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It's a Woman's World: Debra Ponzek, Aux Delices Foods

Features Interview Chef Catering

CTbites Team June 19, 2018

Fairfield County is full of trailblazing women, particularly in the culinary world. Which is why, with 2018 being proclaimed the Year of the Woman, we felt compelled to honor the pioneers among us.

Our series, “It’s A Woman’s World’ is devoted to Fairfield County female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.

How'd they do it? Read on. This week, our focus turns to Debra Ponzek, Chef/Owner of Aux Delices Foods. Have a suggestion on someone you’d like to see featured? Email steph@ctbites.com.

Kyushu Ramen: Authentic Noodle Shop in Stamford...Finally!!

Restaurant Asian Japanese Ramen Noodles Stamford Lunch Homepage

Lou Gorfain June 17, 2018

Those who have roamed Stamford for years in search of authentic ramen finally have a new spring to their step. Kyushu Ramen, the sleek re-incarnation of Tengda Asian Bistro on Bedford’s Restaurant Row, lays claim to being Stamford’s first ramen restaurant.

In place of the mish-mash Pan Asian cuisine previously served at this location, the new shop focuses primarily on Japan, sharpening the lens on the island of Kyushu and its most illustrious contribution to ramen cuisine, Tonkatsu.

Distinguished by its cloudy, slowly simmered pork stock, Tonkatsu is the silky star of Kyushu’s menu. Its savory, seasoned broth, anointed with pork belly, spices, herbs and noodles, is crafted by Japanese-born chef, Ito Shigeru. Trained by strict ramen masters, this veteran New York City ramen chef brings an authentic Japanese cooking style to Bedford Street.

Nibble: CT Food Events for June 17-24

Features News Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 16, 2018

On Monday June 18, The Weekend Kitchen in Essex hosts Chef Colt Taylor of The Essex Restaurant for “The Ultimate Fish Class.” The menu will include dishes like Ora king salmon belly gravlax, Tuna tartare, Kampachi ceviche, and Ora king salmon loin bulged wheat risotto. Don’t forget to BYOB! The class costs $90 and runs from 6:30-10pm.

Fairfield Cheese Company presents Charcuterie 101 on Tuesday June 19. In the class, taste through some of their meat offerings and discuss the growing popularity of the very old world process. It is $50 and lasts from 7-9pm.

Pizza In The Park: Presented By Half Full Brewery will take place on Thursday June 21 at Mill River Park & Greenway in Stamford. It will feature a true "garden" themed Pop Up Beer Garden, Pizza Vendors from CT and beyond, 3+ hours of live music, Lawn Games, and a Pizza Making Competition.

Ordinary New Haven is adding an extra hour to their happy hour! Early Bird specials, offered from 4- 5pm, include $6 Cocktail Specials, $6 Half-Yards of Beer, and a $15 Wine Bottle List.

CTbites Happy Hour at The Spread South Norwalk for $40

Features CTbites Invites

CTbites Team June 15, 2018

Second in our popular Summer Happy Hour series, fun times are ahead on the newly opened patio at The Spread SoNo as CTbites has partnered with "The Spread Boys" for an outdoor Happy Hour on Wednesday, June 27th 5:30-7:30. $40 ticket includes a KEEL Vodka specialty cocktail and a second drink choice of wine or beer and assorted appetizers. KEEL Vodka is the only low calorie vodka on the market, with half the calories of other brands. BUY TICKETS HERE

Chef Carlos Baez is preparing a number of signature appetizers both passed and buffet style to accompany the special summer cocktail.

Menu items include:
Pork Belly buns
Shrimp buns
Tuna tartare
Sausage and rice balls

Plus $1 Copps Island Oysters and other Happy Hour specials.
Join us, bring your friends and let's keep celebrating Summer 2018 at the next CTbites Happy Hour.

FOOD & DRINK PODCAST : Episode 5 - Remembering Anthony Bourdain

Features Podcast Celebrity Chef Interview

Ken Tuccio June 14, 2018

Ken Tuccio has frequently called Anthony Bourdain his "biggest inspiration". Sadly, Anthony Bourdain is no longer with us. In this very special episode of FOOD & DRINK, Ken sits down with some of the most well known names in the Connecticut culinary scene; Chef Bill Taibe (Jessup Hall / Kawa Ni), Chef Matt Storch (Match/ Nom-Eeez) and Casey Dohme (The Blind Rhino) to talk about the life and legacy of Anthony. Listen here.

