Bobby Q's Beer & BBQ Event / Menu Update CTbites Team January 08, 2012 We're excited for this weeks CTbites event at Bobby Q's and here's why you should be too. Join Bobby Q owner Bob Le Rose and special BBQ guests and brewers for an unforgettable night of craft brews and BBQ on January 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. This event is priced at $60 per person which includes a BBQ demo with specials guests, dinner paired with craft beer as well as dessert from Cocoa Michelle. Award-winning BBQ pitmasters Steve Z of R2BQ and Dave Conti of Red Planet BBQ and top microbrewers will make an appearance for the demo. Bobby and his crew will pair their signature BBQ dishes including pulled pork, burnt ends, ribs, brisket and chicken, and a variety of sides with a selection of craft brews. Space is limited and is 21 and over only, and reservations are first come, first served. More Info & RSVP Read More
Carpe Diem Opens w/ Northern Italian in New Canaan Restaurant Italian New Canaan Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 08, 2012 Food lovers of New Canaan rejoice! Carpe Diem, a Northern Italian inspired restaurant by Alan Basaran, has opened and the housemade pastas are delicious. As CTBites presented earlier, Basaran, a North Stamford resident and owner of Carpe Diem Restaurant in New York City, is excited about creating delicious Northern Italian cuisine in New Canaan, his wife’s hometown. Read More
Bill Taibe's "The Whelk" Opens in Westport in 2 Weeks Restaurant Seafood Westport Lunch Stephanie Webster January 06, 2012 Up until yesterday, if you had asked Bill Taibe for the name of his new Westport based seafood restaurant, he'd tell you what he told the town when they needed a name for the phone directory, "The oyster place in Saugatuck." But as of this morning, this seafood haven has been given a brand befitting its waterfront surroundings in Westport's burgeoning restaurant scene. "The Whelk" will be opening in roughly two weeks, and the restaurant is poised for its first round of guests. The interior reflects the clean lines of a beautiful ship with beadboard paneling, industrial metals, and warm woods, but despite the seafaring undertones "there is a sense of responsible kitchiness here. We didn't want to go obvious nautical," says Taibe. He describes The Whelk's clean architectural interior as "The South of France meets Maine." Green park bench inspired seating runs the full length of the sunlit dining space and 2 high communal tables stand proudly behind the white marble bar. In keeping with Taibe's passion for local sourcing, everything in the restaurant was made in the USA. Read More
Bombay Chile & Cilantro Chicken via Jeanette's Healthy Living Features Recipe CTbites Team January 06, 2012 Lately, I’ve been craving the warm spices of Indian food, and so this week, my kids were treated to a new chicken dish – Bombay Chile and Cilantro Chicken, marinated with lots of warm spices, including coriander, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne. This is definitely a dish that can be started early in the day or the night before, then thrown on the grill or broiled just before dinnertime. I marinated the chicken in the morning, cooked everything before I headed out the door to pick my son up from school, and just reheated it as soon as we walked in the door an hour later. Served with a bright Cilantro Sauce, this is a unique, flavorful chicken dish that I will be making again. To go with this spicy chicken dish, I made some Indian Lemon Rice using brown rice, and Spinach Thoran (I had picked up some leafy green vegetables from the local Indian supermarket that were labeled “phoi leaves”, that looked like New Zealand Spinach). Read More
Pinkberry in Greenwich Opens on the Avenue Amy Kundrat January 05, 2012 The largest Pinkberry shop in Connecticut has opened at 369 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT. We got to take a quick spin around their newest shop (they are also open in Fairfield and West Hartford), sample the goods and get back in line for more. Read More
Gelatissimo in New Canaan is Very Gelato Restaurant ice cream New Canaan Dessert Marina Giannangeli January 05, 2012 The first thing I thought of when I heard “Gelatissimo” was that with a name like this, the place must be authentic. I was not disappointed in learning more about this delightful spot in downtown New Canaan when I met with its owners Andrea and Nuccia. In Italian, Gelatissimo means very gelato; the supprelative “issimo” is used to exalt a description from standard to the very most, this is something I love about the Italian language, that things can be highlighted, made bigger, tastier or more beautiful - or just the opposite- by adding this sort of supprelative. “Issimo” is reserved for the very most and who doesn’t want more gelato!? Here, Nuccia and Andrea have done the very best in gelato; their cheery interior is consistently buzzing with happy customers-several appear to be regulars while others are venturing in for the first, but not last time. Read More
