Learn While You Lunch @ Sport Hill Farm: Season 2 Ingredients Restaurant Events Local Farm Organic Recipe Farm Fresh Lunch Stephanie Webster April 10, 2010
Red Bean Sushi: New Contender in Westport Restaurant Deanna Foster April 07, 2010 If you love sushi, you already have your favorite place to go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try something new to see if the wasabi is hotter on the other side of the fence. Red Bean Sushi is a very small and unassuming new sushi restaurant on the Post Road in Westport. It doesn’t look like much from the outside and it can be easily missed as its small storefront is surrounded by larger retail spaces – notably Stop and Shop across the street. But, this little place is worth a trip to expand your sushi options. Red Bean is the latest culinary venture for chef and owner Eric Xie. He also owns Village Gourmet, (arguably the best Chinese in the area). I honestly didn’t expect much on my first visit but after 5 trips, this is the place I want to go when I crave sushi. Read More
Bereket Turkish Restaurant: Istanbul in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Delicious Dives Turkish Vegetarian Stephanie Webster April 04, 2010 It's been 24 hours since I left Bereket, a tiny hole in the wall Turkish restaurant located behind a Citgo station on Bridgeport's Main Street. As I write this I wonder, is it too soon to go back? Bereket has been dubbed by people in the know as Fairfield County's best kept secret, and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Mind you, this place is not fussy. Hidden beside of the gas station's mini mart, Bereket's small dining space has only 3 tables and boxes of Turkish beverages and pantry staples lining the walls. But what this single room Turkish delight lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in the quality, freshness, and flavor of the food. Owner Selahattin Cinar has been in business for 6 years, and chats with customers while holding court in the kitchen preparing a steady stream of take-out orders. He greeted us warmly as we walked in, and we were relieved to find that he spoke enough English to answer questions and help us navigate their extensive menu. When we asked what was good, we were led to a display case filled with cold mezes (appetizers) and kebabs awaiting the heat, and simply told, it's all good. And it was. Read More
CLOSED A Taste Of Charleston: Southern Cuisine In Norwalk Restaurant Norwalk Southern Comfort Food Kid Friendly Sarah Green March 28, 2010 Frankly my dear, you SHOULD give a damn! OK, so Tara was in Atlanta, and Rhett Butler is no where to be found. But for a flavorful and thoroughly authentic southern meal, harness up the horses and giddy-up to A Taste of Charleston at 195 Liberty Square in Norwalk. This charming and relatively new restaurant located just over SONO’s “Stroffolino” Bridge is serving up some amazing southern cuisine, South Carolina’s finest, complete with fried chicken, collard greens and catfish po-boys. A Taste of Charleston Southern Cuisine is a labor of love, co-owned by Chris and Catherine Reed and their partner Chris La Rose; the Reeds had a dream of re-creating culinary memories of their childhood trips down south, and La Rose was immediately on board. Mr. Reed, “…grew up on my grandmother’s cooking” and the magical smell of Grandma Daisy’s kitchen is just what the team at A Taste of Charleston is attempting to recreate. They are succeeding. Read More
CTbites Lunch Recap: The Dressing Room Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Stephanie Webster March 25, 2010 Our 4th CTbites lunch event at The Dressing Room was a huge success. CTbites readers filled the elegantly rustic dining room of this classic Westport eatery. With this beautiful backdrop, people met up for a quiet lunch or connected with large groups of girlfriends (those parties were considerably more boisterous). The CTbites masthead was well represented with almost everyone in attendance, and there was a nice steady buzz as people settled down to the business of eating. The lunch began on a festive note with specially selected organic wines and a sweet, but not cloying, signature Proseco cocktail. This "Sweetheart" drink featuring Wild Alpine strawberries is the brain child of John Cronin whom you will often see behind the bar, and it has achieved beverage fame. Jon Vaast, the new Executive Chef at DR, created a Spring menu with great local ingredients and refined flavors. Read More
