Westport Farmers’ Market Launches Pilot Farmers' Market Program Ingredients Features Farm Fresh Farmers Market Specialty Market Stephanie Webster March 27, 2020 The Westport Farmers’ Market understands the value of the local food community, and the importance of access to healthy fresh food…food that has traveled a lesser distance and handled only by the purveyor and buyer. We know this local food community is important to our economy as it keeps the money spent by you and then the vendor here supporting our neighbors.Market Director Lori Cochran says “We, also, know we will find our way back to our gathering place on Imperial Ave and eventually back to Gilbertie's next winter BUT for now, it is in our blood to get you local food. To do so, we are launching a pilot farmers' market program under the strictest guidelines for shopping and collection of your purchases. The well being of you, ourselves and our vendors is the utmost priority.” Read More
CT Restaurants and COVID-19: UPDATED Guide To Delivery, Pick-Up, Alcohol... Restaurant Features News Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 22, 2020 Connecticut restaurants are pivoting to continue to serve consumers in the wake of COVID-19. This guide will be ongoing and continually updated to reflect changes to in house dining, delivery options, special family meals offered, and updated menus. CT restaurants work hard to serve this community of diners, and will continue to do so throughout this global crisis. They need your ongoing patronage. Please consider ordering out from a restaurant near you. Read More
60 Connecticut Breweries Still Open For Take-Out And Delivery Ingredients Features CT Beer Brewery Beer Take Out James Gribbon March 18, 2020 The wave of local breweries made this new world possible, but for now their doors are mostly closed. Here's what we can do to see them open again.Breweries are still allowed to sell to-go orders, offering pickup or curbside delivery options. This post will list info on breweries, their hours, and links to order online. I won't be able to find them all, so I encourage readers, brewers, and reps to include further info about their operations in the comments section below. Most breweries are small businesses, and all depend from some degree or entirely on in-person sales. Let's help the brewers and staff keep the Connecticut beer culture we love going. Read More
Muscle Up Protein Bars: The Official Bar of Team USA Weightlifting Was Born in CT Features Ingredients Special Dietary Needs Protein Bar Fitness Local Artisan Stephanie Webster March 12, 2020 A few months ago I started buying Muscle Up Protein Bars at my local smoothie joint. The packaging advertised them as the first bar to be based on the beloved sweet potato, featuring grass fed whey protein, and all of the ingredients are clearly recognizable…nothing artificial. I sampled the varieties, settled on the Peanut Butter & Cacao Nib as my flavor of choice, and went in deep. After stock piling these bad boys for weeks, said smoothie shop owner informed me that the creators of Muscle Up were actually CT residents, and had developed these right around the corner. Also, turns out, the bar of my dreams is the official bar of Team USA Weightlifting. Who knew?? Read More
Chicken Quest: My Search for the Best Fried Chicken Sandwich in CT (via CT Magazine) Restaurant Features Best of CT Fried Chicken Sandwich Lunch Connecticut Magazine March 11, 2020 Popeye’s introduced its new chicken sandwich late last summer. After a week of rave reviews, long lines and poultry passion, Chick-fil-A took to Twitter, without mentioning Popeye’s by name, to remind the public which chicken sandwich they fell in love with first. Popeye’s taunted back in the afternoon, “... y’all good?” The beef over chicken was on.Normally one to avoid chains, I was compelled to get to Popeye’s. I had to try this life-changing sandwich. I pulled up to the drive-thru with hangry anticipation only to hear, “We’re sold out.” Gut punch. I simply drove off. Nothing could satiate me in this dark moment over white meat.Eventually I returned to eating, but the craving for a great chicken sandwich never left. It became my mission. Chains be damned, I have to find the best fried chicken sandwich in Connecticut. -Mike Wollschlager Read More
Lorca Coffee Bar Expands Their Downtown Stamford Space and Breakfast Menu Restaurant Stamford Coffee Breakfast Brunch Dessert Bakery Homepage Andrew Dominick March 07, 2020 Known for churning out cortados, cappuccinos, cold brews, and their famous crispy, sugared churros, Lorca Coffee Bar has expanded their original location on Bedford Street.What used to be a tiny 16-seat café—seriously, it was the size of a large walk-in closet—is now around 40 seats.And that’s not all, according to owner Leyla Dam Jenkins.“We’re going to put an outdoor patio in the back; it’s already being built out,” she says.The patio will hopefully be open by the time summer gets here. Dam Jenkins also tossed in a tidbit that Lorca now has a designated 15-minute parking spot for customers who simply want a quick cup of coffee.But with more space comes a bigger kitchen (it’s triple the size of what is was) and thus, an expanded menu. “We used to only be able to bake 12 cookies at a time,” Dam Jenkins says. “Before, we’d have baked goods delivered but now we’re making our muffins and baked goods in-house.” Read More
