Morello Italian Bistro: Toning it Down in Tony Greenwich Town Restaurant American Greenwich Italian Wine Dinners Lou Gorfain October 21, 2012 With high-end restaurants like Thomas Henkelmann, Rebecca’s, Jean Louis, L’escale, and Polpo, the Greenwich food scene is hallmarked by special occasion dining. Though lush and lux, the cuisines are rough on wallets and waistlines. At first blush, Morello’s on Greenwich Avenue seems to be part of that plush world. The setting, a landmark Beaux Arts bank building woven with spectacular arches and ceilings tiled in golden amber by the Catalan architect Rafel Guastavino, Jr, may be the most lavish, sexiest dining space in all of Connecticut. Moreover, the bistro is part of the exclusive restaurant portfolio belonging to international jet setter and billionaire Marlon Abela, a collection that includes Michelin star eateries in London, as well as a Voce in Manhattan and Bistro du Midi in Boston. Read More
LUXE Modern Wine & Cocktails in Westport Ingredients Restaurant Cocktails Westport Wine Bar Amy Kundrat October 19, 2012 LUXE Modern Wine & Cocktails in Westport is focusing on mixology education this fall and winter just in time to get your bar fully stocked and your skills sharpened for the holiday entertaining to come. Cocktail Classes will be held on 10/29, 11/19, 12/17, and focus on the following subjects: Setting up a home bar, basic bar tools, basic cocktails with mixers; basic cocktails Spirits, punch and cocktails for a crowd, how to create your own signature cocktail, and prepping your home bar for a cocktail party. To RSVP, leave a message for LUXE @ 203 349 5039 or message on facebook. Read More
SoNo Restaurant Week Starts October 21st Restaurant Norwalk Restaurant Week SONO Stephanie Webster October 17, 2012
Napa & Co. CTbites Invites Recap...The Importance of Pairing Restaurant CTbites Invites Events Stamford Amy Kundrat October 17, 2012 Owner Mary Schaeffer, with new chef Leonardo Marino, guided thirty lucky diners on an evening of off-the-menu dishes and signature wine pairings for CTbites Invites latest event at Napa & Co. on September 27. An exceptional five-course seasonal pairings menu served to showcase the breadth of the restaurant's food and wine program, the new talent in the kitchen, and some of fall’s best seasonal flavors such as fig, squash and chestnut. Guests even got to take home a bottle of Toast, a sparkling white wine Napa & Co. commissioned for the restaurant. Read More
Bonne Nuit Chef to Join Basaran at Picador Restaurant Chef Talk News New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 16, 2012 Anxious food lovers of New Canaan concerned about the activity occurring behind the covered windows of 15 Elm Street, (the building that formerly housed Harvest Supper), can rest easy. CTbites is pleased to announce that Alan Basaran, owner of New Canaan’s Carpe Diem, is the restaurateur behind the changes. Next month Basaran will open Picador, a Spanish themed restaurant offering both Tapas and entrée sized dishes. Overseeing the kitchen will be a long time New Canaan favorite, Chef Kender Urena, from Bistro Bonne Nuit. Read More
The Whelk: Bill Taibe's Inspired Seafood in Westport Restaurant American Bill Taibe Cocktails Farm to Table Local Farm Seafood Westport Chris Grimm October 14, 2012 The last year has given Westport three high-profile (if completely divergent) openings. Danny Meyer's Shake Shack opened its first venture into Connecticut and shook-up the Westport fast food scene and Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich opened a second Tarry Lodge in Saugatuck, bringing a different twist to traditional Italian restaurants. Finally, Chef Bill Taibe, the James Beard nominee and Owner / Chef of LeFarm opened The Whelk, his second Westport restaurant, on the Saugatuck River, just a short stroll from Tarry Lodge. The Whelk, named after a sea snail similar to a conch, is primarily focused on seafood and addresses an oddly unexploited niche, a high-end seafood restaurant on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. For that reason alone, I was especially interested in The Whelk, and thus began my exploration, with multiple visits to this award winning kitchen. Read More
