Field Trip Premium Beef Jerky Opens 1st Retail Shop in Westport Ingredients Features Ingredients Snacks Specialty Market Westport Opening Stephanie Webster December 13, 2018 On December 11th, premium jerky & snack brand Field Trip opened its first store at 153 Post Road East in Westport CT. The 500-square-foot space will be the company’s first ever brick and mortar establishment. You can find Field Trip jerky in 50,000 retails outlets nationwide, but this is, and will be their ONLY dedicated store. The first 1,000 customers over the weekend of December 15th/16th will receive a free meat stick if they mention having read about us on Westport Moms, Dan Woog, CTBites, or via WestportNow! Read More
30+ Restaurants for Christmas Eve & Christmas in CT: 2018 Edition Features Christmas Holiday Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 12, 2018 It’s almost time to deck the halls… Christmas is right around the corner! While the season is joyous and filled with cheer, there is also plenty to get done from shopping to decorating to travelling. If you prefer dining out to preparing a giant meal at home, Connecticut restaurants have you covered with tasty menus, buffets, and specials. Here is a guide to restaurants where you can spend a festive Christmas Eve or Christmas. Read More
"Scraps" TV Host Chef Gamoran & CT's Jacques Pépin Create A Feast with Food Considered "Waste" Features TV Celebrity Chef Stephanie Webster December 12, 2018 FYI’s culinary series “Scraps,” returns for a second season where host Chef Joel Gamoran travels across the U.S. creating incredible feasts in the most breathtaking locales, using ingredients people throw away. In each episode Chef Gamoran partners with brilliant chefs and fellow food waste champions to celebrate the local cuisine and create a delicious meal with food items most people would consider to be waste. A recent shoot brought Chef Gamoran to CT, where he cooked with legendary chef Jacques Pépin. The episode will be airing on FYI at 10 PM on Thursday, December 13th and will also re-air on A&E at 9 AM EST on A&E. Read More
"OOPS I Ate My CBD:" CBD Infused Gourmet Chocolate Bars Features Ingredients Local Artisan Dessert Chocolate Specialty Market Homepage Stephanie Webster December 11, 2018 There is a lot of buzz going around regarding CBD, and also quite a few misconceptions. CBD, is one of the chemicals in cannabis, but unlike THC (also found in Marajuana), CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that is emerging as a very popular wellness ingredient. The plant extract, often consumed as an oil under the tongue, is now the featured ingredient in high-end products including body lotion, olive oil, cold-brew coffee, infused water, and even dog treats. Local start up, “Oops I Ate My CBD” is leveraging this emerging trend to create gourmet hemp infused chocolate bars, which come complete with 50mg of CBD per serving. The bars are made with 99.6% pure hemp derived CBD Isolate, and contains zero THC. Hence it is legal in all 50 states…and the chocolate is delicious. (Plus, I was VERY relaxed after my tasting) Read More
Zaragoza Tapas Bar: Excellent Tapas & Award Winning Cocktails in New Milford Restaurant Milford Tapas Lunch Spanish Mediterranean Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe December 09, 2018 Zaragoza’s tapas bar opened in New Milford in April 2016. The CTBites crew covered them a few months before their official opening and shared owner Artie Praino’s anticipation of a long-time dream come true after years in the deli business. Now, two and a half years later, they are a much beloved, popular spot for delicious, creative plates and cocktails.Fully informed by several Zaragoza regulars that I was sure to be delighted, my belly gurgled for a new tapas experience. I’ve had the pleasure of going to Spain a few times, so, admittedly, morsels from those adventures like ceviche, calamari, and chorizo propelled me to the restaurant with little hesitation. I was eager to taste what their twist on the classics would be. Read More
Watch Chef Eric Felitto of The Chelsea & Tasty Yolk Live on Food Network's Chopped Dec. 18th Features Events Stephanie Webster December 09, 2018 Join the party at The Chelsea on December 18th as Chef Eric Felitto (The Chelsea, Tasty Yolk), battles it out on Food Network's Chopped. Things are gonna heat up and get pretty tasty starting at 8PM. Chef Felitto is parking the Tasty Yolk food truck outside The Chelsea for the evening, and guests will enjoy FREE nibbles from both The Chelsea & Tasty Yolk from 8-9PM. The action really starts at 9PM when all eyes will be on the TV as Chopped declares their winner! We strongly recommend reservations by calling 203-254-8200. Read More
Drink & Do Good! 12 Bars of Christmas Crawl for a Cause: ALL Ticket $$ Goes To Open Door Shelter Features Events Stephanie Webster December 09, 2018 Put on your best holiday onesies, Santa suits, ugly sweaters, and elf costumes and get ready to crawl at the 1st Annual 12 Bars of Christmas Crawl for a Cause, Sunday December 16th 11am-10pm in Norwalk. All participating bars will have drink specials.All Profits from ticket sales including a percentage of profits from each participating Bar/Restaurant will be donated to the Open Door Shelter to help feed less fortunate people during the holiday season. Check out the amazing list of Norwalk bars below. Grab your $20 ticket here. Read More
