Milkcraft Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, Opening in New Haven in Spring! Restaurant New Haven Dessert ice cream Kid Friendly Opening CTbites Team January 10, 2019 From the made-to-order ice cream billowing with liquid nitrogen clouds and those crazy waffle-like Bubblecones, to the waiting line of people all abuzz and happy customers donning their blue cookie butter ice cream tongues, Milkcraft continues to make its mark on Connecticut’s local and adventurous food enthusiasts. The first Milkcraft opened in Fairfield in the spring of 2016, with a second location popping up in West Hartford one year later, and now a third location marks the brand’s 3-year anniversary with the addition of their soon-to-be-open New Haven locale. Read More
Guide To Healthy Eating in Connecticut 2019 Features healthy Best of CT Juice Bar Paleo Gluten-Free Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market Vegetarian Vegan Homepage April Guilbault January 09, 2019 80% of New Year’s resolutions don’t make it to February. Yeeks. Sorry. Not to start our 2019 Healthy Eating Guide off on a negative foot or anything. Are you determined, though, that this will be the year that you finally cut the junk, cut the excuses, and buckle down so you don’t have to move that ol’ belt buckle? We thought so and therefore, we’d like to give you a leg up on throwing that 80% statistic to the ground and showing it who is boss. When you surround yourself with the healthy stuff, it makes it easy to enjoy the healthy stuff, so that said, we’ve got a nice long list of inventive, delicious, inspiring spots that are serving up food that will help you cruise into February with your head held high. Read More
At Gaudí Tapas and Wine, Dreams Come True via CT Magazine Restaurant Spanish Tapas Opening Connecticut Magazine January 08, 2019 Connecticut Magazine recently sited Gaudi Tapas and Wine as one of their favorite restaurants for 2018. We thought you should take a look…and taste. Saray Ruiz saw something in the little house-like building off Route 37. The one with the small parking lot and everyday architecture. The one others drove by thousands of times without a second glance.I’m going to open a restaurant there one day, she’d tell her twin sister, Noemi Ruiz, and anyone else who would listen to her dream. “It’s not going to happen,” Noemi would say.At the time, a few years back, the spot was home to a Mexican restaurant. Saray had a feeling that would change and thought the cozy spot could host a restaurant inspired by her childhood in Lleida, a small town in the Catalonia region of Spain, within driving distance of Barcelona. This past fall, when she and her once-skeptical twin opened Gaudí Tapas and Wine, her dream became a reality.And what a dream it is. Read More
Chef Dan Kardos Opens Oar & Oak in Stratford...And It's Damn Good Restaurant American Stratford Lunch Burgers Cocktails Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick January 06, 2019 A few years after opening Liberty Rock Tavern in the Devon section of Milford, Chef Dan Kardos now has his sequel. A stone’s throw from Sikorsky—and 10 minutes from Liberty Rock—is Kardos’ new concept, Oar & Oak. For Stratford residents, there’s that “Oh, yeah…” moment, but if you’re not from around there, the restaurant’s name is a play on words—it’s in Stratford’s Oronoque neighborhood. Much like Liberty Rock, Oar & Oak is very much focused on the area’s locals. “I want it to grow slowly, and become a neighborhood hangout,” Kardos said. “It used to be the original Parker Eatery—a favorite around here—so we freshened it up and gave it a new look.” The woodwork, brick walls, hanging lights, and periwinkle/grey/white tones in the space contribute to Oar & Oak’s casual, come-as-you-are vibe. Read More
Eric Felitto of The Chelsea and The Tasty Yolk Conquers Chopped! Features Events Celebrity Chef Andrew Dominick January 05, 2019 Just before the holiday season, there was a loud roar in Downtown Fairfield, and it had nothing to do with townspeople getting set for a hiatus from work. The cheers and applause was all for local chef Eric Felitto, who crushed the competition on The Food Network’s popular show, Chopped.The at-capacity viewing party for Felitto’s episode was held at The Chelsea, where he has been the executive chef since mid-2013. At the screening, locals made noise for Felitto while watching him on a 100-inch projection screen, and they witnessed him cook to one of his strengths…breakfast. Read More
