Bill Taibe's Inspired Farm-to-Table Fare @ LeFarm Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm Westport Farm Fresh Lunch Stephanie Webster November 08, 2009 While busily building my stationery empire this summer, I noticed an exciting transformation happening downstairs from my office (Colonial Green in Westport). The Italian restaurant favored by the blue haired crowd had closed and serious construction was underway on a new place. Over the next several weeks, there was a buzzing of saws, table tops were painted, artwork lay arrayed on the sidewalk, and chicken wire went up in the window. I took note of the words “Le Farm” scribbled on the front window and thought to myself, this is promising. I couldn’t resist asking one of the men standing out front if he was le farmer (he wasn’t). Then I heard rumblings (and soon confirmation) that foodie darling and former chef at Stamford’s famed Napa and Co., Bill Taibe, was le man behind LeFarm. LeFarm was to be Westport’s newest outpost for farm-to-table cuisine. As a charter member of the farm-to-table club, I couldn’t have been more excited. I’d live on a farm if it wouldn’t derail my shoe collection. Read More
Creole Pizza & Cabaret @ Two Boots in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Creole Pizza Lunch Kid Friendly Marcy Shinbaum November 06, 2009 Walking into this funky spot in Bridgeport immediately makes me yearn for my Brooklyn hipster days. I spent the early 90’s in Brooklyn with my future husband and Two Boots was a place we frequented. This CT outpost really brings me back. Stepping in underneath the retro neon martini sign outside, a very mod theme continues. The walls are adorned with mardis gras beads and concert flyers and the long counter and tables shine in a combination of lipstick red and shiny chrome. And then there’s the smell…garlicky, spicy and yeasty. Two Boots may have built its reputation on Creole pizza, but my nose knows there more going on here. After quickly being seated for lunch I am handed a kitschy menu, which immediately draws me in. Blackened catfish, jambalaya and po’boys. I’m nearly drooling, but wait there’s a long list of specials too. Today the chef must have found some great portabello mushrooms because there’s a run on them. They’re tossed in the salad special; they’re featured in a pasta special and on a po’boy too. Lucky for me, I love portabellos. Read More
What's in Your Lunchbox? Do-it-Yourself Pizza Dippers Kids Bites Ask Chef Nicole What's in your Lunchbox? kids activity Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight November 04, 2009 What snack food is more universal and beloved than pizza? As a play on this perennial favorite we thought we would create a deconstructed pizza that kids could have fun assembling at their desks. Instead of standard pizza crust, we are using tortillas for their flexibility and wrap-ability. Sure, you could cut up some handmade triangled pizza crust, or even pita bread for this one. Build them any way you want. You will need a few small containers for proper travel, but your children will be the envy of the classroom. Turkey pepperoni, shredded cheese and tortilla “pizza dippers” Read More
Pizzeria Molto in Fairfield is Molto Bene Restaurant Fairfield Italian Pizza Deanna Foster November 04, 2009 Deciding where to go for lunch has always been a highly situational dilemma for me. The right place can depend on my mood, the purpose – are we going just for fun or is there work to be done, the number of people involved and the occasion, if any. Too often, my stable of choices has seemed just one horse short of a winner. Recently, however, I had two excellent lunches at Pizzeria Molto in Fairfield, one for work and one for pleasure; the food and the atmosphere were just right on both occasions. Molto occupies a large, corner space in the Brick Walk Promenade and despite its size it is immediately warm and inviting. The front of the room holds an assortment of tables with café chairs; then leads to an expansive space lined by a row of booths on one side and a lengthy bar with red leather studded bar stools on the other. The vibe is reminiscent of a French Brasserie, where you’d be greeted with a hearty “Bonjour”, but the menu and the food definitely shout “Mangia”. Read More
