Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Fundraiser Stephanie Webster January 22, 2012 "Every now and then, an event comes along that simply needs no sales pitch." We used these words to describe 2011's Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Evening to benefit The Shelter for the Homeless. After actually experiencing this sinfully sweet event, I must say forcefully...just go. Why you may ask? The answer is simple. On Thursday, February 9th, 2012 over 70 vendors will be serving up an evening of glorious culinary indulgence in the form of decadent chocolates, confections, and mouthwatering baked good, all washed down with fine wines, beer and specialty beverages. Here's the real bonus…You can enjoy your nibbles from favorite shops like Sono Baking Company, Aux Delices, Suckerborne, and D'Mare Pastry Shop, knowing that 100% of every ticket sold supports the Shelter for the Homeless programs. Check out the complete list of vendors below and we'll see you there! Read More
Bobby Q's BBQ & Craft Beer Dinner Recap Restaurant BBQ CTbites Invites Westport James Gribbon January 21, 2012 BBQ has achieved cult status in America. Like any fervent belief, splinter factions have arisen. Most people think of the tomato-based variety found in Kansas City and the deep south as "BBQ sauce," but adherents to the Memphis dry-rub sect or acolytes of the vinegar or mustard based churches of North and South Carolina will defend their take on slow smoked spirituality with manic passion. These churches and their branch faiths march under myriad banners, but they can all sit together at the same table and play nice under any tent serving beer. "Harmonious variety" would be an apt descriptor for the latest CTBites Invites event on Jan 12 at Bobby Q's in Westport. Bobby Q's Barbeque & Grill is the creation of owner Bob LeRose, who partnered with Greg Zanella of Northeast Beverage Corp., one of the area's largest microbrew distributors to enhance four courses of beautifully prepared BBQ dishes and a final chocolate course with expertly paired craft brews. Read More
Luxe Modern Wine & Cocktails Opens via WestportNow Restaurant Cocktails Westport Wine Tasting CTbites Team January 21, 2012 Looking for a place to grab a drink and a nosh in Westport? Luxe Modern may be what you're craving. WestportNow.com reports on this weekend's opening: "A wine bar, Luxe Modern Wine & Cocktails, opens at 190 Main St., across from TD BankNorth, on Saturday, according to owner Robert Reilly of Redding. He said that the café will carry 40 wines that can be purchased by the glass, seven or eight seasonal cocktails, and a selection of 15 cheeses and cured meats. In addition to a bar, tended by the owner’s nephew Will Secchi (photo) of Fairfield, there are indoor tables with plans for outdoor tables next spring, he said. Reilly, a former IT director at Fresh Direct in New York, said the hours this opening weekend are Saturday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Read More
Local Chefs Host Fine Food Event to Fight Kids' Obesity CTbites Team January 20, 2012 Calling all foodies. Don't miss "Fine Food for A Cause," a unique event featuring more than a dozen Fairfield County chefs who have stepped up to raise awareness and funds to fight local childhood obesity. Proceeds from the event will help fund a multi-purpose teaching kitchen at the Stamford YMCA, which will be used to deliver cooking skills and nutritional education to underserved local kids and families. This fundraising event will be held on Monday, January 30th, and will be emceed by Scott Wapner of CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report.” The star studded line up continues as "Fine Food for A Cause," honors well-known restaurateur Joseph Bastianich and 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan. Before you decide..check out the feast of signature small plates from the following homegrown chefs: Read More
The Whelk in Westport: A First Look & Taste Restaurant Cocktails Seafood Westport Lunch Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster January 19, 2012 Friends and family were treated to a sneak preview of The Whelk, Bill Taibe's latest venture in Westport on Wednesday evening. Steeped in the sea with unmistakable flashes of leFarm's seasonal luxury, The Whelk is poised to establish Saugatuck as the culinary center of Westport, and perhaps Fairfield County. Read More
"Sweet Genius" Contestant, Paula Shoyer, Baking in Westport via "Kosher Like Me" Features Cookbooks Events Special Dietary Needs Liz Rueven January 19, 2012 photo courtesy of FOOD NETWORK Did you miss Paula Shoyer, author of THE KOSHER BAKER, on the Food Network’s new baking competition “Sweet Genius”? If so, you can catch her in Westport on Wednesday, January 25 when she will be offering a baking demonstration and scrumptious tasting at Chabad of Westport. Shoyer performed magnificently on “Sweet Genius.”.She was poised, cool and creative in that episode in October 2011. Along with other contestants, she was given unexpected, last minute challenges like being asked to integrate jelly beans and hot sauce into her recipe already in the works. Her rosemary lemon sponge cake with raspberry mint sorbet between the layers was not the version she had planned on when she started! Read More
Treasures of the Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner @ Little Pub Restaurant Beer Dinner Beer Stephanie Webster January 18, 2012 If you like rare beers from sierra nevada, Little Pub in Ridgefield has an evening for you: “Treasures of the Sierra Nevada” beer dinner will be held on january 31st, 7pm at Little Pub. Marty from sierra coming in to take you through ovila dubbel, ovila quad, 30th anniversary grand cru, estate homegrown ale, the brand new ruthless rye ipa, and life and limb 2 (the sierra-dogfish collaboration). Details: Six draught beers paired with a six course tasting menu Cost: $65 per person Check out the Menu Read More
