23+ Foodie Places to Celebrate Halloween in CT: 2017 Edition Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 18, 2017 We have some frighteningly great food news to share… many Connecticut restaurants, bars, farms, and markets are serving up boo-tiful Halloween specials! Hotspots like Cask Republic, Hub + Spoke, and The Spread will have nighttime parties for the 21+ crowd, while Wakeman Town Farm, Stew Leonards, and Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes have Halloween baking classes for youngsters. It’s time to get out your costumes- Halloween 2017 is here!The Fez, Stamford: On Friday October 27 starting at 10pm, The Fez in Stamford will throw a Halloween Bash with live music by Free Flow. There will also be best costume prizes, drink specials, and more.Hummock Island Oyster Company, Westport: An extra spooky edition of the Hummock Island Oyster Tour will take place on Friday October 27 from 5-7pm. Wear your best costume... there will be a contest!The Black Rock Zombie Pub Crawl , Bridgeport: The Black Rock Zombie Pub Crawl will begin at Hub & Spoke on Friday October 27 at 7pm. From there, go on to participating bars and restaurants like Aspetuck Brew Lab, Mr. Crab Seafood and Bar, TruNorth, Brennan's, and Fire Engine Pizza. A wristband is $25 per person and 100% of proceeds go toward Puerto Rico hurricane relief.L’escale, Greenwich invites you to a Halloween Soiree on Saturday October 28 starting at 9pm. The best costume wins a magnum of wine! Read More
Millwright's Tyler Anderson To Join 'Top Chef' Cast via CTNow Features Celebrity Chef CTbites Team October 18, 2017 Props to our CT Chef Tyler Anderson! This just in from Leeanne Griffin of CTNow.comTyler Anderson, the chef-owner of Millwright’s in Simsbury and co-owner of The Cook and the Bear in West Hartford, is about to add “Cheftestant” to his extensive resume. Anderson has been announced as one of 15 competitors on the newest season of "Top Chef," debuting Dec. 7 on Bravo. He is the first Connecticut chef to join the series, which is now in its 15th season. The new season is described as an "epic culinary adventure through the state of Colorado." "From deconstructing the Denver Omelet and preparing Rocky Mountain Oysters to tailgating with the Broncos, the level of competition for these 15 talented chefs is going to be a mile high. With the judges looking for the chefs' peak performances, the challenges will test the competitors' culinary abilities in picturesque locales." Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For October 15-22 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 13, 2017 The Tasty Yolk has debuted its October special. The Local Yolkiel includes local handmade kielbasa and 2 eggs topped with a cheddar cheese beer sauce served on a pretzel bun.Visit Tarry Lodge in Westport for a Pig Roast on Thursday October 19 at 6:30pm. The evening includes three courses: pizza to start, the roasted pig and sides, and apple cobbler for dessert. It costs $70 per person, with an additional wine pairing available for $25 and a beer pairing for $15. Call 203-571-1038 to reserve.Bobby Q’s Cue & Co. in Norwalk now offers Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 4-7pm in the bar area. Join them for $1 off all appetizers and flatbreads, $3 pulled pork sliders, 50 cent wings (minimum of 6), a $10 Cue & Co. “Bar Crack” (pork belly cracklings), and $2 off all beer, wine, bourbon and cocktails. In addition to Happy Hour, Bobby Q’s Cue & Co. will also offer Trivia Night every Wednesday beginning at 7:30pm and Country Night every Thursday from 9pm to 11pm with drink specials, a late-night food menu, and country line dancing.All month on First Thing Fairfield County, Ken Tuccio is raising money for breast cancer research to support the American Cancer Society. They’ve teamed up with Letizia's Pizza in Norwalk to create "Gertie's Pie of Hope," named after Dennis Letizia's mothe who passed away from breast cancer. Read More
The Drunk Alpaca: Baked Goods Made with Local Craft Beer Features Bakery Dessert Beer CT Beer Shelton Andrew Dominick October 10, 2017 Firefly Hollow Choconaut Porter brownies, Brewport Seventh Inning SIPA BBQ-glazed potato chips, Thimble Island Ruby blondies. If you didn’t pick up on it, there’s a theme here, Connecticut local beer and baked goods. That’s cool, but The Drunk Alpaca is much more than just booze baked cakes and chips.The Drunk Alpaca was created by friends Stephania Halverson and Jessica Oen, who met when they worked together at Whole Foods in Darien, where Halverson was the bakery manager, and Oen was a kitchen supervisor and head cake decorator. The duo clicked during their time at the grocery store and wanted to do their own thing. Baking was the obvious, logical business to get into. Read More
