This new modern Sichuan restaurant promises to go beyond “Americanized” Chinese food, showcasing the rich and complex flavors of the cuisine alongside stylish cocktails.
Sichuan Alley is new to West Hartford, but actually got its start in Singapore in 2016, said owner Michael Jiang, who partnered with the Singaporean owners to bring the concept to central Connecticut. It’s his first restaurant, he said, as he has a background in fashion, owning a business that makes formal dresses for weddings and proms.
Spring is just about here and summer is not far behind, which means warmer weather is finally upon us. Yay! It also means that new and exciting cooking classes and camps for young kids, teens, and in-betweens are just around the corner. This list offers one-day classes, private chef-lead cooking parties, and week-long (or summer-long) camp sessions for all types of cuisines and skill levels. Whether your high schoolers are looking to hone their knife sharpening and other kitchen techniques, or your elementary school-aged kids just want to bake cupcakes from scratch and decorate them (whilst licking the bowl), Connecticut has many opportunities for a wide range of culinary interests. Some classes are coming up this month and summer programs fill up quickly, so don’t delay! Keep your kids’ creative juices flowing and register them today!
Roi Graber is a long way from home, but has brought a taste of Israel and the fresh, healthy flavors of the Mediterranean to his new residence in West Hartford.
In January, Graber opened Gveenah, a modern kosher “Mediterranean fusion” restaurant, taking over the former Black Bamboo space on Farmington Avenue as owner Sonny Chen moved his popular Chinese eatery to a new location. Gveenah means “cheese” in Hebrew, Graber said.
Graber owned restaurants in his home country, but he and his wife and children fled after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023 and came to the United States to stay with family members. He thought it would be a temporary measure for a few months, but the Jewish community in West Hartford helped them settle in, finding them a home and getting the children into school. Graber began thinking about a longer-term plan.
Just a few months after arriving in Connecticut, Graber was on track to open his first American restaurant, with the help of business connections in West Hartford. Less than a year later, Gveenah opened its doors, welcoming guests in for a fusion experience blending “the rich traditions of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine,” according to its website.
The Guinness signs and pug-themed decor have disappeared, and the menu no longer features fish and chips, Irish nachos and shepherd’s pie. The new era of The Corner Pug’s space begins Jan. 23, as chef Ashley Flagg officially opens her first restaurant, The Laurel, in West Hartford.
In July, The Corner Pug’s owner Ted Vetter announced he would close his Irish pub on New Britain Avenue after more than 20 years in business, citing his age and rising costs as reasons for the decision. Soon after, Flagg announced she would be taking over the landmark space in West Hartford’s Elmwood neighborhood, with plans for globally-inspired shareable plates.
Flagg, who most recently served as the executive chef at Millwright’s in Simsbury, co-owns The Laurel with her wife, Rebekah, who is also the general manager. The couple lives in Bloomfield and initially wanted to open their first restaurant there, Flagg said, but they weren’t able to find the right space to fit their needs. When they next toured The Corner Pug, they knew they could make their vision work there.
The team behind West Hartford’s newest wine bar wants its guests to know that it’s far more than just wine – though its list is more than 400 bottles strong.
Crush Wine Bar, which opened in the town center on Oct. 30, offers a full menu of thoughtful small plates alongside its extensive wine selection. Operations manager and beverage director Vish Badami said he thinks the food has been a bit of a surprise for guests in the first few weeks.
“People (expect) it's going to be cheese and charcuterie, and that's kind of the impression they have,” he said. “And then I think a lot of people are very pleasantly surprised with the quality of food, the thought process behind the food, the options, the freshness of the dishes.”
Crush Wine Bar is a sister restaurant to Union Kitchen, its LaSalle Road neighbor, which has evolved in recent years from a casual comfort-food spot to a more upscale experience with tasting menus. Both are owned by Bean Restaurant Group, which also owns and operates several other eateries in western Massachusetts, including The Student Prince in Springfield, the White Hut burger spots in Holyoke and West Springfield and the German-themed Wurst Haus in Northampton.
Let’s admit it, summer is over. But instead of being sad about the end of hot days and warm nights, why not get excited about what autumn and winter have in store for us? Put away those bathing suits, flip-flops, and floppy beach hats we bought on a whim because we thought they were cute but never actually wore. Now get out those deliciously cozy leaf-colored sweaters, oversized flannels, and UGG(ly) slippers because it’s time for the best cooking, baking, and cocktail classes CT has in store this season.
Oh me, oh my, are there some amazingly inspired courses out there! Whether you’re looking for a date night culinary adventure, a girls’ night out pizza making and wine tasting experience, classes for your little ones, or advice on eating clean, mean, and in-between, this list has you 100% covered. So don’t be sad that those long summer days are behind us, be glad they happened. Then get over it, because the best of 2024 has yet to come!
