Filtering by Category: Features,Ice Cream

Nutty Bunny Non-Dairy Gluten-Free Frozen Dessert, Made in CT

Features ice cream Dessert Ingredients

Renee Weisz June 09, 2017

When Pamela Aflalo decided to create a non-dairy, gluten-free, frozen dessert product, her idea was innovative, health-aware, and maybe a little nutty like her brand name Nutty Bunny. After her daughter, Sophie, developed a severe dairy reaction, Pamela’s culinary experience at the National Gourmet Institute and love for kitchen experimentation, especially for “vegan-izing” recipes, combined to establish her current full-time business.

10 Questions w/ Chef Manuel Romero of Olea in New Haven

Features Chef Talk New Haven

Amy Kundrat June 07, 2017

Born in Spain, Chef Manuel Romero of Olea in New Haven, was raised in a family that loved cooking traditional and tasty food. When he was a child, his family moved to the United States, and he developed a passion for cooking by watching, helping, and learning alongside his mother. He moved up the culinary ladder, and in 2014, Chef Romero opened Olea restaurant offering guests his innovative interpretation of Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. His menu is masterful and his dishes are stunning. We spoke with Chef Romero about his hobbies, worst kitchen nightmare, and his guilty pleasures.

Fairfield Farmers Market Returns for Second Season June 11

Features Farmers Market Farm Fresh CT Farms Fairfield

Stephanie Webster June 02, 2017

It's that time of year, and Sundays in downtown Fairfield are about to become even more fun. The Fairfield Farmers Market returns for its second season starting Sunday, June 11. The market will be every Sunday 10-2, rain or shine, until Oct 1st on the historic Sherman Green in downtown Fairfield. Over 20 farms and food producers will have everything you need for beach picnics, Sunday dinner, even your weekly shopping. [View complete vendor list below]

Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of June 4-11

Features Events News

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 02, 2017

Rothbard Ale & Larder will put on an Austrian Wine Dinner on Wednesday June 7. Feast on a five-course dinner with wine pairings by Gabe Cleary, Portfolio Director of Terry Theise Estate Selections. White Asparagus Soup with Truffle, Pork Terrine, and Confit Roasted Suckling Pig are all on the menu!

AMG Catering continues their adult cooking classes with a “Bring Your Chianti Class - Tuscan dinner party menu” class. Learn to make assorted spring bruscettas, Chicken, pancetta and bean stew with sage, Tagliatelle with field mushrooms, lemon and tarragon, and Strawberry and mascarpone trifle. It costs $90 per person and runs from 7-9pm.

Chop Shop Cooking School presents a “Fiesta Party” class on Wednesday June 7.

Donut Crazy Flavor Contest! YOU Create the Next Donut Crazy Doughnut +WIN BIG

Features Giveaway Homepage

Stephanie Webster June 01, 2017

Do you sit around at night dreaming of the perfect Donut Crazy fantasy flavor? This is your chance to make it a reality!

Donut Crazy and CTbites are giving YOU the chance to create the most wildly delicious donut flavor combo you can think of. The winner will take home more than just bragging rights.

If your Donut Crazy flavor is selected as the winner, you will win a FREE DOZEN DOUGHNUTS every month for a year + DONUT CRAZY WILL SELL FOR A LIMITED TIME, YOUR VERY OWN SIGNATURE DOUGHNUT!!

SHARE YOUR DONUT CRAZY FLAVOR COMBO BELOW. (Make sure you include your email address)

Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of May 31-June 4

Features Events News Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 26, 2017

Bartaco Westport is letting you help them pick their next summer drink with their “Sip + Tell” event on Wednesday March 31. Spanish winemakers from La Sueca will be there and guests will get to sample Bartaco’s new summer sangria recipes and vote for their favorite.

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. On Wednesday May 31 from 5:30-7:30pm, we’ll 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.