El Charrito Taco Truck in Stamford: Paradise on Wheels Restaurant Food Truck Stamford Tacos Mexican Amy Kundrat March 22, 2010 I have a reputation among my friends and family as being a bit taco obsessed. I do not deny this. So when El Charrito, Stamford's infamous taco truck re-opened for business on March 1st after closing for the long cold Connecticut winter, to say I was looking forward to my first taco of the year is a bit of an understatement. Ecstatic is more like it. I was literally counting down the days. Some look for the first crocus popping through the earth as a sign of spring, but for me it may be the arrival of the El Charrito taco truck. What makes El Charrito such a sought-after foodie destination? It has to be a combination of their traditional and hearty Mexican tacos and the hard-working duo, Carols and Alex who have put it on the Connecticut culinary map. You can count on traditional Mexican style tacos ranging from carnitas, a slow-cooked pork, to Lengua, an even more tender offering of cow tongue. A double tortilla shell envelops each taco topped off with chopped raw onion, fresh cilantro and a few lime wedges. Although they craft some seriously delicious tacos, El Charrito also offers diversity in the form of a daily menu and specials ranging from tamales, moles and huaraches should one ever tire of the taco. Read More
The Filling Station: Grass-Fed Fast Food Burgers For All Restaurant Organic New Canaan Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers Stephanie Webster March 20, 2010 Walking up to The new Filling Station Co. in New Canaan last weekend, you would have thought they were giving away free food. Lines of families snaked through the tight burger joint, all eager to sample the long awaited kid and price-friendly fare. But the huddled masses were not just here for a bargain priced burger. The Filling Station, with it's retro-modern street appeal, has a value proposition that is hard to beat for consumers who care about the food they eat. Everything served at The Filling Station is organic, grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone free. Let me tell you, devouring hamburgers, dogs, and shakes has never felt so right. For some parents (myself included), this is the holy-grail and reason enough to travel for a fun for the whole family meal, but I needed to sample the goods before I was sold. With the prospect of comparing these grass-fed burgers to those of the competition, we entered en masse with a party of 6. Read More
"Outstanding In The Field" Comes to Wilton August 25th Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster March 19, 2010
Bon Appetit Cafe: Wilton’s Petit Star Restaurant Wilton Lunch Christy Colasurdo March 18, 2010 For as long as I can remember, Roget Martin presided over Voila! in Fairfield, a jam-packed French bistro housed in a homey, red shingled building across from the Town Green. Then, one day, Voila! had disappeared and, in it’s place stood the very fine Osianna, an upscale Mediterranean newcomer and a worthy replacement. Still, I wondered what had happened to the affable and ruddy-cheeked Roget, who, as maître d’, had lovingly presided over Voila!, sharing jokes and stories and dispensing large pours of Beaujolais to throngs of happy repeat diners. Imagine my surprise when a friend introduced me to Bon Appétit Café, a charming yet unassuming French café, tucked into the Stop and Shop plaza in the heart of Wilton. Though Roget was nowhere in sight when I entered, his fingerprints were all over the place. Though the décor and vibe were night and day from Voila! to Bon Appetit, the food and service were a dead giveaway. Whereas Voila! was known for its rollicking Saturday night scene and standing-only room crowds, Bon Appetit is first and foremost a casual neighborhood lunch and dinner spot, popular for both dining in and takeout. Ladies who lunch have put it on the map Read More
CT Bites Lunch Event @ The Dressing Room Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Stephanie Webster March 10, 2010 Wednesday, March @24th, come join CTBites and SuzySaid for a special lunch event at The Dressing Room. This 3 course prix fixe menu is only for our readers, and a great value at $18. $6 Specialty cocktails and wine will be offered. If you haven't sampled their new menu, this is the perfect opportunity. Check out the custom menu below. Diners will get FREE goody bags with eatable treats from local vendors as well as special value coupons. Call NOW to reserve your spot and tell them CTbites sent you. (203) 226-1114. Lunch will be served from 11:30-3. Read More
Flavorful Lunch Bargain @ Thai Pearl in Ridgefield Restaurant Asian Ridgefield Thai Lunch Amy Kundrat March 10, 2010 If you're looking to give your brown bag a break or if you just can't face another sandwich, you'd be hard pressed to find a better and more affordable lunch alternative than Thai Pearl in Ridgefield. With a prix fixe lunch menu featuring ten traditional Thai dishes and three courses starting at just $8.95, I'd say it's easily one of the most affordable and most satisfying lunches in town. On a recent snowy afternoon, I began with the shumai as a warm and savory amuse bouche to start the meal. A combination of shrimp, tofu and vegetables fill three wonton wrappers. I presume these are steamed and then pan fried given their chewy exterior and crisp edges, and then finished with a chili and soy sauce. The other lunch appetizer options include soup, salad or spring roll. One course down, two more to go. Read More
