Filtering by Tag: Prepared Food,Underground Dinner

Cucina Daniella: Authentic Italian Specialty Foods & Sandwich Shop Opens In Darien

Ingredients Restaurant Darien Italian Italian Deli Specialty Market Sandwiches Italian Sandwich Prepared Food Homepage

Katie Simons August 24, 2024

Ever find yourself daydreaming about salty, oily tuscan bread with fresh prosciutto and earthy lettuce? Instead of booking that eight hour flight to Italy, the easier — yet equally tasty option — is located on Tokeneke Road in Darien. Cucina Daniella brings a mix of prepared Italian classics, fresh sandwiches on homemade bread and Italian-imported quality ingredients to Fairfield County.

While the gourmet grocery store opened in January, the project has been a long time coming for Chef and Owner Daniella Palazzolo. Palazzolo grew up in a food-centered Italian home with a love for the food her family in Sicily made. After 30 years in corporate America, she began selling her favorite imported Italian products — namely olive oil — at local farmer’s markets in 2019. During the pandemic Palazzolo obtained her carterring license and began selling prepared foods like meatballs and homemade pasta sauces. After seeing her success on a small scale, she worked with a women’s business development team to apply for a loan for a physical storefront and expansion of her team.

8 Home Meal Delivery Services in Connecticut: Don't Cook! Order Up!

Features Home Delivery Meal Delivery Delivery Service Prepared Food Best of CT Roundup Highlight

April Guilbault June 07, 2022

Tired of cooking? Or maybe you love to cook but just can’t face the stove one…more…night. There are a million reasons why help is sometimes needed in the kitchen: a dear friend had a baby and hasn’t slept in 3 weeks, a neighbor is sick, your parents are getting older and you want to make sure they eat well, you’ve been away on vacation and would love to have some meals for when you return, or, well, you’re just plain sick of cooking (as we mentioned). It is vacation time, after all. Whether you need prepared meals for someone special or just to supplement your own cooking and streamline life a bit, there are plenty of options that make it easy. And delish! That’s precisely why we are highlighting these eight fantastic services. Some cater to dietary needs, some focus on local or organic ingredients, and all offer many tasty options to satisfy.

Here are 8 home meal delivery services we have enjoyed in Connecticut.

Chef Geoff Lazlo Opens The Country Table in Greenwich

Features Restaurant Specialty Market Sandwich Breakfast Sandwich Eggs Egg Sandwich Lunch Breakfast Prepared Food To-Go Kid Friendly Grab-n-Go Homepage

Stephanie Webster February 26, 2022

The Country Table recently opened its doors in the Glennville area of Greenwich, but the story behind this new popular eatery started roughly 25 years ago. Greenwich residents, Geoff Lazlo and Greg Oshins have known each other since childhood, and this concept has been in the works since the age of 10, when the highlight of their day was scouting the best deli sandwiches in the Greenwich area (shout out to their beloved Rinaldi Country Deli, still in business today). The search for the best sandwich was a strong part of their culture, deeply nostalgic, and the driving force behind this new brick-and-mortar extension of Geoff Lazlo Foods.

Introducing The Charles Underground: Darien Butcher Shop's After Hours French Alter Ego

Features Restaurant Darien Darien Butcher Shop Underground Dinner French Homepage

Andrew Dominick August 01, 2021

It’s past 6 p.m. The Darien Butcher Shop is closed. You cruise by and you see people inside. Some are standing, others are sitting at community tables, and they’re all probably enjoying a glass of vino while they chat, laugh, and catch up.

You can’t walk in for a slab of bacon or a thick, bone-in ribeye, so what’s actually happening?

Four days per week, Peter Crawford transforms his business into The Charles Underground, a French-inspired eatery, and the shop’s after-hours alter ego.

The Charles is where Crawford, a former New England Culinary Institute graduate who has worked with Charlie Palmer, Jean-Georges, Neil Gallagher, and Terrence Brennen, gets to step back into his passion as a classically trained French chef.

Foie gras and dry-aged steak? Sure. Homemade boudin blanc sausage with Robuchon potatoes, and morel mushroom sauce? They have done that, too.

