Rowayton’s Arden’s is continuing their “After Hours” dinner series for the third summer in a row, and we were lucky enough to sit down with owner Jill Lukeman to get a first look at what’s to come.
For those who aren’t familiar, Arden’s is a neighborhood cafe located in the heart of Rowayton. Its coastal decor and delicious fare makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch, or cup of joe. Since opening in 2022, the team has hosted monthly dinners to expand beyond their daytime offerings.
“We have always been passionate about entertaining our friends and hosting dinner parties at home. When we opened Arden's, we thought why not bring this same spirit to our cafe and offer something that feels like dinner at a friend's house (without the headache of planning and the clean-up!). We are also passionate about music so we incorporated a music element to make the evenings even more unique and intimate,” Lukeman shared with us.
It’s Nantucket meets the Mediterranean. Arden’s, Rowayton’s newest eatery, is a community cafe offering up simple seasonal fare that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Inside the beachy décor is minimalist with hints of flea-market vintage finds. You’ll find antiquated oyster tins, vases filled with vibrant fresh flowers, beechwood furniture, a curated marketplace with specialty gourmet food items, locally fabricated linens alongside local honey, assorted spices, hot chili oil in beautiful glass jars, ceramics and other wonderful finds. Wonderful, whimsical floppy rattan shades resembling oversized straw hats hang from light fixtures overhead. Arden’s welcomes you in immediately with a warm embrace that doesn’t want to let you go.
Stay a while and linger over a simple menu of salads, sandwiches and toasts. While the concept is simple the recipes are elevated using ingredients from several local purveyors including Wilton’s Millstone Farm and Darien-based Flour Water Salt Bread, Nit Noi Provisions and Ilse coffee. Ingredients matter at this health-forward café. At the helm of the kitchen is Moises Aguilar formerly with Southend Backend. Here he is tasked with delivering the ultimate flavor profile from the simplest of ingredients which he has clearly mastered.
Last week I had the privilege of attending a truly wonderful and informative dinner at Wakeman Town Farm on the importance of sustainable seafood. We first heard from Norm Bloom of Copp’s Island Oysters, followed by Kevin Conroy, owner of The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood and the Rowayton Seafood Fish Market. He was joined by Chef Charles Hoffman the restaurant’s executive chef who prepared a most memorable meal.
The Blooms have been in the oyster business since the 1940s and currently operate one of the last standing traditional oyster farms in the United States. Norm Bloom and Son is a fourth generation family-owned farm that prides itself on high quality, consistent and sustainable products. They have a fleet of 15 boats and their dedicated crew harvests oysters and clams year round from the deep, cold, and nutrient-rich waters along the coast of Connecticut.
Second in our popular Summer Happy Hour series, fun times are ahead on the newly opened patio at The Spread SoNo as CTbites has partnered with "The Spread Boys" for an outdoor Happy Hour on Wednesday, June 27th 5:30-7:30. $40 ticket includes a KEEL Vodka specialty cocktail and a second drink choice of wine or beer and assorted appetizers. KEEL Vodka is the only low calorie vodka on the market, with half the calories of other brands. BUY TICKETS HERE
Chef Carlos Baez is preparing a number of signature appetizers both passed and buffet style to accompany the special summer cocktail.
Menu items include: Pork Belly buns Shrimp buns Tuna tartare Sausage and rice balls
Plus $1 Copps Island Oysters and other Happy Hour specials. Join us, bring your friends and let's keep celebrating Summer 2018 at the next CTbites Happy Hour.
For the fifth year in a row, CTbites has partnered with Chef Frederic Kieffer and Artisan at the Delamar Hotel Southport for an outdoor Happy Hour on their gorgeous patio and bar. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 29th 5:30-7:30, as we kick off al fresco dining with assorted appetizers and cocktails sponsored by KEEL vodka. Purchase Your Ticket here!
Priced at $40, the Happy Hour includes a specialty cocktail created by KEEL Vodka, the only low-calorie vodka on the market and a second drink choice of wine or beer and assorted appetizers.
Chef Frederic is preparing a number of signature appetizers both passed and buffet style to accompany the special summer cocktail provided by our sponsor, KEEL Vodka.
The very special cocktail features KEEL Vodka, St Germaine, Strawberry and/or raspberry infused Aperol, Fresh Lime Juice. Shaken and strained into a Collins glass and topped with soda, fresh mint garnish.
Did you ever hear the one about the food truck chef and the restaurant chef at a local brewery?
Wait, that’s a real thing. There’s no punchline.
What I’m talking about here is the first ever Beers & Bites event that was held on April 5, 2018 at Half Full Brewery in Stamford. Beers & Bites is a collaboration between CTbites, Half Full Brewery, local food trucks and chefs.
