CTbites' Guide to Happy Hours in Stamford CT Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Wine Bar Beer Bar Eliza Schlesinger December 02, 2014 The work day comes to a close and all I can think is “Holy hell I need a bottle of wine …maybe two… maybe three… who’s coming with me?” But where do I go? What places offer specials? What vibe am I feeling? I instantly start googling “Happy Hour Downtown Stamford” but nothing pops up and suddenly I am in a panic, yes a panic. We’ve all been there many times…so I have compiled the ultimate list to help fellow happy hour enthusiasts. Personal favorites for each day are: Monday - Cotto, with half-priced bottles of wine and delicious tapas it’s the perfect way to ease into a hectic week; Tuesday - Lola’s Mexican Restaurant, Taco Tuesday & Margaritas…need I say more? Wednesday - Brickhouse Bar & Grill, known to many regulars as “wing night” it’s a low-key, delicious and fun way to finish hump day; Thursday – Barcelona, delicious tapas and great deals on a variety of wines, the young and vibrant scene is always served up; Friday – Hudson Grille, come for the happy hour and stay for the DJ, just be sure to bring your dancing shoes; Read More
Lobster Post: Casual Fresh Seafood in Fairfield Restaurant Catering Fairfield Lobster Seafood Take Out Kid Friendly Sarah Green November 30, 2014 Two words: LOBSTER FRIES. No...Really! If you want to cozy up to some delicious and decadent comfort food, get your claws over to the LOBSTER POST at 222 Post Road in Fairfield. Opened and owned by Jack Jagetic and now run by our man, Scotty and chef Mel, the LOBSTER POST offers fresh, tasty and unpretentious fare that both adults and children will devour. As we walked in the doors of the simple yet charming little jaunt with a beach town vibe, we were treated to a sample of piping hot LOBSTER BISQUE. Seasoned to perfection with a tiny bit of heat at the end of the gulp, this soup was excellent. Not too creamy, and with a touch of sherry wine, the lobster flavor was allowed to blossom. We sat, we ordered, all was right with the world. On the agenda: Read More
Brick + Wood: New Neapolitan Pizzeria & Wine Bar Opens in Fairfield Restaurant Fairfield Italian Pasta Pizza Wine Bar Take Out Christy Colasurdo November 23, 2014 You know how you “just know” when a new restaurant is going to be good? That’s the feeling you get in the first ten minutes at Brick + Wood, a new restaurant and wine bar in Fairfield’s Brick Walk Plaza on the site of the former Ponte Vecchio restaurant. When you make a great find like this, it’s a double-edged sword: You want to share it with friends, but at the same time keep it your secret a little longer. We decided to share. You’re welcome. On a recent lunch visit, as we perused the distressed-wood and worn-brick decor, an amuse bouche appeared out of nowhere—two crispy crostini topped with fluffy homemade ricotta, sautéed broccoli rabe and imported prosciutto—as if to say, “Let’s get this party started.” Read More
Chocopologie Re-Opens in Downtown SoNo with Espresso, Dessert & Lunch Restaurant Coffee Norwalk SONO Lunch Dessert Kaila Finn November 20, 2014 Very shortly, Fritz Knipschildt, owner of Chocopologie, will be swapping his old 12 South Main St. location for an up-to-date Chocopologie at 133 Washington St. The new Chocopologie has maintained some aspects of the old café like the European flair (yes, I’m thinking about the savory buckwheat crepes), the open chocolate-making station, and their trademark exposed brick walls. But don’t be fooled; the light-washed wood flooring, trendy antique furniture, and a simple chalkboard menu point to a decidedly new style. Knipschildt described the new restaurant’s theme as “doing less with more.” Their “less is more” thinking has inspired their chow as well. Knipschildt and Manager Joseph Trepanowski are not fans of the nuevo, hipster movement, and said that “these hipster places put on good faces but it’s a facade,” adding that they want to be cool but have substance. A primary focus of the 133 Washington St. location will be the espresso. Read More