Ambler Farm Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree Family Events Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm kids activity Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster January 04, 2012 Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree Training dates: Saturday, February 11th from 11am - noon and Sunday, February 12th from 12:30 - 1:30pm. In this extremely popular program, your family will learn the science and history of maple syruping by being a hands-on part of the process. You will choose a tree at the Farm and hang your bucket that will collect sap. We will boil down the sap in our sugar shack and send each family home with their very own bottle of Ambler Farm maple syrup. Enrollment Limited: This program sold out quickly in previous years so please do not wait to sign up. The number of trees at the Farm is limited, so we are unable to accommodate late requests or wait lists. Classes are $60 per family if members, $65 for non member family. Register here + more information. Middlebrook Maple Syrup Program This 6 week program runs from early February through mid-March. Students in grades 6-8 will meet after school on Thursdays until 4:10. They will tap over 50 trees Read More
Adam Gopnik Comes to Greenwich Amy Kundrat January 03, 2012 New Yorker columnist and bestselling author Adam Gopnik will discuss his new book, The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food on Wednesday, January 18 from 10 to 11:30 am. The event, presented by JCC Greenwich, will take place at Versailles Bistro & Patisserie, 339 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich. Over café au lait and croissants, Mr. Gopnik will begins with 18th-century France and carries us to the kitchens of the White House, Barcelona and beyond getting at the heart of our love affair with eating. Book signing to follow. Admission is $20. Tickets can be purchased at jccgreenwich.org or by sending a check to JCC Greenwich, One Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830. Additional information: 203.552.1818 Read More
Tix to Fork it Over WFM Fundraiser Go On Sale TODAY Stephanie Webster January 03, 2012 Tickets to the Fork it Over Westport Farmers' Market Fundraiser go on sale TODAY. A quick glance at the list of chefs cooking for this event and you'll understand the need for speed. Only the first 200 people to sign up will get seats. Go to the Westport Farmers' Market web site to grab a chair and join us. On January 28, 2012 the greenhouse at Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens will be transformed into a “Pop-Up” restaurant with a chef lineup that will make you drool. CTbites got the list and we are happy to share: Bill Taibe of leFarm, Matt Storch of Match, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Michel Nischan of Dressing Room, and John Barricelli of Sono Baking Company will provide the dessert course. Each chef will prepare four dishes, and the entire menu will be paired with inventive cocktails and wine. This is truly an evening not to be missed. Read More
An Evening of BBQ & Craft Brews @ Bobby Q's Amy Kundrat January 02, 2012 Join Bobby Q owner Bob Le Rose and special BBQ guests and brewers for an unforgettable night of craft brews and BBQ on January 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. This event is priced at $60 per person which includes This special dining event will feature special guests including the award-winning BBQ pitmasters Steve Z of R2BQ and Dave Conti of Red Planet BBQ and top microbrewers. Bobby and his crew will pair their signature BBQ dishes including pulled pork, burnt ends, ribs and chicken, and a variety of sides with a selection of craft brews. If you've ever been to one of Bobby Q's Blues, Views and BBQ events (2011 Poster & Preview) you know this will be a festive and memorable evening. Space is limited and is 21 and over only, and reservations are first come, first served. If you haven't yet been to a CTbites event yet, make this your first. CTbites Invites are a great way to dig deeper into the local food scene with those who appreciate and seek out great food and experiences like you. Hope to see you there! More Info & RSVP Read More
CTbites Top Stories of 2011 Amy Kundrat January 01, 2012 Between the explosion of farm-to-table dinners, burger joints, taco bars, pizza wars and new restaurant openings in 2011, there was little time left to be hungry in Connecticut. In fact, it's hard to imagine we did anything else but eat. Below are the top ten most-talked about CTbites news stories of the year and some of the most-anticipated openings of 2012. Feel free to add your own thoughts, observations, as well as predictions for 2012 and Happy New Year from all of us at CTbites. Read More
