Dinners at the Farm Opening Weekend Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Organic Stephanie Webster July 14, 2011 CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY Last Thursday marked the opening weekend of Dinners at the Farm's 2011 season. This year, Jonothan Rapp of River Tavern Restaurant and his team of top notch chefs will park their big red truck at two farms; Barberry Hill Farm in Madison, CT and White Gate Farm in Old Lyme. Dinners at the Farm started in 2007, long before "farm to table" fare became mainstream, and they continue to delight guests with exceptional menus, farm tours, and insight into the life of a farmer in CT. View the Photo Gallery here. "Dinners at the Farm is a series of benefit dinners celebrating Connecticut's local farms, food and community as a way to generate awareness of the importance and vitality of our local farming community and the delicious, wholesome and abundant food it provides us. Recreating a sense of connection to farming, cooking and eating is what Dinners at the Farm is all about." --Dinners at the Farm A portion of every dinner goes to the non-for-profit community benefiting organizations such as Connecticut Farmland Trust, Slow Food Connecticut, CitySeed, Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries, and Working Lands Alliance. Read More
Artisan, Farm to Table Opens in Southport at Delamar Restaurant Farm to Table Local Artisan Southport Farm Fresh Lunch Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster July 13, 2011 Artisan, a "farm to table New England-inspired" restaurant opens tonight, July 13, 2011 at the Delamar Hotel in Southport, CT. “We wanted Artisan to feel comfortable, as if you have been invited to enjoy a weekend in the country,” says Chef Kieffer, a native of Paris and resident of Fairfield County. “And we want the food to match the feel of the restaurant; a place that is casual and very comfortable yet that also reflects quality and excellence.” Previewing the space during an opening party is a biased occasion, admittedly, but it’s also one of the best ways to understand intentions as well as gauge reactions. Dining experience non-withstanding, mission accomplished Artisan. Read More
Tim LaBant @ The Westport Farmers' Mkt Restaurant Liz Rueven July 12, 2011 Tim LaBant, Chef and owner of The Schoolhouse Restaurant at Cannondale, will be cooking at the Westport Farmers’ Market on July 14. LaBant will be cooling his fans with HERBAL SNOW CONES as the temperatures continue to hold steady in the 90’s. Simple foods and icy treats are what we crave in this weather and LaBant obliges. Herb infused simple syrups mixed with freshly squeezed juices combine to make FRUIT FLAVORED HERBED ICES served in paper cones. Stroll the market with his refreshing creation and note the exotic combinations of distinctive flavors like GREEN TEA PEAR, WATERMELON BASIL, WATERMELON MINT, LEMON PRICKLY PEAR or PINEAPPLE PEPPER. LaBant sources regularly from his neighbors at Millstone Farm in Wilton. He may surprise shoppers with an additional dish, utilizing ingredients he discovers from other vendors at market. I’ve heard murmurs about a mixed green salad with cherries, mint and Beltane’s goat cheese. We can only hope. Read More
Celebrating Bastille Day in Connecticut Restaurant Events French Holiday CTbites Team July 12, 2011 On Bastille Day, everyone is a little bit French. Each year on July 14, citizens of France, francophones and francophiles across the globe celebrate La Fête Nationale or Bastille Day, France's independence day that commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789. Here is where you can go to celebrate this national French holiday, including a Supper Club, Street Fairs, and a Country French Buffet. Read More
“Hot” Wine Picks for the Summer Ingredients Features This Week In Wine JoAnn LoGiurato July 12, 2011 JoAnn LoGiurato is a Certified Wine Specialist and the owner of Dancing on Grapes. Deck parties, outdoor picnics, grillin’ and chillin’…. summer is definitely upon us, and so is the summer wine dilemma. What to drink now? Hmm, many people believe that summer is all about white—au contraire! Here are 11 of my favorite wine sips for summer, including a couple of delicious reds and a rosé for those not afraid to “drink pink.” All of them are available at one of your favorite Fairfield County wine shops. If you can’t find the exact wine you’re looking for, ask the merchant to show you something similar—heck, it’s just fermented grape juice. Taste, experiment, and have fun with it! Read More
