Hunan Pavilion: Chinese in Fairfield for 22 Years Restaurant Chinese Fairfield Lunch Kid Friendly Melissa Roberts February 05, 2012 I’d been lamenting the lack of good Chinese food in Fairfield County, a complaint I’ve shared with quite a few food lovers here, including a friend who’s a Westport transplant from Singapore. To stop my whining, said friend took me to her family’s favorite Chinese restaurant in Fairfield, Hunan Pavilion. Ever since, I haven’t been deprived of good Chinese nearby, and now neither will you. Hunan Pavilion has been in the same Post Road location in Fairfield for 22 years and it’s very good. But to insure a truly exceptional experience, skip over the conventional menu and jump right to the Shanghai Bund Select (or Shanghai New Menu), an edited list of house specialties and an eclectic mix of Shanghai, Szechuan, and Hunan cuisines. Also ask for the menu in Chinese, even if you don’t speak a word of any dialect. The Chinese menu isn’t overly extensive, and if you aren’t shy about it, the staff will patiently translate, and this is where the hidden treasures can be found. Read More
The Ginger Man Cocktail Naming Contest Restaurant Cocktails CTbites Team February 04, 2012 WIN a FREE BRUNCH for TWO at The Ginger Man in Greenwich. Here's how.. Back by popular demand, CTbites has found a cocktail in need of a name. Go grab yourself a drink, study the ingredienrs below, and get ready for some branding. If your Cocktail name is selected, it will be featured on their new menu & you will receive a FREE BRUNCH FOR TWO @ The Ginger Man (complete with cocktails). "Your Name Here" Cocktail Recipe: 1.5 oz St Germain 1 oz Pineapple Juice 1 oz White Cranberry Juice 2 oz Prosecco Shake the first 3 ingredients over ice and pour into champagne flute., Top the drink off with Prosecco., Garnish with an orange wedge Post your submission below (include email) , or if you're shy, feel free to send it to us directly. We welcome input from readers. If you see a name you like...post your vote! Cocktail names must be submitted by February 14th. Read More
10 Questions with Chef Arik Bensimon of Napa & Co. Interview Restaurant Chef Talk Stamford Stephanie Webster February 02, 2012 Chef Arik Bensimon started cooking at the age of 11 at his Aunt and Uncle's restaurant, Pasta Prego, on 45th and 5th Avenue in New York City. He has been in the kitchen ever since and there's no place he'd rather be (other than a yoga studio). As Napa and Company's Executive Chef he has created a menu that spans the culinary globe while staying close to the farm. Passionate and surprisingly understated, Chef Arik recently sat down with CTbites to answer a few questions about what makes him tick. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in 1 hour, what would you whip up? Pasta. I always have really good buccatini in the house and a can of really good tomatoes. I'd probably do a salad to go with it…with fresh greens and I love shaved fennel. What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? Whole grilled Bronzino with olive oil and lemon juice. I was cooking at my mother's house. What are your guilty pleasures in terms of food? Cereal. Kashi (any kind) with almond milk is da' bomb. Read More
Cocktails Aged Gracefully Ingredients Cocktails Entertaining Specialty Market Westport Amy Kundrat February 02, 2012 Barrel aged cocktails have arrived in Connecticut. And for a song, Saugatuck Grain & Grape in Westport will bring you one step closer to making your very own sixty day-old Manhattan, Negroni or any spirit-driven cocktail that your heart may desire. In a culture that typically prizes the fresh and made-to-order, aging cocktails may sound sacrilege. So what exactly is a barrel aged cocktail and why mess with a good thing? Read More
Cooking Demo & Lunch w/ Barcelona's Chef Helton: $35 Restaurant CTbites Invites CTbites Team February 02, 2012 Looking for some new cooking tips to expand your repertoire, or do you just love to eat? Join Executive Chef Helton DaSilva of Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar in Fairfield for a one hour cooking demonstration followed by a 3 course tasting lunch featuring: escarole with marinated white beans and sherry/bacon fat dressing, pan seared scallops with Meyer lemon sauce and applewood smoked bacon and roasted quail with arrope and figs.Bring a friend and enjoy Barcelona's famed sangria while Chef Helton leads you through a taste of Spain. Demo begins at 11:00 am followed by lunch at 12 Noon. CLICK HERE for more information. Read More
Fork it Over Westport Farmers' Mkt Fundraiser Recap Restaurant Events Farmers Market Westport Stephanie Webster February 01, 2012 The Westport Farmers' Market held their first ever gala fundraiser last weekend, Fork It Over, with 200 guests in attendance. Gilbertie's Greenhouse in Westport was transformed into a rusticly chic party space through the generous support of Lillian August. Even Martha Stewart was there...and she stayed all night. The chefs that stepped up to support the market brought their A game, and the result was a spectacular evening of innovative cooking and very serious grazing. Each chef prepared 4-5 dishes; guests were handed quaintly mis-matched fine china; after that it was all a delicious blur. The chef lineup included: Bill Taibe of leFarm/ The Whelk, Matt Storch of Match, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Michel Nischan of Dressing Room, John Barricelli of Sono Baking Company and Fountainhead Wines. Some of the evening's menu and flavors are pictured below. Read More
