Recap: Da Pietro's Cooking Demo & Lunch via FC Foodie Restaurant CTbites Invites Cooking Classes Education Fairfield County Foodie December 22, 2011 Fairfield County Foodie is a local blogger who is passionate about her food. She had me at "It’s no fun going out with folks who only ever order salads." Here is her recap of our recent CTbites Invite: Da Pietro's cooking demo & lunch event. I laughed, I learned and I ate scrumptious food all in one afternoon. Today I attended a fabulous, intimate event organized by CT Bites and Da Pietro restaurant in Westport: A cooking demo and lunch with Chef Scotti. I found out about it through “CT Bites Invites” that I had signed up for. Man! Am I glad I did! The moment I entered the restaurant, I noticed all the happy smiling faces. Everyone was simply delighted to be there … after all, who wouldn’t be delighted to spend an afternoon with Chef Scotti? Read More
Tusk & Cup Coffee Shops Opens in Branchville Restaurant Branchville Coffee Tea And Coffee Dessert Amy Kundrat December 21, 2011 Bleary-eyed Branchville commuters now have a few more options for their morning caffeine fix. Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee has opened across the street from the Branchville train station at 51 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) in Ridgefield. Owners Joe and Laura Ancona, the same family that owns and runs nearby Ancona’s Market and Ancona’s Wines & Liquors, opened Tusk & Cup in November, a fine complement to the family-owned businesses and this burgeoning neighborhood of small businesses. Read More
Hope Pizza in Stamford: Best Greek Pizza in Western CT? Restaurant Delicious Dives Pizza Stamford Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Lou Gorfain December 18, 2011 "Gooey," that's what my late great mother craved in her pizza, and this woman loved food more than any person I've ever known. ("Don't talk to me," she would admonish. "I'm eating."} Well, Mom would have devoured the pizza at Stamford's Hope Pizza, maybe the best of the thirty some Greek pizzerias hidden throughout Fairfield County. What makes Greek pizza gooey is what distinguishes it from the more heralded Connecticut Italian pizzas. Bearing no New Haven char, Colony heat, Batali chic, much less any passionate defenders or detractors in the food press or blogosphere, Greek Pizza flourishes under the radar, boasting few fancy frills, though, admittedly, more oil. Read More
Fork It Over: Pop-Up Dinner for Westport Farmers' Mkt Restaurant Farmers Market Stephanie Webster December 15, 2011 Craving a new date night experience? Perhaps a chic city spot with the casual atmosphere you love in Fairfield County? Look no further. The Westport Farmers’ Market has the answer...an exclusive night of great food, great wine, great friends and a great cause. On January 28, 2012 the greenhouse at Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens will be transformed into a “Pop-Up” restaurant with a chef lineup that will make you drool. CTbites got the list and we are happy to share: Bill Taibe of leFarm, Matt Storch of Match, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Michel Nischan of Dressing Room, and John Barricelli of Sono Baking Company will provide the dessert course. Each chef wil prepare four dishes, and the entire menu will be paired with inventive cocktails and wine. This is truly an evening not to be missed. Read More
Volta: Fun Euro Fare on Stamford’s Spring Street Restaurant Brunch Stamford ice cream Lunch Dessert Lou Gorfain December 14, 2011 Spring Street, all of a block long, was once anchored by Bennet's Steak House and Andy Robustelli’s World Travel services. Both were venerable downtown institutions, but dowdy matrons against the vibrant young rialto of restaurants and bars around the corner on Bedford Street. In their place Spring Street this year welcomed Mary Schaffer's luxe Italian Bar Russo and Giovanni Gentile's sleek euro-style café, Volta. Designed by Giovanni himself, Volta’s pop interior complements the hip crowd, who one recent night were dining on such kewl stuff as brie and bacon crepes, grilled vegetable tartines, duck confit salads, and creamy sweet potato vichyssoise. With an Amy Whitehouse track in the background, “My life a wreck you’re making,” a beguiling model delicately sampled a gelato stracciatella while her debonair date sipped Remy XO. Read More
The Whey Station Grilled Cheese Truck in Middletown Restaurant Food Truck Middletown Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team December 11, 2011 Jill Moskites works the grill while her husband, Josh, takes lunch orders from a hungry crowd. It’s a cold Wednesday afternoon in October, perfect for what The Whey Station is serving up -- gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, hearty, “truckmade” soups and specialty hot dogs. Fortunately for all of us, The Whey Station is the newest local addition to the handful of food trucks hitting the streets. It’s a new endeavor for the Moskites, who until recently were familiar faces at their family’s gourmet foods shop, The Wild Raspberry in Cromwell, and together they have about 19 years restaurant and specialty foods experience. Read More
CTbites Invites: Barcelona Iberico Ham Event Recap Restaurant CTbites Invites Fairfield Spanish James Gribbon December 10, 2011 Hearty souls splashed through the rain Dec. 7 on the way to Barcelona Restaurant in Fairfield, and were rewarded with a tornado of pork. Old world cheeses supplied by event host Michele Buster of Forever Cheese sat on the tables, piled on wooden boards, and would be joined by small blocks of quince jam and a roast suckling pig that ought to be legally classified as a mind-altering substance, but the star of the show, from start to finish, was a shoulder of cured Iberico ham. Read More