Lorca Cafe to open in Fleishers Greenwich Features Fleishers Butcher CTbites Team October 06, 2017 Fleisher’s Craft Butchery is collaborating with Leyla Dam Jenkins from Lorca cafe, on opening a sunny new location in early November inside the Fleisher’s Greenwich butcher shop at 160 E. Putnam Ave. Cos Cob.Like the beloved Stamford original, Lorca's new branch will be offering a variety of specialty coffee drinks and Spanish-influenced sweets, like their signature alfajores (shortbread cookies with dulce de leche and coconut). Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for October 8-15 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 06, 2017 Join Terrain Garden Cafe for a food-focused evening hosted by CTBites and the Westport Farmers Market. On Monday October 9, they’ll gather with some of the food industry’s leading talents to discuss trends, restaurant and farming secrets, and everyday life during an open forum. Reservations required. $50 per person. Cost includes welcome cocktail, stationary and passed hors d’oeuvres, and hospitality. Tickets available here.On Monday October 9, 86’D- A Culinary Collision- takes place in West Hartford. 8 Remaining Chefs will participate in 8 Battle Rounds in secret restaurants with open kitchens. A portion of the proceeds will be given to End Hunger CT. Tickets are $30. On Tuesday October 10, Two Roads Brewing Company and CT Girls Pint Out are celebrating Women in Beer! A $10 ticket includes a beer and the chance to hear from a panel of women in the industry. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Get In Touch Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through October 31, visit Sport Hill Farm every Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm to purchase a pumpkin from the patch. Kids can receive a free tattoo and treat and the farm will donate 35% of the pumpkin purchases back to the community via Easton PTA & E.L.F. Read More
Recap: Red Bee Apiary Tasting, An Evening in the Hive Features Events April Guilbault October 05, 2017 Spicy. Fruity. Grassy. Buttery. Ashy, woody, and mineral-y.Would you believe these words are all describing honey? Red Bee Apiary in Weston recently hosted a “Rare and Exotic Honey and Mead” sensory tasting evening and by golly, all those adjectives described the varied honeys that graced our collective lips. In a country barn located on a cozy, twinkly property, owner and Queen Bee, Marina Marchese, began our evening with a little talk about the bees (no birds. just bees). What goes on inside a hive and what roles do the bees have in their colony? How, exactly, do those little fabulous fliers make honey and fill those perfect hexagons? How did Marina became so enthralled with beekeeping? I won’t divulge those answers, lest you attend one of these sensory evenings on your own some time, which you should. It is both an educational and intriguing, not to mention, delicious event. Read More
Chowdafest 2017 Winners Announced! Features Events CTbites Team October 03, 2017 At 11am on Sunday, the bright sun and warm temperature greeted over 10,000 visitors to the Stop & Shop sponsored Chowdafest at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. The traffic exiting I-95 North and South was jam packed with soup-seekers who arrived from all over New England and New York. Of the 40 purveyors of chowders, bisques and gumbos, the most common offering was the traditional New England Clam Chowder, though many other inventive recipes were up to the competition. Enthusiastic providers ladled their savory soups and asked for votes until 3pm when they scraped the bottom of their pots empty. (View the list of winners below.) Read More
Recap: Greenwich Wine + Food Festival 2017 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 03, 2017 On September 22 and 23, The Greenwich Wine + Food Festival took over Roger Sherman Park. 2017 marked the seventh year for the festival, which has grown in popularity thanks to its line-up of celebrity chefs, restaurants, beverage sponsors, and musical acts.This year saw the return of Adam Richman, widely known for hosting the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food,” and Alex Guarnaschelli, Iron Chef and restaurateur. Greenwich resident and festival staple Kathy Lee Gifford also came back to highlight her wines and moderate celebrity panels.2017 brought exciting new additions as well; Chef and television star Mario Batali added his name to the roster along with others like Scott Conant, Mary Giuliani, Kevin de Chenes, and Julia Deane. Multi-Grammy and Billboard award-winning band Train headlined the evening concert. Read More
