Muse by Jonathan Cartwright' Debuts at Connecticut's Luxe Mayflower Grace Restaurant Litchfield Douglas P Clement February 18, 2014 “At the Mayflower Inn, reality does not intrude,” our restaurant critic, Elise Maclay, once wrote in Connecticut Magazine.“The doors are firmly shut against it and the staff is skilled at maintaining the illusion that the elegant dining room, the spacious entry hall, the cozy library, comprise your ancestral domain, a country estate that has been in your family for generations." That was many years ago, but memories of how sybaritically satisfying the Mayflower was in its early days, when chef Thomas Moran oversaw the kitchen, pushed to the forefront last Wednesday evening when fortunate members of the media were invited to join some of Litchfield County’s notable residents in celebrating the debut of The Mayflower Grace, the country retreat as restyled by new owner Grace Hotels. The Mayflower Grace a 30-room hotel on 58 acres of gardens and woodlands nestled on a rise in lovely Washington, Conn., retains its “Downton Abbey” appeal as the type of luxury hideaway that has drawn the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Where the recent extensive refurbishment of the Mayflower is most obvious—and the reason folks such as authors Dani Shapiro and Candace Bushnell braved the wintry weather Wednesday—is the creation of Muse by Jonathan Cartwright, the new restaurant that brings with it a much different, sleeker and modern feel, complemented by the cuisine of Cartwright, the native of Sheffield, England, and world-class chef with a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux distinction who offers refined modern European cuisine that incorporates the best of local and seasonal produce. On Wednesday, those qualities, along with Cartwright’s versatility and flair for subtle drama, were evident in the wide range of small-bites offered to guests, most notably in a smoked lobster dish served in a plastic egg-shaped vessel. When you unscrewed the top and lifted it off, a wonderful smoky aroma wafted upwards. The lobster itself was rich, smoky, perfectly cooked and delicious. In addition to new flavors, Muse by Jonathan Cartwright brings a distinctive new look and feel to dining at The Mayflower Grace. Read the full article on ConnecticutMag.com Read More
Morello Italian Bistro in Greenwich: Beautiful Food in an Exquisite Setting Restaurant Greenwich Italian Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 16, 2014 Morello Italian Bistro is architecturally one of the most beautiful restaurants in Connecticut and offers equally fine cuisine. The exquisite interior of the landmark building on Greenwich Avenue was designed by Rafael Guastavino, Jr, whose father invented the golden amber tile vaulting system that grace the pillars, herringbone arches and ceilings. Art adorns the walls, and the soft, hand blown white tear-drop shaped glass chandeliers, descending from the ceiling create a beautifully romantic atmosphere for dinner. As we worked our way through appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts General Manager Jimmy Branigan, Jr. was the perfect host, stopping by the table on several occasions to explain the composition of many of the courses and offer suggestions from the reasonably priced wine list. While we leisurely perused the menu, we enjoyed the “Prosciutto & Parmesan Fritters.” The large fritters delivered complementary textures and flavors. The crisp exterior was offset by the marvelously smooth interior, which presented a delicious combination of prosciutto and Fontina cheese. The dish was finished with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese which added the perfect level of saltiness to the fried exterior. An order or two for the table is an excellent way to start the meal. Read More
CM Gourmet Market Brings Casual Sophistication to Daytime Dining in Westport Restaurant Specialty Market Deanna Foster February 09, 2014 For years, Michelle Weber has fulfilled the artisan chocolate needs of the Westport community. Now, with the opening of CM Gourmet Bistro in Saugatuck Center, she is filling a chasm in Westport’s otherwise crowded dining scene for full service breakfast and lunch. Thanks to chef Molly Brandt, who shares Michelle’s discerning taste, creativity and attention to detail, CM Gourmet Bistro brings us a menu that is simple yet sophisticated, and just bold enough to separate it from the area’s usual breakfast, lunch and brunch fare. The setting can be described similarly - sophisticated, yet approachable, with white linen napkins on reclaimed wood tables, and chairs covered in signature Cocoa Michelle blue fabric, it’s an equally comfortable setting for a business meeting, lunch with friends, or brunch with the family. Read More