The idea behind Beers & Bites is to team a food truck chef and a restaurant chef to collaborate on a menu that gets paired with Half Full’s thirst-quenching brews. Think of it as a beer dinner where you won’t leave feeling overstuffed; it’s just enough food and drink. For $50 you get four-courses, four beers (refills were common so it’s a little more than four), a commemorative Beers & Bites snifter glass, and a damn good time in a non-pretentious, not overcrowded taproom.
Half Full Brewery and CT Bites are excited to bring you a creative and collaborative food and beer-pairing event series. Not to be missed, "Beers & Bites"2018 pairs limited release beers from Half Full Brewery with totally off-menu food items from some of Fairfield County's best chefs and food truck operators. For each event, the team behind the "bites" (1 brick and mortar chef, 1 food truck chef) will come together to collaborate on that evening's menu and cook and serve from the host Food Truck...two chefs, one totally off-menu food experience. Each menu item will be paired with a limited-release beer from the Half Full Brewery with the Brewers onsite to introduce each pairing. Tickets are $50 and include 4 beers, all food, and a commemorative glass. Event details and FAQ's are below.
Keep the summer party going with your hosts, CTbites and Terrain Garden Cafe, as we celebrate the warmth and beauty of the season on July 26th 5:30-7:30pm. Enjoy the most beautiful outdoor dining space in Fairfield County while sipping our signature Endless Summer cocktails along with a selection of wine and craft beers. Appetizers include: cheese/crudite spread, melon sprees prosciutto, shrimp ceviche bites and crispy chickpea and kale chips.
For the fourth year in a row, CTbites has partnered with Chef Frederic Kieffer and Artisan at the Delamar Hotel Southport for an outdoor Happy Hour on their gorgeous patio and bar. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 31st 5:30-7:30, as we kick off al fresco dining with assorted light bites and cocktails.
Priced at $40, the Happy Hour includes a specialty cocktail and a second drink of wine or beer and assorted appetizers. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!
Are you still kicking yourself for missing the CTbites Happy Hour on the Patio at Artisan last month? No worries… CTbites is excited to offer a second chance to celebrate Summer 2016, this time on the wonderful outdoor rooftop patio of Kawa Ni Westport on Wednesday July 13th from 5:30-7:30 pm ( Raindate Thursday July 14th ) Buy your tickets here http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2566107
Overlooking the Saugatuck River, and watching the boats, kayaks and paddleboarders drift by is a special bonus to the evening which for $39 includes Chef Jeff Taibe's creative and delicious appetizers and two beverages of your choice. Enhancing the patio experience are two familiar faces, Carissa and Maddy, from The Stand Juice Bar. They bring with them both their sparkling personalities, as well as some of The Stands juices and a specialty cocktail blend called "Pick Your Poison", to enjoy while nibbling Kawa Ni's Izakaya appetizers like :
Pork Spring Rolls Mini Tofu Pockets Peekytoe Crab Rangoon Ebi Sticks Kani Salad Broccoli Salad
For the third year in a row, CTbites has partnered with Chef Frederic Kieffer and Artisan at the Delamar Hotel Southport for an outdoor Happy Hour on their gorgeous patio and bar. Mark your calendars for Wednesday June 1st 5:30-7:30, as we kick off “al fresco” diningwith assorted appetizers and cocktails.
Chef Frederic is preparing a number of signature appetizers both passed and buffet style to accompany a special summer cocktail created by the talented Artisan bartender team.
CTbites Invites and Westport's own "celebrity chef" Pietro Scotti celebrate the final weeks of white truffle season with a special four course prix fix dinner for ONE NIGHT ONLY on THURSDAY DECEMBER 10 at 7:00 pm., specially priced at $150 pp. Purchase your tickets Here....
If you have never tasted this delicacy, this is your chance to savor the unique and special funghi foraged in the hills of Alba, Italy at a very special price.
Join Chef Pietro in his intimate and award winning restaurant, Da Pietro's, for four courses that include:
Last Friday, as the skies cleared up and the temps warmed up, over 60 attendees at CTbites Invites “Kickoff of Summer” Happy Hour on The Patio at Artisan enjoyed the gorgeous setting, the plentiful Margaritas and Chef Frederic Kieffer’s grilled hors d-oeuvres.
The theme of the Happy Hour was to introduce the new outdoor grill, recently acquired from The Lone Star state and even the Margaritas featured a grilled lime garnish.
The cozy patio bar was a buzz as the servers circulated with platters of prosciutto and mint wrapped grilled cantaloupe, grilled sesame salmon, grilled pineapple and shrimp skewers, baby lamb chops with mint yogurt and grilled vegetable and fruit skewers.