WIN FREE Tickets to Alton Brown Live Eat Your Science at Palace Theater Features Giveaway Events Stephanie Webster October 02, 2017 We are very pleased to be able to offer our CTBites readers three pairs of FREE TICKETS to Alton Brown Live Eat Your Science at Palace Theater on October 29th. TO WIN a pair of tickets, Tell us why YOU NEED TO SEE THIS SHOW in the comments section below. You also must be a CTBITES NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBER to enter giveaway. (Subscribe here)Alton Brown is the creator and host of the Food Network television show Good Eats (14 seasons), host of the mini-series Feasting on Asphalt and Feasting on Waves, and host and main commentator on Iron Chef America, Cutthroat Kitchen and Camp Cutthroat. Brown is a best-selling author of several books on food and cooking. “Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science” (www.altonbrownlive.com), the follow-up to the smash “Edible Inevitable” tour, hits the road again. Fans can expect all-new everything including songs, multimedia presentations, talk-show antics, and bigger and better potentially dangerous food demonstrations. Read More
Explore Norwalk's Waypointe Neighborhood at "Wine Down at The Block" Features Norwalk Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 29, 2017 What if I told you that for just over $25, you could enjoy food and a beverage from four popular restaurants in one of Fairfield County's up-and-coming neighborhoods? And I'm not talking about small-sized portions cobbled together from leftover ingredients or the cheapest bottled beers. I mean delicious dishes straight from the menu alongside specialty cocktails, craft beers, and wine. You'd probably think I'd gone crazy... but it's true."Wine Down at The Block" affords participants the chance to explore Norwalk's Waypointe neighborhood at an affordable price. Barcelona Wine Bar, Sedona Taphouse, Bobby Q's Cue & Co., and Colony Grill all offer a dish and a drink as part of the package, while vendors like Pinot's Palette, Endurance House, and Salon by JC provide demonstrations and discounts. Read More
Where Do Local Chefs Eat Out? John Barricelli of Sono Baking Company Features Chef Talk Celebrity Chef Stephanie Webster September 29, 2017 We continue our series, "Where Do Local Chefs Eat Out," with a man who knows a thing or two about baked goods. John Barricalli of Sono Baking Company has been making bread the old fashioned way since before "artisan" was trendy. His favorite item? The classic sourdough loaf. Here's where John eats out when he isn't in his own kitchen. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for October 1st-7th Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 28, 2017 Westport Restaurant Week begins October 1 and lasts until October 15. Popular restaurants like Rive Bistro, Le Penguin, Pearl, Rothbard Ale & Larder, and more will offer special fixed price lunch, brunch and dinner menus. Friday October 6 is National Noodle Day! To celebrate, New Haven presents Noodles On9, a free family friendly event. From 6-8pm, the street festival will close a section of Orange St in the Historic 9th Square so that participants can enjoy noodle dishes from local restaurants and the opening of Artspace’s City Wide Open Studios. October 4 is National Taco Day! Celebrate at Bartaco with tacos, fresh-squeezed cocktails, an exclusive Snapchat filter, and a #bartacosecret reveal!Mohegan Sun's BrewFest returns on Saturday October 7. The Grand Tasting will feature over 150 beers and local restaurants will have food for purchase. A portion of ticket sales will go to the Channel 3 Kids Camp. Read More
CTBites Scene: Ok2berfest At Two Roads Brewing Features Brewery Oktoberfest James Gribbon September 28, 2017 CTBites travels Connecticut finding the best food, drinks, and events in the state. Sometimes we'll see you out there as part of a new series we're calling CTBites Scene. Ok2berfest returned to Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford on September 16-17, and CTBites was there. This was the fifth year of the highly anticipated event, and a capacity crowd of 3,000 was on hand each of the two days as bands played, food trucks sold their cornucopia, and the sun shone. Two Roads brewed three specialty beers for the event: Ein marzen, Zwei festbier, and drei altbier.Did you make the scene? Read More