China White Opens in Greenwich w/ Authentic Chinese Restaurant Stephanie Webster July 10, 2011 In Fairfield County, finding top notch authentic Chinese cuisine is akin to finding a little night life…it's slim pickings at best. Filling a void, and satisfying his own craving, Greenwich resident Jody Pennette of cb5 Restaurant Group (Lolita Cocina, Red Lulu, Gabriele's Steak House) decided to take matters into his own hands with the newly opened China White Noodle Bar. Six years in the making, China White, is a sleek, modern restaurant that prepares real Chinese food…the kind you may have experienced in NYC's China Town. Think ‘dumpling noodle house’ meets ‘Chinatown street vendor,’ prepared by real Hong Kong cooks. As if this is not appealing enough, China White takes the menu one step further, featuring natural chicken, local raised pork, grass fed beef, wild caught seafood, cage-free chicken eggs, organic duck, and organic vegetables. The result is clean, classically sophisticated Chinese cuisine with family-style dining and a subtly hip vibe. Read More
Cocktails: Sangria Flora c/o Barcelona's Gretchen Thomas Features Chef Talk Cocktails Entertaining Recipe Gretchen Thomas July 07, 2011 We are pleased to introduce a new CTbites contributor, Gretchen Thomas, the Wine & Spirits Director for the Barcelona Restaurant Group. She supervises the largest Spanish wine program in the United States, managing 200 labels from 11 countries, and acts as the lead mixologist for The Barcelona Restaurants. Summer months bring lots of outdoor cooking opportunities. As an avid BBQ host, I know that the simpler the menu, the easier it is to relax and enjoy the fun. Firing up the grill and throwing on the hotdogs and burgers is always a cinch, but planning the beverages can often be a frustrating element. An extremely simple and delicious recipe for Sangria Flora crossed my desk a year ago and it has become a necessary staple at all my backyard gatherings, right up there with the yard games and bug spray. It was introduced to me by the founder of St. Germain, an Elderflower liqueur that is prominent at every real cocktail bar in the country. The recipe was created by the company and its simple – St Germain, dry white or rose wine, and chopped fresh fruit. Read More
Summer Specials & A New Salad @ Filling Station Co. Restaurant New Canaan Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers Multiple Eaters July 06, 2011 Here's the latest on Filling Station Co's July burger and shake and an introduction to the new Filling Station Co Salad. The July 2011 Filling Station Special Burger and Shake combines a full flavored hamburger with a sweet flavorful tribute to one of my favorite fruits with the BBQ Cheeseburger and a delicious Peaches and Cream Shake. The BBQ Cheeseburger includes the Filling Station’s farm-raised cheeseburger topped with house made BBQ sauce, griddled onions, thick cut bacon, and pickled jalapeño peppers. There are several bold flavors in this month’s offering. The Filling Station’s thick cut bacon continues as a favorite of mine and the griddled onions added a nice crispy, flavorful addition. I am usually not a big fan of spicy additions and the jalapeño peepers were a concern, but pickled jalapeños are making an appearance on many menus this summer and I have grown to enjoy the pickled variety. Read More
Headbanging Hostess: Dinner on a Stick Night Features Entertaining Recipe Kid Friendly Vanessa David July 05, 2011 Vanessa David has been throwing dinner parties as the "Headbanging Hostess" for over a year, feeding some of Fairfield County's hottest bands and featuring their music in her food porn. She recently recieved a Culinary Arts Certificate from Norwalk Community College. ‘Tis the season to be social - summer is here, the sun is shining, the grill is going, is there a better time to throw a dinner party? Well, if you ask me, anytime is a great time to throw a dinner party. I’m the Headbanging Hostess, throwing dinner parties is what I do. But if you’re new to entertaining at home Dinner on a Stick Night just might inspire you to give it a go. Read More
