Norwalk's Best Kept Secret: Magic 5 Pie Co. Makes Sicilian Style Pizza Ingredients Interview Restaurant Pizza Limited Pizzeria Norwalk Ingredients Interview Sicilian Pizza Andrew Dominick August 27, 2025 I can’t put my finger on exactly when it was or where I first saw it, but early in 2025, I spotted a pizza at Magic 5 Pie Co. that left me both curious and confused. Known for their charred, crispy/chewy, light artisan pizza, I noticed a different shape. This one wasn’t round like their everyday pies. It was square. Later in the year while chatting with one of Magic 5’s owners, Shawn Longyear, who co-owns the pizzeria, along with The Spread, and El Segundo with Christopher Rasile, Andrey Cortes, and Chris Hickey, I couldn’t help but ask about it. Read More
Bartender Sam Reyes + Mariposa Taqueria Launch Cocktail Pop Up El Jardín Events Ingredients Interview Restaurant Cocktail Pop Up Danbury cocktails Bartender Pop-Up Homepage Andrew Dominick August 25, 2025 Audrey Hepburn once had a quote about gardens, where she stated: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Sam Reyes is thinking about and believing in cocktail culture for tomorrow and a lot of tomorrows that will follow. Ever since Reyes (Mariposa Taqueria’s co-owner/bartender) captured a statewide award in 2023, specifically, a Connecticut Restaurant Association CRAZIES win for Bartender of the Year, he’s taken that W and he’s run with it. Read More
Chef Nick Martschenko Opens Second SE Uncorked in Redding Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant SE Uncorked Redding Georgetown Gastropub Cocktails Burger Interview Bar Opening Andrew Dominick August 13, 2025 Right before New Canaan’s SE Uncorked celebrated its 10-year anniversary, chef – owner Nick Martschenko opened a shiny new sequel of his popular gastropub concept at the end of June in the Georgetown section of Redding. “I knew the area because initially, we looked in Redding for South End, but that idea folded,” Martschenko says. “All these years later, we’re here with Uncorked. Ryan Kundrat helped get me into this place (on Main Street). We wanted it to be this pubby sort of vibe, but you can see it’s a little different in the dining room. It’s still much like the original Uncorked.” Read More
Don't Miss "Reflections of a Summer in Kent at Ore Hill" Dinner August 23rd Events Features Events Pop-Up Dinner CTbites Team August 07, 2025 "Escape to Ore Hill, an intimate, seasonally driven restaurant set in a beautifully restored 18th century farmhouse in idyllic Litchfield County. Executive Chef Ryan Carbone presents a summer tasting menu, featuring the bountiful produce, dairy, and heritage Randall beef from partner Rock Cobble Farm. Prior to returning to his native Connecticut to helm the kitchen at Ore Hill, Chef Ryan was Chef de Cuisine with James Beard Award Winner Debbie Gold in Chicago, then at Jupiter, the second restaurant from the team of the celebrated restaurant King in NYC. Supporting Chef Ryan at Ore Hill and the adjacent casual Tavern Swyft, is Culinary Director and multiple James Beard Award semifinalist® Tyler Anderson, who will be on hand in the kitchen for this exclusive experience.Reflections of a Summer in Kent at Ore Hill is part of the Friends of James Beard Benefit series; events hosted by generous people, businesses, and organizations outside of JBF that provide critical funding for our programs. Each event supports our mission to champion a standard of Good Food for Good® anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability." Read More
Renowned and Michelin Recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao Opens in Stamford Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Nan Xiang Nan Xiang soup dumplings Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao Stamford Chinese Homepage soup dumplings Dim Sum Interview Opening Andrew Dominick July 23, 2025 From Flushing, New York, Michelin Guide recommended soup dumplings have made their way to the cluster of restaurants outside of the Stamford Town Center. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, a growing Shanghainese micro chain, held its soft opening and introduction to Connecticut at the beginning of June as part of its expansion that includes locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Georgia, Chicago, and soon, again, in our general area when they open in White Plains. Read More
