Two Roads Brewing Company's "OK2BERFEST" September 27 & 28th! Restaurant Brewery CT Beer Festival Beer CTbites Team September 13, 2014 It may be known as Oktoberfest but the real fun begins later this September. Stratford, CT's Two Roads Brewing Company will be celebrating their 2nd annual "Ok2berfest" on the grounds of their 100+ year old brewery and it promises to be two days of beer, food, music and… more beer! Building on the success of last year's event, this year's Ok2berfest will be a must-attend festival for beer lovers. And speaking of beer, Two Roads has brewed up two different Oktoberfest style beers just for the occasion dubbed "Ein" and "Zwei," that honor the Bavarian Oktoberfest tradition that originated in 1810.And since nothing goes better with flavorful craft beers than good food, great local eats will be served by some of the area's top food trucks. If you've ever been to Two Roads, you'll be familiar with some of the amazing culinary creations area chefs have been serving up in these fun gastro-mobiles! Tickets are on sale through Two Roads website: www.tworoadsbrewing.com where you will also find more information about the day including band schedule, the food truck line up and other pertinent information. Read More
Nourish New Haven Food Conference on September 19 at Yale Divinity School Features Restaurant Events New Haven Amy Kundrat September 12, 2014 Nourish New Haven, the local food justice and sustainability conference with Greater-Yale and Greater-New Haven partners, will take place again at Yale Divinity School on September 19-20, 2014. Register here. Space is limited. Read More
Qdoba Mexican Grill Opens in Westport w/ Fast Tasty Tex-Mexican Restaurant Westport Mexican Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team September 11, 2014 Qdoba Mexican Grill is now OPEN in Westport in Playhouse Square. Qdoba is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant, serving up the kind of quick meal you can feel good about eating...or feeding your kids. Qdoba serves burritos made in the San Francisco burrito style, tacos, quesadillas, taco salads, 3-Cheese Queso, Queso Diablo, tortilla soup, Mexican gumbo, and darn good fresh guacamole. Sure, there is some more authentic Mexican food to be had in Fairfield County, but in the "fast food" category, Qdoba is right up there. Read More
The Harbor Brew Fest is Back @ Harbor Yard w/ A Bounty of Beer & Food Trucks Ingredients Restaurant CT Beer Festival Beer CTbites Team September 10, 2014 This in from the folks @ The Harbor Brew Fest... On a perfect fall day, there is no better place to sip a frosty than at The Harbor Brew Fest. The festival will feature international, domestic and local beers, CT’s most popular food trucks and talented bands. Harbor Brew Fest is taking place on September 20, 2014 at the Bluefish Stadium at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT. The Harbor Brew Fest will tap off with a Brewers Special from 12pm – 1pm. General Admission will begin at 1pm and we will pour until 5pm. In addition to adding more Brewers (100!) and 13 food trucks (view full list below) for our 2014 brew fest we will have our CT Craft beer tent, which will feature all of the best CT Craft Beers. Ticket sales will be limited and will sell out before the day of the event. A percentage of proceeds will benefit Harbor Light Foundation. Ticket info here. Read More
11 Places for Apple Picking in CT Ingredients Local Farm Pick Your Own kids activity Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 09, 2014 As autumn approaches, farmers journey out to their fields to begin the harvest. Apples lie at the heart of the season: apple cider, apple pie, or even a simple Gala or Braeburn apple are beautiful bounties on a crisp afternoon. CT's farms and orchards are inviting you to pick-your-own apples as the leaves start to change their color. Here are 10 places where you can enjoy a fall afternoon. If you love apples, be sure to check out these recipes for a Hot Cinnamon Apple Toddy and a Prosecco Apple Fizz from Sugar & Olives. Bishop's Orchards, Guilford Rogers Orchards, Southington Lyman Orchards, Middlefield Rose's Berry Farm, Glastonbury Silverman's, Easton Blue Jay Orchards, Bethel Rose Orchards, Branford Drazen Orchards, Cheshire Johnny Appleseed's, Ellington March Farms, Bethlehem Scotts Orchard and Nursery, Glastonbury Read More
