Dante's Pizza in New Canaan: Finally Entering the Inferno Features Interview Restaurant Pizza New Canaan Dante's Pizza Andrew Dominick November 24, 2022 On several occasions, chef Tim LaBant has suggested we check out Dante’s Pizza in New Canaan.“Have you been to Dante’s?”“Have you been to Dante’s yet?”“You gotta try Dante’s. I’d be curious to see what you think.”Before he mentioned it to me a year ago, I hadn’t even heard of Dante’s. I live pretty close to New Canaan, and what’s worse is I frequently visit my favorites there, namely the South Ends, Elm, Locali, and I’ve eaten an obscene amount of Joe’s Pizza. Read More
Guide To Great Coffee in Connecticut: Happy National Coffee Day 2022! Restaurant Features Roundup Best of CT Coffee Espresso Coffee Shop Breakfast homepage Highlight April Guilbault September 24, 2022 September 29th is National Coffee Day. If this listing was a coffee cup it would be a mega-super-duper-de-booper-trente. To make the (brewing) process easier for you to discover fabulous-and sometimes hidden- java joints to caffeinate or simply enjoy the velvety and multi-faced notes of a fine cup of’ Joe, we have divided this list by county. Enjoy the thrill of a new favorite spot or re-visit an old favorite.The slow pour has already begun as you read this…Enjoy our guide to the best places to get coffee in the state of Connecticut. Read More
Q&A with Chef Luke Venner of Elm Restaurant, Celebrating 10 Years Features Interview Q & A New Canaan Chef Talk Stephanie Webster April 13, 2022 As Elm Restaurant successfully slides into their 10th year in New Canaan, we sat down with Chef Luke Venner to discuss this impressive milestone in a challenging industry. Elm is known for its friendly, local atmosphere, globally-inspired menu, and focus on fresh ingredients. Venner always has something new up his sleeve to keep diners engaged. Aside from seasonal menu updates, he introduced afternoon tea service in 2021, and navigated the pandemic with innovative to-go boxes. Side note: If you haven’t had his “Animal Style Burger,” you’re really missing out. Here are a few things you may not know about one of CT’s top chefs.What made you want to be a chef?It was somewhat accidental. I started working in a Steakhouse kitchen my freshman year in high school to earn extra cash for gas, the cool shoes, music, etc.. I began washing dishes and before long decided to quit sports to work full time after class. I quickly became one of the top cooks and by my senior year in high school I graduated as the sous chef at only 18 years old.Prior to that, I had always thought I wanted to do something in the biology field and drew most of my inspiration from the outdoors. Back then, food still didn't have much presence on television and I had never picked up a cookbook, but I was drawn to the restaurant energy and I was sure much better ones than I had experienced existed. Ultimately, competitive drive got the best of me and I decided I would push myself as far as I could go in the business I was already in. I applied to a small European style apprenticeship program in Colorado 600 miles from my hometown and, much to my surprise, was accepted. I immediately began training for the next four years under an old world French chef and my life would change forever. Read More
Grace Farms New Canaan Launches 100% Fair Trade Organic Tea, Coffee & Cookie Line Features Tea And Coffee New Canaan Lunch Gift Guide Jessica Ryan November 03, 2021 When was the last time you visited Grace Farms? The stunning 80-acre space in New Canaan, Connecticut that supports initiatives in the areas of nature, arts, justice, community, and faith, and encourages participation locally and globally is a treasure to visit. Pritzker Prize-winning River building, is the focal point, having become an integral part of the landscape. Designed to resemble a rambling river, five transparent glass-enclosed buildings that each live beneath one flowing roof. Here you will find The Sanctuary, a 700-seat amphitheater; the library, a staffed library with resources related Grace Farms Foundation's initiatives; the Commons, a community gathering space with 18-foot-long tables; the Pavilion; a welcome reception and conversation space with tea service; and the Court, an incredible underground recreational space used by local children and schools. Wander around the 80 acres of open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds and soak up all the breathtaking scenery.In 2021 Grace Farms Foods was launched by Grace Farm’s Founder Sharon Prince along with Adam Thatcher to share with the world and invite everyone to be part of their mission by offering our signature cookies, coffee, and tea. Read More
