Green Gourmet To Go: Healthy Eats in Bridgeport Ingredients Features Local Farm Organic Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian healthy Farm Fresh Liz Rueven April 28, 2010 If you discover sweet potatoes and spinach in your fudge brownies at Green Gourmet to Go don't be surprised. OK, you can keep that a secret from your kids because the veggies are not detectable in these moist, chocolatey bites or in the Blondies with a sweet potato base. The chocolate (anti oxidants a plenty!) masks the veggies and you will be better off for having added a few more to your daily intake. My fave desserts were the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and the almond oaties. They tasted most like what I would expect (read: crave) from a cookie. Imagine eating your veggies in your dessert! I didn't mean to jump to the end first but I was so enthralled by the ingredients list that I did exactly that! Linda Soper-Kolton has been open in Black Rock for only 5 weeks but she is well on her way to establishing herself as a resource for healthy meals and nutrient dense foods. Read More
Bringing Back The Martini Ingredients Features Cocktails Recipe Amy Kundrat April 27, 2010 The gin martini deserves to be revered. Done well, it's a study in radical simplicity. Done poorly, and you’re better off using it as a cleaning solution. Each Monday I encourage you to celebrate the start of the week with a classic dry gin martini. A weekly ritual in our house, it should begin with good quality gin, a whisper of vermouth, combined with a shaker full of ice and finished with a twist of lemon served in a chilled glass. (If you'd rather not serve, but be served this classic cocktail, check out our "Martini Map" below.) An acquired taste for many, the juniper and botanical essence of gin over time will grow on you, especially when paired with an olive or olive juice (the dirty martini), perhaps a pickled onion (the gibson) and of course (my preferred pairing) the lemon twist Read More
Old School Burgers @ Their Best: Cherry Street East Restaurant New Canaan Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 25, 2010 Photo Credit: Natasha Montero“Déjà vu all over again” – Yogi Berra In April 2006, Cherry Street East suffered the greatest catastrophe that can strike any business when it became engulfed in flames. A total loss; many loyal patrons stared at the charred remains of their local pub, their beloved hangout, and the place that since 1977 had served one of the best burgers in Fairfield County. Cherry Street East was a piece of the fiber of the New Canaan community and patrons were concerned that Cherry Street East would become a distant memory. In a true tribute to the owners John and Mary Bergin, the local residents formed an alliance with the owners to reconstruct an exact replica of the original building. The eclectic clientele returned and include local business people sharing an appetizer and burger for lunch, several regulars holding court, and families out for a burgers and fries dinner. With the building rebuilt to its former glory would the legendary burgers return? Read More
CTbites Lunch Event @ Nicholas Roberts Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Lunch Stephanie Webster April 23, 2010 As promised, our next CTbites / Suzysaid lunch event has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 4th @ Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro. Many of us in the CTbites community have been long time fans of Rob Troilo's sublime cuisine, and now he will serve up a meal especially for our readers. You know it's going to be good. For anyone who has dined with Rob before, you know the space is small, so call now to make your reservations at (203) 229-0035. Check out the delicious $15 prix fixe menu below... Choice of entree: Seared Tuna Nicoise Style - with black olive tapenade, green beans, anchovies and a dijon vinaigrette Caesar Salad with Organic Chicken - brioche croutons and parmesan crisp Spring Vegetable Risotto with fresh favas, english peas, asparagus and mascarpone Read More
Great Entertaining: “Lulu Powers Food to Flowers" Features Catering Cookbooks Education Elizabeth Keyser April 22, 2010 Elizabeth Keyser recently had the chance to interview Lulu Powers, entertaining guru, and celebrity chef. Here is what she learned, along with a few of Lulu's amazing recipes. After writing a profile of Lulu Powers, Weston girl gone caterer-to-the stars, I met Lulu last week at a book party for “Lulu Powers Food to Flowers” at the Westport Women’s Club. Lulu lives in L.A., where she has cooked for Madonna, Will Smith and Jada Pinckett-Smith and Bill Clinton. Lulu’s philosophy is that entertaining should be fun, and it can be simple and fuss-free Read More
How To Make Grilled Pizza Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Pizza Recipe Video kids activity Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight April 20, 2010 With warmer weather on its way, it's time to clean up that grill and bring on the 2010 grilling season. And really...doesn't everything taste just a little bit better on the grill? Even pizza.... If you've never made grilled pizza, you'll be amazed by how simple it is. Chef Nicole throws down some serious pie in her step-by-step video, and she's got tons of great tips. We've gone with Prosciutto, smoked Gouda, and arugula for our toppings, but feel free to dream up any accompaniment you wish. If you decide to make you own pizza dough vs. picking one up in the store, Chef Nicole has a great recipe for homemade dough. Happy cooking! Read More
