Bistro 88 Asian Cuisine Opens in Westport w/ Delivery & Variety Restaurant Asian Delivery Service Japanese Vietnamese korean Nancy Kleeger April 29, 2012 With a stellar location in Westport on the Saugatuck, and a Taiwanese chef, trained in Japanese cuisine with more than 20 years in the restaurant business, Westporters have something to be hopeful about in a new local take out and delivery place. Bistro 88, a family run restaurant, is dishing up food from several Asian destinations including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and even Indonesia, in the form of traditional Sambal. Lucky for us that points of political contention hasn’t gotten in the way of allowing us to choose freely from this flowing menu of Asian delights. Looming largely as a take out and delivery business, this tiny joint also has limited seating with service for those who prefer to eat there. Plus, the menu is so extensive (reading like a Bible for Asian food), there is surely something for everyone. Read More
Red Lulu's Cinco De Mayo All Day Block Party Restaurant Norwalk Mexican Stephanie Webster April 28, 2012 The countdown to Cinco De Mayo has begun, and Red Lulu is taking over Sono for a Cinco De Mayo block party. Eat, drink and dance all day with no cover charge at this Cinco celebration, complete with live bands, Mexican eats, and of course...tequila! The parking lot across the street from Red Lulu will be shut down for the day for maximum festivity. Here are the details: Read More
Cooking Demo & Lunch w/ Chef Malcarney of Blue Lemon Restaurant CTbites Invites CTbites Team April 27, 2012 Join CTbites & Blue Lemon chef/owner, Bryan Malcarney, for a cooking demo and lunch on the beautiful patio in Sconset Square, Westport. For easy scheduling, we've got two dates from which to choose; Thursday May 17 or Friday May 18 from 11:30- 1 pm. Reserve Your Seat Now. This three course lunch will include: Golden beet gazpacho; Chef Bryan's award winning grilled baby squid (complete with recipe demo) over arugula & endive salad with bleu cheese, celeriac, caramelized walnuts and cider vinaigrette...voted Best by Connecticut Magazine! Read More
Friday Froth: Draft Day Gems Ingredients Beer James Gribbon April 27, 2012 You never know where you might find your next exiting pint, the next star in your personal rotation. You will see some familiar, trusted brands while scanning the shelves during a trip to the adult candy store, but the familiar can become the routine, and routine can become stagnant - a word we try to avoid in the pursuance of Life Well-Lived. Our taste buds are continually regenerating, so let's go ahead and give those new recruits a chance to shine. The NFL draft started last night and continues today and tomorrow, so I thought we'd choose a few draft picks of our own this week. Enough with the set up: the first pick in the inaugural CTBites Beer Draft 2012 is: Magic Hat Encore. Read More
First Annual Wakeman Town Farm Chicken Coop Tour Kids Bites Education Local Artisan Local Farm CTbites Team April 27, 2012 Wakeman Town Farm is giving local backyard chicken fans something to cluck about! Announcing the First Annual Wakeman Town Farm Chicken Coop Tour, in which local chicken coop owners in Westport and lower Weston will open their unique henhouses to the public. Wakeman Town Farm threw down the gauntlet to local chicken-keeping aficionados. We asked: Who wants bragging rights for building the Hautest Henhouse...the Cadillac of Chicken Shacks...the Coop De Ville? The result is Wakeman Town Farm's First Annual Chicken Coop Tour, Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., a fun-filled afternoon touring approximately 15 chicken coops in Westport and Weston and enjoying a casual After-Tour Sundae back at the farm, with ice cream generously provided by The Farmer's Cow! Read More
What's Cooking in Bridgeport May 14-20 Restaurant Bridgeport CTbites Team April 27, 2012 Bridgeport’s Restaurant and Entertainment Week Returns May 14-20 Experience Bridgeport’s growing and thriving restaurant and entertainment scene from Monday, May 14 to Sunday, May 20, 2012 during What's Cooking in Bridgeport. Two of CTbites' favorites, Bereket and MELT Market & Cafe are on board this year, so check them out. Restaurants participating in What’s Cooking in Bridgeport restaurant and entertainment week will be offering patrons a new fixed price menu. These restaurants include: Amici Miei Cafe, Bereket, Epernay Bistro, The Field, Barnum Publick House, Taco Loco, Fortuna's Italian Deli, MELT Market & Cafe, Miss Thelma's, Park City Grill, Toni's Tuscan Table @ Dish, and Too Boots Pizza. Read More
Home Brewing Basics Class @ espressoNEAT in Darien Ingredients Coffee Stephanie Webster April 26, 2012 I've said this before, but espressoNEAT, in my biased opinion, serves the best espresso in Fairfield County. Located in Darien, their baristas are well trained experts, and their devotion to their craft is obvious from the first sip of any of their coffee based beverages. Here's the info on their next home brewing class on Thursday May 31st. Do you like the coffee you get at NEAT? Did you know you could enjoy that coffee without even leaving your house? No, we’re not starting a delivery service, but we are relaunching an educational series that will equip you to make a stellar cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home and bathrobe. We’ll guide you in the fundamentals of buying, storing, grinding, and brewing and help you get the best at home as well as at NEAT. _________________________ Class size is limited to 8 people for maximum learning and tasting. Email education (at) espressoNEAT.com or ask someone NEAT to sign up. $10/person, includes 10% off whole bean coffee & Clever brewers after class. Check back here to find out about upcoming dates! Thursday, May 31 @ 7:00PM : Brew Methods Class Read More
