Westport-Weston Restaurant Week Feb. 28-March 6 Restaurant Events Weston Westport Christy Colasurdo February 18, 2010 Twice a year, I schlep into New York for “Restaurant Week” to experience some of the city’s finest eateries for a fraction of regular prices, like my unforgettable, three-course feast at Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, voted a “Top 5 Newcomer by Zagat” at January’s NYC Restaurant Week. When I learned that Restaurant Week is finally making its way up to Westport, home to over 35 eateries, I began lining up my dining partners—and you should, too. The First Annual Westport-Weston Restaurant Week will take place from February 28-March 6, and we at CTbites plan to make the most of it. As of this printing, some 20 Westport restaurants, with a range of cuisines and price points, have signed on. The list represents a cross-section of local venues, both casual and high-end, from the down-and-dirty Black Duck and the down-home Bobby Q’s to the organic dynamo, The Dressing Room, to the perennially popular Tarantino’s and DaPietro’s, to newcomers including Manolo and Rizzuto’s. “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to try out a restaurant that may be out of your budget Read More
Openings: Grass Fed Organic Burgers @The Filling Station Restaurant New Canaan Comfort Food Burgers Stephanie Webster February 16, 2010 It seems these days that burgers and fries are all the rage. Burger joints like Five Guys, BSF, and Flipside have cropped up all around Fairfield County and have been greeted with long lines of hungry comfort food seekers. In this classic American tradition, the retro-modern Filling Station Company is due to enter the scene in the next few weeks. Another burger joint you ask? Not exactly. Sure, the prices are right, and the milkshakes will be flowing, but The Filling Station will be offering our community a $4 burger made with locally raised organic beef, $3 nitrate free dogs, and antibiotic and hormone-free shakes. Their commitment to serving local and organic fare will make many customers smile (I'm smiling right now), and if the food is as good as the tasting I experienced last Spring, New Canaan may have themselves a winner. The menu is simple. Burgers come in veggie (actually falafel) or grass fed beef. Hot dogs can be ordered up in the beef, chicken, or veggie variety, and let's not forget the Sloppy Joes. Read More
CTbites SuzySaid Lunch Event: Cafe Tavolini Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Stephanie Webster February 16, 2010 SuzySaid & CTbites are teaming up again for our monthly lunch event. On February 23rd, we will be meeting up at Cafe Tavolini in Bridgeport for a special $15 prix fixe lunch. CTbites has yet to review this one, so help us find the words by sampling the cuisine and submitting your opinion. We're looking forward to seeing you there. Here's what we're eating: Read More
Colombian Comfort Food @ La Sopresa Restaurant Sarah Green February 14, 2010 [UPDATE: This restaurant is closed] Do you remember that scene from the movie "Ratatouille" when the food critic, Antono Ego, takes his first bite of of the delicious veggie dish? Tears fill his eyes and he is immediately transported back to his care-free, whimsical childhood days. One delectable, comforting, outrageously sublime bite is all it takes to take to bringinnocence back to the jaded. I had that experience yesterday after taking one warm, sensational bite of a PANDEQUESO from the bakery section of La Sorpresa, in Norwalk. This undecorated, bare, and ordinary looking pastry was so surprisingly scrumptious, tears literally streamed down my face. Truly. (And yes, I probably DO need medication, but still…) And this wasn’t the only surprise at La Sorpresa, located at 61 Cedar Street in Norwalk. This Columbian restaurant, owned and run by Ivan Dario Gomez, serves typical cuisine from the region, but the place itself is anything but ordinary. Read More
Sustainable Dark Chocolate Tasting: 21 Bars, 12 Tasters... Ingredients Holiday Organic Dessert CTbites Team February 11, 2010 Last week, Analiese Paik, Editor of the Fairfield Green Food Guide, walked the CTbites staff through a sustainable dark chocolate tasting. We managed to consume (in very small pieces) 21 different varieties of chocolate...it was a very productive morning. Here's what you should buy for your loved one... If someone had told me there were more than 20 different companies that made premium, organic and fair trade chocolate bars, I might have doubted the veracity of that statement. But there I was in Whole Foods Market in Westport, in chocolate heaven, scrutinizing the sustainable labeling on beautifully wrapped bars of Dagoba, Equal Exchange, Newman's Own Organic, Kallari, Divine and 15 more chocolate companies, each just begging to be chosen for the sustainable chocolate tasting I was holding with the help of CT Bites. I couldn't choose; they all had to come home. It was only fair. Read More