Lending a helping hand in the front of the house is someone you might recognize from his time at Kawa Ni. Anthony Rinaldi acts as a restaurant jack-of-all-trades at The Charles, whether he’s waiting and bussing tables or assisting in the kitchen with cooking and occasionally washing dishes.

Mystic Market Opens in Westport w/ Gourmet, Ready To Go Prepared Meals

Features Specialty Market Westport To-Go Take Out Prepared Food Homepage

Jessica Ryan April 09, 2019

With successful locations in Old Saybrook, Mystic and Noank, Mystic Market traveled down the coast to Fairfield County and recently opened its doors in Westport on Charles Street, not too far from the train station. The spacious interior features reclaimed lumber, steel and white subway tile which give it an airy, modern urban vibe. The eatery specializes in gourmet, ready to go pre-prepared meals all which are made in-house. For those preferring not to eat on the road, a generously sized café space offers a welcoming environment to for friends to meet up for a cup of coffee and a delicious, warm, freshly baked sweet treat.

Reasons to Love A & S Italian Fine Foods Market

Restaurant Specialty Market Take Out To-Go Norwalk Stamford Westport Lunch Prepared Food Pasta Homepage

Sarah Green July 11, 2017

If you’re in the market for the market of markets, well - A & S Italian Fine Foods could be the market of your dreams. Owner and head chef, Albert Pizzirusso and his wife Patricia opened their latest, Italian, Fine Foods establishment late last summer and have been purveying first class fare ever since. Along with their business partner, Erik Cohen, the Pizzirussos are working their 3rd A & S market, located conveniently on the Westport/Norwalk border, very close to Whole Foods. (The other locations include a storefront in Stamford - run by Cohen and 2 out of 3 Carcomo brothers - and a previously owned A & S deli in Norwalk.) Why shop here? ‘Cuz the food is outstanding - ‘nuff said. But naturally, I’ll say more...

Aux Delices Takes Over SoNo Baking Company Spot in Downtown Westport

Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Prepared Food Take Out Bakery Dessert Kid Friendly

Stephanie Webster April 13, 2017

In case you hadn't heard, SoNo Baking Company is giving up the keys to its downtown Westport location at 44 Church Lane, across from the new Bedford Square. Aux Delices will be taking over the space in the next few weeks. This will be Aux Delices' second location in Westport, and Aux Delices owner, Debra Ponzek, said "We had been eyeing this location for quite some time and were excited when the space became available."

Aux Delices, means “all the delicious food in life,” and culinary institute-trained Debra Ponzek, describes her cooking as “quality, healthy food for busy people.” If you have visited any of their other locations in Greenwich, Darien or Westport's Post Road, you will find quick and easy service, grab-n-go items, as well as a sit down cafe experience. For fans of Aux Delices, the menu at the new Westport location will be similar to you as well.

Fortina Launches "Underground" Culinary Experiences

Features Restaurant Underground Dinner Rye Brook Pop-Up Dinner Catering

Stephanie Webster March 16, 2017

I initially held off on sharing my tasting notes for Fortina's epically unique "underground" dinner last week, as it felt like a tease to share an eating adventure that could not be experienced by our readers. Well, all that has changed. The private dinners that began as a way for the Fortina culinary team to stretch their legs, experiment with flavors and dishes, and ultimately serve to inform new menu items, can now be booked by YOU. Here is a little inside scoop on last week's carefully orchestrated 8 person dinner/performance, complete with 10 courses, alcoholic icees, an opera singer, a comedian, escargot served on a VCR, and heck of a lot of fun.

Garelick & Herbs Opens in Southport: Prepared Food, Eat In, Smoothies, Noodle Bar & More! (sponsored)

Restaurant Recipe Prepared Food Southport Specialty Market Lunch Take Out

CTbites Team October 19, 2016

Garelick & Herbs Southport have opened the doors at 3611 Post Road. After 23 years of happy success in the original flagship store in Westport, G&H opened their entirely unique space a few steps up the Post Road at the Westport/Southport border.

Owners, Jason and Paola, have always had the philosophy that good food creates a good mood, but now Garelick & Herbs is adding good space – Vaulted ceilings, and a light filled atrium designed to look like a barn made of glass, set the tone that the G&H Southport location will be THE destination for daily gourmet good food. The modern-industrial eclectic vibe lends itself to Fairfield County aesthetics.