NOLA Oyster Bar Temporarily Closed - To Re-Open in April Restaurant Norwalk SONO Seafood CTbites Team February 09, 2014 For our readers who are calling to reserve a table at NOLA Oyster Bar to enjoy the fantastic cuisine of Chef Dan Kardos, please have a little patience. The restaurant is temporarily closed. Over the last few months Kardos has been overseeing the cuisine at both NOLA and Local Kitchen and Beer Bar in Fairfield. Given the rapid success and crowds that flock to Local, the decision was made to modify the menu and focus at NOLA to more align with Local. According to Kardos, “Our new Fairfield restaurant has been silly busy. We're going to make NOLA more like that.” With Kardos guiding the cuisine it should be another exciting new culinary adventure. With the anticipated re-opening scheduled in a couple of months, stay tuned as CTbites follows these changes at NOLA Oyster Bar. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Features Restaurant Events Wine Shop Wine Tasting Dessert Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 07, 2014 February 10-11, Caseus Fromageria & Bistro in New Haven will offer an evening of “Sweets & Treats.” This popular class has become a Caseus tradition every February. 6-7:30pm. Approximately $40pp. More Info Here. Tuesday February 11, learn how to make “Barcelona Classics” at Barcelona in New Haven. Included in the class are gambas al ajillo, potato tortilla, chorizo and figs, and more. 7pm. $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Also on Tuesday, Fairfield Cheese Company will offer a class called “Parmigiano Reggiano Academy.” Parmigiano Reggiano is often referred to as the “King of Cheese” and by tasting you can learn the difference that aging makes in authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese at 16-, 24- and 36-month stages. $45pp. Info here. Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a wine tasting event not to be missed! On Wednesday February 12, try SEXY wines poured by award winning winemaker António Maçanita. SEXY wines were recently featured at the Mohegan SunWineFest. The free event will take place from 5-8pm at Turnpike Wines in Fairfield. Walrus and Carpenter (home of the killer fried chicken) will host a beer dinner on February 13th, featuring a line up from the Victory Brewing Co. roster and some signature Walrus-flavors to match. Email Adam: roytman@walruscarpenterct.com or call 203.333.2733. Read More
Valentine's Day Roundup: CT Gifts, Eats & Vacations for Your Loved One Ingredients Features Restaurant Gift Guide Holiday Travel Dessert April Guilbault February 02, 2014 “My love for you is like a red, red rose” said the venerable Robert Burns, but maybe, just maybe it’s like a truffle making class or a sassy, classy Valentine cocktail. Every love is different, right? Valentine’s Day typically bubbles over with all things red, pink and sparkly. Boxed chocolates abound (some left in the box, half-bitten into) and romantic dinners are de rigueur. But, as with everything in life, it’s good to mix it up a bit to keep things fresh-dare to be different! This year, maybe try something new with your Valentine that will create a memory for years to come; take a cooking class together, go to a theme dinner, try a salt cave, stay overnight at a local, romantic hotel. Sometimes, a mini-vacation in your own backyard can be the most fun and deliciously decadent. So start with a red, red rose and branch out from there... Read More
