Chef Nicole: Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight May 28, 2010 I don’t make fried chicken regularly, but when I do, I always use this recipe. It is a Memorial Day tradition in the Straight family, and it's all about the brine. I soak the chicken for a whole day in a buttermilk brine to give it plenty of time to soak up the tangy seasoned buttermilk. The extra liquid keeps the chicken juicy during cooking resulting in moist, flavorful delicious fried chicken. Note: When you are brining your chicken, make sure all of the pieces are completely immersed in the liquid. Happy Memorial Day!! Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken Read More
What's Fresh @ The Westport Farmers Market Ingredients Features Ask Chef Nicole Farmers Market Recipe Farm Fresh Opening Stephanie Webster May 28, 2010 Chef Nicole and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Westport Farmers Market all Winter, and finally the day had arrived. The weather held up, and under the new leadership of Market Director Lori Cochran, we were delighted to see some exciting new vendors in the mix. Chef Nicole made the rounds looking for ingredients for a Memorial Day market fresh lunch, and while gathering the goods we chatted with a few of the vendors who made this menu possible. Check out the video to hear about a new sustainable coffee roaster, buying your milk straight from the cow, backyard chickens, and a great reason to clean out your pantry every Thursday. Here are Chef Nicole's recipes from the market: Read More
Stamford Museum's Flights of Fancy Wine Tasting Restaurant Events Stamford Stephanie Webster May 27, 2010 Photos top from left: Sweet On You, Susan Kane Catering, TAWA; middle: TAWA, Frank & Julio, Susan Kane Catering; bottom: Frank & Julio, Susan Kane Catering, Sweet On YouOn Friday June 4th, Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s will hold their 13th Annual Flights of Fancy Wine Tasting to raise money for their wonderful community resource. The event will feature an evening of fine wines, exquisite food from 11 different local caterers, and a combination of tremendous live and silent auction item. Former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy will host the evening’s live auction. The 13th annual wine tasting will be held in the Museum’s Bendel Mansion. Check out the fabulous array of participating local caterers and fine restaurants. These include: A Dash of Salt of Norwalk, Butterfield 8, David’s Soundview Catering, Frank & Julio Complete Event Planning, and Fratelli Market of Stamford, Illy Coffee, Michael Joseph’s Fine Foods of Darien, and Napa & Co. of Stamford, Rosie of New Canaan, Shelly’s On The River, Susan Kane Catering, Sweet on You, and Tawa Indian Cuisine, all of Stamford. Read More
A Moveable Feast: Skinny Pines Brick Oven Pizza Truck Features Catering Local Artisan Pizza kids activity kids cooking party Liz Rueven May 26, 2010 The green Dodge pick-up truck slowly backed into my narrow, curved driveway with the 6 x 13 foot trailer leading. A dome shaped, brick pizza oven was mounted on the open trailer by some ingenious contraption that prevents it from being jostled and toppling off in a crumbled mess of mortar. Jeff Borofsky, chef/owner of SKINNY PINES, a portable wood fired oven catering company, was bringing the party to my home. A group of lucky CTbites contributors and other Fairfield County food producers were due to arrive in 90 minutes. I was beginning to wonder if the party would be ready for these friends with their discerning palates and voracious appetites. Read More
In Search of "Chinese Mirch:" Good Chinese in FC Restaurant Asian Chinese Stamford Indian Kid Friendly Sarah Green May 23, 2010 "Chinese Mirch"? You mean the month before Chinese April? Oh, you mean Mirch as in "merchant?" Not that either, eh? Maybe as in, "not mirch, what's new with you?" - close but no cigar, I guess. But it turns out that there's quite a bit that's new with this trendy Chinese/Indian hybrid currently in full swing on Stamford's bustling Atlantic Street. "Chinese Mirch," founded by third generation restaurateur Vik Lulla, is a labor of love for Mr Lulla and his wife Sienam. The couple opened the first "Chinese Mirch" in NYC in 2003 to great critical acclaim. Now, the couple owns two "Chinese Mirch" restaurants in Manhattan, this new Stamford location with another opening in Farmington this Summer, and one in Cambridge, MA coming soon. But what's this Mirch business all about? As someone who HATES not knowing the true meaning of things, I just HAD to find out. Read More
