Rosh Hashanah Recipes from Tabouli Grill Features Holiday Mediterranean Middle Eastern Recipe Stephanie Webster September 01, 2010 The Jewish holidays are around the corner, and with the kids just barely back to school, it seemed as though we could all use a little assist with the Rosh Hashanah menu this year. Next week? Really? Judy Roll of Tabouli Grill in Stamford has come to the rescue with three great recipes to fill out your holiday table. Here's what's on the menu: Cumin Roasted Cauliflower with Yellow Raisins and Toasted Pine Nuts, Bubbe’s Brisket, and Kasha Varnishke. If you really just don't feel like cooking, Tabouli Grill is also happy to do the work for you as you can see in their Rosh Hashanah Package below. Read More
Get Cooking With Aux Delices Ingredients Features Cooking Classes Stamford Liz Rueven August 27, 2010 Summer Comfort Food was the theme of the class I recently attended at Aux Delices’ Cooking School in their commissary kitchen in Stamford. As we are smack in the middle of this steaming season, I was happy to be invited to relax, observe and learn something new about how to prepare summer dishes, utilizing the season’s bounty. Aux Delices has retail store locations, all with seating, in Darien, Riverside and Greenwich. The shops offer owner/Chef Debra Ponzek’s culinary creations of prepared foods and a unique collection of specialty food items. Their name translates as “all the delicious food in life,” and considering their choices of scrumptious take out items, private and corporate catering offerings, and classes at their cooking school, the name is certainly apt. Read More
Last Chance For That New England Crab Boil Features Seafood Michael von August 24, 2010 Photo of kids: c/o Mike Von Wahlde, mvwstudio.comRecently, a CTbites reader, Mike Von Wahlde, commented on our Beach Picnic Shoutout, posting this hilarious and informative rant/recipe extolling the pros and cons of the Classic New England Crab Boil. It was too good not to repost, and with the summer winding down, why not celebrate our last days of outdoor cooking with this quintessential culinary experience? Nothing says “I live in the North East” like mollusks and crustaceans swimming in a boiling pot in the yard or on the beach. The classic New England boil is the best thing going for large group gatherings if your picnic area allows for propane. You say "Of course, they're great, but..." But what? Why you gotta be so afraid of everything? Let's look at the pros and cons. Read More
2 Hours @ The Craft Beer & Chili Challenge Ingredients Events Beer Comfort Food Stephanie Webster August 24, 2010 Last Sunday thousands of beer and chili loving CT residents descended upon Mohegan Sun for the Craft Beer and Chili Challenge. Thirteen restaurants traveled from across the state to throw down their winning recipe for the great American classic. There was enough heat to keep you warm through winter and the sweet smell of cumin wafted all the way up to the slot machines. And what to wash down this fiery feast? Certainly water was not the proper pairing. 40 breweries with over 100 beers were present to quench our thirst, some local, some National, but all pouring. Here are some of the highlights: Read More
Shout Out: What's Your Most Essential Kitchen Gadget? Features CTbites Shout Out Kitchen Gear Stephanie Webster August 21, 2010
Chef Nicole: Salmon Nicoise Salad w/ Dijon Vinaigrette Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Nicole Straight August 18, 2010 Nicoise salad has always been one of my favorite salads. The classic combination of textures and flavors is ideal for any lunch gathering with friends. Although the standard preparation calls for seared tuna, I like to change things up by occasionally and go with salmon atop my bed o' greens. Using salmon is an easy way to add delicious lean protein to your diet while getting Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins B-12. This salad is surprisingly easy to make but the finished product will have you looking like you've been in the kitchen for hours. Read More
A CTbites Reading List for Food Lovers Features Cookbooks Amy Kundrat August 16, 2010 Whether you are spending dwindling days of summer off the grid with nothing but time, or eagerly awaiting the day when back-to-school means reclaiming a few hours of your day, this list was made for you. These aren’t cookbooks. That’s another list for another time and a different skill set. This list spans our favorite chef memoirs, food essays, travel stories, and food industry gossip with a few recipes thrown in for good measure. While not required reading, these books promise to inspire, touch and provoke some of our own enjoyable memories and meals. Read More