IzzI B: Allergen Free Cupcakes Everyone Will Love Ingredients Kids Bites Bakery Norwalk Special Dietary Needs Kid Friendly Dessert Sarah Green February 07, 2010 Do you have a child with food allergies? I do. It stinks. It’s not the end of the world, I realize that, but it certainly makes everyday events (and I really mean just about EVERY day in this town!) like birthday parties a hassle. My son is allergic to dairy, egg, sesame, and tree nuts. OK, the sesame isn’t usually a cupcake issue. But there haven’t been a lot of options for dairy free or egg free desserts! And I have several friends whose children also need gluten-free food. ( Yikes!) There ARE products out there that you can bake yourself; Cherrybrook Kitchen has a whole line of boxed items that you can order on-line and even purchase in some grocery stores. But the cakes and cookies from Cherrybrook are just -ok. They are not particularly tasty, especially for the sophisticated and discerning taste buds of the seven-year-olds in Fairfield County! And, you have to bake them yourself. But there’s a new kid in town and she is singing my song- her name is Pam Nicholas and she is the owner and baker at Izzi B’s Allergen Free Cupcakes. I recently purchased Izzi B cupcakes for my son’s birthday party and they were a colossal hit! Delicious, ‘B’utiful, fun, and 100% allergen-free Read More
Osianna Taverna: A Lunch Oasis with Great Value Restaurant Fairfield Italian Mediterranean Seafood Lunch Deanna Foster February 07, 2010 Going out for lunch carries specific expectations. If you’ve gone beyond the decision to just get a bite to eat, other desires come into play: In addition to good food, you want a certain atmosphere, efficient service, and ideally, a reasonable price. A recent mid-day visit to Osianna Mediterranean Taverna in Fairfield satisfied all our requirements for a delightfully laid back lunch with excellent food that nourished, but didn’t stuff us, and proved to be an exceptional value. An energetic buzz greeted us when we entered the restaurant Read More
Valentine's Day Dinners: Where to Eat Out Restaurant Holiday Stephanie Webster February 03, 2010 Ok...I'll admit it. I'm not really all that romantic. I'm a practical girl. That being said, I relish any excuse for a good meal out, and I'm always happy to assist my nearest and dearest in making their Valentine's Day plans memorable. Given the deluge of texts and calls I have received recently asking for advice on where to take wives, husbands, or girlfriends, it seemed prudent to do a little research. Here are some of our favorite restaurants offering "special" Valentines Day dinners on February 14th. A few places like leFarm and Harvest Supper, which are normally closed Sundays, will open their doors. Napa & Co and Nicholas Roberts have prix fixe menus, while others have half price bottles of wine. We are still waiting for details from a few chefs who haven't nailed down their menus. Take a look at the list below and see what works for your budget and your palate. Happy Valentine's Day...Enjoy the food...and other things. Read More
The Great Stamford Taco Crawl Restaurant Stamford Mexican Lunch Amy Kundrat February 02, 2010 I have yet to meet a taco I don't like. Or so I thought when I began hosting a series of Taco Crawls in Connecticut last fall with some adventurous foodie friends. Inspired by Jonathan Gold, considered the high-low priest of the Los Angeles food scene, and my favorite San Francisco neighborhood, the Mission District, I have become determined (read: obsessed) to discover the best taco in Connecticut. Fairfield County is no Mission District, but I contend that there are some amazing pockets of authentic food in southeastern Connecticut if you know where to look. One shining example is the El Charrito taco truck in Stamford. Their devotion to the taco and other traditional Mexican dishes in their quality ingredients contribute to what I consider to be a near perfect taco. A few things I've learned along the way is that the word ‘authentic’ or 'traditional' is tossed around entirely too often and can be deceiving. The only "real" Mexican taco you are going to experience is probably South of the border or in the kitchens of Mexican grandmothers. That being said, every restaurant expresses, interprets and defines their cuisine differently, and (with the exception of Taco Bell) I respect their efforts. With the El Charrito taco truck in our sights, we decided to begin our culinary journey in Stamford, Four taco joints would be no problem on a recent Sunday for four seasoned Taco Crawlers. Our destinations: 1. El Charrito, Richmond Hill (across from Beemers) Stamford, CT 2. Casa Villa 182 W Main St. 3. Tacos Guadalajara 217 Atlantic Street. 4. Ole Mole 1030 High Ridge Road. Read More
