Filtering by Tag: lunch,Latin Fusion

Lao Cocina Opens in Bridgeport: Laotian X Puerto Rican Fusion Cuisine

Features Interview Restaurant Openings Interview Bridgeport Puerto Rican Laotian Latin Fusion Homepage

Andrew Dominick

When the popular Venezuelan-meets-Mexican mashup, Mil Sabores, vacated their original brick-and-mortar at 2043 Fairfield Avenue and went onto opening a bigger restaurant further down the street, they left their digs to another tenant, even if it is for a limited run. Lao Cocina, a Laotian and Puerto Rican fusion spot, that’s mostly takeout, is filling out the rest of that lease. Created by the husband-and-wife team of April Khanthaphixay, her husband, Daniel Colon, and Daniel’s uncle Sergio, they’re mixing their respective cultures for a new kind of concept.


Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Happy Monkey in Greenwich + Now Serving Lunch

Features Interview Ingredients Restaurant Jean-Georges Vongerichten Jean-Georges Happy Monkey Greenwich Greenwich Latin Fusion Latin American Homepage

Andrew Dominick

A bowl arrives at my table, and I’ve never seen arroz con pollo like this before. Pan seared chunks of chicken just barely peek out of the rice. And the rice? It looks a perfect midpoint between fluffy and al dente. It’s clearly well-seasoned, sucking up all that stock and sofrito.

But something about it strikes me.


Alma Bistro Cocina Latina Opens in Norwalk With Delicious Nuevo-Latino Soul Food

Restaurant Latin American Latin Fusion Norwalk South Norwalk Openings Happy Hour Homepage

Jessica Ryan

Alma Cocina brings soul to Norwalk’s Wall Street area.  

I recently had the opportunity to visit the newly opened Alma Bistro. Just a couple of weeks old, this Latin-fusion eatery features delicious Nuevo-Latino soul food with an upscale twist and promises to be the darling of the Norwalk restaurant scene.

Alma Bistro Cocina Latina was founded by Alma Miranda, Ulises Jiminez, Don Rene and Norberto Lucero out of a deep love for food that is authentically Latino. We have some real star power here. 


Bombar’BQ: Delicious Latin Fusion Food Truck in Byram

Features Interview Restaurant Food Truck Greenwich Byram Latin American Latin Fusion Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Finding article subjects can, at times, be difficult. I know that for me, the best resources are often chefs and restaurant owners. One questions that comes up often when we run into each other is, “Where have you been eating lately?” Sometimes we’ll randomly send a text or DM when we feel passionately about an establishment, or in this case, a food truck!

The tip about Bombar’BQ came from Nathalia Gonzalez, who owns the wonderful Colombian restaurant Antojos in Norwalk. “Their food is delicious!” she wrote to me. “You have to come by and try them!”

When I had time to visit, she even threw in her recommendations of a carne asada taco, an arepa, and a creation called “Bomba Fries” topped with smoked brisket as per Nathalia’s suggestion.

I hopped in my Jeep after a gym session and punched the address into Google Maps. I noticed it was just off Mill Street in the Byram section of Greenwich. Cool. Easy enough. No traffic on 95? Even better. Eighteen minutes later, I pulled up by Ebb Tide Boat Rentals and spotted the Bombar’BQ trailer sitting right on the side of the bait & tackle shop. I love fishing, but I certainly wasn’t there for sandworms or bunker.

Before knowing what Bombar’BQ is all about, getting to know its owner, Ruddy Bollat, is essential.

Bollat didn’t have a background in the hospitality industry until he came to the U.S. a decade ago. In fact, he was an accountant in his home country of Guatemala. “In my country it’s hard to succeed in the restaurant/hospitality industry,” he says. “I’ve always been passionate about food, so when I came to the U.S. I saw an opportunity. Since I was an accountant, being good with numbers helped me succeed as a chef here.”

From there, Bollat got bit by the restaurant bug when he took a job a bartaco Westport as a dishwasher. It wasn’t long until he was offered an opportunity to cook on the line. It was onward and upward after that. “I was hungry to succeed,” he says. “It took me two years before I became the executive chef of bartaco in Stamford. In 2016, I transferred to Barcelona Wine Bar. I worked in Norwalk, D.C., Denver, and Philly.”

After his long stint with the Barteca Restaurant Group, Bollat worked as the kitchen director at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, then with Hudson Grille in White Plains, and he helped out at Hudson’s other concept, Lilly’s.

Right around the time Bollat made the decision to do his own thing, the pandemic hit. “It was hard to open a restaurant, so we decided to open a food trailer,” he says. “The plan was to have a Latin BBQ fusion concept. A lot of the techniques and spices we use are influenced by Central and South American cultures.”

And that’s how Bombar’BQ was born.


Baldanza Moves to Wilton & Takes Over The Schoolhouse

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Andrew Dominick

School is officially back in session in the Cannondale neighborhood of Wilton. We’re not talking education but rather The Schoolhouse’s new “teachers,” Angela and Sandy Baldanza and their son, Alex.

Before the family’s move to the historic Cannondale School, they were restaurantless. No, you aren’t crazy to imagine that they had a few restaurants at one point. They owned and operated Baldanza Cafe for 8 ½ years in New Canaan with six of those spent where SE The Back End is now. They even ran Baldanza Bistro in Darien behind Ten Twenty Post.

“When COVID hit, we closed that space (Darien) because it was too small for outdoor seating,” Angela says. “We took a lease at 21 Forest (in New Canaan). A few months in, we received complaints from the condo board there. We cut our losses there and our Darien lease ended. And we only left 17 Elm because of the place in Darien, so we were left with no restaurants at all.”

