The Connecticut Restaurant Association and ProStart are training high school kids for culinary careers…and you can help support these programs by eating out THIS WEEK! Through March 9th, dine out to support ProStart students through ProStart Week. Round up, or donate $10 to get $10, and directly support the next generation of industry professionals.
ProStart is the two-year career-building program for high school students. Whether students are looking to enter the job market directly after graduating, or if they plan to attend college, a ProStart graduate makes a solid candidate for success.
In the wake of the devastating tragedy that continues to unfold in Los Angeles, so many of us are looking for ways to help those affected by the wildfires that have torn through the city. We encourage CT residents to review the list of resources below and donate where you can. Large organizations like World Central Kitchen are on the ground serving meals to impacted communities, and smaller initiatives like the Santa Monica based restaurant, Le Great Outdoors is allowing people to purchase meals at $20 a meal that are being delivered daily. View their interview with Anderson Cooper here. Please help if you can.
Oyster Club in Mystic, its alter ego concept, Treehouse, and their sister cocktail and bites bar, The Port of Call, aren’t only popular in Connecticut, but they’ve received some serious national coverage, including a 2023 James Beard nomination for chef Renee Touponce.
Part of the restaurant group’s stellar squad is pastry chef Jessica Spivey, who just received a nod of her own as she was nominated for Best Pastry Chef by the Connecticut Restaurant Association for its annual CRAzies Awards.
Milestone Restaurant, the very popular Redding, CT eatery and live music destination has just anounced the opening of its second location in downtown Mystic, Connecticut. With the continued success of the Redding location, which opened its doors in 2018, Milestone is ready to bring its unique blend of classic bites and cocktails with live music experiences to the vibrant heart of Mystic….also their insanely delicious Burger Menu!
Their expansion to downtown Mystic is an exciting addition to the already bustling Water Street, which has become a hub of activity in previous years. Peter Fine, a former hospitality-focused real estate executive, and his wife Andi opened Milestone in 2018 to create a space with a laid-back vibe and a wide array of scratch-made classic comfort food and craft cocktails. The vision for Milestone is to become an authentic neighborhood gathering spot for family and friends, whether it be dinner for two or larger groups. Milestone is a versatile space that seamlessly integrates an inviting heated outdoor deck and a cozy but uniquely vibrant interior. Their mission is to foster a sense of warmth and camaraderie, encouraging communal experiences where laughter and conversation flow freely, making it a place that feels like a home away from home.
Pride, potential, purpose, passion, and a love for all positive P words are the founding ideals of The Porch at Christies, and the core of their mission. Included in this list of P’s is of course Pecoriello, the founding family and owners of The Porch and partner organization, Sweet P Bakery.
The Porch serves a delicious menu of items from baked goods, to breakfast bowls, sandwiches, salads, coffee, and more. There is truly something for everyone. However, visiting The Porch is not solely a culinary experience. The inviting atmosphere of inclusivity and community makes it hard to simply grab a meal and go. The Porch is the perfect spot for a nice meal with family, coffee with friends, and even a place to meet someone new.
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:
In 2020, local food advocate, Reggy Saint Fortcolin, and Kingdom Builders Impact Ministries, launched Fridgeport, a mutual aid food initiative, based in Bridgeport. Fridgeport is a free food fridge, or community fridge, located at at 219 James Street. It’s open 24/7, and is a way to get free resources to people in the Bridgeport community, at any level of need. These types of fridges have been popping up all over cities and towns, many of which were launched during the pandemic when food pantries were struggling to meet the needs of their recipients and donations were at a low point. Since opening, additional CT locations have been launched in New Haven (@fridgehaven) and Hartford (@fridgeford)..
Why is this different from a food pantry? Reggy states that while food pantries provide a useful resource, their assessment and allocation amounts will vary based on an equation of “need,” but sometimes that allocation simply isn’t enough to keep families fed. Fridgeport is a take what you need resource.
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook with CHEF ROYALTY with our friends at Wholesome Wave!
Jacques Pépin is the author of more than 30 cookbooks, host of 13 PBS television series, winner of numerous James Beard Awards, painter, and culinary educator. On March 23rd, 2023, he will also be a Sous Chef, with YOU.
Here at CTBites we LOVE eating good food - and we are here to tell you about an incredible opportunity to COOK great food with Celebrity Chefs. Our friends at Wholesome Wave have cooked up a very cool event to support their mission - they’ve lined up Celebrity Chefs Rocco Dispirito, Elizabeth Falkner, Michel Nischan, Sean Sherman, JJ Johnson, and Sherry Yard to prepare a 6-course meal and are offering our readers a chance to cook alongside them as Sous Chefs! Sound too good to be true? Nope!
