Napa's Chestnut Corn Bread & Foie Gras Stuffing Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe CTbites Team November 24, 2010 Napa & Co. wraps-up our Thanksgiving Day Virtual Potluck Dinner with a decadent take on stuffing...Chestnut Corn Bread & Fois Gras Stuffing to be exact. A hearty thank you to all the chefs, bloggers and readers who took the time to share one of their favorite recipes on on of our favorite holidays. Happy Thanksgiving! Read More
Scratch Baking Debuts in Milford Ingredients Restaurant Bakery Milford Breakfast Dessert Amy Kundrat November 23, 2010 Chances are pretty good that if you’ve ever lusted after a baked good in Fairfield County, Lesli Flick of Milford's newest bakery Scratch Baking may have literally had her hands on it. Scratch is a beacon of baked goods, opening in a cozy space adjacent to the Milford train station just this past weekend with seasoned pastry chef Lesli Flick at its helm. Flick has been moving steadily north since attending culinary school in Manhattan, beginning her baking trajectory on the upper east side and then (thankfully for us) moving to Connecticut. Read More
Reader Recipe: The Yummiest Cranberry Sauce Ever Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Gayatri Batra November 22, 2010 Thank you to Gayatri Batra for her recipe submission for "The Yummiest Cranberry Sauce Ever." My five year old son, Jai owns this sauce! When he was in pre-school, he learnt how to make it with his teacher Ms Michelle Fulton for a class Thanksgiving Feast. He could not get over how easy it was to make and how good it tasted. He was completely bowled over when he was complimented on his culinary skills! That sealed his ownership on this sauce and has converted him into a cranberry lover. Read More
BONDA's Fire Roasted Brussels Sprouts Features Chef Talk Holiday Recipe CTbites Team November 22, 2010 There is something about Brussels Sprouts that just screams Thanksgiving. This hearty and sometimes controversial vegetable is packed with nutrients, and although I have eaten brussels sides at Bonda numerous times, I have yet to try this version. If you decide to make Jamie's recipe at home, please report back and let us know what you thought. Fire Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Hazelnuts, Dried Cranberries, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano & Sherry-Walnut Vinaigrette Read More
Red Lulu: Embracing SoNo’s New Mexican Bar Restaurant Cocktails Norwalk Mexican Amy Kundrat November 21, 2010 After several visits to Red Lulu and dozens of fervid reader comments later, it has become quite clear we are dealing with a different sort of dining beast in Fairfield County. The contemporary interpretations of Mexican fare combined with a trademark cultivated cool make Red Lulu in South Norwalk an interesting yet polarizing new space. I like to think of it as a younger bare-midriff version of sister restaurant Lolita Cocina in Byram. With that review already in the bag, Red Lulu demands a different sort of attention, more of a wink and a nod to it’s quirky roots. For these reasons it reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb, a satirical comedy that doesn't it take itself too seriously. Here are some other reasons why we should stop worrying and just enjoy Red Lulu. Read More
CTbites Cocktail Event @ Red Lulu Restaurant Events Amy Kundrat November 20, 2010 If you haven't been able to attend our CTbites lunches, how about joining us for $5 margaritas & FREE tastings @ South Norwalk's new and much talked about Red Lulu? Tell me more: CTbites & Red Lulu are hosting a special Cocktail Event on Tuesday, November 30th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Red Lulu. We’ll be shaking up special $5 margaritas and enjoying free samples from Red Lulu’s Mexican-inspired menu as we get to meet and mingle with CTbites readers, contributors and foodies. Signature Cocktail: A gathering of epicurean proportions, our cocktail event wouldn’t be complete without a signature cocktail. Red Lulu will be mixing the CTbites special $5 margaritas with PaQui tequila, a bold and balanced spirit that should go down easy (especially @ $5). + Food: Bring your appetite as we'll get to sample Red Lulu's Mexican-inspired menu, a modern take on traditional Mexican dishes. Read More