If you live in CT, you likely have heard the name, Chef Ashley Flagg. She has been the executive Chef at the iconic Millwright's in Simsbury for five years, and has worked in the industry for over fourteen. Flagg is now getting ready to head out on her own, and has signed a lease for a new spot at 1046 New Britain Ave in West Hartford. The restaurant will be called The Laurel and it is slated to open its doors in early 2025. Are we excited? Heck yeah we are.
The name, The Laurel, is an ode to Flagg’s grandmother who inspired her love of cooking. It is also s a nod to the Connecticut state flower, an appropriate choice, as Flagg is a strong supporter of sourcing close to home. The concept is centered around globally inspired shareable plates utilizing the best local purveyors, farmers, and artisans.
Now in its second generation of family ownership, Coracora is helmed by sisters Chef Macarena Ludena and co-owner Grecia Ludena. First opened in 2011 by their parents Luisa Jimenez and Hector Ludena,
Coracora has since built up its loyal clientèle based on three main pillars -- high-quality ingredients, a warm and welcoming family-like experience, and top-notch customer service. All dishes are made in- house and without artificial preservatives, furthering Coracora's dedication to excellence and authentic Peruvian cuisine.
Coracora will take the space formerly occupied by Rosa Mexicano who recently closed their doors in West Hartford.
Spring is right around the corner and summer will be here before you know it, so why not stay ahead of the game and take advantage of the many kids cooking classes and camps being offered all over Connecticut? There’s nothing quite as important as your children’s diet. Each of these courses will teach them about nutrition, kitchen safety, food preparation, different types of cuisines, and how to make food and cooking fun. Every child is creative in their own right, so let these culinary chefs help foster their creativity and you may just have someone cooking for YOU…and let’s be honest, that would sure be a nice change.
This past Summer, a quiet transition began to take place at 975 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. The much adored Arethusa was closing its doors making way for a new French country-style restaurant. This wasn’t exactly a case of “in with the new and out with the old,” because although the name on building has changed, Le Mazet has very much incorporated the Arethusa into the fold.
It’s still quite a challenge to get a dinner reservation at Le Mazet, and we felt incredibly lucky to score a 5PM seating last week. As soon as we sat down, after taking in the stunning décor, we got right to work scouring the menu.
Owner Jared Cohen joined us briefly to talk about this new venture. Formerly with Republic, Cohen took a little time off to regroup and redirect his focus when he got together with his good friend Jacob Studenroth, owner of The Wise of Dog, a local liquor store. The idea for Le Mazet was born; a French country restaurant featuring “La Conserve” (Conserva) and Rotisserie. Studenroth helped shape the restaurant’s vision and was also brought on board to curate the wine program. Something was still missing – every restaurant needs a chef. Joe Cusano, a young and very talented chef was the last piece of the puzzle. Cusano, a graduate of Johnson & Whales and trained in classic French Cuisine, was brought on to join the team. Most recently he was Chef de Cuisine at the Max Restaurant Group where he had been for 10 years.
It’s that time of year again when fall-inspired meals are probably popping up all across your social media feed. If you ever caught yourself thinking, “Wow, I’d love to be able to cook something like that myself,” then it may be time to look into taking a cooking class! And with the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to brush up on your culinary skills. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year or have been charged with bringing a dish to your office holiday party, make this year the one where you really impress your family and friends!
There are many businesses across the state that offer cooking classes and workshops to hone your craft. Classes can range from learning how to use the various tools in your kitchen to preparing everything from soups to desserts. Take a look through this roundup of classes and see which ones you can put to use this holiday season – they also make for a great gift idea for the budding chef in your family!
We recently had to the opportunity to visit the newly opened RAW* restaurant in downtown Hartford. Raw* is the newest concept by Gina Lauri, founder and CEO of The Statement Group which also owns the successful The Place 2 Be restaurants. Much like its predecessors RAW* is visual eye candy with a vibrant aquatic theme. The interior boasts an artistic and modern flare which was created by mixing assorted metals, white subway tile, neon lights, fun and whimsical artwork, graffiti, and a swimming-pool blue for an ultimate industrial-meets-under-water-vibe. But there’s no need to hold your breath here. In fact you’ll want to breathe deeply and take it all in. And there’s so much to take in!
There are so many kids camps and classes to choose from these days, why not choose one that starts with the basics: our food. Classes at these following establishments range from the basics of utensil skills to cooking up favorite foods and learning about nutrition and where our food is grown. That’s a whole lot of inspired learning about something that is both important and delicious and can be carried with a person long past a single summer. Bon appetit, foodies-in-training!
