Bartaco Stamford Location Coming Soon Restaurant Stamford Mexican Opening Stephanie Webster September 01, 2011 Stamford is getting their very own bartaco, opening very soon. Inspired during a jog along the beaches of Brazil, restaurateur Sasa Mahr-Batuz of the popular Barcelona Restaurants, came up with the concept of “bartaco.” We've been several times to their Port Chester location for brunch and their beachy tacos and drinks. Defined simply by good food, great drinks, and an aura of fun, Sasa envisioned a light and airy informal space with style and sensibility – one that could easily be located on a white sandy beach alongside the blue water and sea air. Read More
Blue Lemon Restaurant @ Westport Farmers' Market Features Restaurant Farmers Market Recipe Liz Rueven August 31, 2011 The Westport Farmers Market is the place to be on Thursday September 1st as clean up from the not so friendly Hurricane Irene continues all over town. Come out to replenish your pantry and fresh produce supply while helping out area farmers and producers. Bryan Malcarney, chef/owner of Blue Lemon in Westport, will be the guest chef this week. He has been in the same spot in Sconset Square for over eight years and has quite the following. His presentation at the market will include two seasonal favorites as he offers CUCUMBER DILL GAZPACHO (recipe below) and GOLDEN BEET GAZPACHO for tasting. Read More
Thali in Westport Goes Vegetarian (via The Feast) Restaurant Westport Indian Lunch Stephanie Webster August 30, 2011
La Tomatina Wine Dinner @ Barcelona Restaurant Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster August 29, 2011 Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar's much anticipated Tomatina Dinner is back this Wednesday August 31st! Every year, the villages of Valencia celebrate with their famous tomato throwing battle, painting the streets, buildings and revelers red. In homage to this fun holiday, Executive Chef, Michael Bydenstein will be serving a special menu at their Greenwich location, each course featuring heirloom tomatoes, the summer season’s greatest fruit. The dinner will be paired with a well curated selection of wines from Valencia and other regions of Spain. There could be an impromptu tomato fight so please come dressed accordingly! Check out the menu below. Read More
Longtime Westport Restaurateur Opens Pane e Bene Restaurant Italian Westport Christy Colasurdo August 28, 2011 After more than three decades as the maestro at other people’s restaurants, Angelo Capponi, the proud owner of Pane e Bene, 1620 Post Road in Westport, struts around his new Italian restaurant and bar like a proud papa. Pane e Bene means “bread and goodness.” To Angelo, it signifies, “Freshly prepared, simple food, nice décor and an ‘experience’.” He explains, “We want to give people what they don’t find elsewhere; a place where you feel special. The opposite of places where you feel like they’re doing you a favor.” Just two months into opening, with talented chef and partner Henry Lopez in the kitchen (“a partner who radiates goodness inside and out,” Angelo says), the word on Pane e Bene is out. Read More
Road Trip: Ballo Italian Restaurant & Social Club @ Mohegan Sun Road Trip Restaurant Italian Andrew Dominick August 26, 2011 Restauranteur John Tunney, owner of the popular Mexican restaurant Besito in Hartford, expects to wow you with his 12th and newest restaurant, Ballo. The word “Ballo” is Italian for “dance.” Diners can expect the usual eating and drinking, but you can do what the name says and dance as well. Ballo Italian Restaurant and Social Club will join Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, Todd English’s Tuscany, and Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino this September. Even though Ballo is still under construction, Tunney’s idea is unique, and when he speaks, you can imagine how original this new restaurant will be from the usual. Read More
The Schoolhouse Restaurant @ Wilton's Millstone Farm Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Wilton Liz Rueven August 25, 2011 On a perfectly clear and balmy night last week, 60 diners gathered at Millstone Farm, Wilton, to dine alfresco in the field adjacent to Betsy and Jesse Fink’s farm house . Tim LaBant, Chef and owner of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant, was focused and in good humor as he checked last minute details and greeted familiar faces. Enthusiastic attendees sauntered down the hill towards one very long, white draped table dotted with glowing candles and jam jars filled with brightly colored flowers from the fields. Read More
Beer Dinners @ The Ginger Man in SoNo Restaurant Events Norwalk Beer Stephanie Webster August 24, 2011 Here's a little something for the beer drinkers amongst us (the ones tired of hearing about all those darn wine dinners). The Ginger Man is offering monthly beer dinners, each featuring 5 beers from a brewery or importer, paired with and used in a 5 course meal. On Monday August 29th at 7:00 The Ginger Man will be featuring Cisco Brewers from Nantucket Massachusetts! Here's how it works: The evening kicks off promptly at 7pm with the first round of beers, a light appetizer or salad, accompanied by an introduction to the brewery representative and a little history on the brewery. 4 more courses will follow, including a cheese course and dessert. During each course the guest brewer will share some information about the beer, as well as how it pairs with the food. Read More
Past & Present Pizza Memories at Sonny’s Restaurant Norwalk Pizza Andrew Dominick August 23, 2011 We have all had fond memories as a child. One of mine starts with my dad not being around much. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “That doesn’t sound so fond.” Still, once a week, my father would come pick me up and take me out for pizza at Sonny’s in Norwalk. Every Friday I would know that dinner meant pizza with my dad. He would pull up in his car and I would run out and hop in the passenger seat. The ride was a quick one over to West Avenue. I remember always being excited to pull up anticipating thin-crust goodness. Read More
Pacific Foods Reopens in Fairfield as Saigon Deli Restaurant Asian Fairfield Specialty Market Vietnamese Lunch Elizabeth Keyser August 22, 2011 Lovers of Bánh mì, the Vietnamese sandwich, were crestfallen when Pacific Foods (1561 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield (203) 220-9450) closed just a few months after opening. I’m thrilled to report it’s back, under the same management. Good news is that this hole-in-the-wall storefront now has three tables for eating in. As CT Bites previously reported, the menu offers summer rolls, pho and bubble tea, and there’s a small grocery section. But here’s what you have to order: the bánh mì. It could be described as a Vietnamese sub. Like a sub, the classic version combines cold cuts and crisp vegetables. But this light, well-proportioned sandwich is not an over-stuffed meat- feast, and each component reveals the way that the French colonization of Vietnam melded the flavors and cooking techniques of the two cultures. Read More
Paci in Southport: An Italian Treasure Restaurant Italian Southport Comfort Food Chris Grimm August 21, 2011 I know, what’s with a preface to a review? Is it some admission of not being able to objectively evaluate a place? Or a built-in excuse for the inevitable “don’t just be a cheerleader for a pricey restaurant” response? Who knows? It could be anything - but I do feel like sharing my biases about Paci in Southport. First, they’ve been open in Southport for fifteen years, about as long as I’ve lived in Westport – so there is a hominess and familiarity to the place that I appreciate. There aren’t many constants in life, but for nearly a third of my years, Paci has been there. Read More
Stamford Restaurant Week Starts August 22nd Restaurant Events Restaurant Week Stephanie Webster August 20, 2011 Mark your calendar. Stamford Summer Restaurant Weeks start Monday August 22nd and continues through Monday September 5, 2011. This year, 28 of Downtown Stamford’s restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner. View the complete list of participating restaurants below: Read More
Napa & Company Recap: Ode to a Blogger's Feast Restaurant Events Stamford Sarah Green August 18, 2011 Sometimes, a culinary experience is so sublime, Calliope is evoked. On Monday evening, 16 bloggers were invited to experience NAPA & CO, featuring their talented Executive Chef Arik Bensimon. We came, we ate, we were inspired. Tiny tidbits were passed, 6 courses were served, and wines were perfectly paired . But prose wouldn't do it justice. Only through poetry and some visual food porn can you, too, feel a part of our pilgrimage to edible rapture: Read More
Back to School with Clarke Culinary Showroom Ingredients Restaurant Chef Talk Cooking Classes Norwalk Amy Kundrat August 16, 2011 Summer is winding down and school is nearly back in session. With that sobering news I decided to take it upon myself to reprogram the negative connotation with this time of year and embrace the classroom. Clarke Culinary Showroom has a terrific line-up beginning late summer and into fall with new classes and a couple of new yet familiar faces such as Prasad Chirnomula of Thali and Michel Nischan. Clarke's classes are known for their small class size which encourages an intimate atmosphere and the ability for guests to get up close and personal with the chefs. For a chance to win two tickets to a class of your choosing vote in Clarke's contest called "Vote for your Favorite Chef." The full list continues to change daily, so check-back soon as Clarke add classes, chefs and details: Ice cream and Lollipops with Fritz Knipschildt on August 25; Tuna: Head to Tail with Matt Storch on September 1; Scandanavian Cooking with Fritz Knipschildt on September 15; Hors d'oeuvres with Chef Rui Correia on September 14; A Lesson in Spice with Prasad Chirnomula on September 29; A Special Night with Michel Nischan on October 6; Fritz's Favorite Pies With a Twist with Fritz Knipschildt on October 20; A Night with Chef Rui Correia and Portugese Cooking on October 27; The Freshest Ingredients with Michel Nischan on November 3; The Bounties of the Fall Market with Matt Storch on November 10; and A Winner's Class: The Art of Cooking with Root Vegetables with Fritz Knipschildt on November 17. Read More
Short & Sweet Cupcake Truck: A Mobile Bakery in CT Restaurant Bakery Food Truck Kid Friendly Dessert Margie Treisman August 16, 2011 The scene at Cove Marina today was, in a word, cute. The green and white striped cupcake truck was cute. The owners, 16-year old twins Kate and Gavin Nelson, were cute. And the cupcakes themselves were, yes, very cute. But there’s much more to the Short and Sweet Cupcake Truck. The truck is actually a fully equipped mobile commercial kitchen/bakery. The young Nelson twins are not just accomplished bakers and entrepreneurs, but also authors (with two published children’s books between them) and philanthropists (founders of The Gift of Words, a non-profit foundation providing books to children in underserved communities). Not bad for two high school juniors who don’t yet have driver’s licenses (their dad drives the truck)! And the cupcakes don’t just look good – they taste great. But more on that later. Read More
1st Ever New Canaan CT Restaurant Week Restaurant Events New Canaan Stephanie Webster August 15, 2011 New Canaan's First-Ever Restaurant Week will take place during the week of August 26 - September 3, 2011. Special prix fixe menus will be available at the restaurants below, but there is more than dining during "The Taste of the Town Stroll." Donations to the New Canaan Food Pantry will be accepted between 6 - 9 PM, Thursday, August 25th at designated areas in exchange for an opportunity to win fabulous prizes. Participating restaurants include:Tuscan, Fifty Coins, Cherry Street East Café, Gates, Plum Tree Restaurant, Cava, Roger Sherman Inn, Thali, Solé, The Pine Social, Kouzina, Club Sandwich. (Check back here for updates.) Read More
Tavern in Monroe: Modern Comfort Food in N. FC Restaurant Monroe Beer Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Amy Kundrat August 13, 2011 Utter the word “tavern” and the mind conjures images of dimly-lit rooms, Hungry-Man portions of protein and white starches, with deep fried renditions of both. Upsell this concept to northern Fairfield County in the hands of two seasoned restaurateurs and you get Tavern in Monroe.Located on a busy stretch of Rt. 25 just between Newtown and Trumbull, Tavern is already attracting a steady crowd in just under two months of operation. The after-work crowd is drawn to its handsome whiskey barrel studded bar and families clamber to fill the outdoor patio and comfortable vibe with family-friendly menu. Read More
Asian Treats at Pacific Food in Fairfield Ingredients Restaurant Asian Fairfield Specialty Market Vietnamese Emily Sackett August 10, 2011 Every once in a while something new comes to town that we just have to explore! This time, it’s Pacific Food on the Black Rock Turnpike that adds a little bit of Asian flavor to the shopping options in Fairfield. We visited Pacific Food recently to see what kind of eclectic goodies we could fill our shopping carts with. After all, it’s about time we started using our wok pans for something worth wok-ing! Pacific Food is a unique Asian market open almost three months in a small shopping center just as Blackrock Turnpike splits into Tunxis Hill. The small footprint of the grocer packs a punch – offering counter-style favorites such as Vietnamese sandwiches, Japanese-style smoothies in a rainbow of flavors and a decided-upon favorite, traditional Chinese Bubble Tea. Read More
The Schoolhouse's Tim LaBant @ Ambler Farm Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster August 09, 2011 The details of Tim LaBant's Ambler Farm dinner have been announced. On Saturday September 10th, Wilton's very own award-winning chef, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, will present an organic harvest feast + Ambler's own produce. Arrive to cocktails on the Farm. Supper served family-style in the Ambler fields. Tours of this beautiful property will be offered, (one of the oldest farms still in use in Fairfield County)...as well as other diversions. ON THE TABLE-Roasted multicolored Ambler peppers and eggplant with ricotta, olive oil, herbs,sunflower seeds and grilled Wave hill toast-Mason jars with pickled beetsFIRST COURSE-Salad of assorted fresh Ambler Farm tomatoes accompanied with cornbread, Crème fraiche and grilled green onionsMAIN COURSE-Slow roasted Berkshire pork shoulder-Summer succotash (zucchini, Summer squash, pearl onion,bacon,peas and corn)-Confit potatoes with nasturtium, fennel pollen, frisee with goat cheese dressing Read More
Grande Burger Opens in Stamford Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Comfort Food Burgers James Gribbon August 07, 2011 Sometimes you just want to go out - no specific plans, no goals for the evening besides just wanting to go hear loud music and blow off steam. It would be nice to have a few drinks, you think, but whatever will do: just get me a beer/cocktail/shot, man. Sometimes you're just in an "eat to live" kind of mood, and anything filling will do. Other times you're more discerning, selective: you could really go for a burger, but generic "burger" arriving wrapped in paper won't cut it. For those times, there's the new Grand Burger in Stamford. Yes, the former G/R/A/N/D ultra lounge has been re-imagined as a burger place, and the menu is the result of the discerning eye of Executive Chef Nick Bilello, creator of Burger Bar in SoNo. Read More