Breakfast Solution: Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro Restaurant Brunch Norwalk Breakfast Lunch jodie semel March 08, 2010 Before I met my husband, I gave nary a thought to the most important meal of the day. I’d rather sleep. But since becoming enlightened to the art of eating this meal, weekend breakfasts have become sacrosanct to my family. One of our houses of worship is Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro, located in an indistinct shopping center in Norwalk. The food snob in me has learned that you cannot judge a restaurant by its geography. Such is life in suburbia – some restaurants are in strip malls. They are not all as transporting as this one. Robert Troilo, owner and chef, was schooled at the French Culinary Institute in New York and it shows, both in his inspired cooking and its artful presentation. Equally impressive is that he seems to always be there, greeting customers warmly, cooking in the open kitchen, serving and waiting on tables. Last summer, at a friend’s suggestion, I ventured to the strip mall at 75 Main Street for a Saturday night dinner (read our review). The food was so outstanding, we asked the requisite question of each distinctive restaurant in Fairfield County: “Are you opened for breakfast?” Read More
Behind the Scenes @ Napa & Co: Iron Chef Mushrooms Restaurant Stamford Recipe Farm Fresh Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 28, 2010 Napa & Company in Stamford, one of the elite restaurants in Connecticut, was founded several years ago and immediately created a frenzy of activity along Summer Street. Proprietors, Mary Schaeffer and Charles Morgan, have been fixtures within the high-end Stamford restaurant scene for many years and have raised the culinary bar in Fairfield County. They are known for their menu's dedicated farm-to-table approach with a focus on locally sourced seasonal ingredients, and an outstanding wine list. The kitchen is presided over by the very talented Executive Chef Arik Bensimon, whose youth belies his extensive experience. Raised in a restaurant family, he began cooking at the age of 14. After graduating from the CIA he worked at top NYC dining establishments including Le Cirque and Picholine. Chef Arik's unique ability to stay calm and focused sets the tone for this uncharacteristically non-frenetic commercial kitchen, and allows his efficient and friendly kitchen staff to produce an incredible array of inspired creations. In thinking how to best present the well established Napa & Company to the CTbites community, we asked if we could combine an “Iron Chef” single ingredient concept with a trip behind the scenes to watch Chef Arik in action. Chef Arik was quick to accept our challenge (which included my assisting in the kitchen). And now, Napa & Company meets Iron Chef…MUSHROOMS!!! Read More
CTbites Votes: Best Sushi in Fairfield County Restaurant CTbites Votes Japanese Stephanie Webster February 22, 2010
Pizzeria Lauretano: The Art of Pizza Restaurant Bethel Pizza Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat February 22, 2010 There is pizza, and then there is pizza. Over the last century pizza has emerged as one of Americas' favorite foods if its ubiquity (thousands of pizza parlor chains operate in the U.S.) and increasing reverence (the growth of the artisanal pizza parlor) are any indication. As inexpensive luxuries find their elevated place in our uncertain economic climate, pizza is poised (and deserves) its place as a culinary rock star. This moment is especially sweet for foodies who eschew chain restaurants and irreverent meals in favor of seeking out more authentic and artisanal experiences. The latter can be characterized by a deference to the hand-made, a regard for craft, and an appreciation of traditional methods and tools. So what is the difference between pizza and pizza? Pizza is a fast-food with forgettable crust, flavorless cheese and an emphasis on speed. Pizza on the other hand, is the type of food that can transport you to Naples in a bite, and by the time you've finished your slice you might swear you're on another continent surrounded by your extended Italian family and hundreds of years of tradition. Dedication to craft, tradition and an awareness that something that is being practiced and not merely produced, is pizza. One restaurant that successfully achieves this artisanal approach is Pizza Lauretano in Bethel, CT. Read More