CLOSED! Helados Vazques Gelato: Fall in Love in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Mexican Kid Friendly Dessert Marcy Shinbaum October 30, 2009 Remember falling in love? Pulsing with excitement at the prospect of your lips meeting for the first time? Well it was years ago for me but I’ve found that feeling again and I just can’t get enough of...gelato? Okay, not just gelato, but gelato so good it has worked its way into my dreams. Helados Vazquez has stolen my heart. Don’t let the Spanish name fool you; this gelato is straight off of Rome’s via de Condotti. I first wandered into this tiny shop in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport after seeing a movie at the Showcase movie theaters, it’s right down the street. As I opened the door, subtly Spanish décor and the feel of a European coffee shop greeted me. Was I really in Bridgeport? Read More
It's Always a Party @ Sugar & Olives, Norwalk Kids Bites Restaurant Catering Cooking Classes Education Going Green Holiday Norwalk healthy Lunch Sarah Green October 28, 2009 Wish you could throw a party in your own home, where people could meander from room to room to avoid that stuffy, restaurant feel? Hate being stuck at some long, rectangular table where the only person you are speaking to is the one right next to you? (You know, the one that you had been trying NOT to get stuck with.) Want to be relaxed and enjoy the food with your guests while someone else prepares, serves, and cleans up? Want to stop worrying about the red wine spilling on your white sofas? Tired of stressing about the fancy gadgets in your medicine cabinet that people might discover while they “powder” and snoop? Have your (organic) cake and eat it too at Jennifer Balin’s eclectic and fabulous “space” in Norwalk. SUGAR and OLIVES is the name and quirky and sensational is the game! Read More
Halloween Recipes: Screamin’ Meanie Pulled Pork Bites Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 24, 2009 Here is yet another fun and tasty party pleaser. We have listed two techniques for the creation of this delicious dish. Your selected preparation will depend on your expendable time, and your desire for home made fare vs. store bought ingredient assembly. We made these both ways over the weekend, and you will be happy with the results either way. If you are not a regular pulled pork eater, try it. The sweetness of the BBQ sauce, and the tenderness of the slow cooked pork makes this a real treat. Technique #1 I'm short on time: Screamin’ Meanie Pulled Pork Bites (Mini corn bread and pulled pork sandwiches) Read More
Easy Halloween Party Recipes Part 1: Bloody Fingers Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 24, 2009 Halloween is around the corner, and this week, in honor of this ghoulish holiday, CT Bites will feature a daily recipe to help you plan the perfect Halloween party. These dishes are both adult and kid-friendly, and are simple time-saving delicious meals that will leave you plenty of time for dress-up. This is the first in our series, and really... what defines the real joy of Halloween more perfectly than eatable severed body parts? These "Bloody Fingers" are an updated version of a perennial favorite, pigs in a blanket. I like to use chorizo, but you could substitute chicken apple sausage or Portuguese linguica. Bloody Fingers in a Blanket (AKA chorizo in puff pastry) Read More
Brasitas: Latin American Fusion Restaurant Norwalk Stamford Breakfast Latin American Stephanie Webster October 21, 2009 I know some of you are already familiar with Brasitas delectable fare, but for those of you who have yet to find this Latin American gem, read the following carefully. Sure, I was dubious when recently dragged to their somewhat off the beaten path shack in Stamford, but I have since been back several times to enjoy their addictively delicious Latin fusion menu. Brasitas has its roots in Argentine, Peruvian, Columbian, and Cuban cuisine, and chef Norberto Lucero (of Habana in Sono and Grand in Stamford) has combined these countries' ingredients to create an inventive menu with elegantly prepared dishes. Somebody on Yelp used the phrase "You can't judge a book by its cover" when describing Brasitas, and it fits. Walk in and prepare yourself for an artful layering of ethnic spices and flavors. It will have you going back for more. Read More
