Hatch Chile Wine Dinner in Ridgefield Restaurant Events Wine Dinners Amy Kundrat September 07, 2011 Southwest Cafe in Ridgefield will be hosting a Hatch Chile Wine Dinner on Tuesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. This four course dinner will be paired with wines by Monica Brown of 109 Cheese & Wine. Southwest Café is located at 109 Danbury Road in Ridgefield, CT. Dinner is $65 per person, gratuity not included. For reservations, email babsswc@aol.com or call 203.431.3398. Seating is limited. First Course Grilled Polenta, Stewed Hatch, Corn Crema, Queso Fresco Second Course Crisp Pork Belly, Hatch Relish, Hatch Sabayon Third Course Halibut, mussels, chorizo, Hatch aioli, Hatch Broth or Filet Mignon, Hatch Braised Beef Short Rib, Kale Fourth Course Ricotta Cake, Hatch Jam, Hatch Frozen Custom Read More
Food 411: Name the Restaurant that Served This... Restaurant Food 411 Stephanie Webster September 06, 2011
Slice of Saugatuck Festival on Westport's Waterfront Restaurant Events kids activity Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster September 06, 2011 On Saturday September 17, 2011 from noon - 3pm three dozen of Saugatuck's finest restaurants, shops and galleries will be opening their doors and inviting the community to come and sample their offerings. Walk the streets of Saugatuck Center and enjoy sampling some of the area's restaurants, caterers, and liquor stores. Participants include: The Boathouse, CakeSuite, Tarry Lodge, Julian's and Saugatuck Grain & Grape. Plus...Ryan Fibiger of Craft Butchery will be demonstrating how to butcher a pig in front of his shop (opening soon) at 1:00 pm. And it's not just food. Retailers will offer kayak rides, gym work outs, fly fishing lessons, Environmental tips, discount coupons and martial arts demonstrations - all free. Come see what's going on in Westport's Saugatuck area. See below for complete event details: Read More
Bon Appetit Cafe & Creperie Opens in Fairfield Restaurant Jessica Ryan September 04, 2011 I didn’t much pay attention to the new blue awning located next to Billy’s Bakery on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield until I was asked to cover a new restaurant opening. An Easton resident, I spend a good bit of my time there and I have always been disappointed by the lack of quality restaurants in that part of town. Until now. I was running late for my lunch with Stephanie and fellow CTBites contributor Sarah Green, parked on the side street next to Billy’s and ran down the blue awning-covered stairs to the back of the building where Bon Appetit Cafe & Creperie had just recently opened. One has no idea what’s in store until one sits down to read the menu. I was thrilled to learn that the food had been ordered without me. I truly would not have been able to decide on my own! Read More
Station Eats' Korean Burger & Cookie Shake Restaurant New Canaan Kid Friendly Dessert Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger September 04, 2011 That’s correct…the name of Filling Station in New Canaan is transitioning to Station Eats as it expands into other towns in Fairfield County. And as this column mentioned last month, the new flavor concept for this month’s Special Burger and Shake is Southeast Asia with the Station Eats’ Korean Burger. To complement the Korean Burger, this month’s Special Shake is an All-American Loopie Doop Chocolate Chip Cookie Shake. Read More
Taking Sides in the Stamford Pizza War Restaurant Pizza Stamford Take Out Amy Kundrat September 02, 2011 The first hint of a Stamford pizza scandal came from a casual tip from a friend who knows how we obsess over pizza here at CTbites. “Have you heard about this new place called Rico’s?” he asked. “It’s just like Colony and some say it’s better.”Rumors, speculation, and then the recent ad taken out by Colony Pizza in the Stamford Advocate on July 22 had piqued all of our interest. The ad read, “There is no other restaurant in Fairfield County that is authorized to use our name or our recipes.” This not-so-thinly veiled threat was direct taking aim at the new Selleck Street pizzeria Rico’s, opened by former employees of Colony Pizza, the epicenter of the traditional bar-style pizza with it’s cracker-like crust and rivers of grease Read More
Bartaco Stamford Location Coming Soon Restaurant Stamford Mexican Opening Stephanie Webster September 01, 2011 Stamford is getting their very own bartaco, opening very soon. Inspired during a jog along the beaches of Brazil, restaurateur Sasa Mahr-Batuz of the popular Barcelona Restaurants, came up with the concept of “bartaco.” We've been several times to their Port Chester location for brunch and their beachy tacos and drinks. Defined simply by good food, great drinks, and an aura of fun, Sasa envisioned a light and airy informal space with style and sensibility – one that could easily be located on a white sandy beach alongside the blue water and sea air. Read More