Invites: 5 Course Latin American Wine Dinner @ Brasitas Restaurant CTbites Invites Norwalk Latin American CTbites Team October 13, 2012 Join BRASITAS owner, Jaime Guerrero and Norwalk manager, Fabio Rojas, for an all inclusive special dinner and wine pairing featuring Latin Fusion cuisine on October 23rd from 7:30-9:30 pm at Brasitas Norwalk. This event is $70. VIEW FULL MENU HERE. Chef Parra will introduce each dish, while Fabio will expertly pair each course with wines from the extensive wine list at Brasitas, featuring wines from all over the world including Argentina, Chile and Spain. MENU: Crema de Calabaza y Coco, a roasted pumpkin-coconut and lemongrass bisque, toppped with toasted pepitas and maple syrup. Followed by Ensalada con Higos Rellenos; Garrotxa cheese stuffed Black Mission Figs wrapped in Jamon Serrano. Lechon con Pozole; Slow roasted suckling pig, red chile Pozole, Avocado, Crunchy Cabbage and Tortilla "Polenta." Read More
Martel Restaurant & Stew's Wines Team Up for Champagne Dinner Restaurant Wine Dinners CTbites Team October 11, 2012 Who doesn't love a good wine dinner? And don't bubbles make it just a little bit better? Stew’s Wines in Norwalk is hosting a Duval-LeRoy Wine Champagne dinner on Thurs, Oct 25 with Martel Restaurant in Fairfield (www.martelrestaurant.com). This four course menu features a tasty menu paired with the perfect Duval-LeRoy champagne. The event starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $85/pp. To purchase tickets, readers can call restaurant manager Marty Levine at 203-292-6916 and he’ll take a reservation for the event. Read More
First Ever Fairfield Restaurant Week Oct 14-20 Restaurant Fairfield Restaurant Week CTbites Team October 10, 2012 On October 14th-20th, Fairfield will launch its first ever town organized Fairfield Restaurant Week. The Fairfield restaurant community is coming together to create during the week of October 14 with a new twist on restaurant week – not only do they have fantastic restaurants with excellent specials for this week, but local venues are also participating with activities and things to do all in Fairfield. Over thirty restaurants from around Fairfield CT will participate in this week-long special event that will feature prix fixe lunch and dinner menu prices. Restaurants will feature $10 and $15 lunches and $20 and $30 dinners or other discounts on their already existing menus. Passport Promotion: As a special promotion, the Town has created a passport book that will be available at participating restaurants during Restaurant Week while supplies last. Read More
Octoberfest On The Meadow & Harvest Fest @ Stamford Museum Kids Bites Restaurant Beer Kid Friendly CTbites Team October 09, 2012 A fall family tradition returns to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 with the 35th Annual Harvest Festival Weekend. This year, the weekend will be kicked off with a new event for adults-only – Octoberfest On The Meadow at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 19 @ 6:30 PM with proceeds supporting the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. The evening will feature seasonal Oktoberfest brews, as well as Octoberfest favorites including kielbasa with sauerkraut and cherry beer roasted pork shoulder. Guests will be entertained by live music from The Bavarian Boys. The weekend will continue with the Harvest Festival Weekend, an annual family event celebrating the fall season, from 11 am to 3 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Read More
Re-visiting Brasitas Latin American Cuisine in Norwalk Restaurant Columbian Norwalk Stamford Latin American ellen bowen October 07, 2012 Just as the crisp Fall air reminds us that winter is around the corner, Brasitas in Norwalk (and the original location in Stamford) transports us to the warm Caribbean or to sunny South America. Colorful in tropical hues of marine blue, coral and yellow, the decor of Brasitas feels very much like a Caribbean beach front café…as authentic native art from Colombia, hand picked by owner Jaime Guerrero and his wife, Nubia, adorn the walls, and brightly colored embroidered pillows line the banquettes. Two to three times a year the husband and wife travel to their native Colombia in search of new recipes and native art. The Norwalk location, opened in 2008, is managed by Jaime’s nephew, Fabio Rojas, and has a loyal following among lovers of authentically prepared and beautifully presented Pan-Latin cuisine. Read More
