"Join the Conversation" with Mark Bittman on March 16 at Ikea in New Haven Restaurant Events Chef Talk CTbites Team February 27, 2013 New York Times food writer Mark Bittman will be appearing as part of WSHU Radio's "Join the Conversation" series on March 16 at 11 am at IKEA in New Haven. Bittman will give cooking tips from his new book, How to Cook Everything: The Basics. This event is $25 per person, including a copy of his new book. Learn more or register for this event. One of the country's most widely respected food writers, Mark Bittman is also a champion of home cooking. He will discuss his new book: How to Cook Everything: The Basics (All You Need to Know to Make Great Food), revealing fundamental techniques and essential lessons from dicing vegetables and roasting meat. Read More
Pasta Bolognese in Fairfield County Roundup: Part II Restaurant Cos Cob Greenwich Norwalk Pasta Stamford Jeff Schlesinger & Lou Gorfain February 27, 2013 Déjà vu all over again so…Mangia, Mangia Mangia…and Mangia again... We recently recommended several places that are serving up delicious Bolognese and promised more. So here is our second, and last, installment of 2013 Recommended Pasta Bolognese of Fairfield County that includes two slight variations of the traditional sauce, one with chicken and another with oxtail. Let the games begin...and let the lipitor flow for these 2 brave diners who sampled Bolognese from all over Fairfield County. From Cotto in Stamford to The Spread in SoNo to Louie's in Cos Cob, we bring you tasting notes on 10 more Bologneses. Read More
elm Restaurant Events: Whole Hog, Cheese Tasting & More Features Restaurant Events CTbites Team February 26, 2013 Chef Brian Lewis and his staff at elm Restaurant in New Canaan are pleased to announce the following events during March, in conjunction with many Fairfield County Artisans. Some of the unique culinary experiences include: The Whole Hog Dinner with Craft Butchery of Westport, Localvore Cuisine, and A Cheese Primer & Feast with local expert Erin Hedley. View the complete calendar of events below: Read More
Exceeding Expectations at Trumbull's Parallel Post Restaurant Farm to Table Trumbull Lunch Amy Kundrat February 24, 2013 The Trumbull Marriott’s Parallel Post restaurant is the result of a prescient collaboration with a James Beard nominated chef and a well-known hotel chain just off the beaten path of Fairfield County's regular dining haunts. Leveraging its proximity to the region’s small and robust network of farms, and the fisheries of Long Island Sound, this three-month-old restaurant draws its inspiration from the bounty of land and sea. The effect is a modern and seasonal New England menu that skews upscale, but without any pretense. Chef and restaurateur Dean James Max was tapped by Trumbull’s Marriott to reimagine its restaurant—an intensive project that included a two month renovation of its dining spaces. Opened at the end of November 2012, the restaurant has been gaining momentum, thanks in large part to this embrace of local farms, a superlative understanding of seafood, a talented team led by Executive Chef Christopher Molyneux, and a welcome, if seemingly inauspicious location inside the Trumbull Marriott. Read More
Celebrate National Margarita Day w/ Fresh Orange Margaritas Features Cocktails katie vitucci February 22, 2013 Yep...today is National Margarita Day, and in honor of said "holiday," we suggest you celebrate with this delicious recipe for Fresh Orange Margaritas c/o local blogger, The Parsley Thief. I consider myself to be a very good margarita mixer and have made many different types over the years. One thing is always a constant and that is - Patrón tequila. Along with with the good tequila you must also have some sort of orange liqueur. Mostly, I use Cointreau {pricey!}...other times Triple Sec {when money's tight}....and once in a blue moon {usually because it's all I have laying around}, I'll use Grand Marnier. While I am sure this recipe would be equally delicious using blood oranges - I opted to use fresh Florida juice oranges because they're in season at the moment and I just so happened to have a 25 lb. box of them laying around. Read More
CTbites' Canned Film Festival: Food Movie Favorites Ingredients Features Entertaining Food Movies ellen bowen February 21, 2013 The Awards Season is in full swing! The Golden Globes, Sundance Film Festival are already old news…the Grammy’s just scored record ratings and now the anticipation builds for the “motherlode” of all awards… The 85th Academy Awards for Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (also known as the Oscar’s ) airing on Sunday 2/24 on ABC. And what better way to spend a winter evening than with Dinner and a Movie! But, what if you don’t feel like braving the weather, the crowds or JUST can’t stand the smell of popcorn? How about staying in and watching a movie and ordering in or making dinner? Therefore, I offer you the CTbites, “CANNED FILM FESTIVAL" with tasty recomendations for food focused movies in 4 categories: Food Flick Classics, Watch With Your Kids, Food Education, and Flicks For Wine Lovers. Read More
