60 Connecticut Breweries Still Open For Take-Out And Delivery Ingredients Features CT Beer Brewery Beer Take Out James Gribbon March 18, 2020 The wave of local breweries made this new world possible, but for now their doors are mostly closed. Here's what we can do to see them open again.Breweries are still allowed to sell to-go orders, offering pickup or curbside delivery options. This post will list info on breweries, their hours, and links to order online. I won't be able to find them all, so I encourage readers, brewers, and reps to include further info about their operations in the comments section below. Most breweries are small businesses, and all depend from some degree or entirely on in-person sales. Let's help the brewers and staff keep the Connecticut beer culture we love going. Read More
Muscle Up Protein Bars: The Official Bar of Team USA Weightlifting Was Born in CT Features Ingredients Special Dietary Needs Protein Bar Fitness Local Artisan Stephanie Webster March 12, 2020 A few months ago I started buying Muscle Up Protein Bars at my local smoothie joint. The packaging advertised them as the first bar to be based on the beloved sweet potato, featuring grass fed whey protein, and all of the ingredients are clearly recognizable…nothing artificial. I sampled the varieties, settled on the Peanut Butter & Cacao Nib as my flavor of choice, and went in deep. After stock piling these bad boys for weeks, said smoothie shop owner informed me that the creators of Muscle Up were actually CT residents, and had developed these right around the corner. Also, turns out, the bar of my dreams is the official bar of Team USA Weightlifting. Who knew?? Read More
Continuum Distilling Opens In Waterbury With Craft Spirits Made From Beer Ingredients Features Beer CT Beer Distillery Spirits Local Artisan James Gribbon March 03, 2020 Because they apparently didn't have enough on their plates with Black Hog brewing, Ordinary cocktail bar, OLMO, Caseus, and The Stack in New Haven, Jason and Tom Sobocinski and Tyler Jones have launched Continuum Distilling in Waterbury. The distillery logo features a hop surrounded by the tricorner symbol for recycling, an emblem of their process, which takes the often discarded "trimmings" from area breweries, and reduces them to an unusual, boozy essence.I made it up to Continuum last weekend for their grand opening, and my first impression was that it shares a building with Brass Works Brewing. Neat! I'd had several Brass Works beers before, but I'd never been, so a single trip can be a BOGO for the efficiency-minded drinker on the go. Read More
Arethusa Dairy Farm: Saving CT Farmland Through Exceptional Dairy Features Ingredients Bantam Litchfield CT Farms Local Farm Local Artisan Dairy Farm ice cream Cheese Homepage Jessica Ryan February 26, 2020 CTBites and Terrain were recently invited to Arethusa Dairy Farm for a behind the scenes tour of their dairy farm and cheese making process. But before we get all cheesy, I want to share the wonderful story of a once little known dairy farm.It all began in 1999 when the Webster family put their 150 year old family farm up for sale. Worried that their view would be obstructed, and to preserve the historic property, neighbors George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgatis stepped in to purchase the farm once named for a small pink orchid that grew in a swamp on the land. Malkemus and Yurgatis promised to restore its original name, and such were the humble beginnings of the Arethusa Dairy Farm. Read More
Turning Sap Into Syrup At Ambler Farm's Tap-A-Tree Program Ingredients Features Farm to Table Local Farm Ingredients kids activity Kid Friendly Natalie Levitt February 24, 2020 It was a warm February morning and my son and I joined a group of families as we gathered at Ambler Farm in Wilton, CT to kick off the maple sugaring season. We were greeted by Program Director Kevin Meehan and received an introductory lesson on how to tap a maple tree. Most of us stood in awe as the sap started to drip out of the tree upon tapping it. Many cheered with excitement for what was about to begin was a fantastic winter farming adventure and a great lesson in farm-to-table. We then received our buckets from Assistant Program Manager Jennifer Grass and proceeded to carefully select our “Giving Trees” on the farm. We hung our buckets on the trees and captured photos to commemorate the day. (Our tree was number 42 and pretty far from the sugar shack! It was an adventure after all!) Then we waited. We waited a week. During that week, many of us wondered just how much sap we would find in our buckets when we returned to the farm. Read More