NEAT Opens in Westport: The Art of the Beverage from AM to PM Restaurant Cocktails Coffee Westport Bar Breakfast Amy Kundrat September 07, 2014 Coffee bar by day, craft cocktail bar by night, NEAT is now open at 6 Wilton Road in Westport from 7 am to midnight, seven days a week. If you are familiar with NEAT’s location in Darien, the approach will feel instantly familiar, if distilled into a much fuller and complete café experience. NEAT retains its unpretentious devotion to the art of the beverage, extending its reach into the evening as your palate naturally shifts from caffeine to spirits, seamlessly maintaining its full attention to the craft beverage experience. Read More
Friday Froth: Here's Where To Get A Good Beer in CT Ingredients Restaurant Beer Garden CT Beer Beer James Gribbon September 05, 2014 "Man, that sounds good. Where can I get some?" I hear this, in some variation, frequently. The answers vary: if you want OEC beer, you have to go to the brewery in Oxford on a Saturday; if you want Avery Maharaja, you have to go to 2008, before some dastardly deal blocked its distribution in the state.This week we're going to step away from specific beer reviews and focus instead on restaurants and bars where you (yes, you, specifically) can find good craft beers - bottles, cans and draft.So that's the bait, and here's the hook: I'm inviting all of you to contribute to the list. I can't know everywhere a firkin is being tapped, and I'm especially light on taprooms outside of Fairfield County, so let's make the comments section a living document, a resource for craft beer exploration. The list below will encompass places where I've actually bent an elbow, not just places I heard of, so fill in any omissions I've made in the comments. We're going to start by working our way northeast from: Read More
Canning, Preserving & Pickling Workshops at Millstone Farm Ingredients Cooking Classes CTbites Team September 02, 2014 What to do with your overly bountiful harvest? Millstone Farm has a few ideas. How about canning, pickling and preserving those gorgeous veggies and fruit? Seems daunting? Not at all. Just sign up for one of the workshops below... Canning & Preserving TomatoesSat. Sept. 27: 10am – 1pmJoin Annie Farrell and others at Millstone Farm and learn how to preserve your summer tomatoes so they can last you all winter long. Learn the basics of canning, freezing, and methods of storing tomatoes. Come prepared to chop, cook, can, and taste. We will use water bath method, and discuss pressure canning. We will tour the farm if time and weather allow. Up to 20 participants. $30 per person. Read More
"Food Trucks in the Valley" September 18 w/ 15+ Food Trucks! Restaurant Food Truck CTbites Team September 02, 2014 Parent Child Resource Center hosts "Food Trucks in the Valley" on September 18th, 4 - 8 pm (rain date the 23rd). Food Truck in the Valley is a FREE event with 15+ food trucks, wine and beer, ciders, live music, a car show, and childrens' activities such as face-painting, hula hooping, candy art and more. Food Trucks in the Valley will be held at The Shelton Riverwalk and is the first event of its kind in the area. Proceeds support PCRC's programs that serve children and families, most of whom suffer from trauma, abuse and neglectFood Truck & Vendor Lineup House of Bones BBQ - Ribs, BBQ variety Szabo's Seafood - Lobster rolls and more Firedog Food Truck - Hot dogs, pulled pork Pierogies on Wheels - Pierogies w pork, sauerkraut, mushroom, etc... 3 Chicks Grille - Steak and cheese bombs, fried oreos Wrap That Food - Wraps and salads The Caseus Cheese Truck - Grilled cheese varieties Fryborg - Fries with unique dipping sauces Spuds Your Way - Baked potatoes with choice toppings DiSorbo's Bakery - Fried dough, cannoli's, italian ice Read More
Summer's Best Restaurant Openings in Connecticut Restaurant Norwalk Stamford Westport Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster September 01, 2014 Labor Day marks the unofficial end to that glorious season we know as summer. Days filled with warm weather, early happy hours, and treks to the beach are hereby numbered. Thankfully, several new restaurants have opened in Fairfield County and beyond this summer, giving us more than a few things to look forward to as we ease into the seriousness of the back-to-school season. Here are a few new restaurants that opened this summer we think are worth checking out. Read More