Sneak Peek at F·I·S·H Restaurant Coming to Stamford Restaurant Seafood Stamford Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 29, 2014 The finishing touches are being applied to F·I·S·H Restaurant in Stamford as it prepares for its grand opening in a few weeks. Housed in the space formerly occupied by Boca Restaurant, the staff is busily preparing to change the focus from small plates to one focused on more traditional offerings of seafood with a smattering of meats and poultry. Overseeing the kitchen is Chef Domenico Gurliacci, who also directed the kitchen at Boca. Prior to joining Boca, Gurliacci prepared some delicious Greek cuisine at Kouzina in New Canaan and was a cook at the Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood. As Gurliacci told CTbites, “There were too many restaurants in Stamford offering the small plate concept. We wanted to change it up a bit.” The menu is designed to appeal to both the lunch crowd as well as those at dinner and features a varied approach. Guests can choose from several Raw Bar offerings or one of the appetizers that range from Lobster Corn Chowder, mini fish tacos, and mini beef empanadas to traditional seafood appetizers of fried calamari or oysters, plus Asian inspired mussels and spicy buffalo shrimp. Sandwich choices include Oyster Po-Boy, Buffalo shrimp, Crab cake BLT, Steak and Gorgonzola and the F·I·S·H burger. Entrées consist of several pan-seared or grilled fish options or F·I·S·H’s modern comfort food interpretations of ricotta gnocchi with lobster; beer battered fish & chips; seafood gumbo and spaghetti with clam sauce. Read More
The Granola Bar Opens In Westport: Great Coffee & Good Eats Restaurant Brunch Coffee Westport healthy Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Nancy Kleeger January 26, 2014 Get your highlighter out and start counting how many times I drop the G bomb in this article. Some things cannot be avoided. The Granola Bar at 275 Post Road East in Westport has created a lot of caffeinated buzz, as well a bit of traffic congestion in the parking lot of Playhouse Square, right in the heart of Westport. Julie Levitt and Dana Noorily, two local Westport moms with years of combined business experience and a passion for food, first co-founded Oats Granola, currently sold at Whole Foods, Stew’s and other select markets around the area. The success of their product was not enough for these two entrepreneurs who had their eyes on the prize. Continuing down the foodie path with a vision to create a happy place where good, clean food and a little schmoozing can take place, they launched The Granola Bar. Read More
Sarah & Monica's Excellent Birthday Dinner Restaurant Ridgefield Amy Kundrat January 24, 2014 Sarah Bouisseau of Bernard's & Sarah's Wine Bar in Ridgefield, and Monica Brown of 109 Cheese & Wine have been the closest of friends for over a decade, beginning when they discovered they shared the same birthday. Over the years, the oenophiles and food lovers have hosted an evening including some of their favorite foods and wines for their customers, and it has evolved into a beloved annual event. This special dinner and wine tasting happens only once a year, on Friday, January 24 (tonight!) at 7 pm at Bernard's in Ridgefield. The price is $90 per person plus tax and gratuity, call 203 438 8282 for reservations. Sarah & Monica's Birthday Menu Read More
Start-up Bid Mob Connects Diners with New Haven Dining Deals Restaurant New Haven CTbites Team January 23, 2014 The brainchild of Daniel Underkofler, who had been working at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Manhattan, and his “team of socially-inspired Gladsters,” BidMob is a mobile app that—quite simply but brilliantly—connects anyone interested in dining and nightlife in New Haven with the best deals of the day. "BidMob is an amazing new way to save BIG $$ for your group when you go out. Stop paying for discounts, printing coupons or wondering where the best deals are when you need them," says the description in the Apple app store. Read More
Le Farm's Signature Dish: Chef Arik Bensimon & Bill Taibe Talk Poutine Restaurant Chef Talk Westport Lou Gorfain January 22, 2014 Would Bensimom consider an encore of LePoutine for our readers? You bet! He’s putting the dish back on the LeFarm menu for a limited run, January 23 -25. Not to be missed. (If bacon ate, it would eat Poutine.) Foie gras and Poutine are two foods not usually found in the same sentence, much less married in a restaurant dish. But if you were dining at LeFarm a couple of years ago, “LePoutine” was the crazy delicious rock star in the room – a decadent, playful, steamy mashup of foie gras, fried potatoes, wine, beef cheeks, kale, gravy and imagination. A Montreal favorite, Poutine is unadulterated cardiac-on-a-plate, usually devoured with great gusto, its grease supposedly the perfect insulation before or and after a hard night of drinking. (It should be duly noted that Le Farm’s version, unlike the French Canadian, didn’t include the traditional cheese curds. But buttery Foie Gras more than made up for the missing fat calories.) “It was big, it was indulgent, and people just loved it. So did we,” Bill Taibe, the founder of LeFarm told us, grinning with the memory of his exciting crowd pleaser. Read More