It's Time to Re-visit The Dressing Room Restaurant Farm to Table Organic Westport Farm Fresh Comfort Food Stephanie Webster October 19, 2009 I know what you’re thinking...why is CTBites reviewing The Dressing Room? Isn't it the most reviewed restaurant in Fairfield County? Haven't we heard it all before? Think again. The Dressing Room has long been the go-to spot for a glass of wine or pre-theater meal, but it seems that Chef/Owner Michel Nischan and Executive Chef John Holzwarth have recently made some changes to their "Homegrown" repertoire. I re-visited The Dressing Room recently at a friend's suggestion to try their new “American Tapas” menu. Just back from vacation on Cape Cod, and feeling the after-effects of the every day, all-fried seafood diet (ok, fine... there was the daily ice cream cone too), I was in dire need of a healthy veggie fix. My friend assured me that with the newly invigorated menu, I would not be disappointed... and I was not. In fact, I was blown away. Read More
Jones Family Farms: Pumpkin Picking at its Best Kids Bites kids activity Farm Fresh Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster October 17, 2009 Did Fairfield County seem unusually quiet last weekend as if everybody had gone somewhere? Were you wondering where the party was? I can tell you with absolute certainty that Fairfield County residents were indeed out, but there were no cocktails involved (although now that I think of it....) This was a family friendly affair...Everybody was out picking pumpkins at Jones Family Farms in Shelton CT. We drove up to Jones on a beautiful Sunday afternoon (of course the weather has taken a turn for the worse since then) and as we pulled into the parking lot, my heart sank. I couldn’t believe there could be this many people on a single farm. It looked like Silverman’s (and not in a good way). But all was not lost. As we left the cars in their neat rows and strolled towards the actual farm, something beautiful was revealed. The vista opened to picturesque rolling hills in the distance and what seemed like acres of pumpkin fields. And these were no half-rate pumpkins. We are talking perfect pumpkins..thousands of them. We were on Pumkinseed Hill, the Fall outpost of the Jones Family Farms. Read More
Halloween Party Recipes Part 2: Caramel Popcorn Balls Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday kids activity Kid Friendly Dessert Nicole Straight October 14, 2009 What's a party without the popcorn? These sweet and salty treats are always a favorite (remove spiders before eating). This recipe lends itself nicely to child participation...as long as they don't mind getting a little sticky. To amp up the gruesomeness, melt some white chocolate in the microwave or over a double broiler and add 2-3 drops of red food coloring. Then drip the "blood" over the finished popcorn balls. For a more savory snack, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the caramel. Caramel Popcorn Balls Read More
Food for the Whole Family @ Rizzuto's in Westport Restaurant Italian Westport Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster October 11, 2009 You could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from local residents when Rizzuto's opened last week in Westport. Situated in the old Conte's location by the train station, this new kid on the block has boasted a packed dining room since opening day. This is remarkable given both the economy (it's reasonable but not cheap), and the cavernous size of the actual dining space. Those who had sampled the fare in the first few days seemed almost surprised by the quality of the food coming from their "Wood Fired" Kitchen and Bar, as if they had given up hope for our town, but now felt renewed. I speak from experience when I say Westport has been waiting a long time for a casual kid-friendly dining space with a little atmosphere and solid food. After the fourth person stopped me in the street to inquire as to whether I had visited this new hot spot, I decided I had best get over there and see for myself what all the buzz was about. Read More
Cozy French Bistro Fare @ Cafe Lola in Fairfield Restaurant Stephanie Webster October 08, 2009 While I was admiring the outdoor seating with it’s Paris cafe chairs and flower boxes brimming with red geraniums, The restaurant with it’s quaint buttercup yellow exterior turned out to be Café Lola, the self professed “love-child” of owners Henri and Ivanina Donneaux. The couple dreamed of a casual, cozy bistro with French comfort food, inspired by their love of Paris and Provence. This wonderful Fairfield cafe is right on the mark. And the Croque Madame is out of this world... Read More