BONDA Invites Recap: Oh, What a Night! Fairfield County Foodie January 31, 2012 Tonight I found myself humming the famous song titled “Oh What A Night” by Four Seasons, all the way back home from yet another excellent event put together by CTBites in partnership with Chef Jamie Cooper of Bonda restaurant in Fairfield. It was a very exclusive tasting event presented by Chef Cooper showcasing some wonderful first course options that he is considering for his Winter 2012 menu. Our job was to try out his creations, and share some feedback. Tough job, I know … but someone had to do it. Read More
Darien Social is Officially Open for Business Restaurant Cocktails Darien Comfort Food Burgers Amy Kundrat January 31, 2012 Overlooking Darien's Metro North station, Executive Chef Nick Bilello has reappeared in the kitchen of Darien Social, a modern American "neighborhood bar and restaurant," set to open today. Having opened the original Burger Bar & Bistro in South Norwalk in 2006 and worked in the kitchens of Habana and Ocean Drive, Bilello adapted his style and approach to Darien, with a menu that will include “snacks and small plates” such as local oysters, pork belly “BLT sliders” and Swedish meatballs (with foie gravy). An organic beef “social burger” topped with caramelized onion, black pepper truffle mayo, and Shelburne cheddar should also figure prominently on the menu. Read More
Darien Restaurant Week Starts February 6th Restaurant Darien Events CTbites Team January 30, 2012 Darien Restaurant Week is on from Monday, February 6 thru Friday, February 10, 2012 What does this mean for you, the diner? For one week only consumers will find great dining deals, have the opportunity to experience new restaurants, and re-visit some Darien favorites. Participating restaurant will offer a special prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menu during the entire week. Some of the participating restaurants include: Cesco’s Trattoria, Chuck's Steakhouse, Matsuri, Ole Mole, Phil's Grill, Robeks Juice, Rory's Restaurant, Scena Wine Bar & Restaurant, The Goose, Backstreet Restaurant, Café D’Azur, The Melting Pot, and the newly opened Darien Social Read More
Fine Dining in Disguise at Oceanview Café in Norwalk Restaurant Delicious Dives Diner French Norwalk Andrew Dominick January 29, 2012 Oceanview Café is your typical diner. They serve breakfast and lunch with the common bacon, eggs, home fries and toast, and burgers, you get the idea. It is not a big place, with 8-10 tables, tops. Decorations of marine life and fish nets echo the area of its location but postcards from France that peer at you through the glass on the tables offer a subtle hint to what Chef Jean Paul Pauillac is all about. French cuisine. Every Friday and Saturday night, from 5:30-9:00 p.m.,Pauillac, who once worked at Maxim’s in France (as did Wolfgang Puck) and La Grenouille, turns his modest diner into a French culinary experience. After his friends pleaded with him to cook up some French classics, the idea caught on and the semi-secret menu began. And what’s even better than this "underground restaurant", are the prices, the ability to BYOB, and more importantly, the food. Read More
Shout Out: Best Food Town in Fairfield County? CTbites Shout Out CTbites Team January 29, 2012 Tired of talking politics? Let's talk food. It's time to cast your vote in THE CT FOOD PRIMARY. Throw down the top candidates for BEST FOOD TOWN in FAIRFIELD CT. Is it Westport with its recent culinary renaissance? Or New Canaan, a small town that boasts a big and exciting restaurant scene? Maybe Stamford, offering culinary diversity like no other city in Fairfield County. Ridgefield? Norwalk-Sono? Fairfield? Which town would you nominate for best foodie town? Why? Read More
Friday Froth: Blacklight Ingredients Beer James Gribbon January 27, 2012 Have you noticed the black IPA trend lately? They're sometimes called Cascadian ales, but many brewers are experimenting with this hybrid style of beer which combines dark, roasted malts with punchy American hops, but leaves out the weighty feel of malty beers or getting too incisive with the hops. They're light dark beers. Check out Stone Sublimely Self Riteous or Pitch Black IPA from Widmer and you'll know what I'm talking about. Brewers, both those who actually make the beer and the executives who oversee them, seem to be trying to fill a market niche, which is how we ended up with Guinness Black Lager. Read More
Super Bowl Eats: Match Restaurant's Wing Recipe CTbites Team January 27, 2012 Nothing says Super Bowl more than wings and beer, so why not do it right and cook up some of our own with the help of Chef Matt Storch of Match Restaurant in Norwalk? Check out Matt's ultimate "man-cave" recipe below. However, if you're hosting a crowd and you'd rather leave the cooking to the pros, Match is offering a Super Bowl to-go menu with all the classics. Call Match for more information on this first ever Super Bowl spread: (203) 852-1088 Read More
The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Does Veggie Wednesdays CTbites Team January 26, 2012 This just in from The Schoolhouse at Cannondale: As you may know, the Schoolhouse at Cannondale has always had a great relationship with our veggie growers and have only supported responsible animal husbandry. But, it's time to go a step further for a few Wednesdays in February. In addition to our normal full menu, we'll offer a four course vegetarian/ vegan tasting menu on Wednesdays in February. The flavors will be exciting, surprising, and you'll leave feeling extremely satisfied. Reservations can be made at OpenTable.com, or via 1-203-834-9816. Read More
