IKEA Swedish Summer Crayfish Party, August 17 Restaurant Seafood New Haven CTbites Team August 10, 2012 Celebrate Summer with IKEA Swedish Crayfish Party, for Only $9.99, Kids 12 and Under Eat for Only $2.49It’s the time of the year again for enjoying time with family and friends under the setting sun, amidst mild summer weather. IKEA, the Life Improvement Store, invites customer to enjoy the IKEA Crayfish Party—a late summer smorgasbord that will be hosted in the restaurant IKEA New Haven on Friday, August 17. For only $9.99 per person or $2.49 for kids 12 and under, guests can enjoy a Swedish summer meal of crayfish, cheese pie, cucumber salad, and more.Crayfish parties date back to the 1800s when lakes in Sweden were full of crayfish. In order to protect crayfish populations, the fishing season was limited to August and September, which is why—today—Swedish crayfish parties are still traditionally held in August. Read More
Get Close to the Source: Easton Farm Tour is August 11 CTbites Team August 09, 2012 Citizens For Easton (CFE) is pleased to announce the 4th annual Easton Farm Tour. This celebration of Easton, a local farming community within Fairfield County CT, is a self-guided tour of Easton farms. Easton Farm Tour 2012 will be held August 11 from 10am to 3pm. This free event begins at the Easton Firehouse Green, One Center Road, Easton, CT 06612. At this location, visitors will receive a copy of the road map, passes to events and incentives offered by farmers and community organizations at the different locations throughout day. Please enjoy the many farming delights that Easton has to offer while you and your family learn where your food comes from. Enjoy food tastings, antiques farm tools, pony rides, a petting zoo, greenhouse tours, fruits and vegetables from the farm and pick your own. Participating farms and local landmarks will include: Aspetuck Valley Apple Barn, Buttonwood Farm, Dave’s Honey, Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens, Historic Bradley Hubbell House Barn and Gardens, J&L Orchids, Lion Hill Farm, Sherwood Farm, Silverman’s Farm, and Sport Hill Farm. Read More
New Haven Food & Wine Festival Grand Tasting on August 22 Restaurant Events New Haven CTbites Team August 09, 2012 The New Haven Food & Wine Festival returns this year kicking off with a Grand Tasting as part of the New Haven Open Tennis Tournament on August 22 from 5 to 7:30 pm. The $125 ticket includes admission to the tasting and box seats for that evening's session 7. Read More
Craft Beer & Chili Challenge in East Hartford, August 12 Restaurant East Hartford Beer Comfort Food CTbites Team August 08, 2012 Chefs are always talking about wine pairings, but for all of you who prefer a cold one to a glass of vino, here's your chance for sample some of the best beer CT has to offer. The Craft Beer & Chili Challenge will be held at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT on Sunday, August 12th from 12-4 p.m. What's better than 100's of beers & dozens of chilis? Really, nothing, but if you require added appeal, attendees will get to vote for their favorites as they crown the best official beers and chilies in Connecticut. Chili will range from from hearty and meaty, to hot and spicy, to vegetarian, and everything in between, so there's something for every eater. For one flat admission price of $62.50, attendees can sample dozens of different chilis prepared by area restaurants and hundreds of craft beers from around the state and around the world. In addition, there will be vendors and crafters from around the Northeast displaying and selling their work, as well as a DJ providing a rocking soundtrack of music for the event. Read More
Sono Baking Co: 5 Tips for Perfect Pie Dough Ingredients Features Bakery Norwalk Recipe Dessert Stephanie Webster August 07, 2012 Pie baking is a both a science and an art, and John Barricelli of Sono Baking Company knows all the tricks. John has been baking the old fashioned way at Sono Baking Company since the very beginning, no short cuts, just fresh ingredients and skill that comes from a lifetime covered in flour. As part of our Invites program, John Barricelli hosted two "Pie & Dough Making" classes for aspiring bakers. Guests arrived donning aprons and toting rolling pins. Here's what we learned: 5 Tips for Perfect Pie Dough Tip #1: Calibrate your oven's temperate & make sure that your oven is level. Read More