All you have to do is donate $100 to Wholesome Wave and you’ll be entered to win the opportunity to be a Sous Chef to the stars!
That’s the motto of Tony Pham, owner of Mecha Noodle Bar. It also happens to be the guiding principle of Eat Justice, an initiative created by Pham alongside co-founder Richard Reyes. The project involves a network of Connecticut businesses who turn portions of revenue into monthly donations to local and international nonprofit organizations. “But it’s more than just a check,” Pham tells me. “We’re trying to create a movement.”
The Eat Justice model is fairly simple: businesses designate a selection of goods to serve as their Eat Justice ‘fundraisers.’ They then raise the price of these goods by just fifty cents, and, for each one purchased, they reserve that extra fifty cents for a monthly donation. For example, at Mecha Noodle Bar, each purchase of a ramen dish increases the restaurant’s Eat Justice funds by fifty cents. While customers barely notice the fifty cent price difference, by the end of the month, Mecha regularly raises nearly $20,000 for charity. Pham points out that, by baking the donation into the price of a menu item, Eat Justice avoids the awkwardness and ineffectiveness of directly asking consumers to donate towards a cause.
Each year, the CT Restaurant Association recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s restaurant community in the prestigious CRAZIES awards. We are excited to showcase the nominees for 2022’s CRAZIES AWARDS “BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR” in this 5 part series. All the candidates worked incredibly hard to receive this nomination, and while many of you may know some of them, you probably don’t know all of them. We sat down with each of these talented chefs to learn a little bit more about what makes them do what they do. This week, we feature Chef David Standridge of The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic CT.
Labor Day might be over, but grilling is still very much in the daily DNA over at Bank & Bridge. Their signature “Get’Cha Face Dirty” burgers created by Chef Josh Ulmer who has trained in places like Madison Square Garden and Nolo in New Haven, are worth the mess they make. Seriously, you need a napkin for every bite, but it’s a noble mess if ever there was one! These beefy mounds are no joke.
Bank & Bridge celebrated one year on the map in June and (in my book) have added to the magical scene that has recently made Mystic a culinary darling. Maybe it is something in the water, but this small but mighty seaport just knows food. And, although many may land in the pub for their tremendous line up of brews, nurtured by Head Brewer Jason Riggs, there is hardly a better match (even coming from a self-professed “beer sipper”) than a good juicy burger and brew.
For centuries, the seafaring industry was dominated by men, and the presence of women on board was considered bad luck. In Mystic, CT, a town with a storied maritime history, The Port of Call, a new nautical-themed cocktail lounge, is giving a nod to the area’s seafaring traditions while also looking to the future. That future includes three Queer women who are “steering the ship” at The Port of Call: executive chef Renée Touponce, beverage director Jade Ayala, and general manager Nancy Hankins.
To celebrate a new era of inclusivity and gender diversity in a fun and welcoming environment, the trio has announced Sea Queens, a summer-long bi-weekly dinner and drag show that will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Starting Sunday, May 29th, and kicking off Pride Month, guests can book a seating at 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m., where they’ll enjoy a choice of two dishes from the inventive menu along with a cocktail, as well as an incredible drag show by some of the best Queens in the region. Then, at 10:30 p.m., the fun will continue with a disco after-party at Dive, the lower-level casual bar.
How does Mystic do it? In such a small area, there’s a steady stream of creativity and passion, delectable food, and now, with The Port of Call, there’s a reason it has become my home away from home.
Dripping with history, the new two-in-one stop, is a complete experience. With a friendly Welcome from manager Nancy Hankins, your eyes, mind, and belly (not necessarily in that order), will be lit up and spun into a whir of pleasure when learning about the location’s past, the collaborations forged, not to mention the top notch drink and food offerings. Notice, I said drink then food….
The “Million Miles” Bar is front and center as you walk through the stately, yet otherwise, unassuming exterior. That’s because the drinks, or shall I say beverage program, is the first star on stage. Although we often enter a restaurant hungry, we are being not-so gently, happily hypnotized first by the drinks that will then be paired by knock-out plates honoring global ports. We’ve been conditioned to think about the food before deciding what drink to pair with it; The Port of Call is asking us to think in reverse: “Wet” your palates first, sailors. Helmed by Jade Ayala (who also rocks the booze next door at Oyster Club) and Sebastian Guerrero (of NYC’s Dante and Mother of Pearl), your drink will come with a “generous pour,” as my feller put it, and a side tale about the area’s notorious seafaring past.
Outer Light Brewing Company (OLBC) and Young Buns Doughnuts of Mystic, Connecticut have teamed up to release Young Buns Streusel Doughnut Cream Ale, a one-off release inspired by the gourmet doughnuts produced at the Mystic bakery. The beer, which will be available on draft and in 16oz 4-packs will be released at the brewery on March 10th, with limited distribution across Southeastern Connecticut to follow.