Walrus+Carpenter and Mecha Noodle Bar partner on Thursday 10/30 7 pm for a BO SSäM dinner for $100 pp starring Smoked Pork Shoulder, Kimchee, Oysters, and other East Asian flavors...against the backdrop of 70's cult action films of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. Buy Tix Here.
If you were lucky enough to attend the last W+C event..."The Speakeasy", this promises to be "Astonishing, Unstoppable, Mind-Blowing and Delicious"!
The mission is to bring together East Asian flavors with Western smoking techniques for one incredible evening, inspired by cult film, "Way of The Dragon", starring the high kicking, fast punching Lee and Norris.
Ninja Warrior attire or any fun Halloween costumes are encouraged but optional.
LobsterCraft opened its first storefront location today at the entrance to Rowayton on Tokeneke Road, serving the same menu that many of our readers enjoy from its trucks.
As the back door opened a crack, a tuxedoed man eyed me and said, “What’s the Password?”… “Bees' Knees” I hesitantly whispered, palms sweaty, and only then I was ushered into the Walrus + Carpenter back room “Speakeasy” for a Throwback ThursdayCTbites Invites event on May 8, 2014, of Prohibition cocktails, silent films and the food and music of the Roaring 20’s.
Owner Joe Farrell and GM Adam Roytman were on hand to greet the 30 attendees of this sold out evening, most who chose to follow the Invites suggestion of dressing for the period…every where I looked were Al Capone look-alikes dressed in pinstripe suits and fedoras…Fancy “molls” in fringe dresses, sequined headbands, multiple strands of pearls and fur boas.
Join Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie, and CTbites on Tuesday April 1, 2014 7-9:30 pm as we indulge the master chocolatier and his talented team of chefs in realizing his vision for a perfectly decadent Chocolate- Infused meal for $60 pp.
This intimate dinner will feature five courses infused and/or influenced by Fritz's passion for chocolate. Inspired by his Danish roots and New Nordic cuisine, Fritz has created a truly unique menu... and for this night only! Each course will be paired with wine or spirits and will conclude with a decadent dessert, and Chocopologies Signature Chocolate Martini and coffee or tea. View menu below & DETAILS HERE.
That “drink after work” thing is not really about a drink. It’s an escape from ennui, stale air, the copier just ran out of toner, we didn’t like the tone of that last email from our biggest client, and there’s a personal text message on our cell phone we’ve decided not to answer until later. Much later.
We claw our way out of the office, desperate for a breeze and a cocktail, and begin the search for an outside venue, of which there are precious few, and those include curbside seating on busy streets and tables in parking lots.
But Artisan in the Delamar Hotel in Southport opens their back doors onto an open-air bar and patio where, if you pretend a little bit, you can think you are in Europe.
The hotel itself provides privacy from traffic on three sides, and the tiny street that abuts the fourth is private. Bicycles are lined up in sturdy racks, rattan furniture and Adirondack chairs are scattered in conversational groupings, and flowers hang from trellises and bloom in pots and boxes; hence, the name: the Pergola, Patio, and Garden Bar.
So what happens when creative and innovative chefs are given the chance to create a special dinner inspired by their homeland, Denmark and The World’s Best Restaurant, NOMA of Copenhagen??
Well…a 10 Course “New Nordic” Dinner with Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie presented by CTbites Invites, turns into a true culinary happening. I lost count, but 10 courses turned into 16 courses, each paired with local wines from CT, Upstate NY and Long Island and beers from local breweries; Southport Brewing Company and City Steam of Stratford.
But first a little food history as Fritz explained the evening ahead. In November 2004, on the initiative of the Danish chefs René Redzepi and Claus Meyer of the then newly opened NOMA restaurant, chefs and food professionals from all the Nordic countries met in Copenhagen to discuss how best to develop what they called the "New Nordic Cuisine." In particular, they sought to emphasize the need for what they described as "purity, simplicity, and freshness" as well as increased use of seasonal foods. Restaurants were encouraged to develop traditional dishes making use of ingredients benefitting from the local region's climate, water, and soil.
As Fritz stressed, this cuisine was taking the farm-to table movement one step further, by foraging the earth for unique flavors and ingredients by using fresh herbs, moss, edible flowers and burnt hay to enhance the flavors of each dish.
Join Bob Le Rose (of Bobby Q's) and CTbites for an evening celebrating "CT's Own!" Enjoy Craft beers from local CT breweries and 4 course dinner of CT BBQ as only BarQ can prepare it on Tuesday 2/26 7 to 9 pm for $40 per person. Buy tickets.
Taste and enjoy an authentic dinner of four courses of original CT BBQ, a dessert of Snickerdoodle Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich, all while washing it down with delicious beers from three local Connecticut micro-breweries, Half Full, City Steam and Two Roads Breweries.