Prime Stamford Launches New Seasonal Spring Menu (Alongside Waterfront Dining) (sponsored post) Restaurant Stamford American Seafood Cocktails Outdoor Dining Waterfront Jessica Ryan April 17, 2019 Spring is always a welcome thing, but as part of the CTBites team it also means that a trip to Prime Stamford is in order to check out their spring offerings and we are always eager to see what magic Chef Julio Geno has up his sleeve. As we waited to get a sampling of the Easter Menu we sipped some of the restaurant’s most popular choices, the Babylon Express, made from Crop cucumber vodka, St. Germaine, lime and pineapple juices, the Pineapple Mojito and the Passion Cosmo, made from passion vodka, passion fruit purée, triple sec and lime and cranberry juices. Read More
Hartford Flavor Company: Uniquely Delicious Botanical Liqueurs Features Ingredients Liqueur Cocktails Ingredients Hartford Specialty Market Kristin L. Wolfe April 17, 2019 It’s herbal, it’s floral, it’s natural, Oh MY. It’s botanical liqueur.Walking into Hartford Flavor Company is like walking into a place where all’s right with the world: it’s owned and operated by a smart woman, everything is natural, and it is as beautiful as a field of flowers should be. Or, it’s like a laboratory-meets day spa-meets fully-stocked bar. Take your pick.Anyway, I think you are getting my point. It is downright lovely and essential and all you think while touring around and talking to owner Lelaneia Dubay is, where have you been all my life? Read More
BD Provisions: Gourmet Bulk Food Shopping That’s Really "Out of the Box" Features Ingredients Shopping Specialty Market Grocery Store Newtown Ingredients Coffee Jessica Ryan April 16, 2019 Bulk shopping isn’t exactly a new concept – we’ve been filling the trunks of our cars and SUVs with oversized products from those mammoth box stores for years. But bulk shopping that’s zero waste is something we don’t often see. BD Provisions, in Newtown, takes this familiar concept and gives it a breath of fresh air with a new, environmentally friendly spin. Less is more, especially here. Less waste means more product which means greater savings and more fun, but you really need to head over to experience it yourself. At BD Provisions you’ll find 270 carefully curated products sold by the pound in massive sustainable containers. Products range from dehydrated and powdered superfoods. You won’t want to pass by the creative, flavored rice, quinoa and soup blends that will enhance any weeknight dinner. Of course there are plenty of healthy snack options from the most beautifully colored wasabi coated soybeans, beautiful and delicious dried, crunchy beets, spicy chick peas, a wide selection of nuts both raw and flavored. Gorgeous beans and pastas. Beautiful aromatic spices, a generous selection of the most beautiful tea blends. Read More
50+ Restaurants & Events for Easter in CT 2019 Features Holiday Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 14, 2019 Easter in Sunday April 21 and Connecticut restaurants are celebrating with prix fixe menus, spring inspired entrees, brunch buffets, and traditional dinners. If you’re planning to eat out and haven’t made a reservation yet, you’ll want to hop to it… these meals fill up quickly! Here are 50+ restaurants with Easter specials so you can dine out with some-bunny special.Community Table, Washington: Chef Paul Pearson has created a special Easter menu to celebrate the holiday and the beginning of spring at Community Table in Washington. Join them on Sunday April 21.Artisan, Fairfield & Hartford: On Easter Sunday, Artisan, with locations in Southport and Hartford, will serve a 3 course meal for $65 per person. Reservations are required and can be made at artisansouthport.com.Millwright’s, Simsbury: Millwrights will offer a 3 course Easter Brunch Prix Fixe meal, which will cost $59 for adults $29 for children under 12. Entrees include Lobster Cake Benedict, Ham, Spring Lamb, Gnocchi, and more.Hub and Spoke, Bridgeport: On Saturday April 20, Hub & Spoke hosts Easter breakfast with the Easter Bunny! This special event lasts from 9am-12pm. Read More
Smokin' Hops Brewfest by Bears Restaurant Group April 20th Features Festival CT Beer Stephanie Webster April 13, 2019 On April 20, visit Hartford for the Smokin' Hops Brewfest 2019, presented by Bear’s Restaurant Group . A ticket includes a Smokin’ Hops Brewfest Commemorative Tasting glass, tasting of 40+ beers from 12 local breweries, tasting of an exclusive small batch beer brewed for the festival by Alvarium Beer Co., and live music by Hartford’s own, Boo-Yah. Buy tickets here. The event benefits Knox, Inc, a community-building organization that plants 500- 1,000 trees each year, maintains 20 community gardens, supports 6 urban farmers, trains young adults in landscaping, provides environmental education, and beautifies Hartford’s parks and green spaces. Read More