Granola 3 Ways: Let Them Eat Oats! Ingredients Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Breakfast multiple Authors February 01, 2010 If you spend any time in any grocery store these days you can't help but notice a serious proliferation of high end granola. Everyone and their grandmother is packaging their "one-of-a-kind" recipe for this oat-some breakfast treat. Many of these are high in fat, loaded with sugar, and quite frankly, not that good. We decided to consult our experts for their takes on this perennial favorite. All of these recipes are highly customizable and have an endless array of add-on possibilities. Here is 'Granola 3 Ways." At long last...three reasons to wake up in the AM. Read More
Bustling French Bistro & Seafood Fare @ 1020 Post Restaurant Darien French Seafood Breakfast Lunch CTbites Team January 31, 2010 Don't let the lace curtains and stately brick entrance fool you. Behind the doors of this new French Bistro, named for its location on the Post Road in Darien, is an airy room with coffered ceilings and a sleek zinc bar that buzzes--loudly at times--with the chatter of locals every night of the week. Located within walking distance of the Darien train station, 1020 Post, which opened its doors a little more than a year ago, pulls people in like a magnet for dinner and drinks after work and lunch during the week. On a chilly Tuesday night, I arrived with four friends to find packed tables and a bustling bar, which was lined with large glasses of Malbec and Pinot Noir. Nearby, people dined on bar stools at one of two tall community tables, where small groups can enjoy a quick bite without a reservation Read More
Beautiful Baked Goods @ CakeSuite Ingredients Bakery Specialty Market Westport Dessert Liz Rueven January 26, 2010 Westporters have had their cake prayers answered with the recent opening of Michelle Klem's designer cake boutique and bakery storefront CakeSuite. Actually, given CakeSuite's proximity to I-95, pretty much everybody in Fairfield County should be feeling pretty lucky. CakeSuite opened just before Christmas but launched officially last week with a festive tasting event. Eager to sample the goods at this new sweet shop, we arrived hungry. The retail space is a bright, pristine, white tiled bakery with a glass case filled with trays of cookies and other elegant treats. The work area of this bakery is in full view for all you cooking voyeurs. For this celebration, Michelle had prepared a generous variety of miniatures to taste. Supporters and cake lovers mingled in the bakery, sipping champagne and nibbling on the irresistible cookies and cakes. The tiered trays were piled high, but S. and I managed to taste everything. Read More
CTbites Votes: Best Italian in Fairfield County Restaurant CTbites Votes Italian Stephanie Webster January 26, 2010
Cult Pizza Following @ Colony Grill in Stamford Restaurant Pizza Stamford Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 24, 2010 What is the attraction of Colony Grill in Stamford? What creates almost a cult-like fascination, while simultaneously evoking harsh criticism? Why do regulars protect their turf so dearly? And most importantly, what is a Hot Oil pie? Colony has a pizza reputation that extends for decades. The walls are adorned with numerous Military and team photos from the 50’s and 60’s plus other local heroes. Twelve stools, six booths, four TVs and two video games occupy the room with a long and always occupied bar, while the second room contains ten booths and twelve additional seats around tables. The kitchen is in the back where you can see a stack of oven-ready pies, each awaiting the requested toppings. The bar offers four beers on tap plus other varieties in bottles housed in the refrigerator behind the bar. Colony ONLY serves pizza. Upwards of 1,000 in-house and take-away pies are created on a normal Saturday or Sunday Read More
Wine Chat: Wine Dinners Worth Checking Out Restaurant Wine Chat Stephanie Webster January 21, 2010 Calling all lovers of wine and food (isn't that all of us?)...We have gotten wind of a few wine dinners that are worth checking out in the next few weeks. Cafe Lola in Fairfield, Da Pietro's in Westport, and Coromandel in Norwalk are all offering food and wine events that look promising. At Cafe Lola, Bons Vivants can sample the 2007 vintage of Jean Luc Colombo's wines. Da Pietro's Chef Scotti has partnered with Castle Wine & Spirits to create the beautiful French-Northern Italian menu below. And last but not least, Coromandel will be hosting Joanne Davis from World Wide Wines as their special guest/ wine expert for their monthly wine dinner. You can review some of the menus below. Make reservations ahead of time as these events do sell out. If you do make it to any of these three dinners, let us know how you liked them. Read More
