Winter Cooking Classes @ The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Features Chef Talk Cooking Classes CTbites Team December 07, 2014 If you're still looking for the unique gift for that special person. Give them a memorable experience that is both fun & useful. Sign them up for a cooking class at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant in Wilton Ct. In fact, sign up with them. Chef Tim LaBant & his staff will be sharing their years of experience each Tuesday evening beginning in February. You'll also savor the finished culinary delights after the class. The schedule and focus for each evening is as follows: February 3...Winter Braising and knife skillsFebruary 10...Appetizers and ingredient pairing guidlinesFebruary 17...How to prepare our most favorite soups and stocksFebruary 24...Duck cookery and grain preparationMarch 3...Fish cookery; wet and dry cooking methods.When to use each method Read More
Friday Froth: Around A Square State With Stubborn Beauty, Black Hog and Overshores Features Restaurant Brewery Local Artisan Beer James Gribbon December 05, 2014 What shape is Connecticut? Kind of a cleaver-shape, I think. I live down in the that cleaver's handle - along with you, by statistical probability - and the myriad horrors of highway travel in Connecticut tend to keep me there, but I'm wired to explore. If Lando can escape the Sarlacc, I can get out of Fairfield freaking County. This is especially useful as I paddle my canoe up the rivers of craft beer this state has to offer, because breweries don't usually spring up next to yacht clubs, son. Train that spyglass further afield, and you'll spot Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company in increasingly craft beer dense Middletown, Black Hog Beer Company in Oxford, and Overshores Brewing Co. in East Haven. It's about time I gave each of them their due. Read More
Chef Pat Pascarella of Bar Sugo to Host Cooking Classes Features Cooking Classes Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger December 04, 2014 Chef Pat Pascarella of Bar Sugo in Norwalk announced that he will conduct a new series of cooking classes beginning in Jan 2015! For those readers who have visited Bar Sugo and enjoyed his great meatballs, pastas and entrées, these classes will give the secrets for creating some of these delicious dishes at home. There are currently six scheduled classes: Fresh Pasta Workshop – Saturday January 24th at 11:00am Mama's Kitchen: Meatballs 101 – Saturday February 7th at 11:00am Art of Braising – Tuesday March 3rd at 7:00pm Pizza Workshop – Tuesday April 7th at 7:00pm Farmer's Harvest & Feast – Saturday May 16th at 11:00am Cooking with Seafood - Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:00pm Read More
LobsterCraft in Darien Introduces New Winter Menu & Kid-Friendly Fare Restaurant Darien Lobster Seafood Kid Friendly CTbites Team December 03, 2014 Back in August we reported on LobsterCraft's brick and mortar location opening in Darien. No longer did you have to chase their truck to enjoy its deliciously sought after lobster rolls. As Winter rolls around, LobsterCraft is making some exciting updates to their menu. They're not just a lobster roll joint; they are serving up New England comfort food...and it's good. In addition to the award-winning lobster bisque, menu additions include: hush puppies, clam strips, lobster tacos, lobster salad, clam chowder, and roasted vegetable soup. The new kid-friendly menu includes the Salty Dog, a hot dog shaped like an octopus set on a bun, and Mac-N-Cheese Bites. Read More
2014 CT Food Lovers Holiday Gift Guide Ingredients Features Restaurant Entertaining Gift Guide Holiday Specialty Market Wine Shop Dessert April Guilbault December 03, 2014 Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.-H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Gift giving-choosing a gift for another person that is resonant of their personality and interests-is a true art. How do we know this? We know this by the sheer number of Yankee Swap and White Elephant parties that we have all attended. You thought those salt and pepper shakers in the shape of ugly, primitive holiday carolers would be perfect for me...um, why? And thus, yet another odd gift enters the rotation of passed-along, re-gifted gifts. On the flip-side, we all hopefully have experienced the joy that comes when we do find that perfect gift. The thrill of watching the unwrapping and the smiles that follow! This holiday season, we would like to help you in your pursuit of That Perfect One.... We bring you the CTbites 2014 CT Food Lovers Gift Guide. Start shopping! Read More