Ratatouille & Co. Caterers Provides Skill Sets & Menu of Opportunity For Immigrant Women Features Catering Entertaining CTbites Team April 12, 2019 Orchestrating stylish and sophisticated catered events throughout Fairfield County and New York that incorporate great food and thoughtful service is what has earned Ratatouille & Co. Catering their great reputation. The mission of this innovative catering company, however, goes beyond canapes and silver trays. Ratatouille and Company use the power of the culinary arts and the hospitality industry to empower women to learn a skill set they can use on their road to independence and success. Read More
Mystic Market Opens in Westport w/ Gourmet, Ready To Go Prepared Meals Features Specialty Market Westport To-Go Take Out Prepared Food Homepage Jessica Ryan April 09, 2019 With successful locations in Old Saybrook, Mystic and Noank, Mystic Market traveled down the coast to Fairfield County and recently opened its doors in Westport on Charles Street, not too far from the train station. The spacious interior features reclaimed lumber, steel and white subway tile which give it an airy, modern urban vibe. The eatery specializes in gourmet, ready to go pre-prepared meals all which are made in-house. For those preferring not to eat on the road, a generously sized café space offers a welcoming environment to for friends to meet up for a cup of coffee and a delicious, warm, freshly baked sweet treat. Read More
Chef Dan Kardos Launches Flaco Taco Truck...$4 Menu (+ Lobster Roll) Restaurant Food Truck Mexican Tacos Lobster Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster April 07, 2019 Chef Dan Kardos (Liberty Rock Tavern, Oar & Oak) is rolling out something new for CT taco (and lobster) lovers. Kardos has bought himself another truck, and this time we’re talking tacos. Flaco Taco is the name, and Kardos is in the process of getting it ready for the summer season. The truck will be serving up $4 tacos and some tasty sides…but wait, there’s more…there will also be an epically delicious $24 Lobster roll (ya know…just ‘cuz). Let’s talk about them tacos. CTbites have seen a preliminary menu, and Kardos admits things may change by June, but here is the basic situation. Tacos range from Crispy Fish with spicy slaw and lime, to Southern Fried Chicken with buttermilk ranch, and Braised Beef Shank with spicy tahini. Yes please. Sides will likely include classics such as street corn, Guac’ and his famous watermelon and cucumber salad (think Liberty Rock Truck). Read More
Nibble: Delicious & Boozy CT Food Events for April 7-14 Features Events News Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 07, 2019 Join Chopped Champion and Co-Founder of The Secret Ingredient Girls, Silvia Baldini, on April 10 at The Perfect Provenance to invigorate your meals in this 3 part course. Boost your kitchen skills and gain an instant repertoire of wholesome, fresh and delicious back to basics meals that are perfect for family and weekend. At Copps Island Oysters, learn how to shuck an oyster from the masters themselves! You'll learn about shucking safety, different knives to use, oyster anatomy, shucking techniques, pea crabs, and some delicious easy recipes. Join them on Saturdays from 2-4pm. Stew Leonard’s in Danbury hosts its 16th Annual Egg-Stravaganza on April 11. Children will be given a map of Stew Leonard’s and a bag to collect eggs. Stew Leonard’s famous costumed characters – including Clover the Cow, Cynthia Chick, and Daphne Duck – will be available to take pictures with children at the end of the Egg Hunt. Two lucky children will win the Egg Hunt’s grand prizes: a $50 gift card to the LEGO Store or a $50 gift card to Pottery Factory. Read More
Stew Leonard's Celebrates 50 Years with Special Events, Deals & Storewide Fun Features Events Stephanie Webster April 05, 2019 Starting on April 3, family owned and operated Stew Leonard’s marks its 50th anniversary with a calendar of events designed to celebrate with the store’s shoppers, Team Members, and local farmers. The celebration will culminate on November 30, 2019 with a party honoring the store’s golden anniversary as well as the 90th birthday of store founder Stew Leonard, Sr.Every month from April through November, customers will enjoy special pricing, in-store demos and more while Team Members and vendors will be spotlighted and thanked for their contributions to making Stew Leonard’s a fun and fresh place to shop for 50 years. Read More
