Nibble: Tasty Food News and Events For November 15-30th Events Features Events News Stephanie Webster November 14, 2020 Join Dom's Cheese Shop for a Virtual Friendsgiving Cheese And Wine Tasting for your Thanksgiving Table on Friday, November 20, 2020 at 6 PM EST – 7:30 PM EST. Hosted by Super Cellar Warehouse Liquors (Avon, CT) and Dom's Cheese Shop Tickets · $75 - $100Westport History Museum is running a GINGERBREAD making contest!! Get out the frosting and the gumdrops and enter your gingerbread version of the Bradley-Wheeler House, Westport Museum’s headquarters—or a Westport historic building of your choice. Entrants may also do a gingerbread version of their own home too. Prizes vary by category. Winners will announced on December 12th at 2 pm by Santa Clause at the Museum’s outdoor Winter Market. REGISTER HERE! Voting is open to the public.Chef Avi from Roia New Haven has launched a Fall Virtual Cooking Series, comprised of three classes!.This cooking series will focus on teaching/improving your cooking skills and techniques. We will be locally sourcing our ingredients including some from our friends at Muddy Roots Farm. Read More
Soul Tasty Debuts Breakfast in Stamford: Great Soul Food And A Great Deal Restaurant Stamford Breakfast Soul Food Fried Chicken Andrew Dominick November 12, 2020 Soul Tasty, Stamford’s only soul food restaurant, is waking up before the sun rises to whip up their new breakfast menu that includes an array of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, French toast, and a few southern classics.Co-owner and chef Jean Gabriel teased Soul Tasty’s stick-to-your-ribs morning offerings with what’s arguably the star of the menu and an inevitable big seller, a fried chicken biscuit with a smattering of honey.“It’s a southern-style biscuit that’s butter basted throughout the cooking process, so you still get the flakiness, the buttery taste, and the softness,” Gabriel says. “We wanted to get the biscuit to the point where when you have anything with it, like when you bite into the crispy chicken, that it meshes well together for a contrast of textures.”As for the chicken part of the breakfast sandwich? It’s a boneless thigh, like the one Soul Tasty matches up with its chicken & waffles. Gabriel tells us that he marinates the thigh in a secret spice blend, allows it to sit, rotates it, flours it, eggs it, then dredges it again for a double crunch effect. Read More
Thanksgiving 2020: CT Guide To Restaurants & Caterers For Thanksgiving To-Go Restaurant Features Thanksgiving Catering Entertaining Holiday Take Out Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe November 11, 2020 Many of us have sharpened our kitchen chops this last nutty year as we’ve spent more time at the stove than ever before. But it is time to give yourself a break while supporting local restaurants. It’s a tasty win win. Here are some Connecticut places that will dazzle you with a tremendous Thanksgiving spread either for takeout of eat in. So families, put the knives down, let yourselves be served, but sharpen those debate skills. Afterall, the Thanksgiving table tends to be a place where families air it all out or bring deep seated secrets to life? Okay, okay, or just go around the table and say what they are thankful for. Right, let’s go with that one.Here are 50+ CT Spots for Thanksgiving Dining To Go! Read More
45+ Spots For Great Pies in Connecticut: Holiday Shopping Guide Features Restaurant Holiday Thanksgiving Pie Pies Dessert Bakery Baked Goods Shopping Grocery Store Catering Best of CT Homepage April Guilbault November 07, 2020
Rosie New Canaan: 16 Years of Uber Delicious Global Comfort Food Restaurant New Canaan Global Cuisine American Baked Goods Comfort Food Mexican Dessert Breakfast Brunch Lunch homepage Homepage Stephanie Webster November 01, 2020 Walking in to meet the legendary “Rosie” of Rosie New Canaan, I had full clarity within 30 seconds as to what has made this uber delicious global comfort food spot so beloved for 16 years. Sure, it’s the 2 pound blueberry muffins that could make a grown man weep, and the love that goes into the 6 hour stewed black beans in Rosie’s hueveos rancheros, but truly it is Rosie Bonura herself that makes this place feel like home (but with far better fare than you’d find in your own kitchen). She herself is the perfect recipe of creative energy, passion, and love for her community. This New Canaan fixture, whom I came to realize, after sitting streetside with her, knows everyone in the town by name, came racing out of the kitchen to greet me (we’d never met in person), virtually hugged me, (cuz’ Covid), and said “I need to get a batch of cookies out of the oven, I’ll be right back.” Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food News and Events for November 1-20th Events Features Events News Stephanie Webster October 31, 2020 Nana’s Bakery & Pizza opens in Mystic with a full scale bakery and pizza shop offering scratch made baked goods from organic local naturally leavened dough, pastries, hot sourdough donuts, coffee and more. Part of the 85th Day Food Community which includes Oyster Club, Engine Room, and Grass & Bone.Grano Arso, in Chester and Highclere Castle Gin out of Essex, in partnership with the namesake estate in England and location of the beloved series Downton Abbey, have come together to create the ultimate moment of luxury. From November 1 - January 1, diners have the opportunity to delight in, perhaps, the most lavish cocktail ever made. This $99 cocktail is not meant to empty your pockets, although the pleasure itself might be worth the moment, but in fact, go to a wonderful cause, the Channel 3 Kids Camp.Join Hops On The Hill, a 100% “farm to glass” brewery in South Glastonbury, CT for Cigar Day, Food Trucks, & Live Music Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 1 PM EST – 6 PM. Hosted by Puros Cigar Shop, Skyscraper Sandwich Truck and Hops on the Hill. Puros Cigar Shop will be selling cigars at the brewery. Come sit back and relax with a cigar, beer, and food from Skyscraper Sandwich Truck and Cannoli Truck. Enjoy LIVE music by The Degenerates Acoustic from 2-6pm. Social distancing guidelines will be in place. Bring Your Own Lawn Chair.Take a break from politics and order a pie! https://wakemantownfarmstore.square.site/s/shop. Wakeman Town Farm is hosting its first-annual Holiday Pie Sale in conjunction with our friends at Kneads Bakery in Westport. Read More
Chef Jason Toledo Takes Over The Kitchen at Barcelona Wine Bar West Hartford Restaurant Spanish Tapas Chef Chef Talk Menu Update West Hartford Hartford County Jessica Ryan October 29, 2020 Last week we took a road trip to Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford to meet Executive Chef Jason Toledo who recently joined the team there from the Boston locations. Barcelona Wine Bar, which first appeared on the scene in 1995, has been a go-to for tapas and wine lovers ever since. Known for their rustic Mediterranean and South American inspired influences, regulars seek out the restaurant’s signature dishes as a source of comfort and consistency. (I cannot, for example, not order the spinach and Chickpea Cazuela and the Gambas al Ajillo - ordered with extra bread to soak up the divine garlicky juices). While we all have our go-to comfort foods, discovering new items is an equally thrilling part of the experience.With 18 locations in nine states, Barcelona prides itself on celebrating each chef’s individual talents, allowing for certain dishes to be exclusive to each restaurant. Each location, while unique, has a familiar and welcoming atmosphere. Read More
A Visit to Arethusa Farm Dairy: Exceptional Cows Make Exceptional Ice Cream Ingredients Restaurant ice cream Dessert Kid Friendly Litchfield Bantam New Haven jeffrey schlesinger October 27, 2020 Back in April my colleagues from CTBites visited Arethusa Farms to perform a “meet & greet” with 300 cows that comprise the foundation to the Arethusa dairy products. These world renown Holsteins and Jerseys produce some of the best milk, and by extension the ice cream that is sold in the Arethusa Farm Dairy store is world class. More recently, they visited Arethusa Al Tavolo and enjoyed numerous dishes prepared with numerous of the farm’s ingredients, including the cows’ milk. The team was not able to visit the ice cream storefront on either visit as the line was staggering, so it fell heavy on my shoulders (insert smile) that I took one for the team and lazily drove to Arethusa Farm Dairy one Sunday afternoon. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food News & Events For October 25-November 5 Features Events News Events Stephanie Webster October 24, 2020 CALLING ALL FOODIES! The Town of Fairfield, CT presents FAIRFIELD EATS 2020, OCT. 19 – NOV. 1. In lieu of a traditional Restaurant Week, Fairfield introduces a two-week special promotion encouraging people to patronize local restaurants by either dining in or taking out! View PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS. SPECIALS INCLUDE: Prix Fixe Menus, Family Meal Discounts, Take-Out Options & Chance to Win a $50 Gift Certificateelm restaurant in New Canaan is now offering fabulous BRANCHBOX boxed dinners to go. These seasonally prepared meal boxes delivered to your door as an affordable & accessible alternative to our new reality. Orders must be placed by 4pm for same day delivery. Boxes include full meals for two for $48 and include entrée like carnitas, roasted whole chicken, salmon fillets, and taco tuesday.On October 28, The Charles is bringing Oktober Fest to Old Wethersfield! Join us on the lawn for local beers, traditional German food, raffles, and more! Tickets are limited, call to reserve yours today: 860.785.8499On October 31st Parkville Market will be hosting their first official Harvest Festival! The Market, home to 18 unique restaurants and three bars, will have both indoor and outdoor dining available along with fun fall activities taking place throughout the day. The schedule of events includes:- Live Music 3-6PM-Balloon Animals 11-2PM-Outdoor pop-ups of local Hartford vendors-Safe Trick or treat opportunities for kids inside the market-Specialty beverages for both adults and children-Halloween Themed Trivia 7-9PM Read More
Provisions On State Opens From Chef Emily Mingrone: New Haven's First Nose To Tail Butchery Features Restaurant New Haven Butcher Butchery Chef Meat Grocery Store Homepage Opening Chef Jes Bengston October 23, 2020 “If you don't like outstanding music, fresh chef cultivated sandwiches, farm and forest hand-picked produce, local artisanal product, NYC vibes, an incredibly friendly staff, and whole animal butchery then DEFINITELY do not go to Chef Emily Mingrone and Shane McGowan’s new Provisions On State,” says Chef Jes Bengston.Emily and Shane, owners of the award-winning “restaurant of the year” Tavern on State, in New Haven, decided to expand the brand and recently opened this sister spot just down the street from the restaurant, bringing an old school nose to tail butchery and a small grocery store to the East Rock neighborhood. As I took the two steps down into the store front ( like so New York I was like omg) I was immediately over taken with a vibe and energy that can only be created by this tag team duo who met by working together in a local restaurant in 2018, opened a restaurant in 2019, and now this. The store is so small I could lay eyes on all 4 walls at the same time but it took me 3 circles to absorb all the curated culinary greatness going on in here. Read More
Le Banh Patisserie: Stunning French Pastry That Delights ALL The Senses Restaurant Pastries Baked Goods Pastry Pastry Chef Kid Friendly Dessert Bakery Hartford County Hartford Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe October 20, 2020 2020 has at least made carbs, especially of the bready sort, sexy again. So, for this, I am thankful. Many have proven that by turning their kitchens into mini-bakeries this year. My cousin in PA, a lawyer by day, has posted about 100 pics of golden crusted sourdough; my neighbor, a sound engineer for Broadway--sadly all too quiet-- has added to my...eh hem...curves, with his newfound bagel prowess. I keep thinking I should buy stock in King Arthur Flour, then I forget amidst my food coma. Anyway, yay us for taking such a horrible time and at least turning a piece of it into something productive and tasty.BUT, none of us have anything on Chef Kim Huang Wood and the real masterpieces coming out of Le Banh Patisserie kitchen. Just one afternoon with her, watching as she orchestrates her kitchen and the magic that comes out of it, I understand the difference between our hobbies and those who emit greatness. But that greatness, those masterpieces, have come from devotion, and true hard work. Read More