CTbites' Guide to Happy Hours in Stamford CT Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Wine Bar Beer Bar Eliza Schlesinger December 02, 2014 The work day comes to a close and all I can think is “Holy hell I need a bottle of wine …maybe two… maybe three… who’s coming with me?” But where do I go? What places offer specials? What vibe am I feeling? I instantly start googling “Happy Hour Downtown Stamford” but nothing pops up and suddenly I am in a panic, yes a panic. We’ve all been there many times…so I have compiled the ultimate list to help fellow happy hour enthusiasts. Personal favorites for each day are: Monday - Cotto, with half-priced bottles of wine and delicious tapas it’s the perfect way to ease into a hectic week; Tuesday - Lola’s Mexican Restaurant, Taco Tuesday & Margaritas…need I say more? Wednesday - Brickhouse Bar & Grill, known to many regulars as “wing night” it’s a low-key, delicious and fun way to finish hump day; Thursday – Barcelona, delicious tapas and great deals on a variety of wines, the young and vibrant scene is always served up; Friday – Hudson Grille, come for the happy hour and stay for the DJ, just be sure to bring your dancing shoes; Read More
Lobster Post: Casual Fresh Seafood in Fairfield Restaurant Catering Fairfield Lobster Seafood Take Out Kid Friendly Sarah Green November 30, 2014 Two words: LOBSTER FRIES. No...Really! If you want to cozy up to some delicious and decadent comfort food, get your claws over to the LOBSTER POST at 222 Post Road in Fairfield. Opened and owned by Jack Jagetic and now run by our man, Scotty and chef Mel, the LOBSTER POST offers fresh, tasty and unpretentious fare that both adults and children will devour. As we walked in the doors of the simple yet charming little jaunt with a beach town vibe, we were treated to a sample of piping hot LOBSTER BISQUE. Seasoned to perfection with a tiny bit of heat at the end of the gulp, this soup was excellent. Not too creamy, and with a touch of sherry wine, the lobster flavor was allowed to blossom. We sat, we ordered, all was right with the world. On the agenda: Read More
Chef Matt Storch's Recipe for "Day After Turkey & Waffles" Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Breakfast Matt Storch November 28, 2014 Every Thanksgiving, we ask our friends in the Chef community for their favorite holiday recipes. This year we got a last minute entry from Chef Matt Storch of Match Restaurant & The Chelsea with a great idea for all those leftovers. Ok...that picture above...it's not turkey...those are chicken livers, but it's the best we could do on short notice. Here is Matt Storch's Day After Turkey & Waffles Recipe. Read More
Cast Iron Roasted Fruits & Vegetables Recipe from Chef Arik of Le Farm Features Thanksgiving healthy Recipe CTbites Team November 26, 2014 Arik Bensimon, Chef de Cuisine at Le Farm, has always been an innovator when it comes to cooking. His roots run deep with French technique, but the ingredients always come first. We liked the simplicity and deconstructed quality of his Thanksgiving side dish. Not only is the recipe absolutely beautiful but it preserves and highlights the integrity of the seasonal ingredients. Enjoy Chef Arik's recipe for Cast Iron Roasted Fruits & Vegetables. Read More
Roasted Butternut Squash & Bosc Pear Soup Recipe from The Spread in SoNo Features Holiday Soups Thanksgiving healthy Recipe CTbites Team November 25, 2014 It's not too late to run to the store and pick up some Butternut squash for this incredibly delicious recipe created by Carlos Baez of The Spread in SoNo. This one is sure to be a keeper. When your guests are sighing with delight, please feel free to thank us. Enjoy this recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash and Bosc Pear Soup. Roasted Butternut Squash & Bosc Pear Soup 1 Butternut Squash, cut in half and seeded 1 Tsp Kosher Salt, divided ½ Tsp Black Pepper Read More