Cue the 1872 building we’ve all known as The Schoolhouse at Cannondale under Tim LaBant and most recently the home of Hugh Mangum’s popular Rise Doughnut pop-up who subleased from LaBant for a year. LaBant, who had a 14-year run at The Schoolhouse decided not to renew for a few reasons. “I left to focus on Parlor Wilton and the new Parlor Darien,” he says. “My lease was up and in these crazy times, I decided not to renew.”

All of the moving, and the closings, led to a coincidence.

“Ironically, Tim has our old spot in Darien where he opened Parlor and we took over The Schoolhouse on July 1,” Angela says. “Here we are, and we love being here. Sandy and I used to come here for dinner when we had a break from our restaurant. We love Tim.”

At this iteration of Baldanza, diners can anticipate a local, organic, and homemade approach. Brioche and Tuscan bread are sourced from Balthazar Bakery, while the naturally leavened, freshly milled sourdough comes from 123Dough Bakery in Pound Ridge. They also get seasonal produce from Connecticut farms, citing Wilton’s own Ambler Farm as a primary supplier and seafood is by way of New Wave Seafood in Stamford.

The approach to “local and fresh” applies in the kitchen where Baldanza’s longtime chef, Rodrigo Pacheco executes a menu mostly curated by Angela and Sandy. Pasta, as you’ll see in a hearty pappardelle Bolognese, is made in-house, as is the fluffy ricotta gnocchi tossed in roasted tomato vodka sauce, the cheese ravioli, and the tagliatelle caprese with buffala mozzarella and cherry tomato sauce.


Playa Bowls Opening In West Hartford w/ Bowls & Smoothies Galore

Restaurant Smoothies Acai Bowl healthy west har open Breakfast lunch

CTbites Team

West Hartford, Connecticut is about to get a bowl full of sunshine with the opening of PLAYA BOWLS in Blue Back Square this November. Serving up bowls and smoothies made from açaí, pitaya, coconut, greens, chia, banana, and oatmeal, Playa Bowls uses the freshest high-quality ingredients, with sustainability and community in mind.

Furthermore, on Opening Day (exact date and time to be announced in the coming weeks on instagram at @playabowlsweha), the first 50 people in line will get a FREE bowl or smoothie of their choice!


The Blind Rhino Sports Bar Opens In Black Rock

Restaurant Openings Sports Bar Bar lunch Bridgeport Black Rock Comfort Food

James Gribbon

When the Blind Rhino opened in South Norwalk in 2015 it made waves both as the first dedicated sports bar in a nightlife-intensive district which was somehow devoid of one, and for making quality food and drink the focus, rather than an afterthought to bats and balls. Do they have beer and wings? Yep, but their beers are two dozen taps' worth of Connecticut focused craft, and their wings come with flavors like Togarashi dry rub and won multiple medals at the last year's National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, NY. Is there such a thing as a gastro sports bar? Yes, actually, there are two - and you can now find the second one just over the Fairfield town line in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport. 


Norwalk’s Catch of the Day Lasts All Summer Long sponsored post

Restaurant Norwalk Seafood lunch Fish Raw Bar

CTbites Team

Photo Credit:  The Cask Republic

Inspired by New England waters and international flavor profiles, Norwalk Now celebrates summertime with vibrant seafood dishes befitting that of a thriving coastal community. From raw bar favorites laced with hot sauce to butter-vs-mayo lobster roll wars, Norwalk restaurants embrace the season with a variety of classic, innovative, and over-the-top seafood dishes that add to our summer enjoyment.  


Junzi Kitchen in New Haven: Customize Your Chinese Bings And Things

Restaurant New Haven Chinese Asian Noodles Lunch Take Out To-Go lunch Homepage

CTbites Team

Back in 2015, a few Yale students, including chef and culinary director Lucas Sin, got together and opened Junzi Kitchen in New Haven. The small counter-serve spot dishes out traditional Northern Chinese cuisine, specializing in bings (flour-pressed wraps) and noodles.

Since its creation, Junzi Kitchen has expanded to New York City, with one currently at Colombia University and a second to open on Bleecker Street this spring.

The New Haven location is bright and welcoming. It has an organic feel with its white brick walls, light wood accents, and lush greenery dangling from the ceiling. On one wall, there is a small display of featured artwork, including ceramics made by the China-based artist Junty.


Crazy Taco Mex: From Truck to Storefront via Hey Stamford!

Restaurant Mexican Tacos Stamford Food Truck lunch

Hey Stamford!

Josh Liva is no stranger to the restaurant business.  He found his passion as a teenager, traveling over 2 hours to work at his uncle’s restaurant.  It was there starting out as a dishwasher, that he developed his work ethic and style. It was through those efforts that he learned an important rule: “Treat everyone like family,” just like in Mexico.

With that in mind, Liva went on to open his first food truck – – Crazy Taco Mex – – almost 5 years ago in Stamford, a second food truck followed about a year after that …. and now, a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the heart of Stamford DowntownCrazy Taco Mex Taqueria and Tequila Bar. Following the same rules of the truck by pairing quality foods with quality service.

The restaurant takes over space previously occupied by another long standing Mexican restaurant, Tacos Guadalajara. The space was outdated and in need of a bit of a face lift.  With that, Liva and his family spent about 120 hours over 6 weeks renovating.  The new space is colorful and playful, offering seating for about 50.

Read the complete article on Hey Stamford!