Mecha & Mézon Launch Eat Justice Food Truck

Restaurant Food Truck Bethel Noodles Asian Breakfast Brunch American Latin American Catering Homepage Local Farm

Stephanie Webster June 14, 2018

Mecha Noodle Bar & Mézon owners, Tony Pham and Richard Reyes, are excited to announce the launch of their new food truck, Eat Justice. The truck will open its window to the public on Friday, June 15th, at Holbrook Farm in Bethel. The Eat Justice food truck rolls into the CT food scene with some pre-existing street cred, and we're not just talking about our beloved noodle slurping shop founders. Beneath the new pink origami pig exterior resides the bones of the EGGZ food truck, purchased from Matt Stanziato. Lucky us, the truck will continue to feature EGGZ' killer breakfast sandwiches, but Pham and Reyes will expand the menu to include "Daily Inspirations" ranging from Banh Mi to a classic Cubano. Bonus... you don't need to hunt down the Eat Justice truck. It will reside at Holbrook Farm every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 8am-1pm, like clockwork. This is a great reason to head to Bethel.

Two Connecticut Designers Win Clarke Kitchen Design Awards (sponsored post)

Features Kitchen Gear Design Entertaining

CTbites Team June 13, 2018

Every two years Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove Showroom and Test Kitchen, hosts its Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest to celebrate the best kitchen designs in the six New England states. On May 10th, Clarke awarded $15,000 in prize money to first and second place winners in three categories: Traditional Kitchen, Contemporary Kitchen and Transitional Kitchen. This year, two of the six awards went to kitchen designers in Connecticut. Veronica Campbell of Deane Inc. received the first-place award for a transitional kitchen, while Gerard Ciccarello of Covenant Kitchens & Baths won second place in the traditional kitchen category.

Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of June 10-17

Features Events News

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 10, 2018

On June 12 from 6-9pm, Amis Trattoria + Chef Matt Storch of Match Burger Lobster are coming together on one grill to kick off the summer. This collaborative cookout will take place in the courtyard of Amis trattoria in Westport and benefits the Westport Farmers Market. A $75 ticket includes 6 courses, wine, and beer. Tickets here.

On Wednesday June 13, join BMW for a unique evening at South End featuring Chef Nick Martschenko. Put yourself in the driver’s seat of an all-new BMW followed by an inspired and interactive cocktail and culinary experience. The event runs from 6-8:30pm.

The first installation of the Waveny Summer Concert Series takes place on Wednesday June 13 at 4:30pm. The Roger Sherman Inn will have special chef picnic boxes made especially for the event.

Stamford is looking for the best bartender! Stamford's Best Bartender Contest 2018 goes down Wednesday June 13 in Harbor Point.

Le Penguin French Bistro Launches New Menu & Renovated Outdoor Patio

Restaurant Westport French Lunch Brunch Greenwich Outdoor Dining Homepage

Jessica Ryan June 09, 2018

Two years ago veteran restaurateurs Anshu Vidyarthi and Antoine Blech opened Le Penguin’s second location in Westport’s Sconset Square. This delightful French Bistro known for its superb, traditional fare has been a popular dining destination ever since. Always striving for perfection, the restaurant has made a few changes, some subtle, others less so.

The porch was recently renovated enabling diners to enjoy this nautically inspired outdoor space for much of the year. During the warmer weather the oversized window panels are removed for that en plein air feel; during inclement weather they are. When necessary, portable heaters add an additional layer of warmth and comfort. Panels have been added to the ceiling, and carpeting to the floor in order to help tone down the noise level. These subtle additions have proved quite successful.

33+ Restaurants for Father’s Day: 2018 Edition

Features Holiday Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 09, 2018

Father’s Day in Sunday June 17! Connecticut restaurants are celebrating with special prix fixe menus, brunches, BBQs, and more. Or, start the celebrations early with beer festivals on Saturday! Here are 33+ ways to make Dad feel special this year.