Bar Sugo Opening Brings Killer Pizza to Norwalk...Again! Restaurant Italian Norwalk Pizza Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 03, 2012 For those who have longed for one of Chef Pat Pascarella memorable pizzas at Cortina Pizzeria in Norwalk, the wait is almost over. This weekend, Pascarella's newest venture, Bar Sugo opens at 104 Wall Street in Norwalk with more combinations of one of the best pizzas in CT. Over the last two months, Pascarella and his partners have been busy redesigning the new location to give that little bit of Italy feel. The floors were converted to a traditional red and white checkerboard, the beautiful new bar was installed and the kitchen is now ready for the guests to enjoy both pizzas and many other delicious Italian options. Since pizza was the cornerstone of Cortina, Bar Sugo will serve numerous pizza combinations, from a simple Burrata or a Margherita to the wonderful flavor combinations of the 2012 CTbites winning braised short rib topped with several roasted eggs. But the pizza is just the beginning of the cuisine. Read More
The Spread to Open in S. Norwalk w/ Local Celeb Bartenders & Arik Bensimon Restaurant Chef Talk Cocktails Norwalk SONO Stephanie Webster October 02, 2012 “The SoNo scene has lost a bit of luster and we'd like to help bring some flavor back downtown,” says Chris Hickey, Co-Owner of The Spread opening October 2012. Mr. Hickey, and his partners, Christopher Rasile, Andrey Cortes, and Shawn Longyear may be just the men for the job. With strong backgrounds in hospitality and almost legendary careers managing Bar at Barcelona’s SoNo and Greenwich locations, these four partners are poised to create some dining buzz in Michael Young's former Habana location. But, despite boasting one of the largest bars in Fairfield County, The Spread is not just about creative cocktails. Enter the talented Chef Arik Bensimon, most recently the Executive Chef at Napa & Co., and now you’ve got yourself some serious culinary street cred to compliment the talent behind the bar. Read More
South End: A Modern Tavern Opens in New Canaan Restaurant American New Canaan Beer Comfort Food Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger September 30, 2012 In early July CTbites previewed the opening of South End, the newest addition to the New Canaan restaurant scene. Nearly two months of frenzied activity has confirmed the local appreciation that the creative cuisine of Chef Nicholas Martschenko is alive on Pine Street. Overseeing the front of the house is Keith Siskind, his business partner, and the duo redesigned the interior at South End to create a relaxing atmosphere by intertwining rustic charm with modern comfort. The tables are carefully arranged to allow for pleasant conversation and the overall noise level creates a vibrant buzz without overwhelming intrusion. With upwards of 85 seats, 30 of which are contained around the energetic bar area, South End offers pleasant ambience to enjoy the wonderful cuisine that emerges from the kitchen. The duo’s ambition to create the “Modern Tavern” is a rousing success. Siskind developed an excellent relationship with two local breweries, New Canaan’s Charter Oak and Stamford’s Half Full (Bright Ale) and both are prominently displayed on the taps overlooking the bar. Read More
Sunday Talks & Tastings @ Yale Peabody Museum Restaurant Education New Haven Amy Kundrat September 27, 2012 The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History will host Talks and Tastings, three events in conjunction with the current exhibition Big Food: Health, Culture and the Evolution of Eating. These events, part presentation and part tasting, will be held on Sundays, September 30, October 28 and December 2. September 30: Spice of Life: Boosting Flavor Profiles and Healthy Eating October 28: Oncology Nutrition December 2: Nutrition for Young Children Admission to the Museum is free, but advance registration for these events is required. The Peabody Museum is located at 170 Whitney Avenue in New Haven, CT. Read More
