WIN FREE TIX to Ruth Reichl & Sam Kass at Westport Public Library + Q&A With Moshe (Creator of FLEX Experiences) Features Events Giveaway Fairfield County Foodie March 10, 2018 Wanna WIN FREE TIX to meet culinary luminaries Ruth Reichl & Sam Kass at The Westport Public Library? We are giving away 1 ticket to enjoy celebrity lunch with Sam Kass, former Obama White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition ($150) and 2 tickets ($75) to hear a Q&A with gourmet guru Ruth Reichl. The former editor of Gourmet Magazine and best selling foodie author. TO WIN: Comment below and tell us why you need to attend these events.Find out more about the creator of Westport Library;'s new FLEX experiences in the Q&A With Moshe Aeylon below.. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of March 11-18 Features Events Wine Dinners Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 09, 2018 Two Roads Brewery in Stratford invites you to an “Open Roads Beer Dinner” on Monday March 12 at 6pm. Christie Caters- Farm to Table Catering will provide tasty food and each course will be paired with an 8oz pour of a Two Roads brew. The menu theme is "Around the World.” In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Artisinal Burger Company in Manchester will have an Irish whiskey dinner on March 14. Tickets are $65 per person. Aditi Goswami of Calcutta Kitchens will teach you how to make simple everyday Indian at Wakeman Town Farm on Thursday March 15. Learn to prepare a quick chicken curry, a vegetable curry, and rice pilafs. Don’t forget to BYOB! The class is limited to 16 and costs $65. Max Amore Restaurant in Glastonbury hosts An Italian Wine & Food Pairing Dinner featuring the wines of Di Majo Norante on Tuesday March 13. The evening will begin with a reception followed by a five course meal prepared by Chef David Stickney. It costs $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Read More
It’s a Woman’s World: Connecticut Female Culinary Influencers: Silvia Baldini Features Chef Talk Chef Best of CT Jeanne Muchnick March 08, 2018 The hospitality industry has always been cut-throat, especially for women, and more specifically for those behind the kitchen burners. Now that the gender conversation has exploded via the #MeToo movement, and with 2018 being proclaimed "The Year of the Woman," we at CT Bites choose to celebrate the influential and aspirational women among us. With March 8 marking International Women’s Day, this seemed like the perfect time to announce our new series "It's A Women's World" featuring Connecticut female influencers who’ve blazed their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.Whether farming the land, bringing healthy food to the masses, starting a public relations, gourmet foods or catering business or injecting feminism with food, these groundbreaking broads have set a new definition of women’s work, forging new paths and setting examples for those who follow.This week we’re starting at the top—with Top Chef Silvia Baldini of New Canaan’s Strawberry and Sage, the first female chef in Fairfield County to win “Chopped.” Read More
Local Ingredients: The Araucana Egg, A Wild Blue Wonder Features Ingredients Ingredients Local Farm Specialty Market Luke Shanahan March 06, 2018 Writer Luke Shanahan contemplates the virtues of a truly excellent fresh egg with Lloyd Allen of Double L Market. Consider the egg. Any serious cook knows its singular importance in the kitchen. Many cooks—serious and novice alike—remember the egg as the first thing they ever learned to cook. In the book The Next Course, rock-&-roller chef Marco Pierre White, who at 33 became the youngest cook ever to be awarded three Michelin stars, reveals his country side when he suggests that scrambled (gulls) eggs with celery salt served with mayonnaise—an emulsion of egg yolk, acid and oil—may be a worthy last meal on earth. (Here's a handy list of local CT farms that produce fresh eggs.) Read More
Culinary Corner Pub Crawl & Fundraiser in West Hartford: ARTISAN, FLORA, INDIA, The Cook and The Bear, and VINTED Features Events Stephanie Webster March 03, 2018 CTbites is excited to be a sponsor for the 2nd Culinary Corner Pub Crawl in West Hartford. Connecticut beer, wine, and cocktail enthusiasts can raise a glass for a good cause on Saturday, March 10th from 12-5pm at the 2nd West Hartford Culinary Corner Pub Crawl hosted by Eat IN Connecticut.The 2nd Culinary Corner Pub Crawl will help to raise funds for local charity, Johnny's Jog, an annual event that raises money for three local non-profit children's organizations. Enjoy FOOD SPECIALS in addition to 1/2 OFF DRINKS from 12-5PM at participating restaurants ARTISAN, FLORA, INDIA, The Cook and The Bear, and VINTED. The crawl will be an OPEN FORMAT event again where Pub Crawl participants can go to any of the 5 participating Culinary Corner restaurant locations in any order. Read More
