Osianna Taverna: A Lunch Oasis with Great Value Restaurant Fairfield Italian Mediterranean Seafood Lunch Deanna Foster February 07, 2010 Going out for lunch carries specific expectations. If you’ve gone beyond the decision to just get a bite to eat, other desires come into play: In addition to good food, you want a certain atmosphere, efficient service, and ideally, a reasonable price. A recent mid-day visit to Osianna Mediterranean Taverna in Fairfield satisfied all our requirements for a delightfully laid back lunch with excellent food that nourished, but didn’t stuff us, and proved to be an exceptional value. An energetic buzz greeted us when we entered the restaurant Read More
Valentine's Day Dinners: Where to Eat Out Restaurant Holiday Stephanie Webster February 03, 2010 Ok...I'll admit it. I'm not really all that romantic. I'm a practical girl. That being said, I relish any excuse for a good meal out, and I'm always happy to assist my nearest and dearest in making their Valentine's Day plans memorable. Given the deluge of texts and calls I have received recently asking for advice on where to take wives, husbands, or girlfriends, it seemed prudent to do a little research. Here are some of our favorite restaurants offering "special" Valentines Day dinners on February 14th. A few places like leFarm and Harvest Supper, which are normally closed Sundays, will open their doors. Napa & Co and Nicholas Roberts have prix fixe menus, while others have half price bottles of wine. We are still waiting for details from a few chefs who haven't nailed down their menus. Take a look at the list below and see what works for your budget and your palate. Happy Valentine's Day...Enjoy the food...and other things. Read More
The Great Stamford Taco Crawl Restaurant Stamford Mexican Lunch Amy Kundrat February 02, 2010 I have yet to meet a taco I don't like. Or so I thought when I began hosting a series of Taco Crawls in Connecticut last fall with some adventurous foodie friends. Inspired by Jonathan Gold, considered the high-low priest of the Los Angeles food scene, and my favorite San Francisco neighborhood, the Mission District, I have become determined (read: obsessed) to discover the best taco in Connecticut. Fairfield County is no Mission District, but I contend that there are some amazing pockets of authentic food in southeastern Connecticut if you know where to look. One shining example is the El Charrito taco truck in Stamford. Their devotion to the taco and other traditional Mexican dishes in their quality ingredients contribute to what I consider to be a near perfect taco. A few things I've learned along the way is that the word ‘authentic’ or 'traditional' is tossed around entirely too often and can be deceiving. The only "real" Mexican taco you are going to experience is probably South of the border or in the kitchens of Mexican grandmothers. That being said, every restaurant expresses, interprets and defines their cuisine differently, and (with the exception of Taco Bell) I respect their efforts. With the El Charrito taco truck in our sights, we decided to begin our culinary journey in Stamford, Four taco joints would be no problem on a recent Sunday for four seasoned Taco Crawlers. Our destinations: 1. El Charrito, Richmond Hill (across from Beemers) Stamford, CT 2. Casa Villa 182 W Main St. 3. Tacos Guadalajara 217 Atlantic Street. 4. Ole Mole 1030 High Ridge Road. Read More
Bustling French Bistro & Seafood Fare @ 1020 Post Restaurant Darien French Seafood Breakfast Lunch CTbites Team January 31, 2010 Don't let the lace curtains and stately brick entrance fool you. Behind the doors of this new French Bistro, named for its location on the Post Road in Darien, is an airy room with coffered ceilings and a sleek zinc bar that buzzes--loudly at times--with the chatter of locals every night of the week. Located within walking distance of the Darien train station, 1020 Post, which opened its doors a little more than a year ago, pulls people in like a magnet for dinner and drinks after work and lunch during the week. On a chilly Tuesday night, I arrived with four friends to find packed tables and a bustling bar, which was lined with large glasses of Malbec and Pinot Noir. Nearby, people dined on bar stools at one of two tall community tables, where small groups can enjoy a quick bite without a reservation Read More
CTbites Votes: Best Italian in Fairfield County Restaurant CTbites Votes Italian Stephanie Webster January 26, 2010
Cult Pizza Following @ Colony Grill in Stamford Restaurant Pizza Stamford Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 24, 2010 What is the attraction of Colony Grill in Stamford? What creates almost a cult-like fascination, while simultaneously evoking harsh criticism? Why do regulars protect their turf so dearly? And most importantly, what is a Hot Oil pie? Colony has a pizza reputation that extends for decades. The walls are adorned with numerous Military and team photos from the 50’s and 60’s plus other local heroes. Twelve stools, six booths, four TVs and two video games occupy the room with a long and always occupied bar, while the second room contains ten booths and twelve additional seats around tables. The kitchen is in the back where you can see a stack of oven-ready pies, each awaiting the requested toppings. The bar offers four beers on tap plus other varieties in bottles housed in the refrigerator behind the bar. Colony ONLY serves pizza. Upwards of 1,000 in-house and take-away pies are created on a normal Saturday or Sunday Read More