jjStacks: Burgers, Fries, Shakes, Local Beer, + Mini Golf in Brookfield Restaurant Features Burgers sandwiches ice cream Brookfield homepage Homepage Andrew Dominick October 03, 2021 Joe Attonito has his second act as a restaurant owner. In fact, he’s officially over a year into his next phase at jjStacks, where double cheeseburgers, hulking hot dogs, fresh cut fries, shakes, and other sandwiches are the focus.If Attonito sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. He owned the sports bar, Tiger’s Den, just off Ridgefield’s Main Street for 3 ½ years. “I was looking to get out of the industry,” Attonito says. “While attempting to transition out, I went to work for Jeff Taibe at Taproot, then I got into food sales at PFG (Performance Food Group). I wanted to get back in, so I started looking into getting a food truck.”Attonito found a truck with the right price tag attached to it but his business partner at the time didn’t want the venture to be mobile. “I didn’t want to do a brick-and-mortar because I know what it takes; you gotta be there every day,” he says. “My partner told me to go look at the old Campy’s Cookout on Federal Road and to let him know what I thought. I saw the place, the property, the deck, the mini golf, and said to myself ‘Oh, man. This is perfect.’ I called the landlord hoping the rent would be too much and it’ll be crazy, and easy to say no. He was so friendly, accommodating, and the price was right.”And just like that, from sports bar to a few stops in between, Attonito was back operating a sort of sportsy location, if you consider mini golf a sport.jjStacks officially opened on August 23, 2020, a scary time to open a spot smack dab in a pandemic, according to Attonito, but he knew he had lots of outdoor seating on the side deck if people felt uncomfortable dining in.The vibe at Stacks, though, is anything but uncomfortable. It’s a family friendly roadside joint with double stack burgers as its star and plenty of guilty pleasure grub.Past patrons of Tiger’s Den will recognize his crispy, meaty chicken wings with a plethora of classic and creative sauces to choose from, and occasionally you’ll come across a Den special like mac & cheese, but with a jjStacks spin on it, like “Big Stack Mac” with chopped ground beef, bacon, and burger sauce. Read More
Guide to Connecticut Lobster, Clambakes and Seafood Shacks: 2021 Edition Restaurant Features Best of CT Seafood seafood boil Lobster Lobster Roll Lobster Bake Clambake Dining Guide homepage Homepage April Guilbault July 11, 2021 It is doubtful that, when mentioning summer eats, lobster anything wouldn’t be in the Top 3 list of foods that folks love, drive miles for, yearn for during the winter months and spiritedly debate (hot? cold? with mayo? just butter?). Well, summer is here, time to strap on that bib, lick those buttery fingers and well, get crackin’. From piled-high lobster rolls and creamy bisques, to hot fried clams and fluffy fritters, seafood rules the roost when temps rise and those ocean breezes soothe the soul. Whether you are searching for a lunch by the water or hosting a party for friends (weee! finally!), these venues will add some buttery fun to your summer days. Bon appetit! Here, let me tie that bib for you…. Read More
Dave’s Gourmet Paletas: Artisan Ice Pops Opens in Fairfield Restaurant Openings Fairfield Ices Ice Pops Dessert Kids Kid Friendly Popsicles homepage CTbites Team July 06, 2021 Craving something sweet but not in the mood for the full indulgence of ice cream? Do you want something that tastes just as good without as much guilt? Have no fear, Dave’s Gourmet Paletas has just opened in downtown Fairfield serving up 20 flavors of homemade paletas…made fresh daily. These pops are far cry fro from the average popsicle as paletas are made entirely from whole ingredients, delicious things…like fresh fruit and nut butters. Dave’s Paletas also feature gluten free, dairy free and vegan options with a menu ranging from classic flavors like strawberry and banana to more unique ones like matcha and mango chamoy. Paletas are a traditional Mexican frozen treat and owner and CEO Dave Rock says,“We wanted to offer standard flavors, traditional ones that everybody likes, but we also wanted to sprinkle in some of the more uniquely Mexican options like a mango chamoy.” Read More