Coffee for Good is now open in downtown Greenwich, and it’s not your ordinary high-end coffee shop. Sure, you can grab yourself a perfectly pulled shot of espresso or a latte c/o their well trained baristas and the fine roasters at PATH Coffee in PortChester. But Coffee For Good provides much more than a daily caffeine fix for our community.
Coffee For Good was spearheaded by Greenwich resident, Deb Rogan, in partnership with Abilis, as a self-sustaining, nonprofit organization, to serve as a training platform and employer for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The coffee shop, which provides espresso based beverages, smoothies, local baked goods, as well as sandwiches and salads, gives their trainees the opportunity to succeed and be a part of the local workforce.
onnecticut is full of trailblazing women, particularly in the culinary world. Our ongoing column, “It’s A Woman’s World” is devoted to CT female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.
Whether farming the land, bringing healthy food to the masses, feeding an entrepreneurial spirit, or injecting feminism with food, these groundbreaking ladies have set a new definition of women’s work, creating new paths, and setting examples for those who follow
It’s impossible to leave Mystic without falling in love. From the adorable hotels and shops, to the views along the water, the drawbridge, and THE FOOD, you will undoubtedly leave it with a scrapbook (even a virtual one) of memories. And, for such a small town, Mystic is brimming with incredible places to eat. One of the best is at Oyster Club with Chef Renee Touponce at the helm. I’ve had numerous dishes by her over the last year, and it's just never enough. Every plate is full of flavor, yet light. For me, they conjure summer sea breezes with a dash of cozy home dinner.
From what was once considered the most dangerous water park--Action Park in Vernon, NJ--to a waterway that is far less risky, way more inviting, and definitely has a more delicious restaurant, Chef Standridge knows a thing or two about pivoting throughout his career. His dossier is full and eclectic, with a range of bartending and cooking experiences in New Jersey, Manhattan, Houston, and back to New York City working with the legendary Joël Robuchon, and earning two Michelin stars.
Like the Seinfeld show leaving on a high note, Standridge left the masses in New York and settled in the historic, tourist town of Mystic with his family two years ago. And, as he and his wife were starting a family, the timing just felt right. The ball was rolling to open The Shipwright’s Daughterin the stunning, newly revamped hotelThe Whaler’s Inn at the top of last spring, then boom, you guessed it: Pandemic. So, having to pivot even before starting, his ingenuity was put to the test. And yet now, after watching him for the better part of two days, I’m not surprised he did it. Frankly, he didn’t just do it and make it work; the restaurant is booming and is OUTSTANDING. From the ambiance and an inventive menu, to stellar service and a collaborative sensibility, this restaurant, this chef, this place, must be on every list of To Dos for Mystic, for dining, and for Connecticut.
If there was a way that YOU could instantly and directly help to feed a child in need while supporting our local CT restaurants, would you sign up? We certainly would and that is why we have partnered with Filling In The Blanks on an important new initiative. Please join us and read on…
Filling in the Blanks fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends. They partner with 63 local schools delivering their Weekend Meal bags to food-insecure children in Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, Westport, and Bedford Hills, NY. Founded by mothers and community activists, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer, they responded to an urgent need to feed local school aged children who were struggling to get the nutrition they needed. In the wake of the pandemic, with hunger up 50% in Connecticut, they expanded their mission to include supporting our local CT restaurants as part of the solution to hunger in our community.
Am I dreaming? Is it really 2021? We got to flip the calendar?
To see a beloved restaurant hit a real landmark, especially amidst challenging times, you better believe we are going to hoot and holler and make some noise. So, that’s why we’ll spend 2021 celebrating alongside Oyster Club as they move into their next decade.
On the heels of being included in Connecticut Magazine’s “Best of” list, and as my top choice for Best Bites of 2020 here at ctbites, in addition to countless national accolades, there’s a reason for the celebration. Not only is Oyster Club in the picturesque town of Mystic, or in a building whose bold colors give nod to the elements, but the service, and what’s delivered on each plate is experiential, it is sensual; it is just extraordinary.
Nestled alongside I-95N in Mystic, CT, you will find what many say is the best pizza in New London County.Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza Co. is the perfect place for a pit stop and quick bite. The restaurant is named after a tour guide, Mango, who the owner met on vacation. Connecticut is known for its New Haven pizza. However, this pizza, in my opinion, can compete with best of them, and is why the restaurant was packed on Easter weekend. The variety and creativity in the menu keeps customers coming back.
My family and I stopped at Mango’s on Saturday morning at around 11:45 am, where we found the place already hopping.
