Make the Perfect Pie with Fritz Knipschildt Ingredients Chef Talk Cooking Classes Holiday Amy Kundrat October 12, 2011 "Making the perfect pie is an art." Master Chocolatier Fritz Knipschidlt, owner of Café Chocopologie in South Norwalk uttered these words that inspired his upcoming October 20 class at Clarke Culinary Showroom. "This is the time of year that everyone starts thinking about pies and baking. The holidays are coming, and thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and what to make for dessert to serve after the turkey," continues Knipschildt, who will share his secrets of creating fabulous pies during his class at the The Clarke Culinary Center on Thursday, October 20th from 6-8PM. Pre-registration for this and Clarke's impressive fall class line-up are required and can be done online at www.clarkeculinarycenter.com or by calling 800-842-5275, ext. 206. Read More
Butchering Demo @ Westport Farmer's Mkt. October 13 Ingredients Butcher Specialty Market Westport Stephanie Webster October 07, 2011 Ryan Fibiger, owner of Craft Butchery (opening soon in Saugatuck, Westport) will be making a unique appearance at The Westport Farmer's Market on Thursday October 13th. He will be walking guests through two butchering demonstrations at 11am and 1pm. Ryan feels passionately that for anyone who loves food, understanding where food really comes from is an integral part of the culinary experience. The demos will be on a side (half) of a heritage breed, pasture-raised pig sourced from the Hudson Valley. Throughout the demos Ryan will be hosting a discussion and Q&A on the following topics: -Basic butchering techniques and tools -Overview of the animal (farm, breed, age, feed, slaughter, primal cuts, etc.) -Demonstrate break down of basic primal cuts -Demonstrate break down into the case-ready cuts that everyone recognizes Read More
Support Fresh Food Campaign @ Westport Farmers’ Mkt Ingredients Farmers Market Stephanie Webster October 03, 2011 Wanna help? Members of the community are requested to donate fresh, healthy produce and non-perishables to their neighbors in need as part of CT Food Bank’s fresh food campaign. This Thursday, October 6th, come on down to the Westport Farmers’ Market and participate in a food drive to benefit Connecticut Food Bank, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Westport Farmers Market was thrilled to learn of the CT Food Bank’s fresh food campaign. “We’re encouraging shoppers to grab some items from their pantries before heading over to the market,” said Lori Cochran-Dougall, Director at Westport Farmers’ Market. “They then can fill their bag or grab a free one from MXenergy and then top it off with fresh produce and other market products. Just think how far $20.00 can go…” Read More
Breakfast Quinoa via The Parsley Thief Features Recipe Breakfast Kid Friendly katie vitucci September 29, 2011 When I saw this recipe Breakfast Quinoa with Berries & Bananas in the current issue of Whole Living magazine, I was very intrigued. Quinoa is technically not a grain because it's not part of the grass family {it's a relative of chard, and spinach}...but, because of it's grain-like texture it's marketed as one. It seems I'm always hearing about how good it is for you, and I've had the good intention to use it more in my cooking...but, really don't all that often. It's very high in protein, making it an ideal breakfast choice for me, or my kids. This recipe is very adaptable. You can substitute any fruit for the raspberries, blackberries and bananas I used here. I used 2% milk, but you can use whole, skim, soy, or almond milk too. Quinoa is low on the glycemic index...if that's important to you, you can use agave nectar, or stevia as the sweetener. I used maple syrup, but brown sugar would also be delish. If you like a bit of crunch in your hot cereal, chopped nuts would be great. Read More
Darien Farmers' Market: Open Through November! Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm Farm Fresh James Gribbon September 28, 2011 The Darien Farmers' Market opens in May and runs into November, offering a wide variety of seasonal edibles. The market appears Wednesdays on Mechanic St., tucked between the Darien firehouse on the Post Rd. and the Goodwives shopping center. Berries and seedlings start off the year when a trip to the market requires outerwear, and week by week, the cornucopia fills to overflowing with tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, celeriac, kohlrabi, meats, cheeses, baked goods and brussels sprouts - still on the stalk and looking like some type of Aztec war club - by the time jackets are again required pre-dining wear. Read More
Friday Froth: Oktoberfest...Let the Party Begin Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon September 23, 2011 Oktoberfest is the most popular town fair in the world. The town, in this case, is Munich, and the party attracts about five million people, yearly. Oktoberfest started when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxony in 1810. That party has been repeated ever since - 201 years as of last week - and continues through the first few days of October. Only beers brewed inside the city limited of Munich are allowed in the enormous tents constructed on the Theresienwiese each year, but thankfully we have no such restrictions in the 203. Let's dive in. It's only fitting that we start with an actual Munich Oktoberfest beer like Paulaner. Read More