Daily Fare: Down To Earth Gourmet To-Go Features Restaurant Bethel Catering Coffee Breakfast Amy Kundrat May 20, 2010 Being greeted with a cup of locally roasted coffee and the promise of a healthy prepared meal each day may be the only foolproof way to overcome the indignity that is a Metro North train commute. Located inside the Bethel train station, Daily Fare offers a nourishing and caffeinated segue into the freneticism of a work day and the welcome flexibility of a healthy prepared take-home meal for lunch or dinner. This coffee shop-meets-gourmet-to-go is not just for commuters. For many of us faced with the daily demands and dwindling hours of busy schedules, Daily Fare affords us hungry and time-crunched souls the luxury of well balanced meals instead of shopping, cooking and preparing a meal. For many of us who like to cook, it can be a much-needed respite. For others who can't cook or don't want to, it's like having your own personal chef without having to foot the bill. Read More
Taqueria La Michoacana: Bridgeport's Top Taco? Restaurant Bridgeport Delicious Dives Mexican Lunch Kid Friendly Marcy Shinbaum May 19, 2010 Cinco de Mayo found my girls and I hankering for some Mexicano authenico. While we couldn’t afford a flight south for the day, Taqueria La Michoacana was absolutamente the next best thing to being there. Tucked away between a package store and a used car lot on Main Street in Bridgeport, Taqueria La Michoacana touts itself as “The Only 100% Mexican Taqueria.” We walk into the spotless, 30-seat storefront and are immediately greeted by the sweet smell of garlic and the owner, Sergio. While he refers to his wife, Rosa, in the kitchen, we don’t get to meet her until we insist on complimenting the chef on our way out. Roles are clearly defined here, Sergio is front of the house, Rosa is the chef. Read More
Chef Talk: Tuna Marinato From Morello Bistro Features Chef Talk Greenwich Seafood Recipe Stephanie Webster May 18, 2010 Photo Credit: Thomas McGovernThe beautiful dish comes from the Marches region of Italy and is typically prepared with salt cod. Executive Chef Townsend Wentz of Morello Bistro in Greenwich uses tuna, which has a richness and fattyness that is cut by the spicy tomato. The tuna itself is marinated in rosemary and orange zest, which is mirrored in the rest of the dish. If you are wondering where to purchase your sushi grade tuna, check out our Sushi Party Primer. If you have a favorite local seafood resource, share it with the group and post a comment below.Tuna Marinato Read More
GreenChic: Shrimp in Spicy Garlic Adobo Sauce Features Seafood healthy Recipe Jennifer Spaide May 14, 2010 I like to periodically check out the local blogs to see what culinary feats the Fairfield County home cooks are coming up with. One of my favorite places to browse for healthy recipes with seasonal ingredients is Jennifer Spaide's GreenChicLife.com. As a nutritionist, Jennifer uses her vast knowledge to create recipes that are both flavorful and packed with nutrient dense ingredients. Here's what Jennifer has to say about why you should make this dish in your home (other than it just looks great): Shrimp are a healthy addition to any diet. Aside from being an excellent source of low-calorie, low-fat protein, shrimp boast a high concentration of many important nutrients including selenium, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against cancer and other degenerative diseases. Vitamin B12 is a key factor in cardiovascular health. And the omega faty acids are anti-inflammatory as well as heart protective. Enjoy her beautiful recipe for Shrimp in Spicy Garlic Adobo Sauce. Read More
What's Cooking in Bridgeport: May 17-23rd Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster May 11, 2010 Bridgeport is holding their first annual "What's Cooking in Bridgeport" week from May 17 to May 23, a week long event showcasing the unique range of dining and entertainment options across the Park City. Throughout the week, 35 restaurants and 6 entertainment venues will be offering special promotions, providing a great opportunity for people across the region to enjoy food and fun in Connecticut’s largest city. From 2-for-1 prices to free appetizers, drinks and desserts, What’s Cooking in Bridgeport has a little something for everyone. Here is the list of participating restaurants (but new venues are being added every day!): Read More