Discover Bethel Restaurant Week Starts February 24 Restaurant Restaurant Week CTbites Team February 20, 2013 Discover Bethel Restaurant Week is Back! Visit Bethel from February 24 - March 2, 2013 for the town's second annual Restaurant Week. Several Bethel restaurants will be offering special discounts and prix-fixe specials for lunch and dinner. Participating Restaurants: Stella Restaurant and Bar - 213 Greenwood Ave: Lunch Special - $10 or $15 prixe fix menu (includes appetizer, entree, tiramisu and coffee) and Dinner Special - $30 prix fixe menu (includes appetizer, salad, entree, tiramisu, coffee and glass of house wine) Daily Fare - 13 Durant Ave (Free Coffee or Scone with any lunch purchase) Sycamore Drive In Restaurant - 282 Greenwood Ave (10% off total bill) Sal'z Pizza - 211 Greenwood Ave. Greenwoods Grille and Ale House - 186 Greenwood Ave O'Neills Sandwich and Coffee Bar - 114 Greenwood Ave LaZingara Restaurant - 8 PT Barnum Sq Lebanese Cuisine - 23 Stony Hill Rd LaFortuna Restaurant - 37 Stony Hill Rd Putnam House Restaurant - 12 Depot Place Ruzzuto's- Stony Hill Road For more information, visit www.bethelchamber.com. Read More
Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar in Middletown Restaurant Cocktails Middletown Pizza Lunch Emily Cahill February 17, 2013 We are excited to begin bringing you even more content from across the state of Connecticut, welcoming new voices into our mix, and experimenting with the occassional shorter, more tactical posts. To that end, we are pleased to welcome Emily Cahill, the newest addition to the CTbites team covering one of our favorite new spots in Middletown. - Stephanie Webster + Amy Kundrat Photo: Nick CaitoKrust Pizza Bar Cuisine: Wood-fired pizza, BarPrice: $10- $15 Our Highlights: Specialty pizzas, bourbon and cocktails Hours: Mon – Closed. Tues-Thur 4pm – 1am, F&S 4pm-2am, Sun 4pm-1am Online: http://krustpizzabar.com/ Wood-fired pizzas, a softly lit interior, and a seemingly infinite bourbon list sets the stage for NoRa neighborhood newcomer Krust. Owners Rich Garcia and Kevin Wirtes introduced the Middletown eatery in mid-January 2013, showcasing a concise but creative menu of beautifully executed artisan pies. Whether it’s the rustic pine paneling, amber glow of bar shelves brimming with bourbon bottles, or smoky aromas permeating the space from the wood burning oven, one thing is evident: Krust is a delicious and welcome addition to Middletown’s bar and restaurant scene. Read More
Invites: Celebrate CT! An Evening of Craft Beer & BBQ @ Bar Q Restaurant CTbites Invites CTbites Team February 16, 2013 Join Bob Le Rose (of Bobby Q's) and CTbites for an evening celebrating "CT's Own!" Enjoy Craft beers from local CT breweries and 4 course dinner of CT BBQ as only BarQ can prepare it on Tuesday 2/26 7 to 9 pm for $40 per person. Buy tickets.Taste and enjoy an authentic dinner of four courses of original CT BBQ, a dessert of Snickerdoodle Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich, all while washing it down with delicious beers from three local Connecticut micro-breweries, Half Full, City Steam and Two Roads Breweries. Menu includes: Read More
Nola Oyster Bar Opens in SONO Restaurant Norwalk SONO Seafood Beer Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 15, 2013 With very little fanfare, Nola Oyster Bar will open its doors this weekend in SONO in the space formerly occupied by Wasabi Chi on the corner of Main and Washington. As CTbites announced a few weeks ago the menu will primarily focus on seafood from Maine to New Orleans. The previous open interior has been completely redesigned into three dining areas. The bar area features both a long bar with numerous stools for cocktails and dinner, while the two dining areas occupy the remaining space. The rear dining area is convertible for use as a private dining area. Chef Dan Kardos is overseeing the kitchen and a sneak peak at his opening menu confirms the seafood focus with variety of options. Included are traditional raw bar selections of oysters and clams plus several crudos. “Small Plates” offer several varieties of cooked seafood including braised mussels, an oyster pan roast and several renditions of oysters. The entrées maintain the seafood focus with poached lobster, shrimp and grits, and other grilled and roasted seafood, but expands into a few non-seafood selections that include hanger steak, fried chicken, a combination bacon-cheeseburger. CTbites was told that the menu will expand rapidly over the first few weeks. Stay tuned as CTbites revisits Nola Oyster Bar in a few weeks for an in depth review. Read More