Road Trip: Old Lyme & Chester for Great Food and Fun Road Trip Restaurant Old Lyme Road Trip Shoreline East Elizabeth Keyser February 18, 2010 In these cold cabin-fever days of winter, a road trip to a country inn casts an alluring spell. Dreaming of a cozy dinner in front of a flickering fireplace, we hit the road to check out The Bee & Thistle Inn and Spa in Old Lyme. (100 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT) The Bee & Thistle has been an inn since 1930, but Linnea and David Rufo have breathed new life into the historic building since buying it 4 years ago. Linnea is a multi-talented, energetic and attractive woman with 20 years of experience in the hospitality business as a chef (she worked at Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Mercer Kitchen), innkeeper (The Inn at Stockbridge in Massachusetts) and award-winning events planner (too numerous to list). She’s the Bee & Thistle’s executive chef and hostess, and has created a cozy ambience filled with good food, art and music. Read More
Westport-Weston Restaurant Week Feb. 28-March 6 Restaurant Events Weston Westport Christy Colasurdo February 18, 2010 Twice a year, I schlep into New York for “Restaurant Week” to experience some of the city’s finest eateries for a fraction of regular prices, like my unforgettable, three-course feast at Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, voted a “Top 5 Newcomer by Zagat” at January’s NYC Restaurant Week. When I learned that Restaurant Week is finally making its way up to Westport, home to over 35 eateries, I began lining up my dining partners—and you should, too. The First Annual Westport-Weston Restaurant Week will take place from February 28-March 6, and we at CTbites plan to make the most of it. As of this printing, some 20 Westport restaurants, with a range of cuisines and price points, have signed on. The list represents a cross-section of local venues, both casual and high-end, from the down-and-dirty Black Duck and the down-home Bobby Q’s to the organic dynamo, The Dressing Room, to the perennially popular Tarantino’s and DaPietro’s, to newcomers including Manolo and Rizzuto’s. “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to try out a restaurant that may be out of your budget Read More
Openings: Grass Fed Organic Burgers @The Filling Station Restaurant New Canaan Comfort Food Burgers Stephanie Webster February 16, 2010 It seems these days that burgers and fries are all the rage. Burger joints like Five Guys, BSF, and Flipside have cropped up all around Fairfield County and have been greeted with long lines of hungry comfort food seekers. In this classic American tradition, the retro-modern Filling Station Company is due to enter the scene in the next few weeks. Another burger joint you ask? Not exactly. Sure, the prices are right, and the milkshakes will be flowing, but The Filling Station will be offering our community a $4 burger made with locally raised organic beef, $3 nitrate free dogs, and antibiotic and hormone-free shakes. Their commitment to serving local and organic fare will make many customers smile (I'm smiling right now), and if the food is as good as the tasting I experienced last Spring, New Canaan may have themselves a winner. The menu is simple. Burgers come in veggie (actually falafel) or grass fed beef. Hot dogs can be ordered up in the beef, chicken, or veggie variety, and let's not forget the Sloppy Joes. Read More
CTbites SuzySaid Lunch Event: Cafe Tavolini Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Stephanie Webster February 16, 2010 SuzySaid & CTbites are teaming up again for our monthly lunch event. On February 23rd, we will be meeting up at Cafe Tavolini in Bridgeport for a special $15 prix fixe lunch. CTbites has yet to review this one, so help us find the words by sampling the cuisine and submitting your opinion. We're looking forward to seeing you there. Here's what we're eating: Read More
Colombian Comfort Food @ La Sopresa Restaurant Sarah Green February 14, 2010 [UPDATE: This restaurant is closed] Do you remember that scene from the movie "Ratatouille" when the food critic, Antono Ego, takes his first bite of of the delicious veggie dish? Tears fill his eyes and he is immediately transported back to his care-free, whimsical childhood days. One delectable, comforting, outrageously sublime bite is all it takes to take to bringinnocence back to the jaded. I had that experience yesterday after taking one warm, sensational bite of a PANDEQUESO from the bakery section of La Sorpresa, in Norwalk. This undecorated, bare, and ordinary looking pastry was so surprisingly scrumptious, tears literally streamed down my face. Truly. (And yes, I probably DO need medication, but still…) And this wasn’t the only surprise at La Sorpresa, located at 61 Cedar Street in Norwalk. This Columbian restaurant, owned and run by Ivan Dario Gomez, serves typical cuisine from the region, but the place itself is anything but ordinary. Read More
