Food 411: Name the Restaurant that Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Stephanie Webster June 07, 2011
New Canaan's Filling Station's June Burger & Shake Restaurant New Canaan Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger June 07, 2011 The June 2011 Filling Station Special Burger and Shake are a tribute to the upcoming summer season with a backyard favorite Chili Cheeseburger and a delicious Strawberry Maple Waffle Shake. The Chili Cheeseburger includes the Filling Station’s farm-raised meat topped with cheese, their house-made chili, lettuce, and tomato. The “chili” is the Filling Station’s Sloppy Joe, which was developed in-house after significant research and development and includes BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, vinegar and several other ingredients to allow for a sweet and sour combination that nicely complements the flavors in the organic meat. The lettuce adds a nice crispy element, the tomato accents the tomato-ey based chili and the cheese is an essential part of any hamburger, in my opinion. The lightly toasted bun is still a favorite with a light exterior crunchy and the soft interior. I enjoyed this burger and it is a good way to start to the upcoming summer months. Read More
Chef Brian Lewis Hosts Cooking Classes @ Ambler Farm Features Restaurant Cooking Classes Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster June 06, 2011 Ambler Farms is hosting a 2-part Cooking Series with Chef Brian Lewis, Wednesday, July 20th and August 17th. Ambler Farm's popular 2011-12 cooking series resumes in July with Chef Brian Lewis making his debut in the Carriage Barn kitchen. Chef Lewis' kitchen credentials include Lutece, Oceana and The Sign of the Dove. His most recent venture was at The Bedford Post Inn which he co-created with Richard Gere. His new restaurant is due to open on Elm Street in New Canaan. Chef Lewis will work with Farmer Ben Saunders at the time of the dinners to select and harvest seasonal ingredients to create his menu. Attendees will receive recipes, hands-on instruction and a fully serviced four course menu. Prices: $100/course for Ambler Farm members and $115/course for non-members. Read More
Zee Burger in Woodbury: A First Beefy Bite Road Trip Restaurant Woodbury Lunch Burgers Amy Kundrat June 05, 2011 When news first broke that Carole Peck, our east coast answer to Alice Waters, would be opening a burger joint adjacent to her popular farm-to-table Good News Café in Woodbury, the first thing I did was clear my calendar. The second thing I did was ask the obvious question. Was this the same Carole Peck who has been running the Café in Woodbury since 1993, hosting culinary trips to France and espousing local farms? Burgers? Carole, really? Actually it makes perfect sense that Peck, who has been committed to sourcing locally and seasonally for Good News Café for almost twenty years, would want to widen her spectrum and open a more accessible establishment using the same approach that has won her accolades and a loyal following. Fueled by an extended financial recession, the inexpensive luxuries of the gourmet burger joint formula has been trending in Connecticut. Peck has joined the fray staying true to her signature style – by creating the farm stand version of the burger joint. Read More
Jacques Pépin & Christine Baranski Celebrate CT Farms Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster June 02, 2011
Dine with Design: Menu Preview with Taibe & Lewis Restaurant Events New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 31, 2011 In less than two weeks, June 11th from 12:00-3:00 pm, five of America’s most inspirational Farm to Table chefs will converge at the late Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan to prepare their visionary seasonal creations. The much anticipated Dine with Design – An Outdoor Celebration of Farm-to-Table Cuisine event includes several of the outstanding Chefs featured in the cookbook “Harvest to Heat – Cooking with America’s Best Chefs Farmers and Artisans.” The legendary Chef Michel Richard of Central Michel Richard in Washington DC and Michel in Washington, DC and McLean, VA; Chef Lee Chizmar of Bolete restaurant in Allentown, PA.; Chef Brian Lewis, co-creator of the Bedford Post, whose new restaurant, elm, opens this fall in New Canaan ; Chef Bill Taibe of LeFarmrestaurant in Westport; and Chef Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway in Providence, RI will each create a spectacular luncheon cuisine to delight the palate of all who attend. Read More
Sneak Peek @ ZAZA Italian Gastrobar in Stamford Restaurant Cocktails Italian Stamford Stephanie Webster May 29, 2011 Teaser billboards in the windows of Stamford's soon-to-be-open ZAZA portray a scantily clad woman really "enjoying" her pasta. You can't miss it…that's the idea. The Racanelli family, owners and operators of Pizzeria Molto in Fairfield know how to create a little buzz (as anyone who has waited for a table at Molto on a Saturday night knows all too well). Leveraging the success of Molto, their new venture will continue the tradition of the Italian gastropub and is slated to open in early June. Situated on busy Broad street with sidewalk seating, "ZAZA will have more of an urban feel with an active bar scene." says GM, Nick Racanelli Jr. ZAZA's casually chic interior, covered in white marble, red leather, and oversized images depicting Italian street scenes, is both welcoming and sleek. Black glass chandeliers hang like jewels over the communal tables, begging for the party to begin. The decor is clean and sexy, while the menu aims to please. Here is a sneak peak at ZAZA Italian Gastrobar. Read More