Invites: Matsu Sushi Making Class Event Recap Restaurant CTbites Invites Events Sushi ellen bowen December 07, 2011 A few fun facts on sushi... originally the seasoned rice found in sushi was used only as a preservative for the fresh fish in China...not Japan; Sushi chefs (mostly men, huh?) used to train for ten years before being able to work in restaurant...while now they train for about two years; The Japanese eat miso soup AFTER the meal to aid digestion...not before as in America. The history of sushi and some hands on technique for making maki, or sushi rolls, were served up at the CTbites Sushi Making Class at Matsu Sushi on November 16th. Read More
Chilibomb Opens in Fairfield: Calling All Chiliheads! Restaurant Delicious Dives Fairfield Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Nancy Kleeger December 04, 2011 Calling all chiliheads: On a portion of Fairfield's Black Rock Turnpike that should be dubbed “restaurant row,” sits a newly opened storefront restaurant, Chilibomb. The brainchild of Stamford native, Peter Weberg Jr., Chilibomb is the first in the area to serve an impressive array of mouthwatering chilis in addition to having created an Oscar worthy brand for his business. Peter started making chili simply because, he liked it...a lot. From there, he started entering his chili into the numerous fairs and chili contests around the area. You may have also known him back in the late 80’s when he ran a food truck called Buffalo Pete’s serving hot dogs ‘n’ chili. After jobs in the food industry behind the scenes, he decided it was time to bring his chili dream to life. “Chilibomb,” aptly named after his hot selling chili of yester year, was finally coined and trademarked in 2008. Read More
Invite: "Iberico" Ham, Wine & Cheese Tasting @ Barcelona Restaurant CTbites Invites CTbites Team December 02, 2011 Join Chef Helton DaSilva of Barcelona Restaurant Fairfield and Michele Buster of Forever Cheese on Dec. 7th from 7-9pm for a unique tasting event featuring the coveted Spanish specialty "Iberico " Ham. Learn about the history and curing process of the most delicious ham in the world, found only in Spain. Enjoy a multi course tasting session accompanied by a variety of Spanish cheeses, wines, and sherry. Small plates will also be served throughout the evening incorporating this unique Spanish delicacy. RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE. What's so great about Iberico Ham? Read More
Cupcakes: Trend or Tradition? A Guide to the Goods Restaurant Kid Friendly Dessert CTbites Team November 29, 2011 A friend of mine recently referred to cupcakes as “portion-controlled cuteness.” While I can’t argue with the cuteness part, I may take issue with the portion control. At least, my self-control is a little lacking in that department. Admittedly, the tasty little treats are perfect for a toddler’s birthday party. But lately, they’ve become a different kind of indulgence. The craze took flight in 2004 when New York City’s Magnolia Bakery had their signature red velvet cupcakes featured on Sex in the City. Since then, cupcakeries have popped up across the nation with reckless abandon. No doubt the little cuties are a recent phenomenon. The real question is sustainability. Is their popularity as fleeting as being crowned Prom Queen or will they reign supreme for decades to come? Read More
Texas BBQ franchise opens in Bridgeport via ctpost.com Restaurant BBQ Bridgeport Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team November 29, 2011 This just in from ctpost.com. The biggest barbecue fast food chain in the country is coming to Connecticut in the North End of Bridgeport. Dickey's Barbecue Pit will have its soft opening Sunday and its grand opening Dec. 8. Cohen is a Dallas native, and often ate at Dickey's growing up. The first Dickey's Barbecue opened in Texas in 1941. The original location is still open for business, and Dickey's Barbecue is still owned and operated by the Dickey Family, according to the company website. The company began franchising in 1994. Customers can expect to get their food in three minutes or less, Cohen said, but the meat is smoked for hours. The brisket, for example, is smoked for 14 hours before it hits a plate. "We have fall-off-the-bone ribs," Cohen said. "Most restaurants use a thermometer to test if the ribs are done. We test our ribs by picking them up and if they don't break in the middle, we know they're not ready to serve." Read More
Road Trip: Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Sum in White Plains Restaurant Asian Brunch Chinese Dim Sum White Plains Lunch Nancy Kleeger November 27, 2011 Upon our return to the United States this summer from living abroad for 13 years, with our most recent move from Hong Kong, my family and I were faced with a serious food challenge. We hadn’t had access to good pizza, bagels and deli for years, so the first few weeks after we moved back, we became “born again” NY carb fanatics, showing our faces at every bagel and pizza joint north of NYC. After a month or so, this eating frenzy thankfully began to wear off. One of the things we miss most about Hong Kong is going out for Dim Sum, or yum cha, as it’s also called in Cantonese. After a friend mentioned Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Dum in White Plains, I knew we had to go to bridge East meets West food chain. Read More
