Ad: What's In Season @ Walter Stewart's Market Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm Specialty Market Advertisement CTbites Team July 31, 2012 With summer in full swing there are even more reasons to shop Walter Stewart's Market, a fixture in downtown New Canaan since 1907. This family run grocer features not only outstanding customer service and a great selection of everyday needs for your family, but also local producers and hard to find specialty goods in every aisle. Can't get to the farmers' market? Browse through Walter Stewart's produce section where local CT farmers from Wagner Farm in East Windsor, Millstone Farm in Wilton, and Dzen Farm in South Windsor, are delivering the very best of the CT harvest. What's in season right now? Here is the lineup: corn, yellow and green squash, green beans, blueberries, apricots, sugar plums, and green cabbage. Beautiful beefsteak tomatoes will be coming soon. Read More
Behind the Scenes: Napa and Company's New Chef Marino Restaurant American Chef Talk Italian Stamford Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 29, 2012 Napa and Company in Stamford has a new, very talented chef overseeing its award-winning kitchen. Chef Leonardo Marino is slowly modifying the menu to showcase his commitment of using exceptional ingredients to highlight their natural flavors. Three weeks after assuming Napa’s Executive Chef position, CTbites sat with Chef Leo for this “Behind the Scenes,” review, discussed his passion for food and sampled several of his recently premiered dishes. Chef Leo’s devotion to cooking started at an early age as he assisted his mother and aunt in the kitchen; they inspired him to pursue a culinary education. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, his philosophy of accentuating the natural flavors was further influenced in the kitchens of some of America’s greatest chefs. While working as the Lead Sous Chef for Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin, Ripert asked him to relocate to Washington DC to take the reins of Chef de Cuisine at Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert. Chef Leo returned to New York in 2009 and joined David Bouley at both Bouley and as the Chef of Bouley Upstairs. Read More
Catch a Healthy Habit @ The Westport Farmers' Mkt August 2 CTbites Team July 29, 2012 This Thursday, August 2nd, Lisa Storch and Glen Colello, chef/owners of Catch a Healthy Habit in Fairfield, will be keeping it light at The Westport Farmers’ Market. With a spin on a BBQ essential, Chef Storch will be demoing a not so traditional “potato” salad at 11am and 1 pm. Substituting zucchini for the potatoes, this salad includes onions, parsley, and possibly celery. Catch a Healthy Habit plans on sourcing all ingredients from Sport Hill Farm of Easton, CT or Fort Hill Farm of Thompson, CT ensuring a fresh, nutritious snack for shoppers. Read More
Great news for fans of Cortina Pizzeria, Norwalk! Restaurant Home Delivery Norwalk Pizza Lunch Kid Friendly Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 27, 2012 Chef/ owner Pat Pascarella of Cortina Pizzeria (the former Pizzeria Rosso) told CTbites that he is relocating from the current New Canaan Avenue location and re-opening on Wall Street in Norwalk with a larger menu and plenty of seats. During the relocation the New Canaan Avenue location will close on July 29th with the new Wall Street full-service restaurant scheduled to open in September. The menu at the new restaurant will feature more than Chef Pat’s delicious pizzas (yes, he will feature the CTbites Pizza). He shared a sneak peak of some of the items he is considering and they include various meatballs, (including a meatball sampler plate), a variety of appetizers and salumi, salads including house-made mozzarella and burrata plus an assortment of pasta dishes. When CTbites spoke with Pascarella, he stated, "I am excited about opening the new location where I can expand the menu and offer more choices to my customers. I also want to price the menu so everyone can come to the restaurant and enjoy some great food at reasonable prices. Read More
Redding Roadhouse Gets New Chef & New Life CTbites Team July 27, 2012 Big news for fans of the Redding Roadhouse. It looks like the Roadhouse is under new ownership with a hot new chef and a master plan for success. Dan Woog reports on this story in his blog 06880. For years, Westporters have passed the Redding Roadhouse — the restaurant/bar with live music and a casual-but-almost-biker’s-hangout vibe on Route 53, past Devil’s Den and the Saugatuck Reservoir — and wondered, “What’s up with that?” For years, they drove on by. A group of Westporters plans to change all that. Earlier this month Ted Stonbely, his wife Colleen Cook, and her brother Wirt Cook took over the place. When they reopened 3 days later, they’d already made tweaks. Bigger changes lie ahead. Including more outreach to folks down in these parts. Read full article here. Read More
Invites: 4 Course Italian Wine Dinner @ Da Pietro's Restaurant - $85 CTbites Invites CTbites Team July 26, 2012