Wine & Food Tasting @ Stamford Museum June 3 Restaurant Events Wiine Tasting Wine Chat Stephanie Webster May 27, 2011 The Stamford Museum & Nature Center will be celebrating 75 years as an educational and cultural treasure on Friday, June 3 at its 75th Anniversary Celebration Wine Tasting. The celebration will begin at 7 pm with fine wines paired with signature dishes and specialties from top local caterers and restaurants. Participating caterers and restaurants include: A Dash of Salt; A•S Fine Foods; Becca Catering; Butterfield 8; David’s Soundview Catering; Frank & Julio Complete Event Planning; Illy Coffee; Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning; Napa & Co.; On the Marc Events; Outdoor Cookers; Shelly’s on the River; Susan Kane Catering; Vin’s Delights; and Wave Hill Bread/Chiappetta Olive Oil. The wines will be provided by BevMax. Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant That Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Stephanie Webster May 26, 2011 Where did we catch this lovely piece of fish? (Winner will receive CTbites swag) One guess per person please. Read More
A Conversation with Joe Bastianich Interview Restaurant Italian Chef Talk Amy Kundrat May 24, 2011 We are counting the days to the opening of Tarry Lodge Enoteca and Pizzeria this summer, Batali and Bastianich's latest restaurant venture poised to open in Westport. Located in the space formerly occupied by Abbondanza, this latest incarnation of the Tarry Lodge concept is lending momentum to the revitalization of the Saugatuck waterfront project. Hungry for more details, we had a quick chat with Greenwich resident Joe Bastianich about the opening, what we can expect from the menu, and why of all places they chose Westport, Connecticut. Read More
Tabouli Grill Opens 2nd Location in Southport Restaurant Middle Eastern Southport Sarah Green May 22, 2011 There seems to be a new trendy area developing just where Westport meets Southport. To borrow from our trendy NYC neighbors, maybe we should call it "Down Under (the exit) Nineteen Overpass" or DUNO. In the past year, we have seen some great new restaurants open in this area, including the oh-so-trendy GREY GOOSE at 246 Old Post Road and the latest COROMANDEL, serving great Indian food at 17 Pease Avenue . Now, luckily for us, a second TABOULI GRILL opened 2 weeks ago at its new location at 3381 Post Road. (Formerly home to Ole' Mole.) TABOULI GRILL is making DUNO it's second home and we quickly made it ours. Read More
leFarm Family Meal: Elevated Pub Grub & Beer Pairing Restaurant Farm to Table Beer Comfort Food Amy Kundrat May 19, 2011 Some meals need no words. The recent "Family Meal" at leFarm was one such event. On the final Tuesday of each month, the restaurant opens up for a single seating and several courses based on the whim of Chef Bill Taibe and his team. This past month featured a down-home family meal based around LeFarm's playful interpretation of pub grub carefully paired with a selection of beers chosen by Saugatuck Grain & Grape. Warning ... the following photos may make you drool on your keyboard. Read More
GMonkey: Sustainable Vegetarian Food Truck Restaurant Food Truck Hartford Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian West Hartford Lunch CTbites Team May 18, 2011 I'm no food diva- sure I love a fine dining experience. I enjoy white tablecloths- and the particularly high-end places that scrape the crumbs from your table between courses. But there is a time and a place for this sort of event. Though I love a great restaurant, I am equally satisfied by a well made sandwich, burger, or just about anything from a greasy spoon diner. When I worked in Boston I frequented the street meat kabob purveyor, and enjoyed a couple visits to Clover- a vegetarian food truck. Cheap, hearty, and satisfying, I miss these lunch options more than I miss Barbara Lynch. So when Gmonkey mobile, a sustainable & vegetarian food truck, began tweeting their presence in Hartford earlier this month, I knew I had to try it. Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant That Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Food Porn Stephanie Webster May 15, 2011
Crossing the River: Jordan's Restaurant in Westport Restaurant Greek Home Delivery Pizza Westport Lunch Kid Friendly Sarah Green May 15, 2011 There is a powerfully moving gospel song about crossing the River Jordan, but the fact that Jordan's of Norwalk recently crossed the River Saugatuck into Westport is what makes my wayward soul call out "Hallelujah!" Jordan's Restaurant and Pizza is a tried and true Greek/Italian establishment with FAMILY RUN written all over it. Pappa Nikos (Nick) and Mama Haroula (Carol) Ouzounidis came from their tiny town of Agios Loukas in Greece to Connecticut in the 70's and bought the original Jordan's at 369 Westport Ave in Norwalk. Now, with three locations to oversee, the three Ouzounidis children are taking over at the helm to keep things running smoothly, And with that honor, there is a dish named for each child - there's John's (Ionnis) Bread (with ricotta, melted mozzerella and marinara sauce), Lazaros (Larry) Chicken (sauteed with tomato, feta and garlic), and my drug of choice, the Kitsa Pella Salad (which you can read about in detail in my Colossal Salad review from last year.) Read More
Farm Dinners w/ The Schoolhouse's Tim LaBant Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm Stephanie Webster May 13, 2011
Barcelona's BBQ Blowout & Cookbook Demo Restaurant BBQ Events Fairfield Stephanie Webster May 12, 2011
Sunset Picnic on the Hill @ Ambler Farm in Wilton Restaurant Local Artisan Local Farm Wilton Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster May 11, 2011 Enjoy a bit of the Berkshires in our own backyard at the "Sunset Picnic on the Hill" @ Ambler Farm. Spread out your picnic blanket on the hill a la Tanglewood or join your friends under the tent for farm-fresh fare and live music as the sun sets over Ambler Farm. The evening will kick off with a champagne greeting complemented by local artisanal food prepared by A Delicious Affair and homemade desserts. Celebrate our local harvest with the tasty menu below. Read More
