Souterrain #5: Bill Taibe Hosts Underground Dinner Restaurant Underground Dinner Bill Taibe Events Stephanie Webster November 06, 2012 Bill Taibe and his team of chefs hosted Souterrain Sunday night, #5 in his series of underground pop-up dinners featuring local ingredients, unexpected locations, and good company. Ironically, Souterrain #5 was originally scheduled during last October's spectacular Nor'easter, and while Halloween did go on, Souterrain had to be cancelled. This year, dinner prevailed, and guests were delighted to find themselves at The Westport Arts Center on the last day of the appropriately themed FOODIES art exhibit. (The location is only divulged 12 hours before the event). Bill Taibe considers Souterrain his "third restaurant, one without walls, where people come together at communal tables and share a unique culinary experience." The menu for Souterrain does not always follow a strict narrative, but Sunday's meal was truly an ode to duck. Green olives with roasted garlic cloves were cooked in duck fat. There was Duck Ham, Duck Liver & Huckleberries, and a spectacular Duck Confit. Corn bread drizzled with maple syrup paired beautifully with the foie and huckleberries, and a Brandade (Salt Cod Puree) made it into the first course, providing a taste of the sea. John Baricelli, of Sono Baking Company, even created a special olive bread for the evening. VIEW PHOTO GALLERY Read More
Olive Oil Tasting Event w/ Olivette & Fairfield Green Food Guide, Nov 13th Ingredients Events CTbites Team November 05, 2012 Please join Olivette and the Fairfield Green Food Guide on Tuesday, November 13th frm 6-8PM, for an evening of sensory exploration with one of the foremost olive oil tasting experts in the US, Arden Kremer. During this two-hour workshop you will learn to taste and analyze extra virgin olive oils from around the world just as the experts on professional olive oil taste panels do. Bonus! This tasting will be held at the new Sono Marketplace...you can be one of the first to check out this beautiful new multi vendor market. Here are the details: Read More
Chocopologie Stamford Grand Opening November 11 Restaurant Chocolate Stamford CTbites Team November 05, 2012 Chocopologie Stamford will be opening to the public on November 11, 2012 at 211 Main Street in Stamford. Their opening receiption will include live music, champagne, petit fours, and chocolate (of course!). For the latest news, visit them on Facebook. Read More
Cinch Gourmet Meal Market & Cooking Classes Features Cooking Classes Entertaining Fairfield Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market Nancy Kleeger November 04, 2012 Years ago, around the time The Brady Bunch was infiltrating almost every T.V. set in America, it was unlikely that your mom would have picked up dinner in lieu of cooking a homemade meal. While it’s true that familiar words in your household at the time may have included Wendy’s, Burger King and Arby’s, you weren’t pulling up to the drive-in window to order healthy, gourmet food. At home it may have been a casserole or a roast while mom always remained neatly coifed, and eating meals at the table as a family were normal. Fast - forward 40 years and life is a lot different. In our fast paced world today we often find ourselves in a pinch, pressed for enough time to prepare a well-balanced meal for our disappearing family dinners due to time constraints. Enter Cinch, Fairfield’s newest “Gourmet Food Market.” A market where you shop for high quality meals that you just heat and serve in your own home. “Eat your heart out Carol Brady, let me tell you a little bit about the life of a 21st century family on the go.” Read More
Buy A Milk Shake for a Good Cause @ Shake Shack Stephanie Webster November 04, 2012 With relief efforts steadily underway throughout the Northeast, Shake Shack is holding a week-long (Nov. 4-11) drive to help raise awareness and funds for the American Red Cross in support of victims impacted by Superstorm Sandy.Shake Shack created a special milkshake, the Rally Shake, inspired by NYC’s iconic Black & White cookies for purchase ($5.50) to rally support and funds for the American Red Cross to help those in need. From Sunday November 4th through Sunday, November 11th, Shake Shack will donate $2.00 to the American Red Cross for every Rally Shake sold. The Rally Shake is available at ALL Shake Shack locations. For more information, please visit www.shakeshack.com. Read More