Meet The Whelk's New Chef de Cuisine, Anthony Kostelis Interview Restaurant Chef Chef Talk Westport Stephanie Webster November 19, 2014 How does it feel to be hired as the new Chef de Cuisine for one of Fairfield County’s most successful restaurants? Chef Anthony Kostelis, of The Whelk in Westport, would say it is like a dream come true. In fact, ever since Kostelis started working with Bill Taibe in 2010, he knew he didn't want to be anywhere else. Kostelis’ love of food began at the ripe age of 15 when he started work in a Manchester pizza restaurant. Half Greek, half Italian, and the son of a food purveyor for high end ingredients, Anthony seemed fated to head down a culinary path. By age 20, he was working in New Haven as a server and bartender at Ibiza, when he decided to leave college and pursue his real passion, cooking. Working his way through the CIA, he was mentored by Executive Chef Jeff Caputo of Scoozzi, also in New Haven, who took him under his wing and “set me up for success,” says Anthony. Read More
16 CT Restaurants Open For Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Holiday Thanksgiving Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 18, 2014 Not in touch with your inner Martha Stewart? Or would you rather enjoy a festive night out than serve up a Thanksgiving meal at home? That's perfectly alright- these CT restaurants are open on Thanksgiving and offering specials for the occasion. Whether you want traditional fare or modern twists on the classics, these venues are sure to make the night memorable. Be sure to make your reservations soon- these restaurants are booking up fast. David Burke Prime, Foxwoods Harbour House, Mystic Café on the Green, Danbury Bar Rosso, (Thanksgivng "eve" party on 26th) Stamford Carmen Anthony’s Steakhouse, New Haven Cask Republic, (bar only opens @ 7pm) Stamford Boulevard 18, New Canaan Bernard’s, Ridgefield Mill on the River Restaurant, South Windsor L’escale, Greenwich Elm, New Canaan The Brewhouse, Norwalk Artisan, Southport Rive Bistro, Westport Capital Grille, Hartford & Stamford Red Barn, Westport Read More
6 Stamford Breakfast Sandwiches Ya Gotta Try via Hey Stamford! Restaurant Stamford Breakfast CTbites Team November 16, 2014 Our friends over at Hey Stamford! did some breakfast related research we thought you might enjoy... Breakfast is one of our favorite meals. While my wife, Sandy often makes one hell of a breakfast at home, it’s just simply not that easy to always get a home cooked meal when you’re in a rush to the office during the week…or sleeping in for a lazy weekend (AKA hungover). Stamford Magazine just shared a great list of 12 great spots to grab breakfast in Stamford and we agree with every single one of them. Not only do they include some of the best breakfast spots in town, but in most cases, you’ll get a well rounded meal at any point in the day. Let’s be honest, you could find a tasty breakfast sandwich at almost any deli or dinerin town – it’s really tough to screw up a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. But, when you take those ingredients and kick it up a notch, that is when we’re really going to notice! That’s why, in an effort to provide a good will to you, we scoured the area to help you, the reader, make the right choices. After all, that’s what we do. You’re welcome. With that, here are 6 INCREDIBLE breakfast sandwiches you just can’t ignore in Stamford. Read More
Positano's To Take Over Dressing Room Restaurant Space @ Westport Playhouse Restaurant Westport CTbites Team November 13, 2014 In case you missed this bit of news, Dan Woog, of 06880 Westport news blog, recently reported on the new restaurant going into the old Dressing Room in Westport. Old Mill’s loss is the Westport Country Playhouse’s gain. Positano’s — the much-loved-but-too-seldom-visited restaurant kitty-corner from Elvira’s — is closing at its Old Mill Beach location. “06880″ broke that news 2 months ago. But it’s reopening in February, next to the Westport Country Playhouse. That’s the space was occupied for 8 years by The Dressing Room. The Paul Newman-created restaurant closed last January. Positano’s has been owned and operated by the Scarpati family for more than 15 years. Owner Giuseppe Scarpati was born on the island of Ponza, Italy. He learned to cook from his father, who studied with master chefs in Italy and was one of the island’s leading fisherman. Giuseppe focuses on all-natural cooking. Read the full article on Dan Woog's Blog, 06880.com Read More
