Foxwoods 4th Annual Food & Wine Festival Road Trip Restaurant Events Wine Chat Amy Kundrat October 14, 2010
Ninety+Cellars: Premium Wine for Less Ingredients Features Wine Chat Deanna Foster October 12, 2010 Most of us like name brand products - especially when it comes to food. How often do we drive to different grocery stores to buy our favorite coffee or coveted snack item? Occasionally, I’m tempted to buy a store brand or private label option, attracted by the value and the hope it will taste as good as the name brand I trust, but past disappointments make me skeptical, and more often than not, I move on to the usual suspects to fill my market basket. I admit, my brand loyalties run deep, so I was particularly skeptical when CTbites decided to review 4 bottles of a new discount wine, branded under the label Ninety+Cellars. Yes, images of another Two Buck Chuck sprang to mind, but after our tasting and some research, I am convinced that the Ninety+Cellars is a distinctive label in its own right and it is now available in CT. Read More
Skillet Eggs & Potatoes from "The Parsley Thief" Kids Bites Features Recipe Breakfast Kid Friendly katie vitucci October 07, 2010 Katie Vitucci is a Norwalk resident and the Founder of The Parsley Thief, a blog about food and family. When I was a child, my grandmother's fried potatoes were one of my most favorite things in the world. She cooked them in a cast iron skillet, with nothing else but some oil, until they were perfectly crisped. Then, she would fry an egg on top. Whenever I wasn't feeling well, this is what she would make me...the ultimate comfort food. I recently made some for my kids. They are not potato fans...but, they do like french fries & these are so crispy, they don't taste like typical home fries, which sometimes have a mushy texture. They taste like french fries. They loved them!! So, this has become one of our "Breakfast for Dinner" options. This dish can be modified to suit your taste. Add some garlic, onion, bell or hot peppers...anything. I highly recommend using a cast iron skillet, as it does such a great job of browning the potatoes. Skillet Eggs & Potatoes Read More
This Week In Wine: Dierberg Chardonnay Ingredients Features This Week In Wine Kathleen Hall October 06, 2010 The Dierberg winery is located in the Santa Maria Valley, the northern-most wine appellation in Santa Barbara County in Central California. The Valley tends to be cool and foggy with breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean, resulting in a gentle ripening of the grapes. Fermenting the wine in larger oak barrels – as opposed to smaller oak barriques -- enables the wood flavors to become well-integrated without becoming heavy-handed. Dierberg Chardonnay is a perfect example of the shift in California winemaking towards a more restrained use of oak in Chardonnay. Flavors of golden pear, lemon custard, vanilla and warm spices. Read More
This Week @ The Westport Farmer's Market: Chef Nicole Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Liz Rueven October 05, 2010 Chef Nicole Straight will present two autumnal dishes to shoppers at the Westport Farmers Market on Thursday October 7th, between 10-2. Balsamic macerated figs with sweetened ricotta (recipe below) is a welcome alternative to baked fruit desserts at this time of year. Straight’s simple and flavorful preparation is assembled in two easy steps. She allows plump, glossy figs to be front and center, accented by the creaminess of sweetened, whole milk ricotta. Her second presentation will be a fall twist on bruschetta. Now that tomato season has sadly wained, Straight concocts an equally appetizing combo of eggplant, apples, butternut squash and onions with honey, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, cayenne and paprika. She hits all of the taste buds in this colorful and nutrient packed assemblage of the season’s highlights. The chef will source all of her veggies, onions, honey and figs from the market that morning. She often turns to SONO BAKING CO. for her bread and will use their baguettes to support her veggie laden topping on Thursday. Read More
Reheated: This Week's Top Food News in CT & Beyond Features Restaurant News Amy Kundrat October 05, 2010 Reheated is a weekly round-up of bite-sized food news in Connecticut and beyond. In Connecticut... Plan your meals around SoNo restaurant week now through October 8. Info CTbites.com SoNo Chef Shootout at Clarke Showroom on Oct. 7. Via CTbites. The Westport Food Revolution hosts a Green Halloween costume swap at Whole Foods Market in Westport on Thursday. Oct 7th. Info. GreenHalloween.org The 5th annual Harvest Tasting fundraiser on Oct. 9 featuring 60 wines at Darien's Equinox Club. Via. NicholasRoberts. Author Coleman Andrews will be speaking in CT Oct 8 @ RJ Julia in Madison, Oct. 14 @ New Canaan Library & Oct 28 @ Old Greenwich Library. Read More