Black Rock Social House Opens in Bridgeport with Globally Inspired 100% Gluten-Free Menu Restaurant Black Rock Bridgeport Gluten-Free Allergy Friendly Celiac Friendly Global Cuisine Italian Mediterranean homepage Homepage Jessica Ryan May 28, 2021
Afternoon Tea Service Arrives at Elm in New Canaan Features Restaurant Afternoon Tea New Canaan Pastries Tea Homepage Andrew Dominick May 02, 2021 If we lived in 1840’s England, most of us in middle class and below wouldn’t be allowed to have afternoon tea. Now that we’re past the 19th Century—and living in America in the joyous years of 2020 and 2021—tea, tiny sandwiches, and snackable sweets before dinner is for all to enjoy, regardless of status.Afternoon tea in present day Connecticut can be found, though places that offer it are few and far between, but there’s a new one going down on Fridays by Luke Venner at Elm in New Canaan.Venner told us that the idea for tea and bites came about when he was reminiscing with colleagues about their days in Manhattan and wanting to offer a New York City experience for locals. “It’s good for a neighborhood place like Elm because people aren’t going into the city as much as they used to,” he says. “But city people are coming here, so why not try to recreate that?”What Elm is doing is all kinda classic of a tea service but with Elm’s twist on it.Expect to see mini cucumber sandwiches…but with caviar. A ham and cheese sammy follows the fancy trend as it’s topped with a sliver of black truffle. And there’s a foie gras macaron. You get the idea.Venner mentioned that he drew inspiration from Gabriel Kreuther’s tea program at the Baccarat Hotel.“He was the former chef at The Modern and that (afternoon tea at the Baccarat) was one of the best I’ve had,” he says. “Offering this has become such a fun, creative outlet for me.” Read More
Greenology Kitchen, Plant Based Eatery, Opens in New Canaan Restaurant New Canaan Healthy Eats Juice Bar Juice Cleanse Smoothies Vegan Specialty Products Special Dietary Needs Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Breakfast Lunch Stephanie Webster March 23, 2021
Nick Martschenko Opens Mexican-Inspired SE The Back End in New Canaan Features Restaurant Interview New Canaan Mexican Lunch Cocktails Homepage Openings Andrew Dominick March 20, 2021 Nick Martschenko is every so closer to his monopoly on New Canaan’s restaurant scene. Even if that’s not the goal, he’s inching towards it with what’s now a downtown dining trifecta.His latest venture, The Back End, is different. You can’t compare it to his flagship fine dining South End. And it’s not reminiscent of the laid-back but chatty speakeasy-meets-pub atmosphere of SE Uncorked, that stars “snacks + taps” (and cocktails and one damn fine burger).“I wanted it (The Back End) to have Miami vibes, at least I want it to have that feel,” Martschenko says. “I envision it with the bar windows wide open, a super casual setting with lots of colors, lots of pink. Ruth (Stiefel) helped a lot with the design.”The Back End is Mexican. Well, sort of. A more accurate description is Mexican inspired with a fine dining twist, and a little fast casual tossed into the mix.“It’s elevated Mexican food,” Martschenko says. “I’m not gonna say we’re traditional, but we bear the traditional values of what we do. It’s different. I don’t know how to do it any other way.” Read More