Clam Chowder Recipe from Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill Recipe Features Seafood Recipe CTbites Team February 22, 2020 It’s the day you’ve all been waiting for…February 25th is National Clam Chowder Day! Yup. It’s a thing. But seriously, any excuse to get Chef Arturo-Franco Camach to share his Clam Chowder Recipe from the Connecticut’s seafood favorite, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, is a good one. Enjoy! Read More
Local Spotlight: Mike Geller of Mike's Organic in Stamford Features Ingredients Delivery Service Home Delivery Organic Specialty Market Stamford Westchester Interview Homepage Andrew Dominick February 12, 2020 Hello, CTbites readers! Most of the time we bring you pieces on chefs but we’re trying something new that puts the focus on interesting food and beverage industry folks that ARE NOT chefs but have a tale to tell; think bartenders, independent bakers, farmers, maybe some brewers, or even that waiter everyone seems to know. It’s only fitting to kick it off with Mike Geller, the owner of Mike’s Organic Delivery in Stamford. He’s not a chef, he has a story, and he’s really easy to have a conversation with. He’s one of the reasons why I thought of this series in the first place, so making him number one was a no-brainer. If you’re unfamiliar with Mike’s Organic, it opened in 2009, strictly as a grocery delivery service. Now, celebrating its decade-old birthday, Geller expanded his business and opened his doors to the public with a mini market filled with carefully selected organic goods, fresh produce, and lots of local products. To boot, they host lots of special events and cooking classes with the likes of Geoff Lazlo, Ross Bread, and Nit Noi Provisions. How it all started, though, is quite something. Cue the Q&A! Read More
Friday Froth: Experimental Brewing at 12% Brewing Project in North Haven Features Ingredients Beer CT Beer Brewery North Haven James Gribbon February 07, 2020
Nordic Fish Opens in Fairfield: The Freshest of Fish, Poke Bar, Sushi Donuts & Prepared Food! Restaurant Ingredients Specialty Market Fish Fish Market Fairfield Seasonal Sushi Poke Catering Clambake Lobster Bake Opening April Guilbault January 15, 2020 I have two words for you: Sushi Cake. And two more words for you: Sushi Donut. Hold on, two more: Sushi Burrito. Wait! Three more words! (so many words).Knowledge. Sustainability. Heritage.How on earth do all of these, plus a fresh Nordic wind, connect? They intersect on the Post Road in Fairfield at the Nordic Fish market. Read More
Shepherd's Pie Recipe from Dirt Road Farm & The Westport Farmers' Market Features Recipe Recipe Comfort Food CTbites Team January 08, 2020 What’s better than a Shepherd’s Pie on a long dark winter night? Westport Farmers’ Market and Phoebe Cole-Smith of Dirt Road Farm have nicely shared this comfort food favorite with CTbites. We’ve made this many times already, and it never fails to please. Enjoy. Eat up! Read More
Terrain Cafe & Amis Trattoria Teach Seasonal & Sustainable Cooking Class Series Features Ingredients Cooking Cooking Classes Education Stephanie Webster January 07, 2020 Join the culinary professionals that lead the kitchens of Westport restaurants Terrain Cafe and Amis at Stamford Museum & Nature Center as they show you the joys of sourcing and cooking with the best in seasonal and sustainable ingredients. From salads and appetizers to entrees, pastas and desserts, this six-part series (January 27 through March 9.) takes you through the methodology of creating show-stopping dishes as you also learn how to source the best ingredients right in your own backyard. Read More
CT Distilleries Share Their Favorite Holiday Cocktail Recipes Features Ingredients Cocktails Recipe Entertaining Holiday Local Artisan Distillery Spirits Homepage April Guilbault December 10, 2019 ’Tis the season for merriment annnnd with merriment usually comes festive cocktails. Knowing that Connecticut has some amazing small-batch distilleries, we would like to highlight some delicious cocktails utilizing these spirits to get your party going and get your guests dancing like ol’ Mr. Fezziwig. Enjoy these jovial creations at your next party or pick up a bottle of these local spirits as a great gift for hostesses, friends or family members. Spread the local love, raise those glasses and enjoy the holidays. Cue the merriment! Read More
