Filtering by Tag: CTbites Invites,Wine Tasting

Barcelona Wine Bar Launches Wine Education Series in Partnership with Wine.com

Features WIne Wine Chat Wine Tasting This Week In Wine Education

CTbites Team

Barcelona Wine Bar is launching a new, complimentary wine education series in partnership with Wine.com to bring a taste of Spain home. The best news…after the class, you can buy the wines on Wine.com.

The first class, Iconic Red Wines of Spain will be released on April 28th, and will focus on Rioja, Bierzo, Ribera Del Duero, and Priorat wines. While there are specific wines that are available in a bundle on Wine.com for $89.99, Barcelona restaurants have an expansive range of wines from these regions and participants can call BWB to pick-up wine from one or all of these regions to taste along with the experts. The series was created for any Bierzo, Priorat, Rioja, or Ribera del Duero red wine to pair perfectly for the course.


CTbites Happy Hour at The Spread South Norwalk for $40

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CTbites Team

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.


CTbites Happy Hour on the Patio at Artisan Southport for $40

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CTbites Team

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.


Recap: Beers & Bites at Half Full Brewery with Knot Norms and Hapa Food Truck

Features Homepage Dinner Events Beer Dinner CT Beer CTbites Invites

Andrew Dominick

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. 


Food Trucks & CT Chefs Team Up for "Beer & Bites" Pop-Up Dinners w/ Half Full Brewery and CT Bites

Features Events CTbites Invites

Stephanie Webster

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.


Southern Connecticut Wine Company Invites You To Make Your Own Wine

Features Ingredients Education Cooking Classes WIne Wine Tasting Vineyard Wallingford

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

In 2016, Forbes Magazine claimed to have discovered the “secret to happiness.”  “Spend money on experiences, not things,” they told their readers.  CNN took it one step further.  “That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day…,” they reported.  “Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred.”

Those looking to invest in a meaningful experience can find a solution tucked away in Wallingford, just off the highway, but hidden from view.  Southern Connecticut Wine Company, located in an unassuming garage-like building behind the railroad tracks, affords people the unique opportunity to create their own wine over the course of a season.  I had the chance to be an honorary co-op member for the day and witness a little bit of what they have to offer.


Join CTbites for Happy Hour at Terrain's Garden Patio in Westport

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CTbites Team

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. 

5:30-7:30 PM.  $40 pp + tax. Bring friends, relax, sip, taste and enjoy. Tickets can be purchased here.
 


CTbites Happy Hour on the Patio at Artisan Southport

CTbites Invites

CTbites Team

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!


Vine Wine Room Opens in Westport w/ New Italian Menu

Restaurant Italian Westport Wine Bar Wine Tasting

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

As Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump anxiously rehearsed their talking points and many huddled around their television screens in anticipation of the final Presidential debate, I was… sipping rose on the outdoor patio of Vine Wine Room in Westport.  Despite the fact that it was mid-October, temperatures soared into the upper eighties and the sun shone gloriously.  Ignoring any political tensions, a friend and I decided to take full advantage of the Indian Summer and headed over to Vine Wine Room, a restaurant-meets-lounge on Westport’s Main Street.  One week prior, Vine hired acclaimed local chef Toni Sapienza to reimagine their menu and infuse new energy into the restaurant.  They had invited us down to check out the lounge and we were eager to give Toni’s cuisine a try.

CTbites Invites: Happy Hour on the Kawa Ni Rooftop for $39

Restaurant CTbites Invites

ellen bowen

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


CTbites Invites: Happy Hour on The Patio at Artisan for $39

Restaurant CTbites Invites Invites

CTbites Team

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” dining with assorted appetizers and cocktails.  

Priced at $39, the Happy Hour includes a specialty cocktail and a second cocktail or wine or beer. Buy your tickets here:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2553071

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.  

Menu Includes...


CT Coast & Country Winter Wine Trail 2016

WIne Wine Tasting

CTbites Team

Looking for something fun to do this winter? The CT Coast & Country Winter Wine Trail is made up of a select few wineries from the CT Wine Trail. They are teaming up to offer you a Mini-Passport Program from January 2nd through April 3rd. Participating wineries are Bishop’s Orchards Winery in Guilford, CT, Gouveia Vineyards and Paradise Hills Winery, both in Wallingford, CT. Visit all wineries by April 3rd, have your passport card stamped at each winery, and enter to win one of the multiple prizes. All prizes this year total over $2,500. Some prizes are listed below, along with rules and more information on participating wineries. “Like” their Facebook page for more information and updates.