The 10 Best Places for Dessert in Connecticut via Best Things Connecticut Features Restaurant Best of CT Dessert Bakery Kid Friendly Homepage CTbites Team January 04, 2019 We just had to share this great article from Best Things Connecticut, highlighting the 10 Best Places for Dessert in Connecticut. It’s a solid list. Check it out. If you find yourself craving something sweet or really need to treat yourself after a tiring day, don’t worry as the Nutmeg State has numerous places to grab a decadent treat. Look at the glorious array of colorful baked goods behind the glass counters, place your order, and sink into a cozy spot to enjoy anything from cupcakes to Italian and French pastries to traditional German sweets. With a little cup of coffee or tea to balance out the sweet, you’ll sure be feeling refreshed in no time. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events for January 7-13 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 03, 2019 AMG Catering kicks of its Winter Classes with “A Tribute to Anthony Bourdain – Global Journey of Appetizers” on Tuesday January 8. The menu includes Shrimp and chorizo “bites,” Tuna “poke,” Greek meatballs with Tzatziki sauce, and Mini Jamaican beef patties. It costs $90 per person and runs from 7-9 pm. Beginning January 9, B.GOOD will roll out its new winter seasonal menu. It includes a Citrus & Avocado Salad, Maple Roasted Carrots and a Mocha Protein Smoothie. Stew Leonard’s of Newington will have a Rainbow Madness Culinary Class for Toddlers on Monday January 7 and again on Saturday January 12. Kids ages 2-5 will make rainbow cupcakes and rainbow marshmallow dream bars. Along with that, each child will paint a rainbow canvas to take home. Read More
Max Burger: New 2019 Menu w/ Killer Burgers + Creative Additions! Restaurant Burgers Hartford County West Hartford Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe January 02, 2019
Ren Dumpling & Noodle House: Soup Dumplings & More in Wilton Restaurant Norwalk Chinese Noodles Kid Friendly Delicious Dives Take Out Lunch Homepage Nancy Kleeger December 30, 2018 If you already have a bevy of Chinese menus with sauce stains in your house that no longer excite you, Ren Dumpling & Noodle House in Norwalk may just become your new “go to.” Tucked in the corner of a vast shopping plaza in Wilton, Ren Dumpling & Noodle House seems to be far from overlooked. This cozy and clean joint was bustling with hungry customers dining in and picking up takeaway. Full disclosure: I lived in Hong Kong for five years, therefore, with five years experience consuming copious amounts of dumplings under my belt, my curiosity was piqued although my expectations may have been skewed. Ren isn’t all about the dumplings, however. In fact, the rest of the menu showcases an impressive amount of options you would see on most Chinese menus, with the addition of the odd Thai or Vietnamese dish or two, which seems to be standard these days. Read More
Rise Brewing Co: Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Made in CT Ingredients Features Ingredients Coffee Brewery CTbites Team December 26, 2018 Years of drinking bland and commonplace cups of coffee began to take a toll on Connecticut natives and founders of RISE Brewing Co., Hudson Gaines-Ross, Grant Gyesky, Jarrett McGovern, and Justin Weinstein. In 2014, they decided to take matters in their own hands by hitting the drawing board in their New York City apartments. Bean after bean, one roast and cold-brewing method after another, they finally created a cold brew coffee, making them the founders of RISE Brewing Company. Traversing the concrete jungle with their product, they asked experienced mixologists if it was the real deal. One day, in a Brooklyn café, the espresso machine broke; RISE cold brew came to the rescue, and was a hit amongst the customers. The product became available for purchase in July of 2017. Read More
