Friday Froth: Blacklight Ingredients Beer James Gribbon January 27, 2012 Have you noticed the black IPA trend lately? They're sometimes called Cascadian ales, but many brewers are experimenting with this hybrid style of beer which combines dark, roasted malts with punchy American hops, but leaves out the weighty feel of malty beers or getting too incisive with the hops. They're light dark beers. Check out Stone Sublimely Self Riteous or Pitch Black IPA from Widmer and you'll know what I'm talking about. Brewers, both those who actually make the beer and the executives who oversee them, seem to be trying to fill a market niche, which is how we ended up with Guinness Black Lager. Read More
Nothin' But Bars: Best Granola Bar in CT? Ingredients Features Brunch healthy Breakfast Kid Friendly Dessert Christy Colasurdo January 26, 2012 In a world all about “grab and go,” I was happy to stumble upon “Nothin' But” snack bars after a spinning class at Joy Ride in Westport recently. That same week, we spotted them at the Westport Farmers’ market and the Village Market in Wilton. Seems that the chewy little bars, packed with ‘nothin’ but’ organic oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits and hand-mixed with organic cane sugar, olive oil and honey have found a cult following in Fairfield County. Not only are these the tastiest and most nutritionally dense snack bars we’ve tried (not too dry, not too sweet, loaded with fruits, nuts and all-natural ingredients), they’re also packaged in re-sealable Ziploc bags so that you can eat half in the morning and save the other half for a midday pick-me-up (if you have the willpower). Read More
Meet the Food Experts at Fairway Market in Stamford Ingredients Education Events Stephanie Webster January 24, 2012 Fairway Market's Master Butcher Ray Venezia, Seafood Director Captain Tony Maltese, Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins, Produce Specialist Peter Romano, and Master Roaster Benny Lanfranco will be offering up their expertise and FREE samples on Saturday January 28, 2012 from 11 AM to 3 PM at their Stamford store (699 Canal Street). Learn the fundamentals of buying cheese, cook the perfect porterhouse, or get coffee roasting tips from this talented group of Fairway experts. See the full demo schedule below: Read More
"Sweet Genius" Contestant, Paula Shoyer, Baking in Westport via "Kosher Like Me" Features Cookbooks Events Special Dietary Needs Liz Rueven January 19, 2012 photo courtesy of FOOD NETWORK Did you miss Paula Shoyer, author of THE KOSHER BAKER, on the Food Network’s new baking competition “Sweet Genius”? If so, you can catch her in Westport on Wednesday, January 25 when she will be offering a baking demonstration and scrumptious tasting at Chabad of Westport. Shoyer performed magnificently on “Sweet Genius.”.She was poised, cool and creative in that episode in October 2011. Along with other contestants, she was given unexpected, last minute challenges like being asked to integrate jelly beans and hot sauce into her recipe already in the works. Her rosemary lemon sponge cake with raspberry mint sorbet between the layers was not the version she had planned on when she started! Read More
Brewing Beer With Jon Vaast Of Dressing Room Ingredients Chef Talk Recipe Beer James Gribbon January 17, 2012 In 2006 Dressing Room restaurant was created as a collaboration between actor Paul Newman and chef Michael Nischan. Both men could fairly be called food policy activists, and their desire was to create what they called a Homegrown Restaurant, focusing on American heirloom food made from local, organic ingredients. Dressing Room's name stems from its location, adjacent to Newman's Westport Country Playhouse, but one of its staff, chef Jon Vaast, was kind enough to invite CTBites into his home instead to show us how the 21st century gent practices the ancient art of home brewing. [A note before we begin: as much as I enjoy beer, I had never before actually made it. I enjoy driving, but if I attempted to build an overhead valve engine there would inevitably be sundry and possibly vital bits left lying on the garage floor when I was done. Luckily, brewing has significantly fewer chances to produce flaming wreckage, but I apologize ahead of time to for anything I may leave out.] Read More
