After falling in love with the Hudson Valley—CTbites writer/professor Kristin L. Wolfe wants to take what CTbites has done for the culinary world of CT and apply it to her new home. With countless farms, orchards, markets, restaurants, distilleries, breweries, bakeries, and confectioners Wolfe hopes HudVbites replicates the bold cheerleading support ctbites has had for its community. From areas like Beacon and New Paltz, to Kingston and Rhinebeck, to Hudson, Woodstock, and so many more, the Hudson Valley has no shortage of historic spots and brand new locations to explore. HudVbites hopes to bring readers and foodies the inside stories on chefs and their inspirations; details on craft and technique; info on grand openings and collaborations, and much much more. Like, Follow, and Please Stay Tuned.
They say life’s too short to settle for bad food — and for the past few years, Connecticut has been making a name for itself as one of the country’s most significant food hubs. With dozens of new restaurants opening every year, Connecticut is quickly becoming a destination for food lovers everywhere.
If you’re anything like us, you’re always looking for new and exciting things to eat. And while a diet of boxed mac and cheese and reheated pizza for dinners might satisfy your basic human needs, it doesn’t inspire the appetite. Fortunately, exploring new foods is one of the great joys of living in the 21st century.
Thanks to the internet and digital marketing, foodies worldwide can now explore local cuisines at the tip of their fingers — and CTBites is here to help you get started.
It’s not easy to find Romanian cuisine in the Nutmeg state. Aline and Christian Caldarariu, owners of the recently opened, Cafe Transilvania, say their new takeout spot is the only Romanian restaurant in Connecticut. The couple, both with backgrounds in hospitality and the culinary world, had intended to open a sit down restaurant pre-Covid, but the world changed, and so did their plans. Their new spot, located at 246 Post Road, in Fairfield CT, has opened to an enthusiastic response from both the large Romanian community in Fairfield County (who knew?), as well as local diners, who are excited to sample a cuisine that has previously eluded food lovers the Connecticut area.
With the snow piled so high in front on the Post Road, it could have been easy to miss Tabouli Grill in Southport… but I was determined to join a spirited group for CTbites Invites Passover Cooking, so maneuvered my way around to the side parking lot and entrance.
Chef/owner Judith Roll greeted everyone with hot coffee and her spongy homemade lemon cake as we were handed recipes for the morning's “hands on” cooking class in the Tabouli kitchen. (See Chef Judy's recipe for Bubbe's Brisket below.)
Chef Judy, who has traveled the world bringing authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to her two restaurants, in Stamford and in Southport, is passionate about what she prepares and had created a wonderful Passover menu for our entertainment and dining pleasure ( Passover is March 25-April 2 ).