Bobby Flay Is Coming To Stew's Ingredients Features Cookbooks Events Stephanie Webster October 04, 2010 ARE YOU READY FOR A THROWDOWN? Meet bestselling author and Food Network royalty, Bobby Flay, at Stew Leonard's on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 a.m. WHAT: Bobby Flay, bestselling author and Food Network star, will greet fans and sign his brand new cookbook, BOBBY FLAY’S THROWDOWN! More Than 100 Recipes from Food Network’s Ultimate Cooking Challenge at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk Saturday, October 30 starting at 11:00 a.m. Twenty lucky fans will win a reserved place at the front of the line to have their book signed. Fans can submit their entries online or the ballot box at any of the Stew Leonard’s stores in Norwalk, Danbury, Yonkers, and Newington. Read More
Great Gear: Navigating The Cook’s Nook Ingredients Features Kitchen Gear Norwalk Specialty Market Deanna Foster October 01, 2010 The Cook’s Nook in Norwalk couldn’t be more aptly named. Twisting through its adjoining rooms, filled to capacity, brings you from one alcove and surprising find to another. As you step into the door, you are faced with a navigation decision: the room straight ahead or to the right? It’s not the last time you’re made to choose, but take heart, there are no bad choices here. Like being lost in the streets of Paris, winding your way from one enchanting street to the next, your shopping experience is more adventure than errand. Read More
CTbites Shout Out: What's Your Favorite Cookbook? Ingredients Features CTbites Shout Out Stephanie Webster September 26, 2010
Chef Nicole: Chicken w/ Wine, Mushrooms & Pine Nuts Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Nicole Straight September 23, 2010 Chef Nicole Straight of Time To Eat! is back with another great solution to the weeknight dinner dilemma. So many mouths to feed...so little time. Here is a great one pan recipe that the kids can help prepare (if they're done with their homework). Enjoy this quick and easy recipe for Chicken With White Wine, Mushrooms & Pine Nuts. Read More
This Week In Wine: Jelu Pinot Noir Ingredients Features This Week In Wine Kathleen Hall September 22, 2010 Jelu Pinot Noir is from the Patagonia region in Argentina. Patagonia may be better known for its majestic mountain range than for wine growing, but the cool climate found here is especially suited to the fickle Pinot Noir grape. The Jelu vineyards are located at high elevation which enables the grapes grown there to retain their bright acidity and supple fruit flavors as they slowly ripen. Medium-bodied with flavors of black cherry, ripe raspberry and a hint of savory herb. Smooth tannins and fresh acidity makes this wine simple but satisfying Read More
Reheated: This Week's Top Food News in CT & Beyond Ingredients Road Trip Restaurant News Amy Kundrat September 21, 2010 Reheated is a twice-weekly round-up of bite-sized food news in Connecticut and beyond. In Connecticut... Don't miss this week's Westport Farmers Market will feature chefs Bill Taibe (leFarm), Nancy Roper (Boxcar Cantina) and Jeff Northrop (Westport Aquaculture) in a market fundraiser. Info CTbites.com. Free scoop at participating Carvel stores this Thursday. Via Dining A La Carte. Tasti D-lite tops the list of several restaurant openings in Stamford. Via Stamford Notes. Save the date to drink for charity with Cans & Cocktails on Sept.29, a fundraiser in Stamford we'll be supporting. Info CTbites.com. Wednesday night wine tastings at Sarah's Wine Bar in Ridgefield. Via SarahsWineBar.com. Read More
Reheated: This Week's Top Food News [weekend edition] Road Trip Cookbooks Events News Amy Kundrat September 17, 2010 Reheated is a twice-weekly round-up of bite-sized food news in Connecticut and beyond. In Connecticut... Taste! Organic CT is this weekend in Manchester. Info www.CTbites.com/TasteOrganic Celebrate the local garlic harvest this weekend in Mystic. Info OldeMistickVillage.com. In nearby Stonington, you can also check out the Harvest Food & Wine Festival at Stonington Vineyards. Info StoningtonVineyards.com. A Family Garden Tour at Ambler Farm this Saturday. Info AmblerFarm.org. Bier, lederhosen and mountains of brats (the meat, not the kids). Celebrate Oktoberfest at The Old Heidelberg this weekend. Info RestaurantHeidelberg.com. The first annual Hamden Restaurant Week starts on the 20th. Info HamdenRestaurantWeek.com Read More