CT on Tap on Saturday, September 13th at Ives Concert Park Restaurant CT Beer Events Festival CTbites Team August 28, 2014 Like beer? Check out the CT on Tap beer festival, Saturday, September 13th at Ives Concert Park from 3PM-6PM! Sample over 120 craft beers from the best American Craft Breweries. VIP tickets are $55 and GA tickets are $35 when bought in advance. Day of GA tickets are $45. Leave the kids at home as this is a 21 and over event. Each general admission ticket will get you admission to the event, a special tasting cup, beer samples, and access to food vendors where food will be available for purchase. VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF BREWERIES BELOW. With the CT on Tap VIP Experience you will have admission to the festival 1 hour before general admission ticket holders (2pm). In this VIP area, you will have access to EXCLUSIVE RARE BEERS that the rest of the festival does not have access to. Additionally, there will be a catered meal provided which is included with your VIP ticket. You will also receive an exclusive SWAG BAG with special beer related items and other cool stuff. The event concludes at 6pm. Read More
15 Great Spots for Happy Hour in Fairfield County Restaurant Cocktails Bar Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 26, 2014 Why limit happy to an hour? Many of your favorite restaurants are inviting you to weekday happy hours where you can enjoy signature drinks, discounted beers, special appetizers, and more! See which of your favorite hotspots are offering specials below. The Fez, Stamford Gingerman, Norwalk Bar Sugo, Norwalk Taco Loco, Bridgeport Butterfield 8, Stamford Barcelona, varying locations Tomato and Basil. Fairfield Napa and Company, Stamford Morello, Greenwich Craft 260, Fairfield Read More
Walrus + Carpenter Burger: The Bar is Raised in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 24, 2014 A good friend told me that the WC Burger served at Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport near the Fairfield border was the best burger in the area. Those are strong words from someone I trust so I drove one evening and grabbed an outside table. The menu is divided into several categories and each reads like a who’s who of comfort food. I was pleasantly impressed when I saw that the chef gave top billing in the Large Plates section to “WC Burger + Fries - Smoked mayo, bacon, bourbon onions, cheddar.” It was a simple decision and I ordered the burger medium-rare. The burger was served on a metal tray accompanied by fries and small mound of pickle slices. There was a crisp char on the exterior and the texture of the interior was soft. I sampled the meat; it was rich in flavor, reminiscent of grass fed, the medium grind was still loose and it was moist without being overly juicy. It was an excellent patty. The first topping I tasted was the Bourbon onions. Read More
3rd Annual Wakeman Town Farm Harvest Fest Dinner Sept. 13th Restaurant CT Farms Farm Dinner Local Farm CTbites Team August 24, 2014 The third-annual Wakeman Town Farm Harvest Fest dinner is coming up on Saturday, September 13, @6 p.m. This Farm-to-Table event is held on the farm grounds, under a beautiful tent draped with twinkling lights. This special evening begins with hors d 'oeuvres and cocktails, and follows up with a full dinner prepared by rock-star chefs including: Artisan, BONDA, Le Farm, The Spread, Oak + Almond, DaPietro's and AMG Catering. Prosecco, beer and wine will be served throughout the night and you'll be rocking to the live band, "Last Call." Much of the seasonal produce at the event is generously contributed by local farmers. Help support the amazing programming and community at Wakeman Towm Farm. Read More
Food + Architecture: A Conversation with Sushi Chef Keizo Seki and Architect Kulapat Yantrasast at New Canaan's Glass House Restaurant Sushi Amy Kundrat August 21, 2014 Photo: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times The Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan is hosting Feast of Clarity: Food + Architecture on Sunday, September 14 from 3 to 5:30 pm. Architect Kulapat Yantrasast and chef Keizo Seki will collaborate with the National Trust Historic Site for an intimate kitchen table conversation on creativity and a tasting of specially prepared sushi. Tickets are $100 per person. This program is part of a part of an ongoing series of conversations at the Glass House called Glass House Presents. These programs sustain the site’s historic role as a meeting place for artists, architects, and other creative minds. Prior to each event, visitors can explore the Glass House campus and view current exhibitions, including Fujiko Nakaya: Veil. About the Participants Read More