o.a.t.s: A Modern Take on Granola Ingredients Breakfast Kid Friendly Margie Treisman January 10, 2012 What does “o.a.t.s.” stand for? Outrageously addictive tasty snack? Obscenely arduous to stop [eating]? Yes, but no. Simply put, o.a.t.s. is oats. Plus a handful of other identifiable ingredients (all of which I can pronounce), combined to create a truly delicious “granola for the foodie.” o.a.t.s. granola was developed only a year ago by two Westport women, Julie Gaines and Dana Noorily. Both women are busy moms – between them they have five kids under the age of seven – and passionate foodies. Disappointed by commercial granolas, Julie set out to bake her own at home. After sharing the results with Dana, they joined forces, selling hundreds of mason jars of the granola through friends and family last holiday season. Read More
Bombay Chile & Cilantro Chicken via Jeanette's Healthy Living Features Recipe CTbites Team January 06, 2012 Lately, I’ve been craving the warm spices of Indian food, and so this week, my kids were treated to a new chicken dish – Bombay Chile and Cilantro Chicken, marinated with lots of warm spices, including coriander, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne. This is definitely a dish that can be started early in the day or the night before, then thrown on the grill or broiled just before dinnertime. I marinated the chicken in the morning, cooked everything before I headed out the door to pick my son up from school, and just reheated it as soon as we walked in the door an hour later. Served with a bright Cilantro Sauce, this is a unique, flavorful chicken dish that I will be making again. To go with this spicy chicken dish, I made some Indian Lemon Rice using brown rice, and Spinach Thoran (I had picked up some leafy green vegetables from the local Indian supermarket that were labeled “phoi leaves”, that looked like New Zealand Spinach). Read More
Ambler Farm Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree Family Events Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm kids activity Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster January 04, 2012 Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree Training dates: Saturday, February 11th from 11am - noon and Sunday, February 12th from 12:30 - 1:30pm. In this extremely popular program, your family will learn the science and history of maple syruping by being a hands-on part of the process. You will choose a tree at the Farm and hang your bucket that will collect sap. We will boil down the sap in our sugar shack and send each family home with their very own bottle of Ambler Farm maple syrup. Enrollment Limited: This program sold out quickly in previous years so please do not wait to sign up. The number of trees at the Farm is limited, so we are unable to accommodate late requests or wait lists. Classes are $60 per family if members, $65 for non member family. Register here + more information. Middlebrook Maple Syrup Program This 6 week program runs from early February through mid-March. Students in grades 6-8 will meet after school on Thursdays until 4:10. They will tap over 50 trees Read More
Glazed Buttermilk Meatloaf via The Parsley Thief Features Recipe katie vitucci December 30, 2011 This past summer I was engrossed in a reality cooking competition on the Food Network called The Next Food Network Star. I haven't seen every season of the show, but typically once I begin watching I get sucked in up until a winner is declared. Anyway - a few weeks before this past season began, a friend of mine from high school contacted me to let me know a fellow graduate from our school would be competing in the upcoming season. Her name is Mary Beth Albright. Of course I wanted her to win - not just because we share the same hometown, but because after watching the season I was easily convinced she would indeed make a great food television show host. While the show was airing, Mary Beth would simultaneously post her personal take on the developments of each week's episode on her blog - occasionally also posting one of her recipes from the competition. The recipe of Mary Beth's that sparked my interest most was for this meatloaf. I think what sets this recipe apart from the rest is the use of panko breadcrumbs and buttermilk {full fat, if you can find it!}. Read More