The Olive Market: Georgetown's Eclectic Treasure Restaurant Italian Pizza Redding Specialty Market Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Latin American CTbites Team May 09, 2010 Upon entering The Olive Market in Redding, you can’t help but be surprised by the unique setting. Envision Pottery Barn mixed in with a little Williams Sonoma, add a dash of Murray’s Cheese Shop…well, you get the picture. The Olive Market's menu, under Chef Fernando, displays a similarly intriguing fusion of foods with influences from Uruguay, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. Here you will find everything from empanadas, tapas and fondue, to paninis and pizzas. They also sell cheeses and olives by the pound and have a very browse-worthy home goods store attached to the café. The store stays open until the restaurant closes so there’s plenty of time to check out the goods while waiting for your food to arrive. Dining tables are nestled amongst shelves lined with a beautiful array of gourmet food items like olive oils, flavored salts, fondue pots, and cooking tools. I even found O & Co. White Truffle Oil which I thought I could only purchase in Grand Central. Terrazzo tiles, dark blue ceilings and vibrantly colored paintings add to the eclectic, warm atmosphere. Read More
CTbites Wins "First Prize" From CT Press Club Restaurant Events Norwalk Stephanie Webster May 07, 2010 CTbites wins 1st Prize for Best Blog in CT & Best Online Photography from the CT Press Club. Kudos for us! Last night Quattro Pazzi offered an idyllic backdrop to the annual CT Press Club Award ceremony. Anyone who is anyone in the publishing industry seemed to be in attendance including a few CTbites contributors who were graced with accolades alongside the Pulitzer winning playwright Donald Margulies. Elizabeth Keyser (seen above with "Flaxette" bread baker Michael Mordechi) walked away with several first place awards for both food and feature writing. Christy Colasurdo also won top marks for a recent feature article in Westport Magazine. We are honored to have both of these talented writers on our CTbites masthead. Several guests gave curious glances as I began to photograph the meal, but then murmured signs of recognition when I walked up to accept the 1st Prize award in the category "Blog." (Just another one of those crazy people who takes pictures of everything she eats.) Read More
Thai Coconut Curry w/ Chicken, Shrimp & Veggies Features Asian Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Recipe Nicole Straight May 07, 2010 I don't know about you, but I'm often daunted by Asian food prep as the list of ingredients always seems to require multiple pages. I'll admit it...this scares me. My lack of fortitude is unfortunate as Asian flavors rank high on my list of preferred meals. When it comes to a food conundrum of this magnitude, I always rely on Chef Nicole of Time to Eat! to streamline the situation. I told her I wanted a simple weeknight dish with Asian flavors that would not require a trip to the specialty market in Norwalk (not that I don't relish walking those aisles). She came up with this great Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables. Vegetarian? No problem. Simply omit the chicken and shrimp and use diced extra firm tofu. Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables Read More
Cows Not Cars at the Creamery: Wells Hollow Farm Restaurant ice cream kids activity Kid Friendly Dessert Deanna Foster May 06, 2010 These days, going out for a cone often means visiting a scoop shop situated along a well-traveled roadway and eating your favorite flavor in a parking lot - think Carvel at 7 pm any summer evening. Small, mom and pop type ice cream stands are a rare and serendipitous find that usually require a lengthy drive into the country. But we’ve found an exception to this rule: Wells Hollow Farm in Shelton is a quick trip up Route 8 (to exit 12) and provides a surprisingly bucolic backdrop to your ice cream experience. A working farm since the late 1800’s, Wells Hollow Creamery is located in a large red barn shared with 6 cows (although I was corrected when I asked for verification: 4 cows and 2 calves) and a whole bunch of chickens and roosters – I didn’t ask how many. With 30 hard-packed flavors to choose from, Read More