Amuse Bouche: The All Beverage Issue Ingredients News Wine Tasting Beer James Gribbon July 26, 2012 Stew Leonard’s Wines is getting into the Olympic spirit. They will also be hosting a “Wide World of Spirits” on Friday, July 27 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 28 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. featuring four drinks from four continents. Westport's new wine shop, BottleRocket will host several events this weekend. If you haven't stopped by yet, this top notch wine haven is worth a taste. Thurs, July 26: Magic Hat Elder Betty beer (seasonal, weiss-style and super refreshing), 4-7pm: Fri, July 27:Mer Soleil Chardonnay from California, 4-7pm & Sat, July 28: Laxas Albarino (refreshing summer sipper from Spain), 1-4pm Hartford's City Steam brew pub, already distributing their Naughty Nurse pale ale in bottles at retail, is rolling out bottles of their Innocence IPA in the coming weeks. We've asked, and we'll update you when we know Ffld. Co. locations. Read More
Grassroots: A Wakeman Town Farm Dinner on September 15 Restaurant Farm Dinner CTbites Team July 25, 2012 Save the Date! Wakeman Town Farm is thrilled to announce our first Farm-to-Table dinner with chefs serving their finest fare on Saturday, September 15. "Grassroots" will be a decadent extravaganza, using the fresh seasonal vegetables, made possible by the generous contributions of local farmers. Presenting the star chefs for this special evening: Jason Sobocinski of Caseus, New HavenJohn Naughright of LeFarm, WestportFrederic Kieffer of Artisan, SouthportJohn Barricelli, Sono Bakery, Norwalk & Westport Read More
Road Trip: 116 Crown in Downtown New Haven Restaurant American Cocktails New Haven Lunch Ralph Kantrowitz July 25, 2012 116 Crown (“One-Sixteen,” as its known to loyal patrons) arrived on the downtown New Haven scene in 2007 with little fanfare, but its impact was immediate and resounding. Nothing quite so chic, so stylish, had been seen in the Elm City. With its lit up green onyx bar easily visible from the street, 116 stood out as a beacon of alternative dining and nightlife, easily distinguishable from the loud clubs and Irish pubs on nearby blocks. A sophisticated crowd sought out the modestly sized space in search of haute mixology creations – extraordinary cocktails containing exotic ingredients – and worldly small plates to nibble on. The perfectly pitched décor, highlighted by impressive design touches like an iconic bright blue Bang & Olufsen phone at the hostess stand and foot pedal-operated sinks by the bathrooms, and an undeniably hip ambiance perpetuated by a fantastic of-the-moment musical playlist, kept the cool kids coming back. Read More
Respect for Source: The Ritual of Pasta Making at Pasta Nostra in South Norwalk Restaurant Italian Norwalk Pasta Amy Kundrat July 24, 2012 Joe Bruno’s formula for Pasta Nostra in South Norwalk is simple. Fresh pasta, high quality ingredients, and respect for source. This meticulous attention to detail and devotion to perfection has kept it a Fairfield County mainstay for well over two decades. To understand how Chef Bruno can maintain this vigilance, we visited on several occasions, spending time in the upstairs kitchen, a basement prep area, in the dining room and even peering into a few cave-like basement rooms where the Italian olive oil and cases of wine are stored. But to truly grasp the soul of this place, we spent most of our time there with an Italian pasta machine in a basement prep area, where the restaurant’s fresh pasta is prepared with care. Read More
The CTbites and 109 Cheese & Wine Road Trip Giveaway Restaurant Cheese Giveaway Ridgefield Road Trip CTbites Team July 24, 2012 From the coast of Maine, to the island of Nantucket, to the beaches of Long Island ... who doesn’t love a great summer road trip? As we downshift into the slower and warmer final weeks of summer, CTbites wants to know, what are some of your favorite road trip destinations? Comment on this post sharing one or more of your favorite summer road trip destinations for a chance to win a picnic basket from 109 Cheese and Wine filled with cheese, wine and charcuterie from the Ridgefield wine shop. Read More
King's Kitchen Cooks The Westport Farmer's Mkt July 26 Restaurant Events Farm Fresh CTbites Team July 23, 2012 This Thursday, July 26th, Hunter King of King's Kitchen in Southport Beach will be the guest Chef at The Westport Farmers’ Market. Hunter will be dishing out a seasonal favorite, tomato gazpacho, made with tomatoes from Riverbank Farm and served with a dollop of cucumber sorbet. In addition to this summer staple, Hunter will be making a fun twist on a classic, with Kings Kitchen Grilled Cheese Panini Fries. Made with Wave Hill Ciabatta, these fries are just as addicting as they sound, delicious, gooey, strips of grilled cheese heaven, cut to resemble a French fry! Read More
Carpe Diem Owner to Open Tapas Restaurant in New Canaan Restaurant News Spanish New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 23, 2012