Wine Chat: Wine Dinners Worth Checking Out Restaurant Wine Chat Stephanie Webster January 21, 2010 Calling all lovers of wine and food (isn't that all of us?)...We have gotten wind of a few wine dinners that are worth checking out in the next few weeks. Cafe Lola in Fairfield, Da Pietro's in Westport, and Coromandel in Norwalk are all offering food and wine events that look promising. At Cafe Lola, Bons Vivants can sample the 2007 vintage of Jean Luc Colombo's wines. Da Pietro's Chef Scotti has partnered with Castle Wine & Spirits to create the beautiful French-Northern Italian menu below. And last but not least, Coromandel will be hosting Joanne Davis from World Wide Wines as their special guest/ wine expert for their monthly wine dinner. You can review some of the menus below. Make reservations ahead of time as these events do sell out. If you do make it to any of these three dinners, let us know how you liked them. Read More
Five Guys on Five Guys Restaurant Westport Norwalk Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Multiple Eaters January 19, 2010 As part of our mission, CTbites only reviews restaurants that we feel are crave-worthy, but every now and then the rules get a little fuzzy. Earlier this week, Five Guys Burgers and Fries FINALLY opened in Westport, and it did so with a bevy of anticipation and buzz. In honor of this eagerly awaited launch, we decided to put five of our top meat eaters on the case. Here you have it...The ups and downs of Five guys on Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Guy #1: One of Five on Five Guys by Chris Nashawaty, Senior Writer, Entertainment Weekly First thing’s first: Five Guys is going to need more parking. When I dropped by to quiet my cheeseburger sweet tooth last weekend, not only was the line of drooling meat-eaters out the door, cars were literally backed up, snaking out onto the Post Road causing traffic. I think we can all agree that Fairfield County is a great place to live. But as a burger mecca, it’s always been a bit lacking--especially along the row of interchangeable strip malls on Route 1 in Westport where the new Five Guys sits like a beacon of beef. Read More
Health in a Hurry: Fast Food That's Good for You Features Restaurant Fairfield Organic Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian healthy Farm Fresh Liz Rueven January 15, 2010 Entering Health in Hurry in Fairfield is like entering a close friend's kitchen after she has prepared fragrant dishes for you all day. Owner, Sue Cadwell, greets customers while literally standing in the kitchen of her 275 Sq. foot storefront tucked away off the Post Road. There is nothing but a short counter to separate you from the simmering pots and a couple of dedicated cooks chopping and packing healthful, mightily flavored dishes to go. Sue's philosophy is simple. She provides a welcome alternative to fast-food for busy people using organic, whole foods, seasonal produce and ethnic flavors from around the world. What she does in this tiny kitchen is remarkable, and even while working she is always ready to pause and greet her customers with a welcoming smile and a hug. She will ask if it is your first time there and gladly explain as much or as little as you would like to hear about each dish and its ingredients. Food allergies? Food sensitivities? No problem. Sue caters to all dietary needs and to her loyal following. This may be a small, intimate operation, but Heath in a Hurry has a big heart and big intentions. Read More
Tabouli Grill: Stamford's New Mediterranean Contender Restaurant Delivery Service Mediterranean Middle Eastern Stamford Lunch Marcy Shinbaum January 10, 2010 Until a few months ago, Stamford was a two falafel town, Myrna’s Authentic and Layla’s Falafel. That’s why I was thrilled this fall when I began to hear rumblings of a new contender for the Stamford, Connecticut Middle Eastern heavyweight title. Tabouli Grill had entered the ring -- with gloves on. “Oh, you’ve got to try it,” cooed one of my Stamford girls. “It’s so fresh,” declared another, “I’m there once a week” and the holy grail of suburban dining, they deliver too! Read More
All in the Family Bargain @ Tutti’s Ristorante Restaurant Italian Westport Kid Friendly Christy Colasurdo January 07, 2010 Since I’ve lived up in Connecticut, I’ve been less than impressed with many of the area’s “finest” Italian restaurants. I just can’t wrap my head around a precious $25 dish of angel hair pasta studded with a few shrimps or lobster morsels—a portion that wouldn’t satisfy a seven-year-old Growing up, my family frequented some of the best Italian restaurants in New York and Long Island. We knew most of the proprietors by name—and they knew ours. I’m not talking about the pretentious, upscale Italian eateries pandering to the facelift and Fendi crowd, but the tiny, authentic holes-in-the-wall catering to folks who know great Italian food doesn’t mean a hose down. Give me a real family-run Italian joint any day—a laid-back trattoria presided over by the owners, where the entrees, pastas and sauces are homemade, plentiful and most likely prepared and served with a smile by a bonafide member of the family tree. That’s just what you’ll find at Tutti’s Ristorante. Read More
