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
Ultimate Guide to Making Ice Cream: A Recipe (of Sorts) Features kids activity Recipe Kid Friendly Dessert Chris Grimm August 11, 2011 Nothing says “Summer” like ice cream. I make a lot of ice cream – more than we can eat. I make really great ice cream, if I do say so myself. So when my sister-in-law asked for an “award winning” ice cream recipe, to use in her local agricultural fair, I was happy to oblige. I haven’t won any actual awards, but if you follow my instructions, you’ll appreciate my confidence. Although Eleanore skipped the contest, she said she wished she had entered, if only because the entries all required detailed recipes and, as you will see, mine is nothing if not detailed. The key to a great ice cream is its base. I almost always make fruit ice creams. While different fruits require different treatments and benefit from different supplemental ingredients, the base doesn’t vary. I use a basic Cuisinart one-and-a-half-quart ice cream maker that only costs about $50. If you like ice cream, it’s the best $50 you will ever spend Read More
Asian Treats at Pacific Food in Fairfield Ingredients Restaurant Asian Fairfield Specialty Market Vietnamese Emily Sackett August 10, 2011 Every once in a while something new comes to town that we just have to explore! This time, it’s Pacific Food on the Black Rock Turnpike that adds a little bit of Asian flavor to the shopping options in Fairfield. We visited Pacific Food recently to see what kind of eclectic goodies we could fill our shopping carts with. After all, it’s about time we started using our wok pans for something worth wok-ing! Pacific Food is a unique Asian market open almost three months in a small shopping center just as Blackrock Turnpike splits into Tunxis Hill. The small footprint of the grocer packs a punch – offering counter-style favorites such as Vietnamese sandwiches, Japanese-style smoothies in a rainbow of flavors and a decided-upon favorite, traditional Chinese Bubble Tea. Read More
The Schoolhouse's Tim LaBant @ Ambler Farm Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster August 09, 2011 The details of Tim LaBant's Ambler Farm dinner have been announced. On Saturday September 10th, Wilton's very own award-winning chef, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, will present an organic harvest feast + Ambler's own produce. Arrive to cocktails on the Farm. Supper served family-style in the Ambler fields. Tours of this beautiful property will be offered, (one of the oldest farms still in use in Fairfield County)...as well as other diversions. ON THE TABLE-Roasted multicolored Ambler peppers and eggplant with ricotta, olive oil, herbs,sunflower seeds and grilled Wave hill toast-Mason jars with pickled beetsFIRST COURSE-Salad of assorted fresh Ambler Farm tomatoes accompanied with cornbread, Crème fraiche and grilled green onionsMAIN COURSE-Slow roasted Berkshire pork shoulder-Summer succotash (zucchini, Summer squash, pearl onion,bacon,peas and corn)-Confit potatoes with nasturtium, fennel pollen, frisee with goat cheese dressing Read More
Peace Tree Desserts in Westport: Give Peace A Chance Ingredients Features Westport Dessert Margie Treisman August 09, 2011 Contented goats frolicking in green meadows, giving fresh, naturally homogenized milk. Local, sustainable, organic ingredients. The leafy Bohdi Tree, symbol of Buddhist enlightenment. Lovely images to associate with . . . dessert. Yeah, yeah, kumbayah, you may say. Get to the good stuff -- the treats, not the trees. But they go hand in hand at Peace Tree Desserts, according to owner and chef Robyn Eades. The Peace Tree, inspired by her dog Bodhi, is a fitting symbol for Robyn’s approach to sourcing and creating delicious desserts. Even the Peace Tree labels are eco-friendly, made from soy ink and recycled paper. Read More
Grande Burger Opens in Stamford Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Comfort Food Burgers James Gribbon August 07, 2011 Sometimes you just want to go out - no specific plans, no goals for the evening besides just wanting to go hear loud music and blow off steam. It would be nice to have a few drinks, you think, but whatever will do: just get me a beer/cocktail/shot, man. Sometimes you're just in an "eat to live" kind of mood, and anything filling will do. Other times you're more discerning, selective: you could really go for a burger, but generic "burger" arriving wrapped in paper won't cut it. For those times, there's the new Grand Burger in Stamford. Yes, the former G/R/A/N/D ultra lounge has been re-imagined as a burger place, and the menu is the result of the discerning eye of Executive Chef Nick Bilello, creator of Burger Bar in SoNo. Read More
Shout Out: Best Ice Cream / Frozen Dessert in Fairfield County Restaurant CTbites Shout Out ice cream Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster August 07, 2011
"Will Drive 4 Food" Dinner @ Bernard's in Ridgefield Restaurant Events Specialty Market Wine Dinners Amy Kundrat August 05, 2011 Bernard's Restaurant in Ridgefield will be hosting a "Will Drive 4 Food" dinner on August 21 at 6 p.m., inspired by the recent trip of 109 Cheese & Wine owners Monica & Todd Brown. This family style seven-course meal will take place at a single long table in the garden of Bernard's Restaurant, the first event of its kind at the restaurant. (See menu below). The inspiration was a recent cross-country trip the Browns took in their vintage 1963 Porsche 356, traveling through California, Oregon and Washington and the midwest. In addition to enjoying the scenery and enjoying some amazing meals, they were Read More