What's New @ The Westport Farmers Market Ingredients Liz Rueven August 14, 2010 Chef Cecily Gans, Main Course Catering, will present arugula salad with fresh fruit vinaigrette on August 19 between 10-2, at the Westport Farmers’ Market. Always the communicative and generous instructor, she will provide hand outs of her recipe and tips on composing summer salads. As a chef who has touched so many young hearts in Westport, she will surely be greeting lots of her former students and their parents as they stop by to taste and visit. Ask a sampling of student at Staples High School in Westport, which class they loved the most, or hoped to enroll in but couldn’t get into because it was oversubscribed, and many will say it was CULINARY ARTS, taught by Cecily Gans. Read More
Chef Talk: Vodka Infusions @ The Fez Features Chef Talk Cocktails Stamford Amy Kundrat August 13, 2010 Combine and steep. Wait. Taste. Wait some more. Taste. Shake. Pour. Savor. Pat yourself on the back. This week's concoction will take a bit more patience than your average cocktail. In addition to the unusual ingredient list, plan ahead as little as 72 hours to a fortnight in order to create your own imaginative vodka infusion inspired by Fez, Stamford's newest North African fusion hot spot. Sampled during our recent restaurant review, this cocktail's unique ingredient list (including dill, cucumber and garlic) make this savory infusion one of the most interesting cocktails of the season. The Fez: Vodka Infused with Dill & Garlic Read More
Beer & Chili Challenge @ Mohegan Sun Ingredients Events Beer Stephanie Webster August 11, 2010 Chefs are always talking about wine pairings, but for all of you who prefer a cold one to a glass of vino, here's your chance for sample some of the best beer CT has to offer. The Craft Beer & Chili Challenge will be held at The Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, August 22 from 12-4 p.m. What's better than 100's of beers & dozens of chilis? Really, nothing, but if you require added appeal, attendees will get to vote for their favorites as they crown the best official beers and chilies in Connecticut. Chili will range from from hearty and meaty, to hot and spicy, to vegetarian, and everything in between, so there's something for every eater. Participating breweries include… Read More
4th Annual Shoreline Wine Festival Ingredients Events Wine Chat Stephanie Webster August 11, 2010 Wondering what to do this weekend? Why not join the party at the 4th Annual Shoreline Wine Festival? Saturday, August 14th • 12 noon to 7pm Sunday, August 15th • 12 noon to 6pm Come and celebrate over 10 Connecticut Wineries and sample the fruits of their labor. Enjoy food from local restaurants. Meet and sample products from local businesses. Enjoy and purchase crafts from local artisans. Expand your knowledge of food and wine at seminars offered by local experts. Enjoy all of this while listening to the sounds of live music from renowned bands around New England. Location: Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford Read More
CT Taste Organic Festival 2010 Ingredients Kids Bites Events Organic kids activity Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster August 09, 2010 Save the Date. Join CT National Organic Farming Organization to celebrate the 10th annual TASTE! ORGANIC CT 2010 on September 19th at Manchester Community College from 10 am to 4pm. Experience the only LOCAL & ORGANIC festival in Connecticut offering a farmer's market, fresh prepared food, live music, sustainable vendors, artisans, free workshops and free kids activities! Head Chef, John Turenne is busily sourcing the finest and freshest ingredients from Connecticut Farms to be on the event's menu. Three local celebrity chefs are designing recipes that will showcase our local and organic food. Chef John Turenne, fresh from his recent TV stint with “The Naked Chef” Jamie Oliver, will be cooking and running the NOFA Food Booth show. Read More
What's New @ The Westport Farmers Market Ingredients Liz Rueven August 07, 2010 A taste of the Mediterranean will arrive at the Westport Farmers’ Market on August 12 when Chef Pedro Garzon steps away from Cafe Manolo to present chilled gazpacho to shoppers. As the summer’s steamy weather continues, we welcome the opportunity to eat our soups chilled and avoid turning on the stoves. Chef Garzon will be demonstrating his method of preparing this summer treat on the spot. He will use a simple, traditional, Andalusian recipe, sourcing perfectly ripe tomatoes, firm cucumbers, brightly colored peppers, mild onions and garlic from the vendors that morning. SONO bakery will provide the bread which will be blended into the raw vegetable soup. Read More
Chef Nicole: Blueberry Peach Crumble? Crisp? Betty? Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Recipe Dessert Nicole Straight August 06, 2010 One of our family’s favorite summer traditions is going blueberry picking. We always pick way to many berries and come home wondering what we’re going to do with them. This recipe for Blueberry Peach Crumble is always at the top of our list. Fresh blueberries freeze beautifully. Simply wash, and freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet before transferring to a ziplock bag. I’ve been asked over the years what the difference is between a crisp and a crumble. After some research, I found these general definitions, but the truth is you will not find a universally agreed upon answer. Whatever you call it, this dessert is simple, summery, and delicious! Read More