Exclusive CTbites Lunch Event @ Wild Rice Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Fairfield Japanese Lunch Stephanie Webster January 04, 2010
Behind the Scenes @ The SoNo Baking Company Ingredients Restaurant Bakery Catering Education Norwalk Breakfast Dessert Deanna Foster January 03, 2010 It is still really dark at 4:30 AM , but the pre-dawn hours hold transformative powers. Darkness will turn to light and the promise of a new day will be realized. Sometimes, both happen sooner than you expect. When we arrive at the SoNo Baking Company for a behind-the-scenes tour, it's shortly before 5:00 a.m., but the aroma of warm yeasty bread has transformed two half-asleep writers into bakers in training. Owner, John Barricelli, welcomes us in through the still dark café, chairs resting upside down on tables; display cases standing empty. Our eyes have to adjust as we walk through the sleepy cafe into the brightly lit kitchen. Suddenly awake, we are immediately caught up in the rhythm of the bakers at work. Read More
S & S Dugout: The Delicious Dive That Could... Restaurant Delicious Dives Southport Breakfast Lunch Sarah Green December 27, 2009 In every town, often where you least expect it, lives the pulsating heart that gives that town its spirit. Amid the hustle and bustle of rural mayhem, tucked quietly on the corner of Post Road and Center Street (3449 Post Rd), lives the S & S Dugout, the little greasy spoon that "can." While other big and bossy diners of Fairfield County toot their whistles and snub their noses at those of us longing for charm and wicked Roast Beef sandwiches, (and not necessarily in that order!) S & S gives us that tiny extra push over the proverbial suburban mountain. S & S Dugout of Southport delivers with tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare that oozes with taste, not pretension. Read More
CLOSED Traditional & Modern Spanish Mix @ Meigas in Norwalk Restaurant Catering Norwalk Spanish Lunch Jennifer Spaide December 20, 2009 Parrilada del Mar - Grilled lobster, scallops, shrimp, mussels, fish, baby squid; sate fennel, lime juice and extra virgin olive oil Photograph by Judith PszenicaI am a sucker for drinks with a kick so when I heard that Meigas, an authentic Spanish restaurant in East Norwalk, was serving up jalapeno martinis alongside their tapas, it jumped to the top of my “Gotta Get To” list. For those unfamiliar with Meigas, it is has been around since the 80's (also under the name Meson Galacia). Some may recall (either with fondness or not) the elaborate Nuevo foam and emulsions that graced their plates in recent years. However, the menu shifted in late 2008, when Carlos Hernandez took over the helm bringing with him a return to more traditional Spanish tapas with a modern flair. Eager to get my hands on this jalepeno martini and to get to the bottom of Meigas' uneven reviews, my friend and I headed over for lunch last Saturday. Read More
The Dinners at the Farm 2010 Schedule is Up!! Restaurant Education Local Farm Farm Fresh Stephanie Webster December 15, 2009
Sensational Sweets @ Sweet On You Cafe & Bakery Ingredients Restaurant Catering Stamford Lunch Dessert Deanna Foster December 12, 2009 I love the challenge of baking: trying to get a light flake in a pie crust or the perfect crumb to a cake or the right texture for a chosen cookie. But mostly I love baking because when successful, it can bring such delight to those doing the eating, usually my friends, whom I enjoy making happy. So, it is rare for me to purchase baked goods as I feel I lose out repeatedly: once in the making, once again in feeling the love, and too often in taste, with overly sweet, overly greasy or overly heavy confections. However, baking requires time, and when you don’t have it you need a quality go-to bakery that will not disappoint. Happily, I discovered my go-to place last week: Sweet On You Bakery in Stamford makes heavenly confections that are beautiful and delicious, and frankly, better than I can make at home. Even if you don't live in Stamford this bakery is worth the trip. Read More
Alpine Getaway @ Little Pub in Ridgefield Restaurant Ridgefield Comfort Food Lunch Christy Colasurdo December 10, 2009 There’s good reason the parking lot at Little Pub is jam-packed before noon—and through the wee hours. When you step inside, you’ll swear you’ve entered a lively Austrian ski chalet, complete with distressed wooden ceilings, stucco walls, wrought iron chandeliers and a blazing stone fireplace. Whether you cozy up to the hopping bar or take a seat next to the fire (if you’re lucky enough to snag one), this relative newcomer feels like it’s been here for ages. In actuality, Little Pub, which sits on busy Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield, was home to an antiques shop until four months ago, when Daneen Grabe, of Fairfield, worked her magic on the space, transforming it into one of the area’s most popular hangouts, drawing fans from across the state, and a large contingent of Europeans who find it feels like home. Read More