The Flaxette: There's a New Artisan Loaf in Town Ingredients Bakery Breakfast Comfort Food Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster January 21, 2010 Attention bread lovers. There's a new artisan loaf in town…"The Flaxette," a beautiful crusty, nutty bread featuring organic ground flax seeds and a marvelous chewy tender interior. The bread is made by a Michael Mordechai and his startup, The Fairfield Bread Company. A few months ago, we attended a gypsy dinner where we sampled "The Flaxette" for the first time. It accompanied a bread and cheese platter, and while the cheese was very good, it was the bread I couldn't stop eating. When I heard he had taken his bread on the road, I raced over to The Pantry in Fairfield to purchase the delicious loaf. Moments later I was ripping off the ends and hoping there was some left once I got home so I could sample the product with butter. Mind you..it's not a long drive. Read More
Five Guys on Five Guys Restaurant Westport Norwalk Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Multiple Eaters January 19, 2010 As part of our mission, CTbites only reviews restaurants that we feel are crave-worthy, but every now and then the rules get a little fuzzy. Earlier this week, Five Guys Burgers and Fries FINALLY opened in Westport, and it did so with a bevy of anticipation and buzz. In honor of this eagerly awaited launch, we decided to put five of our top meat eaters on the case. Here you have it...The ups and downs of Five guys on Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Guy #1: One of Five on Five Guys by Chris Nashawaty, Senior Writer, Entertainment Weekly First thing’s first: Five Guys is going to need more parking. When I dropped by to quiet my cheeseburger sweet tooth last weekend, not only was the line of drooling meat-eaters out the door, cars were literally backed up, snaking out onto the Post Road causing traffic. I think we can all agree that Fairfield County is a great place to live. But as a burger mecca, it’s always been a bit lacking--especially along the row of interchangeable strip malls on Route 1 in Westport where the new Five Guys sits like a beacon of beef. Read More
Health in a Hurry: Fast Food That's Good for You Features Restaurant Fairfield Organic Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian healthy Farm Fresh Liz Rueven January 15, 2010 Entering Health in Hurry in Fairfield is like entering a close friend's kitchen after she has prepared fragrant dishes for you all day. Owner, Sue Cadwell, greets customers while literally standing in the kitchen of her 275 Sq. foot storefront tucked away off the Post Road. There is nothing but a short counter to separate you from the simmering pots and a couple of dedicated cooks chopping and packing healthful, mightily flavored dishes to go. Sue's philosophy is simple. She provides a welcome alternative to fast-food for busy people using organic, whole foods, seasonal produce and ethnic flavors from around the world. What she does in this tiny kitchen is remarkable, and even while working she is always ready to pause and greet her customers with a welcoming smile and a hug. She will ask if it is your first time there and gladly explain as much or as little as you would like to hear about each dish and its ingredients. Food allergies? Food sensitivities? No problem. Sue caters to all dietary needs and to her loyal following. This may be a small, intimate operation, but Heath in a Hurry has a big heart and big intentions. Read More
Maine Shrimp Are Coming to Norwalk! Ingredients Norwalk Seafood Specialty Market CTbites Team January 14, 2010 The season for sweet, Maine shrimp is here but not much, if any, makes it to Fairfield County. That’s about to change. Yesterday’s New York Times had an article about Maine shrimp that said the season is so bountiful this year that “the State Department of Marine Resources has extended it to May 1.” How crazy are foodies about these shrimp? According to the same article Community Supported Fisheries programs where consumers sign up to receive “frozen hand-peeled shrimp in five one-pound bags once a month for five months” are popular but the closest drop sites are in Brooklyn. The article’s end note states that the shrimp are sold “fresh in the shell in Manhattan for $9 a pound at Wild Edibles at Grand Central Market.” Don’t go to Manhattan or ask your spouse or friend to do you a favor and pick some up at Grand Central, because you can get them at 1/3 the price of their Manhattan brethren this Saturday from 10-2 at the new Norwalk Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market at 61-65 Wall Street. Read More