Butchery 101 w/ Craft Butchery: Get Schooled Ingredients Cooking Classes Education Specialty Market Westport Stephanie Webster December 27, 2011 The expert butchers at Craft Butchery will be kicking off 2012 with a comprehensive butchering curriculum. Owners, Ryan Fibiger (seen above) and Paul Nessel will be providing both hands-on butchery experience as well as lecture and demonstration segments. For cooks and eaters who are serious about their meat, these butchering classes are designed to give attendees an up close look at the techniques that are use to break down pork, lamb or beef into their individual cuts. "Butchery 101: Swine" will be held on January 10th and 24th (more information below), but Craft Butchery is happy to customize these classes and demonstrations to create a more consumer or professional chef-focused discussion based on your level of interest. Classes can be done on a half or whole pig, lamb or side of beef. It provides the chance to really experience all aspects of how an animal is butchered and the audience will take home a lot of Craft Butchery's excellent meat. Boys night out anyone? Read More
Latkes Recipe c/o Tabouli Grill's Chef Judy Roll Features Holiday Recipe Judy Roll December 19, 2011 Making latkes is a potentially messy undertaking but there is nothing better than a home made latke. I like to make and freeze so I don't greet my guests feeling like I just stepped out of a vat of oil. Of course, you can just fantasize about making them and let us (Tabouli Grill) make them for you instead. $22/dozen through Chanukah. Judy Roll's Latkes Recipe Read More
Napa & Co's Kale Salad w/ Bacon, Dried Cherries & Egg Features Stamford Recipe Sophie Blondeau December 13, 2011 I don't normally beg, and definitely not for kale. However, since consuming the Kale Salad w/ Bacon Vinaigrette, Dried Cherries & Poached Egg at Napa & Co. I've been begging Stephanie to get me the recipe...literally. Why all the begging you ask? Chef Arik Bensimon's Kale Salad is simply a superior way to eat kale and I now want to eat it every day. It's the perfect balance between super healthy (the kale) and indulgent (tiny morsels of bacon and dried cherries). It's both crunchy (pistachios) and smooth (the dressing is like crack) It's sweet and salty. A perfectly cooked poached egg sits right on top and makes it a complete and satisfying dish...not just salad. On a recent trip to Napa, every person at the table who ordered the kale salad wanted to order it again. Need I say more? When was the last time you begged for kale? Read More
Chocolate, Pecan & Orange Biscotti c/o Nicole Straight Features Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Dessert Nicole Straight December 12, 2011 Holiday cookie time is just around the corner, so if you are starting to gather recipes like we are, you will want to add this one to the "virtual" stack. Chef Nicole Straight likes to keep it simple for all those busy cooks out there. This recipe is no exception. Get some decorative boxes and give the gift of cookies this holiday season. Chocolate, Pecan and Orange Biscotti Read More
Ola Granola: Fairfield County Mom Creates Super Snack Ingredients Kid Friendly Dessert CTbites Team December 07, 2011 Ola Granola has been available in grocery stores from Maine to New Jersey for almost two and a half years, and it has already made a big splash with the crunchy crowd. And it was developed right here in Fairfield County. “It always tastes really fresh and natural” says Stamford mom, Elise Klein, “I even keep it in the refrigerator!” And that is what most people like about Ola. “It’s made from the kinds of things you would find in your pantry like cinnamon and maple syrup. The flavors are all natural,” says Dina Houser, Fairfield county mom and the founder of the brand. Inspired by her mother’s recipe, Dina has been making granola for years Read More
Baking Holiday Cookies c/o The Cookiepedia Features Holiday Recipe Dessert Amy Kundrat December 05, 2011 Pies are to Thanksgiving as cookies are to the December holidays. So without futher ado, we are officially kicking off the cookie-baking season with this set of recipes from Stacy Adimando, a Trumbull, CT native and author of the recently published and irresistible, The Cookiepedia. From Almond Biscotto to Mint Thins, more than 50 cookie recipes fill her book and Adminando has graciously offered to share a few of her recipes with us as we get ready to break-out those mixers and dust-off those measuring cups. Read More