Down Home Apple Crisp Recipe from Mama's Boy in Sono Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Dessert CTbites Team November 25, 2014 You really can never have too much dessert...especially when it involves warm fruit. Grab yourself some apples and try out this recipe from Chef Chaz Mazas of Mama's Boy Southern Table & Refuge in Sono. Mama's Apple Crisp never tasted so good! Read More
Brick + Wood: New Neapolitan Pizzeria & Wine Bar Opens in Fairfield Restaurant Fairfield Italian Pasta Pizza Wine Bar Take Out Christy Colasurdo November 23, 2014 You know how you “just know” when a new restaurant is going to be good? That’s the feeling you get in the first ten minutes at Brick + Wood, a new restaurant and wine bar in Fairfield’s Brick Walk Plaza on the site of the former Ponte Vecchio restaurant. When you make a great find like this, it’s a double-edged sword: You want to share it with friends, but at the same time keep it your secret a little longer. We decided to share. You’re welcome. On a recent lunch visit, as we perused the distressed-wood and worn-brick decor, an amuse bouche appeared out of nowhere—two crispy crostini topped with fluffy homemade ricotta, sautéed broccoli rabe and imported prosciutto—as if to say, “Let’s get this party started.” Read More
Chestnut Butter Bruschetta with Burrata, Kale or Arugula Recipe from Locali Pizza Bar Features Entertaining Thanksgiving Recipe CTbites Team November 23, 2014 As family and friends arrive, it's always a great idea to have a few nibbles ready for them to enjoy as the cooks in the kitchen place the final touches on the main courses. Many homes will be filled with the aroma of chestnut stuffing, so tantalize the taste buds with a delicious appetizer with a hidden ingredient, chestnut butter. Chef Mogan Anthony of Locali Pizza Bar + Kitchen shares his recipe for “Chestnut Butter Bruschetta with Burrata, Kale or Arugula” that pairs chestnut butter with greens and Burrata. Read More
Napa & Co.'s Maple-Bourbon Banana Pudding Cake Recipe Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Dessert CTbites Team November 22, 2014 You’ve finished the turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, sides galore, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, salads, cole slaw, and maybe a few glasses of cider, wine and beer. In the background, the football games are on the TVs and maybe a little jazz, rock or classical fills the air. It’s been a great Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family. So what’s next? Close your eyes and travel to the South and focus on one of their comfort food desserts, Bread Pudding. Chef Adam Truelove of Napa & Co. in Stamford was kind enough to share his version with CTbites, and he starts with a simple bread pudding and adds his special twists…bourbon, maple syrup and bananas. Here's Chef Truelove's recipe for Maple-Bourbon Banana Pudding Cake. Read More
Friday Froth: Beer Pairings For A Very Merry Thanksgiving Features CT Beer Thanksgiving Beer James Gribbon November 21, 2014 You can smash that wine bottle against a new ship's prow, because I'm drinking beer this Thanksgiving. I enjoy wine, but the waveform of my interest in it describes a gentle curve approaching zero on this particular day of the year. There's very little you can put on the table in late November that will get my personal circuits firing like a nice beer pairing.This week's Froth will be a selection of suggested beers for both Thanksgiving hosts and guests, presented in the order you may like them to appear during our country's great feast. I enjoy typing that word. Say it with me: "FEAST!" I wish I had a relative with an eight foot tall fireplace suitable for roasting an entire ox. I hope at least one of you reading this is going to attempt a feat of inadvisable open flame cookery next week. Bonus points if you have to bribe a child so they don't tell a spouse what you're doing. A quick note to begin: I wrote a Thanksgiving column back in 2011, and this new post is an update/overhaul. Read More