Blue Lemon Restaurant @ Westport Farmers' Market Features Restaurant Farmers Market Recipe Liz Rueven August 31, 2011 The Westport Farmers Market is the place to be on Thursday September 1st as clean up from the not so friendly Hurricane Irene continues all over town. Come out to replenish your pantry and fresh produce supply while helping out area farmers and producers. Bryan Malcarney, chef/owner of Blue Lemon in Westport, will be the guest chef this week. He has been in the same spot in Sconset Square for over eight years and has quite the following. His presentation at the market will include two seasonal favorites as he offers CUCUMBER DILL GAZPACHO (recipe below) and GOLDEN BEET GAZPACHO for tasting. Read More
Thali in Westport Goes Vegetarian (via The Feast) Restaurant Westport Indian Lunch Stephanie Webster August 30, 2011
La Tomatina Wine Dinner @ Barcelona Restaurant Restaurant Events Stephanie Webster August 29, 2011 Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar's much anticipated Tomatina Dinner is back this Wednesday August 31st! Every year, the villages of Valencia celebrate with their famous tomato throwing battle, painting the streets, buildings and revelers red. In homage to this fun holiday, Executive Chef, Michael Bydenstein will be serving a special menu at their Greenwich location, each course featuring heirloom tomatoes, the summer season’s greatest fruit. The dinner will be paired with a well curated selection of wines from Valencia and other regions of Spain. There could be an impromptu tomato fight so please come dressed accordingly! Check out the menu below. Read More
Longtime Westport Restaurateur Opens Pane e Bene Restaurant Italian Westport Christy Colasurdo August 28, 2011 After more than three decades as the maestro at other people’s restaurants, Angelo Capponi, the proud owner of Pane e Bene, 1620 Post Road in Westport, struts around his new Italian restaurant and bar like a proud papa. Pane e Bene means “bread and goodness.” To Angelo, it signifies, “Freshly prepared, simple food, nice décor and an ‘experience’.” He explains, “We want to give people what they don’t find elsewhere; a place where you feel special. The opposite of places where you feel like they’re doing you a favor.” Just two months into opening, with talented chef and partner Henry Lopez in the kitchen (“a partner who radiates goodness inside and out,” Angelo says), the word on Pane e Bene is out. Read More
Road Trip: Ballo Italian Restaurant & Social Club @ Mohegan Sun Road Trip Restaurant Italian Andrew Dominick August 26, 2011 Restauranteur John Tunney, owner of the popular Mexican restaurant Besito in Hartford, expects to wow you with his 12th and newest restaurant, Ballo. The word “Ballo” is Italian for “dance.” Diners can expect the usual eating and drinking, but you can do what the name says and dance as well. Ballo Italian Restaurant and Social Club will join Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, Todd English’s Tuscany, and Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino this September. Even though Ballo is still under construction, Tunney’s idea is unique, and when he speaks, you can imagine how original this new restaurant will be from the usual. Read More
The Schoolhouse Restaurant @ Wilton's Millstone Farm Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Farm Wilton Liz Rueven August 25, 2011 On a perfectly clear and balmy night last week, 60 diners gathered at Millstone Farm, Wilton, to dine alfresco in the field adjacent to Betsy and Jesse Fink’s farm house . Tim LaBant, Chef and owner of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant, was focused and in good humor as he checked last minute details and greeted familiar faces. Enthusiastic attendees sauntered down the hill towards one very long, white draped table dotted with glowing candles and jam jars filled with brightly colored flowers from the fields. Read More
Beer Dinners @ The Ginger Man in SoNo Restaurant Events Norwalk Beer Stephanie Webster August 24, 2011 Here's a little something for the beer drinkers amongst us (the ones tired of hearing about all those darn wine dinners). The Ginger Man is offering monthly beer dinners, each featuring 5 beers from a brewery or importer, paired with and used in a 5 course meal. On Monday August 29th at 7:00 The Ginger Man will be featuring Cisco Brewers from Nantucket Massachusetts! Here's how it works: The evening kicks off promptly at 7pm with the first round of beers, a light appetizer or salad, accompanied by an introduction to the brewery representative and a little history on the brewery. 4 more courses will follow, including a cheese course and dessert. During each course the guest brewer will share some information about the beer, as well as how it pairs with the food. Read More