Clarke Intros, Demos and Classes Bring Wolf Appliances to Life (sponsored post) Features Kitchen Gear CTbites Team March 02, 2018 For decades, New England homeowners would shop for appliances by walking down a line of different models and make their selections based almost entirely on price and aesthetics. All they knew about the operation or benefits of an oven or cooktop was what they could read in product signage and learn from talking to the salesperson.In the 1990s, Tom Clarke, founder of Clarke Distribution, changed all of that for Connecticut homeowners when he opened a Sub-Zero and Wolf showroom in South Norwalk. This Clarke Showroom not only won national awards for its extraordinary design, but also for offering homeowners the opportunity to cook on these appliances in order to make a much more educated buying decision. In fact, it is not unusual for a homeowner to make a Clarke Showroom appointment to bake her favorite pie or loaf of bread in multiple ovens to decide which model has the features and provides the results she desires. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week Of March 4- 11 Features Events News Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 02, 2018 During the month of March, Artisan Restaurant in Southport will feature “Bon Voyage Menus.” Chef Frederic Kieffer has created four menus highlighting four distinct global cuisines. First up- Italy from March 1-11! The prix fixe menu is $19 for lunch and $45 for dinner.Upgrade your Wednesday night out with Brasitas Stamford's five course dinner paired with Patron Tequila cocktails at their Tequila Tasting Dinner on Wednesday, March 7th at 6:30pm. $70 Per Person Plus Tax & Gratuity. Seating is Limited!. Reservations Contact: Stamford@Brasitas.comMystic Restaurant Week spans from March 5-11. Restaurants like Go Fish, The Engine Room, Go Fish, The Irons, and more are presenting special menus for lunch and/or dinner. The Westport Farmers’ Market, Fleishers Craft Butchery, and Patagonia Provisions will present a screening of the award-winning Sundance documentary LOOK & SEE, a powerful cinematic portrait of Wendell Berry- farmer, activist, and undoubtedly one of America’s most significant living writers. The film will be screened on March 5 at Fairfield Theater Company.On Monday March 5, The Spread in Greenwich will host a Tequila Dinner at 7pm. The evening includes a welcome cocktail and a 5 course meal created by Chef Carlos Baez for $75/ per person. Space is limited, Reservations (203) 900-1887Tuesday March 6 is “Teacher Appreciation Night” at Brewport! Show your teacher ID between 3:30pm and 5:30pm for free pizza. Read More
Plan b Restaurants Brings Back 5 Fan Favorite Dishes from 12 Years of Business Features Events Burgers CTbites Team March 01, 2018 There are just some dishes you never forget. Is there any better nostalgia then food nostalgia? We think not. And Plan b fans certainly seem to agree. Over the last 12 years, Plan b Restaurants has gone through more than a dozen menu changes, but that doesn’t stop guests from demanding their favorites. As a reward for their loyal (and vocal) fans, Plan b Restaurants is bringing back five of their most beloved dishes for a very limited time!From February 26 – March 19, the Beef Wellington Bites (sirloin, puff pastry, mushroom duxelle & blue cheese sauce), Portobello Tots (crispy fried Portobello mushroom tots with roasted tomato vinaigrette & garlic horseradish aioli), the infamous PB&J Burger (beef patty, American cheese, smooth peanut butter & bacon jam), the East Coast Burger (beef patty with roasted tomato, frizzled onions, warm lobster meat & horseradish cream) and the Lobster Pot Pie (New England lobster, sherry- bourbon lobster sauce, fresh veggies, & diced potatoes in a fresh baked pastry crust) will be featuring on a special “Cult Classics” menu Read More
Meet Culinary Luminaries Ruth Reichl & Sam Kass at The Westport Public Library Features Events Celebrity Chef Stephanie Webster February 27, 2018 The Westport Library is thrilled to announce FLEX: experiences - a five-day series of innovative programs designed to showcase the future flexibility and innovation coming to the new Westport Library. The events kick off Wednesday, March 21 and run through Sunday, March 25. The events begin on Wednesday, March 21 with a celebrity lunch fundraiser hosted by local bestselling author Jane Green and emceed by James Beard Award winner Elissa Altman. The keynote of the lunch will be Sam Kass, former Obama White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition, who served as Executive Director of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. Kass will also host a book signing for his book Eat a Little Better after the luncheon.On Thursday March 22nd, come to the Library for a food lovers’ Q&A with gourmet guru Ruth Reichl. The former editor of Gourmet Magazine and best selling foodie author will be joined by a celebrity panel including local celebrity chef and restauranteur Bill Taibe, master farmer and sustainability expert Annie Farrell of Millstone Farm and the “entertainologist” and celebrity chef Lulu Powers. Read More
