The Hummus & Pita Co. Opening in CT Featuring The "Hummus Shake" Restaurant Mediterranean Dessert Smoothies Lunch Brookfield Opening CTbites Team July 24, 2018 This August, The Hummus & Pita Co. will bring its healthy, fast-casual Mediterranean cuisine to Connecticut in a comfortable and inviting environment, at its newest location in Brookfield, Connecticut. This opening marks the first Hummus & Pita Co. restaurant to open outside of New York City. What we love about The Hummus & Pita Co. is that all menu items are made-from-scratch on the premises, including freshly baked pita and laffa breads, and traditional-style meats cooked in a taboon oven.But what REALLY sets them apart from your local Mediterranean haunt, are the signature hummus desserts offering such as the Dessert Hummus and the recently launched Hummus Shake. Yep, you heard me. Read More
Avenida Venezuelan & La Calle Arepas Bar: Local Tattoo Artist Opens Two Areparias in Norwalk Restaurant Venezuelan Norwalk Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage Andrew Dominick July 22, 2018 If I told you a tattoo artist opened two restaurants in the same city, you might think I was trying to set up a joke. It’s no joke, and it’s not even that farfetched if you talk to Javier Eastman, who just opened Avenida Venezuelan Food and Le Calle Arepas Bar in Norwalk. So, how does a tattoo artist with almost 25,000 Instagram followers get into the food service industry?At Avenida, you can expect an array of empanadas, 16 different stuffed arepas, pastelitos (small savory turnovers filled with meat, cheese, or both), traditional Venezuelan breakfast plates, and a few larger dishes like Pabellón Criollo, Venezuela’s national dish, comprised of shredded beef, rice & beans, fried sweet plantains, egg, avocado, and cheese. Additionally, there are patacón sandwiches (beef, chicken, or pork between deep-fried plantain slices), burgers, and Venezuelan-style hot dogs topped with shredded carrots, cabbage, ham, salsa, cheese, and crushed potato sticks. Read More
Cocktail Naming Contest: Name This New MECHA Noodle Bar Drink + Win Big! Features Recipe Cocktails Stephanie Webster July 20, 2018 Game on! We're back with another cocktail naming contest. WIN a $50 gift certificate for MECHA Noodle Bar. Here's How...MECHA has a new summer sipper in need of a name. If your Cocktail name is selected, it will be featured on their new menu & you will receive a $50 gift certificate. Post YOUR name below. Good luck! Here are the ingredients: Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of July 22 - 29th Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 20, 2018 On Monday July 23, Bistro on Main in Manchester presents a 5-Course to honor the late Anthony Bourdain, a well-renowned chef, author, and travel expert in the food industry. The Guilford Mooring has launched a Monday Lobster Bake, offering customers a 1 ¼ pound lobster, red potatoes, Littleneck clams, mussels, peel-and-eat shrimp, and an ear of corn – all enjoyed from the restaurant’s waterfront location. Join Millwright’s in Simsbury for their 6th Anniversary Dinner on Wednesday July 25. The special 8 course tasting menu costs $95 per person, plus and tax and tip. As an anniversary special, you can also get a $10 gift card for every $50 gift card purchased.ARTISAN Restaurant, Tavern and Garden in West Hartford will reveal its private label of Rosé wine at an inaugural garden party on Thursday, July 26 from 5-7pm. Guests can enjoy Artisan Rosé wine, a craft cocktail, a 2-hour buffet, and a DJ for $25 per person.Millstone Farm’s Summer Soiree Dinners with Chef Geoff Lazlo continue of July 26. The evening begins with a cocktail hour at 6pm followed by dinner, both of which use fresh ingredients from the farm. The meal is family style and BYOB.Barcelona’s West Hartford location invites you to “A Seafood Dinner with Chef Tony” on Thursday July 26 from 6:30-9pm. The evening features a whole roasted swordfish collar, a raw bar, crispy tapas from the sea, and wine pairings. Tickets are $65. Read More
Food & Drink Podcast: An Interview with Letizia's Pizza in Norwalk Interview Features Interview Podcast Pizza Ken Tuccio July 19, 2018 In Connecticut when you think "pizza" a few places immediately come to mind, but Ken Tuccio has always championed Letizia's Pizza in Norwalk as the best pizza in Connecticut. Well, it seems like other people are jumping on the Letizia's train, because they just beat out "the big boys" and were crowned 2018 Best of the Gold Coast for pizza. Ken sits with Danny, Dennis and Dave from Letizia's to talk about their 20 years making pies in Norwalk, the struggles they faced as a business and what it means to finally be recognized as the best. Listen in here. Read More