Fiesta Atlantic: Authentic Peruvian Fare in Stamfor Restaurant Delicious Dives Peruvian Stamford Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team July 22, 2012 I’ve enjoyed food from many different countries over the years but funny enough, never from Peru. So with three friends in tow, I decided to try Fiesta Atlantic, a Peruvian restaurant in Stamford. Having eaten Venezuelan and Mexican, I expected a fusion of both. It turns out Peruvian food is indeed a melting pot of different cultures but surprisingly, the food is notable for its Italian and Chinese influences. In the 18th century, Lima was the financial center of a vast Spanish Viceroyalty. Chinese laborers and Italian settlers washed up on its South Pacific shores bringing their own spices and cooking techniques. Read More
Chocopologie Café to Open in Stamford Restaurant Chocolate Stamford Opening Amy Kundrat July 20, 2012 Life in downtown Stamford is about to get a whole lot sweeter. Chocopologie Café, the sweet and savory domain of Master Chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt, will be opening its fourth location at 211 Main Street in Stamford in late summer, roughly six weeks. The original cafe and factory in South Norwalk has been open since 2005 andnew outposts have opened in New Haven and Greenwich in the last two years. Related posts: SoNo Chef Shootout featuring Fritz Knipschildt and Matt Storch Making Chocolate Truffles with Knipschildt Chocolatier A Chocolate-Inspired Dinner with Fritz Knipschildt Read More
Chef Arik Bensimon Leaves Napa & Co in Stamford...Who's Coming In? Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 19, 2012
The Sheffield Island Clambake & Boatride Restaurant Norwalk Picnic Seafood CTbites Team July 19, 2012 Every summer, from June through September, The Norwalk Seaport Association provides an escape from the rush of city life and the exhaustion of a grueling workday. They transport you to the shores of idyllic Sheffield Island, a sanctuary on the sea, truly taking you back to the way summer should be. The Sheffield Island Clambake got it’s start a little over 10 years ago and has become a much anticipated summer tradition for many families. The Norwalk Seaport Association is a non-profit organization that has owned, restored, and maintained the Sheffield Island Lighthouse since 1986. Sheffield Island opens its dock to visitors May through September, inviting them to tour the 142 year old light house, have a picnic, or look for shells along the beach. Read More
Bobby Flay is Looking for America's Best HOME COOK! CTbites Team July 18, 2012 BOBBY FLAY is Looking for America's Best HOME COOK! In Bobby Flay's exciting new series, teams of two will be given the opportunity to show BOBBY FLAY that they have what it takes to be crowned: America's Best Home Cook. Flay's casting team is looking for the best home cook duos in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey. Is your house always filled with guests who are craving your amazing meals? Do you throw the best dinner parties in town? Are people always asking for your recipes? Maybe you and your spouse make an awesome team in the kitchen Or....Your sister is the only other person you trust with a spatula! "If you are fiercely competitive, fantastically creative and truly believe you are the best home cooks around, then we want we want to hear from you." Here's how to apply. Read More
Dressing Room's Chef Vaast @ The James Beard House August 13th Events Stephanie Webster July 18, 2012 CT chefs have had a rather strong showing at New York City's prestigious James Beard House this summer and the good times just keep on coming. On Monday, August 13th @7PM, Chef Jon Vaast, Executive Chef at Dressing Room in Westport, will be delighting James Beard guests with a seasonal farm-to-table menu that looks exceptionally delicious. Roasted Littleneck Clams with Bacon and Duck Fat Beurre Blanc, Smoked Sunburst Trout Mousse with Trout Caviar, Corn Chowder with Skillet Corn Kernels, Caramelized Shallot Custard (also served at the recent CTbites happy hour event with great success), Grilled Eggplant with Jalapeño–Tomato Fondue, and Heritage Pork Duo are a few of the dishes to be presented during the course of the evening, each course thoughtfully paired with wine. This is an event not to be missed. View the complete menu below or get your tickets here. Read More
Join Barcelona & CTbites for a Harvest Happy Hour to Launch Farmigo Program CT Ingredients Delivery Service Farm to Table Local Farm CTbites Team July 18, 2012 Join Barcelona Wine Bar in Fairfield and CTbites on Tuesday on July 24 from 6 to 8 pm for a "Harvest Happy Hour" to welcome the new Farmigo CSA program to Connecticut. This casual and free event will take place in Barcelona's garden with a cooking demo by Chef Helton. Light bites made with ingredients from the Barcelona garden and local farms. Meet Farmigo representatives, local farmers and artisans partnering with the program. Read More