Washington Prime in Sono Launches Sunday Prime Brunch Buffet Restaurant Brunch Norwalk SONO Steakhouse Breakfast Jessica Ryan November 12, 2014 Washington Prime opened just a few months ago to rave reviews, and a steady stream of satisfied customers as a result of the visions of owners Robb Moss and Marco Siguenza and the creative innovations of Chef Jared Falco. This past Sunday, at the request of many of their patrons, Washington Prime decided to do something new – the Sunday Prime Brunch Buffet where, for $29.90, you can select from a complimentary Mimosa, Bloody Mary or Moscow mule as you indulge from an incredible buffet. Select from a raw bar, artisanal cheeses, salads, a prime rib and omelet station as well as the traditional fare - a selection of bacon, sausages, French toast, Eggs Benedict, miniature bagels with smoked salmon and the works, assorted pastries and Danishes, yogurt, granola and fresh fruit. Read More
Tipsy Cones Ice Cream Food Truck: Alcohol + Ice Cream = Yum Restaurant Food Truck ice cream Dessert Jessica Ryan November 09, 2014 A new food truck is rolling into Fairfield County and this is some serious scoop! How many times have you come up with a brilliant idea, only to dismiss it or put it on the back burner never to revisit it again? Most of us do this, but not so for Brooke and Jon Albers of Stratford. Like all great ideas, It all started out innocently enough - over coffee one morning, while sitting on the couch, half asleep still, watching the news, half paying attention to a story about stout beer and ice cream. At that moment a bell went off in Brooke’s head – She had a revelation. She wondered, what would happen if you took some ice cream and some booze and put them together? And so she set off to find out. Brooke purchased a small ice cream machine and set it on her kitchen counter. Soon the machine would start cranking away, blending vanilla ice cream and whiskey. The result was Whiskey Bean, an instant success. The favors paired perfectly. And Tipsy Cones was born. Read More
The Granola Bar in Westport Launches Dinner Menu & NEW Kid Friendly Fare Restaurant Coffee Westport healthy Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Nancy Kleeger November 08, 2014 If you love the cozy, familiar space of The Granola Bar for your lattes, lunch or gluten free baked goods, well, you can now love them for another good reason. Dinner—is served! With beloved Chef Jes Bengtson at the helm of The Granola Bar’s kitchen, a full menu of healthy, delicious items, familiar, new and seasonal, are now available to you and your family Wednesdays through Saturdays. Owner Julie Levitt speaks passionately about her mission of bringing a healthier food movement to focus, and the restaurant’s kitchen has no fryers…or even a stovetop! The produce is organic and whenever possible, locally sourced, a nod to Levitt’s commitment to support local farms. The menu aims to capture the tastebuds of every member of your family at a favorable price point, so when you have that pang of guilt for not having the time to cook and put dinner on the table, TGB is the locals’ no brainer. There are some new additions to the menu, such as Candied Turkey Bacon Deviled Eggs, which were divine. Read More
Friday Froth: Recap of Sourcopia w/ Chef Plum & Two Roads Brewing Co. Restaurant CT Beer Beer James Gribbon November 07, 2014 OK, ok: I know I've gone all 2Roads2Furious on you, but I did say these events arrive in pairs. Connecticut Beer Week ended as it began this October, with me sitting at a table and listening to brewmaster Phil Markowski explain his newest beers, this time beside Chef Plum, of Plum Luv Foods and The Taste. The event, Sourcopia, was the pre-release party for Two Roads' new collection of sour beers, a kriek, a gueuze, and the concoction 2R calls "Philsamic" against - it should be noted - the wishes of one Phil. He was pretty, pret-tay clear on that last part. This was a beer dinner, but the portion sizes Chef Plum provided were more akin to a tasting menu. I appreciated this, since I've walked out of some previous pairing events in dire jeopardy of tipping over like a one legged T. Rex. I'm not sure if this was the plan all along, or it was a result of Chef Plum et al. having to work in an ad hoc kitchen on site. Read More