CTbites Lunch Recap: Nicholas Roberts Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Norwalk Stephanie Webster May 04, 2010 CTbites and SuzySaid readers met up once again to enjoy a decadent prix fixe menu...this time at Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro in Norwalk. The small size of this dining space, and Chef Troilo's presence in his open kitchen made this a particularly cozy event. Diners from various tables introduced themselves to one another, and new foodie friends were made. The sun was shining. We had bottomless homemade lemonade. All was good with the world. Chef Troilo created a beautiful $15 prix fixe menu, and with three diners at my table I was able to taste everything...just the way I like it. Read More
Taberna Food & Wine Bar: A Bridgeport Surprise Restaurant Bridgeport Italian Mediterranean Latin American Marcy Shinbaum May 02, 2010 A pleasant surprise is always welcome – especially on the third rainy day in a row at the end of April. That is why Taberna Food & Wine Bar, tucked away in a residential neighborhood on the Fairfield Bridgeport line, was such a good find. For a recent lunch date we entered through the upscale bar area into a bright, tasteful white-tablecloth dining room and immediately noticed we were the only diners. Never a good sign, my companion and I wondered out loud how they could possibly serve a decent lunch when only two diners make up the lunch rush. As the meal progressed two more tables filled, both business lunch types, but by then our initial reservations had abated, as we were deep into a delightful and delicious meal. Read More
Q&A, Book Signing: The Dressing Room's Michel Nischan Features Cookbooks Events Stephanie Webster May 01, 2010
A Taste Of Westport 2010 Restaurant Events Westport Stephanie Webster May 01, 2010 The 6th annual "Taste of Westport" is returning on Thursday May 6th for an evening of eating, drinking and fundraising. Money raised at this event will support CLASP Homes Inc., a great local not-for-profit organization serving people with developmental disabilities. Earthplace will be hosting this tasting extravaganza where guests will be able to sample an abundance of fare from restaurants like Brasitas, Cafe Lola, Rizzutos, and Da Pietro's (See the full list of restaurants and vendors below). Need a drink? They've got that covered too. Wine, beer, and signature cocktails are included in the admission price. As if that wasn't enough to get you in the door, there are also fabulous silent auction items including: tickets to the Daily Show, BMW adult and kids bikes, a plane ride around NYC, tickets and preview party for 20 @ The Westport Playhouse, a "boys night out" package, restaurant gift certificates, and much much more. Here are your ticket options: Read More
Chef Talk: Sono Baking Co's Tomato Tarts Features Bakery Chef Talk Cookbooks Recipe Stephanie Webster April 30, 2010 John Barricelli, owner and chef at Sono Baking Company, takes his tarts seriously. If you visit his storefront, you will see them perfectly crisped, savory, and seemingly impossible to make at home. A few months ago, we went "behind the scenes @ Sono Baking Co." and watched John cooking up these tasty morsels, and decided this was one recipe we had to have. Fortunately his new cookbook came out last month and now every home cook can enjoy these divine Tomato Tarts without having to drive to Norwalk. Read More
Green Food Tips To Reduce Your Footprint Ingredients Features Education Going Green Organic Seafood healthy CTbites Team April 29, 2010 One of the easiest ways to make Earth Day every day is to green your kitchen. Here are some delicious and fun ways to reduce your family's "foodprint" while eating well. You can also view some of Analiese's tips on this Channel 8 news segment. 1. Buy locally grown food from a farmers' market and learn to cook with the seasons. Michel Nischan's (of The Dressing Room) latest cookbook is perfect for anyone looking for inspirational ways to cook with the seasons Read More