Fine dining isn’t dead, despite what René Redzepi might say or think, as he gets ready to shutter the doors of what’s been considered one of the best restaurants in the entire world for nearly twenty years. West Hartford has been missing this ‘option’ in dining for a very long time, up until now. Located at 43 Lasalle Road amid restaurant row, are two gentleman working incredibly hard to bring back the ‘tasting menu’ and the full experience that goes along with it, if you choose. You should choose. Head Chef Tim East brings with him a very diverse background in food as he’s worked at several high profile restaurants around the state with some very notable chefs including Todd English and Bobby Flay. He is no stranger to West Hartford either, as he oversaw the much loved Besito in Blueback square that closed over a rental agreement dispute. Most recently however, he took on a leadership role at the storied Cavey’s in Manchester where he developed a love of French cuisine along with many of its techniques. Tim carries all of this experience and knowledge along with his passion, to a restaurant that is focused on its changing the narrative from what it was before he arrived, to what it is capable of under his leadership, a true destination restaurant amongst the West Hartford food scene.
Rosa Mexicano announces the official opening on October 26 of its newest location in West Hartford, Connecticut. Located at 51 Isham Road, opposite the Cheesecake Factory, this 6,000 square-foot restaurant in Blue Back Square, an outdoor mixed-use downtown destination, will offer guests an elevated fiesta experience including signature menu items like the famed tableside guacamole preparation, margaritas that were named best in New York City, as well as a creative cocktail program. In addition, the restaurant in West Hartford will feature outdoor dining with an inviting patio.
It was a chilly night Saturday but groups of friends gathered around food booths at St. Mark the Evangelist in West Hartford as a combination of delicious scents wafted through the air: grilled meats, baked goods and of course, pho. A live band played pop music from Vietnam and other parts of the world — like “Jamaica Farewell” — translated into Vietnamese.
It was the opening of the Vietnamese Night Market, held bimonthly during the warmer months at the church. The open-air event is a celebration of cooking and community, offering a variety of food options, all of them homemade by parishioners and with proceeds benefiting the church.
“The market is so fun and exciting. Everyone loves it,” Ánh Đôn Lê, a member of the parish council, said. “It brings Vietnamese people together and lets us introduce our culture to others.”
Feels like we were all just stuck home together and dreaming of getting OUT and low and behold, now we can! Let’s start with getting those kiddos some cool stuff to do once school lets out. Let’s hear it for cooking camps! To learn (in a fun way) about food, where it comes from, what the heck we can do with it, and yummm, how it tastes-what could be better? Follow it with some parent-kid trips to your local farms or farmers’ markets, and lookie there, you’ve just filled the calendar a bit for the summer months. Here’s to brilliant and tasty new discoveries!
Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Cora Cora Peruvian Restaurant and the Ludena family that own it, are finally getting the recognition they deserve. All of their hard work and dedication to serving traditional, authentic Peruvian food handed down through family recipes has helped not only them, but Connecticut also, gain recognition on the national food scene with not one, but two nominations by the James Beard Foundation. First for Outstanding Restaurant, and second for Best Chef: Northeast.
As I bite into my first milk chocolate dipped crunchy peanut butter patty, I’m overwhelmed by the feeling that I’ve waited far too long to discover the edible joy that comes from the confections found at Bridgewater Chocolate. A trip to any of their stores, located in Brookfield and West Hartford (as well as a Westport weekend pop-up through December), will elicit a type of longing that will have you dreaming of chocolate at night, and as Michael Stern once stated so perfectly…
Walk into Bridgewater Chocolate, and the air inside is chocoholic heaven, with an aroma that is intense but not cloying, like vaporous cocoa laced with the sweetness of fruit. The store area is fairly small, decorated with the beautiful hinged boxes in which Bridgewater packs its goodies. — Jane & Michel Stern, Roadfood.com
Have you strolled down Farmington Avenue lately? West Hartford is BAAAACK! And, Arugula Bistro is now all dressed up and ready to party. The colorful block mural and beautiful lavender plants along the front of the restaurant are just two visual signs that Arugula is awaiting your arrival. Back open this summer after some much needed reno, your spirit and belly will be delighted by the changes. Like many restaurants, some time closed during the pandemic was spent fixing to-do list projects. What went from much needed new flooring to some equipment and furniture overhauls, became the redo Chef Christiane Gehami and Chef Michael Kask had always wanted it to be. The pair have run Arugula together for twenty-five years and they’ve worked hard to evolve; behind them, in long-time starring roles on the team are also Steve Reynolds and Shari Warbelow.