MATCH'S Luscious Whipped Potatoes Features Chef Talk Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Matt Storch November 19, 2010 I know everyone has their favorite mashed potato method. Some like it lumpy, some like it smooth, some like it baked in the oven so the top gets nice and crispy. This is a method of making super rich and creamy mashed potatoes using a ricer or food mill (cheap device you can find in any food store). I like the food mill better. Note: Potatoes have a ton of starch, so if you do not want ‘gummy’ mashed potatoes, do not over cook them, and do not use a mixer or any other electric device to mix the potatoes. The idea is not to over work the potatoes. MATCH's Luscious Whipped Potatoes Read More
The Boathouse's Autumn Harvest Apple Contorno Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe John Holzwarth November 18, 2010
Wholesome Simplicity at Michele's Pies in Norwalk Restaurant Bakery Holiday Norwalk Thanksgiving Dessert CTbites Team November 18, 2010 When Michele Albano first got into pie-making, she burned out three ovens in her ski condo in Vermont supplying local farmers’ markets with pies made with “love and fresh fruit. ”Those days are long gone. She now operates Michele’s Pies out of a commercial kitchen and bake shop on Route 7 in Norwalk, delighting customers with award-winning crusted concoctions such as Chocolate Pecan Bourbon, Candyland and Ultimate Banana Split as well as old-fashioned favorites inspired by the pies she remembers her grandmother baking. Read More
Thanksgiving Cheese Selections c/o 109 Cheese Market Features Chef Talk Holiday Thanksgiving Monica Brown November 18, 2010 A cheese platter, like our "109 Thanksgiving Cheese Selection" is an easy and elegant way to ease into a holiday feast. Whether you buy a platter of craft your own, this is a great way to kick-off the holiday and can be endlessly repurposed into your holiday leftovers. The first cheese selection is an award-winning Fiscalini Bandaged Cheddar, a mature cheddar aged in cloth from Modesto, CA. A little further south, I've chosen a smooth and bold blue with the Point Blue Reyes. For a lighter and creamier cheese, I chose the Vermont Butter and Cream Cremont an earthy selection from Vermont goats and cows. And finally, a Cypress Grove Lamb Chopper, a mild sheeps milk cheese from France with a slight nuttiness and nice body and one heck of a name. Read More
Kids Reviews: The Lumberyard Kids Bites Restaurant Redding Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team November 16, 2010 Carly is a 10 year old from Redding, CT with a passion for eating & writing. She has joined the team as our youngest reviewer and she hopes she will inspire kids to be a little more adventurous in their FC restaurant choices. She has developed a restaurant rating scale of 1-5 pickles, 5 being the best. This is her first review. The Lumberyard Are you craving some juicy meat and some fun? Drive down to The Lumberyard in Georgetown, CT. The huge menu sounded delicious. I had to look it over twice. The kid’s menu was the usual cheeseburger, grilled cheese, hot dogs and chicken tenders, so I decided to choose something off their regular menu. Read More
Reheated: Dorie Greenspan & Darien Restaurant Week Features News Amy Kundrat November 16, 2010 In Connecticut... Darien Restaurant Week is underway! Info CTbites.com Free Cold Stone Creamery samples tonight at participating stores. Info DiningAlaCarte.org Chef Pietro Scotti, of Westport's DaPietro's will offer a Thanksgiving Cooking class on Nov 16 at The Clarke Culinary Center. Info CTbites.com. Dorie Greenspan will be speaking at the Darien Library on Nov. 18. Info DarienLibrary.org & an interview via CTbites.com. CT Food Bank has launched a virtual Thanksgiving Day food drive. Info CTFoodBank.org. Welcome to The Feast, an NBC-owned site that will be all things shop-food-play in regions such as our lovely state of CT. TheFeast.com. Read More
A Thanksgiving Day Guide to Take-Out or Eat-In Feasts Features Catering Holiday Thanksgiving CTbites Team November 16, 2010 Thanksgiving is the most anticipated and sometimes the most daunting meal of the year. But, in the end, it is all about food, friends and family. Depending on the number of guests in your party, there are several options for celebrating the holiday that don't involve slaving away in the kitchen for days. We often get asked for resources that allow diners to opt out of preparing a do-it-yourself feast in favor of a catered event or a restaurant meal. Others may use a lifeline and choose to order a few dishes to supplement their home cooked menu. Here are a few resources for those who would prefer to get a little assistance or just make a reservation. Restaurant Reservations Read More