Food Trucks & CT Chefs Team Up for "Beer & Bites" Pop-Up Dinners w/ Half Full Brewery and CT Bites Features Events CTbites Invites Stephanie Webster February 27, 2018 Half Full Brewery and CT Bites are excited to bring you a creative and collaborative food and beer-pairing event series. Not to be missed, "Beers & Bites" 2018 pairs limited release beers from Half Full Brewery with totally off-menu food items from some of Fairfield County's best chefs and food truck operators. For each event, the team behind the "bites" (1 brick and mortar chef, 1 food truck chef) will come together to collaborate on that evening's menu and cook and serve from the host Food Truck...two chefs, one totally off-menu food experience. Each menu item will be paired with a limited-release beer from the Half Full Brewery with the Brewers onsite to introduce each pairing. Tickets are $50 and include 4 beers, all food, and a commemorative glass. Event details and FAQ's are below. Read More
Shell & Bones Clam Chowder Recipe: Happy National Chowder Day! Recipe Features Recipe Seafood CTbites Team February 25, 2018 In honor of National Chowder Day (yes, that's a thing), we asked Chef Arturo Franco Camacho of Shell & Bones in New Haven CT to share his recipe for their very delicious Clam Chowder. The recipe is delightfully simple but is layered with flavors that create a deeply delicious rich chowder. Read More
CT Bartenders Share their Margarita Recipes for National Margarita Day! Recipe Features Cocktails Holiday Bar Recipe Homepage Stephanie Webster February 22, 2018 Oh yes it is! My favorite day of the year, National Margarita Day, has arrived. Those who know me, know that when I sidle up to the bar, those working on the other side need not even ask for my order. It's always the same...and it's always a Margarita. Truly, it's the perfect cocktail, and just right for every season. Plus, tequila has been proven to actually have health benefits. Lime, tequila's most trusty companion, is bursting with Vitamin C which we all know helps us recover from illness. Anejo tequila, made from 100% agave, is known to help reduce bacteria and relieve sore throats, and agave helps to fight diabetes. There are so many reasons to embrace and celebrate the Margarita. Do it right with these recipes from local bartenders including: El Segundo, Mézon, Geronimo Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Barcelona, Bartaco, Marcia Selden Catering and Festivities. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for February 25 - March 4 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 21, 2018 Every Monday night, visit Washington Prime in SoNo for a 2 course prime rib dinner special. $39 per person includes a Caesar salad, a 16oz steak, and mashed potatoes.Taproot in Bethel invites you to its first wine dinner of Tuesday February 27. The evening, entitled “An American Heritage Dinner,” consists of five courses paired with complementary wines. It is $85 per person and starts at 6:30. Le Penguin in Westport is hosting a wine dinner on February 28th at 6:30 pm. The wine director from Chateau LaGrange will be on hand to discuss the wines. Cost is $100. RSVP 203. 557.6432.Is there a Ridgefield restaurant that you have looked forward to trying but just haven’t had the chance to yet? Well, now is the time! Ridgefield Restaurant Week is back for the third year and gives you the opportunity to experience amazing dining destinations at a great price. Visit participating restaurants like Bailey’s Backyard, Bareburger, Bernard’s, Little Pub, Southwest Café, Terra Sole Ristorante, and Wooster Hollow Café, from February 26 - March 4 for special price fixe lunch and/or dinner specials.Stamford's annual Winter Restaurant Weeks runs through March 4. 21 different restaurants in Stamford will be offer special menus for both lunch and dinner ranging from $14.18 to $38.18. Read More
Congrats To James Beard Awards Semifinalists: Brian Lewis & Tyler Anderson Features Awards Stephanie Webster February 15, 2018 The James Beard Foundation announced today its list of Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the 28th annual James Beard Foundation Awards. Selected from a list of more than 20,000 online entries, the prestigious group of semifinalists in 21 categories represents a wide range of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations nationally and in ten different regions across the U.S., to the best new restaurants, outstanding bar programs, bakers, and rising star chefs 30 or younger.CT has two semifinalists for Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY State, RI, VT). Congrats to Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, CT and Tyler Anderson, Millwright’s, Simsbury CT!Winners of the 2018 James Beard Media Awards will be announced on Friday, April 27, 2018. Good luck to out local CT chefs. The honor is well deserved. See this year’s full semifinalist list at jamesbeard.org/awards Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week Of February 18-25 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 15, 2018 South Avenue in New Canaan now offers butchery classes! The first installation is called “Half Pig” and will take place on February 20 at 7pm. Participants will go home with meat and a South Avenue Butcher certificate. It costs $90 per person. “Taste of Stamford” returns Thursday February 22 from 5:30-8:30pm. The Crown Plaza Hotel in Stamford will serve as the backdrop for local