Eat Local Fish Now Seafood Stephanie Webster November 03, 2012 Like many others, fishermen in the Northeast are feeling the effects of the hurricane and struggling to get back on their feet. Many chefs have made a commitment to help New England fishermen by serving local seafood. As Jared Auerbach, Massachusetts fisherman and dock owner explains, "The East Coast got hit really hard this week and there are a lot of people who are hurting. Instead of using imported fish, lets all put our money where it's needed most." It's always a good time to eat and buy local New England fish, but now, even more so. Ask your fish purveyor what's local and fresh, and as diners ask your server where your fish was caught. The Dressing Room restaurant was one of the first to respond when Sea to Table, (an organization that partners with local fishermen from small-scale sustainable wild fisheries), asked for support. Chef Jon Vaast decided to menu hake from the Gulf of Maine, baked with a sunchoke puree, swiss chard, brown butter, and a red wine reduction. Chef Bill Taibe continues to do the same at The Whelk where he has been committed to sourcing local fish since they opened their doors. Read More
Guide To Great Sustainable Coffee in Fairfield County Restaurant Coffee Tea And Coffee April Guilbault November 02, 2012 Coffee joints have always been key meeting grounds, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, good quality caffeine and WIFI reign supreme. However, cafes such as Green Leaf Organic Bakery and Cafe in Wilton, Terrain in Westport, Sugar & Olives in Norwalk, Tusk & Cup in Ridgefield, & espresso NEAT in Darien are going beyond basic coffee service. Here's why...(re-posted with permission from the Fairfield Green Food Guide) Ah, it’s getting to be hot-beverage season (but then again, maybe it always is). Are you a mom who is back to inhabiting cafes with friends now that the kids are back in school? Or a traveler passing through Fairfield County? Either way, a great cup of joe is always on the destination list. But where to get one? And, more importantly, where to enjoy a sustainable cup of coffee? That’s the trickier part because not all joe is created equal. Read More
Bar Sügo Opens in Norwalk w/ Authentic Italian Restaurant Italian Norwalk Pasta Beer Comfort Food Kid Friendly Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 28, 2012 The culinary landscape of downtown Norwalk improved significantly with the opening of Bar Sügo, offering Italian cuisine that Chef/Owner Pat Pascarella’s describes as “food that Italians eat every day.” Bar Sügo’s menu features a wide variety of cicchetti, e primi, and meatballs as well as larger servings of pasta and pizzas to accompany several beers on tap, including Allagash White, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Strubbe Pils or Thornbridge Raven, or one of the numerous bottles of wine. The interior features a large red and white tiled floor, a copper-topped bar, rustic walls covered with large canvassed photos, with one wall dedicated to displaying the restaurant’s diverse selection of wines…the setting allows for a vibrant atmosphere to complement the delicious food. Chef Pat will prepare variations of Italian cuisine using fresh, flavorful ingredients and keep the price of each of the dishes under $20. Read More
Holiday Open House @ The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Features Chef Talk Education Entertaining Holiday Stephanie Webster October 26, 2012 This just in from The Schoolhouse: It's that time of year again! Head on over to a Holiday Open House here at the Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant. Get inspiration for your upcoming holiday and dinner parties with a few signature ideas of Chef LaBant's. The Schoolhouse will be featuring several workshop stations starring some of their favorite Hor D'oeuvres, Desserts & Pies (also available for pre-order), a Prosecco and Italian Soda Bar, and a Floral Arrangements & Decorations workshop. The Open House will go from 7 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, November 20th. Take home an original recipe book by Schoolhouse's own, included in the cost. Tickets are $65.00 per person. To reserve tickets, please contact: openhouse2012@schoolhouseatcannondale.com with your name, number of reservations, and a telephone number should we need to contact youdirectly. We will confirm your tickets via email. Read More
An Insider's Look at the Greenwich Food & Wine Festival Andrea Viscuso October 26, 2012 Greenwich 2012 FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Presented by Serendipity; A Recap from Someone Obsessed with the “Food Obsessed.” The 2nd annual Greenwich 2012 FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL, presented by Serendipity, put fall into full swing. There is nothing like celebrating the change of the seasons by stuffing your face with fall’s most delicious tastes from Fairfield and Westchester counties – cuisine, beer, wine… bliss. Local residents roamed around the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich to feast on signature delicacies from local restaurants, wine producers, distilleries, pastry shops, chocolatiers, and the like. Thanks to Serendipity, 100% of the proceeds were donated to The Hole in The Wall Gang Camp, which is dedicated to providing unique forms of healing to children and their families who are dealing with a serious illness. Hundreds of locals filled the crowd for the festival each night. It may be safe to say next year’s camp might resemble a mini Cirque du Soleil – the fest was a complete success. Read More