Food, Friends & Fun at New Canaan Farmers’ Market Ingredients Restaurant Farmers Market Local Artisan Local Farm New Canaan Farm Fresh CTbites Team August 04, 2011 The past few years have seen a spike in the amount and popularity of Farmers’ Markets, and the New Canaan Farmers' Market is no exception. Every Saturday morning from May through November vendors and townspeople crowd into (and around) the Municipal Parking Lot across from the town library. They come here to shop for local produce, pick up breakfast or lunch, and mingle with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers. The market is still small compared to others in the area, but the number of vendors and buzz around it is on the rise as more and more people seek quality, fresh food and want to know where it comes from. Read More
The Filling Station Co. August Burger & Shake Restaurant New Canaan Comfort Food Kid Friendly Dessert Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 03, 2011 The August 2011 Filling Station Special Burger and Shake combine another full flavored hamburger with a sweet flavorful tribute to another of my favorite fruits with the “Steak Burger” matched with a sweet Cherry Shake. The Steak Burger includes the Filling Station’s farm-raised hamburger topped with the newly introduced secret-recipe steak sauce, raw onions and tomatoes. Similar to last month’s BBQ Special, this month’s special delivers bold flavors to complement the mild organic beef. The FS steak sauce was developed over many months of experimentation to deliver a flavor profile that pays tribute to the Peter Luger Sauce’s vinegary-tomato based variety. Read More
Sono Baking Company is Opening in Westport Restaurant Coffee Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster July 28, 2011 Yep...You heard me correctly. The Sono Baking Company is expanding their bakery mecca and opening up shop in Westport. This Sono institution has just signed a lease on the charming new barn at the A & J Farm Stand, right on the Post Road (seen above). The Westport location will feature a cafe serving grab-n go-items as well as a full espresso bar to accompany their wide selection of baked goods, cakes, pastries, cookies and artisan breads. Owner John Barricelli says "We hope to be open in late August or early September." We hope so too. A good espresso is hard to come by around here. Welcome to the neighborhood. The Sono Baking Company @ The A & J's Farm Stand 1680 Post Road East, Westport. Read More
Chef to Farm Dinner Series w/ Max Restaurant Group Restaurant Farm to Table Local Artisan Local Farm CTbites Team July 25, 2011 CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY As the July sun softened beneath the vineyard, diners gathered in Simsbury on Thursday night to enjoy another Chef to Farm dinner at Rosedale Farms, in partnership with Max Restaurant Group. Now in its third season, Chef Scott Miller and the Max Chef to Farm team will delight diners with a truly local menu for another six Thursday evenings through October. View photo gallery here. Each three-hour feast begins with a wine tasting reception featuring Rosedale wines. After the reception, stroll through the vineyard or take a hayride to an elegant tent filled with lights and music, set peacefully between the vineyard and the cornstalks. Past events have featured Bombster Bros. seafood from Stonington, pork belly from Rowland Farms in Oxford, and vegetables sourced right from Rosedale Farm. Guests enjoy four- to six- courses of local, seasonal ingredients, designed to highlight the best available that day. Read More
Fresh Finds at FIN Sushi in Fairfield Restaurant Fairfield Japanese Sushi Kid Friendly Sarah Green July 24, 2011 Some things just NEED to be fresh - my dental hygienist's breath, hotel bed sheets, and most definitely - my sushi. That is why FIN in Fairfield is my pick for outstanding Sushi restaurant in the area. We sat outside for this latest visit, overlooking the Post Road. But the indoor seating is just as comfortable with capacity for about 50. FIN isn't fancy and it isn't trendy. The decor is simple and unassuming and the wait staff is as friendly as they come. But most importantly, the fish - well - it's delish. Read More
The Making of the MATCH Restaurant Burger Restaurant American Norwalk Comfort Food Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 24, 2011 Start with a patty of locally raised (Roxbury, CT) grass-fed beef. Throw in some bacon-cheddar sauce and sweet and sour onion jam. House it all on a caramelized onion brioche bun. And don't forget those fries. No, this is not a new burger joint, this is Match's new Thursday Night Burger offer and CTbites was there for its beefy birth. CTbites sent burger guru, "jfood," into the kitchen with Match Restaurant's Chef Matt Storch to develop this recent menu addition. From concept to reality, we bring you the new Match (SONO) Hamburger. Here's how it went down. Read More
