Strada 18: Revisiting Classic Italian Comfort Food in Norwalk Restaurant Italian Norwalk SONO Lunch Jessica Ryan February 11, 2015 I was recently invited to a press dinner at Strada 18 in South Norwalk. The restaurant was eager to share with us their Italian-American Comfort Classics Dinner. With temperatures well below the freezing mark, all the snow, freezing rain and sleet, this is the type of food so many are craving right now. A group of about 20 or so writers, editors and bloggers gathered together for this dinner that was prepared especially for us. We started out with the Fried Calamari with Three Sauces, aioli, lemon-lime-jalapeno-cilantro, and marinara. The calamari was tender, flavorful and incredibly crispy and the accompanying sauces complemented them perfectly. We also enjoyed the Arancini, a fried risotto ball stuffed with American farmstead Fontina and served with a tomato sauce. The Arancini was good – but I wouldn’t say it was outstanding or one of the best I’ve ever had. Read More
The New Blondie Burger at Sycamore Drive In in Bethel Restaurant Bethel Diner Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Amy Kundrat February 10, 2015 Photo: Ryan Kundrat Behind every great man is a great woman. And for Dagwood Bumstead, that woman is Blondie. Bethel's Sycamore Drive-in Restaurant, founded in 1948 and famous for its summer cruise nights, homemade root beer, and thin French-style burgers, has introduced the new Blondie burger, a fitting companion for their popular Dagwood burger. And I believe it's about time, the cartoon is named after the blonde bombshell matriarch, afterall. Read More
The Whelk's Burger - Still Outstanding Restaurant Westport Best of CT Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 08, 2015 The 2015 “Dry Aged Beef Burger” prepared by Chef Anthony Kostelis begins with a 7-8 ounce patty topped with sweet pickles, Bella Bantam cheese, bacon and onion mayonnaise, all encased in a buttery brioche. The meat was deep and rich in flavor, perfectly seasoned and compressed slightly to maintain the grind of the meat. It was juicy in the middle of the burger but a little dry at the edges. The Bella Bantam cheese from Arethusa Farm was outstanding, melted atop the patty. It was mild with a slight nuttiness, a great complement to the burger. The bacon at The Whelk was one of the best I have tasted in years, with a incredible smokiness and also added a little crunchiness to the burger. Read More
DiMare Pastry to Open Second Location in Downtown Stamford Restaurant Bakery Stamford Dessert Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 07, 2015 Here’s some great news for residents of downtown Stamford… DiMare Pastry Shop has announced that it will open its third location at 30 Spring Street in Stamford, serving its delicious cakes, pies, cupcakes, pastries, rolls, breads and its ever-popular and outrageous cannoli dip. The location will be named DiMare Pastry Downtown and is convenient to the explosion of apartments in downtown Stamford along Washington, Atlantic and Bedford. The newest location on Spring Street will be familiar for patrons of Bar Rosso and Volta as DiMare becomes the third occupant in this storefront. The interior design is currently in the planning and development phase and the artist rendering on their Facebook page (above) indicates a sleek design to showcase their outstanding baked goods. Thanks to OmNomCT for confirming the details. Read More
CT Foodie Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2015 Restaurant Chocolate Gift Guide April Guilbault February 04, 2015 “Cooking is like love. It should entered into with abandon or not at all.” Such delicious, true words from Harriet Van Horne, who first penned this line for Vogue magazine in 1956. In the spirit of channeling Ms. Harriet, we hope that wild abandon flies out the proverbial window this Valentine’s Day and that you can enjoy some new culinary experiences and delights with your honey. Love is food for the soul and we want your soul overflowing! Here are 12 gift ideas to entice and treat, from sweets to beers to bling... Read More
Mura Pop-Up Delivers Outstanding Ramen Restaurant Japanese Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 01, 2015 Ramen is one of the great dishes of the world. Contained within a single bowl is the essence of all flavors; and the most recent pop-up restaurants overseen by Chef Mogan Anthony (Locali) just over the border into NY are phenomenal. Chef Mogan was raised in Singapore and was captivated, at an early age, by the flavors in Asian cuisine. His early training included studying under some of the best Asian chefs. Read More