Washington Prime Opens in Sono: Bustling Bar & Creative Food Restaurant American Norwalk SONO Steakhouse Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 17, 2014 Washington Prime recently opened at the entrance to the SONO “Ironworks” on the corner of Washington and North Water Streets and is already garnering positive feedback and enormous crowds each night. CTbites offered a sneak peek a couple of weeks ago and recently re-visited this high energy and bustling establishment on two separate occasions to sample the food. Self-described as an Eating + Drinking Well, Washington Prime reflects the collective vision of locals and co-owners Rob Moss and Marco Siguenza. Moss, a native of New Canaan, is no stranger to opening high energy restaurants in Fairfield County, overseeing many over the last ten years. Siguenza is the epitome of the American dream, starting as a busboy at Match Restaurant and now 16 years later one of the owners of Washington Prime, a neighboring restaurant. The kitchen is overseen by Executive Chef Jared Falco, classically trained at the French Culinary Institute. Before moving to Fairfield County, Chef Falco honed his culinary skills at Daniel and WD-50 in NYC. The trio are now working closely to present a vibrant bar scene with delicious interpretations of tradition cuisine. Read More
Cucumber Carpaccio Recipe via Barcelona Restaurant Ingredients Features Farmers Market Recipe CTbites Team August 14, 2014 Kokkeler hails from Austin, where he spent the last several years as executive chef as some of that city’s most well known restaurants including Uchi, Congress and the W Hotel in Austin. CUCUMBER CARPACCIO (serves five people) Read More
Women's Tennis and CT Food Trucks Collide at New Haven's Connecticut Open Tennis Tournament Features Restaurant New Haven Amy Kundrat August 11, 2014 What does world class women's tennis have in common with some of Connecticut's most beloved food trucks? This year Valencia's arepas and Orangeside's square doughnuts happily collide with professional tennis at the Connecticut Open, the Women's Tennis Association tennis tournament held each August at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale in New Haven from August 15 - 23, 2015. Tennis fans can rejoice as some of Connecticut's most beloved food trucks will be represented within the revamped food court featuring local businesses including the Valencia Luncheria truck, Caseus's Cheese Truck, La Petite France, Tony’s Orangeside Donuts, Spuds Your Way, and The Lobster Shack. The tournament has also installed the new Baseline Tap House, a beer garden presented by Goose Island Beer Company, which will feature a selection of craft beers from Connecticut and beyond including Stoney Creek IPA & Amber Ale, Thomas Hooker Blonde, Spiked Seltzer, Bluepoint Bluberry, and Grey Sail Flagship Ale. Read More
Kawa Ni: An Exclusive First Look at Bill Taibe’s Izakaya-inspired Restaurant in Westport Restaurant Asian Chinese Cocktails Japanese Westport Comfort Food Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster August 10, 2014 CTbites was invited for an exclusive first look inside Chef Bill Taibe’s new restaurant, Kawa Ni, in Westport’s Bridge Square this week. Kawa Ni means “on the river,” an apt name for a restaurant in Saugatuck whose cuisine and service will take its cues from the informal Izakaya joints found in the Japanese cities of Kyoto and Osaka. Is it an american restaurant with japanese aspirations? Or is it a japanese restaurant with american inspirations? Both, says Taibe, who distills his love of post war japanese culture and a farm house style approach to japanese food within the walls of the intimate Kawa Ni. Equal parts food and drink, with a capital F-U-N atmosphere, the 40-seat Izakaya-inspired restaurant will get the party started by the end of the month. Read More
116 Crown 7th Anniversary Party Features Restaurant Cocktails New Haven Amy Kundrat August 06, 2014 116 Crown in New Haven will celebrate its 7th anniversay on August 16 with a garden party, dinner, and (naturally) some of the best cocktails in Connecticut. Admission will be $60 per person. Reservations are recommended as space will be limited, call 203.777.3116 or email 116Crown@gmail.com. From 116 Crown: On August 16, we're going to celebrate our 7th Summer years, with our third annual anniversary party. The night prior we're firing-up the slow cookers, and at 6pm on Saturday we're going to mix-up the punchbowls and light fires and we ask that you join us to celebrate the last 7 years and look forward to the future. Admission to the garden will be $60 and we will keep the drinks flowing and the food cooking until 10 pm and you're welcome to all you can enjoy. Think of it as a family reunion without the awkwardness and embarrassing photo albums. The Menu Read More