34+ Places for Lobster Rolls in CT: 2018 Edition Restaurant Best of CT Seafood Lobster Summer Delicious Dives Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 17, 2018 Summer is here and nothing embodies summer in New England like the lobster roll! Whether you prefer yours hot or cold, with or without butter, classic or with a twist, Connecticut restaurants and seafood shacks are featuring them on their menus. Here is a list of 34+ places where you can get some lobstahhhh!!Lobstercraft, Fairfield: LobsterCraft opened its retail doors a few months ago in Fairfield. Parked next to the shop is their truck, and a tented, casual seating area, reminiscent of those great roadside eateries along the coast of Maine.Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale, Westbrook: Lenny and Joe's serves buttered lobster in a grilled split top hotdog bun and with one side of your choosing, like onion rings.Knot Norms, Norwalk: n addition to the classic lobster roll, Knot Norms in Norwalk has rolls of all varieties! Join them for a Fried Chicken Roll, Roasted Oysters and a Crab Salad Roll, and more.Liv’s Shack, Old Saybrook: Liv’s Shack, located directly on the waterfront at the mouth of the Connecticut River, celebrates Summer in New England with hot buttered lobster rolls, fish tacos, hand-ground hamburgers and more. Read More
Weenie Lynn's Hot Dog Food Truck: Killer Dogs & Sandwiches Restaurant Food Truck Hot Dogs Danbury Comfort Food American Take Out To-Go Kid Friendly Catering Homepage Stephanie Webster July 14, 2018 After seven years in business, it feels like it's about time to celebrate one of the old school CT food trucks, Weenie Lynn's. Weenie's is a family-owned & operated hot dog and specialty sandwich truck that has been serving the local food scene since spring of 2011. The truck is based in Danbury CT, but they are more than happy to bring their delicious dogs (and five kids) all over the tri state area...and they do. Weenie's serve two sizes of 100% All-Beef Hot Dogs (over 20 toppings & condiments), as well as Bratwurst, Kielbasa, and fresh-cut (never frozen) french fries, They also feature an ever growing menu of delicious sandwiches, many of them riffs off the classic grilled cheese. Read More
Friday Froth: Bell's Brewery and Bees in CT Features Friday Froth Beer CT Beer Brewery James Gribbon July 13, 2018
Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro Closes Its Doors: New Biz On The Way! Features New Haven Opening Stephanie Webster July 13, 2018 Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro will have its last service on Saturday July 21st 2018. After 10+ years of an amazing run, I’ve made the decision to close Caseus to pursue other projects and most importantly devote more time to raising my three young children and of course seeing my wife every now and then. Over the last decade, Caseus has served New Haven with passion, love, and true thoughtfulness. For me, personally, I am ready to see something new take its place and thrive. The foundation of what Caseus has been and always will be the community, our community, that we serve, the people who work to make us so exceptional and the deep respect for the ingredients we use. A new business, which will be unveiled in the next few weeks, will be a collaboration between two long-time Caseus employees, Chefs Alex and Craig and myself, and will maintain those same foundations with a commitment to be the best possible business for our exceptional city. Read More
Food & Drink Podcast: Meet Watertown's Hawk Ridge Winery Features Podcast Ken Tuccio July 12, 2018 This week Ken Tuccio sits down with Vin Giannetto and Michele McHugh, two of the owners of Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown. They tell their interesting story about how, with very little experience in wine making, they managed to turn their lot of land into one of the most gorgeous vineyards in the state. Have a listen here. Read More
Tarry Lodge Debuts "Aperitivo" Happy Hour Features Restaurant Happy Hour Pizza Westport Italian Wine Bar Andrew Dominick July 11, 2018 Happy hours are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Bad day? Have a reduced-price wine, beer, or cocktail to take the edge off. Even worse day? Have more than one. Hungry? Happy hours usually offer a handful of delectable bites to be had on the cheap as an accompaniment to your glass of booze. I’m obviously a fan of the whole idea of happy hours—and I’m betting you are too—so I’m always on the lookout for new ones in the area. That’s when I came across Tarry Lodge Westport’s brand new Aperetivo Hour.Introduced in May, Aperitivo Hour goes down Monday – Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. It features wine and cocktails for $10 each, and five snackable small plates for $5 per. Read More
Heibeck’s in Wilton: American Roadside Fare Since 1931 Restaurant Wilton Take Out ice cream Burgers Hot Dogs Tacos Comfort Food American Lunch Kid Friendly homepage Homepage Brett Levy July 08, 2018 Escape to a different era where comfort food is locally sourced, you are served with compassion and a smile on a garden patio, and you can experience a country feel that makes our fast-paced world slow down just a bit. This cute date (BYO), family fun and good vibe spot is something special to CT that you simply shouldn’t miss.Heibeck’s in Wilton opened in 1931 and has been family run for four generations. Back then, George Heibeck and Katherine Dhly Heibeck stayed up all night to hand churn over 100 of their original ice cream flavors to perfection, and then served the creamy goodness to their loyal customers daily. Though their ice cream is no longer produced on premises, the family prides itself upon the use of local food sources. Read More
Episode 8- Food & Drink Podcast - Lock City Brewing Features Interview Podcast Interview Ken Tuccio July 05, 2018 Lock City Brewing in Stamford is producing some of the best beer in the state, but what's their story? Read More
