Cap'n Crunch Milkshakes @ The Filling Station Ingredients Restaurant Organic Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster January 31, 2011
The Schoolhouse At Cannondale: A Wilton Gem Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm Wilton Liz Rueven January 30, 2011 The Schoolhouse at Cannondale was built just after the Civil War, in 1872 and has been owned and operated by Chef Tim LaBant, a native of Wilton, since 2006. The setting of this authentic one room schoolhouse along the banks of the rushing Norwalk River, makes for an unusual destination dining experience. The deep chocolate hue on the walls, the comfortably upholstered banquet seating that runs under the windows that frame the river just outside, the simple decor accented by 4-5 framed photos of classes of students and teachers from over 100 years ago, sets the tone. This quintessential New England scene is authentic, inviting and superb. Read More
Kids Review: Toro Asian Fusion in Newtown Kids Bites Restaurant Asian Japanese Newtown Kid Friendly CTbites Team January 27, 2011 Carly Monson is our roving 10 yrs old food critic. She hopes to get Fairfield County kids excited about eating in new venues like this one... Do you enjoy going out to an Asian fusion restaurant with your friends and ordering loads of things to share? Then you will love Toro, a fun family restaurant for all ages. My family and some of our close friends, including my BFF celebrated New Year's Day by going out to dinner. I thought Toro had a calming and welcoming feeling when I walked in. We started out by ordering soup, edamame and seaweed salad. Almost everybody at the table ordered miso soup. I thought that the miso soup tasted a lot like seaweed, it was probably because there was more than enough seaweed in the bowl. The seaweed salad had a little kick right when you swallowed. The edamame was served with a lot of salt. Read More
Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Fundraiser Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster January 24, 2011 Every now and then, an event comes along that simply needs no sales pitch. The Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Evening to benefit The Shelter for the Homeless is just such a happening. Why you may ask? The answer is simple. On Thursday, February 10th, over 70 vendors will be serving up an evening of glorious culinary indulgence in the form of decadent chocolates, confections, and mouthwatering baked good, all washed down with fine wines, beer and specialty beverages. Here's the real bonus…You can enjoy your nibbles from favorite shops like CakeSuite, The Little Chocolate Company, Catch a Healthy Habit, and Di Mare Bakery, knowing that 100% of every ticket sold supports the Shelter for the Homeless programs. Check out the complete list of vendors below and we'll see you there! Read More
The Lime in Norwalk...Healthy Eats for 30 Years Restaurant Norwalk Special Dietary Needs healthy Sarah Green January 23, 2011 So why review an old standard - a restaurant that has been on the Fairfield County radar for over 30 years? Because we are so caught up in the latest, new new thing, we sometimes forget that an extra spritz of LIME can go a long, long way. Not just any old lime, of course, but THE LIME, serving organic vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights for over three decades. We walked into THE LIME with some rather "energetic" children for lunch during the winter break and came out well juiced! Though the staff seemed a bit harassed and not THAT excited to see the 5 year olds, they did their best to serve with a smile. The salads were fresh and tasty, the wraps were over-stuffed with fresh ingredients, and the burritos came covered with tangy melted cheese and bursting with exceptional sauteed onions. THE LIME was rocking - and this was lunch: Read More
Shout Out: What Are Your Favorite Food Sites? Ingredients Features Restaurant CTbites Shout Out Stephanie Webster January 23, 2011
Connecticut, the Hamburger State? Restaurant Burgers Amy Kundrat January 20, 2011 A Hamburger Today shared this 'Food by State' map which assigns a food to each state. In a move that may both excite teenagers and strike fear in Cardiologists, our dear Connecticut is apparently the Hamburger state. Perhaps this is based on that famous New Haven institution Louis Lunch, the purported founder of the beefy sandwich, or the inimitable steamed burger from Ted's in Meriden. Either way, we do seem to have quite the burger provenance. So Nutmeggers, do you think this is correct? If one food could really represent Connecticut, what do you think it should be? Read More
Chowdafest in Westport: Chefs Get Ready to Compete Ingredients Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster January 18, 2011 Get ready to Chowda! On February 5th the third annual Chowdafest competition will be held in Westport from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m at Bedford Middle School. More than 20 different chowders, soups and bisques will be available for sampling. This fun-for-the-whole-family event will raise money for the Connecticut Food Bank. Last year’s Chowdafest brought in enough money and canned food for The CT Food Bank to provide 15,000 meals. Come on down and show your support while you vote for your favorite entry prepared by the great group of local restaurants below: Read More