Rice & Beans Food Truck Owner Opens Bottega Italian Kitchen + Bar in Bethel Features Restaurant Italian Pizza Cocktails Bethel Homepage Andrew Dominick October 18, 2020 About a year ago, while having a few beers at Decadent Ales, I was formally introduced to Jasson Arias, the owner of the popular Rice & Beans food truck. It was there that I got in on a conversation between he and Chris Gonzalez of Hapa Food Truck. Arias talked about wanting to take that next step in the food industry and open a physical restaurant.Fast forward to now. Arias has graduated from food truck to brick-and-mortar with his newest venture, Bottega Wood Fired Kitchen + Bar.Bottega, though, is a completely different concept than the delicious, photogenic bowls Arias has become known for. Bottega, translated from Italian to English, means shop, and at this “shop” they’re firing up Neapolitan style pizza along with reimagined Italian classics, and they made damn sure the bar program wouldn’t be an afterthought.How Arias got here from that chat at a brewery all those months ago isn’t that crazy of a story. “It’s not as complicated as it might seem,” he says. “The space was open. It used to be a wood-fired concept as well, but it was more traditional.”The space he’s talking about used to be the Rizzuto’s Italian Restaurant & Bar in Bethel. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food News & Events for October 18-30th Features Events Events News Stephanie Webster October 16, 2020
Haven Hot Chicken Opens October 17 Bringing Nashville Hot Chicken to Downtown New Haven Restaurant New Haven Fried Chicken Lunch Take Out Delivery Chicken Sandwich Kid Friendly Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster October 15, 2020 “Oh my god, this fried chicken sandwich is so freakin’ delicious I may openly weep,” came out of my mouth as I savored my first bite of Haven Hot Chicken’s Nashville style hot chicken sandwich. “Haven Hot Chicken” opened last week at 21 Whitney Avenue in downtown New Haven after months of sold out pop ups throughout the New Haven area. The lines are long, but the wait is worth it, as people queued up to sample the cult classic Nashville Hot Chicken (and vegetarian Not Chicken) in a variety of heat levels (5 to be exact). Read More
Frankies Hot Dogs: Best Hot Dog in Connecticut? Restaurant Hot Dogs Delicious Dives Comfort Food jeffrey schlesinger October 13, 2020 Is there anyone who doesn’t like a good hot dog?Steaming hot, wrapped in a bun, the hot dog, frankfurter, red hot, tube steak, wiener, frank, weenie, dirty water dog, dachshund, all relate to spiced pork or beef stuffed inside a casing, then fried, grilled, smoked, boiled, steamed, and placed in a long roll, topped with numerous toppings and devoured. They are so popular that Spotify offers over 300 songs about hot dogs, from Elvis to Zeppelin, Joey Chestnut is a household name for eating 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes, and outrageous antics of flamboyant athletes are called “hot-dogging.” Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food News & Events for October 11-20 Events Features News Events Nibble Stephanie Webster October 08, 2020 AMG Catering has announced their Fall Cooking Classes.Milestone Restaurant in Redding will be hosting a social-distance-friendly Oktoberfest celebration Sunday, October 11 from 2PM - 8PM. Guests can enjoy beer, brats, pretzels, and live music featuring Fuzz Sangiovani & Friends. Live music begins at 4PM. Reservations are required. Visit milestonect.com to make your reservation.Fairfield Cheese Company takes you to school via Zoom on October 15, 7-8:30 PM in their class “Unlocking the Mysteries of Raw Milk Cheese.” Sign up here.WeHartford’s Picnic in the Park series was such a success that they have extended it through October with 3 more picnics. The October series will be held on three Saturdays from 1-4pm (Oct. 10, 17, and 24th) and this time around thanks to a generous donation from Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the series will work with all minority-owned restaurants, including Mofongo, Banh Meee, Stella's African Eatery, and Capital Icecream. Each restaurant has curated a one-time-only picnic basket for their event date. Read More