Friday Froth: Bringin' A Mix Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon December 02, 2011 The Monday after Thanksgiving is one of the cruelest of the year. A country isn't really worthy of the name until it has a National Day Of Feasting, (and a beer and an airline, according to Frank Zappa) but I feel like a good feast, especially a winter-ish one, could really do with a National Week Of Hibernation subsequently. But we all have our roles to play in the national ant colony, and so we waddled back to our jobs, office chairs protesting perhaps more loudly than we ourselves did at the morning's alarm. My role at Thanksgiving, however, was considerably more enjoyable: Bringer Of The Beer. Here's how that went. Craft brews have officially tipped in the Malcolm Gladwell sense. Most bars and restaurants now feature at least one tap dedicated to interesting beers, and brew-focused establishments seem to be springing up everywhere, to the delight of the hop head. Read More
Food Porn: White Truffles Class w/ Chef Matt Storch Ingredients Chef Talk Cooking Classes Norwalk Stephanie Webster December 01, 2011 The white truffle. Available for only a few months a year, this buried treasure is sold for $2500 a pound and is one of the most sought after ingredients on the planet. They are elusive, hidden underground. No longer sniffed out by pigs who had the audacity to occasionally eat them, the white truffle hunters have been replaced by the more trust-worthy canine. Their complex delicate taste is revered be chefs and diners everywhere, but you can only find white truffles in one place...the Piedmont area of Italy...and Fairfield County. October-early December is white truffle season, and in celebration of these sublime fungi, Chef Matt Storch of Match Restaurant hosted a 12 course White Truffles Cooking Class at Clarke Culinary Center in Norwalk. Each course featured raw shaved white truffles (added at the last possible moment to preserve the taste of their ethereally earthy flesh). The smell alone could have kept the foodie in me satiated for days. Read More
Bumper Crop: Cauliflower Risotto Features Farmers Market healthy Recipe Melissa Roberts November 30, 2011 Cauliflower is a tough sell at my house. My husband is a reluctant vegetable eater at the best of times, and I’ve tried to get my boys to try it under clever marketing names like “brain vegetable.” But alas, little success. As a risotto pusher, however, I’ve been victorious. If its on a menu, hubby will always order it, and if I cook it for dinner (which admittedly isn’t often), it will vanish. So I thought, Why not combine the two and see what happens? Lovely, almost petite heads of cauliflower abound in the greenmarket now, so buying it is an easy temptation. Once home, I separated the cauliflower into florets and roasted them--and if you don’t know my stance on roasting, I strongly advocate it for bringing out the best in vegetables. The cauliflower caramelizes in a hot oven, with yummy, toasty browned edges. Folded into a creamy risotto, it’s one of the best vehicles imaginable for cauliflower, and over at my house, one way it will always get eaten. Read More
leFarm's Whipped Chicken Livers w/ Shallot Jam Recipe Features Recipe Bill Taibe November 22, 2011 What would Thanksgiving be without a little offal and who gives better offal than LeFarm's Bill Taibe? I mean really...the man knows his organ meats. LeFarm will be offering this recipe for Whipped Chicken Livers with Shallot Jam for pickup at leFarm (203.557.3701), but if you want to make it yourself at home, here's how: At a loss for where to find some great tasting chicken livers? Try the new Craft Butchery in the Saugatuck area of Westport. Read More
Thanksgiving Holiday Smokin’ w/ Corinne Trang Features Entertaining Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe CTbites Team November 21, 2011 Corinne Trang, author of The Asian Grill, and local Fairfield County resident, is back with some holiday recipes that will get you eating out of the traditional Thanksgiving box. Thanksgiving is a holiday my family adopted when we moved from France to the U.S. in 1978. And eating turkey on that day meant that the bird would never be seen again at our Christmas table as tradition dictated in the past. Our new American holiday quickly became another excuse to get together with family and friends and eat all day until our stomachs would burst. In that way, we were no different than other families joyfully eating their way through a 20-pound plus bird, side dishes, and desserts, except that… Read More
