Dine with Design: Menu Preview with Taibe & Lewis Restaurant Events New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 31, 2011 In less than two weeks, June 11th from 12:00-3:00 pm, five of America’s most inspirational Farm to Table chefs will converge at the late Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan to prepare their visionary seasonal creations. The much anticipated Dine with Design – An Outdoor Celebration of Farm-to-Table Cuisine event includes several of the outstanding Chefs featured in the cookbook “Harvest to Heat – Cooking with America’s Best Chefs Farmers and Artisans.” The legendary Chef Michel Richard of Central Michel Richard in Washington DC and Michel in Washington, DC and McLean, VA; Chef Lee Chizmar of Bolete restaurant in Allentown, PA.; Chef Brian Lewis, co-creator of the Bedford Post, whose new restaurant, elm, opens this fall in New Canaan ; Chef Bill Taibe of LeFarmrestaurant in Westport; and Chef Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway in Providence, RI will each create a spectacular luncheon cuisine to delight the palate of all who attend. Read More
Chef Leticia's Brazilian Homemade Honey Liquor Ingredients Cocktails Leticia Schwartz May 31, 2011 I recently toured the beehive colonies in Trout Brook Valley field in Easton with my friends Patty and Sergei Boyce, program directors for The Backyard Beekeepers Association of CT. It was an amazing education on the art of honey production. Inspired by my newfound knowledge, and some great local honey, I began to explore the Brazilian school of preparing home made liquors and after dinner drinks from fruits, vegetables, and honey. I used Patty and Sergei’s honey and Leblon Cachaça to make this recipe. Enjoy! Read More
Sneak Peek @ ZAZA Italian Gastrobar in Stamford Restaurant Cocktails Italian Stamford Stephanie Webster May 29, 2011 Teaser billboards in the windows of Stamford's soon-to-be-open ZAZA portray a scantily clad woman really "enjoying" her pasta. You can't miss it…that's the idea. The Racanelli family, owners and operators of Pizzeria Molto in Fairfield know how to create a little buzz (as anyone who has waited for a table at Molto on a Saturday night knows all too well). Leveraging the success of Molto, their new venture will continue the tradition of the Italian gastropub and is slated to open in early June. Situated on busy Broad street with sidewalk seating, "ZAZA will have more of an urban feel with an active bar scene." says GM, Nick Racanelli Jr. ZAZA's casually chic interior, covered in white marble, red leather, and oversized images depicting Italian street scenes, is both welcoming and sleek. Black glass chandeliers hang like jewels over the communal tables, begging for the party to begin. The decor is clean and sexy, while the menu aims to please. Here is a sneak peak at ZAZA Italian Gastrobar. Read More
Wine & Food Tasting @ Stamford Museum June 3 Restaurant Events Wiine Tasting Wine Chat Stephanie Webster May 27, 2011 The Stamford Museum & Nature Center will be celebrating 75 years as an educational and cultural treasure on Friday, June 3 at its 75th Anniversary Celebration Wine Tasting. The celebration will begin at 7 pm with fine wines paired with signature dishes and specialties from top local caterers and restaurants. Participating caterers and restaurants include: A Dash of Salt; A•S Fine Foods; Becca Catering; Butterfield 8; David’s Soundview Catering; Frank & Julio Complete Event Planning; Illy Coffee; Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning; Napa & Co.; On the Marc Events; Outdoor Cookers; Shelly’s on the River; Susan Kane Catering; Vin’s Delights; and Wave Hill Bread/Chiappetta Olive Oil. The wines will be provided by BevMax. Read More
Opening Day @ The Westport Farmers' Market Ingredients Farmers Market Local Artisan Local Farm Westport Liz Rueven May 26, 2011 CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY The Westport Farmers’ Market opened today with a celebratory vibe as late spring temps finally pushed into the low 80’s and bright sun pushed through the early morning fog. More than 30 vendors set up under their tents, arranging heaping towers of local produce and lovingly prepared food product as shoppers streamed in to resume their Thursday routines of shopping, eating, and shmoozing at this one stop al fresco mecca. Westport’s market, winner of BEST FARMERS’ MARKET for the third consecutive year in the annual BEST OF THE GOLD COAST AWARDS, has embarked on its sixth season with stricter guidelines imposed on market vendors. Lori Cochran Dougall, Market Manager, has developed 12 guidelines that must be met by both farmers and small food producers. These guidelines are accepted by all vendors and make the mission of this market clear: all edibles must be local, sustainable and healthy. What does this mean for shoppers? Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant That Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Stephanie Webster May 26, 2011 Where did we catch this lovely piece of fish? (Winner will receive CTbites swag) One guess per person please. Read More
Chef Talk: Tuscan Oven's Limonata Cocktail Ingredients Features Chef Talk Cocktails Recipe Amy Kundrat May 25, 2011 Meeting a friend for an overdue gabfest, I found myself at Tuscan Oven in Norwalk for cocktails. Just as I was about to order the requisite martini, I spied a cocktail that whispered summer. The Limonata. If you find yourself in denial about the cool indecisive weather, or perhaps you'd like to be transported to a sunny afternoon on the Amalfi Coast, this Tuscan Oven cocktail may be just the thing. The Tuscan Oven Limonata Read More