Chef Leticia Brings Brazilian Cooking To Fairfield County Ingredients Features Brazilian Cooking Classes Education Deanna Foster April 19, 2010 You never know what to expect when you sign up for a cooking class. How much cooking will you do? Who will attend and what will they want from the class? How will the personality of the chef influence the experience? What if you could cut down on all those variables by gathering a group of friends with common food interests and visiting the home of a chef whose only motive is to ensure you have a good time and eat well? It would be a fabulous experience – wouldn’t it? Recently, eight CTBites contributors had just such a fabulous culinary experience with chef, teacher and cookbook author Leticia Moreinos Schwartz at one of her in-home Brazilian cooking classes. Read More
Beyond Breakfast @ Rosie in New Canaan Restaurant New Canaan Breakfast Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster April 18, 2010 By Saturday morning I can't bear the thought of cooking another breakfast for my children. These are the mornings I lean heavily on the culinary skills of my husband, or abandon the house to allow a paid cook handle the whims and desires of my family of five. Sure, there are many local diners around town, but I'm always on the lookout for something more…well, more unique. Rosie in New Canaan is just this type of place. Caterers Rosie and George Nammack are the brains and cooks behind "Rosie," offering eat-in, take-out, and catering services. Walking into their almost unmarked glass-store front on Elm Street, I am reminded of some of my favorite coffee houses in Seattle serving that perfect combination of well prepared comforting fare and plush pillows. Read More
Wkend Brunch: Pear & Candied Ginger Granola Muffins Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Recipe Breakfast Nicole Straight April 17, 2010 Muffins are alway a crowd pleaser in my family, so I'm always looking for interesting new recipes. Chef Nicole developed these Pear and Candied Ginger Granola Muffins during her days as a personal chef. The candied ginger gives these healthy fruit based muffins a little extra zing. You can buy candied ginger at any number of groceries (i.e. Trader Joe's) or make your own. David Lebovitz has a great recipe if you are feeling up for the challenge. Pear and Candied Ginger Granola Muffins Read More
Join Sugar & Olives for Supper Saturday Night! Restaurant Events Norwalk Organic Stephanie Webster April 16, 2010 Still looking for that perfect Saturday night reservation? I just got wind of this dining event. Check it out... JOIN SUGAR & OLIVES FOR SUPPER SATURDAY NIGHT! SATURDAY, APRIL 17th ••• Here's a small slice of the pie they'll be offering: Read More
Ask Chef Nicole: Provencal Braised Chicken Thighs Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Recipe Nicole Straight April 15, 2010 It's not easy coming up with the mid-week meal, especially if you've got picky kids. It is precisely this type of conundrum that makes Chef Nicole tick. Mired in a massive cooking rut last week, I called her for some advice. She had just the solution for a tasty and ridiculously simple healthy weeknight dinner, Provencal Braised Chicken Thighs. I used to steer clear of chicken thighs favoring the white meat breasts, but I'm a changed woman. Thigh meat has great flavor, and only 10% more fat than the leaner breast. This is a delicious dish that the whole family will enjoy. Provencal Braised Chicken Thighs Read More
Kids Talk: The Under 10 Set Reviews Sunny Daes Kids Bites Restaurant Fairfield Stamford Trumbull Westport ice cream Kid Friendly Dessert Multiple Eaters April 14, 2010 When Ben & Jerry's closed in Westport this Fall, there were murmurs of discontent amongst the younger crowd. Where does one get homemade ice cream with solid mix-ins in this town? Fortunately help was just around the corner...literally. Sunny Daes opened just months later and now Westporters young and old don't have to drive to Fairfield to get their fix. This full service ice cream shop has 68 flavors of frosty desserts says owner, Sergio Keskin. Plus, it isn't shipped in on trucks; it's made right behind the counter. If this isn't enough to get you in the door, they also serve gelato, frozen yogurt, soft-serve ice cream, and ice cream cakes. Sure, I could tell you how good the ice cream is, but I thought it made more sense to let the kids tell it like it is... Read More