Dogtown Opens Second Location in Bethel With Killer Comfort Food Menu Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Bethel Dogtown Hot Dogs Burgers Fast Casual Interview Opening Andrew Dominick July 10, 2025 Four years ago, when I first covered Bobby Manere’s Dogtown in Milford—where Cali-inspired fast casual and a little bits of his dad’s lower Fairfield County famous Swanky Franks meet—he talked about wanting to open a Dogtown sequel. That time is now, and Bethel, you’re the lucky recipient. Manere broke the Bethel news on my friend, Jeff Spencer’s Sweet’N Up Podcast, when he was a guest alongside Kyle Marcoux, aka, The Vulgar Chef. Read More
Ridgefield Couple Opens Flobee's Featuring Southern Roadside Eats Features Ingredients Ice Cream Interview Restaurant Roadside Eats Southern Food Fast Casual Ice Cream Ridgefield Homepage Interview Burgers Andrew Dominick June 25, 2025 Nadia Blair has fond memories of being a passenger in her parent’s car driving from Katonah through the charming town of Ridgefield to go visit her grandparents in New Haven. She’d constantly bother her mom with “Why can’t we live there?” questions to be told that the reason is because it’s “too far away from the highway.” Spring ahead decades later and Nadia, along with her chef husband Aaron, don’t only live in Ridgefield, but they’ve opened a restaurant where southern eats meet roadside New England charm, named after Aaron’s mother, Florence. Read More
Hartford Taste Returns with 30+ Restaurants, Music & Conversation Features Events Events CTbites Team May 21, 2025 Downtown Hartford will be teeming with live music and an eclectic variety of local cuisine by restaurateurs in the region as the city welcomes back Hartford Taste, presented by The Hartford, Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, on Pratt and Trumbull streets. The 2025 event will feature more than 35 restaurants, 30 musical acts, live visual art and a brand-new cultural stage experience called The Kitchen Table – Good Food & Good Conversation, where chefs, mixologists and creatives will share live demonstrations, storytelling and interactive dialogue about what food and culture mean in Hartford today.The Hartford is the presenting sponsor for the third year in a row and will continue to cover all vendor fees, allowing restaurants and food businesses to participate at no cost. Read More
It’s A Woman’s World: Genee Habansky of Herbaceous Catering Co. Ingredients Interview It's A Woman's World Caterer Catering Farm To Table Interview Andrew Dominick May 13, 2025 Since 2014, Genee Habansky’s Herbaceous Catering Co. has made the rounds all over. Catering, sure, but you’ve most likely come across her, if not at a private party, then it’s been at an event somewhere in Fairfield County (and beyond). If not there, then maybe you’ve picked up her food at the Westport Farmers Market where Herbaceous is a steady vendor. Habansky’s philosophy when it comes to her catering business is all about caring for the environment, plus, seasonality, locality, and super fresh as it pertains to ingredients she uses, something she became passionate about, first, at culinary school, then at Paul Newman’s The Dressing Room and her other stints at places like Pagano’s Seafood, Heirloom, Walrus + Carpenter, and Centro. Read More
Menu Highlight: Kawa Ni in Westport Introduces "The Katsu Burger" Ingredients Interview Restaurant Kawa Ni Westport Japanese Burger Andrew Dominick May 09, 2025 Chris Gonzalez is never surprised when people (including me) bring up Hapa Food Truck, specifically THAT burger. You know the one. Juicy grass-fed beef, a thick strip of tender pork belly, ultra caramelized onions, Vermont cheddar, lettuce and tomato, all between an eye catching purple ube bun. Admit it. You miss it. But those days are gone and these days are now. Gonzalez, now the chef at Kawa Ni, has, along with owner Bill Taibe, created another show stopper of a burger that’ll have you talking. That is, if you can get your hands on one. Read More