Jeff’s Cuisine in Norwalk: Smokin’ BBQ & Soul-full Food Restaurant BBQ Cocktails Delicious Dives Norwalk Lunch Kid Friendly Robert Zeoli November 14, 2010 Jeff’s Cuisine is the warmest spot in Sono if you ask me. Its namesake, Jeff Esaw, is not only an accomplished, award-winning chef of southern cuisine and barbecue; he’s also a great host. Often welcoming patrons in personally and guiding them through his extensive menu, he does everything possible to create a memorable experience, transmitting his enthusiasm to the gracious staff. It was as if we could hear the seductive sound of classic Blues before we even walked through the door recently…actually it was emanating from an outdoor speaker above the back entrance. Read More
Ad: Seasonal Burgers & Shakes @ Filling Station Co. Kids Bites Restaurant Advertisement Stephanie Webster November 12, 2010 In the month of January, Filling Station Company is presenting diners with a healthy start to 2011. Sticking to those New Years resolutions = one great tasting burger. This month, The Filling Station Co. is featuring "The Resolution Burger," a chickpea burger with Greek salad trimmings and tahini dressing. Pair this with their January milkshake in smooth bold flavors of Chocolate Mint, and suddenly 2011 is looking mighty fine. Read More
Moe's Burger Joint in Old Greenwich via The Hamblogger Restaurant Greenwich Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Amy Kundrat November 12, 2010
Darien Restaurant Week Dining Deals Restaurant Events Restaurant Week Stephanie Webster November 11, 2010 Darien Restaurant Week will take place from Sunday, November 28th thru Friday, December 3rd. Come experience a new venue or visit old favorites. Prix Fixe lunches will range from $10-$15, and multi course dinners from $15-$30. This ia great time to enjoy a great meal for a great deal. Participating restaurants include: The Melting Pot, Little Thai Kitchen, Chuck's Steakhouse, Matsuri, Backstreets Restaurant, Fuji of Japan, The Waters Edge at Giovanni's, Bertucci's Italian Restaurant, Ole Mole, Rory's, Harper's, Scena, Coromandel, The Goose, and many more! Restaurants will offer a special prix fixe lunch and dinner menu during the entire week. Read More
A Foxwoods Food & Wine Festival Wrap-Up Road Trip Restaurant Chef Talk Wine Chat Amy Kundrat November 10, 2010 Restaurants from New York City to Boston descended on the 4th annual Foxwoods Food and Wine Festival at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. A weekend-long event, the Festival featured celebrity chef dinners, cooking demonstrations, and dozens of restaurants and wine vendors showcased at two “Grand Tasting” events on Saturday and Sunday. Read More
Thanksgiving Guide: Buying a Local Turkey Ingredients Features Holiday Local Farm Thanksgiving CTbites Team November 09, 2010 Thanksgiving is a wonderful harvest feast and there’s no better way to honor the spirit of the holiday than celebrating with a locally raised turkey. Locally grown turkeys are highly coveted and in short supply, so anyone looking for a local turkey from a nearby farm should place their order immediately. Fresh and frozen broad-breasted whites and Heritage turkeys are available for purchase directly from the farmer, but lucky for consumers, you don't have to go to the farm to pick it up. Here are the best local resources for buying that perfect centerpiece to your Thanksgiving meal. Read More
Smokey Potato Leek Soup c/o chat N chow Features Soups Recipe Comfort Food Lauren fister November 09, 2010 I had the AC on just last week and now it's time for the heat. It's also time for blankets, fires and soups! A friend brought back some bacon fresh from a smoke house up in Vermont. I wanted to make something that would complement the flavor so I came up with a Smokey Potato Leek Soup and it was fantastic. I ended up eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner since it was sooo good & simple to make! Read More
