacos and More in Milford Interview Features Restaurant tacos Milford Fast Casual Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick June 13, 2023 At the beginning of 2023, CTbites covered a new Latin American restaurant in Norwalk called Alma Bistro, owned by Alma Miranda and Ulises Jimenez. It was at Alma Bistro where my memory was jogged when Miranda mentioned that Jimenez, who wasn’t present on the day of our visit, is also the owner and head chef at Don Rene Taqueria in Milford.Don Rene had been on my Windows Notepad program that serves a double purpose as a calendar where I keep a running list of places I’m interested in covering. I know, I’m so organized.Three months after that article went live, I found myself kicking it with Jimenez at his super busy taqueria where Mexican tacos and apps are the canvas, but it’s also where Jimenez flexes his creative chops and blends in flavors from other cultures.Jimenez, who’s from Mexico originally, opened Don Rene in 2021 in the growing Milford Downtown that already includes a Colony Grill location, Scratch Baking, Archie Moore’s, and the outstanding Strega. Read More
First Look: Washington Prime and BJ Ryan’s Owners Open The Benjamin in Ridgefield Features Interview Restaurant French American Ridgefield Homepage Openings Interview Andrew Dominick June 07, 2023 Ridgefield’s West Lane is about to look a whole lot different after the transformation of Bernard’s Restaurant and Sarah’s Wine Bar to The Benjamin, brought to you by a trio of well-known Norwalk restaurateurs in Dave Studwell and Rob Moss of Washington Prime and B.J. Lawless of BJ Ryan’s Restaurant Group. Read More
Brasserie St. Germain Opens In Ridgefield From Sucre Sale Team Restaurant Opening Ridgefield French Lunch Raw Bar Homepage Jessica Ryan May 27, 2023 Brasserie St. Germain opened quietly though to much fanfare this past week. Named after St Germain des Pres, the quaint Parisian neighborhood, in the 6th arrondissement. Owners Frank Bonnaudet and Virginie Kharouby are no strangers to the Ridgefield restaurant scene. After nearly 10 years, the owners of the former Sucre Sale decided to shut down the smaller, casual eatery to make way for this newer, slightly more formal concept with its larger menu and more expansive dining areas.Brasserie St. Germain is an ode to Paris, from the décor – with hand-painted murals in the main dining and bar area that are bright and lively, to the more formal, high end dining area in the back. The restaurant seats between 75-80 people, and judging by what we saw, the space will fill very quickly. Former Sucre Sale diners have been eagerly anticipating this opening. The cozy ambiance suggests a relaxed dining experience, diners will not be rushed. Read More
PopUp Bagels Opens in Greenwich and More Expansion News Features Interview Bagels PopUp Bagels Greenwich Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick May 19, 2023 What began as a pandemic bagel baking hobby for Adam Goldberg has increased tenfold, and that’s putting it very lightly.PopUp Bagels kicked off three years ago when Goldberg and his cousin Jeff Lewis started making bagels for family and friends. Rave reviews led Goldberg to launching a backyard preorder pickup bagel biz that sold out time and time again. Read More
Chef Jeff Taibe Moves Taproot from Bethel to South Norwalk Features Interview Restaurant Taproot Jeff Taibe Norwalk Opening Interview Homepage Andrew Dominick May 17, 2023 South Norwalk, not counting its mainstay restaurants, tends to be a revolving door. One business goes out, some months pass, and another concept magically appears in its place.For Bruxelles Brasserie, known for its French – Belgian fare, this all happened a bit differently.Wait. Did I say Bruxelles? I surely meant Taproot. Or maybe I meant both… Read More
“Los Remolinos” Opens in Norwalk from Owners of Appetit Bistro Features Interview Restaurant Latin American Interview Openings Colombian Venezuelan Mexican Andrew Dominick April 29, 2023 With the recent news that Bruxelles Brasserie closed as of April 9 and will be taken over by Jeff Taibe and reopen as Taproot, French cuisine in South Norwalk has all but evaporated.But before the French-Belgian Bruxelles made this announcement, and at the beginning of 2023, Appetit Bistro, a more classic French restaurant, decided to switch things up, too.For Appetit’s owners, Edwin Montoya and chef Ismael Carias, whose Port Chester location is still going strong at eight years and counting, their concept simply didn’t catch on in SoNo despite seeing an initial boom of customers. Read More
Head to Milestone for Your Next Burger + Mystic Opening News! Features Interview Restaurant Burgers Redding Homepage cocktails Interview Mystic Andrew Dominick April 20, 2023 When CTbites last covered Milestone for their 2019 opening, we gave you an introduction to the Redding restaurant’s owners, Peter and Andi Fine, plus a rundown of their wood-fired pizzas and their “comfort food with a twist” approach.In the comments on that very article, “Jake” hit us with this statement:“Don’t short change the burger!!! It’s the best!” Read More
Keep Eating More Walrus: Walrus Alley Celebrates 10 Years & Opens For Friday Lunch Features Interview Restaurant Walrus Alley Walrus + Carpenter Westport Southern Southern Food BBQ Homepage Interview Live Music Cocktails Craft Beer Andrew Dominick March 18, 2023 “I remember we had just unlocked the doors at Walrus + Carpenter, and the first two customers that came in ordered a Bud Lights and a Coors Light. I heard Adam (Patrick) go, ‘Oh, we don’t have that.’ And one of the guys goes, ‘Fuck you! You won’t last’ That was our first reaction.” 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
Mil Sabores: Birria Tacos, Arepas, and Mexican + Venezuelan Classics in Bridgeport Features Interview Restaurant Bridgeport Mexican Venezuelan Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick February 24, 2023 Edwin Mondragon, who co-owns the popular Mexican – Venezuelan mashup Mil Sabores in Bridgeport, credits his mother’s mole as his first taste of the food service industry. He recalls memories of packing mom’s mole in plastic pint containers, filling up his backpack, and selling it, as a family, to customers and stores who sought out the homemade Mexican sauce. Read More
Quartiere in Stamford Implements “Adults Only” Policy Interview Restaurant adults only restaurant Stamford Italian food Italian Cocktails Date night Downtown Stamford Interview Andrew Dominick February 24, 2023 ADULTS ONLY!That’s exactly the policy Martin Bates put into effect on January 4, 2023, at his Downtown Stamford hotspot, Quartiere. Read More