Thali Opens In Westport w/ Small Plates & Big Flavor Restaurant Indian Amy Kundrat April 11, 2010 Credits clockwise from top left: Copyright 2010, Chuck Dorris, eDining.us, Amy Kundrat, Copyright 2010, Chuck Dorris, eDining.us, Amy KundratThe culinary muscle flexed by Thali's Chef Prasad Chirnomula has educated and perhaps even defined Connecticut's interest and demand for Indian cuisine. With the fifth Thali opening in Westport, and his thirteenth restaurant overall, Chef Prasad has clearly hit his stride. Mining the traditional and regionally diverse dishes of India with a contemporary interpretation is Thali's niche. Staying true to this, Thali Westport innovates with a small plate approach skewed thoughtfully toward our impatient palates and lighter wallets. Throughout his menus, Chef Prasad uses his homeland as a starting point with each Thali launch continuing to raise the bar for eclectic Indian culinary experiences and Westport is paving the way. The beauty of the small plate style of eating is two-fold. As a way to explore an interesting menu in greater depth, it offers you smaller proportions and more opportunities to experience different flavor profiles. It also offers a relaxed and steady stream of food, as the kitchen will send out each plate as it is prepared rather than slam you all at once. I much prefer this anyway as I know my shrimp, usually done in a flash will not be overdone or sit waiting for my lamb croquettes to catch up. And if you prefer not to share, you can easily order an entree or make a meal out of your own small plates and hoard them for yourself, you selfish gastronome. Read More
Learn While You Lunch @ Sport Hill Farm: Season 2 Ingredients Restaurant Events Local Farm Organic Recipe Farm Fresh Lunch Stephanie Webster April 10, 2010
Red Bean Sushi: New Contender in Westport Restaurant Deanna Foster April 07, 2010 If you love sushi, you already have your favorite place to go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try something new to see if the wasabi is hotter on the other side of the fence. Red Bean Sushi is a very small and unassuming new sushi restaurant on the Post Road in Westport. It doesn’t look like much from the outside and it can be easily missed as its small storefront is surrounded by larger retail spaces – notably Stop and Shop across the street. But, this little place is worth a trip to expand your sushi options. Red Bean is the latest culinary venture for chef and owner Eric Xie. He also owns Village Gourmet, (arguably the best Chinese in the area). I honestly didn’t expect much on my first visit but after 5 trips, this is the place I want to go when I crave sushi. Read More
Re-creating leFarm's Golden Beet Salad w/ Lentils & Feta Features Vegetarian Recipe Farm Fresh Lauren fister April 07, 2010 I came across this post from a local blogger, Lauren Fister of chatNchow.com. The words "excellent dinner at leFarm" caught my eye, and I read on to find out that Lauren and I shared a common obsession with a new appetizer featured on leFarm's menu, the Beet & Lentil Salad. In fact, she liked it so much, she went home and tried to re-create the dish in her own kitchen. From the looks of it, she did a pretty good job. Mind you, we're not promising Bill Taibe here, but check out her recipe for a delicious Golden Beet Salad (Nature's Candy) With Lentils & Feta. Golden Beet Salad (Nature's Candy) With Lentils & Feta Read More
Bereket Turkish Restaurant: Istanbul in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Delicious Dives Turkish Vegetarian Stephanie Webster April 04, 2010 It's been 24 hours since I left Bereket, a tiny hole in the wall Turkish restaurant located behind a Citgo station on Bridgeport's Main Street. As I write this I wonder, is it too soon to go back? Bereket has been dubbed by people in the know as Fairfield County's best kept secret, and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Mind you, this place is not fussy. Hidden beside of the gas station's mini mart, Bereket's small dining space has only 3 tables and boxes of Turkish beverages and pantry staples lining the walls. But what this single room Turkish delight lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in the quality, freshness, and flavor of the food. Owner Selahattin Cinar has been in business for 6 years, and chats with customers while holding court in the kitchen preparing a steady stream of take-out orders. He greeted us warmly as we walked in, and we were relieved to find that he spoke enough English to answer questions and help us navigate their extensive menu. When we asked what was good, we were led to a display case filled with cold mezes (appetizers) and kebabs awaiting the heat, and simply told, it's all good. And it was. Read More
Chef Talk: The Schoolhouse Serves Apple Tart Tatin Features Chef Talk Wilton Recipe Dessert Stephanie Webster April 03, 2010 If you have dined at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, you have experienced the consistently inspired dishes that emerge from Chef LaBant's kitchen. LeBant's ingredients are pristinely fresh, locally farmed, and always beautifully prepared. An evening in The Schoolhouse's intimate dining room is always a treat. With a strong background in French cuisine, LaBant does jutice to the classic French treat, Apple Tart Tatin. This recipe will take you right back to the great bakeries of Paris. Plus, it's surprisingly simple. Enjoy. Read More
Passover Dessert Solution: Matzoh Toffee Brittle Features Holiday kids activity Recipe Dessert Stephanie Webster March 30, 2010 Passover can be tough times for the young who need to give up their baked goods, or at least modify their ingredients. Here is a dessert recipe that is both satisfying and simple, and it makes for a great gift. Kids will enjoy decorating the brittle once it is prepped, and the topping options are limitless. Think marshmallows, sprinkles, candied nuts...you name it! Our tester felt she could have used half the quantity of butter in this recipe, but taste it yourself and see what you think. Matzoh Toffee Brittle Read More