Beer... It's Not Just For Beer Drinkers Anymore: Meet The Brut IPA Features Friday Froth Beer CT Beer James Gribbon April 05, 2019 Beer: it's not just for beer drinkers anymore. Seriously. New or casual drinkers can steer themselves safely away from anything resembling what would have been considered an actual beer even five or six years ago, and still be paralyzed with overwhelming options. Wine drinker? There's a chance I've already converted you through the deft application of a gose made with grapes, or a raspberry lambic. Are most beers too: bland/malty/hoppy/bitter, or sour for you? No problem! Because brewers can load your pint with so much lactose they call it a milkshake, and you can drink actual donuts. That's between you and your pancreas.Brut IPAs - the actual champagne of beers - are a very new, entirely American style. They're sweet and dry, beginning to show up all over the place, and I thought this week I'd do an explainer and review a few brewers' early efforts. Drinkers of the bubbly, drinkers of the murky, and Connecticut craft beer fans in general: you may just be about to have a new summer fling. Read More
Recipe: Zaragoza's Mixologist, Christine Short, Makes A Bobby Burns Cocktail Features Recipe Recipe Video Recipe Cocktails Education Kristin L. Wolfe April 04, 2019 Here's Christine Short from Zaragoza's in New Milford giving us a very smooth and silky Scotch Cocktail called the "Bobby Burns." This special drink is named after beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns, who is most notable for the poem which now makes up the lyrics for our favorite New Year's ditty, Auld Lang Syne. Short was recently a finalist for the CRAZIES Awards as Best Bartender in Connecticut, sponsored by the Connecticut Restaurant Association. and just one of five nominated in the state. Cheers! Read More
A Lesson In Sustainable Seafood: Rowayton Seafood & Copps Island Oysters Features Seafood Sustainable Norwalk Events Rowayton Local Farm Local Artisan Jessica Ryan April 03, 2019 Last week I had the privilege of attending a truly wonderful and informative dinner at Wakeman Town Farm on the importance of sustainable seafood. We first heard from Norm Bloom of Copp’s Island Oysters, followed by Kevin Conroy, owner of The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood and the Rowayton Seafood Fish Market. He was joined by Chef Charles Hoffman the restaurant’s executive chef who prepared a most memorable meal. The Blooms have been in the oyster business since the 1940s and currently operate one of the last standing traditional oyster farms in the United States. Norm Bloom and Son is a fourth generation family-owned farm that prides itself on high quality, consistent and sustainable products. They have a fleet of 15 boats and their dedicated crew harvests oysters and clams year round from the deep, cold, and nutrient-rich waters along the coast of Connecticut. Read More
And The Winner of the Bar Sugo Cocktail Naming Contest Is... Features News Giveaway Stephanie Webster April 02, 2019 Congratulations to Jen Kozak who came up with the winning name for the Bar Sugo Cocktail Naming Contest: Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica. This hilarious reference to “The Office” can now be found at Bar Sugo in Norwalk, alongside some damn fine Italian food. Stay tuned for our next cocktails naming contest… Read More
BLT Bridgestreet Libations & Temptations: NOT a Sandwich Joint Restaurant New Hartford Hartford Burgers Sandwich Lunch Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe March 31, 2019 Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday B L TTTT, Happy Birthday to You. Guess who’s been on the block for a year already?Ok, close your eyes. When I say Willy Wonka, what do you see? I see Gene Wilder’s crazy hair and wild eyes, amidst the bright colors of the funky psychedelic clothes of the 60s and 70s. Well, beyond that, Willy Wonka represents a fantasy where all your favorite things appear right before your eyes and everything flavorful is heightened to the nth degree. Am I right? Well, this is a little of what is in store for you at Chef Jim Casey’s haven, BLT (Bridgestreet, Libations & Temptations). It’s a mouthful of a name, but this place is worth your time, money, and palate. The casual brick exterior and extra low key vibe inside is a facade for the eating extravaganza you encounter on your plate. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of March 31-April 7 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 31, 2019 On Monday April 1, Amis Trattoria in Westport hosts a Wine Dinner with French Winery Domaine Chante Cigale. Guests will get the chance to meet the vineyards winemaker, Jean Yves, while enjoying a 4-course meal created by Culinary Director, Brad Spence, paired with wines and homemade limoncello crafted by the Amis team. Oyster Club in Mystic invites you to a Panel Discussion entitled “Women's Work: In the Field” on Tuesday, April 2 from 6-7:30pm. Join them and celebrate remarkable women who are growing and producing food in our region. Enjoy a farm-inspired cocktail and sample tastes from the land and the sea from women growers and chefs. On April 4, Artisan West Hartford will be joined by Edrington Whiskey Representative Jeremy Fonicello for an evening of Macallan Whiskey. Dishes include Hazelnut Crusted Rack of Lamb, Whisky Flambe Maryland Rock Shrimp, Molten Lava Cake, and more. The event starts at 6:30 and tickets are $100 per person. Flinders Lane Kitchen & Bar will be hosting 'Symphony Uncorked' in collaboration with the Stamford Symphony Orchestra on April 3rd, from 6.30 - 9..30. Musicians will play two pieces of music whilst we pour Australian wines from smaller, boutique producers. Read More
NEW CTbites Hot Dish Podcast: Chefs Bill Taibe & Dan Kardos Features Interview Chef Talk Interview Podcast Stephanie Webster March 28, 2019 Two of CT's leading chefs, and long time colleagues, Bill Taibe & Dan Kardos, discuss what it takes to stay at the top of their game. Host Marysol Castro explores what it takes to maintain their sanity, life in the kitchen, how social media has changed the restaurant business, and what they want their guests to know when they dine at their restaurants. Listen here! Read More
Guide To Kids Cooking Camps & Classes in Connecticut for 2019 Features Cooking Cooking Classes kids cooking party Kids kids activity Summer Camp April Guilbault March 28, 2019 Hot summer days and you don’t feel like cooking. The stove, oven, even the grill…it’s all so hot. But hold on a minute there, maybe *you* don’t have to! With a little foresight (read: now), your kids can learn to cook this summer, get inspired and whoa-oh, looks who’s not in the kitchen anymore?! Beyond your parental joy, though, kids will enjoy learning cooking skills, whipping up some pretty cool menus from around the globe and even having a cooking competition or two just to test their mettle. Just be sure to sign up your aspiring chefs soon, these classes and camps fill up quicker than hot grease will jump out of a pan! Read More
Shake Shack Launches "Chick'n Bites"… A Better Nugget Features Burgers Westport New Haven Fast Casual To-Go Take Out Kid Friendly CTbites Team March 26, 2019 Shake Shack released their brand new Chick’n Bites nationwide on March 1st, and so far they’ve proven to be an incredibly popular menu item. But don’t call them nuggets! Customers refer to them as chicken nuggets, which implies that the meat is grotesquely blended and not 100% chicken. Shake Shack purposefully diverged from this label and meat process to brand their bites as a cleaner, more pure option. I was very interested in the testing process of the Chick’n Bites. I spoke with Mike Maver, the General Manager of the Westport location, who gave me some insight into the Shake Shack lab located on the lower west side of Manhattan. The Shake Shack culinary team brainstorms recipes for the Chick’n Bites and guest chefs come in to give their two cents. The team sells different versions to consumers and then receives feedback. After a long drumroll, the Chick’n Bites are finally here. Read More
Mama Chow Asian Street Food Opens in Southport...And It's Delicious! Restaurant Asian Vietnamese Japanese Southport Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick March 24, 2019 Something I struggle with living in Norwalk is having a go-to Asian spot for a quick lunch or affordable takeout. There are plenty of neighborhood Chinese restaurants but they’re mostly mediocre, and I haven’t liked any of them since Red Bean sold their business. Ever since they took their American General Tso’s chicken (and actual Asian specialties) out of my life, I’ve been lost, searching for something halfway decent, even branching out to nearby towns out of desperation.Cue a Southport newbie, Mama Chow, that’s been open for barely three weeks. I heard about it from CTbites Boss Lady, Stephanie Webster, who sang its praises and insisted I try it. Damn, was she ever on the money with this one. Mama Chow is a fast-casual Asian street food concept featuring popular grub from Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam. Read More