chefs, restaurateurs, and distributors in Fairfield County! VIP & General Admission tickets are available online starting at $70. “National Margarita Day” is February 22, and Bartaco West Hartford is celebrating by releasing a new margarita each week in the months of February and March. Plus, remember to visit them on the 22nd for margaritas, tacos, and fun!Washington Prime SoNo invites you to a Duckhorn Wine Dinner on Tuesday February 20 from 7-9:30pm. A 5 course dinner will be paired with wines from this renowned Napa winery. The evening costs $95, plus tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased at the restaurant or over the phone at (203) 857-1314.Now you can help Stamford’s Ferguson Library while eating at Judy’s Kitchen + Bar. On Wednesday February 21, from 11am-9pm, 15% of Judy's sales will be donated to The Ferguson Library's Go Fund Me page to raise the money needed to install a new floor. For more information on the project, visit here. Read More
Celebrating The Chinese New Year in CT Features Chinese Holiday Homepage Stephanie Webster February 15, 2018 The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. Several CT restaurants will be hosting special celebrations. Ring in The Year of the Dog at these local spots. Chinese New Year officially begins on February 16th, and ends on March 2nd. Read More
Stew Leonard's Unveils New Pastry: The Cannoli Chipwich Features Dessert Bakery CTbites Team February 14, 2018 Big pastry news just in from Stew Leonard's and The Hour. Cannoli fans should head to Stew Leonard's to grab the store's newest concoction on the shelves in Danbury and Norwalk.The Cannoli Chipwich is two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with creamy cannoli filling piped between them; the edges are rolled in mini-chocolate chips and then the whole thing is dusted with powdered sugar.The chipwich is the brainchild of Jake Tavello, Store Director at Stew's in Danbury and the grandson of store founder Stew Leonard Sr. According to a spokesperson, Tavello and the Danbury bakery team were discussing new ideas for the bakery and decided to pair two of the store's most popular items: chocolate chip cookies and cannolis. Read More
Where Do Local Chefs Eat Out? Chef/ Owner Stephen Lewandowski of Harlan Social, Harlan Publick & Harlan Haus Features Interview Chef Chef Talk Interview Celebrity Chef Jessica Ryan February 13, 2018 We continue our series, "Where Do Local Chefs Eat Out," with Chef/ Owner Stephen Lewandowski, who owns Harlan Social, Harlan Publick, and the recently opened, Harlan Haus in Bridgeport. On the rare day or night you’re off from the restaurant where do you prefer to have dinner (If home what is your meal or food of choice)?Tough question. I have 4 kids and when I do have that night off I like to hang with them and my wife so initially I would say we stay home and I will cook. My kids love chicken marsala so I tend to make this with penne pasta and an arugula salad. Simple but the kids love it. If we go out the kids really enjoy Sakura in Westport because of the hibachi. We have a good time and the staff is so friendly. We have been going there since we moved up here 5 years ago Read More
Giveaway!! WIN FREE Tickets to Whiskey Social on March 24th Features Giveaway Events Stephanie Webster February 12, 2018 GoodWorks Entertainment presents their third tasting event: WHISKEY SOCIAL. WHISKEY SOCIAL will take place on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 3 PM until 6 PM at The Warehouse at Fairfield Theatre Company (70 Sanford Street in Fairfield, Connecticut). CTbites is GIVING AWAY 2 FREE TICKETS to Whiskey Social. To win, tell us why you NEED to go in the comments section below, and make sure you are a CTbites Newsletter Subscriber! Socialites will be able to relish in the exclusivity of sampling from an internationally curated selection of 150+ types of whisky, rye, scotch, bourbon, aged rum, and mezcal. Ordinary New Haven’s mixologist, Tim Cabral, will be in the room crafting samplers of his distinguished cocktails. With the purchase of a ticket, socialites will be invited to savor an array of delicious local fare including a mac and cheese bar, meat and cheese station and dessert bar by Garelick and Herbs of Southport as well as famed pulled pork sliders by Custom Meats of Fairfield. The tunes of a live band will carry throughout the social while couches provide lounge and whiskey barrels scatter the floor for the perfect festive setting. Read More
Wallingford Teen Competes on Rachel Ray's “Cook Your Way to Culinary School” Competition Features Local Artisan Kids Events CTbites Team February 10, 2018 Four young aspiring chefs are one step closer to making their dreams of attending culinary school a reality after being named finalists in Rachael Ray’s “Cook Your Way to Culinary School” competition. On Tuesday, February 13th, Jules Esposito, an 18-year-old high school senior from Wallingford, CT, will be cooking to win! She has had her sights set on culinary school since the 2nd grade. She started a baking blog in middle school and is part of a culinary program that has allowed her to manage a food truck and cater events. Read More