Glazed Buttermilk Meatloaf via The Parsley Thief Features Recipe katie vitucci December 30, 2011 This past summer I was engrossed in a reality cooking competition on the Food Network called The Next Food Network Star. I haven't seen every season of the show, but typically once I begin watching I get sucked in up until a winner is declared. Anyway - a few weeks before this past season began, a friend of mine from high school contacted me to let me know a fellow graduate from our school would be competing in the upcoming season. Her name is Mary Beth Albright. Of course I wanted her to win - not just because we share the same hometown, but because after watching the season I was easily convinced she would indeed make a great food television show host. While the show was airing, Mary Beth would simultaneously post her personal take on the developments of each week's episode on her blog - occasionally also posting one of her recipes from the competition. The recipe of Mary Beth's that sparked my interest most was for this meatloaf. I think what sets this recipe apart from the rest is the use of panko breadcrumbs and buttermilk {full fat, if you can find it!}. Read More
Beer Talk: The Ginger Man's Beverage Dir. Andrew Hoenig CTbites Team December 29, 2011 Andrew Hoenig is the Beverage Director at the Ginger Man, located in Norwalk CT. He knows a thing or two about beer and will be sharing his insights with CTbites in his new Beer Talk column. “We are all creatures of habit. We can do most things without even thinking about them; our bodies take charge and do them for us.” When motivational speaker Earl Nightingale said that, he wasn’t talking about our beer drinking habits. But it rings true; how often do you go to your local package store and pick up the same six pack, go into your favorite bar and order old reliable, or take a look at a large beer menu, get a little frazzled, and just yell out “Blue Moon!” or “Stella!” I find myself doing it entirely too often as well. No, I am not drinking Blue Moon or Stella, but too often I find myself sticking to one India Pale Ale (IPA), or even to IPA’s in general. For most of my 6+ years as a restaurant manager and now beverage director for a group of beer bars, I’ve always had a fondness for hops. Read More
Butchery 101 w/ Craft Butchery: Get Schooled Ingredients Cooking Classes Education Specialty Market Westport Stephanie Webster December 27, 2011 The expert butchers at Craft Butchery will be kicking off 2012 with a comprehensive butchering curriculum. Owners, Ryan Fibiger (seen above) and Paul Nessel will be providing both hands-on butchery experience as well as lecture and demonstration segments. For cooks and eaters who are serious about their meat, these butchering classes are designed to give attendees an up close look at the techniques that are use to break down pork, lamb or beef into their individual cuts. "Butchery 101: Swine" will be held on January 10th and 24th (more information below), but Craft Butchery is happy to customize these classes and demonstrations to create a more consumer or professional chef-focused discussion based on your level of interest. Classes can be done on a half or whole pig, lamb or side of beef. It provides the chance to really experience all aspects of how an animal is butchered and the audience will take home a lot of Craft Butchery's excellent meat. Boys night out anyone? Read More
Rizzuto’s Italian Kitchen in Stamford Restaurant Pizza Stamford Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat December 25, 2011 Rizzuto’s Italian Kitchen opened in Stamford this past November as the fourth location in Bill Rizzuto's casual Italian dining concept. With restaurants already in Bethel, Westport and West Hartford, tireless and engaging owner Bill Rizzuto chose the Stamford spot (near the Greenwich border) embracing the open space with tri-level dining, a formidable bar and a central beamy oven. Interested to see how they adapted to their Stamford address and eager to try our hand at making our own pizza, we dropped by for a behind-the-scenes look at their kitchen, the new gas-powered pizza oven and what objects of our affection that oven could create for us hungry souls. Read More
Two Roads Brewing Company to Open in Stratford Amy Kundrat December 23, 2011 Photo: Jeroen van Wijngaarden Stratford will be home to Two Roads Brewing Co., a large-scale craft brewery scheduled to open in 2012, according to a CTPost.com report. Greenwich resident Brad Hittle, a former executive at Rolling Rock and Pabst Brewing Co. and several partners and investors are backing the project. Referencing the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken," the brewery will be located at 1700 Stratford Avenue, the site of the former U.S. Baird Corporation. Read More