Food Writing 101: Write Your Appetite w/ Corinne Trang Features Asian Cooking Classes Education Stephanie Webster September 15, 2010 Want to learn how to write about food from an award-winning cookbook author? Corinne Trang has written numerous cookbooks & has been dubbed the "Julia Child of Asian cuisine." She has published in Food & Wine, Health, Cooking Light, and Saveur. If you ever wanted to write a cookbook, start a food blog, review a restaurant, or write a food memoir, join Corinne Trang for a FREE workshop on food writing. She'll guide you through your first short food piece starting with describing your favorite food, learning to create a recipe and a story around it. Space is limited, RSVP and be sure to bring your favorite fruit and vegetable! Thursday, Sept. 30th is Corinne's Free Workshop: "Write Your Appetite" @ 7:15pm, Writers' Room, 252 Post Road East, Westport. Read More
Road Trip: Spa Sampler @ The Mayflower Inn Road Trip Restaurant Holiday Manchester Road Trip Travel Margie Treisman September 15, 2010 Photos: Courtesy of The Mayflower InnMy husband and I recently had the chance to spend a day at the Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, CT. It was, in a word, sublime. It’s nestled in the Litchfield County countryside, with rolling hills, lush foliage and perfectly manicured gardens -- a New England picture-postcard paradise. The Inn itself is an elegant, magnificently maintained, five-star luxury spa resort. I could go on for hours about the place. But this is CTBites -- let’s talk about the food. Read More
Rosh Hashanah Recipes from Tabouli Grill Features Holiday Mediterranean Middle Eastern Recipe Stephanie Webster September 01, 2010 The Jewish holidays are around the corner, and with the kids just barely back to school, it seemed as though we could all use a little assist with the Rosh Hashanah menu this year. Next week? Really? Judy Roll of Tabouli Grill in Stamford has come to the rescue with three great recipes to fill out your holiday table. Here's what's on the menu: Cumin Roasted Cauliflower with Yellow Raisins and Toasted Pine Nuts, Bubbe’s Brisket, and Kasha Varnishke. If you really just don't feel like cooking, Tabouli Grill is also happy to do the work for you as you can see in their Rosh Hashanah Package below. Read More
Get Cooking With Aux Delices Ingredients Features Cooking Classes Stamford Liz Rueven August 27, 2010 Summer Comfort Food was the theme of the class I recently attended at Aux Delices’ Cooking School in their commissary kitchen in Stamford. As we are smack in the middle of this steaming season, I was happy to be invited to relax, observe and learn something new about how to prepare summer dishes, utilizing the season’s bounty. Aux Delices has retail store locations, all with seating, in Darien, Riverside and Greenwich. The shops offer owner/Chef Debra Ponzek’s culinary creations of prepared foods and a unique collection of specialty food items. Their name translates as “all the delicious food in life,” and considering their choices of scrumptious take out items, private and corporate catering offerings, and classes at their cooking school, the name is certainly apt. Read More
Last Chance For That New England Crab Boil Features Seafood Michael von August 24, 2010 Photo of kids: c/o Mike Von Wahlde, mvwstudio.comRecently, a CTbites reader, Mike Von Wahlde, commented on our Beach Picnic Shoutout, posting this hilarious and informative rant/recipe extolling the pros and cons of the Classic New England Crab Boil. It was too good not to repost, and with the summer winding down, why not celebrate our last days of outdoor cooking with this quintessential culinary experience? Nothing says “I live in the North East” like mollusks and crustaceans swimming in a boiling pot in the yard or on the beach. The classic New England boil is the best thing going for large group gatherings if your picnic area allows for propane. You say "Of course, they're great, but..." But what? Why you gotta be so afraid of everything? Let's look at the pros and cons. Read More
Shout Out: What's Your Most Essential Kitchen Gadget? Features CTbites Shout Out Kitchen Gear Stephanie Webster August 21, 2010
Chef Nicole: Salmon Nicoise Salad w/ Dijon Vinaigrette Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Nicole Straight August 18, 2010 Nicoise salad has always been one of my favorite salads. The classic combination of textures and flavors is ideal for any lunch gathering with friends. Although the standard preparation calls for seared tuna, I like to change things up by occasionally and go with salmon atop my bed o' greens. Using salmon is an easy way to add delicious lean protein to your diet while getting Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins B-12. This salad is surprisingly easy to make but the finished product will have you looking like you've been in the kitchen for hours. Read More