Ny Haven: A Nordic Inspired Pop-up with Chefs Marcell Davidsen & Tommy Juliano at 116 Crown Restaurant Chef Talk Underground Dinner Amy Kundrat January 17, 2014 Photos: Signe Birck TICKETS HAVE GONE ON SALE! Tickets A 13 course Nordic-inspired menu is the inspiration for Ny Haven, a one-time pop-up dining collaboration between chefs Marcell Davidsen and Tommy Juliano, that will take place at 116 Crown on March 3, 2014. Ny Haven is a play on words. In Danish, Ny means New, and Haven means garden. In Copenhagen, Nyhavn is a main gathering point for people to meet at cafés to eat and drink. The chefs, best known for their culinary risk-taking and locavore approach at Community Table in Washington, CT, will descend upon the kitchen of 116 Crown in New Haven for a single night for 25 lucky gourmands. "We are very excited to showcase our style of new New England cuisine, and Nordic influenced cooking, to New Haven," said Davidsen. "With my Danish background and Tommy's New England approach on desserts." Read More
Friday Froth: CT Pour Tour At Two Roads, Plus Reviews And Assorted Nonsense Ingredients Restaurant CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon January 17, 2014 Mark Twain once said the best thing about writing was having written. I tend to enjoy drinking more than having drunken (which is to say, I like drankin'), but it's especially nice to have a built-in justification. Todd Ruggere has given all of us in the Constitution State just such an excuse with the CT Pour Tour, in which he will drink at least one beer this year in all 169 towns in Connecticut, and raise money at every stop for Yale Children's Hospital. Todd has published a list of when and where he'll be over the course of 2014, and I caught up with him at the CT Pour Tour launch party at Two Roads in Stratford this past Saturday. Todd spent 2013 completing his first pour tour, traveling through all 351 towns in his home state of Massachusetts. Read More
Stew Leonard's Introduces Croissant - Bagel Hybrid...The Crogel Features Restaurant Bakery Norwalk Kid Friendly CTbites Team January 15, 2014
Celebrity Mixologist Adrian Alvarado Kicks off "Prohibition Wednesdays" @ Prime 16 Restaurant CTbites Team January 14, 2014 On January 29th, at 5 P.M., Celebrity Mixologist Adrian Alvarado will be kicking off the "Prohibition Wednesdays" at Prime 16 in Orange.As an Actor/Mixologist, Adrian is best known for his role on ABC's General Hospital where he played Detective Cruz Rodriguez. Originally from Jersey City N.J., Adrian moved to L.A. where he started booking commercials and TV appearances in "Without a Trace," "Big Love," "Law & Order: LA" and "Body of Proof" before landing his longest running role on General Hospital.Since moving back to the East Coast with his wife and two children, Adrian has expanded a passion for the hospitality industry. Bartending didn't just become a side income, it became a passion. As a Mixologist he worked for the famous Soho House Group in Los Angeles and New York "The Cocktail culture is vastly growing, It's not just about going out and getting a drink. It's about going out and enjoying a new experience in flavors and it's history in a responsible way." Read More
Pantanal Restaurant & Churrascaria: Brazilian in Bridgeport Restaurant Brazilian Bridgeport Delicious Dives Comfort Food Elizabeth Keyser January 12, 2014 The smell of grilling meat perfumes the air on Frank Street in Bridgeport. What’s going on here? This drab residential neighborhood is crowded with cars. And what’s that funky-looking vividly green-and-yellow building? The sidewalk’s striped green and yellow too, the colors of the Brazilian flag. This is Pantanal, a Brazilian buffet and churrascaria. We’re going in. It’s Thursday at lunchtime and the place is crowded. We grab plates and try to take in all that’s offered at the cold and hot buffet. We’re overwhelmed, and we’re in the way. Everyone else knows what they want. We’re gawking, and we know we could easily overload our plates with the choice of salads, fruits, hearts of palm, collards, white rice, Spanish rice, mac ‘n cheese, black beans, pinto beans, fried sweet plantain, fried chicken, fried fish and stews. Customers are digging in to those stews. The chicken and okra stew looks intriguing, but I need to exert restraint. I need to focus. I chose an orange-colored stew of smoked pork ribs and white beans. Excellent choice, smoky and deeply flavorful. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Restaurant Cooking Classes Wine Tasting Beer Lunch Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 09, 2014 The Whelk in Westport will start serving LUNCH on January 15th! Lunch will be served Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays 12pm-2:30. Saturday January 11 is Step Out at Stepping Stones Museum. The wine and food tasting supports the museum’s educational initiatives. It includes the Melting Pot, Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines, The Brewhouse, and more. 7-9:30pm. $40 and up per person. More info here. Mohegan Sun’s Restaurant Week begins Sunday January 12th and goes through the 17th. Visit the website to see what the casino’s renowned eateries are offering. Sundays are ½ off bottles of select wines at many local restaurants, including The Spread, Bar Sugo, and Bistro Latino. On Tuesday January 14, learn how to braise at Barcelona Fairfield. Join Chef Helton and learn the art of braising and complementing it with a few vegetable side dishes. 4-7pm. $35pp plus tax and gratuity. http://www.barcelonawinebar.com/calendar.htm Also on Tuesday, Caseus Fromagerie in New Haven is offering a class called “Relishing the Rind.” The class will explore categorizing cheese by types of rind. You will get to taste bloomy, ash, wash-rind cheeses ...and more! 6-7:30pm. Approx $37pp. Buy Tix Here. Read More
Valbella: Old School Italian Elegance in Greenwich Restaurant Bakery French Greenwich Italian Dessert Sarah Green January 05, 2014 I never go to Italian restaurants in Connecticut because I was lucky and spoiled enough to have eaten in Italy - a lot - and I always feel disappointed in the American version of Italian cuisine. So when a friend begged me to review VALBELLA in Greenwich, I was reluctant to say the least. The pastry chef, she claimed, was world renowned and his food art simply had to be reviewed. I did some research and decided to acquiesce. For more than 20 years, the stately, Victorian Valbella has been the archetype for excellent but old school Italian cuisine in the Greenwich/Riverside area, and has successful sister locations in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and Midtown. And I can understand why. It is in no way funky or hip or cool but is extremely elegant and the food, though I am hesitant to admit it, was outstanding. Read More
Loaf of the Week at Scratch Baking Restaurant Bakery Milford Amy Kundrat January 04, 2014 Beginning on January 31, 2014 for 8 weeks, Scratch Baking in Milford will be kicking-off their second annual "Loaf of the Week" club. Participants, known as "the loafers," receive a surprise bread and spread each week, paired with a recipe. Think of it as a winter CSA for your bread box. "It really is alot of fun and honestly it is perfect for winter time when you just want to curl up and fire up that crockpot," said Lesli Flick, Scratch owner and baker. Last year, Scratch's Loaf of the Week baked fresh loaves of brioche paired with a cinnamon raisin butter, ciabatta with pesto, and rosemary focaccia with a lemon curd. The cost to become a Loafer is $65 for 8 weeks of breads and spreads. Read More
Get A Healthy Start to 2014: CT Resources for Juicing, Healthy Eats & More Features Restaurant Juice Bar Juice Cleanse healthy Organic Take Out April Guilbault January 02, 2014 You just did it all this holiday season. And by that, I mean...cookies became a food group. Mixing, stirring and shopping had you working your “muscles” (how to polish something, right?). Real exercise resided in the back seat, crammed in between boxes and bags and wrapping paper. Your sanity was also wedged in there, too, now that you think about it. Thank goodness that a new year is upon us because you weren’t quite sure you could take another week, chaotic and fun as it may have been. And yes, there was much good in the holiday season...but it’s all....tiring. So now, after the decadence and gluttony, let’s reset. Recharge. And for the love of Pete, put down that cookie. Here we offer, as your first gift of the New Year, some great resources, including juice cleanses, yoga joints and healthy eats, to get your body and mind back on track and ready for action in 2014! Read More