Nibble: Delicious CT Food Events for Week of Dec. 9-16 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 07, 2018 On Monday December 10, Holbrook Farm and the Redding Roadhouse are teaming up for “An Evening to Celebrate the Last of the Harvest.” From 6-9pm, enjoy food and drink from Jeff Taibe, Dan Sabia, Matt Stanczak, Steve Tisdale, Aki Arai, and Craig Ventrice.Greenwich Steakhouse introduces new brunch, lunch and dinner menus prepared by the new Executive Chef Oscar Reyes. Executive Chef Oscar Reyes now leads the kitchen, bringing with him a lifetime of experience and seven years of hard-earned expertise training under the 40-year culinary veteran Chef Chavez at the iconic Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse.The 1st Annual "12 Bars of Christmas" Bar Crawl for a Cause comes to Norwalk Sunday December 16th from 11am-10pm! All Profits from ticket sales including a percentage of profits from each participating Bar/Restaurant will be donated to the Open Door Shelter to help feed less fortunate people during the holiday season. Read More
Holiday Afternoon Tea at the Bee and Thistle Inn Through Jan. 5th Restaurant Holiday Tea And Coffee Events CTbites Team December 05, 2018 Treat your loved ones or take time for yourself this holiday season by making reservations for a really special, festive event at the Bee and Thistle Inn in Old Lyme—their annual Holiday Afternoon Tea. The quaint Bee and Thistle Inn is quintessential coastal Connecticut in its interior decor and is a recommended place to visit year-round. But during the short winter days, the Bee and Thistle Inn gets extra dolled up with holiday spirit, making it a memorable place to spend time with loved ones. This special tea is served from November 29th through January 5th. Read More
Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand: Killer Dogs At This 90 Yr Old Roadside Dive Restaurant Cheshire Hot Dogs Delicious Dives Kid Friendly Road Trip Burgers Comfort Food Homepage Andrew Dominick December 04, 2018 Lately, I’ve heard a lot about Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand, a roadside dive that’s been open for 90 years and counting. Blackie’s came up in casual conversation twice; the founder of this site, Stephanie Webster, heard about it from a friend, then a friend of mine mentioned it. Shortly thereafter, Visit Connecticut posted a list of “8 Classic Summer Drive-Ins” with Blackie’s being one of the featured haunts. Well, now I had to check it out. That’s no coincidence, that’s a sign! Read More
CTbites 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for CT Food Lovers Features Best of CT Gift Guide Holiday Homepage April Guilbault December 02, 2018 ’Tis the season of holidays, sparkly and bright, there’s baking and partying well into the night The children are excited and the adults somewhat stressed, with planning and wrapping and finding the perfect Christmas vest What shall we get for Aunt Mo or Uncle Buck, it’s hard to decide, we aren’t having much luck But wait, it’s the Guide, the almighty Gift Guide! CTbites to the rescue, we exclaimed, we cried! There’s something for everyone, your foodies and friends, we’ve found several classics, along with a few trendsSo wrap them up lovingly with great care and great pride, and present these gifts with a gleam in your eye How merry, how happy, the recipients will be, and you, the giver, will be brimming with glee! Read More
Nibble: Fabulous CT Food Events For Week of December 2-9 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 02, 2018 The Stack, featuring Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ in New Haven, has kicked off its new Happy Hour specials. The deal are offered Monday-Friday from 3p-6pm and two rotating $7 draft cocktails, $4 Pork on a Stick, $5 Fried Pickles, deals on 1L steins, and more.On December 8, The Beer Collective and the Yale Peabody Museum are teaming up for “Bones & Cheer: Ice Age Edition.” The evening will feature food from Olmo and a selection of local brews and cider. There will also be Frozen Science Experiences, Glacier Games, After-hours Museum Access, Music, prizes, and more. Tickets start at $25. This is a 21+ event. On Tuesday December 4 at 9:30am and Saturday December 8 at 10am, Stew Leonard’s in Newington hosts a “Gingerbread Fun Culinary Class for Toddlers.” Kids ages 2-5 will make gingerbread cookies, gingerbread muffins, and a gingerbread cheesecake dip. Tickets are $20 and advanced registration is required. Wednesday nights are Lobster Nights at Kensington’s at the Spa at Norwich Inn. The Dinner Special includes a lobster Dinner for two with a bottle of their Vista Point wine. Read More
Where to Eat in Miami: MIABites' Art Basel Dining Guide Features Miami ellen bowen December 01, 2018 Art Basel and Miami Art Week starts next week with previews, opening night parties and of course, ART. But did you know that MIAbites has nicknamed Art Basel… EAT Basel? "Where should we eat in Miami?" Here are some of Our Contributors Best Bites for Art Basel dining in and around Miami, Miami Beach, Wynwood and the Design District. All of the Miami Beach hotels have top restaurants and prices to match. Jose Andres The Bazaar and Katsuya at the SLS South Beach, Scarpetta, StripSteak and Pizza Burger by Michael Mina and Hakkasan at The Fontainebleau, The Dutch and Mr. Chow at The W South Beach, Pao by Paul Qui and Los Fuegos at Faena and Jean-Georges’ The Matador Room at the EDITION, the relocated NOBU in the Nobu Hotel Eden Roc, are all popular and top picks where chances are you will have a delicious albeit expensive meal. Read More