Rhubarb Kitchen: Cooking School, British Style, in Darien Features Restaurant Cooking Classes Darien Education Dessert Melissa Roberts September 26, 2012 As if on cue, the day I attended class at the Rhubarb Kitchen, a cooking school with an emphasis on all things British, the sun disappeared and the weather turned appropriately overcast and drizzly. A perfect backdrop for learning about the delights of the very English ritual of Afternoon Tea. But first, a little about the women who run this show. Rebecca Binks (aka “Becs”) grew up in Kent and learned the highlights of English food from her grandmother, mom, and eight aunts. A former banker and world traveler who has lived in France and Spain, Becs landed in New York City where she met Lisa McMullan. Lisa, an Irishwoman, grew up surrounded by lush farmland and her culinary path is inspired by a true farm to table experience. Lisa practiced as an optometrist, but her love of food always lingered in the background. Read More
WAFU Asian Bistro Opens in Southport Restaurant Asian Chinese Japanese Southport Thai Kid Friendly Sarah Green September 23, 2012 If you Google or Bing the word "Wafu" it translates to "Japanese-style," but when I asked Elaine Chen, the proprietor of the new WAFU Asian Bistro in Southport, her definition was "peace and harmony." The new Wafu, located at 3671 Post Road (formerly Friendly's) seems to be a little bit of both. Chen, from the FUJIAN PROVINCE of China, and her husband (the restaurant's lead sushi chef), have created an ASIAN establishment where Japanese, Chinese and Thai food mesh perfectly in a serene and sophisticated environment. Although it's difficult to telll from the exterior, the decor once inside is New York chic (and perhaps a tiny bit over the top with Swarski Chandeliers and neon-blue lighting). Menus are presented on ipads and you sit comfortably at your glossy tables on your white-leathered booth. Sure, it's a bit shi shi, but shi shi works at WAFU. The food is good for a "multi-culture" menu, the decor is funky and, though it looks fancy, it turns out to be a very kid-friendly establishment. Read More
Ridgefield Chef Swap: Bernard Boisseau & Jeff Taibe Restaurant Ridgefield Wine Dinners Amy Kundrat September 22, 2012 Chefs Bernard Bouissou of Bernard's Restaurant, and Chef Jeff Taibe of Southwest Café will join forces in the kitchen for two, five-course wine dinners in October. Southwest Café owner Barbara Nevins and Bernard's/Sarah's Wine Bar co-owner Sarah Boisseau will host these festive evenings. The classically trained French chef Bernard Boisseau will be embracing hatch chilies, cooking alongside Southwest Café's chef Jeff Taibe for Southwest's annual chile-centric Harvest Wine Dinner on Tuesday, October 2, 2012. Two weeks later on Sunday, October 21, Chef Jeff Taibe will be cooking in the kitchen at Bernard's, teaming up with Bernard for a dinner upstairs at Sarah's Wine Bar, for a contemporary French evening with a twist! Both evenings are $65 per person for 5 courses with 5 wine pairings (tax and gratuity is additional). Read More
Estia Restaurant Brings Greek Cuisine to SoNo Restaurant Greek Norwalk SONO Lunch Nancy Kleeger September 16, 2012 Gavrielides Restaurant Group, the family behind Harbor Lights, Eastside Café, and Overtons, all located in Norwalk, have added yet another egg to their already full basket of food establishments. Recently opened “Estia”, which shows off the Gavrielides family’s Greek roots, is a welcome addition to SONO’s Washington Street. It’s official: This tiny block now proudly boasts a veritable potpourri of cuisine, and with Greek cuisine now on offer, it is fast becoming a diners paradise. Let’s hope Estia, along with its’ neighboring partners in crime can live up to the increasing demand for quality, sophisticated food, so SONO can continue to thrive. Read More
Bartaco Restaurant Offers Gluten Free Menu Restaurant Gluten-Free Port Chester Special Dietary Needs Stamford Mexican Lunch Kid Friendly Maizy Boosin September 14, 2012 Good news for people with Celiacs Disease or those going gluten free. Turns out...bartaco Restaurant is almost completely gluten free! We sent our roving reporter, 9 year old Maizy Boosin, who suffers from Celiac, to test out the menu. See what she found out below... When bartaco opened its first location in Pt. Chester, NY last year, the goal was to serve simple, tasty food in a stylish yet relaxed environment. After having expanded to locations in Stamford, CT and West Hartford, CT, bartaco continues to fulfill its original goal with a considerable bonus: the vast majority of its menu happens to be gluten free. Read More