Bar Rosso, Stamford: Bar Rosso will have a special prix fixe menu in honor of Fathers Day. Plus, Dads get a complementary beer!
Griswold Inn, Essex: The Griswold Inn's Sunday Hunt Breakfast is legendary- it dates back to the war of 1812! Treat Dad for $24.95/adult, $12/kid age 7-12, and free for under 6.
Wadsworth Antheneum Museum of Art, Hartford: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art will host a Fathers Day brunch. Tickets include museum admission, jazz, brunch, and one complimentary bloody mary or mimosa. After, explore the galleries on your own or take a tour with a docent.
Cask Republic, South Norwalk: Cask Republic SoNo will serve Father's Day brunch starting at 11:30am.
Washington Prime, South Norwalk: Washington Prime in SoNo presents a Father's Day buffet-style brunch. There are 4 seatings: 11:00AM, 12:30PM, 2:00PM, and 3:30PM. It costs $49.95 per adults and $24.95 per child.

"Seeing" Anthony Bourdain

Features Celebrity Chef

James Gribbon June 08, 2018

Grief, as often as not, contains anger. The acknowledgment that terrible people behave that way because they are hurting is one of the primary, and most difficult, gears to turn in the machinery of compassion. If there is anything simple, it's that pain and anger are easy to spot when they present themselves openly. It's when grief turns inward, kept afloat and insulated from society by a perceptual blanket of zest and joy, that its revelation can be so unsettling. Anthony Bourdain, for as brash and shouty as he was, especially in the early seasons of No Reservations, was cognizant and open about many of his personal demons.

Adults Only "Maritime With A Twist" June 21st: Sip & Sample at The Maritime Aquarium (sponsored post)

Features Events

CTbites Team June 08, 2018

Celebrate the summer solstice with sips and samples and sharks and seals during the “Maritime with a Twist” adults-only evening event on Thurs., June 21 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

Open to anyone age 21 and over, “Maritime with a Twist” features tastes from nearby restaurants in the South Norwalk (or SoNo) neighborhood, as well as refreshments by artisanal distillers and distributors. Sample them all while enjoying the entire Aquarium for one price.

Participating restaurants and retailers include: Bandido Mexican Restaurant, The Blind Rhino, Burger Bar & Bistro, The Cask Republic, Evarito’s Mexican Bar & Kitchen, Harlan Publick, Killer B Burger, Knot Norm’s, La Dolce Italian Ice & Café, Local Kitchen & Beer Bar, Our House SoNo, and Public Wine Bar, as well as Maikana Foods.

Reflecting On Anthony Bourdain

Features Celebrity Chef

Ken Tuccio June 08, 2018

It was like a punch in the gut.

“Anthony Bourdain Dead At 61”

That was the “Breaking News” headline I saw on CNN when I turned on the TV in my home office this morning.

Farewell Anthony Bourdain

Features Celebrity Chef

Amy Kundrat June 08, 2018 Source

The world lost its original culinary badass and gifted storyteller. CNN reports that Anthony Bourdain was found dead. He was 61 years old.

He taught us that the culinary world and its kitchens were not all polite white tablecloth 12-course tasting menu affairs but were sometimes a drug-fueled f-bomb filled pressure cooker that would happily fill your Sunday brunch menu with questionable weekend leftovers.

Friday Froth: Astronomy On Tap At BAR New Haven

Features Friday Froth CT Beer Beer News

James Gribbon June 08, 2018

Have you ever looked down into the swirling foam at the top of a freshly poured beer and thought "that looks like a galaxy"? Ever had your mind blown by a Carl Sagan quote? Do you like New Haven pizz- OK, unless you're a CAPTCHA-bot, of course you do. The point is, whether you've watched the original Cosmos ten times, or you just wonder how far away the stars are, BAR in New Haven has re-started Astronomy On Tap, where beer, pizza, and cosmology come together.

Astronomy On Tap is a a global event series where professors, PhDs, and grad students talk about their areas of expertise at bars full of anyone who's interested, and it's free.