Robin Selden's Holiday Food Art Tips c/o Marcia Selden Catering (sponsored post) Features Catering Entertaining Design Marcia Selden Catering November 30, 2018 The presence of food as edible décor is unexpected and exciting! People eat with their eyes, so before they even take a seat their mouths are watering just looking at your table! Beautiful tablescape design, incorporating food, is the key to these spectacular tables. Holiday theming and scheming can be a little overwhelming so eliminate the stress with these terrific ideas from a few of our recent events: Read More
Half Full Brewery Winter Beer Garden To Open in Stamford's Mill River Park December 7th Features Brewery Beer Garden Pop-Up Bar Stamford CT Beer Beer CTbites Team November 30, 2018
Bailey’s Backyard Offers NEW Market Table Tasting Menu (Wednesdays Only!) Restaurant Ridgefield Farm to Table American Lunch Homepage Jessica Ryan November 28, 2018 For those of you who are unfamiliar with this charming eatery in the heart of Ridgefield, Bailey’s Backyard first opened its doors nearly 20 years ago as a neighborhood coffee shop before transforming itself into a charming American restaurant with a simple concept; offer exceptional seasonal cuisine in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. It would soon become a neighborhood hot spot, offering locals a new dining experience. Several years ago Bailey’s evolved once again and the restaurant is now a farm-to-table establishment with a mission to create a menu based on the freshest local sources. Today meat and produce are still gathered from nearby farms, both in New York and Connecticut, and Seafood is garnered from Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Chesapeake Bay. I was recently invited to sample Bailey’s new Market Table Tasting Menu offered every Wednesday night. A new menu is introduced each week, giving diners the opportunity to try something new each time. The menu is Prix Fixe, $40 for four courses or $65 for the four courses and a wine pairing. Read More
It's A Woman's World: Jodi Bernard, Fortina Pizza's Director of Operations Features Interview Chef Talk Stephanie Webster November 27, 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, we feature Jodi Bernard, Director of Operations at Fortina Pizza. Stay tuned to see who’s next. And feel free to send suggestions for your candidates to steph@ctbites.com. Read More
Rob VanKeuren’s Flour Water Salt Bread Opens in Darien Restaurant Darien Breakfast Bakery Local Artisan Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick November 22, 2018 When I first covered Rob VanKeuren more than a year ago, I found him in the early morning hours baking countless loaves of bread and hundreds of croissants at Lombardi’s Trattoria in the Georgetown section of Wilton. A lot has changed since then. customers—over to a larger space at GrayBarns, where he sold loaves and pastries out of a barn.Unfortunately for VanKeuren’s sourdough-obsessed following, his stint at GrayBarns was short-lived. As a result, his sought-after bread for public sale disappeared for a bit.Some months after, VanKeuren announced something more exciting, plans to open a bakery of his own, right next door to NEAT in Downtown Darien. And now, it’s finally come to fruition. Read More
Donut Crazy Opens in West Hartford Today! Restaurant West Hartford Hartford County Doughnuts Breakfast Lunch Opening CTbites Team November 21, 2018 Donut Crazy is happy to announce the opening of its newest location in West Hartford today. The store, located at 993 Farmington Avenue, offers all of Donut Crazy’s food and beverage items.For those uninitiated into Donut Crazy’s world of over-the-top sugary doughnut confections, this location feels like a giant step forward both in selection and ambiance. All of their baked goods are made in-house in a Donut Crazy Kitchen by an overnight team of bakers. In West Hartford, Donut Crazy will offer its typical selection of “Dailies” and “Crazies.” Read More
The Tasty Yolk Gourmet Breakfast Sandwich Truck Launches New Truck in Fairfield Restaurant Food Truck Fairfield Breakfast Brunch Kid Friendly Opening Stephanie Webster November 20, 2018 The Tasty Yolk, gourmet breakfast sandwich truck, is excited to announce the opening of their third location at 1916 Post Rd in Fairfield. You can find them cooking up decadently delicious breakfast fare 6 days a week Tuesday - Sunday. They will be open from 7am-12pm Tuesday-Friday and 8am- 1pm Sat & Sunday, (unless there is a private event to tend to). The truck will be parked right in front of the now closed Mrs. Greens Natural Market, on the southbound side of Post Road. Commuters can text in their orders to 203-726-6520.The menu is small, but mighty. Each sandwich includes two freshly cracked eggs with high quality fixings pressed inside- gourmet rifts on the bacon, egg, and cheese. There is also $5 burrito and a griddled smashed potato side for $1. We are somewhat addicted. Read CTbites’ full review for The Tasty Yolk here. Read More