Don't Miss The Taste of Westport on May 3rd Restaurant CTbites Team April 25, 2012 The 8th Annual Taste of Westport will be held on May 3rd at the Westport Inn. The Taste of Westport supports CLASP, a 30 year old Westport-based organization that provides group housing for 80 men and women with autism and related developmental disabilities. Your $75 entry fee ($80 at the door) gives you sampling rights to some of the Westport area’s finest dining spots, and you can support a great cause. Here's how the evening is going down: Begin with oysters or clams from Norm Bloom & Son, and then enjoy great restaurants, including Bobby Q’s, Blue Lemon, DaPietro’s, Matsu Sushi, Coromandel, Michele’s Pies, River House Tavern, Rizzuto’s, Tarantino’s, 55 Restaurant and Wine Bar and Rowayton Seafood. Read More
Foodie Fridays @ Sport Hill Farm in Easton Features Cooking Classes Easton Education Farm Fresh CTbites Team April 25, 2012
A Sneak Peek @ The NEW Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk Restaurant Norwalk Venezuelan Stephanie Webster April 24, 2012 We recently reported on Valencia Luncheria's highly anticipated expansion plan which has this Fairfield County arepa haven moving down the street to a significantly larger location at 164 Main Street in Norwalk. Regulars wondered if the new place would retain the just stepped off the Venezuelan beachside charm of Valencia 1.0, a tiny spot whose uniquely delicious menu has won over locals as well as Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Loyal patrons need not fear. Owner, Michael Young, recently toured CTbites around the new Valencia Luncheria, and all of the rustic and reclaimed touches, bright colors, and the signature wall of plantains, are still in the house. There are, however, some significant upgrades about which you'll want to know. Here's the rundown on what to look for in the new Valencia Luncheria, currently scheduled to open by the end of May. Read More
Food Network's Restaurant Impossible visits Stella's in Stratford via ctpost Stratford CTbites Team April 23, 2012 Looking for something fun to do next week? "Restaurant Impossible" will be filming at Stella's in Stratford. Here's the news from ctpost.com... "The Food Network's top rated show, "Restaurant Impossible," will be paying a visit to Stella's Restaurant next week. "Restaurant Impossible" is hosted by Chef Robert Irvine, who, according to the show's website, "faces a daunting new challenge: save America's most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000." Tucked in the corner of the Oronoque Shopping Plaza, Stella's is an Italian restaurant that has been serving homemade meals for 34 years. Decorated with black-and-white family photos and old photos of Stratford, Stella's, at 7365 Main St., is owned and operated by longtime restaurateur Michael Savoie. In 1998, Savoie took over Stella's. Read More
Save the Date: Dine with Design 2012 @ The Glass House Restaurant Events New Canaan CTbites Team April 23, 2012 The Philip Johnson Glass House, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, invites the community to attend the second annual Dine with Design. The epicurean event, to be held at the Glass House on Saturday, June 9, offers two ways to experience the historic site. From 12pm to 3pm, the Modern Picnic provides an opportunity to sample savory dishes prepared by six award-winning chefs and ten talented artisans while exploring the buildings, grounds and art collections located on the 49-acre site. Beginning at 6:30pm, The Food Film Festival™ makes its first appearance outside of New York City and Chicago. The theater-style experience delights audiences as it offers the chance to taste what they see on the screen. Read More
Behind the Scenes @ Isabelle et Vincent Bakery in Fairfield Restaurant Bakery Fairfield French Breakfast Kid Friendly Dessert Melissa Roberts April 22, 2012 It’s 8am on a Friday and we’re here to observe the inner workings at Isabelle et Vincent, aka The French Bakery in Fairfield. Eight a.m. is nowhere near the dark morning hours one would associate with a baker’s schedule, and yet there’s plenty going on even at this “late” hour. In one corner of the kitchen, a wide galley space behind the counter lined with ovens, a gigantic standing mixer, and speed racks of measured flour and finished pastries, strawberry tarts are being assembled. The scent of fresh berries, an enormous pile of ruby red, hit us before we even laid eyes on them. In fact, the entire space is a feast for the senses. Piles of baguettes, stacks of macarons in a rainbow of color, glistening apple tarts, fondant covered eclairs, and savory quiches...close your eyes and just imagine a symphony of freshly baked bread, butter, sugar, fruit, and chocolate. It’s incredible. Read More
Upcoming Workshops at Millstone Farm in Wilton Education Events Local Artisan Local Farm Wilton Stephanie Webster April 20, 2012 Millstone Farm has just announced a few more workshops going on at their beautiful 75-acre working farm in Wilton, CT. For those unfamiliar with Millstone, heir focus is on rebuilding our food community through small scale agriculture, educational activities, and events. Millstone raises pastured heirloom breed sheep, pigs, and poultry, and grow vegetables for their CSA, local chefs, and family owned markets. They do wonderful events and workshops with top chefs and guest speakers. Here is the spring lineup including "Backyard Composting" and "Foraging & Cooking with Wild Edibles." Read More
Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Recipes for Success CTbites Team April 19, 2012 After listening to three incredibly accomplished women dish about their culinary success, one thing became perfectly clear—although their individual paths differed greatly, all shared the same passion and personal commitment to what ultimately goes on the plate. Food feeds their souls and fuels their creativity. More than 110 attendees gathered at The Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT last month to attend, “Let’s Dish: Entrepreneurs Serve up Their Recipes for Success.” The event presented a panel of esteemed chefs and food entrepreneurs: Cynthia R. Bigelow, President, Bigelow Tea Company, Carole Peck, owner of Good News Café in Woodbury; and Missy Robbins, Executive Chef at A Voce (NYC). Syndicated columnist, blogger, consultant, and culinary talent agent, Bonnie Leblang expertly moderated. In addition to spilling secrets of their culinary success, these ladies divulged how they managed to navigate, chop, slice, dice and eventually prove themselves in this mostly male-dominated industry. Here’s how they accomplished this. Read More
Beer Talk: The Basics of Aging Beer w/ The Ginger Man Ingredients Education Beer CTbites Team April 19, 2012 Andrew Hoenig is the Beverage Director at the Ginger Man, located in Norwalk CT. So winter came and went. Actually, it never really got here, did it? And I bet you’ve got a few “big” bottles of winter beer left over. What to do, what to do…I have a suggestion that involves not drinking that leftover beer. There are many beers out there that will last for years to come, some improving with age, much like a fine wine. So start a vintage beer collection! Let’s clear up any confusion about when in the life cycle is the best time to drink your beers. Truth is, it entirely depends on the style of beer. Lagers and Pilsners demand freshness, as do any light bodied and low alcohol ales. Traditionally you are encouraged to drink these beers within the first 3 months of their life. Most hoppy beers will lose their best bright citrusy aroma and bitter flavor characteristics over time, yielding a relatively flat tasting beer behind. So, if you get your hands on some Ithaca Flower Power IPA bottles, drink ‘em up! Read More
MOM 100 Cookbook Author @ Westport Public Library Features Author Cookbooks Education Kid Friendly CTbites Team April 18, 2012 Katie Workman, author of the new hit cookbook The Mom 100 Cookbook is coming to the Westport Public Library on Thursday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. Katie Workman is the founding editor in chief of Cookstr.com and a mother of two. In The Mom 100 Cookbook she delivers solutions to the 20 most common cooking dilemmas that every modern mom faces, providing recipes and tips for parents who are so baffled by their kids’ food preferences that mealtime has become a minefield. Katie Workman will talk about her new cookbook The Mom 100 Cookbook, answer questions from the audience, and give a book signing. Ok mothers...here's what people are saying about this new compendium: “One of the best cookbook authors of her generation.” — BOBBY FLAY “These are the 100 recipes everyone needs!” — INA GARTEN Read More
Dolce Cubano Rum Bar & Restaurant Coming to Stamford Waterfront Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Latin American OmNomCT April 18, 2012 The waterfront dining scene in Stamford is about to get a whole lot spicier, and OmNomCT has the scoop on a new restaurant concept from a familiar team. If you’re familiar with Stamford restaurants by the water, you’ve probably had some food and drink down at Paradise Grill (next to The Crab Shell). And if you’re familiar with what really great food is, then you were probably disappointed. With such a great spot, it could’ve been so much more! Well, it will be because Paradise Grill is gone and a new kind of paradise is taking over from Nick Racanelli Sr. & Jr., owners of the beloved Pizzeria Molto Wine Bar in Fairfield and Zaza Italian Gastrobar in Stamford. Yup, the new restaurant is called Dolce Cubano Restaurant and Rum Bar. Oh heck yeah. When’s the last time (if ever) you hit up a rum bar and you weren’t at some sort of tropical destination? And, in addition to a ton of rum drinks, there will be wine, beer, mixed drinks and dishes of Cuban meets Italian cuisine. -- via OmNomCT Read full story here. Read More
10 Questions w/ Dressing Room's Chef Jon Vaast Interview Chef Talk Stephanie Webster April 17, 2012 Jon Vaast is the talented chef at Dressing Room in Westport. He may be young but he has been in the kitchen for most of his adult life. Here are a few things you likely didn't know about this Fairfield County chef. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in 1 hour, what would you whip up? I would run to the store and grab some strip steaks, some vegetables in season, got to make some mashed potatoes either roasted garlic or caraway, along with a few bombers of craft beer. What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? Made some duck ragout with spinach linguine after lunch service today. What are your guilty pleasures in terms of food? I’m a sucker for a burger and fries. What ingredient could you not live without? Farm fresh eggs Read More