Olea in New Haven Delivers Extraordinary Spanish Dining Restaurant Spanish Tapas New Haven Connecticut Magazine February 01, 2015 Olea's condomiz / Photo: Jen Kaufman, Connecticut Magazine Many in the New Haven area mourned the closing of Ibiza last spring. The restaurant has been reimagined by former Ibiza chef Manual Romero who is now the owner and chef, reviving this modern Spanish tapas mecca for the city once again. Our friends at Connecticut Magazine recently visited, giving it an excellent rating, and here's why: When Ibiza in New Haven closed last spring, Connecticut lost a culinary treasure. Located on High Street, steps away from two famous art museums, it was itself a work of art, showcasing the best of modern Spanish cuisine in the state and on the East Coast. Busy, buzzy, frequently bustling, with a mile-long list of intriguing tapas and a devoutly loyal customer base, it vanished suddenly, as if it had never been. Rumors flew. Diners mourned. But within six months, the spirit of Ibiza rose like a phoenix in the same location but in a glamorous new guise, re-imagined and rechristened, Olea. Read More
Parallel Post in Trumbull Launches Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Dessert Menu Restaurant Trumbull Dessert CTbites Team January 28, 2015
10 Year Anniversary for Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen & Bar in Bethel, CT Restaurant Bethel CTbites Team January 27, 2015 Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen & Bar in Bethel, CT is celebrating their 10-year anniversary beginning January 25 through February 21 with special $10 lunch and $20.04 dinner prix fixe menus. Owner Bill Rizzuto opened the neighborhood Italian restaurant in December of 2004, transitioning from his career as a hotelier to restaurateur, now with multiple locations across the state, including Stamfrod, West Harford, and Westport. Read More
Road Trip: Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro in Clinton Ingredients Restaurant Clinton Road Trip Vineyard WIne Lunch Jessica Ryan January 25, 2015 How often does one get to visit a vineyard that’s blanketed by crisp white snow, or highlighted by a fiery autumnal backdrop, making it even more magical than it already is? Nestled in the shoreline town of Clinton, about a mile beyond the hustle and bustle of the outlet shops is a charming vineyard that boasts over 20 acres of grapes as well as their bountiful fruit, vegetable and herb gardens. One might not consider Connecticut to be wine country, but Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro is worth noting. Established in 1983, Chamard’s winning Estate Reserve wines are exclusively made in their winery, and can be enjoyed in their Tasting Room or in their dining room. The bistro offers a creative farm-to-table menu featuring a French inspired American menu. Their Chardonnay and Merlot are very good. Read More
Walrus + Carpenter Launches All Pie Dessert Menu Restaurant American Bridgeport Dessert Stephanie Webster January 22, 2015 In the dessert world, pie trumps all. It's all American, even if it isn't apple, and when done right, it's just plain delicious. Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport recently launched a new dessert menu that features...you guessed it, pie. In fact, the menu is ALL pie, 6 different tantalizing options including: Bourbon-Chocolate Pecan Pie, Chess Pie, Key Lime and their signature "Walrus Pie," featuring a bacon-chocolate chip cookie crust, bacon crumble, bacon candy & peanut butter ice cream (Get in the car...there's still time). In keeping with Walrus' attention to detail, this master of all things smoked meat have put a little extra love into each and every pie. The creative cookie based pie shells, the flakiness of the Apple Pie's cheddar crust, and the gently torched meringue are just a few noteworthy elements. Plus, Walrus + Carpenter is now open 7 days a week, so you can enjoy this 6 pie menu 24/7. View the full Pie Menu Photo Gallery below: Read More
Chef Mario Batali Visits New Haven's Yale Sustainable Food Program Restaurant Italian Yale New Haven Amy Kundrat January 22, 2015 In celebration of his new book, America: Farm-to-Table, and of the opening of Tarry Lodge in New Haven, Mario Batali will visit the Yale Sustainable Food Program and join its director, Mark Bomford, in conversation on Friday, January 23 from 3 to 4 pm at the Whitney Humanities Center 53 Wall St. New Haven, CT 06511. This event is open to the public but seating is limited. Visit the YSFP website for more information on this event. Batali will also host a three-course lunch at Tarry Lodge, for $85 per person on January 23. For details or to purchase tickets, visit the Tarry Lodge website. If tickets are sold out, contact the restaurant to be added to a wait list: (203) 672-0765 or email infonh@tarrylodge.com. Read More
Bistro Versailles Hosts La Soirée Couscous Restaurant Greenwich CTbites Team January 20, 2015 [UPDATED] Bistro Versailles is hosting La Soirée Couscous on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 7 p.m as part of their dinner event series. The evening is $75 per person excluding tax and gratuity. R.S.V.P. at 203.661.6634 or emailing bistro@versaillesgreenwich.com. La Soirée Couscous Read More
