Peach and Black Bean Salsa Recipe from Chef Nicole Straight Ingredients Features Recipe Liz Rueven September 06, 2011 Chef Nicole Straight will present two easy and flavorful recipes to shoppers at the Westport Farmers’ Market on September 8 between 10-2. Straight is the founder and Chef of TIME TO EAT, which helps parents and other busy people cook healthy, simple meals without investing hours in the kitchen. She was invited to the White House to participate in First Lady Michelle Obama’s GET MOVING CAMPAIGN, recently appeared on Bravo TV’s ROCCO’S DINNER PARTY, has won numerous awards in Fairfield County and may be seen on Channel 8’s WTNH, where she instructs viewers on simple meal prep. Straight will be presenting her PEACH AND BLACK BEAN SALSA (recipe below) 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
Live Green CT! Festival September 17th-18th Stephanie Webster September 04, 2011 Join us on September 17th & 18th for Live Green CT! a family-friendly community festival focusing on environmental education, eco-friendly living, sustainability and caring for our natural resources. This is a FREE event with great interactive kid’s activities, local food vendors like Skinny Pines Pizza Truck and Peace Tree Desserts, and it's all going down at the beautiful Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk CT. Check out the line up below: 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
Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque via Graze Delivered Features Recipe Christy Colasurdo September 01, 2011 This fresh-tasting tomato basil bisque is a great way to use all of those juicy (but bruised or imperfect) late-season tomatoes from the garden and the farmers' market. Not only is it quick to make, but it freezes well. Graze customers keep asking, “Are you SURE there’s no cream in this soup?” The secret is out: We thicken the soup with pureed butternut squash! Serve with a simple salad of arugula and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and a loaf of crusty Italian bread for a simple, al fresco lunch. 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
10 Questions w/ Prasad Chirnomula of Thali Restaurant Interview Chef Talk Indian Amy Kundrat August 31, 2011 1. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in one hour, what would you whip up? If it is in season will check my garden for some veggies and greens, next check the refrigerator and pantry and then make a decision if I have to go out to the restaurant or grocery store. Tacos are always a priority and a very quick fix. Typically I would whip a salad and/or seafood appetizer and a mix-grill of marinated meats and veggies on the deck. 2. What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? Today was particularly a very hot day. I made some green apple Gazpacho in the morning and stored it away in the refrigerator and Crab filled Japanese Eggplant with Roselle leaves and green chili paste. Apples, Chilies, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Roselle Leaves were picked fresh of my garden. I am from the rice and spice country, so made some fragrant Basmati Rice. Read More
Thali in Westport Goes Vegetarian (via The Feast) Restaurant Westport Indian Lunch Stephanie Webster August 30, 2011
CT Food Bank Launches "Hunger Action" Month Events kids activity Sarah Green August 29, 2011 On September 1st, the Connecticut Food Bank (CFB) begins its "Hunger Action" month and the CTbites team is asking your help. Food is our passion and we thank our lucky stars that we are privileged to dine at the fabulous restaurants of Fairfield County and blog about truffle chips, sous vide lamb belly and Marscapone cheese cake. Last week I volunteered at the CFB's mobile pantry where we gave out bags of onions and carrots to too many CT residents whose stars are not so lucky. But the CFB is making a difference and so can we. According to Nancy Carrington, the Food Bank's president and CEO since 1984, over 400,000 CT residents are "Food Insecure." That means that they are not sure where they are getting their next meal. Over 50% of these people are above what the government considers the income threshold which would allow them SNAP funding (formerly known as food stamps.) In the state with the highest per capita income (2010), that is surely 400,000 hungry residents too many. Right??? Read More
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
Shout Out: What Food Are You Hoarding for Hurricane Irene? CTbites Shout Out Amy Kundrat August 26, 2011
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
Making Gazpacho w/ leFarm's Bill Taibe Features Farm to Table Farmers Market Westport Recipe Bill Taibe August 24, 2011