Amis Trattoria Westport Shifts Towards Lighter, Fresher, More Fun Approach Features Restaurant Italian Westport Outdoor Dining Pasta Homepage Andrew Dominick October 07, 2020 When Jessica Bengston quietly took over the executive chef reigns at Amis Trattoria in July 2019, she’ll tell you bluntly that “most of the people that work here didn’t even know what the hell ‘Amis’ meant.”“Amis” or “ami” translated from French means “friends.” And there’s a flashy new “Amis Means Friends” neon sign that pops in dining room near the chef’s counter to proudly stress that mantra.But French, Amis is not. It’s an Italian-ish concept that’s changing its stripes.“We didn’t change much the first few months when I took over because we were in transition—we weren’t sure if we’d rebrand or close,” Bengston says. “We thought about changing the name and even considered making it Italian tapas but COVID happened, so we scrapped the idea of shared small plates.”Bengston—who also serves double duty as the executive chef at Terrain—mentioned that the team at Amis is trying to move on from what the concept was under the previous culinary team that included well known Philadelphia chefs Marc Vetri and Brad Spence. After URBN (that owns Urban Outfitters, Terrain, and Anthropologie) made a deal to acquire Amis and Pizzeria Vetri restaurants, both Vetri and Spence departed the company not long after.After figuring out what a new ethos would look like, Bengston, plus a new culinary director and new team members, decided to lighten up the menu. Read More
2020 Hartford Rib Off: A“Week of BBQ” Inspired Dishes and Drinks For Charity Features Events Hartford County Hartford West Hartford Stephanie Webster October 06, 2020 From October 19-25, 2020, you can enjoy a “Week of BBQ” Inspired Dishes and Drinks at Participating Hartford Area Restaurants….all for a good cause! The Hartford Rib Off, Hartford’s largest charity BBQ event of the year, is revamping to a new format for 2020, to raise funds for the community while also supporting the hard-hit hospitality industry. COVID-19 has put a hold on large-scale public gatherings in 2020, leaving many non-profit events, like the Hartford Rib Off, without a means to raise funds. To adhere to safety protocols, this year’s Hartford Rib Off will take on a new format, where for one week, BBQ enthusiasts can enjoy BBQ inspired dishes and drinks at their favorite Hartford area restaurants, for one full week. Read More
Camacho Garage Opens in New Haven From Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho Restaurant Mexican Tacos Cocktails New Haven Lunch Homepage Opening Kristin L. Wolfe October 03, 2020 Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho is no stranger to pleasuring CT diners. As a matter of fact, on top of numerous accolades, he’s been nominated for Chef of the Year. Along with the team from Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, and Nantucket’s Bar Yoshi, Chef Arturo certainly has a following for his food. (That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if his silver mane has its own instagram page). So, we know when he gets in the kitchen, the food will be fresh, high quality, and pretty friggin’ delicious. And yet, his creativity with each new venture still offers elements of surprise. Cue his newest, Camacho Garage in New Haven. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food News & Events For October 4-11 Features Events News Events Stephanie Webster October 02, 2020 Casa Villa’s (866 East Main Street, Stamford) has new Taco Tuesday offering! The Mexican restaurant on Stamford’s East Side has introduced a special ALL YOU CAN EAT taco menu! The promotion gives you an opportunity to select from 10 of their amazing tacos – as many as you want! – for just $15. If you want to add a margarita, sangria or beer it’s just $20!Hoodoo Barbecue school returns!! Come learn from the Hoodoo Crew, as the Pit Crew takes you behind the scenes for a four hour barbecue school from 8am-12pm.Cuban dinner for two for Havana Nights at The Spread Norwalk! Join us every Thursday night for a special menu curated by Chef Carlos BaezJoin Millwright’s sous chef, Jamie Bordonaro, for a very special pop-up dinner on Monday, October 12th at 5pm for a 4 course prix fixe dinner to celebrate the release of his cookbook ‘Pursuit of Passion'.’ The dinner will be held Outside at Millwright’s. Tickets are limited and are $85 per person, with a $30 wine pairing available. The dinner includes a copy of the cookbook. View the menu and get tickets onlineWinfield Street Coffee is celebrating their 5-year anniversary with GIVEAWAYS!! They are giving away 5 super cool gift baskets. Read More