elm is Awarded One of the Best New Restaurants by Esquire Magazine Restaurant Chef Talk New Canaan CTbites Team October 25, 2012 elm is Awarded One of the Best New Restaurants in America 2012 by Esquire Magazine Chef/Owner Brian Lewis’ restaurant, elm has been named one of the best new restaurants in America 2012 by Esquire magazine. Now in its 28th year, Esquire’s annual list features the best restaurants as selected by its restaurant features writer John Mariani. elm is Lewis’ first solo venture, featuring inventive Modern American cuisine, rooted in tradition and inspired by the seasons. “We are thrilled and so proud for elm to be awarded as one of Esquire’s best new restaurants,” says Lewis. “It is quite the honor.” Read More
Artisanal Tasting Event @ Trinity Church in Southport Restaurant Events Local Artisan CTbites Team October 24, 2012 Get your taste buds revved up for Saturday, November 3rd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport. Artisanal foods and beverages will be available to swish, swill, sniff, and savor. Sample all kinds of goodies from Fairfield Cheese Company, Red Bee honey, Olivette oils and vinegars, Wave Hill Breads, Izzy B’s cupcakes, The Pop Shop cake pops, and Tea-RRific! ice cream. And when you get thirsty, try Henri's Reserve boutique champagnes or the latest brews from Beaver Beer. Need a hot beverage to soothe your savage soul? No problem! Try Babycat Milkbar’s fabulous teas. Sure to be a crowd pleaser! The artisanal tasting is meant to not only explore those foods and beverages that are unique and extraordinary, but it is also a great way to support local businesses. Read More
Nothin' But Granola Bars Make it Big @ Le Pain Quotidien Ingredients Local Artisan Breakfast Kid Friendly Dessert CTbites Team October 23, 2012 Big news for a local baker whose career CTbites has followed from the very beginning. Westport based NOTHIN’ BUT Premium Snack Bars have just announced that they have created a specialty blend granola bar for Le Pain Quotidien, an international chain of bakery cafes. Several months ago Nothin' But CEO, Steven Laitmon, and Jerri Graham, the founder and creator of the company, approached Le Pain with the idea of making a proprietary blended granola bar. Receptive about a Premium Snack Bar that could capture their commitment to excellence, the team at Le Pain readily agreed. Back home in Westport, Jerri and Steven set to work and started the process of crafting various combinations until they achieved what they felt was perfection. Read More
Food News: Openings, Parties, Election Day & Wine Ingredients Restaurant Brunch News Specialty Market Beer CTbites Team October 23, 2012 Half Full brewery in Stamford will host a Halloween party this Saturday, starting at 7p.m. For $50, you'll get open taps of Half Full Bright Ale, InaugerALE, IPA and Pumpkin Ale, Oktoberfest inspired food and Pumpkin Ale floats, via Station Eats, and a costume contest. Half Full recommends taking a cab to this one. Feeling stressed about Election Day? Fairway Market in Stamford has a solution. Eat cupcakes.. Go Donkey or Elephant - for $1.49 each - celebrate or sob into your sweets. The Spread opens TODAY in SoNo with Executive Chef Arik Bensimon. Don't miss out on this hipster scene and spectacular menu. More here. Looking for a good brunch spot? Bar Sugo, Chef Pat Pascarella's new killer Italian venue in Norwalk, is serving a regional Italian brunch Saturday and Sunday with rotating menu items including: Crispy Pork Belly w/ Sunny Side Up Eggs, Sausage & Broccoli Rabe omelettes, pancakes, and all the usual suspects. View menu here. Read More
Walter Stewart's Market Fall Shopping Guide (sponsored post) Ingredients Local Artisan Local Farm Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market New Canaan CTbites Team October 22, 2012 Fall is here and Walter Stewart's Market, a fixture in downtown New Canaan since 1907, is celebrating the season with great products for your whole family. For those who haven’t shopped this local gem, take a a trip down the aisles of Walter Stewart’s Market, where you’ll find an amazing array of local, seasonal and specialty items...not to mention the Stewart’s wine shop. Finally one stop shopping. How better to enjoy in these crisp Fall months, than with local apple and apple cider from Lyman Orchards in Middlefield CT or the exceptionally delicious Cider donuts from Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel. Read More