New Haven’s ZINC will host Master Beekeeper Bill Hesbach, Broken Arrow Nursery, and Barr Hill Gin for a four-course dinner called “The Buzz About Bees and Flowers.” On June 1, learn about bees and pollination via a fun dinner inspired by honey and served with wine and cocktails. Tickets are $85, all inclusive. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.

Elm City BYO Party Bike Coming to Milford: Pedaling + Drinking = Fun

Features Entertaining Bar

CTbites Team May 24, 2017

Check out what's new in Milford via CTPost.

If you’ve been to New Haven lately, you might have seen a strange vehicle on her streets.

It looks like a bar on wheels, complete with barstools and a countertop, and even a bartender, Another strange thing about it is that it’s a human-powered contraption, pedal-powered by the the cool people sitting at the bar.

It’s called the Elm City Party Bike, and now it’s coming to Milford.

Mayor Benjamin Blake on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the Elm City Party Bike, New England’s “first and foremost pedaled sightseeing bike.”

The Elm City Party Bike offers groups of 8-15 the ability to visit restaurants while viewing architecture, historical sites, the coast and more. Each seat on the party bike has a set of pedals, and while a trained Elm City driver steers the bike.

Guest Chef Lineup for Westport Farmers' Market's 2017 Summer Season

Features Ingredients Farmers Market Westport Chef

Peter Dunay May 22, 2017

Personally, I have always wanted to be a judge or even a guest at one of Top Chef’s cookout challenges; where the chefs are tasked with using locally sourced ingredients and doing them justice by creating an epic meal. Whether, your dreams are as ornate as mine or you would just like to have a chef cook you a delicious snack, the Westport Farmers Market is the place to be.

Every Thursday between 10- 2, a special guest chef will be at the market and tasked with finding some key local ingredients and making a meal for everyone to taste. (View the complete guest chef schedule below.)

Win Free Tickets!!! Battle of the Chefs @ Founders Hall Sunday, June 4

Features

CTbites Team May 22, 2017

Battle of the Chefs returns to Founders Hall on Sunday, June 4, 4 – 7pm. In a culinary showdown, three seasoned chefs will match sharp knives and quick wits for the benefit of Founders Hall.

WIN 2 FREE TICKETS TO THIS EVENT! To enter, tell us why YOU NEED these tickets below. We will select a winner on May 31st.

Chefs Mike Anastacio (Purdy’s Farmer & the Fish, North Salem), Paul Desiano (formerly Cello/Plate, Ridgefield), and former Chopped contender Germano Minin (The Village Tavern, Ridgefield), will compete to create an entree from a basket of surprise ingredients, in just sixty minutes, in front of a live audience. A panel of food experts, including Ridgefielder Brendan Walsh (Dean of Culinary Arts, the Culinary Institute of America) and Ron DeSantis (Director of Culinary Excellence, Yale University) will judge the chefs on their creativity, craftsmanship and culinary results as the crowd cheers the chefs on.

Kids Cooking Classes & Camps for Summer 2017 in CT

Features kids activity Kids Cooking Classes kids cooking party Education

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 17, 2017

Summer is on its way!! In just a few weeks, the kids will be out of school and looking for their next adventures. Why not a culinary endeavor? These Connecticut caterers and venues are offering up kids cooking camps and classes throughout the summer months. Check their web site for complete details.

AMG Catering and Events, Wilton: This summer, youngsters can sign up for the Kids CIT (Chef In Training) Camp at AMG Catering. There are four weeks to choose from, but book quickly because they are already selling out!
Bishops Orchards, Guilford: New this year, Bishops Orchards in Guilford has announced Summer Camp Programs for kids! The summer is broken down into four two day long sessions where kids can explore a different farm theme.
Wakeman Town Farm, Westport: In addition to learning about life on a farm, participants in the Junior Chef Summer Camp get to work alongside local chefs and counselors to pick the freshest ingredients around from the farm, see how organic fruits and veggies grow, and learn to cook and create fun fare, from pickles to smoothies to stir-fries, in our brand-new farm kitchen classroom! It's seed-to-plate culinary fun with a homegrown spin.