Perfect Pies Cookbook from Michele's Pies Features Bakery Cookbooks Recipe Dessert Stephanie Webster September 21, 2011
Ginger Beer Taste Test: The Dark & Stormy Winner Is... Ingredients Cocktails Entertaining Amy Kundrat September 14, 2011 I’m a seasonal drinker with few loyalties. Changing temperatures inspire me to rotate my spirits and by the time summer is in full-swing, I’ve traded my martinis and single malts for rum and bourbon-based cocktails. But none have as tight a hold on a season as the Dark ‘n’ Stormy has for summer, with its equal parts spice and nostalgia.A combination of dark rum, ginger beer and (an optional) wedge of lime served in a high ball, the Dark ‘n’ Stormy packs a gingery bite, conjuring salty ocean breezes, sailing trips and the island nation of Bermuda, all in a single sip. Much of the dark rum we drink hails from small island nations in the Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans, distilled from molasses (a sugar cane by product) and aged in charred American oak bourbon barrels with its dark rum finale reeking of spice and molasses. Paired with ginger beer, this seductive summer drink is the definition of the season and I cling to them until the autumnal equinox pries them out of my increasingly cold, sticky, rum-soaked hands. Read More
Fire Roasted Heirloom Salsa Via Parsley Thief Features Entertaining Recipe katie vitucci September 13, 2011 I've made many variations of salsa before...like this green kind, some with fruit, and more with fruit. Usually, if I'm making traditional red tomato salsa, I make it in a similar fashion to the ones I just mentioned, using raw ingredients. But, this time I wanted to try something new. So, I ended up roasting half the tomatoes, along with some of the other ingredients on the grill, until they were charred and full of smoky flavor. The other half of the tomatoes, I left raw. I did this to keep some of the fresh, juicy texture of heirloom tomatoes present...yet with the roasted flavor mixed in. Read More
Honey Bee Jamboree at Ambler Farm in Wilton Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm kids activity Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster September 11, 2011 Prepare to get sticky at Ambler Farm's Honey Bee Jamboree, September 17, 2011 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. This event is being presented by the Backyard Beekkeepers Association with a bevy of family friendly activities include hive observation, honey tasting, honey extracting, candle roll ing, honey ice cream making, face painting, children's activities, bee products and more. All of these bee encounters will be led by the master beekeepers of the Backyard Beekeeper Association. Read More
Friday Froth: Drinkin' Turtles Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon September 09, 2011 One does not generally drink a turtle, but there I was. The time was last Friday night, and the place was the beloved and reborn Georgia Theater in Athens, Georgia. The night's entertainment was the newly formed Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and the beer was a local Terrapin. The confluence of warmth, fellowship, location and good brews was that delicious kind of overload which tends to put one in a trance like state. Trances are not conducive to note-taking. Er, sorry about that. But do try a Terrapin or a Dale's on the rooftop bar at the Theater next time you happen to come-to in Clark County. You won't regret it. Read More
For the Love of Cheese Part 1: Beltane Farm Ingredients Lebanon Local Farm CTbites Team September 07, 2011 Most teens in high school long to get a car. Not Paul Trubey; he wanted a goat. His unique infatuation began in high school when one of his teachers was given a goat. Understandably, his parents wouldn’t let him get one. Since then, Paul found every goat worthy of affection. Paul pursued a career in social work but never abandoned his intense passion for goats. When he and his partner Mark moved to Glastonbury, Connecticut for Mark’s work in 1994, Paul did not know at the time how much the move would propel him towards his goal of being a goat farmer. In Glastonbury, Paul became involved with the owners of Highwater Farm and in the care of their herd of Swiss Oberhasli dairy goats. In his free time, he immersed himself in learning about cheese making and in visiting artisanal cheese makers throughout New England. Read More
Peach and Black Bean Salsa Recipe from Chef Nicole Straight Ingredients Features Recipe Liz Rueven September 06, 2011 Chef Nicole Straight will present two easy and flavorful recipes to shoppers at the Westport Farmers’ Market on September 8 between 10-2. Straight is the founder and Chef of TIME TO EAT, which helps parents and other busy people cook healthy, simple meals without investing hours in the kitchen. She was invited to the White House to participate in First Lady Michelle Obama’s GET MOVING CAMPAIGN, recently appeared on Bravo TV’s ROCCO’S DINNER PARTY, has won numerous awards in Fairfield County and may be seen on Channel 8’s WTNH, where she instructs viewers on simple meal prep. Straight will be presenting her PEACH AND BLACK BEAN SALSA (recipe below) Read More
Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque via Graze Delivered Features Recipe Christy Colasurdo September 01, 2011 This fresh-tasting tomato basil bisque is a great way to use all of those juicy (but bruised or imperfect) late-season tomatoes from the garden and the farmers' market. Not only is it quick to make, but it freezes well. Graze customers keep asking, “Are you SURE there’s no cream in this soup?” The secret is out: We thicken the soup with pureed butternut squash! Serve with a simple salad of arugula and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and a loaf of crusty Italian bread for a simple, al fresco lunch. Read More
Blue Lemon Restaurant @ Westport Farmers' Market Features Restaurant Farmers Market Recipe Liz Rueven August 31, 2011 The Westport Farmers Market is the place to be on Thursday September 1st as clean up from the not so friendly Hurricane Irene continues all over town. Come out to replenish your pantry and fresh produce supply while helping out area farmers and producers. Bryan Malcarney, chef/owner of Blue Lemon in Westport, will be the guest chef this week. He has been in the same spot in Sconset Square for over eight years and has quite the following. His presentation at the market will include two seasonal favorites as he offers CUCUMBER DILL GAZPACHO (recipe below) and GOLDEN BEET GAZPACHO for tasting. Read More
Making Gazpacho w/ leFarm's Bill Taibe Features Farm to Table Farmers Market Westport Recipe Bill Taibe August 24, 2011
Friday Froth: No End To This Summer Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon August 19, 2011 Imagine yourself in a favorite summer spot. You might be slowly swinging in a hammock in the cool, green shade of sunlight filtered through leaves. Maybe you're rolling through the waves in a kayak, putting a final coat of wax on your car, or clustered with friends in a horseshoe of beach chairs, pushing sand beneath your feet and turning your face up: squinting your eyes closed in the welcome glare. Keep that feeling. Hold onto the details of it, because fall's on the way, and we want to make this summer last as long as we can. Let's take a look at a few more seasonals to keep within our reach as we hold onto the summer. Read More
Caprese Burger w/ Pickled Tomatoes c/o Parsley Thief Features Recipe Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers katie vitucci August 17, 2011 Usually, when I make burgers at home, my toppings are fresh mozzarella, pesto, and tomato. But, for this post, I wanted something more creative than just that. Something worthy of being called a "recipe"...otherwise, I'm basically just telling you how to build a sandwich. For a twist on the traditional Caprese ingredients, this burger is made with pickled tomatoes. Something that seems to be catching on these days...at least according to all my Food Network TV viewing. The basil and balsamic vinegar elements come in the form of a basil mayo...which works out well for me, as I'm also known to enjoy mayonnaise on a burger. The rest is the usual...forming the patty by hand, between two pieces of wax paper {makes a perfect patty every time, in my book} and searing it in a hot, "salted" cast iron skillet {a method I learned from my MIL}. Lastly, my favorite parts...creamy, salty fresh mozzarella cheese, and a crusty, airy bread, like ciabatta. Read More
Back to School with Clarke Culinary Showroom Ingredients Restaurant Chef Talk Cooking Classes Norwalk Amy Kundrat August 16, 2011 Summer is winding down and school is nearly back in session. With that sobering news I decided to take it upon myself to reprogram the negative connotation with this time of year and embrace the classroom. Clarke Culinary Showroom has a terrific line-up beginning late summer and into fall with new classes and a couple of new yet familiar faces such as Prasad Chirnomula of Thali and Michel Nischan. Clarke's classes are known for their small class size which encourages an intimate atmosphere and the ability for guests to get up close and personal with the chefs. For a chance to win two tickets to a class of your choosing vote in Clarke's contest called "Vote for your Favorite Chef." The full list continues to change daily, so check-back soon as Clarke add classes, chefs and details: Ice cream and Lollipops with Fritz Knipschildt on August 25; Tuna: Head to Tail with Matt Storch on September 1; Scandanavian Cooking with Fritz Knipschildt on September 15; Hors d'oeuvres with Chef Rui Correia on September 14; A Lesson in Spice with Prasad Chirnomula on September 29; A Special Night with Michel Nischan on October 6; Fritz's Favorite Pies With a Twist with Fritz Knipschildt on October 20; A Night with Chef Rui Correia and Portugese Cooking on October 27; The Freshest Ingredients with Michel Nischan on November 3; The Bounties of the Fall Market with Matt Storch on November 10; and A Winner's Class: The Art of Cooking with Root Vegetables with Fritz Knipschildt on November 17. Read More
Cocktails: The Aviation c/o Barcelona's Gretchen Thomas Features Cocktails Entertaining Gretchen Thomas August 12, 2011 Gretchen Thomas is the Wine & Spirits Director for the Barcelona Restaurant Group. The classic cocktail revitalization is supercharged right now. San Francisco, New Orleans and Manhattan can take credit for getting that ball rolling, and the rest of the US...well we are a little behind as expected, but people are taking notice more and more. Why did the classics ever die out? In my opinion (strong emphasis on opinion), most of the classic drinks are whiskey or gin based, and Americans got sick of those flavors, turned to flavorless spirits, and they have been in fashion until recently. Now, vintage is back! My new favorite vintage drink is the Aviation. Read More