A Conversation with Joe Bastianich Interview Restaurant Italian Chef Talk Amy Kundrat May 24, 2011 We are counting the days to the opening of Tarry Lodge Enoteca and Pizzeria this summer, Batali and Bastianich's latest restaurant venture poised to open in Westport. Located in the space formerly occupied by Abbondanza, this latest incarnation of the Tarry Lodge concept is lending momentum to the revitalization of the Saugatuck waterfront project. Hungry for more details, we had a quick chat with Greenwich resident Joe Bastianich about the opening, what we can expect from the menu, and why of all places they chose Westport, Connecticut. Read More
Tabouli Grill Opens 2nd Location in Southport Restaurant Middle Eastern Southport Sarah Green May 22, 2011 There seems to be a new trendy area developing just where Westport meets Southport. To borrow from our trendy NYC neighbors, maybe we should call it "Down Under (the exit) Nineteen Overpass" or DUNO. In the past year, we have seen some great new restaurants open in this area, including the oh-so-trendy GREY GOOSE at 246 Old Post Road and the latest COROMANDEL, serving great Indian food at 17 Pease Avenue . Now, luckily for us, a second TABOULI GRILL opened 2 weeks ago at its new location at 3381 Post Road. (Formerly home to Ole' Mole.) TABOULI GRILL is making DUNO it's second home and we quickly made it ours. Read More
Guide to Fairfield County Farmer's Markets from FGFG Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm Specialty Market Farm Fresh Stephanie Webster May 20, 2011
leFarm Family Meal: Elevated Pub Grub & Beer Pairing Restaurant Farm to Table Beer Comfort Food Amy Kundrat May 19, 2011 Some meals need no words. The recent "Family Meal" at leFarm was one such event. On the final Tuesday of each month, the restaurant opens up for a single seating and several courses based on the whim of Chef Bill Taibe and his team. This past month featured a down-home family meal based around LeFarm's playful interpretation of pub grub carefully paired with a selection of beers chosen by Saugatuck Grain & Grape. Warning ... the following photos may make you drool on your keyboard. Read More
GMonkey: Sustainable Vegetarian Food Truck Restaurant Food Truck Hartford Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian West Hartford Lunch CTbites Team May 18, 2011 I'm no food diva- sure I love a fine dining experience. I enjoy white tablecloths- and the particularly high-end places that scrape the crumbs from your table between courses. But there is a time and a place for this sort of event. Though I love a great restaurant, I am equally satisfied by a well made sandwich, burger, or just about anything from a greasy spoon diner. When I worked in Boston I frequented the street meat kabob purveyor, and enjoyed a couple visits to Clover- a vegetarian food truck. Cheap, hearty, and satisfying, I miss these lunch options more than I miss Barbara Lynch. So when Gmonkey mobile, a sustainable & vegetarian food truck, began tweeting their presence in Hartford earlier this month, I knew I had to try it. Read More
A Field Guide to Fairway Market's Smoked Salmon Ingredients Seafood Specialty Market Stamford Breakfast Lou Gorfain May 17, 2011 Gossamer thin slices of novy, redolent of smoke, salt, and the sea, layered on a bagel with a schmear -- I salivate as I write the words -- used to be a food group you couldn't easily find in Fairfield Country. We might as well have been in Kansas. Then, as if by wizardry, a piece of the Upper West Side was transplanted to Stamford's South Side last year. That's when Fairway Market opened its new 80,000 square foot foodie emporium on Canal Street. And the most outstanding feature of this wonderland greets you just past the spectacular array of cheeses: a deli case featuring 10 varieties of smoked salmon and lox from oceans around the world. Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant That Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Food Porn Stephanie Webster May 15, 2011
Crossing the River: Jordan's Restaurant in Westport Restaurant Greek Home Delivery Pizza Westport Lunch Kid Friendly Sarah Green May 15, 2011 There is a powerfully moving gospel song about crossing the River Jordan, but the fact that Jordan's of Norwalk recently crossed the River Saugatuck into Westport is what makes my wayward soul call out "Hallelujah!" Jordan's Restaurant and Pizza is a tried and true Greek/Italian establishment with FAMILY RUN written all over it. Pappa Nikos (Nick) and Mama Haroula (Carol) Ouzounidis came from their tiny town of Agios Loukas in Greece to Connecticut in the 70's and bought the original Jordan's at 369 Westport Ave in Norwalk. Now, with three locations to oversee, the three Ouzounidis children are taking over at the helm to keep things running smoothly, And with that honor, there is a dish named for each child - there's John's (Ionnis) Bread (with ricotta, melted mozzerella and marinara sauce), Lazaros (Larry) Chicken (sauteed with tomato, feta and garlic), and my drug of choice, the Kitsa Pella Salad (which you can read about in detail in my Colossal Salad review from last year.) Read More
Farm Dinners w/ The Schoolhouse's Tim LaBant Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster May 13, 2011
Babycat Milkbar Opens in Wilton Ingredients Amy Kundrat May 12, 2011 With a cup of iced Ruby Slippers tea in hand, I made my way through Babycat Milkbar, Fairfield County's latest pop up shop and cafe in Wilton. The brainchild of Jeena Choi, Babycat Milkbar is a temporary shop designed as a gathering space and small retail hub for coffee, tea and often hard-to-find locally sourced treats. The shop's items include the owners own brand of tea, Mamacat’s Q. Tea and others we know and love such as Cake Box in Ridgefield, SoNo Baking Company in Norwalk, Red Bee Apiary in Weston, Zumbach's Gourmet Coffee in New Canaan as well as other local artisans, photographers and crafters. Read More
Barcelona's BBQ Blowout & Cookbook Demo Restaurant BBQ Events Fairfield Stephanie Webster May 12, 2011