Quinoa Paella with Shrimp, Chorizo & Chicken Recipe via Marcia Selden Recipe Features Recipe Marcia Selden Catering September 25, 2017 Take a break from the classic paella, and mix up your healthy grains with Marcia Selden's recipe for Quinoa Paella with Shrimp, Chorizo + Chicken. We appreciate a one pan meal and this dish has great rich flavor from the chorizo and saffron. Interesting food fact: Coming from the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus, it takes 75,000 blossoms or 225,000 hand-picked stigmas to make a single pound which explains why it is the world’s most expensive spice. Enjoy this recipe and send us feedback. Read More
Foodie Places To Watch Football in Fairfield County CT Features Best of CT Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 19, 2017 It’s time to get out your jerseys… football season is here! Though some may prefer to watch the latest game in the comfort of their own home, many Fairfield County restaurants and bars are serving up NFL-inspired specials that are sure to lure fans from the couch. From reduced price apps to tasty wings to drink specials, here are restaurants and bars where you can catch the latest match-ups. Read More
Meet Ellie Krieger, at Clarke's South Norwalk Showroom on October 5th Features Events Fundraiser Stephanie Webster September 19, 2017 Ellie Krieger, public television host of Ellie's Real Good Food, has been producing her award-winning television show out of Clarke, New England's Official Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom and Test Kitchen in South Norwalk, for the past two years. Now she's returning for an exclusive event - open to the public - to help support Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.Join us on Thursday, October 5th, 6-9 PM, when Ellie will offer a live cooking demonstration in her television kitchen at Clarke at 64 South Main Street in South Norwalk. Click here to purchase your ticket. Read More
10th Annual Chowdafest is October 1st: 40 Restaurants Compete, YOU Judge Features Events Stephanie Webster September 15, 2017 Chowdafest is right around the corner on October 1st from 11am-3pm. Every year, event director Jim Keenan scourers all over New England in search of the best chowder, soup and bisque to invite to this annual competition. “Each year we try to increase the level of competition as Chowdafest is a competition between the best” Keenan said. “When you win Chowdafest, you've earned it.” he added.Chowdafest limits participation to just 40 restaurants and they compete in one of five categories. “You can't compare a classic New England clam chowder to a lobster bisque or to a chicken tortilla soup so categories are needed” Keenan says. The competition categories include “classic” New England clam chowder, “traditional” chowder reserved just for clear broth Rhode Island and tomato based Manhattan clam chowders, “creative” chowders, “soup & bisque” and a new “vegetarian” category. “We've always had vegetarian entrees before but we decided they needed their own category this year which really helps foodies who aren't fans of seafood” Keenan noted. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of September 17-24 Features Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 14, 2017 Tickets are on sale for The New England Chowdafest 2017 on October 1. Taste and judge chowders from over 40 award winning chefs and restaurants across New England! Plus, it’s all for a great cause… proceeds go to Food Rescue US! Black Rock Restaurant Week spans from Monday September 18 through September 24! Restaurants like Nom-eez, Walrus + Carpenter, Bloodroot, Hub & Spoke, and Taco Loco are offering specials and prix fixe menus. Wakeman Town Farm will host its fifth-annual farm-to-table Harvest Fest event on Saturday, September 23 at 6 p.m. The Harvest Fest features farm fresh fare prepared by talented chefs, wine, signature cocktails, silent and live auctions, and giveaways. On Tuesday September 19, celebrate Women in Wine with Millwright’s. From 6-7:30, enjoy 5 tapas paired with 5 wines created by female winemakers. It costs approximately $50 per person and the event will take place on the bridge. Read More
Farmer Patti Popp of Sport Hill Farm Named Farmer of the Year by Farmers' Almanac Features CT Farms Easton Amy Kundrat September 12, 2017 Farmers' Almanac has named Easton farmer Patti Popp of Sport Hill Farm their 2018 Farmer of the Year. Within its pages, the almanac honors the dedication, hard work and contributions farms make to the world and society. The Farmer of the Year award was created in an effort to recognize the farmers who do the hard work.“The judging was tough,” Sandi Duncan Philom, managing editor, said.“We didn’t realize how genuinely inspired we would be by the stories of people who not only dedicate their lives to an occupation that’s often overlooked and overworked, but who also have such passion for growing and taking care of the animals and the land that feed the world. Read More