Sandy Hook’s Nouveau Monde Wine Bar Has Paris-Bistro Feel Restaurant Sandy Hook French Lunch WIne Wine Bar Connecticut Magazine July 05, 2018 Looking for French fare, with an exceptional wine list? Connecticut Magazine reviews Nouveau Monde Wine Bar in Sandy Hook, CT. At some point during your visit to Nouveau Monde Wine Bar, you will start to crave wine.Maybe this craving will begin when you walk in and see the steampunk elegance of the main dining area, a space that feels equal parts bar, classic cafe, restaurant and offbeat library. Perhaps it will strike as you read the wine list itself, a thick document that goes on and on like a William Faulkner sentence punctuated by descriptions such as “spicy yet fruity, red wine drinkers’ rosé.” Maybe it will begin when your server asks, “What type of wine do you usually drink?” and you realize “IPAs” is not an acceptable response.Or, at least, that’s what happened to me. This newfound appreciation of wine capped (or in this case, corked) a visit to the restaurant that, to put it in language a wine lover would understand, was a rich, full-bodied evening highlighted by notes of cellared ambiance, clean, bright food flavors that were anything but dry and a sweet, rich finish courtesy of a knockout dessert. Read More
It's a Woman's World: Carissa Dellicicchi of The Stand Juice Company Features Interview Chef Talk Jeanne Muchnick July 03, 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 Carissa Dellicicchi, owner of The Stand Juice Company. Have a suggestion on someone you’d like to see featured? Email steph@ctbites.com. Read More
Gluten, Grain or Dairy Free? Pour Me Cafe in Danbury Has You Covered Restaurant Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Danbury Local Artisan Gluten-Free Lunch Breakfast Homepage Stephanie Webster July 01, 2018 You know how it goes. When you have a food allergy or sensitivity, or if you eat vegan or paleo, and you want to go out to eat anywhere, it can at times be quite the task to find a place to accommodate for what you need and want. Enter Pour Me in Danbury. I heard about them from a friend who also has food sensitivities and she called it a ‘healthy comfort food type place.’ So as someone who can’t have gluten or dairy, I was naturally intrigued. It was so nice not to have to call ahead to see if they had options other than a salad! Andrea Gartner, the owner of Pour Me, opened the fine fast food cafe in downtown Danbury on a mission to revitalize downtown, and to provide food that gives people the fuel they need to “go out and do good in the world.” Read More
Strawberry-Rose Petal Ice Cream Recipe via Westport Farmers' Market Recipe Features Recipe ice cream CTbites Team June 28, 2018 'Tis the season we wait for all year...Strawberry season. Those sweet red beauties are ready to pick in CT and can be enjoyed at these local farms. If you can't pick-your-own, just head to your local farmers' market. One of our favorite markets, The Westport Farmers' Market, has shared this recipe for Strawberry-Rose Petal Ice Cream. Get shopping... Read More
Episode 7 - Food & Drink Podcast-Charter Oak Brewing (Scott Vallely) Features Podcast Interview Ken Tuccio June 28, 2018 For years Charter Oak Brewing has been trying to open up a physical brewery in Connecticut, but they've been met with roadblock after roadblock. They never quit though, and as a result they now have a gorgeous brewery in Danbury CT which is ready to pour beers for the public. Ken sits down with Scott Vallely, the founder of Charter Oak Brewing, to discuss the hurdles and challenges he faced to get to this point. Listen here Read More
Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield Welcomes New Executive Chef Zach Campion Features Chef Ridgefield CTbites Team June 27, 2018 Nearly 20 years ago, a neighborhood coffee shop was transformed into a charming New American restaurant. The concept was a simple one; a seasonal menu presented in a relaxed atmosphere; a concept that would grow with the town; and a restaurant where a chef’s creativity could shine. Owner Sal Bagliavio opened Bailey’s Backyard in October of 1999 and continues to make his culinary mark on the town of Ridgefield, CT.Today, this seasoned restaurateur is joined by Executive Chef Zach Campion, a Johnson & Whales alumn with kitchen cred that includes; Local 121 in Providence, RI whose concept was tagged as “locally harvested food and drink”; the ground-breaking Metro Bis in Simsbury, CT under the direction of Chef Christopher Prosperi; and continued to hone his craft in the kitchen of ON20 restaurant, a Hartford, CT culinary institution. Read More
Norwalk’s Catch of the Day Lasts All Summer Long (sponsored post) Restaurant Norwalk Seafood lunch Fish Raw Bar CTbites Team June 26, 2018 Photo Credit: The Cask RepublicInspired by New England waters and international flavor profiles, Norwalk Now celebrates summertime with vibrant seafood dishes befitting that of a thriving coastal community. From raw bar favorites laced with hot sauce to butter-vs-mayo lobster roll wars, Norwalk restaurants embrace the season with a variety of classic, innovative, and over-the-top seafood dishes that add to our summer enjoyment. Read More