CTbites Invites Recap: Passover Cooking w/ Tabouli Grill Ingredients Features CTbites Cooking Classes Holiday Invites Middle Eastern Recipe ellen bowen February 14, 2013 With the snow piled so high in front on the Post Road, it could have been easy to miss Tabouli Grill in Southport… but I was determined to join a spirited group for CTbites Invites Passover Cooking, so maneuvered my way around to the side parking lot and entrance. Chef/owner Judith Roll greeted everyone with hot coffee and her spongy homemade lemon cake as we were handed recipes for the morning's “hands on” cooking class in the Tabouli kitchen. (See Chef Judy's recipe for Bubbe's Brisket below.) Chef Judy, who has traveled the world bringing authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to her two restaurants, in Stamford and in Southport, is passionate about what she prepares and had created a wonderful Passover menu for our entertainment and dining pleasure ( Passover is March 25-April 2 ). Read More
CTbites 2013 Burger Round-Up Needs Your Help Restaurant Best of CT Burgers CTbites Team February 13, 2013 CTbites is gathering candidates for the 2013 Best Burger Round Up and we need your help. What restaurants do you think are deserving of a spot on our Third Annual List of BEST BURGERS? Post the names of your favorite Burger spots below and we will do our best to sample your suggestions. Read More
Rainbow Thai Opens in Westport Restaurant Asian Thai Westport Sarah Green February 10, 2013 Yes, Virginia, there IS a great Thai food to be found in Fairfield County. The new RAINBOW THAI at 5 Bridge Street in Westport is just what Virginia (and all the rest of us who feared that a great, local Tom Yum Gung soup might not really exist) ordered. RAINBOW THAI is tiny and, not to its advantage, finds itself in that ill fated location in the Bridge Market complex that hasn't to date been a lucky spot for restaurants. Many an eatery has peaked and faded faster than a shooting star in this locale but I think Rainbow Thai has staying power. Why? The food is just so damn good. Read More
Family Style Sunday Dinners at Norwalk's Strada 18 Restaurant CTbites Team February 06, 2013 South Norwalk's Strada 18 restaurant has kicked-off a series of "Family Style Sunday Dinners." These successive winter Sundays will feature pre-determined menus served "family-style"with a set price (ranging from $30 to $35 per person, child pricing available). Reservations are required in advance of each Sunday dinner. Upcoming Sunday Dinners: February 10, February 24, March 10, March 24. For more information and a list of menus, please visit www.strada-18.com. Read More
Kids Review: Greenleaf Organic Bakery & Café in Wilton Kids Bites Restaurant Bakery Organic Wilton Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert Sunday Diners February 06, 2013 This article first ran on Sunday Diners, a kid's guide to the best diners and breakfast joints in Fairfield County, Connecticut and beyond. Written by 4th Grader Alex (with a bit of help from his dad). Usually, at this time of the year, many people make resolutions to eat healthier or not eat junk food all of the time. One of the ways that you can do this is by eating more organic foods which are healthier for you. Today, we went to Greenleaf Organic Bakery and Café, in Wilton, where everything is organic, fresh and TASTY! The first thing I noticed when I walked in were the displays of amazing pastries, croissants, cupcakes, tarts and the BIGGEST chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. The second thing you notice, is how good it smells! The walls are decorated with photos of food and fruit, and it is a good place for kids and adults too. I looked at the menu before we left the house and already knew what I wanted — The Fruit Explosion - Fresh organic cream, layered with organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, yogurt, granola, all topped off with chocolate hazelnut spread. It was beyond good and… healthy at the same time. It was also BIG! Do you know what else was BIG? The Organic Hot Chocolate – which is made with real melted organic chocolate and whipped cream – it was GIANT! Bigger than our cereal bowls at home – now that’s BIG! Read More