Bailey's Backyard in Ridgefield Hosts "An Evening in the Berkshires" with Berkshire Mountain Distillers and 109 Cheese & Wine Restaurant Dinner Events Amy Kundrat November 06, 2014 Bailey's Backyard in Ridgefield will be hosting, An Evening in the Berkshires, a fall-themed spirits dnner on Thursday, November 13, 2014, with Berkshire Mountain Distillers and 109 Cheese and Wine. Hand-crafted cocktails will be paired with a four course tasting menu alongside guest speaker and distiller Michael Sharry. Bailey's chief mixologist, Bryan Walsh, has compiled an impressive lineup of cocktails paired with Executive Chef Forrest Pasternack's locally-minded menu. Price is $75 per person plus gratuity. Read More
Mozzarella Making Workshop w/ Chef Pietro Scotti @ Wakeman Town Farm Nov. 15 Restaurant Cooking Classes Christy Colasurdo November 06, 2014 Mild and milky, smooth and silky: any way one stretches it, people love fresh mozzarella! And in this hands-on crash course, participants will learn to make it at home. On November 15th, from 10:30 -noon, Chef Pietro will explain coagulation as how milk turns from fluid to firm curds. Then, participants will roll up their sleeves to turn curds into the beautiful balls that are known as fresh mozzarella. Taste several samples of fresh cheeses (think mozzarella, burrata!). Local Chef Pietro Scotti, of DaPietro's in Westport will teach the ins and outs tof making fresh mozzarella and burrata in this Saturday Cheese-Making Workshop at Wakeman Town Farm. To register, simply email wakemantownfarm@gmail.com and provide the name and number of people in your party. Class is $45 per person, and limited to 12. Respondents will be notified of acceptance into the workshop and will pay at the door. Read More
CT Beer Week Recap, Part 1: Two Roads Brewing & Cask Republic Talk Beer & Eat Good Food Restaurant Beer Dinner CT Beer Stamford Beer James Gribbon November 05, 2014 Sometimes, when it comes to beer, I envy starfish. Nature can tear the humble sea star in half and it just returns with backup, like a teeny Lernaean Hydra. The creature that is "Connecticut Beer Week" underwent a similar duplication for 2014 - with one week in May and another in October - and, after trying to be everywhere at once, I failed, regenerated, and present the first in this three part recap. Starfish likewise have the remarkable ability to turn inside out to eat. I like to think this would give them infinite eating capacity, which would be handy at your average multi-course beer pairing dinner. Fittingly, beer pairing events with Two Roads appear to be binate: the first of which was held at The Cask Republic in Stamford to kick off Connecticut Beer Week: The Revenge, this October.The hosts for the night were Two Roads Brewmaster Phil Markowski, who was debuting his Unothrodox Russian Imperial Stout, and Executive Chef Carl Carrion, whom I've mentioned before. Read More
Chef Michael White Opening Campagna at Bedford Post Inn Restaurant Bedford Celebrity Chef Hotel Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 05, 2014 News from Campagna Restaurant at the Bedford Post Inn...it is partnering with the Altamarea Group and Michelin-starred Chef Michael White. Joining Chef White at Campagna are Executive Chef PJ Calapa, the former chef of Ai Fiori and Costata and Chef di Cuisine Devin Bozkaya, whose experience includes the outstanding Inn at Little Washington in Virginia. The upscale sister to The Barn, the menu will focus on Chef White’s world renowned Italian cuisine with a few American twists to adhere to the surroundings of the 19th Century Bedford Post Inn. The menu features incredible options including pork shoulder ravioli with cacio e pepe; risotto with Barolo, short rib, and bone marrow; pan seared halibut with sunchokes, caponata, artichokes and salsa verde and a filet of beef with bone marrow crust, pomme puree and porcini sugo. Campagna at the Bedford Post Inn 954 Old Post Road, Bedford, NY 914-234-6386 Read More