Food & Drink Episode 4: Johnny Kraszewski from Armada Brewing

Features Podcast Brewery CT Beer Beer Interview

Ken Tuccio June 07, 2018

Ken Tuccio sits down with Johnny Kraszewski from Armada Brewing in this week's episode of Food & Drink, but the conversation isn't just about beer or the Connecticut beer scene. It's a conversation about marketing, promotion, the challenges associated with self-employment and more. Ken is also joined during the monologue by Patrick DiCaprio from the Full Pours Podcast and Ken gives Pat the rundown of his experience with cruise food last week. Have a listen here.

It's A Woman's World: Lori Cochran, Executive Director, Westport Farmers' Market

Features Interview Farmers Market

CTbites Team June 07, 2018

Our new series, “It’s A Woman’s World’ is devoted to Fairfield County female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.

Whether farming the land, bringing healthy food to the masses, feeding an entrepreneurial spirit or injecting feminism with food, these groundbreaking ladies have set a new definition of women’s work, creating new paths and setting examples for those who follow.

How'd they do it? Read on. This week, our focus turns to Lori Cochran, Director of the Westport Farmers' Market. Have a suggestion on someone you’d like to see featured? Email steph@ctbites.com.

Bethel’s Broken Symmetry Offers San Diego-Inspired Burritos in Brewery Setting

Restaurant Brewery Mexican Bethel Beer CT Beer Opening

Connecticut Magazine June 06, 2018

We are happy to share this exciting burrito news from Connecticut Magazine.

The opening-night crowd filed into the postcard-worthy red building that was once a railroad station but had just officially become Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery. Eight-hundred pints of beer were poured as people thronged around tables, overflowing into the aisles and then outside onto a patio area.

Many, like me, were intrigued that a new brewery had opened in the Greater Danbury area. But that wasn’t the only reason we left work early and endured long lines and unintentional, mosh pit-like jostling.

We were there for the burritos.

Match Burger Lobster & Amis Trattoria Host Courtyard Cookout to Benefit Westport Farmers' Mkt

Features Events

Stephanie Webster June 05, 2018

On June 12th, 6-9pm, two Westport chef teams are coming together on one grill to kick off the summer with an unforgettable night of fresh seafood and other local fare. It's all going on in the courtyard of Amis trattoria. This collaborative cookout benefits the Westport Farmers Market and features a mashup menu created by Amis Trattoria in Westport + Chef Matt Storch of Match Burger Lobster! Check out the menu below. and get your tickets here ($75 ticket includes 6 courses, wine and beer).

80+ Food Trucks in New Haven, Hartford, & Beyond: 2018

Restaurant Food Truck Catering Entertaining New Haven Hartford Glastonbury Meriden To-Go Best of CT homepage Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 03, 2018

Recently, we told you about over 50 food trucks traveling the streets of Fairfield County. Mobile eats are taking over the state though, with trucks and carts serving New Haven, Hartford, and beyond! Here are over 80 trucks serving everything from Mexican to Vietnamese to BBQ!

Skyscraper Sandwiches, Glastonbury: Skyscraper Sandwich Truck serves massive sandwiches stacked high like skyscrapers! It's no wonder they earned top honors from the CTNOW Best of Hartford Readers Poll in 2018.
Mamoun’s Falafel Cart, New Haven:Mamoun's Falafel got its start in Greenwich Village in New York City. Now, its cart serves Middletown and the surrounding areas. Find their latest stops on their facebook page.
Mercado, Glastonbury: A Span-ish inspired truck featuring local ingredients and full service catering, Mercado is owned by Roy and Heather, a husband a wife team, who set out to make their hobby a reality.
Ricky D’s Rib Shack, New Haven: Ribs! Pulled pork! Brisket! Ricky D's will bring their smoker and BBQ on the road and roll up to your next event.
Tacos Los Michoacanos, New Haven: Tacos Los Michoacanos is a fleet of Food Trucks that are based out of New Haven offering Mexican fare.
Thai Taste, New Haven: Thai Taste Food Truck opened in January 2018! Find them on York Street in New Haven.
Pork Friends and Company, Meriden: Pork Friends and Company is Latin fusion at its tastiest! Their background is Spanish, but they draw influence from around the globe.
Cado’s Egg Truck, Trumbull: Cados egg truck serves up a unique spin on breakfast in Trumbull.