CT Chefs Cook Holiday Dinner for the US. Navy on Submarine Galley Features Events CTbites Team December 25, 2018 On December 28th the New London Naval Base will be visited by a fleet of talented chefs who have come together to say Thank You For your Service, the best way they know how; by preparing a BBQ Extravaganza! This holiday celebration is the brainchild of Chef Plum (Restaurant Road Trip, Food Network, Hallmark Channel) who has gathered his fellow chef friends to create a scrumptious and entertaining “chow time” event for the men and women who serve our country. Read More
Top 100 Restaurants in CT for 2018 Restaurant Features Best of CT Homepage Stephanie Webster December 23, 2018 From Granby to Madison, Kent to Killingly, good eats abound in our beautiful Nutmeg State. It was our task for Hearst Publishing this year to determine the top of the heap, the creme de la creme and the cherries on top of this statewide sundae. So, after an abundance of hours honing in on the gems, we now offer to you our Top 100 restaurants in Connecticut! This list was created for our co-branded Top 100 Dining & Drinks guide we create for Hearst Media. The establishments on this list are not necessarily new, but they do happen to represent the very best CT has to offer for 2018. Our hope is that you enjoy exploring new flavors, maybe discover a new corner of the state that you haven’t visited before, and make memories with new culinary experiences. And hey, please add your favorites in the comment section if they don’t happen to appear on this list. Connecticut is truly brimming with deliciousness. Note: Limiting this list to 100 was challenging for the team. We lacked the bandwidth to include all of our favorite “delicious dives: and “hidden gems,” but you can find those on CTbites.com. Read More
Chef Robin Selden Featured in FORBES' 11 Trends Reshaping Food And Restaurants In 2018 (sponsored post) Features Interview Stephanie Webster December 23, 2018 Our own CT Chef, Robin Selden, of Marcia Selden Catering & Events, was one of the featured voices Forbes looked to to define the 11 trends reshaping food and restaurants in 2018. Trends included, Cooking with Cannabis, The Greening of Restaurants, Fine Dining Goes Casual, Affordable Wine Lists, Year of the Woman, Oat Milk and more. Read More
60+ Restaurants & Bars for New Years in CT: 2018 Edition Features New Years Holiday Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 21, 2018 Get ready to rock the night away and usher in 2019… New Year’s is almost here! Connecticut restaurants and bars are celebrating with gourmet meals and epic bashes to help you start the new year out right. Here is a complete guide to 60+ places where you can dine in style and watch the ball drop. Read More
The Social Craft Beer Bar & Kitchen in New London: 50 Hyper-local Craft Beers on Draft Restaurant New London Beer CT Beer Bar Comfort Food Pub CTbites Team December 19, 2018 Sick of the same old greasy bar food consumed with flavorless big beer brands while out with colleagues or friends on Friday night? Me too. Skip the ho-hum bar and head directly to The Social, a relatively new spot on Bank Street in New London. Providing a new and much needed hang-out spot, the Social gives diners great food, a family-friendly atmosphere, and an extensive beer list; it definitely knocks it out of the park as a new place to spend Fridays after work or Saturday evenings with family or friends.Largest Selection of Craft Beers on Draft in Southeast CTThe Social has selected hyper-local, local, regional, and U.S. beers, serving a whopping 50 on draft. Read More
Roost Opens in Hamden: It's All About The Chicken Sandwich (Gluten Free) & More Restaurant Take Out Kid Friendly Lunch Fast Casual Hamden Sandwich Opening CTbites Team December 18, 2018 A sous vide chicken sandwich is a minor detail, but the minor details make major taste differences - and that makes all the difference for your customers. That's what Roost believes. Completely locally owned and operated, the menu starts with the chicken sandwich - but with several twists: starting with a unique sous vide cooking technique which creates an incredibly juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside sandwich, and continues with a variety of unique toppings from Napa Cabbage Slaw to Carolina Reaper Pepper Buffalo Sauce that you won't see at just any fast casual restaurant. Read More