Guide To Healthy Eating in CT: 2020 Edition Features Restaurant healthy Juice Bar Organic Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market Healthy Eats Gluten-Free Best of CT Homepage April Guilbault March 05, 2020 Resolutions, goals, lifestyle changes-whatever the reason, it’s never too late or bad of an idea to try to eat healthier. As the winter starts to fade into the distance and with it goes the heavy comfort foods that satisfied us on brisk evenings, our focus can start to turn now towards lighter, healthier options. Turn to the sun! Sometimes, though, the hardest part is simply figuring out what to eat. But wait, what about dining out? Is it possible to eat out and still stay on a healthy track? Yup, yup, double yup. There is a virtual cornucopia of healthy eating spots so, lucky for you, that guesswork has been removed from the equation. Now you only have to decide what you are craving. Branch out, try some new food and drinks and be happier knowing that what you are eating is not only enjoyable but better for you.Check out these 20+ Spots for Healthy Eats in Connecticut. Read More
Continuum Distilling Opens In Waterbury With Craft Spirits Made From Beer Ingredients Features Beer CT Beer Distillery Spirits Local Artisan James Gribbon March 03, 2020 Because they apparently didn't have enough on their plates with Black Hog brewing, Ordinary cocktail bar, OLMO, Caseus, and The Stack in New Haven, Jason and Tom Sobocinski and Tyler Jones have launched Continuum Distilling in Waterbury. The distillery logo features a hop surrounded by the tricorner symbol for recycling, an emblem of their process, which takes the often discarded "trimmings" from area breweries, and reduces them to an unusual, boozy essence.I made it up to Continuum last weekend for their grand opening, and my first impression was that it shares a building with Brass Works Brewing. Neat! I'd had several Brass Works beers before, but I'd never been, so a single trip can be a BOGO for the efficiency-minded drinker on the go. Read More
Arethusa Dairy Farm: Saving CT Farmland Through Exceptional Dairy Features Ingredients Bantam Litchfield CT Farms Local Farm Local Artisan Dairy Farm ice cream Cheese Homepage Jessica Ryan February 26, 2020 CTBites and Terrain were recently invited to Arethusa Dairy Farm for a behind the scenes tour of their dairy farm and cheese making process. But before we get all cheesy, I want to share the wonderful story of a once little known dairy farm.It all began in 1999 when the Webster family put their 150 year old family farm up for sale. Worried that their view would be obstructed, and to preserve the historic property, neighbors George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgatis stepped in to purchase the farm once named for a small pink orchid that grew in a swamp on the land. Malkemus and Yurgatis promised to restore its original name, and such were the humble beginnings of the Arethusa Dairy Farm. Read More
Turning Sap Into Syrup At Ambler Farm's Tap-A-Tree Program Ingredients Features Farm to Table Local Farm Ingredients kids activity Kid Friendly Natalie Levitt February 24, 2020 It was a warm February morning and my son and I joined a group of families as we gathered at Ambler Farm in Wilton, CT to kick off the maple sugaring season. We were greeted by Program Director Kevin Meehan and received an introductory lesson on how to tap a maple tree. Most of us stood in awe as the sap started to drip out of the tree upon tapping it. Many cheered with excitement for what was about to begin was a fantastic winter farming adventure and a great lesson in farm-to-table. We then received our buckets from Assistant Program Manager Jennifer Grass and proceeded to carefully select our “Giving Trees” on the farm. We hung our buckets on the trees and captured photos to commemorate the day. (Our tree was number 42 and pretty far from the sugar shack! It was an adventure after all!) Then we waited. We waited a week. During that week, many of us wondered just how much sap we would find in our buckets when we returned to the farm. Read More
Tyler Anderson Opens Terreno at The Goodwin Hotel in Hartford Restaurant Mediterranean Italian hartfo Hartford Celebrity Chef Homepage Opening Catherine Ribeiro February 23, 2020 In full disclosure, I have worked with Chef Tyler Anderson. If you have worked in the restaurant industry in Connecticut you probably have too, in one way or another. If you have eaten in Connecticut, the same can still be said: you have worked to get a reservation at his Millwright’s, worked to pick out the perfect slice at his Square Peg and you have worked to get the best seat in the house at Anderson’s High George. But now, Tyler is bringing us all back to his most familiar ground, aptly titled Terreno - his latest venture, boasting Cal-Italian fare, in the space that formerly housed Restaurant Porrón. Read More
Local Spotlight: Mike Geller of Mike's Organic in Stamford Features Ingredients Delivery Service Home Delivery Organic Specialty Market Stamford Westchester Interview Homepage Andrew Dominick February 12, 2020 Hello, CTbites readers! Most of the time we bring you pieces on chefs but we’re trying something new that puts the focus on interesting food and beverage industry folks that ARE NOT chefs but have a tale to tell; think bartenders, independent bakers, farmers, maybe some brewers, or even that waiter everyone seems to know. It’s only fitting to kick it off with Mike Geller, the owner of Mike’s Organic Delivery in Stamford. He’s not a chef, he has a story, and he’s really easy to have a conversation with. He’s one of the reasons why I thought of this series in the first place, so making him number one was a no-brainer. If you’re unfamiliar with Mike’s Organic, it opened in 2009, strictly as a grocery delivery service. Now, celebrating its decade-old birthday, Geller expanded his business and opened his doors to the public with a mini market filled with carefully selected organic goods, fresh produce, and lots of local products. To boot, they host lots of special events and cooking classes with the likes of Geoff Lazlo, Ross Bread, and Nit Noi Provisions. How it all started, though, is quite something. Cue the Q&A! Read More
Blackstones Steakhouse: It's Not Just for Carnivores Restaurant Steakhouse Steak Southport Norwalk Greenwich Stamford Homepage Jessica Ryan February 09, 2020 It’s interesting that with all the restaurants to grace our local communities – from the sushi to the noodles, the vegetarian and vegan, the French, Mexican, Italian, Indian and Asian, to seafood – that we don’t have many steakhouses. So when I was invited to attend a media dinner at Blackstones Steakhouse last week I was quick to respond. With locations in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Southport, Blackstones is a name you should know – even if you’re not a meat eater. Each restaurant is slightly different in style and menu. The Southport location is reminiscent of the old world steakhouse. Read More
Friday Froth: Experimental Brewing at 12% Brewing Project in North Haven Features Ingredients Beer CT Beer Brewery North Haven James Gribbon February 07, 2020
10 Things—or Tapas—We Loved About Mezón Restaurant in Danbury Restaurant Latin American Peruvian Mexican Danbury Tapas Homepage Stephanie Webster & Andrew Dominick February 02, 2020 For nearly a decade, Mezón Restaurant has been thought of as one of Connecticut’s premiere Latin eateries by word of mouth and its seen its fair share of media recognition—they are fresh off Connecticut Magazine Reader’s Poll wins for Best Latin in Fairfield County and the runner-up for Best Latin in the state. And that’s saying something considering they didn’t even know they were nominated and because of that, they didn’t publicize it. Four years ago, our own Lou Gorfain sang Mezón’s praises after a small tasting of ceviche, pan seared pulpo, Dominican fried chicken, and churros. But everything food deserves an update, especially considering there’s a new chef at the helm, an obviously newer menu, and a haven for craft cocktails. Oh, and I’m pretty sure Lou and Kristin are the only ones at CTbites who have been to Mezón. For Stephanie and me, we uttered the same thing, “I’m embarrassed I hadn’t been here before.” Read More
The Stand Vegan Cafe in Fairfield Attracts Hard-Core Vegans — And Many More (via Dan Woog's 06880) Restaurant Juice Cleanse Juice Bar healthy Vegetarian Gluten-Free Fairfield CTbites Team January 30, 2020
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Debuts NEW Meatball and Ricotta Pizza! Restaurant Pizza New Haven Danbury Fairfield CTbites Team January 29, 2020 Breaking Pizza News! It’s not often that the legendary Connecticut-based Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana debuts a new pizza, so when this classic New Haven-style, coal-fired pizzeria does, it’s a really big deal. Pepe’s has recently started serving its latest master piece, the Meatball and Ricotta pizza crafted with 100% all natural meatballs, ricotta cheese, crushed Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, grated pecorino Romano and drizzled with olive oil. Read More
Hoodoo Brown BBQ Introduces Tex-Mex Tuesdays Restaurant BBQ Tacos Mexican Ridgefield Andrew Dominick January 27, 2020 Every now and then Hoodoo Brown BBQ goes off their standard menu for special smoked meat theme days. Occasional Whole Hog Sundays, Prime Rib Thursdays (and French Dip Fridays if there are leftovers), and Taco Tuesdays are just some of the drool-inducing days the Hoodoo Crew has come up with over the years. From Taco Tuesday, though, something else was born…Tex-Mex Tuesday. “We did Taco Tuesday for three months with one special taco on the menu to get our creativity flowing,” says Hoodoo general manager Chris Sexton. “It felt like an afterthought because people would get one or two tacos, and we’d maybe sell 10-15 the whole night, but we know that we do things better when we do them bigger.” Read More
Nordic Fish Opens in Fairfield: The Freshest of Fish, Poke Bar, Sushi Donuts & Prepared Food! Restaurant Ingredients Specialty Market Fish Fish Market Fairfield Seasonal Sushi Poke Catering Clambake Lobster Bake Opening April Guilbault January 15, 2020 I have two words for you: Sushi Cake. And two more words for you: Sushi Donut. Hold on, two more: Sushi Burrito. Wait! Three more words! (so many words).Knowledge. Sustainability. Heritage.How on earth do all of these, plus a fresh Nordic wind, connect? They intersect on the Post Road in Fairfield at the Nordic Fish market. Read More
Experience the New TASTING Series at Prime Stamford (sponsored post) Features Restaurant Pop-Up Dinner Stamford Chef Talk Chef's Tasting Jessica Ryan January 11, 2020 Earlier this week a few of us from the CTBites team made our now seasonal pilgrimage to Prime in Stamford. This time to experience the restaurant’s new TASTING menu.The summit of cuisine at Prime, the TASTING series is a re-imagined experience in dining. Small tastes are presented in a unique rhythm and play to Chef’s sensibilities on a weekly basis. In what feels like a restaurant within a restaurant, TASTING places you in the inner sanctum of the kitchen, with the Chef as your guide. The four course TASTING menu is a truly unique table experience. Read More