What's in Your Lunchbox...Wanna Trade? Kids Bites Ask Chef Nicole What's in your Lunchbox? Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster October 07, 2009 It's 11pm. You want to go to bed, but your kids' lunch boxes are all sitting empty on the counter. What can you pack them for school that is good enough to not come back uneaten (as is generally the case in my house), but also healthy enough to get them through the day? CTbites is happy to introduce a new column geared towards helping parents solve the age old question. What to pack in those darn snack bags? Chef Nicole has been gathering data on this for some years now, and has a bevy of great ideas for you and your family. Here is post #1 of What's in Your Lunchbox? Read More
Viva Barcelona Restaurant Fairfield Greenwich Norwalk Spanish Stamford New Haven CTbites Team October 05, 2009 The downtown Stamford fun quotient rose dramatically with the early-summer addition of a Fairfield County stalwart -- Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant. Having enjoyed many festive, delicious meals (and pitchers of sangria) over the years at Barcelona in both SONO and Greenwich, I wondered if the new Stamford location would compare favorably, or if the restaurant’s sixth outlet would start to feel too much like a chain. I needn’t have worried. Barcelona in Stamford has a bustling urban bistro vibe all its own, and its energy and warmth spill out onto lower Summer Street thanks to a large, open sidewalk dining area. Handwritten chalkboard menus, warm wood floors and well-trained staff will make this the perfect setting for comfortable eating all year round. Read More
BFF with BSF (Burgers, Shakes, & Fries) in Greenwich Restaurant Byram Greenwich Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly kerry barlas September 28, 2009 Just off I-95 in one of Greenwich’s grittier, but up-and-coming ‘hoods," Burgers, Shakes & Fries (BSF) is just so cool. It’s fast, funky, fresh and affordable dining done right, with a focus on – you guessed it – the all-American meal. Having taken the lighter route on my last few visits there, eating only a grilled chicken sandwich (a delicious option for non-burger lovers), on my most recent trip, I went to town. From the simple and straightforward menu, I ordered a single, 1/3 lb. burger with American cheese, tomatoes, pickles and raw onions with a side of “special sauce,” fries and a chocolate shake. Instead of the typical bun, burgers come on butter-griddled bread and unless specified, are cooked medium rare, to perfection. First bite of that burger and I knew I’d found a superstar…tasty, moist and worth every calorie. Read More
Gourmet Comfort Food @ Burger Bar and Bistro Restaurant Norwalk Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Stephanie Webster September 25, 2009 This post on Burger Bar and Bistro ran as our first review in June 09. We've received several recent requests for a write up on this burger-licious venue, so we decided to re-run it in case you missed it the first time around. Since June, they have done a huge renovation with additional seating and an expanded bar. They have also added thin crust pizza to their repertoire to round out their perfect pre-movie menu. Seriously folks...it's a darn good burger. Read on... Looking for a good pre-theater eating spot, we decided to try the reputed master of comfort food, Burger Bar and Bistro in South Norwalk. We were a large group, including six children, so we opted for the spacious outdoor seating. We grabbed the menus from buckets placed mid table, and I watched as my husband and every child old enough to read grinned with delight. Read More
Lunchtime Oasis @ The Drawing Room in Cos Cob Restaurant Cos Cob Tea And Coffee Breakfast Lunch r2d2 September 22, 2009 Tucked behind Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in Cos Cob, is a gem called The Drawing Room. It is a combined 12-seat tea room and home décor boutique, with a garden patio that extends the tiny restaurant in the warm seasons. After many years of living and dining in Fairfield County, I thought I had exhausted all lunch possibilities, until a friend took me to The Drawing Room and I had one of those ‘aha’ moments where I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about it earlier. Opened in 2005 by husband and wife, Michael and Kenleigh Larock, The Drawing Room is a perfect spot to meet a friend for a quiet lunch. And if the weather cooperates, you can’t beat dining al fresco on their cozy patio, amidst a small herb garden, where you might even observe your server picking a few mint leaves to garnish the daily selection of infused tea. On a recent balmy September afternoon, I sat on the patio and enjoyed just such a lunch and solid catch-up session with a friend. Read More
Chop Chop to the Village Luncheonette in Wilton Restaurant Wilton Lunch Kid Friendly kerry barlas September 21, 2009