Connecticut Wine Festival 2011 Ingredients Restaurant Events Wine Chat Wine Tasting Amy Kundrat July 05, 2011 Explore then the best of Connecticut’s wineries under one "roof" at this year's Connecticut Wine Festival on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday July 31 at the Goshen Fairgrounds. Included in the $25 price of admission ($20 in advance) are wine tastings, a commemorative festival wine glass and tote bag, specialty food samples, a craft fair and live music. Read More
Top Ten Burgers from Greenwich to Westport: Part 1 Restaurant Delicious Dives Best of CT Kid Friendly Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 03, 2011 Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro The Fourth of July is finally here and grilling season is in full swing. CTBites has been taking advantage of this wonderful time of year by undergoing a broad sampling of burgers from the coastal towns of Fairfield County CT. We are pleased to present our dining guide to the “Ten Recommended Burgers from Greenwich to Westport.” We know we have some more eating to do. Part 2 coming soon. Read More
Dr. Mike's Ice Cream in Bethel via NBC Connecticut Restaurant Bethel ice cream Amy Kundrat July 01, 2011
CTbites Shout Out: What's Your Favorite Grillable? Features BBQ CTbites Shout Out Holiday Amy Kundrat July 01, 2011
Friday Froth: Loud and Proud Ingredients Features Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon July 01, 2011 "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. ... It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." - John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 2, 1776.That's right, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence two days before they voted in favor of the profoundly important Declaration. Our national celebration should actually be held two days before it is. Friday Froth: come for the beer nerdery, stay for the history dorkism. Feel free to bust both out at your cookouts on this king of three day weekends. Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant That Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Stephanie Webster June 30, 2011
A Taste of Litchfield Hills 2011 Restaurant Events Litchfield kids activity Amy Kundrat June 30, 2011
Mango Avocado & Quinoa Salad c/o Healthy Living Blog Features healthy Recipe CTbites Team June 29, 2011 Today I decided to whip up a Mango Avocado Black Bean Quinoa Salad, a vegetarian/vegan salad with fruits, grains and beans. I got the idea as I was staring at the bowlfuls of mangos and avocados that have been sitting on my kitchen counter the last several days. For those of you who are not familiar with quinoa, quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain, and is a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. It is sometimes referred to as an ancient grain as it was once considered to be the “gold of the Incas.” Quinoa is a “complete protein,” meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids. In addition, quinoa is a good source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, folate, and fiber. Read More
Hidden Gem: The Blue Cactus Grill in Norwalk Restaurant Delicious Dives Norwalk Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger June 29, 2011 The Blue Cactus Grill is a hamburger and sandwich shop off the beaten path in Norwalk, up the street from the Norwalk Hospital. Vic Amereno, the owner, brings 20+ years of experience overseeing kitchens in Connecticut and Arizona to this location where he prepares southwestern influenced fare. Hamburgers, cheesesteaks (beef or chicken), wraps, salads, and other assorted sandwiches complement his house made potato chips, lemonade, iced tea and a delightful “cactus slaw.” Vic’s hamburger is the star of the menu. Blue Cactus begins with a daily delivery of a 70/30 blend of beef sourced from Omaha Beef Company in Danbury, based on a 50-year old recipe that has changed little in the interim. Read More
Fairfield County Reports: The El Bulli Experience Restaurant Road Trip Multiple Eaters June 28, 2011 Poised to close at the end of the season, El Bulli has been fielding millions of reservation requests for the relative few coveted tables that remain to experience Chef Ferran Adria's operatic meals in Roses, Spain. This mecca for molecular gastronomy has been in the sights of two regular CTbites readers, a professional chef, Matt Storch of Match Restaurant in Sono, and a professional eater, Chris Grimm, who recently visited El Bulli and have graciously shared their experiences with us. Read More
