Newbrook Kitchen & Paleo Cafe Opens in Westport Ingredients Restaurant Specialty Market Special Dietary Needs Lunch To-Go Take Out Westport Peter Dunay July 28, 2017 I first walked up to Newbrook Kitchen, on Riverside Avenue in Westport, with no idea what cuisine the two cartoon girls that are stuck on the front window of their restaurant would be serving. I did no prior research into their business because I wanted the element of surprise to truly hit once I uncovered who they are. What I found at Newbrook was a very pleasant surprise. Stationed in Saugatuck, Westport in a little strip mall, this mother daughter operation is here to make you a believer. As their name would definitely lead you to believe, they are a Paleo restaurant, catering service, and landmark pumping out some of the best health food you can find in the Fairfield County. Read More
LobsterCraft's Captain Mike Harden To Represent CT in Flavored Nation National Event Features Seafood Food Truck CTbites Team July 27, 2017 ‘The Coastal’ Lobster Roll named iconic food of Connecticut; Captain Mike Harden chosen to serve state dish at national event, Flavored Nation.Captain Mike Harden has been chosen to represent Connecticut at Flavored Nation’s inaugural event, serving the state’s iconic ‘hot with butter’ lobster roll (also known as ‘the coastal’) to thousands of food enthusiasts – alongside chefs and restaurateurs from 49 other states. A Coast Guard captain and licensed lobster fisherman, Harden founded LobsterCraft in 2012 after friends asked if he could catch, cook and prepare lobster for them. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of July 30-August 6 Features Events Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 27, 2017 Elm City Social will host a Tiki Cocktail Contest on Monday July 31 at 6pm. The best cocktail can win $500, with second and third place earning $300 and $100 respectively. To register, email dan@elmcitysocial.com. El Segundo has made Monday industry night! All day, industry peers can enjoy free tastings and 20% off the entire bill.Two of NBC’s Team Ninja Warrior champions, Allyssa Beird and Joe Moravski, edteam up with b.good Fairfield and Food Rescue US (Formerly Community Plates) to rescue fresh, reusable food from local grocery stores and deliver it to soup kitchens and shelters in the area. Read More
The Porchetta Burger: Bareburger Debuts Its James Beard Winner Restaurant Comfort Food Stamford Ridgefield Lunch Homepage Burgers Lou Gorfain July 25, 2017 Now, as an adult, card-carrying carnivore, I’m still leery of burger extenders, be they crumbs, flour, veggies or any other manner of filler. So when asked to review Bareburger’s Porchetta Burger, half ground pork and half wild mushrooms, I approached the assignment with some hesitation. Fifty percent filler? No beef? No red-pink medium rare interior when I cut into the patty? No juices oozing at first bite? Likely no deal.At the Harbor Point location, I asked the kitchen to cut the Porchetta sandwich in half, so I could check the interior before biting in. To my surprise, the patty looked remarkably like a medium rare beef-burger. Traditionally the pork is wrapped about other savories, but in this version, the pork (wild boar sourced from Fossil Farms in Boonton, New Jersey) is ground in-house, then mixed with chopped wild mushrooms and seasonings (fennel, garlic, and rosemary). Read More
Pub Fare Extraordinaire at Inishmor Pub in Colchester Restaurant Colchester Pub Gastropub Lunch Bar Comfort Food Homepage Burgers Hope Simmons July 23, 2017 Meet Alex Levere—his roots may be French and German, but the luck of the Irish is clearly smiling upon him. He grew up in the restaurant industry on the shoreline, spent some time in Europe—specifically, you guessed it, in Ireland—in his early 20s, then Boston during his college years and beyond.“Long story short, the economy crashed, I graduated, and there was nothing really going on, so I was bartending at a place, and they offered me an assistant management job. So, I took that, then I went to manager. Then I went to general manager and, right before the place was sinking, the head chef quit, so I took over the kitchen. I was like, I know I can do this, and I did it, but it was too little, too late. And that’s when we came across this place!” Now he’s turning out some truly inventive flavors at the Inishmor Pub in Colchester. Read More
Connecticut Locations Where Dining Meets Travel Adventure via CT Magazine Restaurant Travel Connecticut Magazine July 21, 2017 Dining out is a treat, for sure. But let’s ratchet it up a bit, shall we? Something beyond simply tables and chairs and a room. How about candlelight dining while luxuriously cruising along a waterway or perhaps relishing something special while riding the rails on a vintage train? Or what about lingering over your meal at an airport, hobnobbing with the jet-set scene as you have a front-row seat to their comings and goings? As Connecticut savors the summer season, we take a look how you can take yourself “out” to eat and savor both the journey and the food.TRAINS: The Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour Read More