Ad: Cheesecake Factory & Brio Open @ Danbury Fair Mall Restaurant American Danbury Italian Advertisement Kid Friendly CTbites Team November 23, 2011 Danbury Fair has made shopping more appetizing this winter with the addition of popular restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory® and BRIO Tuscan Grille. These great new dining options bring affordable upscale dining to Danbury Fair and will provide the perfect rest stop during the upcoming holiday shopping frenzy. The Cheesecake Factory®'s award winning family friendly menu with over 40 decadent desserts promises something tasty for everyone while BRIO brings authentic, Northern Italian cuisine to Danbury CT. Read More
A Good Crêpe is Hard to Find...A Guide to FC Crêpes Restaurant Fairfield Norwalk New Canaan Lunch Kid Friendly Dessert CTbites Team November 20, 2011 I’m tough on crêperies. I can’t help it. I’m constantly comparing their crêpes to the ones of my French childhood summers spent in Brittany, the northwest peninsula of France and the crêpe’s birthplace. My great-grandmother made them in her two room farmhouse –– she poured the mixture of buckwheat flour, salt and water onto a billig, a hot, round, buttered, grill surface, then with her rozell, a small toothless rake, she spread this batter into a fifteen-inch-round sphere the thinness of butterfly wings. As the batter bubbled there and the edges browned, she coaxed the half cooked, wobbly, crepe onto her long, wooden spatula and flipped it over, intact. The crêpe continued cooking this way until completely golden, signaling to her to scrape this fragile delicacy gently off the billig with her spatula. From here she held the hot crêpe between her fingertips and the spatula. She then placed it onto a waiting plate, setting the crêpe down with the same carefulness as though she was putting a drowsy baby onto a pillow. Read More
GotChef Gourmet Food Truck in Milford Features Restaurant Food Truck Italian Milford CTbites Team November 13, 2011 Biagio’s Barone’s is reinventing the wheel. Literally. His GotChef gourmet food truck, which is parked on the Eastbound side of the Milford, CT Metro North Station, is turning the mobile canteen concept on its head. From Monday through Friday, 11:00am-8:00 pm, and Saturday 3-7pm, Chef Biagio and his crew offer up-all natural, creative, delectable cuisine out of his neon yellow restaurant-on-wheels. You won’t find the typical taco, BBQ-grilled cheese-Belgian waffles-cupcake food truck fare on the GotChef menu. His selections, which vary with the season and change daily, are comparable to anything you can find in an upscale Italian bistro. Some of the recent chalkboard specials include: Capesante Farcito (Stuffed Scallop with Lobster, Shrimp, Sweet Bread Lemon Stuffing in a Scallop Shell, drizzled with Lemon Gremolata), Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi, Slow Roasted Short Ribs--served over a mushroom truffle risotto, Wild-Grilled Salmone Agrodolce-- topped with a pineapple Sweet and Sour sauce and served over balsamic glazed green beans, and an Osso Bucco Read More
Napa & Co Celebrates 5 Years in Stamford Restaurant Stamford Stephanie Webster November 10, 2011 Opening a restaurant takes guts. Developing a compelling concept, finding the right chef and training a strong team is no small feat. Mary Schaffer and her husband Charles Morgan, owners of Stamford's Napa & Co, make all of this look easy. As they celebrate their 5 year anniversary, Napa continues to stay true to the guiding principles under which it was founded: "a celebration of the bounty of our land...wine country cuisine made from organic, farm-fresh ingredients and artisan products at their seasonal peak." They were innovators in the farm-to-table movement before it was trendy to talk about it, and 5 years later, under the leadership of Chef Arik Bensimon, Napa & Co's kitchen is serving some of the best tasting food in Fairfield County. The secret ingredient to their success? Here's what Napa has to say: Read More
Curds & Brew Class @ 109 Cheese & Wine in Ridgefield Ingredients Restaurant Cheese Specialty Market Amy Kundrat November 08, 2011 To mark the conclusion of American Cheese Month, 109 Cheese & Wine in Ridgefield is pairing great American brews with great American artisan and farmstead cheeses. Curds & Brew class will be held on Sunday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. and will be $45 per person. The class and tasting will kick-off with a beer fondue, followed by a pairing of six beers and six cheeses (see list below Read More
Shiki Hana Japanese Bistro in Fairfield Restaurant Delicious Dives Fairfield Japanese Sushi Kid Friendly Melissa Roberts November 06, 2011 As a recent Westport transplant from New York City, one thing I find myself pining for from my former life is good sushi. A recent visit to Shiki Hana in Fairfield has changed all that. Located in a strip mall in Fairfield, Shiki Hana has the nondescript atmosphere of countless Japanese restaurants, but the surprise is in the food: some of the freshest, well prepared sushi I’ve had in a while. Read More
bartaco Launches "CTBites Invites" w/ Tequila & Tacos Restaurant CTbites Invites Cocktails Port Chester Mexican Sarah Green November 04, 2011 Last night, 35 or so lucky CTbites readers participated in the Inaugural "CTBites Invites" event at bartaco in Port Chester, NY. The "Invites," offer CTBites customers unique culinary experiences in the form of special restaurant "happenings" and special product purchasing opportunities. You sign up while the offer lasts, you pay on line and you're in. Simple as that. At last night's event, those who signed up were treated to a TACOS and TEQUILA and a whole lot more. Read More