Teroforma’s 1pt Cocktail Blends Teams with Crew Restaurant to Host Cocktail Lab Dinner Ingredients Features Pop-Up Bar Pop-Up Dinner Cocktails Local Artisan Andrew Dominick December 03, 2019 Wine or beer dinners in Fairfield County are common, but cocktail dinners? You don’t see very many (if any) offered on a regular basis. About a year ago, Chris Geideman, the owner of Crew Restaurant in Greenwich, along with Andrew Hellman, CEO of the Norwalk-based barware company Teroforma, started to discuss a cocktail dinner event of their very own. The idea would feature Teroforma’s 1pt Blends, a line of flavor kits that enable anyone from experienced bartenders to at-home amateurs to infuse spirits minus all the guesswork. Teroforma is a local CT company that creates all-natural, gourmet infusions for cocktails. After a bunch of casual conversations, they figured out a way not only to make it happen, but to make it something more than simply drinking and eating. Read More
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Recipe from Marcia Selden Catering Recipe Recipe Thanksgiving Soups Marcia Selden Catering November 23, 2019 We continue our merry Thanksgiving romp with a recipe from Marcia Selden Catering. The Seldens have cooked for, quite literally, thousands of hungry guests, and this is their go-to recipe for Butternut Squash & Apple Soup. It is incredibly simple to make and always a crowd pleaser. Make sure you garnish with the Pepitas. They add some nice texture to the creamy (dairy-free) soup. Read More
Brown Sugar Apple Pie Recipe from Judy’s Bar & Kitchen in Stamford Recipe Features Recipe Dessert Holiday Thanksgiving CTbites Team November 22, 2019 Chef Judy Roll of Judy’s Bar & Kitchen knows her way around a pie, and if you visit her spot in Stamford, you’ll know why she was asked for this recipe. Quite frankly, we selfishly wanted it for our own recipe rolodexes, but we thought we’d share. Aren’t we nice? Enjoy Judy Roll’s recipe for Brown Sugar Apple Pie. Read More
Sweet Potato Pie Recipe from Latin Chef/ Author Leticia Schwartz Recipe Features Recipe Thanksgiving Holiday Pie Dessert Leticia Schwartz November 21, 2019 Ok, I’m all about healthy cooking. The proof is in the book, Latin Superfoods. But this time of year is a little special! Let’s dig right into this Sweet Potato Pie, adapted from Gourmet Magazine. Go ahead and celebrate the old-fashioned way with family and friends. Growing up in Brazil, such a tart was not in the habits, and in fact it took some time for me to get the liking of it. But after 20 years of living here, let me tell you, I’m hooked! And Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays since it’s all about food, friends and family! Read More
Candied Kabocha Squash Recipe: Chef Emily Mingrone of Tavern on State Features Recipe Recipe Holiday Thanksgiving Cooking Entertaining CTbites Team November 09, 2019 For the next two weeks CTbites will be featuring a series of Thanksgiving recipes from local CT chefs. Some of these recipes will be family favorites, or dishes the chefs cook in their own homes. Others will grace the holiday menus found at your local restaurant. One thing is certain. They will all be delicious and worthy of a seat at YOUR table. Our second in this series comes from Chef Emily Mingrone of Tavern On State. Enjoy her recipe for Candied Kabocha Squash. Read More
Polenta Holiday Cookies Recipe from Chef Silvia Baldini Features Recipe Recipe Dessert Holiday Cookies Entertaining Silvia Baldini November 05, 2019 Crispy, crunchy, polenta cookies. The recipe was kindly gifted to me by my MIL Elisabetta. They have become a welcome tradition in my family. We make them a couple of weeks ahead of the holidays and keep them fresh in metal tin, lined with parchment paper. The mix of polenta and potatoes starch gives them a melt in your mouth texture. I like to dust them with a light coating of powder sugar and I enjoy them as treat with tea or when my sweet tooth requires a fixing. Read More
Halloween Treats: Part 2-Bloody Fingers in a Blanket Recipe Halloween Recipe Marcia Selden Catering October 22, 2019 In our second Halloween recipe installment, we venture towards the macabre with this recipe for Bloody Fingers in a Blanket (AKA chorizo in puff pastry). They look revolting, but they are quite the crowd pleaser. Serve these quick and easy recipe to kids or adults at your Halloween soirée. Read More
Halloween Treats! Part 1 - Chocolate Snake Pit Pots de Creme Recipe Recipe Recipe Halloween Holiday Marcia Selden Catering October 17, 2019 Halloween is around the corner, and in honor of this ghoulish holiday, Marcia Selden Caterers have created the perfect recipe for your Halloween party. Kids and adults will love this recipe for Chocolate Snake Pit Pots de Creme. Read More