Guide To Lobsterbake & Clambake Caterers in Connecticut Restaurant Catering Entertaining Best of CT Seafood Homepage Stephanie Webster July 20, 2017 Steamed clams, sweet mussels swimming in flavorful broth, freshly harvested sugar corn, creamy red potatoes, maybe a tangy fruit pie to top it all off and certainly lots and lots of warm, creamery butter. Add to all of these delights, the perfect setting, some decorations and maybe some help along the way serving it up and what do you have? The perfect summer gathering and we at CTBites certainly love those. That said, we have compiled this list of restaurants, shacks, and caterers for all of your seaworthy hankerings. Grab some friends, break out the bibs and the crackers, and drawwwww that butter, baby! Get ready to enjoy summer, New England style~ Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of July 23-30 Features Events Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 19, 2017 Join James Beard Award winner Chef Jeff Michaud at Terrain Garden Cafe in Westport, as he hosts a dinner celebrating our summer favorite – rosé! Enjoy a cocktail hour followed by three-courses highlighting dishes from Chef Michaud’s cookbook, Eating Italy: A Chef’s Culinary Adventure, each one paired with a glass of rosé. Ticket info here. Reservations required. $85 pp. To prepare for their opening in Darien, Blue Wave Taco, (205 Boston Post Road in Darien) is giving away free chicken tacos (one per person per car) from the drive-thru window this Wednesday, July 26 from 5pm to 8pm. One lucky visitor will walk away with a free taco every day for a year!!!On Wednesday July 26, Sugar and Olives will teach you how to make Sweet Summer Sauces. From 7-9pm, discover how to create Caramel three ways, a berry sauce, a peach melba, and a hot fudge sauce. Tickets are available online for $80 each. Read More
Breakfast Tailgate at El Segundo in South Norwalk July 28 Features Events Stephanie Webster July 18, 2017 Join 95.9 the FOX and First Thing Fairfield County with Ken Tuccio for the 95.9 the FOX First Thing Breakfast Tailgate Friday, July 28 at El Segundo in the Iron Works Building in SoNo. We broadcast live from 6am-10am and Tailgate 10am-1pm!This tailgate party celebrates the summer with amazing food, great beer, fun games and live music from Karma Darwin. And best of all its FREE! Read More
Mind Of A Caterer: A Festivities Farm Dinner (sponsored post) Features Catering Entertaining Events CTbites Team July 17, 2017 I had it all planned. My good friend, Jane Green, called and asked me and our team at Festivities to design and prepare a family style “Farm Dinner” celebrating the launch of her new book “The Sunshine Sisters.” As the name indicates, the book’s heroines are three sisters…one of them “Lizzie,” a chef. Read More
Bobby B’s Roti Shop: Authentic Caribbean in Bridgeport Restaurant Caribbean Bridgeport Delicious Dives Homepage Peter Dunay July 16, 2017 I will always remember the smell of orzo pasta in a pot of boiling water with a bouillon cube and an unhealthy amount of butter that came wafting from my Oma’s kitchen. It is one of those homey scents which flashes me back to that ripe old age of four where everything was fun, fresh, and free and I was innocent and invincible. While sitting in Bobby B's Roti Shop in Bridgeport, waiting for my meal, I noticed many people walking to the doorway, stopping, and taking a long inhale which ended with a broad young smile stretched across their face. It peaked my curiosity to know what they were feeling, and they all said, “Home.” Bobby B’s is a restaurant in Bridgeport serving curries, roti, and jerk straight from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. Read More
The Buzz Truck Announces Sale to Source Coffeehouse Restaurant Food Truck Coffee Tea And Coffee Fairfield Bridgeport Stephanie Webster July 16, 2017 After nearly five years of bringing the buzz to coffee lovers across Fairfield County, The Buzz Truck LLC. is announcing the sale of its little black school bus to Source Coffeehouse, a beloved locally-owned, neighborhood coffee shop in the heart of Black Rock in Bridgeport, CT. The new Source Coffeebus is due to hit the road by Labor Day 2017.“The Buzz Truck was a labor of love and we know that ‘Buzzy’ will be in great hands,” said Jessica Grutkowski, co-owner, The Buzz Truck LLC. “It’s hard to say good bye, but we’re ready for a new adventure. The team at Source has tons of experience and is a natural fit to help take our concept to the next level.” Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of July 16-23 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 14, 2017 Milford Restaurant Week returns July 17-23. Restaurants like Plan b, Bin 100, Bridge House, Stonebridge, and Fratelli’s will offer prix fixe menus. Dinners will be $20.95 or $27.85 and in select restaurants a prix fixe lunch menu will be offered at $14.95. Meanwhile, Taste of Hartford will take place from July 17-30. Participating restaurants throughout the Greater Hartford area, like Capital Grille, Coyote Flaco, On20, and Ted’s Montana Grill, will offer special multi-course, price-fixed menus. Visit Bloodroot in Bridgeport for a special Ethiopian menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while supplies last. Read More