Plum Plums Cheese Opening in New Canaan Features Restaurant Openings New Canaan Cheese Cheese Shop Specialty Market CTbites Team March 16, 2021 Attn: Cheese lovers. This just in from New Canaan Advertiser…Elixirs for mocktails, a choice of 65 cheeses and coffee sourced from women farmers in Kenya will all be coming to New Canaan next month.Plum Plums Cheese is moving with its gourmet goodies from its Pound Ridge, N.Y., location to 149 Cherry St. in New Canaan on April 1.The 7-year-old enterprise, owned by spouses Gayle Martin and Michael Riahi, will be expanding its offerings with butchered meats in addition to the charcuterie, soups and sandwich options. The new location is 1,100 square feet, compared to the 700-square-foot space in New York.“We know the back story of every item we sell. If cheese, meat, bar of chocolate or jar of jam,” Martin said. “Our primary focus of cheese.”Read the full article on New Canaan Advertiser. Read More
Rosie New Canaan: 16 Years of Uber Delicious Global Comfort Food Restaurant New Canaan Global Cuisine American Baked Goods Comfort Food Mexican Dessert Breakfast Brunch Lunch homepage Homepage Stephanie Webster November 01, 2020 Walking in to meet the legendary “Rosie” of Rosie New Canaan, I had full clarity within 30 seconds as to what has made this uber delicious global comfort food spot so beloved for 16 years. Sure, it’s the 2 pound blueberry muffins that could make a grown man weep, and the love that goes into the 6 hour stewed black beans in Rosie’s hueveos rancheros, but truly it is Rosie Bonura herself that makes this place feel like home (but with far better fare than you’d find in your own kitchen). She herself is the perfect recipe of creative energy, passion, and love for her community. This New Canaan fixture, whom I came to realize, after sitting streetside with her, knows everyone in the town by name, came racing out of the kitchen to greet me (we’d never met in person), virtually hugged me, (cuz’ Covid), and said “I need to get a batch of cookies out of the oven, I’ll be right back.” Read More
Locally Made Canned Cocktails We've Been Lovin' in Summer 2020 Features Ingredients Cocktails Canned Cocktails Drinks Home Delivery homepage Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe August 15, 2020 Not gonna lie. I’m sucked in by looks. What’s on the inside counts, sure, but when I see a sharp, sexy...wait a minute. I’m talking about my drinks. What were you thinking?Ok, weird intro aside, there seems to be an endless list of new canned drinks out there and room for even more. And, although nothing these days seems to be “normal” we are trying to enjoy ourselves however we can; and to me, sun, water, and delicious cold drinks, certainly helps that effort. So, while some of your pandemic hobbies might have revolved around expanding your mind or being creative with activities like puzzles, knitting, or cooking grannies old recipes, mine sorta kinda included drinking on the beach; and drinking delicious, creatively designed canned beverages, in particular. I started out with the popular seltzers like White Claw, Stoli’s yada yada, then moved to a few hard ciders from the 1911 suite (from Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards), like the Rosé in a tall, gorgeous soft pink can; then my fam and I fell in love with punch of the Watermelon Mint with graphics as a bold as the taste.But then my new “hobby” got a little more interesting, uh...well, bolder, with stronger boozish. Here are a couple of brands created in our lovely state, then a few others you just have to try, especially since there’s still at least six weeks left of sunshine. However, I gather these will still be enjoyed well beyond the end of summer. Read More
Elm Restaurant in New Canaan: Exploring Chef Luke Venner's Excellent Seasonal American Menu Restaurant American Lobster Burgers Seasonal New Canaan Lunch Breakfast Homepage Andrew Dominick July 19, 2020 Before Luke Venner debuted as Elm’s executive chef and partner, the New Canaan restaurant already had a following amongst townies, and there’s more than a good chance you heard Elm get name dropped as one of Fairfield County’s overall best. Five years later, it’s safe to say that Venner isn’t only hitting his stride, but he’s also having fun developing Elm’s dishes from what they once were. Once thought of as being, dare I say, “fancy,” Elm, under Venner, is approachable.The “seasonal New American” theme still exists, and it’s still a tough table to snag on a peak dine out day. The differences at Elm are now presented in the form of comfort. Sure, there are menu holdovers like tuna (or steak) tartare but if you’ve taken a half decade break from eating here, you won’t recognize it for what it once was. Read More