Bartaco, Portchester Opens ... Stamford is Next Restaurant Portchester Stamford Mexican Comfort Food Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat January 16, 2011 Warning. Entering the new sprawling beach shack-inspired restaurant bartaco in Port Chester may leave you with a case of geographical amnesia. Between the five steps it takes to reach the bar from the door, you’ll be transported to a surf shack in Montauk or Baja, any memory of the city of Port Chester erased once you’re surrounded by its white washed walls. And better (closer) yet, a land-locked version will be coming to Stamford soon. Read More
Behind The Scenes @ Bar Rosso's Stamford Opening Restaurant Italian Stamford Lunch Stephanie Webster & jfood January 13, 2011 In case you haven't noticed, something is afoot in the old Bennett's Steak House on Stamford's Spring St. as the countdown begins on one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Fairfield County, a venture that brings together the restaurant acumen of Napa & Co.'s Mary Schaeffer, and the culinary talent of Chef Dan Kardos, most recently of Harvest Supper in New Canaan. Combine this team with an inventive rustic Italian country menu (including a wood burning oven), a bar-centric two-story space, inventive homemade Italian inspired cocktails, and the buzz amongst the foodie obsessed is warranted. CTBites had an exclusive sneak peek into their pre-opening plans, interior renovation, and the much anticipated working menu of the inventive interpretation of traditional Italian fare that will become Bar Rosso. Read More
Shout Out: What's The Best Dish You've Eaten in FC? Restaurant CTbites Shout Out Stephanie Webster January 12, 2011
SAILS American Grill Opens in Rowayton Restaurant American Norwalk Rowayton Lunch Christy Colasurdo January 09, 2011 When the River Cat shuttered its doors in March, after 12 years on Rowayton’s main drag, the closure of the beloved neighborhood restaurant and bar left a gaping hole in Rowayton’s dining and social scene. So when I returned to check out the recently launched SAILS, a new American bistro with a spiffed up nautical vibe, I wasn’t surprised that the highly polished teak bar was three-deep with old-timers and new fans, making themselves right at home in a familiar, yet completely transformed haunt. Read More
Ad: Play With Your Food - Spots Still Open in Fairfield!! Restaurant Events Advertisement Stephanie Webster January 05, 2011 Play with your food? Say no more. I'm in. Actually I am in and have been an active subscribers with Play With Your Food for years. For all you newbies in the midst, the concept is simple. During their 12noon -1:30 p.m. program, audiences are first treated to a pre-performance buffet lunch (catered by venues such as Nicholas Roberts, DaPietro's, and The Pantry), before enjoying 3 one-act plays and a follow-up discussion with the actors. It is a combined social and theatrical experience, diverse and compelling entertainment to be savored mid-day during the work week. It is also the perfect break from suburban life. CTbites readers, take note…The Greenwich and Westport 2011 season are sold out but there are still spots available in Fairfield. Read More
El Charrito Poised to Open in Greenwich Restaurant Food Truck Greenwich Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat January 05, 2011
Simple Beef & Kidney Bean Chili: The Parsley Thief Restaurant Recipe Comfort Food katie vitucci January 05, 2011 I have been searching for a really simple & delicious crockpot chili recipe for a long time now. Not something exotic, or gourmet. Just super basic. This is the recipe I was looking for. And, with Super Bowl Sunday around the corner, I figured now would be a good time to post it. You can play with the spices as much as you'd like. I kept them pretty low key, as I was serving this to the whole family & I wanted everyone to enjoy it. If you don't have a slow-cooker, you can cook the chili in a stockpot over low heat for 2 hours. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days {it tastes even better after sitting a day, or more}. It can also be frozen for up to a month. Read More
Southwest Cafe in Ridgefield: It's all About the Chilies Restaurant Ridgefield Mexican Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat January 02, 2011 Long before a group of gourmet purveyors began staking claim to what is now a blossoming culinary corner of Ridgefield known as the Marketplace at Copps Hill, Southwest Cafe has been roasting, grinding and blending red and green chilies into dishes that serve as the cornerstone of its New Mexican cuisine.Just over twenty years ago Barbara Nevins opened Southwest Cafe inspired by a life in New Mexico and a love for its cuisine largely defined by the chile. Toss any notion of that green grocery store bell pepper out of your mind. A chile in the New Mexican sense is a nuanced creature with multiple personalities that restaurants such as Southwest Cafe exploit to their fullest and many New Mexicans trade as currency Read More
