Celebrate Shelton, a private city-wide initiative in its 11th year is thrilled to announce Food Trucks on the River, and several exciting community collaborations.
Food Trucks on the River, an exciting two-day festival will take place on Friday, May 30th, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, and Saturday, May 31st, from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Shelton. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is set for Sunday, June 1st.
It started with an email and ended with wedges of cake so creamy and fluffy we swore they were slices of Cloud Nine. Or perhaps Nuvola Nove.
The note was from Daniela Petrucelli, offering a brief history of her family’s restaurant, La Scogliera in Shelton. She explained that her parents, Carmelo and Carmelina Maione, opened the original restaurant in Bridgeport 46 years ago. In the early days, Daniela and her family, including sisters Francesca, Maria, and Diana, lived above the 150-seat eatery. “We would go downstairs to go to work, upstairs to go to bed,” she recalls. The restaurant became something of a hot spot, with a menu of hearty Italian-American dishes, fresh fish, and eventually, live music. Even the famously picky New York Times critic Mark Bittman liked it, rating it “Very Good” in 2003.
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New Haven’s longest-running foodie event, New Haven Restaurant Week, returns November 5-10 marking the 15th anniversary.
The fall edition of New Haven Restaurant Week features 25 of the City’s most popular restaurants- 14 will offer $25 lunch specials, with all participating locations offering pre fixe dinner experiences for $45 or $55 per person.
Off the plate, New Haven Restaurant Week gives back. Since 2009, more than $55,000 has been raised for the Connecticut Foodshare, an organization that works year-round to combat hunger and food insecurity across the state. This year participating restaurants have donated $5,000.
So, maybe you’ve had an arepa. Eaten hot from the pan, or made into fat little sandwiches somewhat akin to a stuffed pita, the puffy, crispy, hunger-busting cornmeal cakes are the unofficial comfort food of Venezuela. Or maybe you haven’t. Somos Handcrafted Arepas wants to help with that.
Brothers Alejandro and Andres Cordito grew up in Hamden as the sons of Venezuelan parents, and started taking notice of how the everyday food they had at home, on trips to visit family in Caracas, and during Andres’ time in college in South Florida, just wasn’t apparent in Connecticut. Now, with two locations in New Haven and Shelton, they’re increasing access to this gloriously variable sandwich.
Greeting someone in Connecticut with an enthusiastic “Aloha!” or flashing them with a very chill hang loose hand gesture isn’t really our deal in the Nutmeg State. But on Tuesday afternoons at Bar 140, it’s totally rad to let out your inner Hawaiian during Umebroshi Food’s weekly pop-up.
On Saturday, October 22, 2022, Chef Michel Nischan will "reawaken" his restaurant The Dressing Room and partner with Madison Beach Hotel's culinary team to present dinner and stories with an exclusive five course event featuring dinner, wine pairings, and storytelling.—National Taco Day was October 4th, and bartaco has decided to bring back its popular, limited edition #bartacosecret roasted brussels sprouts taco in celebration of everyone’s favorite holiday.—Buy one ticket and eat in 30 different restaurants on Wednesday, October 12th 5:30 - 8:30 for a Signature New London Event- Food Stroll!—New Haven Restaurant Week presented by Citizens returns October 16 – October 29, 2022, with dining experiences and all-new exclusive offerings at 23 restaurants throughout the Elm City.—Harry's Wine School presents: Wines of Italy with Michelle DeWyngaert Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 7:00 - 9:00 pm.+
In a bleak midwinter, in the midst of a great Pandemic, Sophia Diakoloukas left a successful marketing career to open her restaurant, Urban Greek Kitchen. This fast-casual eatery serves up modern Greek food with a flair. “It’s Greek with a twist” she describes. “I use traditional family recipes and adapt them to satisfy the way we eat today.” Inspired by the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean, Urban Greek focuses on healthy, fresh vibrant ingredients that are satisfying and delicious. Having grown up in the restaurant business, here in Connecticut, Sophia is no stranger to the inner workings of this complicated, fast-paced industry. It’s immediately apparent that she runs a pristinely organized and tight ship. Most of her staff has been with her since the doors opened…and so have her loyal customers.
It wasn’t that long ago that I found myself in Shelton covering all things pierogi at The Rogi Shoppe when I randomly received a few DMs on two different Instagram accounts saying I should stop by Bar 140.