CTbites Invites: Sample Fairfield's New Chilibomb CTbites Invites CTbites Team January 18, 2012 Calling all chili lovers! Chilibomb of Fairfield recently exploded onto the scene creating a stir among lovers of the hot stuff. A creative chili menu covering a broad spectrum of heat and ingredients, from mild and vegetarian to meaty and down-right scary, Chilibomb will challenge any brave (or not so brave) chili soul. We've teamed up with Chilibomb to offer TWO limited-time chili options designed for game day, whether you are hosting a Super Bowl party or want to spend a lazy afternoon curled up with a bowl of chili: 1. The 3 Chili Sampler 2. The Chilibomb Party Pack. Learn more. Read More
Brewing Beer With Jon Vaast Of Dressing Room Ingredients Chef Talk Recipe Beer James Gribbon January 17, 2012 In 2006 Dressing Room restaurant was created as a collaboration between actor Paul Newman and chef Michael Nischan. Both men could fairly be called food policy activists, and their desire was to create what they called a Homegrown Restaurant, focusing on American heirloom food made from local, organic ingredients. Dressing Room's name stems from its location, adjacent to Newman's Westport Country Playhouse, but one of its staff, chef Jon Vaast, was kind enough to invite CTBites into his home instead to show us how the 21st century gent practices the ancient art of home brewing. [A note before we begin: as much as I enjoy beer, I had never before actually made it. I enjoy driving, but if I attempted to build an overhead valve engine there would inevitably be sundry and possibly vital bits left lying on the garage floor when I was done. Luckily, brewing has significantly fewer chances to produce flaming wreckage, but I apologize ahead of time to for anything I may leave out.] Read More
The Sun WineFest '12 & Ticket Giveaway Amy Kundrat January 17, 2012 The Sun WineFest 2012 is a destination weekend for food lovers in the tri-state area who descend on the Mohegun Sun Convention Center for a fabulous line-up of food and wine-filled events beginning Friday, January 27 through Sunday, January 29, 2012. Tickets are still available and we are pleased to be able to offer a pair of tickets to one lucky CTbites readers for Sunday's Grand Tasting. Read More
MESA- Modern Mexican on Fairfield's Black Rock Tpke Restaurant Mexican Kid Friendly Sarah Green January 15, 2012 There's a new muchacha in town, and her name is MESA! Bold as brass and situated in what has been, at least during my 10 years in Fairfield County, a most unlikely zone, this modern Mexican is worth its weight in oro. It is fair to say that my last choice when picking an ethnic food destination has always been Mexican. (Having been to Mexico many times, and having eaten the absolute freshest delicious food there, I have always found American-Mexican to be heavy, loaded with too much cheese and way too saucy.) But the times they are a'changin and Mesa is making its way to the top of my destination list. Why you may ask? I'll tell you. Read More
Kids Review: The Melting Pot Kids Bites Darien Lunch Kid Friendly Lily Schaeffer January 13, 2012 Lily Schaeffer is one of our junior reporters. She in the sixth grade and lives in Darien. How many times have you wished you could try something new and different for dinner but you didn’t know where to go or what to get? The solution is fondue! You can get freshly grated and melted cheese fondue or rich delectable chocolate fondue for dessert at a restaurant right in Darien, The Melting Pot is located at 14 Grove Street. At The Melting Pot, you will arrive to a beautiful flowing fountain right outside the door and enter the restaurant to find a welcoming modern atmosphere perfect for a chilly fall night. The friendly staff will greet you and fill you in on the menu options (we chose lightly spiced cheddar fondue). Another exciting feature is after you have ordered, your food will be thrillingly made right before you eyes at your table. You can sit back and dip delectable tidbits in strategically made melted cheese. Did I mention the dippable items come in a bottomless supply? Read More
Bernard's & Sarah's Wine Bar Present: Sarah & Monica's EXCELLENT Birthday Wine Tasting Dinner Restaurant Cheese Events Ridgefield Wine Dinners CTbites Team January 13, 2012 Sarah & Monica's EXCELLENT Birthday Wine Tasting Dinner will be held on Sunday, January 27 @ 7 PM [UPDATED]. This party is a true celebration of great food and great wine, with musical stylings courtesy of the Kelly Mittleman Trio! The event features Ridgefield's finest with Bernard's Restaurant, Sarah's Wine Bar and Monica from 109 Cheese & Wine. Check out the menu below: Read More
Ad: Play With Your Food 10th Anniversary Gala CTbites Team January 11, 2012 To honor PWYF’s 10th anniversary season, Play With Your Food is throwing a Gala Celebration, "Two For the Road." The event will be held on Saturday, January 28 at 6:30pm at Dragone Classic Motor Cars and will combine the backdrop of the trendy classic car showroom with what Play With Your Food does best: serve up tasty food and good theatre. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and wine begin the evening. Catering sponsors include Blue Lemon, Garelick and Herbs, Matsu Sushi, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and more than 15 other of the area’s finest restaurants. Read More
o.a.t.s: A Modern Take on Granola Ingredients Breakfast Kid Friendly Margie Treisman January 10, 2012 What does “o.a.t.s.” stand for? Outrageously addictive tasty snack? Obscenely arduous to stop [eating]? Yes, but no. Simply put, o.a.t.s. is oats. Plus a handful of other identifiable ingredients (all of which I can pronounce), combined to create a truly delicious “granola for the foodie.” o.a.t.s. granola was developed only a year ago by two Westport women, Julie Gaines and Dana Noorily. Both women are busy moms – between them they have five kids under the age of seven – and passionate foodies. Disappointed by commercial granolas, Julie set out to bake her own at home. After sharing the results with Dana, they joined forces, selling hundreds of mason jars of the granola through friends and family last holiday season. Read More
