Nola Oyster Bar Opens in SONO Restaurant Norwalk SONO Seafood Beer Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 15, 2013 With very little fanfare, Nola Oyster Bar will open its doors this weekend in SONO in the space formerly occupied by Wasabi Chi on the corner of Main and Washington. As CTbites announced a few weeks ago the menu will primarily focus on seafood from Maine to New Orleans. The previous open interior has been completely redesigned into three dining areas. The bar area features both a long bar with numerous stools for cocktails and dinner, while the two dining areas occupy the remaining space. The rear dining area is convertible for use as a private dining area. Chef Dan Kardos is overseeing the kitchen and a sneak peak at his opening menu confirms the seafood focus with variety of options. Included are traditional raw bar selections of oysters and clams plus several crudos. “Small Plates” offer several varieties of cooked seafood including braised mussels, an oyster pan roast and several renditions of oysters. The entrées maintain the seafood focus with poached lobster, shrimp and grits, and other grilled and roasted seafood, but expands into a few non-seafood selections that include hanger steak, fried chicken, a combination bacon-cheeseburger. CTbites was told that the menu will expand rapidly over the first few weeks. Stay tuned as CTbites revisits Nola Oyster Bar in a few weeks for an in depth review. Read More
Champagne: Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines Says "It's Not Just For Valentine's Day" Ingredients Wine Chat Wine Shop Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 14, 2013 Flat screen TV: check. Afternoon game on: check. Matching jerseys: check. Champagne. Check? If football conjures up images of greasy chicken wings, beer, and people shouting at the television, champagne is equated with glitz, elegance, and a touch of pretension. It seems impossible that the two would ever exist in harmony. Recently, Peter Troilo of Nicholas Roberts Fine Wine in Darien, CT proved otherwise. He and wine distributor Peter Slywka held a grower champagne tasting against a backdrop of Sunday afternoon football. “Most people think they have to drink champagne for a special occasion. People should drink it all the time!” Troilo proclaimed. Slywka nodded. Then both turned their attention to the TV and let out a whoop as their team complete a play. Don’t let the laid back demeanor fool you; these guys know their stuff. Just this year, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article on the boutique wine store, praising it for its carefully stocked shelves. Troilo’s knowledge has earned him widespread respect in the industry. Recently he joined forces with New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov to select wines for an event celebrating the launch of the commentator’s book at the Darien Library. Read More
CTbites Invites Recap: Passover Cooking w/ Tabouli Grill Ingredients Features CTbites Cooking Classes Holiday Invites Middle Eastern Recipe ellen bowen February 14, 2013 With the snow piled so high in front on the Post Road, it could have been easy to miss Tabouli Grill in Southport… but I was determined to join a spirited group for CTbites Invites Passover Cooking, so maneuvered my way around to the side parking lot and entrance. Chef/owner Judith Roll greeted everyone with hot coffee and her spongy homemade lemon cake as we were handed recipes for the morning's “hands on” cooking class in the Tabouli kitchen. (See Chef Judy's recipe for Bubbe's Brisket below.) Chef Judy, who has traveled the world bringing authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to her two restaurants, in Stamford and in Southport, is passionate about what she prepares and had created a wonderful Passover menu for our entertainment and dining pleasure ( Passover is March 25-April 2 ). Read More
CTbites 2013 Burger Round-Up Needs Your Help Restaurant Best of CT Burgers CTbites Team February 13, 2013 CTbites is gathering candidates for the 2013 Best Burger Round Up and we need your help. What restaurants do you think are deserving of a spot on our Third Annual List of BEST BURGERS? Post the names of your favorite Burger spots below and we will do our best to sample your suggestions. Read More