Grilled Marinated Flank Steak via Chef Emilie Features BBQ French Recipe CTbites Team July 21, 2011 Fire up the grill tonight ... your outdoors will get great with the flavors and the aromas of Grilled Marinated Flank Steak ! Whether you're cooking chicken, burgers, steak, fish on the grill, a tasty marinade gives taste and tenderness to every meat. You can use almost everything you have in your kitchen to make your own marinade. Today, I decided to buy a piece of Flank that I marinated with : Olive Oil, Garlic, Onions, Basil, Thyme, Parsley, dried Herbes de Provence, Barbecue Sauce and few drops of Tabasco. Check out the recipe below. The result: a serious crowd pleaser. La recette de Grilled Marinated Flank Steak Read More
Shake Shack Opens Today in Westport Restaurant Westport Comfort Food Kid Friendly Dessert Burgers Multiple Eaters July 20, 2011 Delicious…that’s my opinion and I’m sticking with it. The ShackBurger: Shake Shack brought its world-famous (yes they have a location in Dubai) offerings to Westport today and I enjoyed one of the best hamburgers, hot dogs and shakes in the area. With all the hype of opening day I felt a bit nervous as I waited with dozens of other customers for my ShackBurger, Shack-cago Dog and fries. Read More
Redding Roadhouse: New Olde School Restaurant Redding Beer Comfort Food Lou Gorfain July 20, 2011 Redding Roadhouse is hardly a trendy gastro pub. It’s literally Ye Olde School. For over three hundred years, there has been a Watering Hole serving up grub and grog to weary travelers at the junctures of Redding and Georgetown Roads in Northwest Fairfield County. Mark Twain was a regular. As were MidCentury Mad Men (Is that Dan Draper romancing a client by the fireplace?). Indeed, the Roadhouse still offers respite to travelers, though most aren’t just passing by. Since co-owners Michael and Donna Roberts and Lou Macol gave the place a 21st Century culinary makeover, it’s become destination dining for thousands, from CEO’s to carpenters (Is that Mick Jagger chatting with a fireman at the bar?). In fact 70 percent of RRH patrons hail from Fairfield’s Gold Coast, not to mention Boston and New York. Read More
10 Questions w/ Matt Stanczak of Stanziato's in Danbury Interview Restaurant Chef Talk Danbury Pizza Amy Kundrat July 19, 2011 Matt Stanczak is chef and owner of Danbury's two-year-old Stanziato's Wood-fired pizza. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he has worked for the last decade as both a private chef and for restaurants in New York City and Westchester but now, and thankfully for us, he calls Danbury home. Stanczak’s contemporary take on on the classic Neopolitan pizza is one of the most outstanding in the state. His puffy charred crusts, devotion to local ingredients and seasonality as well as his nightly specials with their intuitive pairings have made me literally pound the table in delight. 1. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in one hour, what would you whip up? This time of year I'm definitely thinking a fresh Guacamole....Avacodos from my favorite Latino bodega, Lots of freshly squeezed Lime Juice, Onion, maybe a chopped up jalapeno, sea salt, and lots and lots of cilantro! Simple, Fresh, Delicious. 2. What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? Read More
Mario Batali's Tarry Lodge Opens in Westport July 19th!! Restaurant Pizza Westport Lunch Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster July 18, 2011 Tarry Lodge Enoteca and Pizzeria opens tomorrow in Westport at 30 Charles Street. For more on this, read our recent interview with Joe Bastianich and check out a few photos and our take from our visit during a Saturday night preview, below. Very similar to Tarry Lodge, slightly more informal. Pizza and antipasto will be a major component. Lighter style and more grilled items. We'll adapt our food purveyors so its also done locally. The pizza will also be a focus. Our pizzaioli is Mario LaPosta who will be there full time, he's very talented. --Joe Bastianich A quick preview of the Tarry Lodge Enoteca menu reads as Tarry Lodge light. Think greatest hits of its Port Chester location. An heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad, Tuna Tartare, Grilled Octopus, Porcini Arancini, Baccala "Livornese," and Soft Shell Crabs with lemon aoili are a few of the "Insalate" and "Fritti" offerings. The pastas and proteins look formidable and familiar, a Brown Butter and Sage Gnocchi, Fettucini Carbonara and Goat Cheese Agnolotti with Fennel Pollen are three of the eight pasta dishes and a Whole Branzino, Ribeye (with pepper almond pesto) and Rock Hen Al Matone are just three of eight "Secondi." It seems a fitting, if cautious menu for the launch. The wine list, similar to the menu, is a curated list of Port Chester classics, with the Bastianich label front and center. Mario LaPosta, Tarry Lodge pizzaiolo Read More
Tacuba Opens in Branford Restaurant Branford Mexican Latin American Amy Kundrat July 17, 2011 In case you haven’t noticed, we’re experiencing a taco moment. The latest in the list of talented Connecticut chefs to jump on the taco bandwagon (or in his case, back on it) is Arturo Franco-Camacho and his wife Suzette, the dynamic pair behind our state’s latest taco joint, Tacuba in Branford. Opening just this past week, Tacuba isn’t exactly in the neighborhood, but trust me when I tell you this is a place you should know about.The folks behind one of the state’s first taco carts sixteen years ago, the initial iteration of South Norwalk’s Habana, New Haven’s beloved Roomba and upscale Bespoke, they couple is currently running Branford’s Suburban, and now Tacuba and the adjacent wine bar, Swill. Read More