The finder’s fee goes to Gina, who sang the praises of Bar 140’s bar food, particularly their Belgian style frites. That got my attention fast! But then that continued with a few other messages trickled in that it’d be my type of bar; casual, kinda hipster, solid cocktails, and a fine beer list.
I asked around and got much of the same. Even Mateus from The Rogi Shoppe said their fries were stellar.
After I set up an interview with Joe Ballaro, who owns Bar 140 with his wife, Tiffany, I told a few friends I was going up there. It got pumped up even more by my friend Katy, who said, “This is my spot! I used to be a regular when I worked a few block away. It’s a good little spot. Good beer list and food. The owners are really cool.”
Sold! Plus, I’ll never pass up the chance at eating carefully made, hand cut fries by the bucket full, with different dipping sauces to plunge them into.
Pier 131 Restaurant and Bar is poised to be one of CT’s “it” destinations this summer. Nestled along the newly renovated Shelton Riverfront with stunning views of the Housatonic River and the historic Old Shelton Railroad Bridge, Pier131 is located in one of the most stunning spots in Fairfield County.
Although very much a neighborhood restaurant, this high-energy gathering place and urban retreat opened its doors late last summer and quickly became a popular destination drawing diners and photographers from all over Fairfield and New Haven Counties – even on the coldest winter days.
The setting immediately draws you in and the tasty something for everyone menu will keep you coming back. Pier 131 has also done a great job giving diners an entertaining experience with live music several nights a week, a DJ every Sunday afternoon, as well as Trivia Night, a daily Happy Hour, $5 Margarita Tuesday, Pasta Sunday (with half off select bottles of wine). More events will be added to the line-up as the weather starts to warm.
Some years ago, at a local food festival or a brewery, you may have come across a red truck by the name of “Pierogies On Wheels.” If I have to tell you what their signature dish is, you may want to reread that first sentence. Pierogies On Wheels in its truck form, though, is no more. But in 2020, it was resurrected under a new name and in a new storefront form in Downtown Shelton.
In case you’re wondering, it’s now known as The Rogi Shoppe.
At The Rogi Shoppe, it’s not only a continuation of the food truck, but also where the mother and son team of Mateusz and Ela Nogas are continuing their Polish heritage.
“My mom, sister (Magda), and I came to the U.S. in 2002 from Poland,” Nogas says. “My mom didn’t know much English. She worked part-time jobs but started making pierogi for family and friends. She eventually had so many orders that people told her that she should open a business.”
Guess what! The uber family-friendly, American pub, Little Barn, is opening a second location in Shelton CT.
The first Little Barn opened in Westport 8 years ago serving us casual pub fare, with their new American menu. Given the success of the Westport location, the owners decided to expand. They chose Shelton for the second location as it is a town with dynamic growth and development and they wanted Little Barn to be a part of Shelton’s future.
Little Barn’s comfort food menu varies from burgers and tacos to healthy salads and Buddha bowls. They also feature many craft beers and signature cocktails, and bar is ALWAYS hopping. We have enjoyed Little Barn’s commitment to supporting local bands and have spent many a fun night listening to live music at the “barn.”
The Shelton location, which will have a large outdoor patio, will be open mid-summer 2021 and will have live music on the weekends.
Taco Co Tequila Cantina opened last week in Shelton, bringing a little bit of Mexico City to our fair state of CT. Owner, Kurt A. Popick (also owns Prime One Eleven), inspired by a trip to Cabo, rounded up a culinary team to bring that Mexican street food vibe to life in Taco Co. With the help of Chef Matt Storch, who consulted on Taco Co.’s menu development, the vibe is playful, tasty and well…boozy. With over 90 types of Tequila, hand crafted cocktails, and their signature Frozé Cuervo, Taco Co. is definitely a party. What are we especially excited about? Taco Co. is making their corn tortillas fresh in house daily, and Storch’s taco list, which includes all the classics, is rounded out with some truly creative takes on the ultimate Mexican wrap. We’re talking about Chicken & Waffle tacos, Lobster, The Greek (with ground lamb & feta), NY Strip with chimichurri, and crispy Peking Duck, to name a few. Mhmm. Pair your tacos with a platter of sizzling Fajitas, Cheesy Road Corn or Cabo-Style Ceviche, and you’re in for a good night.