Winesday: Don't Forget About The Glass Ingredients Wine Chat Winesday Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 13, 2013 Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week! I know that I have the New York Times Dining Section and a new episode of Top Chef to look forward to. Now there’s one more reason to love them: our new weekly column, Winesday! This is your pass to all things wine from amazing bottles to local retailers to restaurant vino offerings. For the first article, I thought that I would cover a slightly atypical topic: the glasses in which we drink wine. There are many articles about wine itself, but the vehicles in which we consume it is a less explored frontier. I first encountered Bottega del Vino stemware at the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest and alluded to it in my article on the event. Since then, I had the opportunity to try it for myself. Some of you wanted further information, and now I can render my verdict! Read More
Top Spots for Chocolate in Connecticut [updated] Ingredients Holiday Dessert Amy Kundrat February 11, 2013 For the traditional Valentines Day present, it's nearly impossible to beat the universal appeal of chocolate. And for those of us who could care less about the Hallmark holiday, consider this a great way to satisfy that sweet tooth. So without further ado, here is a short list of places across Connecticut to satisfy that craving and maybe score a few points with your sweetheart. A word to the wise: when buying chocolate, you'll want to stop in a few days before the holiday to strike the best balance between freshness and selection. And please comment below and share any favorite chocolate or sweet spots that we missed! [Originally posted in 2012, this has been updated for 2013]. Bridgewater Chocolate What: Huge variety of chocolates, bars, cookies, toffee, etc. Where: 559 Federal Road, Brookfield Chocolate Lab at eleven14 Kitchen What: Chocolate shop and café located inside the JHouse hotel Where: 1114 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich Read More
Rainbow Thai Opens in Westport Restaurant Asian Thai Westport Sarah Green February 10, 2013 Yes, Virginia, there IS a great Thai food to be found in Fairfield County. The new RAINBOW THAI at 5 Bridge Street in Westport is just what Virginia (and all the rest of us who feared that a great, local Tom Yum Gung soup might not really exist) ordered. RAINBOW THAI is tiny and, not to its advantage, finds itself in that ill fated location in the Bridge Market complex that hasn't to date been a lucky spot for restaurants. Many an eatery has peaked and faded faster than a shooting star in this locale but I think Rainbow Thai has staying power. Why? The food is just so damn good. Read More
Friday Froth: Face Heater Ingredients Beer Dinner Beer James Gribbon February 08, 2013 The holidays are over, football is over, it's still cold, and meteorologists are gesticulating like Kermit the frog introducing the next act. It's time for strong drink.The boys at Lagunitas Brewing in California screwed up their first try at making a barleywine ("Gnarlywine," natch) in the late 90's, but they were left with an interesting recipe wherein they threw in some brown cane sugar. The resultant brew wasn't what they were going for but... it was pretty good. Pretty damn good. They called it Brown Shugga, and it became a big hit for them when it was released every winter. In the winter of 2010-11 though, they hit a snag. The brewery was expanding, and construction forced the brewers to choose: do we make the time-consuming 'Shugga and cut production on our staple beers, or do we cut 'Shugga, and risk pissing people off? They went with option two. Read More
Tutto Pasta in Fairfield: Fresh Pasta & More Made Daily Ingredients Fairfield Italian Pasta Specialty Market sherri daley February 07, 2013 When Harry’s Liquor Store and the Fairfield Cheese Shop decided to tear down the wall they shared between them, customers could wander back and forth, tasting wine and snacking on crackers and cheese. It was the perfect symbiosis of oenophiles and cheesemongers. It couldn’t get any better. But yeah. It could. And it did. Brothers David and Andrew Tavolacci, who sold fresh pasta and sauces at their little and much- loved store in Georgetown, made a smart decision to move to Fairfield and share the parking lot with Harry’s. Now we can shop for the trifecta of food – wine, cheese, and pasta – without re-parking the car. Tutto’s is where you go to purchase fresh pasta and home-made sauces, Wave Hill Bread, pesto, soups, and a variety of specialty foods. Read More
Family Style Sunday Dinners at Norwalk's Strada 18 Restaurant CTbites Team February 06, 2013 South Norwalk's Strada 18 restaurant has kicked-off a series of "Family Style Sunday Dinners." These successive winter Sundays will feature pre-determined menus served "family-style"with a set price (ranging from $30 to $35 per person, child pricing available). Reservations are required in advance of each Sunday dinner. Upcoming Sunday Dinners: February 10, February 24, March 10, March 24. For more information and a list of menus, please visit www.strada-18.com. Read More