Takeout Chronicles: Joe’s Pizza, bartaco, Cafe Silvium, & Twelve Percent Beer Project Restaurant Take Out To-Go New Canaan Mexican Tacos bartaco beer ct beer homepage Pizza Andrew Dominick May 31, 2020 As some Connecticut restaurants begin the slow process of reopening with outdoor dining, you’ll either rush right out, ease back into it, or wait a bit longer when it comes to reintroducing yourself to your favorite eateries based on your level of comfort. Regardless of where you stand, it’s a safe bet that your dining repertoire will still include takeout.With that said, and on the heels of James Gribbon’s takeout picks, I’ve got a bunch worth checking out.At the very beginning of quarantine, one of my first orders came from an oldie. Joe’s Pizza has been open since 1967, almost two decades before I was born. I’ve actually had my entire life to try it, but here I am in 2020, a Joe’s newbie. Read More
Cooking Classes with Indian Master Chef Prasad Chirnomula, The Scholar of Spice Features Indian Cooking Cooking Classes New Canaan New Haven Kristin L. Wolfe January 14, 2020 In addition to blazing trails with restaurants (Thali, INDIA, Indian Kitchen) Chef Prasad has begun to make his fans swoon on a more intimate level with a regular cooking school series. What a special treat. I recently went to one of his Sunday classes and came away with a whole new passion for Indian cuisine. And believe me, I’ve already been a giant fan for years. (Jackson Diner, Queens anyone? I lived in Jackson Heights for ten years). Read More
50+ CT Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner & Catering: 2019 Edition Features Holiday Thanksgiving Catering Caterers Special Occasion homepage Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 17, 2019 Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and many of Connecticut’s best restaurants have Thanksgiving specials & catering worth gobbling up! From prix fixe menus to extensive buffets to family style to take-out, there are options for everyone. So don’t cry fowl– make your reservations today! Space is limited and seats fill up quickly, and get your catering orders in if you’d prefer to do Thanksgiving at home, without the work! Read More
Hidden Mexican Gem: Azteca Restaurant in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Mexican Tacos Lunch Brunch Kid Friendly Openings homepage Homepage Andrew Dominick September 22, 2019 Hidden gems are the heart and soul of this site. I think the other CTbites writers would wholeheartedly agree that those “off the beaten path” restaurants or those that haven’t quite reached a mainstream audience yet, those are the ones that we get excited about the most. Azteca Restaurant in Bridgeport is exactly the kind of place that gets my blood flowing. Its family owned, and still new as it opened during the summer. It also might’ve never come to my attention if chef Bill Taibe didn’t sing its praises to us after a random night out in Bridgeport and a cell phone search for “Mexican food near me.” If not for a chef’s need for late night munchies, Azteca would not have been on our radar. With this information, Stephanie Webster and I rolled out to Azteca for an unforgettable midday Monday feast. Read More
Guide To Connecticut Caterers For Your Next Party Features Catering Caterers Entertaining Best of CT homepage Homepage April Guilbault September 08, 2019 School has started. You know what that means, don’t you? The holidays are coming (sorry!). Plan now, get a jump on things. This will be your year to be…ready for it?…organized! We all love the parties and events that the holidays bring but they can also have us sighing and dreading them because, well, they are a lot of work, no matter how wonderful they are. With that in mind, maybe this is the year you opt for a caterer to help you enjoy the season and these delightful gatherings all the more. A gift to yourself, so to speak. This bunch of professionals will set up, decorate, coordinate and serve a wonderful variety of delicious morsels for you and your guests. You can rest easy as your beautiful event unfolds before your very eyes. Sometimes, we get by with a little help from our friends, and in this case, our friends who cater… Read More