Donut Crazy, a local, family-owned eatery specializing in unique donut flavors (lovingly called Dailies & Crazies), announced a tasty new menu item called the “Cruffin.” The croissant-muffin crossover is the company’s way of celebrating the first sugar-filled year of its New Haven location near Yale University. The “Cruffin” will be available at all Donut Crazy locations for $4.25, starting on Friday November 3, weekends only and while supplies last.
The “Cruffin” has quickly become the food world’s newest bakery obsession, much like the “Cronut” before it. The buttery, flaky pastry is shaped like a muffin and filled with different flavors. Donut Crazy plans to offer coconut, dulce de leche, chocolate mousse, and pumpkin. More exciting flavors to come!
Firefly Hollow Choconaut Porter brownies, Brewport Seventh Inning SIPA BBQ-glazed potato chips, Thimble Island Ruby blondies. If you didn’t pick up on it, there’s a theme here, Connecticut local beer and baked goods. That’s cool, but The Drunk Alpaca is much more than just booze baked cakes and chips.
The Drunk Alpaca was created by friends Stephania Halverson and Jessica Oen, who met when they worked together at Whole Foods in Darien, where Halverson was the bakery manager, and Oen was a kitchen supervisor and head cake decorator. The duo clicked during their time at the grocery store and wanted to do their own thing. Baking was the obvious, logical business to get into.
Miya's in New Haven recently won The 2016 WHITE HOUSE CHAMPION OF CHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD award. Chef and owner, Bun Lai, is sharing a few dishes from this special dinner during New Haven's upcoming Restaurant Week, October 30-November 4. Bun says this about the menu (view White House menu below)...
In honor of every person in every part of the worldwide sustainability movement, this Miya’s NEW HAVEN RESTAURANT WEEK menu will feature a handful of my favorite award-winning sustainable seafood recipes featured at the Miya’s WHITE HOUSE CHAMPIONS of CHANGE dinner that I hosted. A top challenge to the sustainability movement is to make the healthiest food affordable and accessible to all. It is my humble assessment that our mother’s modest little restaurant has accomplished that.
Coming off a successful inaugural year, The 2nd Annual Greenwich Restaurant Week starts On November 12th and runs until November 18th. Participating restaurants include L'escale, Polpo, Harvest, Terra, Mediterraneo, Le Peguin, Le Fat Poodle, Osteria Applausi, Lugano's, Gabriele's, Char, Famous Greek Kitchen, Firenze, Blackstones Steakhouse, Little Pub, Bella Noona, Caren's Cos Cobber, Bobby Q's Pitstop, Coast, The Drawing Room, Elm Street Oyster House, Jhouse, Morello, Tengda, Mt.Kisco smokehouse, Greenwich Cheese Company and Winfield's at the Hyatt.
The semiannual New Haven Restaurant Week kicks-off on Sunday, November 2 and runs through Saturday, November 7, 2014 featuring prix fixe 3 course menus for lunch and dinner, $18 and $32 respectively, at 36 restaurants at last count. Participating restaurants include, 116 Crown, Barcelona Wine Bar, Caseus, Heirloom, L'Orcio, Oaxaca Kitchen, and Roia.
Westport Restaurant Week is here again...now with 2 weeks! It just keeps getting better, so get out of the house and let one of these great restaurants do the cooking for you.
Each of the participating venues will be offering a PrixFixe meal, and this year, there is a flexible pricing program to further enhance the experience. Lunches will be $15, $20 or $25, Dinners $25, $30 or $35 and Brunch, if offered starting at $20, its up to each restaurant to set their fixe.
Also new this year is the addition of Specialty Cocktail venues. So enjoy a pre dinner drink or a night cap at one of these fine establishments.
VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS BELOW. Just click on a name or logo to see what is being offered.
Yep...that's right. 2 glorious weeks of summer dining. This summer over 30 Downtown Stamford restaurants are serving up special lunch & dinner prix fixe menus in several different price options. The prices for lunch range from $10.14, $12.14 or $20.14 and dinner ranges from $15.14, $20.14 or $30.14. New this year: each participating restaurant will be mixing up its very own Signature Summer Cocktails to be featured during Restaurant Weeks.