Kids Review: Greenleaf Organic Bakery & Café in Wilton Kids Bites Restaurant Bakery Organic Wilton Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert Sunday Diners February 06, 2013 This article first ran on Sunday Diners, a kid's guide to the best diners and breakfast joints in Fairfield County, Connecticut and beyond. Written by 4th Grader Alex (with a bit of help from his dad). Usually, at this time of the year, many people make resolutions to eat healthier or not eat junk food all of the time. One of the ways that you can do this is by eating more organic foods which are healthier for you. Today, we went to Greenleaf Organic Bakery and Café, in Wilton, where everything is organic, fresh and TASTY! The first thing I noticed when I walked in were the displays of amazing pastries, croissants, cupcakes, tarts and the BIGGEST chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. The second thing you notice, is how good it smells! The walls are decorated with photos of food and fruit, and it is a good place for kids and adults too. I looked at the menu before we left the house and already knew what I wanted — The Fruit Explosion - Fresh organic cream, layered with organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, yogurt, granola, all topped off with chocolate hazelnut spread. It was beyond good and… healthy at the same time. It was also BIG! Do you know what else was BIG? The Organic Hot Chocolate – which is made with real melted organic chocolate and whipped cream – it was GIANT! Bigger than our cereal bowls at home – now that’s BIG! Read More
Sun Winefest Recap: One Woman's Search for the Best Bottles Restaurant Celebrity Chef Events Wine Chat Wine Tasting Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 05, 2013 It was the calm before the storm. As I strolled into the SunWineFest before the doors opened to the public, the ballroom appeared almost peaceful. Exhibitors casually erected their stands and freely moved about the space. Within an hour, that all changed. People stood packed shoulder to shoulder and attempted to elbow their way through the throng for tastes of wine. The crowd surged with energy, and my heart raced with excitement. For some, the Mohegan SunWineFest is one giant party: an excuse to get buzzed with friends, blow off steam, and sample as many wines as physically possible. For others, the event is a valuable opportunity to find exceptional bottles. Read More
Community Table in Washington CT Restaurant American Farm to Table Litchfield Local Farm Amy Kundrat February 03, 2013 In the Litchfield County town of Washington, the two-year old Community Table and its team led by Executive Chef Joel Viehland, stands at the center of a tight network of farmers, foragers and discerning diners. Born from agrarian collaboration rather than co-opting it, Community Table was built around the notion that a restaurant serving its community must not only serves its diners, but act with respectful stewardship of the land. This translates to sourcing seasonally, locally and sustainably, as well as pickling, drying, fermenting and composting. Read More
New Haven Meatball House Restaurant Late Night Beer New Haven Comfort Food Amy Kundrat January 31, 2013 As a part of our ongoing effort to cover more of the state, we will be publishing more frequent, shorter posts on some of our favorite spots in New Haven, Hartford and beyond. If you have a place you love or would like us to cover, please email us! New Haven Meatball House Cuisine: Comfort Food, Late Night Dining, Craft Beer Price: Less than $10 (per entrée)Our Highlights: Chicken meatballs with pesto, beef meatballs with tomato sauce, black garlic mashed potatoes, spiked milkshakesHours: Open Daily, Monday - Thursday at 5 pm, Friday - Sunday 11:30 amOnline: Official Website | Facebook Four types of meatballs, four types of sauces and three ways to eat them. Do the math and that could keep any comfort food-seeking foodie returning to explore the menu at New Haven's Meatball Shop on Chapel Street. Owner Bob Potter, the man behind New Haven's popular meat mecca, Prime 16, and the East Rock neighborhood tequilar bar, c.o. jones opened New Haven Meatball House in mid-2012. Read More