Nothin' But Bars: Best Granola Bar in CT? Ingredients Features Brunch healthy Breakfast Kid Friendly Dessert Christy Colasurdo January 26, 2012 In a world all about “grab and go,” I was happy to stumble upon “Nothin' But” snack bars after a spinning class at Joy Ride in Westport recently. That same week, we spotted them at the Westport Farmers’ market and the Village Market in Wilton. Seems that the chewy little bars, packed with ‘nothin’ but’ organic oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits and hand-mixed with organic cane sugar, olive oil and honey have found a cult following in Fairfield County. Not only are these the tastiest and most nutritionally dense snack bars we’ve tried (not too dry, not too sweet, loaded with fruits, nuts and all-natural ingredients), they’re also packaged in re-sealable Ziploc bags so that you can eat half in the morning and save the other half for a midday pick-me-up (if you have the willpower). Read More
Tim’s Philly Steaks Opens in Norwalk Restaurant Delicious Dives Norwalk Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 25, 2012 Tim’s Philly Steaks opened on Westport Avenue in Norwalk several weeks ago and I am not one to resist the calling of bread, meat, cheese and grilled onions. So I braved the weather to try one of my favorite sandwiches, and I was not disappointed. Many years ago I was taught that eating a cheesesteak is always performed while in “the position.” This entails standing with your legs positioned directly beneath your shoulders, a slight bend forward at the waist, a second bend at the neck with your jaw protruding and always use two hands on the sandwich. The goal is to avoid any of the delicious ingredients landing on your chest or stomach. So when I sampled Tim’s cheesesteak while seated at a table (there are three booths and four tables inside) it was an unusual feeling, but I still assumed “the position” of leaning forward and I successfully consumed the sandwich sans accident Read More
Chowdafest 2012: Top Local Chefs Do Battle Restaurant Events Westport OmNomCT January 25, 2012 Local food bloggers Dan and Kristien Del Ferraro of OmNomCT.com ran this post on their site to announce the upcoming Chowdafest 2012. Why mess with a good thing? Here's their story... About a year ago Kristien and I got our chowda on and OD’d on soupy goodness. Yup, the Third Annual Chowdafest was awesome with tons of restaurants competing for the Classic New England Chowder, Creative Chowder, and Soup titles. Last year Mansion Clam House won Classic N.E. Clam Chowder, SBC won Creative Chowder with Corn & Poblano Chowder, and Nicholas Roberts won with their Lobster Bisque. So, who’s winning this year on 2/4/12 from 11-4 at Bedford Middle School in Westport? You get a spoon, then you om nom nom, vote, and help decide the winners. Yeah, you can even pretend you’re one of those judges from Chopped or Iron Chef. We won’t tell. Read More
Meet the Food Experts at Fairway Market in Stamford Ingredients Education Events Stephanie Webster January 24, 2012 Fairway Market's Master Butcher Ray Venezia, Seafood Director Captain Tony Maltese, Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins, Produce Specialist Peter Romano, and Master Roaster Benny Lanfranco will be offering up their expertise and FREE samples on Saturday January 28, 2012 from 11 AM to 3 PM at their Stamford store (699 Canal Street). Learn the fundamentals of buying cheese, cook the perfect porterhouse, or get coffee roasting tips from this talented group of Fairway experts. See the full demo schedule below: Read More
Norwalk's Valencia Luncheria is Moving! Restaurant Delicious Dives Norwalk Venezuelan Lunch Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster January 24, 2012 “Valencia Luncheria customers will never have to wait in line again” says Michael Young, owner of the Norwalk eatery that has achieved cult-like status in the minds and stomachs of Fairfield County diners. After 6 years of arepa driven success, Valencia is growing up and getting bigger...much bigger in fact. Michael Young tells CTbites that Norwalk's Valencia Luncheria will be moving to a new location, possibly as soon on April 1st (no joke) just 600 feet down the street. While the menu and look and feel will not change, the address will. Put it in your nav systems; 164 Main Street will be the new home to Chef Young’s authentic Venezuelan beach food. Read More
Cactus Rose Cantina -- Santa Fe Meets Wilton Restaurant Wilton Mexican Lunch Kid Friendly Lou Gorfain January 22, 2012 “What’s a nice Greek girl like you doing running a place like this?” I ask Maria Pertesis, who with her mother Katrina, has just opened Cactus Rose, a vibrant new Southwestern themed cantina in Wilton. “My family has owned a Greek diner in Fairfield for almost 40 years,” she offers. “So my mother and I wanted to try something new and exciting.” And that’s exactly what these amazing women have wrought. Under their husbandry, the former Mediterranean Grill in the Wilton Center has blossomed into a fun-filled, warm, and welcoming hacienda. Indeed, the restaurant came up almost overnight, as if itself a desert flower. Read More