Past & Present Pizza Memories at Sonny’s Restaurant Norwalk Pizza Andrew Dominick August 23, 2011 We have all had fond memories as a child. One of mine starts with my dad not being around much. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “That doesn’t sound so fond.” Still, once a week, my father would come pick me up and take me out for pizza at Sonny’s in Norwalk. Every Friday I would know that dinner meant pizza with my dad. He would pull up in his car and I would run out and hop in the passenger seat. The ride was a quick one over to West Avenue. I remember always being excited to pull up anticipating thin-crust goodness. Read More
Pacific Foods Reopens in Fairfield as Saigon Deli Restaurant Asian Fairfield Specialty Market Vietnamese Lunch Elizabeth Keyser August 22, 2011 Lovers of Bánh mì, the Vietnamese sandwich, were crestfallen when Pacific Foods (1561 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield (203) 220-9450) closed just a few months after opening. I’m thrilled to report it’s back, under the same management. Good news is that this hole-in-the-wall storefront now has three tables for eating in. As CT Bites previously reported, the menu offers summer rolls, pho and bubble tea, and there’s a small grocery section. But here’s what you have to order: the bánh mì. It could be described as a Vietnamese sub. Like a sub, the classic version combines cold cuts and crisp vegetables. But this light, well-proportioned sandwich is not an over-stuffed meat- feast, and each component reveals the way that the French colonization of Vietnam melded the flavors and cooking techniques of the two cultures. Read More
Paci in Southport: An Italian Treasure Restaurant Italian Southport Comfort Food Chris Grimm August 21, 2011 I know, what’s with a preface to a review? Is it some admission of not being able to objectively evaluate a place? Or a built-in excuse for the inevitable “don’t just be a cheerleader for a pricey restaurant” response? Who knows? It could be anything - but I do feel like sharing my biases about Paci in Southport. First, they’ve been open in Southport for fifteen years, about as long as I’ve lived in Westport – so there is a hominess and familiarity to the place that I appreciate. There aren’t many constants in life, but for nearly a third of my years, Paci has been there. Read More
Stamford Restaurant Week Starts August 22nd Restaurant Events Restaurant Week Stephanie Webster August 20, 2011 Mark your calendar. Stamford Summer Restaurant Weeks start Monday August 22nd and continues through Monday September 5, 2011. This year, 28 of Downtown Stamford’s restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner. View the complete list of participating restaurants below: Read More
Napa & Company Recap: Ode to a Blogger's Feast Restaurant Events Stamford Sarah Green August 18, 2011 Sometimes, a culinary experience is so sublime, Calliope is evoked. On Monday evening, 16 bloggers were invited to experience NAPA & CO, featuring their talented Executive Chef Arik Bensimon. We came, we ate, we were inspired. Tiny tidbits were passed, 6 courses were served, and wines were perfectly paired . But prose wouldn't do it justice. Only through poetry and some visual food porn can you, too, feel a part of our pilgrimage to edible rapture: Read More
Back to School with Clarke Culinary Showroom Ingredients Restaurant Chef Talk Cooking Classes Norwalk Amy Kundrat August 16, 2011 Summer is winding down and school is nearly back in session. With that sobering news I decided to take it upon myself to reprogram the negative connotation with this time of year and embrace the classroom. Clarke Culinary Showroom has a terrific line-up beginning late summer and into fall with new classes and a couple of new yet familiar faces such as Prasad Chirnomula of Thali and Michel Nischan. Clarke's classes are known for their small class size which encourages an intimate atmosphere and the ability for guests to get up close and personal with the chefs. For a chance to win two tickets to a class of your choosing vote in Clarke's contest called "Vote for your Favorite Chef." The full list continues to change daily, so check-back soon as Clarke add classes, chefs and details: Ice cream and Lollipops with Fritz Knipschildt on August 25; Tuna: Head to Tail with Matt Storch on September 1; Scandanavian Cooking with Fritz Knipschildt on September 15; Hors d'oeuvres with Chef Rui Correia on September 14; A Lesson in Spice with Prasad Chirnomula on September 29; A Special Night with Michel Nischan on October 6; Fritz's Favorite Pies With a Twist with Fritz Knipschildt on October 20; A Night with Chef Rui Correia and Portugese Cooking on October 27; The Freshest Ingredients with Michel Nischan on November 3; The Bounties of the Fall Market with Matt Storch on November 10; and A Winner's Class: The Art of Cooking with Root Vegetables with Fritz Knipschildt on November 17. Read More