Celebrate Shelton Announces Food Trucks on the River (sponsored post) Events Features Events EVENT Food Truck Live Music Shelton CTbites Team May 06, 2025 Celebrate Shelton, a private city-wide initiative in its 11th year is thrilled to announce Food Trucks on the River, and several exciting community collaborations. Food Trucks on the River, an exciting two-day festival will take place on Friday, May 30th, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, and Saturday, May 31st, from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Shelton. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is set for Sunday, June 1st. Read More
TIX On Sale! CHEFS ON STAGE at The AMP: Chefs Brian Lewis & Damon Sawyer Events Features Events Stephanie Webster May 05, 2025 CTbites & The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater are excited to announce a NEW DINNER SERIES taking place ON STAGE this Summer. The first event will be held on June 7th at 6PM, with James Beard Nominee CHEF BRIAN LEWIS of The Cottage & OKO alongside CRAZIES “Chef Of The Year” Finalist CHEF DAMON SAWYER of 29 Markle Court. These chefs will be creating a very special dinner for ONLY 150 guests!GET YOUR TICKETS HERE Tickets are $175pp.The evening will include 4 courses of extraordinary food, live music, cocktails, wine & the unique experience of dining on the same stage on which your favorite band has performed.All proceeds will benefit FILLING IN THE BLANKS, the Norwalk based organization that fights childhood hunger. Read More
Inaugural Taste of SoNo Event On May 22nd To Benefit CT Foodshare (sponsored post) Events Features Events CTbites Team April 28, 2025 Join Anna and Raven of Star 99.9 & CT Foodshare for the Inaugural Taste of SoNo on May 22nd.Taste of SoNo will feature a curated lineup of Fairfield County’s best restaurants and drink purveyors. Proceeds from the event benefit Connecticut Foodshare and help fight food insecurity across the state. Taste of SoNo will include a silent auction, premium cocktails, live demonstrations, and live entertainment. The event is hosted by Anna and Raven of Star 99.9. Event Details: Date: Thursday, May 22nd Time: VIP session begins at 6PM and general admission is at 7PM Location: The SoNo Collection (Magnificent Room), 100 North Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 Tickets are available now! Get your General Admission or VIP tickets today at: donate.ctfoodshare.org/sono Read More
Guide To Kentucky Derby Events & Parties in Connecticut (2025 Edition) Events Features Kentucky Derby Events Homepage Carly Terzigni April 25, 2025 Are you ready for the most exciting two minutes in sports? The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 3, and TVs will be tuned in at restaurants across the state. Whether you’re looking for a spot to catch the race with friends or you want an all-out extravaganza where you can sport your favorite fascinator, there’s a Derby event in Connecticut for you! Check out the restaurants and businesses below that are hosting special events for the Derby. Keep in mind that the post time is just after 6:50 PM – don’t miss it! Read More
Dippin Chicken Opens in East Norwalk with Fast Casual Korean Fried Chicken Features Ingredients Restaurant Korean Fried Chicken Korean Fast Casual Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Norwalk Interview Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick April 15, 2025 Fast casual fried chicken is a hot craze that’s seemingly not cooling off anytime soon. Haven Hot Chicken, Birdcode Hot Chicken, the new to Connecticut Dave’s Hot Chicken, and smaller spots like Stamford’s Cwispy Chicken are proof of that. But even newer to the coop is Dippin Chicken in East Norwalk where Korean fried chicken is their menu’s centerpiece. Read More
Two Roads Brewing Company Launches Dinner Pairing Series- A New Brewery Experience Events Features Brewery Ingredients Interview Tasting Menu Brewery Two Roads Brewing Company Craft Beer Spirits Distillery Interview Homepage Stratford Beer Andrew Dominick March 20, 2025 If you’ve followed the evolution of Two Roads Brewing Company, it’s quite something. Since the main brewery opened in 2012, one thing they kept doing is continuing to evolve. Not including a laundry list of beer releases, Two Roads went onto open a second facility next to their Hop Yard six years ago that you now know as Area Two Experimental Brewing. Following Area Two and all their fun, funky small batch drops, and in no particular order, Two Roads got into making canned cocktails, non-alcoholic beer, distilling (we’ll have a few teasers on that), and they even purchased the former PizzaCo across the street and turned it into Two Roads Food Hall & Bar and next door, Two Roads Tee Box, a golf simulator, making it a full-blown “campus.” Read More