Cricket Car Hop Reopens in Stratford CT: Legendary Fried Hot Dogs Are Back Restaurant Stratford Comfort Food Delicious Dives Hot Dogs Kid Friendly Homepage Burgers Andrew Dominick July 13, 2017 After being closed for 13 years, a Stratford legend has returned! Finally, and to much anticipation, Cricket Car Hop has reemerged in Lordship over Independence Day weekend to sling burgers, fries, shakes, and foot longs once again. The original, which opened in the mid-1950s, closed in 2004, and was located on Main Street, almost exactly a mile away from where they are now on Access Road. Running the show at the sequel version of the popular hot dog hut is co-owner Stacy DiCostanzo—who worked as a cook at Cricket from 1980 until it closed—and her husband, Ron, who handles day-to-day general manager duties. Read More
Chef Geoff Lazlo's Farm Egg Thin Crust Flat Bread Recipe Recipe Features Recipe Chef CTbites Team July 12, 2017 Chef Geoff Lazlo, of Mill Street Bar and Table in Greenwich has created this Farm Egg Thin Crust Flat Bread recipe as part of The Westport Farmers' Market recipe program. The farm egg flat bread was inspired by the beautiful eggs we raise at the Back 40 Farm in Washington, CT. It is essentially the pizza version of a bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, which is why it is perfect for brunch. View additional farmers' market inspired recipes here. Read More
Celebrate Bastille Day w/ Ávert Brasserie's Steamed Mussels Recipe & A Party Features Recipe Recipe French Stephanie Webster July 11, 2017 Ávert Brasserie in West Hartford is celebrating Bastille Day with a festival Abounding with French cuisine, musique, dance, and myriad attractions for the whole family. This farm fête populaire invites locals to revel in the flavors, sounds, and joie de vivre of France!If you would like to host your own Bastille Day party, here is their great recipe for Steamed Mussels with Mustard, Curry and Cream. Yum. Check it out below. Read More
Reasons to Love A & S Italian Fine Foods Market Restaurant Specialty Market Take Out To-Go Norwalk Stamford Westport Lunch Prepared Food Pasta Homepage Sarah Green July 11, 2017 If you’re in the market for the market of markets, well - A & S Italian Fine Foods could be the market of your dreams. Owner and head chef, Albert Pizzirusso and his wife Patricia opened their latest, Italian, Fine Foods establishment late last summer and have been purveying first class fare ever since. Along with their business partner, Erik Cohen, the Pizzirussos are working their 3rd A & S market, located conveniently on the Westport/Norwalk border, very close to Whole Foods. (The other locations include a storefront in Stamford - run by Cohen and 2 out of 3 Carcomo brothers - and a previously owned A & S deli in Norwalk.) Why shop here? ‘Cuz the food is outstanding - ‘nuff said. But naturally, I’ll say more... Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of July 10-17 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 10, 2017 On Tuesday July 11, Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market invites you to “An Evening in Provence Wine Dinner Featuring Domaines Bunan” at Martel Bistro & Bar. The $85 all inclusive meal includes five courses as well as hors d’oeuvres to start. Feast on Braised and Grilled Artichoke Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula, Halibut Filet with Tomato-Parmesan Crust, Seared Scallops, and more. July means corn! Join Chef Chris Torla of Trumbull Kitchen on July 14th as he translates the summer’s most beloved harvest into a feast inspired by the tastes of Spain. Chef Torla, who has cooked alongside Modern Latin all-star Chef Rick Bayless, will draw inspiration from both the cornfield and beyond. Enjoy a multitude of small plates as we pay homage to the golden goddess of the season.Tickets are $99 and all-inclusive except for Eventbrite fee. By purchasing this ticket, you are also making a donation to the CT Farmland Trust. Read More
H'Cue Texas BBQ in Derby Brings Great BBQ To The Valley Restaurant BBQ Derby Lunch Comfort Food Kid Friendly homepage Homepage James Gribbon July 09, 2017 Barbeque took a circuitous route to land in Connecticut. The root word, possiblybarbacoa, is reportedly Carib indian for cooking food on a raised grate over a fire. This, then, is Barbeque: the verb. You may hear people using the word this way as we approach the Fourth of July: "hot dogs, hamburgers, we're having a barbeque." Historically correct or not, I am not down with the verb: "barbeque" is a noun. It is meat - deeply, carefully smoked - and the goal is a harmonic balance of aroma and flavor, the joining together of fire and food.The path to opening the new H'Cue Texas BBQ in Derby has as many twists, turns, stops and starts as the route to its spiritual home in Lockhart, Texas. Read More
Join CTbites for Happy Hour at Terrain's Garden Patio in Westport Features Events CTbites Invites CTbites Team July 08, 2017 Keep the summer party going with your hosts, CTbites and Terrain Garden Cafe, as we celebrate the warmth and beauty of the season on July 26th 5:30-7:30pm. Enjoy the most beautiful outdoor dining space in Fairfield County while sipping our signature Endless Summer cocktails along with a selection of wine and craft beers. Appetizers include: cheese/crudite spread, melon sprees prosciutto, shrimp ceviche bites and crispy chickpea and kale chips. 5:30-7:30 PM. $40 pp + tax. Bring friends, relax, sip, taste and enjoy. Tickets can be purchased here. Read More