CTbites Invites: White Truffle Dinner at Da Pietro’s Restaurant December 10th

Restaurant CTbites Invites Dinner Events

CTbites 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: 


Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Celebrates 10th Year with Martha Stewart, Jacques Pépin, Claudine Pépin & More

Restaurant Festival Newport Wine Tasting

CTbites Team

The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, one of the East Coast’s most sophisticated and anticipated events, returns for its 10th year from September 25 – 27, 2015. Once again, the Marble House lawn will be the setting for the two-day Grand Tasting, which offers guests the chance to sample hundreds of wines from around the world and cuisine from nearly two dozen regional restaurants and caterers.

Martha Stewart will return to the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival for her second year, headlining a brand new signature event with French chef Jacques Pépin. During A Conversation with Martha Stewart and Jacques Pépin, guests can enjoy a lively and engaging conversation with the lifestyle expert and the French chef while sipping Champagne Taittinger in the Marble House Gold Ballroom before heading out to the Grand Tasting. 

Chef Pépin will also join daughter Claudine Pépin for a cooking demonstration on the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration Stage during Sunday’s Grand Tasting. Claudine Pépin joined her father in preparing delicious meals and sharing cooking techniques on three public television shows and has served as a Brand Ambassador for Moet & Chandon and Dom Perignon Champagne. She recently wrote her first book, Kids Cook French, a collection of thirty favorite, simple, classic French recipes in both English and French, illustrated by her father Jacques and daughter Shorey.


CTbites Invites Recap: Artisan Happy Hour 2015

CTbites Invites Invites

CTbites Team

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.


Saugatuck Grain + Grape Launches Wine Education Class Series

Ingredients Cooking Classes WIne Wine Tasting

Stephanie Webster

Saugatuck Grain + Grape is going to be holding a series of wine education classes. Classes will be held every other week this spring. The series will cover everything from "Introduction to Wine Tasting, Lexicon, and Labels" to "The World Through Rosé Covered Glasses" as they dive into specific varietals. For those who don't know Mimi and her team, there will most definitely be fun, food and some bad wine jokes in every session.

Classes will be led by Mimi McLaughlin and Jon Carr, the newest member of the SG+G team. There will be nibbles prepared by Mark Hepperman, their in-house chef, so your tummy and taste buds will be happy in a multitude of ways.

Below is a break down of the syllabus, cost and dates. Please call the store to reserve your spot. 


Recap: Mohegan Sun's Winefest 2015...Good Times!

Ingredients Wine Chat Wine Tasting

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

2015 marked the 12th year of Mohegan Sun’s popular WineFest.  The format continued as it has in years past, with a Friday night bourbon tasting, Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday, an Elite Cru tasting, and a Celebrity Chef Dine Around on Saturday night.  The event also featured many celebrity chefs beloved from previous years like William Kovel, Todd English, Michele Ragussis, Govind Armstrong, Manouschka Guerrier, and Betty Fraser.  Yet, 2015 managed to stand apart with new additions and changing trends.

This year, I attended the Sunday Grand Tasting rather than staying the span of the weekend.  Sunday is slightly less attended, but still provides ample opportunity to see creative chef demonstrations and sample the offerings.


Napa & Co. Announces 2015 Wine Class Schedule

Wine Bar Wine Dinners Wine Tasting

CTbites Team

Napa & Co. announced its 2015 Wine Class / Tasting schedule that will span the world and offer classes for the novice, the experienced wine connoisseur and those looking for a deeper understanding of various regions and blends. Prices range from $50 to $120 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and includes up to six different varieties. All classes start at 630PM.

Monday January 12th - WINE 101 - Start the year with an interesting class for the novice wine drinker and learn how to better describe wines and pair each with food. Enjoy 3 whites and 3 reds. $50pp (plus tax and gratuity)

Monday January 26th - Jordan Library Wine Tasting 2001-06 - Jordan is one of the icons of Alexander Valley producing Old World style Bordeaux blends. We will try a vertical tasting of 6 wines and see how well they age, and how they’ve changed. $120pp (plus tax and gratuity)


Walrus + Carpenter & Mecha Noodle Bar Host BO SSäM Dinner!!!!

CTbites Invites Dinner Events

CTbites Team

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.

Tempting menu items include: