Opening Night at Elm Restaurant in New Canaan Restaurant American Farm to Table Local Farm New Canaan Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 01, 2012 At 5:44PM on the first day of spring, March 20, 2012, the kitchen at elm Restaurant in New Canaan hummed to life as it received an order from the dining room. This was no ordinary order, it was the restaurant’s first. The order ticket began…Appetizers – 1 grilled Spanish octopus, 1 citrus cured hamachi, 1 local lettuces from Millstone Farm, 1 roots, shoots, fruits and leaves, and 1 soft farm egg ravioli… elm was officially open. The outstanding staff that Chef Brian Lewis had assembled sprang to action. The months of planning, the weeks of training, the hours of preparation were now tested as the guests arrived and the orders placed. Read More
Melt Mobile Grilled Cheese Truck Opens in Stamford Restaurant Food Truck Stamford Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Nancy Kleeger April 01, 2012 If there’s one thing consistent with trends, it’s that followers will do anything to get in on the action to stay, err, well, trendy. This was evident yesterday at the opening of Melt Mobile, a new gourmet grilled cheese truck, parked smack in the middle of downtown Stamford’s Landmark Square. Backed by Bobby Flay as part of his new “Food Project” reality show, what was started by two fierce women as a paddy wagon, one with an entrepreneurial background, the other, a trained French Culinary Institute chef and former restaurateur, is now a “permanent for now” gourmet food trend in the form of a food truck. Two trends in one, food truck and gourmet comfort food. And as I mentioned about those followers… Read More
Spotted Horse Tavern Opens Today in Westport Restaurant Westport Beer Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers Sarah Green March 30, 2012 Last night, the CTBITES crew along with 100 (or so) other Westporters attended the "opening" of THE SPOTTED HORSE TAVERN, the latest and GREATEST by restaurateurs Kevin McHugh, Pete Mennona and Tommy Febbraio. (The Gray Goose in Southport is also one of theirs!) And I am placing all my bets on this HORSE! With former Manolo chef Pedro Garzon as head jockey, this SPOTTED filly is bound to cross the finish line in first place. Read More
Beloved Hamptons Sustainable Chef brings Estia’s to Darien Restaurant Darien Farm to Table Local Farm Breakfast Lunch CTbites Team March 28, 2012 For two decades, former Darien restaurateur Colin Ambrose has been at the forefront of the sustainable food movement, originally in Amaganset, and now in Sag Harbor, Long Island with his popular café, Estia’s Little Kitchen. Here, the practice of growing his own fruits and vegetables on the restaurant’s property, and obtaining the rest of the ingredients from local farmers whenever possible, was never a gimmick. It was simply how he chose to source his food in order to maintain the high standards he set for the restaurant. The second incarnation of Ambrose’s beloved restaurant concept is coming to Darien in the form of Estia’s American, a charming café that will offer breakfast, lunch and a juice bar, then transform itself into an urbane restaurant and bar for dinner service. Located in the newly developed brick walk section of a busy downtown, Estia’s American intends on filling a niche in the culinary landscape with its simple, clean, vibrant foods Read More
Rodizio Grill in Stamford: Healthy Eats @ a Brazilian Steak House? Restaurant Brazilian Stamford Lunch Kid Friendly Lou Gorfain March 27, 2012 As the gauchos paraded by our table brandishing huge spears of juicy, caramelized proteins in a non-stop moveable feast, I had a question: "Can you eat healthy in an all-you-can-eat Brazilian Steak House?" It was a concern I imagined many a health or diet conscious CTBites reader might harbor, especially if a friend or significant other was suffering a severe steak jones and insisted on a visit to Stamford's new Rodizio Grill, an authentic Brazilian Churrascaria in the space formerly occupied by Houlihans. Read More
Chef, Author, Farmer: Didi Emmons @ Barcelona Restaurant Restaurant Chef Talk Cookbooks Stephanie Webster March 26, 2012 Join Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant on March 31st for a special evening of food and celebration with Didi Emmons. Emmons, a chef, author, educator and former restaurateur will make a special appearance at Barcelona Fairfield to promote her IACP nominated cookbook Wild Flavors, One Chef’s Transformative Year Cooking from Eva’s Farm. The cookbook features unusual food that is grown on a farm run by Eva Sommaripa, a renegade 70-year old farmer from southeast Massachusetts, who grows for a variety of notable chefs in New England. The evening wil begin with a cocktail hour where guests will have to opportunity to meet with Emmons and peruse signed copies of her latest cookbook. In addition to Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant’s regular menu, we will be offering a special a la carte menu featuring specialties from Eva’s farm such as juniper berries, sunchokes, lovage, claytonia and other foraged and cultivated flavors prepared by Barcelona Wine Bar’s Culinary Director, Adam Halberg. Read More
EDO: Korean Fare in Norwalk Restaurant Asian Norwalk korean Lunch Kid Friendly Korean Melissa Roberts March 25, 2012 In the window of Edo there’s a New York Times review from 2004 that touts the virtues of Edo’s sushi, but that’s not the reason why we came. Sushi or Japanese food is not the reason to go to Edo. Sure, its name is Japanese, but we were there for the Korean fare. Like so many Asian restaurants in Fairfield County, Edo tries to squeeze multiple cultures into a single venue which isn’t always for the best, but go to Edo for the Korean dishes. You'll be happy you did. Read More
Match & Grey Goose Co-owners to Open New Restaurant in Fairfield Restaurant Fairfield News CTbites Team March 24, 2012 Fairfield will be the destination for one of the liveliest new restaurants to open in Fairfield County this year. The original trio behind Match in SoNo, Scott Beck, Matt Storch and Kevin McHugh, are the brains, culinary brawn and co-owners who just inked a deal to build-out and run a soon-to-be-named restaurant slated to open early summer 2012. The new venue will reside in the heart of Fairfield in the former location of Greenhouse Grill on Unquowa Place. The restaurant will feature a “global-classics" menu with several small plates to encourage sharing, a lively bar, sidewalk dining, an opening façade and ample free parking...not to mention one of Connecticut’s most talented chefs. Read More
Jake’s Wayback Burgers Opens in Stamford Restaurant Stamford Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger March 23, 2012 Whenever a new place that is dedicated to hamburgers opens in my ‘hood I just cannot resist the magnetic field that pulls me to give it a try; and I could not resist when Jake’s Wayback Burgers opened in Stamford. I arrived early enough to avoid the lunch-rush and ensure that the staff could focus on my order. True to my first-visit tradition, I ordered a cheeseburger (a little over 3 ounces of meat) with bacon and grilled onions ($3.19), a small order of French fries ($1.99) and a small (listed on the menu as 12 ounces) chocolate shake ($2.89). Each item is made to order so I watched as the hamburger hit the grill, the fries plunged into the fryer and the shake whipped in the mixer. Read More
5 Course Winemaker's Dinner @ Darien Social Restaurant Wine Dinners CTbites Team March 23, 2012 If you got sold out of our PHO-nomenal Vietnamese Dinner at Match for April 4th, here's something else you can do that night. The new Darien Social is hosting an exclusive five-course winemaker's dinner at 10 Center Street, Darien on Wednesday, April 4th 2012 at 7pm. Jeremy Kreck, winemaker at Mill Creek Winery in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, will showcase and discuss his estate-grown wines. Mill Creek is a true family-owned boutique winery whose wines have won some of the most prestigious awards in California Read More
Westport Votes YES to Pop-up Cafes via Daily Westport Restaurant News Westport Stephanie Webster March 21, 2012 This just in from The Daily Westport... WESTPORT, Conn. – More outdoor seating areas may be popping-up in downtown Westport this spring. On Wednesday, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a policy that allows the creation of pop-up cafes and pop-up seating along certain one-way streets. This new policy will permit merchants along Main Street and other one-way roads to install on-street cafes or seating areas in converted curbside parking spaces outside their businesses. The policy was created by Planning and Zoning Commissioner Howard Lathrop and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jennifer Johnson, with help from Assistant Town Attorney Gail Kelly. “If you look at the policy, we wanted to make it broad enough not to exclude retail businesses from doing this,” said Johnson after the meeting. “This will actually allow both pop-up cafes and pop-up seating.” --Vanessa Inzitari Read the full article here. Read More
Food for Thought Event in Danbury Restaurant Danbury Amy Kundrat March 21, 2012 Danbury's Food For Thought 2012 will be held on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the showroom of Connecticut Kitchen & Bath, 87 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by contacting Joann Cueva at 203-743-5565 or Joann@danburychamber.com. In addition to highlighting the Danbury area's food scene, the event will host a lively discussion about the latest food, restaurant & cooking trends with a special guest food critic & News Times Managing Editor Jackie Smith as well as (yours truly) Amy Kundrat, Executive Editor of CTbites. This networking and food-centric event hosted by the Women’s Business Council will showcase a variety of the Danbury area's food scene, including: Basilico, Brasilis BBQ, Brio Tuscan Grill, Hanna’s Middle Eastern Restaurant, Jay’s at the new Crowne Plaza, Koo Neo-Japanese Cuisine, Matrix Banquet & Conference Center, Mezon Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Molly Darcy’s Irish Pub & Grill, Pito’s Q - Shortcut to Puerto Rico, Stew Leonard’s, Victoria’s Wood Fired Pizza, VIVO! Bar & Grill & others. Food for Thought is a great way to support local business as well as get to know the Danbury area's food scene. Hope to see you there. Read More
Cheese Tasting w/ Chef & Author Jason Sobocinski Restaurant Cheese Chef Talk Events Specialty Market CTbites Team March 20, 2012 Love cheese? Want to know more about it? Want to taste some? Chef, TV personality, and cheese cookbook author Jason Sobocinski will talk about cheese, offer samples, and sign copies of his book, Caseus: Fromagerie Bistro Cookbook, on Friday, March 30, from 7-9 pm at a private home in Westport. Proceeds from the event, which costs $35 per person, will support Library programs. Sobocinski is host of “The Big Cheese” on The Cooking Channel and owner of New Haven’s award-winning bistro and cheese shop Caseus. Wine will be provided by Black Bear Wines & Spirits of Westport. Register online.For more information, contact Cindy Clark, 203.291.4824, clark@westportlibrary.org, or westportlibrary.org. Read More
"Outstanding In The Field" in CT: Tix on Sale March 20 Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster March 19, 2012 On Tuesday, March 20th, the first day of spring, tickets will go on sale for the 2012 season of Outstanding In The Field. This year's dinner will take place at the Waldingfield Farm in Washington CT on September 15, 2012. Outstanding in the Field visits orchards, beaches and vineyards. At Waldingfield Farm, we have a site where we can all be out standing in the field. The other meaning of Outstanding in the Field is outstanding as in the best. This year at Waldingfeild Farm, guest chef Joel Viehland of Community Table will return to prepare another late summer feast. Joel is truly one of the best. "Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls." Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. The Details: WHEN: Saturday September 15, 2012 WHERE: Waldingfield Farm, Washington, CT PRICE: $220.00, Tickets can be purchased on their website. Read More
From Masala to Mole: Westport's Oaxaca Kitchen Restaurant Mexican New Haven Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat March 18, 2012 “From Masala to Mole” is Chef Prasad Chirnomula’s recent gourmet battle cry. The man who revolutionized Indian cuisine in Connecticut with Thali, opens his newest Mexican-inspired concept in Westport in the form of the lively south of the border hot spot that is Oaxaca Kitchen. Leaving the Indian subcontinent, Chef Chirnomula has fully embraced the flavors of Mexico’s Oacaxa region, an area known for its mole dishes, barbacoa, mezcal and chocolate. The layers of flavors and spice found in Oaxacan dishes, a region often referred to as “land of the seven moles,” evokes a similar feel to the masalas and bright yet rich flavors found in Chef Chirnomula's native Indian cuisine. Read More
Arethusa To Open Wine Bar in Bantam Restaurant Litchfield Opening CTbites Team March 16, 2012 As reported by the Litchfield County Times, the owners of Arethusa Dairy in Litchfield County received town approval to open a wine bar in a location adjacent to their retail operation at 822 Bantam Road in Bantam, CT. The dairy was founded by Manolo Blanik owners George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis who own and operate the dairy which produces milk and other dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream. According to the County Times: "Approval was given to a proposal for a wine bar in a building adjacent to Arethusa’s creamery in the former Bantam Firehouse, where its farm-fresh milk, ice cream, cheeses, yogurts and more are sold. The wine bar is envisioned as a bistro-style operation that will serve the creamery’s signature cheeses and other light fare." Read the full story at Litchfield County Times. Read More
Pizzeria Rosso Expands to Bridgeport & Greenwich Restaurant Bridgeport Greenwich Pizza Amy Kundrat March 15, 2012 Pizzeria Rosso is opening up not one, but two new locations in Connecticut in addition to their original Norwalk take-out outpost which has been open just under a year. [Read: Pizzeria Rosso Opens in Norwalk, June 2012] Pasquale (Pat) Pascarella is the chef and founder of the successful yet still young pizzeria. His second Pizzeria Rosso is set to open at 960 Main Street in Bridgeport in just about three weeks. The new Bridgeport location will be open seven days a week and boasts forty seats with two four-pie Baker's pride ovens. The menu will be largely the same, but more of a focus on pizza and less pasta and will be BYOB with the possibility of a future liquor license. With Webster Arena just up the street and the Barnum Publick House opening across the street, Pizzeria Rosso will be open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night. A third location will open in Greenwich, giving Pizzeria Rosso the run of Fairfield County. Read More
Italian Wine Dinner at Blue Lemon in Westport Restaurant Events Italian CTbites Team March 13, 2012 Join Chef Bryan Mulcarney for "A Taste of Italy" Wine Tasting Dinner Presented by CDI and Blue Lemon on Wednesday, March 21st 2012, 7pm The Menu Causa of Maine Lobster with Avocado and Mango Vinaigrette Donnachiara Fiano di Avellino Pear and Endive Salad with Baby Arugula, Caramelized Walnuts, Gorgonzola Cheese, and Champagne Vinaigrette Donnachiara Sante Falanghina Homemade Ravioli Stuffed with Braised Veal, Root Vegetables, Grana Padano and White Truffle Oil Donnachiara Aglianico Irpinia Seared Filet Mignon with Wild Mushrooms, Garlic Mashed Potatoes And Cognac, Green Peppercorn Sauce Read More
MELT Market & Cafe in Bridgeport: Go ahead and MELT Ingredients Restaurant Bridgeport Catering Cheese Entertaining Specialty Market Lunch Sarah Green March 11, 2012 Do you feel the need, the need for cheese? Introducing MELT Market and Cafe, the spectacularly gooey love child of former Westport-based Mirabelle Cheese Shop owners Andrea and Damon Itin. MELT, located in the up and coming section of Bridgeport at the corner of Lafayette Circle and Fairfield Ave is sleek and spacious with high tops as well as regular tables for seating and warm inviting color tones. The 2,200 square foot space seats plenty but if tables were pushed aside, this could be a fantastic place for a private function. But enough about things spatial, on to the celestial - this is a cheese lovers' nirvana - What's for sale ? MELT is the purveyor of European as well as local cheeses Read More
Westport Weston Restaurant Week 2012: March 25 Restaurant Events Weston Westport CTbites Team March 09, 2012 Westport & Weston Restaurant Week returns for 2012, offering consumers great deals and the opportunity to experience some new restaurants, as well as re-visit some of their favorites. Sunday, March 25 thru Friday March 30, 2012, participating restaurants will offer a special prix fixe lunch and dinner menu throughout the entire week. Participating restaurants include: Acqua Restaurant, Blue Lemon, Bobby Q’s, Coromandel, DaPietro’s, Matsu Sushi, Oaxaca Kitchen, Rizzuto’s, Splash, Tabouli Grill, Tarantino’s, Tarry Lodge, Tavern on Main, River House Tavern, and “V” Restaurant & Wine Bar. Read More