It is almost 10,000 square feet on 2 levels, more than double the size of their former flagship store. The marketplace is accented with an exciting new juice and smoothie bar, an antipasto bars to graze in or take out and expanded breakfast and lunch options. Our noodle bar adds a wonderful spice and flavor. The in-house bakery will be downstairs at this location, so be prepared for the wonderful aroma of signature items like ruggalach and soft black & white cookies. “We are excited to have the bakery right under our noses”, said Paola Garelick.

Sono Baking Company is Open in Darien: Breakfast, Lunch & To-Go

Restaurant Bakery Darien Prepared Food Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert

Stephanie Webster October 29, 2014

Sono Baking Company is officially open for business at their new Darien outpost. Guests can drop in and sample John Barricelli’s expansive baked goods menu, or sit down after ordering counter side and dig into both breakfast and lunch. I know what you’re thinking…yes, he remembered the espresso machine. Excited? We are.

Conveniently located on 49 Tokeneke Road right across from the Darien train station, Sono Baking Co. is the perfect spot to grab an impeccably baked croissant or egg sandwich and a quick latte on the way to the train. Open 7AM to 7PM, this beautiful sun soaked interior also offers guests comfortable seating where one can relax and order from their menu of soups, paninis, quiche or special weekend pancakes.

Jax & Co. Opens in Sono, from the Owners of Mama's Boy: Breakfast, Lunch & To-Go Dinner

Restaurant Norwalk Prepared Food SONO Southern Breakfast Lunch

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 19, 2014

Whenever the owner of a restaurant that serves great food announces a second location, I am excited to see where this second venture will lead. After hearing that Greer Fredericks, the co-owner of Mama’s Boy in SONO, was opening JAX around the corner on North Main, I couldn’t wait for my first visit. JAX opened a few weeks ago and currently serves a wide range of breakfast options, plus a tremendous selection of creative sandwiches at lunch. It is also placing the final touches to its soon to be released take-away dinners, and awaiting the delivery of its ice cream machine.

Located just south of the SONO theatre, the interior is completely redesigned, accented with a red painted art nouveau ceiling and lots of wood throughout…it is definitely the sister restaurant to Mama’s Boy.

Garelick & Herbs Opens in Saugatuck: Prepared & To-Go In Westport

Features Restaurant Prepared Food Specialty Market Breakfast Lunch Dessert

Jessica Ryan September 21, 2014

It’s been just over a month since Garelick & Herbs opened its newest, and second Westport, location in the Saugatuck section of Westport with the familiar food favorites and a slightly more industrial vibe than its other locations. It's the most recent food establishment to open just below the new luxury condominiums, sharing the small section of town with Craft Butchery, The Whelk, and Saugatuck Sweets.

Many favorite dishes from the other locations are available, including an array of bright and beautiful salads (a crowd pleaser is the ever popular Kale and Quinoa). Also tempting are their prepared fish, chicken and meat entrées. Numerous pre-packaged pastas, sauces, soups and salads, as well as their selection of breads and cheeses are ready for purchase, whether to the beach or for a quick easy dinner. Their same, dangerously decadent, selection of sweets grace the counter by the register. For customers looking for a sandwich, Garelick offers Paninis, breakfast sandwiches and omelets. The space includes a large, brightly lit, dining area with plenty of comfortable seating, plus an e and coffee bar, more baked goods and delicious oatmeal; or enjoy outdoor seating.

NyHaven in New Haven: A New Nordic Pop-Up

Restaurant Chef Talk New Nordic Underground Dinner New Haven

Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster March 11, 2014

NyHaven, a one-time pop-up new Nordic dinner in New Haven on March 3, blew away a couple dozen diners lucky enough to purchase seats to the 15-course dining experience showcasing some of the most daring and inventive food in Connecticut. Conceived by Chef Simon Marcell Davidsen with fellow Community Table chef Tommy Juliano, they teamed up with John Ginnetti of 116 Crown, who not only generously offered the kitchen and dining space for NyHaven, but also paired each snack and course with an appropriate "cocktail."