Soosh Sushi Opens on Summer Street in Stamford (And It's Kosher!) Restaurant Japanese Kosher Stamford Sushi Jessica Ryan January 18, 2015 The best places, I believe, are the more unassuming places. The little treasures that are off the beaten path, hidden away where you least expect. The best food is the food that is what it is – unpretentious, fresh and bursting with flavor. And that’s the best way to describe this new unassuming little Japanese restaurant in Stamford, Soosh. It was a social media friend of mine, Pierre-Christian D. Frye, owner of PCDF Architecture in Greenwich, who first told me about Soosh. Perhaps he was a bit biased as he was hired as the restaurant’s architect. He explained how he turned what was basically an old storage space into a stylish Japanese eatery. “For the new Soosh restaurant I worked closely with the owner to bring the vision to life of a truly modern, timeless dining experience. I accentuated the compact space with unique lighting and a rich mix of textures, tiles, wood and metal. Read More
Arethusa Farm & Dairy Plan New Bantam Breakfast and Lunch Spot Restaurant Litchfield Breakfast CTbites Team January 15, 2015 The former Bantam Coffee Shop along Route 202 or Bantam Road will become the latest Arethusa Farm dining destination, focusing on breakfast and lunch and utilizing Arethusa Farm & Dairy products. This will be the second dining destination for George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis, who also run Manolo Blahnik. Read the full story on Connecticut Magazine. Read More
The 16th Annual Taste of Ridgefield January 25 at Founders Hall Restaurant Events Ridgefield CTbites Team January 13, 2015 A Taste of Ridgefield will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Founders Hall, located in Ridgefield, CT. The 16th annual event will draw restaurants, caterers, and wine merchants from Ridgefield for two serving sessions 12:30 – 2:30 pm, and 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. This event is hosted by The Rotary Club of Ridgefield and sponosred by Fairfield County Bank and Vazzana Management Consulting to benefit its schoarship fun and support a new fuel subsidy initiative to help needy families in Ridgefield. Participating restaurants include: Read More
Lunch Break: Soups & Sandwiches at Wah Lah in Bethel CT Restaurant Soups Bethel Comfort Food Lunch Amy Kundrat January 11, 2015 Wah Lah is the ideal lunch location for a cozy cup of soup or a delicious pressed sandwich, with a side of small town charm. A fast-casual restaurant that focuses on the holy lunch trinity of soups, sandwiches, and salads, Wah Lah sets itself apart thanks to its amiable and talented owner-chef Keith Burke, and a well-executed and consistent menu that honors classic and wholesome recipes. Keith opened Wah Lah in 2010. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, he worked in the foodservice industry for 14 years, traveling across the country before deciding to change his pace and put down roots in the small Connecticut town of Bethel. The fast casual dining concept appealed to him, and he decided to marry that approach to the lunch-friendly category of soups with salads and sandwiches soon following. Wah Lah’s menu is a list of eight to twelve soups made fresh daily Read More
Culinary Getaways at Saybrook Point Inn & Spa Restaurant Cooking Classes Old Saybrook Amy Kundrat January 09, 2015 Who wouldn't love a culinary-themed weekend getaway that is about an hour away (maybe two for those of you up in Litchfield County)?! The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is kicking off a series of weekend getaways focusing on different cuisines from around the world centered on the Inn's restaurant, Fresh Salt, and led by its Executive Chef Leslie Tripp. Kicking off this series of three events is Italian Winter Holiday from January 30 to February 1, followed by a Taste of New England on February 20 - 22 and a Tour de France on March 6 - March 8. Read More
Bar Sugo's “Serie Vino” Italian Wine Class & Food Pairing Series Restaurant Wine Dinners CTbites Team January 08, 2015 Journey through Italy with Bar Sugo's “Serie Vino” Italian Wine Class & Food Pairing Series. Discover the Different Regions of Italy with One Sip & One Bite at a Time Spring break may still be months away, but you can jet set through Italy in the best way imaginable with a glass (or several) of wine, expertly prepped small plates and the rustic, warm environment of Bar Sugo as they present their “Serie Vino” wine and food tasting classes. Each one hour class in the series (there are five in total) will focus on a particular Italian region, history behind the wines and the food that best accompanies them prepared by Chef Pat Pascarella. Read More