Sun Winefest Recap: One Woman's Search for the Best Bottles Restaurant Celebrity Chef Events Wine Chat Wine Tasting Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 05, 2013 It was the calm before the storm. As I strolled into the SunWineFest before the doors opened to the public, the ballroom appeared almost peaceful. Exhibitors casually erected their stands and freely moved about the space. Within an hour, that all changed. People stood packed shoulder to shoulder and attempted to elbow their way through the throng for tastes of wine. The crowd surged with energy, and my heart raced with excitement. For some, the Mohegan SunWineFest is one giant party: an excuse to get buzzed with friends, blow off steam, and sample as many wines as physically possible. For others, the event is a valuable opportunity to find exceptional bottles. Read More
Community Table in Washington CT Restaurant American Farm to Table Litchfield Local Farm Amy Kundrat February 03, 2013 In the Litchfield County town of Washington, the two-year old Community Table and its team led by Executive Chef Joel Viehland, stands at the center of a tight network of farmers, foragers and discerning diners. Born from agrarian collaboration rather than co-opting it, Community Table was built around the notion that a restaurant serving its community must not only serves its diners, but act with respectful stewardship of the land. This translates to sourcing seasonally, locally and sustainably, as well as pickling, drying, fermenting and composting. Read More
New Haven Meatball House Restaurant Late Night Beer New Haven Comfort Food Amy Kundrat January 31, 2013 As a part of our ongoing effort to cover more of the state, we will be publishing more frequent, shorter posts on some of our favorite spots in New Haven, Hartford and beyond. If you have a place you love or would like us to cover, please email us! New Haven Meatball House Cuisine: Comfort Food, Late Night Dining, Craft Beer Price: Less than $10 (per entrée)Our Highlights: Chicken meatballs with pesto, beef meatballs with tomato sauce, black garlic mashed potatoes, spiked milkshakesHours: Open Daily, Monday - Thursday at 5 pm, Friday - Sunday 11:30 amOnline: Official Website | Facebook Four types of meatballs, four types of sauces and three ways to eat them. Do the math and that could keep any comfort food-seeking foodie returning to explore the menu at New Haven's Meatball Shop on Chapel Street. Owner Bob Potter, the man behind New Haven's popular meat mecca, Prime 16, and the East Rock neighborhood tequilar bar, c.o. jones opened New Haven Meatball House in mid-2012. Read More
Plan B's Chef John Shares 8 Tips for Making Great Chili Features Holiday Recipe Comfort Food Stephanie Webster January 30, 2013 Chef John Brennan of Plan B in Milford knows a LOT about making Chili. This is why when it came time to plan my Super Bowl party, I turned to him for advice. Chef John's 8 simple tips will turn your Super Bowl menu into a huge win. Enjoy the game. Enjoy the chili. Start by using the best Ingredients. The heart of the chili is the meat that you use. At Plan B we use premium certified humane beef and pork from ranchers that don’t use antibiotics or hormones on their cattle. It’s a simple step, the better the meat…the better the chili. At Plan B we use a mixture of ground and cubed chuck and ground pork. Think of your chili like a meat ball, the perfect blend of pork and beef can make your chili a success. When purchasing the meat for your chili I suggest finding a local butcher that grinds their meat fresh daily, freshness equals flavor. Start your chili by sweating your vegetables. Treat your chili like a soup or a delicate sauce and sweat your onions and peppers to release their flavor. I suggest bell peppers and Spanish onions. When doing this be sure to heat your pot at medium to high and keep an eye on your veggies, stirring regularly. Read More
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant Opens This Week in Greenwich Restaurant American Greenwich Italian Steakhouse Opening Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 30, 2013 Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant, the latest venture of the Sigueza brothers, Vicente and Kleber, owners of Scena Restaurant in Darien, Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant in New Canaan and 55 Degrees in Fairfield, opens this week in Greenwich at 372 Greenwich Avenue. With large windows beckoning the guests, the modern interior is dominated by wood, stone and leather. Wood-topped tables are all hand-made and surrounded by leather backed chairs. Individual lights descend from the ceiling to create a whimsical touch to the otherwise masculine décor. The rear wall is half glass and sunsets will create an inviting end to the day to enjoy one of the signature cocktails with many of the fruit and vegetable additions juiced on site. The menu is best described as “food inspired by the American tradition,” a steak house that meets Little Italy and embraces the sea and the farm to table movement. Read More