An indelible evening marked by a provocative menu, curious cocktails, and a house filled with appreciate gourmands, we attempted to capture the meal in not just words, but an interview with Chef Simon Marcel Davidsen, photos of each course, and 116 Crown's video of the NyHaven experience:

Ny Haven: A Nordic Inspired Pop-up with Chefs Marcell Davidsen & Tommy Juliano at 116 Crown

Restaurant Chef Talk Underground Dinner

Amy Kundrat January 17, 2014

Photos: Signe Birck

TICKETS HAVE GONE ON SALE! Tickets

A 13 course Nordic-inspired menu is the inspiration for Ny Haven, a one-time pop-up dining collaboration between chefs Marcell Davidsen and Tommy Juliano, that will take place at 116 Crown on March 3, 2014. Ny Haven is a play on words. In Danish, Ny means New, and Haven means garden. In Copenhagen, Nyhavn is a main gathering point for people to meet at cafés to eat and drink.

The chefs, best known for their culinary risk-taking and locavore approach at Community Table in Washington, CT, will descend upon the kitchen of 116 Crown in New Haven for a single night for 25 lucky gourmands.

"We are very excited to showcase our style of new New England cuisine, and Nordic influenced cooking, to New Haven," said Davidsen. "With my Danish background and Tommy's New England approach on desserts."

WestportREADS Dining Series featuring “My Life In France,” by Julia Child

Education Underground Dinner

ellen bowen December 18, 2013

Shortly after docking in Le Harve, Julia Child had the lunch that changed her life. It was sole meuniere, and Julia said "It was the most exciting meal of my life. " Julia and Paul Child lived in Paris and Marseilles from 1948 to 1954, and it was during that time Julia developed the love of French food and the skills that made her famous. Paul fell in love with Julia because she was always herself, and America fell in love with her for the same reason. My Life in France tells the story of Julia Child's life: how she came to be an expert on French cuisine, revolutionize the writing of cookbooks and become the world's first celebrity chef.

Each January, The Westport Library selects a book and an author to be celebrated by the entire community through their popular WestportREADS program.

This year’s selection, the iconic autobiography , My Life in France, by Julia Child, tells the inspiring, and at times humorous story of a young woman’s discovery of France, fine food, and a passion for cooking.

In conjunction with this event, CTbites is holding a curated dinner series, “Dine Around Town With Julia,” offering the opportunity to dine and sample many of her most famous dishes; Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq Au Vin, Poisson Meuniere, and Cassoulet in a private setting with local chefs and in local restaurants in celebration of what would have been Julia Childs 100^th year. The dinners, priced at $100 pp, include 3 courses, 2 glasses of wine, tax and tip and are limited availability. A portion of the proceeds benefits programming for the Westport Library.

Saugatuck Craft Butchery Moves in Westport w/ New Take-Out Menu & Kitchen

Features Restaurant Butcher Prepared Food Westport Take Out Lunch

Sarah Green September 17, 2013

Just a quick hop, skip and a purely sustainable, pasture-fed jump across Riverside Ave is the spankin' new Saugatuck Craft Butchery, now re-opened for business in Westport! Owner Ryan Fibiger and crew are ready and waiting with a crisp, clean, larger locale complete with a larger retail space as well as a complete, working kitchen where fresh, prepared foods are being made for purchase. Head Chef Mark Heppermann and his sous chefs have begun with sandwiches and salads, all made with the freshest ingredients. Meat from well...that's obvious, veggies pulled straight from the earth of the edible gardens - courtesy of Homefront Farmers - that surround the shop, and breads delivered daily from ELI's and Balthazar in NYC. The day we visited, we were pleased to find a Lamb Meatball Sandwich with pickled red onions and house made hummus as well as a gorgeous "Beets Me" salad with Quinoa, watercress and goat cheese.

Westport Farmers' Market Fundraisers Feature Mystery Location & Chef Lineup

Restaurant Farmers Market Underground Dinner

CTbites Team August 24, 2013

This year, the Westport Farmers’ Market will turn its annual Fork It Over fundraiser into four dinners on four different nights, featuring some of the area’s most celebrated chefs.