Get Close to the Source: The Easton Farm Tour 2010 Ingredients Easton Education Events Local Farm Farm Fresh Stephanie Webster August 03, 2010 Don't miss the second annual Easton Farm Tour. This celebration of Easton's local and sustainable farming community is a self-guided tour taking place on August 14 from 10am to 2pm. This free event begins at the Easton Firehouse Green on Sport Hill Road (Route 59) where visitors will sign in and receive a copy of the beautiful Easton Farm Map – “Easton is a Farmers’ Market.” This great guide will serve as your road map and pass to enjoy the many farming delights that Easton has to offer. Gilbertie’s, Sport Hill and Sherwood Farms are a few of the highlighted destinations. Skinny Pines – the Easton-based wood-fired pizza truck - will be on site with their mobile wood-fired oven, using locally sourced Easton produce. Who doesn't love that? Come have lunch, listen to music and learn where your food comes from. Read More
Chef Talk: Barcelona's Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients Features Chef Talk Cocktails Spanish Recipe Amy Kundrat August 02, 2010 Everybody loves a good adult beverage. This fairly safe assumption has inspired this recent Chef Talk mini-series focusing exclusively on uncovering and sharing some of Fairfield County's best cocktails. You're going to need to break out the shaker with this first cocktail, the Barcelona Blood Orange Margarita. The margarita is one of the most popular picks at the restaurant known for a bustling happy hour and hearty Spanish tapas menu in its four locations in Fairfield County and now an outpost in your house. Cheers! Read More
The Cakebox: Let Them Eat Cake! Ingredients Bakery Catering Ridgefield Special Dietary Needs Dessert Sarah Green July 26, 2010 Eat, Pray, Love - you’ve heard of it, right? Well in the words of Willy Wonka, “Strike that, reverse it” - The CAKEBOX in Ridgefield has it all in the correct order - Pray (if you must), Eat (as many cupcakes as you can), and Love (absolutely!) This ESSENTIAL new dessert-stop in the Copps Hill Commons shopping center in Ridgefield is a cake and cupcake lover’s Shangri-La. Ridgefield native Jordan Gregory and her partner, Robert Byrnes, opened The Cake Box in April and have been whipping up extraordinary cakes for all occasions (including, eventually, custom wedding cakes), cupcakes by the dozen, and individual cupcakes, cookies, and macaroons at the store for your perusal and MASS consumption! Ms. Gregory received her pastry training at the Institute for Culinary Education in NYC and Mr. Byrnes, who has a degree in hotel and restaurant management, designs the custom cakes. Trust me, they know their stuff! Read More
Corinne Trang: Asian Pulled Pork Sandwich 3 Ways Features Asian BBQ Chef Talk Recipe CTbites Team July 23, 2010 L to R: Raw, Rubbed, Smoked Corinne Trang, author of The Asian Grill, and local Fairfield County resident, is back with some sensational summer smoking. These week she is serving up recipes for ASIAN PULLED PORK SANDWICH including her famous ASIAN FIVE-SPICE DRY RUB, ASIAN BBQ SAUCE, and ASIAN COLESLAW. Get smoking tips for your next cookout, or just enjoy her tasty take on this American classic My Asian-inspired pulled pork sandwich...yes, I dared! Read More
Chef Nicole: Grilled Salmon w/ White Bean & Fig Salad Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Seafood Recipe Nicole Straight July 21, 2010 It's summer, and most of like to cook outdoors in these hot months. If fish is what you crave, but you don't feel like cleaning up a messy grill, we've got a great solution. Why not pouch it? As the spokesperson for Norwegian Salmon, Chef Nicole is constantly inventing new preparations for this healthy and delicious seafood favorite. Today she has paired an aromatic pouch technique with a wonderful White Bean & Fig Salad. It couldn't be easier to prepare, and is amazingly nutritious. You can find more salmon solutions on her blog at http://blog.salmoninseconds.com. Greek Grilled Salmon With White Bean & Fig Salad Read More
Ancona’s Market is 90 Years Young Ingredients Events Ridgefield Specialty Market Amy Kundrat July 20, 2010 A familiar fixture in Ridgefield for the past ninety (!) years, Ancona’s Market will celebrate their anniversary this Saturday, July 24 with an open house and evening benefit. The day-long open house will be “in full-swing by noon” and feature activities for children, live music and tasting stations from many vendors including Ola Granola, Simmons Family Farm Yogurt, Arethusa Farms Milk, and Wave Hill Bread. You can also stop next door at Ancona’s Wines and Liquors to sample their usual Saturday tastings from 12 noon to 3 pm and 3 to 6 pm or stroll through what has to be one of the most diverse and well-stocked walk-in coolers around (and also where you’ll find me). Read More