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant Opens This Week in Greenwich Restaurant American Greenwich Italian Steakhouse Opening Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 30, 2013 Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant, the latest venture of the Sigueza brothers, Vicente and Kleber, owners of Scena Restaurant in Darien, Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant in New Canaan and 55 Degrees in Fairfield, opens this week in Greenwich at 372 Greenwich Avenue. With large windows beckoning the guests, the modern interior is dominated by wood, stone and leather. Wood-topped tables are all hand-made and surrounded by leather backed chairs. Individual lights descend from the ceiling to create a whimsical touch to the otherwise masculine décor. The rear wall is half glass and sunsets will create an inviting end to the day to enjoy one of the signature cocktails with many of the fruit and vegetable additions juiced on site. The menu is best described as “food inspired by the American tradition,” a steak house that meets Little Italy and embraces the sea and the farm to table movement. Read More
KLAFF’S Gets Cookin’ Winter Chef Series 2013 Restaurant Chef Talk Cooking Classes CTbites Team January 29, 2013 Throughout the month of February, Klaffs Norwalk and Danbury’s beautiful home design stores will welcome some of Fairfield County’s talented chefs into their kitchen showrooms. To highlight this impressive appliance store and the many kitchens found at Klaffs, guest chefs will be demonstrating their cooking prowess with a series of FREE cooking demonstrations and food samplings every Saturday afternoon in February from 12-2 pm. Chefs from Morello Italian Bistro in Greenwich, Bar Sugo in Norwalk, Cotto Wine Bar in Stamford & WAFU Asian Bistro in Southport are just a few of the chefs being featured in this series. View the complete chef lineup below: Read More
GIVEAWAY: Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's "Tasting" Fundraiser Ingredients Chocolate Dessert CTbites Team January 28, 2013 CTbites is giving away a pair of tickets to The Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lovers Event. Post your favorite local dessert below by Feb 5th to be entered to WIN! The Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Evening to benefit The Shelter for the Homeless is back! On Thursday, February 7th, over 50 vendors will be serving up an evening of glorious culinary indulgence in the form of decadent chocolates, confections, and mouthwatering baked good, all washed down with fine wines, beer and specialty beverages. Here's the real bonus…You can enjoy your nibbles from favorite shops like Aux Delices, DiMare Pastry Shop & Cafe, and Izzi B’s Allergen-Free Cupcakes, knowing that 100% of every ticket sold supports the Shelter for the Homeless programs. Check out the complete list of vendors below and we'll see you there! Read More
Picador Opens in New Canaan: Tapas Restaurant French Greek Spanish Tapas New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 27, 2013 The culinary landscape of New Canaan now includes the vibrant cuisine of the Iberian Peninsula with the opening of Picador, the second restaurant of owner Alan Basaran. Located on Elm Street in the space formerly occupied by Harvest Supper, the interior’s décor offers a warm and inviting environment as backdrop to the region’s vibrant cuisine. Copper-topped tables and a wrap-around leather-covered banquette fill the entire back and side walls with additional copper-topped tables with dark leather chairs occupying the remainder of the space. The walls are adorned with plates, mirrors and sconces; reminiscent of the region. Read More
Pinkberry Opens in Downtown Westport Restaurant Frozen Yogurt Fairfield Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster January 25, 2013 Attention Pinkberry fans: This frozen yogurt mecca has a new location in Westport, and it is officially open for business. Head on over to 111 Post Road East in Downtown Westport for your next fro-yo fix. Read More
Bedford Post’s Signature Spiked Hot Chocolate Ingredients Features Cocktails Recipe Dessert CTbites Team January 24, 2013 Meng Chiang, Beverage Director at Bedford Post has created a savory spiked hot chocolate that will warm you up on even the chilliest of winter days. Inspired by a chocolate truffle, the decadent drink is a twist on traditional hot cocoa with Stolichnaya Vodka Salted Karamel and raspberry framboise. A swirl of White Godiva Liqueur Whipped Cream and a sprinkling of chopped macadamia nuts on top are sure to satisfy any sweet-tooth. Bedford Post’s Signature Spiked Hot Chocolate 1 cup of hot chocolate, preferably dark chocolate or salted dulce de leche 1/2 oz Stolichnaya Vodka Salted Karamel 1.0 oz Clear Creek Distillery Raspberry Framboise Topped with White Godiva Liqueur Whipped Cream, chopped macadamia nuts optional Read More