The chef list reads like a Who’s Who of the Fairfield County culinary scene: Matt Storch (Chelsea and Match), Bill Taibe (LeFarm and The Whelk), Michel Nischan (Dressing Room, featuring Johnny Vaast), Tim Lablant (Schoolhouse Restaurant) and Jeff Taibe (Oak & Almond) to name just a few, are planning meals and menus unlike anything you’ve come to expect from them, and featuring ingredients from Norm Bloom, Sport Hill Farm, Fort Hill Farm, Oxhollow Farm, Craft Butchery, and others.

The catch?

WFM will tell you when, but not where (at least, not until the day before). And they’re not telling who, either.

Underground Dinner: Plum Luv Foods Pops Up at Butcher’s Best

Restaurant Chef Talk Newtown Underground Dinner

Jeanette Chen July 31, 2013

This past Sunday, a group of us were six of the lucky 40 folks to nab tickets to a "hip" six course menu put on by Plum Luv Foods at Butcher's Best in Newtown, CT, showcasing sustainable local produce, seafood and grassfed meats. This was a sold-out event, even after adding ten more tickets than had been sold at previous dinners.

For the past few months, Chef Plum and Sous Chef Kern have been hosting Underground Dinner ("pop-up dinners") in Connecticut, where they take over a space for the evening, and prepare dinner in a casual, local setting.

No one in our group had ever been to a pop-up dinner, but we knew we were in for a fun night when we were greeted with a glass of bubbly champagne with local blueberries as soon as we walked in the door.

Take a peek at the menu ~ this particular evening, Chef Plum showcased grass-fed meats from Shiregate Family Farm (carried by Butcher's Best), local grown produce (from Farming 101 and Holbrook Farm), and fresh fish and oysters caught right off the Connecticut shoreline.

Dinner Underground in Newtown CT with Chef Plum

Restaurant Events Newtown Underground Dinner

Nicole Straight May 03, 2013

I wasn’t sure what to expect as we entered the butcher, but were warmly greeted with a glass of champagne by Chef (Chris) Plum himself and were shown to our table. Butcher’s Best deli and butcher in Newtown, CT has been transformed twice in 2013 to offer 30 lucky diners one of Plum’s "Dinner Undergound" culinary evenings. I was lucky enough to enjoy night #2.

Chef Plum is a graduate from The Culinary Institute of America with over 18 years of experience. He has worked all over the east coast in five-star hotels and resorts, as well as small neighborhood restaurants. Plum-Luv-Foods was born in 2006 and since then has brought whole farm foods to families, small parties, Broadway actors, executives, Food Network and network TV.

Plum’s happy demeanor shines through his food. His inventive style and clever riffs show both his appreciation for food and simple enjoyment of offering his guests thoughtfully created dishes. As each course is served, Plum tells us about where the food is from, his inspiration and why he chose to marry the components.

Souterrain #5: Bill Taibe Hosts Underground Dinner

Restaurant Underground Dinner Bill Taibe Events

Stephanie Webster November 06, 2012

Bill Taibe and his team of chefs hosted Souterrain Sunday night, #5 in his series of underground pop-up dinners featuring local ingredients, unexpected locations, and good company. Ironically, Souterrain #5 was originally scheduled during last October's spectacular Nor'easter, and while Halloween did go on, Souterrain had to be cancelled. This year, dinner prevailed, and guests were delighted to find themselves at The Westport Arts Center on the last day of the appropriately themed FOODIES art exhibit. (The location is only divulged 12 hours before the event).

Bill Taibe considers Souterrain his "third restaurant, one without walls, where people come together at communal tables and share a unique culinary experience." The menu for Souterrain does not always follow a strict narrative, but Sunday's meal was truly an ode to duck. Green olives with roasted garlic cloves were cooked in duck fat. There was Duck Ham, Duck Liver & Huckleberries, and a spectacular Duck Confit. Corn bread drizzled with maple syrup paired beautifully with the foie and huckleberries, and a Brandade (Salt Cod Puree) made it into the first course, providing a taste of the sea. John Baricelli, of Sono Baking Company, even created a special olive bread for the evening. VIEW PHOTO GALLERY