Plan B Burger Opens in Stamford: Burgers, Bourbon & Beer Restaurant Stamford Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers Lou Gorfain August 05, 2012 The B's in “Plan B Burger” are Burgers, Bourbon, and Beer. Add another for “Big”. The huge Stamford branch of this high concept Connecticut restaurant franchise opened this week in the Town Center, and the spectacular interior of the vast 4500 square foot space immediately announces "This Ain't Five Guys." No peanut shells here. And a far more high end burger. Reclaimed wood walls. Blown glass lights. High tin celings. Meat hook lamps. A wrap around bar, brimming with beer and booze. Plan B transports an old-fashioned American saloon into the 21st Century. Walk in and you know some two-fisted eatin' and drinkin' could happen here. All that's missing are sarsaparilla and swinging doors. The eats and drinks.... by the B's. Read More
Stanziato's Dinner @ Holbrook Farm Restaurant Farm to Table Pizza Amy Kundrat August 05, 2012 Get excited. Stanziato's Pizza in Danbury is teaming up with Holbrook Farm for the Danbury pizzeria's first farm-to-table event held on the Bethel farm, Sunday, September 16, 2012 from 4 to 7pm. Each $60 ticket includes soup, salads, appetizers (plated), wood-fired pizza from Stanziato's new truck (served family style) as well as non-alcoholic beverages and local beer/wine,. Virtually all of the ingredients will be sourced from the farm. You can also count on live music to round out this late summer evening. Stanziato's has accumulated a cult following of pizza lovers across northern Fairfield County who know its Neapolitan-inspired pizza menu of white and red pies by heart. If we've ever spoken about pizza, chances are you have heard me swoon about the Soppressata and Chilies pizza that stole my heart. The CIA-trained Chef Stanczak's talents don't stop at the wood-fired ovens, his salads and soups have their own fan club as well, a perfect foil for an evening dinner on the farm. Tickets are limited so grab some friends and be sure to get yours soon. Where: Holbrook Farm – 45 Turkey Plain Road, Bethel, CT 06801 Time: 4-7pm Tickets: $60 per person, purchase online at http://stanziatos.com/farm-to-table-event/ Questions: Call Stanziato's at 203.885.1057 or email info@stanziatos.com Read More
Harlan Social Opens in Stamford's Harbor Point Restaurant American Stamford Lou Gorfain August 03, 2012 Steven Lewandowski knows something about breaking new ground. He worked at Montrachet, Drew Nieporant’s’s transformative French restaurant that ignited a dining renaissance in once grim Lower Manhattan. "I think we can change the game here, too," Lewandowski told CTBites during a recent preview of his new Harlan Social at Harbor Point, the amazing redevelopment project now bourgeoning on Stamford's South Side. "When we first checked the area, it was a bit desolate. Like Tribeca when my friend Drew came in there. But when I saw that Fairway was here, I just knew this would be a good home for us, too. Fade Out. Fade In. One year later. Harbor Point is booming and Lewandowski is about to find out if his multimillion dollar bet was on the money.. On August 7th, Harlan Social opens its doors, the first high end restaurant in HP. ("Harlan" is his son's first name, "Social" because the restaurant will be a gathering place for the thousands of people who will soon live, work, play ... and, yes, EAT ... in Harbor Point.) Read More
Barcelona Chef Proto: Hanger Steak w/ Truffle Vinaigrette Features Chef Talk Recipe Video Recipe CTbites Team August 02, 2012 Truffle fans, listen up. Barcelona Restaurant has begun importing the "good stuff." Teaming up with an international purveyor of this Italian culinary treasure, Barcelona is now offering private label white truffle oil and truffle shavings (slivers, packed in juice). Wondering what to do with these fabulous fungi? Frank Proto, Executive Chef at New Haven's Barcelona Restaurant has just the recipe: Truffle Vinaigrette, using black truffles and white truffle oil. This vinaigrette is delicious on hanger steak as presented in the recipe above, but really, what wouldn't truffle vinaigrette be good on? These exotic woodland delicacies are available to food enthusiasts through Barcelona’s already active “marketplace” on their web site. Read More
Invites Recap: "Happy Hour" @ Dressing Room Restaurant CTbites Invites Westport Nic Barbera July 31, 2012 As you enter Dressing Room, it is the perfect combination of elegance and charm that attracts you. When you sit down, it is the warmth that settles you in. After you have eaten, it is the substance and quality that relaxes you into a food inspired ‘coma.’ Once you have left, it is the overall magnanimity of the Dressing Room restaurant that will entice you back. Recently, CT Bites sponsored an event at the Dressing Room, known as “Happy Hour on the DR Patio.” The evening was used to promote that which head chef/owner Michel Nischan has set as his restaurants overarching ideal, comfort. From the specialty cocktails, to the stunningly made hors d’oeuvres, this is the type of happy hour that I would be a regular at. Read More
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