Tikkaway Grill Opens Second Location in New Haven Restaurant New Haven Indian Amy Kundrat November 04, 2014 Tikkaway has opened a second location at 2 Howe Street in New Haven, in addition to their original location at 135 Orange Street, serving the same fast casual and healthy Indian menu. This article was originally posted on September 1, 2013. Enjoy! There is a movement underway in New Haven that may change the way Americans view Indian food. Often the domain of full-service restaurants, Indian cuisine has yet to enter the category of ‘fast casual.’ This scarcity is what some would call an opportunity. Tikkaway Grill is the brainchild of businessman Gopinath (Gopi) Nair, a chef with the rare combination of a culinary degree and an MBA. Gopi may be a familiar face to Indian food lovers in Fairfield County as a former managing partner of Coromandel, spending much of his time in its South Norwalk location. His passion for Indian cuisine, combined with an unfailing dedication to customer service, has inspired Tikkaway’s central tenants--a fresh, healthy, and informal take on Indian food. A pared down menu, casual setting and approachable price point, seeks to demystify while at the same time celebrating, the south asian spice-loving cuisine for the masses. Read More
Green & Tonic Expands Their Plant Based Dine On-The-Go Empire Restaurant Going Green Juice Cleanse healthy Vegan CTbites Team November 03, 2014 Owners Jeffrey and Cai Pandolfino have taken Green & Tonic from a delivery service to a plant-based dine on-the-go favorite with three Fairfield County locations and now a fourth location in downtown New Canaan location at 5 Burtis Avenue. Green & Tonic will offer their unique brand of organic cold-pressed juices, nutritional cleanse programs, meal plans, superfood smoothies, as well as a full menu of prepared foods including salads, side salads, wraps and soups all made fresh daily. The New Canaan store will also debut the new expanded breakfast menu, healthy kid-friendly snacks and a new store design. Green & Tonic hopes to engage the community in discussions about health & wellness "healthy happy hours", bringing in health professionals to address topics like nutrition strategies, natural remedies, sports nutrition, children’s health, and integrative health therapies. Read More
The Goose in Darien Delivers a Pretty Tasty Bar Burger Restaurant Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 02, 2014 I am constantly asked when the subject turns to burgers... “Have you tried The Goose…have you tried The Goose…have you tried The Goose?” With all of that positive energy guiding me to downtown Darien and a plaque commemorating The Goose’s “2014 Best of...” greeting me as I approached the front door...my hopes were pretty high that The Goose's burger would knock my socks off. I decided to grab one of the high top tables in the bar. The bar area had a fantastic vibe with its high top tables in front of a long wood bar that dominated the entire length of the room, behind the bar a full wall displaying a wide array of liquors, and TV’s airing ESPN, Sports World, Baseball World, all things wood and sports, a great pub feel. The menu included two beef burgers; the basic BLACK ANGUS BURGER, where you can build your own combination, and THE GOOSE BURGER, which included bacon, blue cheese, crispy onions and horseradish cream (definitely a pub-creation). Read More
Tarry Lodge New Haven Opens this Weekend Restaurant New Haven Take Out Pizza CTbites Team October 31, 2014 Tarry Lodge opens their newest outpost in New Haven this weekend and will be participating in New Haven's restaurant week beginning on Sunday. Tarry Lodge New Haven is located at 278 Park Street in New Haven. The Yale Daily News reported its opening today, noting its smaller footprint and more student-friendly focus: Read More