Sage Infused Turkey w/ Pomegranate Juice & Chestnut Sausage Stuffing via South End Features Entertaining Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe CTbites Team November 21, 2014 One of the most important guests at any Thanksgiving table is the turkey. In our ongoing Thanksgiving recipe coverage, Nick Martschenko, Executive Chef at South End, New Canaan, has kindly shared his recipe for Sage Infused Turkey Basted w/ Pomegranate Juice & Chestnut Sausage Stuffing. Sure, anyone can toss a turkey in the oven, but Chef Martschenko has given his bird the love and attention it deserves. Check out his incredible recipe which will likely end up an annual tradition. Read More
Thanksgiving Recipes from The Chefs @ Westport Farmers' Mkt Features Chef Talk Farmers Market Thanksgiving Recipe Lori Cochran November 20, 2014 We, Westport Farmers’ Market, wanted to find a way to say thank you for the support our communities continue to provide us, so…… We have collaborated with the best of the best in Fairfield County to bring you a local, delicious and certainly special Thanksgiving menu. You might even say it is a celebrity chef Thanksgiving menu created just for WFM. We've gathered recipes from the likes of: Bill Taibe, Matt Storch, Mischel Nischan and so many more. View The Complete Recipe Guide Here & view the list of chefs below. Looking for the perfect recipe - heck, the perfect menu? Look no further! Each recipe will include a grocery list for Saturday's market at Gilbertie’s Herb Garden in Westport. Celebrity Chef Thanksgiving Menu Read More
Chocopologie Re-Opens in Downtown SoNo with Espresso, Dessert & Lunch Restaurant Coffee Norwalk SONO Lunch Dessert Kaila Finn November 20, 2014 Very shortly, Fritz Knipschildt, owner of Chocopologie, will be swapping his old 12 South Main St. location for an up-to-date Chocopologie at 133 Washington St. The new Chocopologie has maintained some aspects of the old café like the European flair (yes, I’m thinking about the savory buckwheat crepes), the open chocolate-making station, and their trademark exposed brick walls. But don’t be fooled; the light-washed wood flooring, trendy antique furniture, and a simple chalkboard menu point to a decidedly new style. Knipschildt described the new restaurant’s theme as “doing less with more.” Their “less is more” thinking has inspired their chow as well. Knipschildt and Manager Joseph Trepanowski are not fans of the nuevo, hipster movement, and said that “these hipster places put on good faces but it’s a facade,” adding that they want to be cool but have substance. A primary focus of the 133 Washington St. location will be the espresso. Read More
Delicata Squash Soup w/ Coffee Roasted Carrot Coulis Recipe via Boulevard 18 Features Entertaining Holiday Soups Thanksgiving Recipe CTbites Team November 19, 2014 It's time to dust off those recipe books or re-visit that Pinterest board. Thanksgiving is almost here, and in honor of our favorite culinary holiday, we have asked a few local chefs to share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes. Boulevard 18 in New Canaan is the first up with a delicious Delicata Squash Soup with Coffee Roasted Carrot Coulis and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Stay tuned for additional recipes as we will be posting new ones up until the big day.... Read More
Meet The Whelk's New Chef de Cuisine, Anthony Kostelis Interview Restaurant Chef Chef Talk Westport Stephanie Webster November 19, 2014 How does it feel to be hired as the new Chef de Cuisine for one of Fairfield County’s most successful restaurants? Chef Anthony Kostelis, of The Whelk in Westport, would say it is like a dream come true. In fact, ever since Kostelis started working with Bill Taibe in 2010, he knew he didn't want to be anywhere else. Kostelis’ love of food began at the ripe age of 15 when he started work in a Manchester pizza restaurant. Half Greek, half Italian, and the son of a food purveyor for high end ingredients, Anthony seemed fated to head down a culinary path. By age 20, he was working in New Haven as a server and bartender at Ibiza, when he decided to leave college and pursue his real passion, cooking. Working his way through the CIA, he was mentored by Executive Chef Jeff Caputo of Scoozzi, also in New Haven, who took him under his wing and “set me up for success,” says Anthony. Read More