A Family Biz: Sly Bandit Brewing Company with Full Service Restaurant Opens in Wilton Brewery Ingredients Features Craft Beer Wilton Homepage Interview Brewery Sly Bandit Brewing Family Friendly Opening Beer Andrew Dominick March 18, 2025 When a homebrewing hobby runs in the family, it’s only proper to open a brewery, isn’t it? That’s at least what happened in the Guda Family, whose brewery, Sly Bandit, may have caught your eye while on Route 7 in Wilton near the Norwalk line. Owned by Dave, who’s retired from the information technology world, Wendy, a former New Cannan High School math teacher who still teaches at CT State Community College Norwalk, and their son, Mike, who left his job as a market research executive to brew beer full time. Read More
It’s a Woman’s World: Danielle LeBlanc of Cloudy Lane Bakery Ingredients Features It's A Woman's World Cookies Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Bakery Interview Andrew Dominick March 12, 2025 One sunny day in Bethel, I was interviewing Sara Oberhammer at her spot, Soulber Kitchen & Market, over lunch, smoothies, and at least one caffeinated beverage. That’s when a smiling face burst through the door with a cookie delivery. Dani LeBlanc and I met ever so briefly, but right after she left, Sara said, “Have you had her cookies?” Read More
CSA's in Connecticut Are Open for the 2025 Season: Get Your Farm Share NOW! Features Ingredients CSA Farm Share Farms Shopping Guide Local Farm Homepage Amy S. White March 11, 2025 In a world of commercial food production and global supply chains, many people are looking for a more sustainable, local, and community-driven alternative to sourcing their food. Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs connect local farmers with their neighboring consumers in a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters a stronger connection between people and their food. In a traditional CSA program, members become shareholders of the farm. They purchase a subscription or "share" in late winter or early spring, providing farmers with upfront financial support. In return, during harvest season, members receive regular distributions of fresh, seasonal produce, or other farm products like eggs, dairy, or meat, depending on the farm’s offerings. Some farms offer a more flexible CSA program that runs like an on-site credit, where members can choose their own products at the farm stand.Either system assists small-scale agricultural businesses financially by ensuring them a stable income and reducing their risk. In partnering with the farm, members gain access to the freshest produce and other farm products possible, get to know their local growers, and are able connect in a mindful way to where and how their food is grown. CSAs encourage sustainable agricultural practices, foster a sense of community, and help the local economy. Continue reading to connect with some of the farms offering CSAs across the state. Don’t hesitate to sign up, as they tend to fill up and sell out quickly. Read More
AM Coffee & Co. Opens in Southbury Ingredients Coffee Shop Coffee Interview Southbury Opening Andrew Dominick February 27, 2025 Less than a year ago, we covered Amanda Eng in our Q&A series, “It’s a Woman’s World,” with a focus on her coffee pop up, Kash & Liv Coffee Creations. Along with popping up all over the Newtown, Sandy Hook, and Danbury areas, Eng found a home as a coffee vendor inside of Uncle Matt’s Bakery and Cafe in the fall of 2023. Just over a year later, right before the holiday season, Eng teamed up with her customer-turned-friend, Meghan Jefts, to open a spot of their own. At AM Coffee & Co. in Southbury, Eng, a self-professed coffee nerd since she was 14, is continuing her coffee journey that saved her from corporate America. Read More