Our Top 10 Eats of 2010 Restaurant Top 10 Eats Stephanie Webster & Amy Kundrat December 29, 2010 The Schoolhouse at Cannondale: Mushroom Truffle Soup Chef LaBant's Mushroom soup with truffle oil achieved maximum sounds of audible appreciation at a recent meal. His French culinary know how is evident in all of his sauces as well as this wonderfully decadent starter. The Boathouse: Lobster Salad I'm embarrassed to admit how many of Chef Holzwarth's Lobster Salads I have consumed in 2010. A composed salad with the absolute freshest market vegetables, avocado and heirloom shell beans pedestaled on large chunks of succulent lobster meat. It's good stuff. leFarm: Local Beets & Oregon Lentils, Pecans, Aged Ricotta with La Quercia Ham A celebration of fresh ingredients, tastes and textures, this dish sits in perfect harmony. Earthy, sweet, rich and savory, this is a dish often craved. Chao Chi: Foie Gras Beignet Now shuttered, this amuse bouche is stamped into my memory from a long meal enjoyed there. The buttery softness of the foie gras paired with a light and doughy shell was finished with a blackberry jam drizzle. Bravo Prasad. Bereket Turkish Restaurant: Manti This hole in the wall in Bridgeport (soon with a new larger location) serves a Turkish classic "Manti," tiny folded triangles of dough filled with ground meat and onion, floating atop a bed of yoghurt, meat drippings and spices. As close to Istanbul as it gets in FC. Read More
People's Choice in Norwalk: Soulful Jamaican Cuisine Restaurant Delicious Dives Jamaican Norwalk Lunch Kid Friendly Gayatri Batra December 26, 2010 People’s Choice on Wall Street in Norwalk is as nondescript as a restaurant gets, but if you happen to walk by, the aroma of jerk chicken and stewed meat makes your head turn even before you open the door. Step inside and you could be in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica – the savory spicy smells, the clanging of the pots and pans, people lining up to order directly from the kitchen, beverage coolers stacked with Jamaican drinks and sodas with names like Kola Champagne, Peanut Punch, and Irish Moss …. I must have driven past this restaurant countless times before I was introduced to this ‘find’ by my Jamaican Nanny – Corrine. During the snow laden Connecticut winters, homesick for ‘ackee and salt fish’ and ‘callalloo’ she wanted nothing more than her weekly visit to People’s Choice. Read More
Coromandel, Authentic Indian, Opens in Southport CT Restaurant Southport Indian Lunch Sarah Green December 19, 2010 So many Coromandels, so little time. Gopinath Nair and the other 6 partners in this Indian dynasty have opened yet another authentic Indian restaurant, their 3rd of the same name, in Fairfield County. "Indian is a destination, not a 'drive by' and 'stop in' kind of cuisine," Nair says. That explains, perhaps, why the partners chose to open number 3 at the thus-far unsuccessful location off Southport's exit 19 where the old Kicking Horse Tavern used to be. People aren't driving down the Post Road and, on the spur of the moment, deciding to have some curry. The decision has most likely been made before prospective diners get in their cars. So 'location, location, location' may not be so important. 17 Pease Street, although perhaps not the most ideal locale, hidden behind an off-ramp as it over-looks (actually, under -looks!) southbound traffic on I-95, turns out to be a great spot for Indian for those of us in the Fairfield/Westport 'hood. The owners have redesigned the space and warmed it up. The floor is carpeted to absorb most outside noise and the walls are decorated with beautiful Ajanta Cave Drawings. The restaurant seats approx 55 people and there is a full bar with all the trimmings. And by the way, they just so happen to be serving top notch food. Read More
Match Restaurant in Sono: 11 Years...A Visual Journey Restaurant American Food Porn Norwalk Stephanie Webster December 12, 2010 CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY This year marks Match's 11th anniversary, an honor and milestone that most restaurants can only hope to achieve. Instrumental in revitalizing SoNo and its thriving restaurant scene, Match has flourished throughout the years by providing diners with an immersive and engaging dining experience that delivers on all fronts. The menu never disappoints, always featuring Match classics alongside daily and seasonally inspired dishes, never pausing to get tired or predictable. The friendly and competent wait staff, under the watchful eye of Managing Partner/Co-owner Scott Beck, sets the tone in the front of the restaurant, conversing knowledgeably about each dish's preparation as well as the expertly chosen wine list. Match marries the ingredients for success masterfully, but for my money, Match's success really lies in the kitchen. The secret to staying on top for 11 years and what really sets Match apart from the pack is Executive Chef/Co-owner Matt Storch's playful approach to cooking as well as his ability to constantly create and innovate in the field of new American cuisine. With Match's numerous "best of" awards for both their menu and wine list, and a long list of accolades from the traditional media, we wanted to tell you a different story. In fact, we felt it most compelling to simply show you. The following represents some of our favorite selections from the Match menu, ones that highlight Chef Storch's ability to layer flavors, textures and truly varied ingredients with great success. One night...one long meal… This is not a CTbites review. This is food porn. Read More