Nibble: CT Food Events For Week Of May 13-21

Features Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 11, 2017

The Cottage has debuted “The Cottage Omakase Menu” to highlight Chef Brian’s appreciation for Japanese cuisine. Offered on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s, the $45 multi-course menu will feature ingredients from both The Hickories (Ridgefield) & Millstone (Wilton) Farms. The menu will change daily.

Kawa Ni in Westport is hosting a Sake Dinner on May 16th, 6:30 pm featuring 5 courses and dessert with 6 paired sakes.

Friday May 19 is the “Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor” Wine Tasting Fundraiser to benefit the Sunshine Kids. From 6-9pm, guests can taste wine, beer, and bourbon and snack on small bites at Ridgefield Parks & Recreation. Tickets are $40 per person.

Swanky Franks in Norwalk Closes After 60 Years...Here's Why

Features Delicious Dives

Stephanie Webster May 08, 2017

They say that all good things must come to an end... After 60+ years in the city of Norwalk, and in our family...the Renzuella/ Satterfield family have decided to close the doors of The Original Swanky Franks... the sign on the door says it all...

This was posted to Facebook by Swanky Frank s on May 6th. The shock and sadness felt by CT hot dog lovers and generations of guests who have fond memories of this classic roadside dive, was quite simply...palpable.

CTbites spoke with Swanky Frank's owner Traci Satterfield Meriwether (whose grandfather purchased Swanky's in 1959). Merriwether said that while the decision to close the business was difficult, her reasons for shutting the doors for the last time were simple. "The biggest reason my husband and I decided to close was to get to spend more time with our 3 year old daughter. The restaurants business is not the easiest place to be if you have family."

Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of May 7- 14

Features Events News

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 05, 2017

The Hickories, an organic farm in Ridgefield, is now selling its community-supported agriculture shares (CSAs) for the 2017 growing season. Once a week, shareholders can come to pick up freshly harvested organic vegetables and fruits. To learn more, visit their website.

Bistro Basque in Milford invites you to a 6 Course Early Summer Wine Dinner on Tuesday May 9. From rose to Pinot Noir, seafood to suckling pig, there will be offerings for every palate. It costs $65 per person, inclusive.

Alforno restaurant in Old Saybrook will also have a wine dinner on May 9. Guest speaker will be Mike Wylie, state manager of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Founded in 1385, Antinori is one of Italy’s leading wine producers. The dinner costs $68 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, contact Ben Zemmel at ben@alforno.net or call 860-399-4166.

Westport Farmers’ Market Enters Its 12th Year: Vendor List for 2017

Features Ingredients Farmers Market Westport Local Farm Local Artisan

Stephanie Webster May 03, 2017

Mark your calendars for opening day of the Westport Farmers’ Market, Thursday, May 18th, from 10 to 2 at 50 Imperial Avenue. (View the complete market vendor list below.)

Chefs from area restaurants will return this year to provide a source of inspiration to area shoppers. Each week they will create easy, healthful, delicious meals using fresh, local products found at the market. These seasonal recipes and others from top chefs throughout the area will be distributed each week at the market and available on the WFM website.

M.EAT Organic Beef & Provisions Butchery Opening In Westport w/ A Custom Burger Bar

Features Ingredients Butcher Westport

Jessica Ryan April 28, 2017

This spring downtown Westport will see the opening of M.EAT Organic Beef and Provisions, an old school meat market with new school fundamentals. Founded by Beto Esteves and Rodrigo Echeverrigaray, the business partners saw the need for a boutique organic meat shop.

I sat down with the two in their Southport offices, eager to learn more about this concept. “There is no one in the US market involved with both the importing and the retailing organic meat, explained Beto. Generally, it’s a process that involves many, the importers, distributors and suppliers. So by the time the organic product hits the shelf the prices are astronomical. We have the unique ability to source meat from Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand, directly from the producers. We decided that we wanted to be able to offer these products in the States. The partners decided to take this concept one step further and have a dedicated retail space specifically designed around these organic meats, a unique concept here in the states. The first of these locations is scheduled to open in Westport at the beginning of June.

Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of April 30 - May 6

Features Events News

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 27, 2017

To celebrate National Burger Month (May), b Restaurants has debuted the “Burger and Beer Community Combo-tition!” Each participating location has partnered with a local foodie celebrity, selected a beer from one of their favorite breweries, and designated a local charity. The celebrities will all compete to create the best burger and from April 26 to May 7, 10% of each location’s burger and beer pairing will be donated to their chosen charity.

On Monday May 1, enjoy an evening in Vienna… in Cheshire, CT! The Watch Factory presents an evening with Vienna-inspired dishes and wine pairings. It begins at 6:30pm and costs $86 per person.

Liberty Rock Tavern in Milford presents its first ever Tequila Dinner on May 2 from 7-9pm. The five course meal includes dishes like shrimp ceviche and hangar steak paired with specialty tequilas like Centenario and Tequila Ocho.

Where Do Local Chefs Eat Out? Chef Dan Kardos of Liberty Tavern

Features Interview Chef Talk

Jessica Ryan April 26, 2017

I've always wondered where the chefs from our favorite local restaurants eat when they finally get some time away from their busy schedules. What are some of their favorite places, locally and beyond? This column is on ongoing feature. Past chefs featured have included: Chris Gonzalez of Hapa Food Truck, Cody Brown of Hoodoo BBQ, Matt Storch of Match & Nom Eez, & Christian Petroni of Fortina Pizza. This week we speak with Chef Dan Kardos of Liberty Tavern.

On the rare day or night you’re off from the restaurant where do you prefer to have dinner?( If home what is your meal or food of choice)?

2017 Spring/Summer Fairfield County Farmers Markets via FGFG

Ingredients Features Farmers Market CT Farms Local Artisan Farm Fresh Local Farm

CTbites Team April 25, 2017

Farmers’ markets in Fairfield County, CT will begin opening in May and early June and we will update the listings below (from 2016) with 2017 information as it becomes available. Here are the markets updated so far via our friends at Fairfield Green Food Guide.

New Canaan opened April 22
Shelton opens May 6
Norwalk Rainbow Plaza opens May 17
Westport opens May 18
Greenwich @ Arch & Horseneck Streets opens on May 20
Fairfield’s downtown market that launched last year opens June 11

Chef Mogan Anthony of Locali Pizza & Village Social To Cook James Beard House May 6

Features

Stephanie Webster April 24, 2017

Mogan Anthony and his team from Locali Pizza Bar & Kitchen in New Canaan, Village Social Kitchen + Bar in Mount Kisco, will be cooking the James Beard House on May 6th.

When a New York Times critic declares, “[I] wish I had discovered his cooking” earlier, you know the chef is up to something special. Counting Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten as mentors, Mogan Anthony infuses his classical training with his South Asian heritage for an eclectic and enticing cuisine that’s all his own.

View the complete menu below and purchase your tickets here.

14 Places For Cinco de Mayo in CT: 2017 Edition

Features Holiday Events Mexican Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 22, 2017

Uno, dos, tres… the countdown is on to Cinco de Mayo! On Friday May 5, Connecticut restaurants like Bodega, Taco Loco, and Bartaco will put on fabulous fiestas featuring food specials, live music, tequila, signature cocktails, and more. There is even a cinco inspired cupcake making class and a benefit to support Dollars for Scholars.

Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant, East Hartford & Mystic: Through May 4, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant will host Cinco Days of Goodwill, where 20% goes to Goodwill Industries. Plus, visit them for $5 specials as part of the countdown to Cinco de Mayo.
Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, Fairfield and New Haven: Geronimo will have celebrations at both locations. In Fairfield, an outdoor pig roast starts at 11:30am and an outdoor Taco Cart hits the streets at 5pm. The New Haven location will also have a pig roast, and later a street party complete with a donkey!