Brick Walk Tavern Opens in Fairfield from Chef David Snyder Restaurant American Fairfield Lunch Homepage Opening Jessica Ryan December 16, 2018 Fairfielders were very disappointed when they learned that The Original Bagel King had closed its doors at its Brick Walk location. Brick Walk Tavern now occupies the space along with the former restaurant next door and is being very well received by locals. The restaurant opened by Chef David Snyder and former financial executive and Fairfield resident Ted Vincent offer guests what they describe as “food with integrity” – high-end options that are approachable and familiar as well as those that might be seen as pushing the envelope slightly. The atmosphere inside upscale yet casual. A long bar at the back has a midcentury modern vibe, while the leather couch in front of the fireplace offers the coziness and quaintness of an historic New England town. Read More
Nibble: Tasty, Boozy, and Festive CT Food Events For December 16-23 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 16, 2018 B.GOOD Fairfield now offers breakfast daily! Options include breakfast sandwiches, breakfast bowls, smoothies and more. Customer can enjoy a free cup of coffee with every meal through January 31, 2019. The Oyster Club in Mystic presents “Holiday Cocktail Night” on Thursday, December 20 from 7-9pm. The mixologists behind their cocktail program invite you to their holiday cocktail tasting invite you to an evening of hors d’oeuvres, holiday cocktails, and an Oyster Club cocktail recipe book! 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. Starting at 8PM. Chef Felitto is parking the Tasty Yolk food truck outside.Stew Leonard’s Famous Holiday Workshop for Toddlers will be held on December 18 at 9:30am. Read More
Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant Celebrates 35th Anniversary Features News CTbites Team December 14, 2018 Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant celebrates their 35th anniversary on December 23rd, 2018. During the hustle & bustle of the holidays this month, come grab your shrimp platter and help Flanders Fish toast to 35 years of being a part of this wonderful Southeastern Connecticut community. Read More
CT Sweet Spots For Hot Chocolate That Will Warm You Up via CT Magazine Restaurant Features Best of CT Dessert Chocolate Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe December 14, 2018 You may recognize this byline from CTbites, but this sweet reporting by Kristin L. Wolfe rounds up a list of the best spots in CT for Hot Chocolate, via Connecticut Magazine. When the temperature drops and you’ve reached your quota for coffee or tea for the day, hot chocolate may just be your answer. And, although it won’t remove the stresses from your life, it will warm the belly and light up the kid within. I recently satisfied my sweet tooth at many spots around the state that are pretty proud of their hot (and cold) chocolate delights. After you’ve read through the rundown, be sure to chime in with any other places that offer delectable, drinkable chocolate creations.Rumors CoffeehouseAlthough coffee courses throughout this cozy nook, where you can play Scrabble, grab a quirky mug, and cuddle up on a couch, you’d be surprised by the hot chocolate offerings. Their Mexican hot cocoa surprises with a spicy zing, while the tropical hints from the coconut hot cocoa remind you of summer despite the chill outside. The Campfire is an especially fun treat in which the marshmallows on top are torched to a perfect bonfire char. 22 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, 203-942-2653, facebook.com/rumorsofdanburyLe Rouge Handmade Chocolates & Cakes by AartiGet ready for the Rolls-Royce of chocolate. In every way you can imagine, your senses will reach their peak at this gorgeous sweet boutique. With sleek red cases and black-and-white, polka-dotted packaging, this shop tucked away in a plaza is a tiny amusement park for chocolate fans. Le Rouge’s hot chocolate treats are not for the faint of heart. From a rich, dark blend topped with a piece of their signature polka-dotted chocolate that melts into the drink, to a white chocolate with dried raspberries or rose petals — yes, rose petals — these drinks are fancy and an experience. Chocolatier and owner Aarti Khosla even offers white chocolate with saffron and pistachios. 190 Main St., Westport, 203-293-6106, lerougebyaarti.com Read More
