EOS Greek Cuisine in Stamford Revamps Menu Restaurant Greek Mediterranean Stamford Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger March 03, 2013 EOS, the Greek goddess of the dawn, signifies the beginning of a new day. EOS Greek Cuisine, an upscale Greek restaurant in Stamford owned by the Glekas family, recently introduced its new menu and invited CTbites (along with several other bloggers for what we nicknamed "Bloggers' Row") for a tasting of several of these items. All of the dishes are based on family recipes with slight modifications to modernize the dishes while maintaining their Greek roots. Read More
Outstanding In The Field Seats Go On Sale March 20th Restaurant Farm to Table Local Farm CTbites Team March 01, 2013 Mark your calendars. On Wednesday, March 20th, the first day of spring, tickets will go on sale for the 2013 season of Outstanding In The Field. UPDATE: Bill Taibe of The Whelk & le Farm will be hosting a 2nd date @ The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield on September 5th!! "Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls." Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. The other meaning of Outstanding in the Field is outstanding as in the best. We've just received word that the CT dinner will be held on Wednesday September 4, 2013, @ Waldingfield Farm, Washington, CT. Read More
CTbites Invites Recap: “Celebrate CT” Breweries BarQ Dinner ellen bowen March 01, 2013 The funky cow print décor in the upstairs bar loft at Bob LeRose’s BarQ in Stamford was the perfect backdrop for the CTbites Invites celebration of CT’s Own burgeoning beer business. Representatives from City Steam in Hartford, Half Full in Stamford and Two Roads in Stratford were on hand to pour and explain the brewing process of over six different craft beers to an enthusiastic sold out crowd. Tim, the Pitmaster at BarQ , took this opportunity to create a special and very creative dinner menu that BarQ calls “original” CT BBQ. It was expertly paired with distinctive and unique tasting beers and included wood kissed sweet and sticky wings, paired with City Steam’s Blonde on Blonde ale, smoky brisket chili cups served in mini cast iron skillets and paired with City Steam’s Naughty Nurse lager. Pulled pork and brisket sliders with touch of chipotle mayo, with Two Roads Ol Factory Pilsner and “Dueling ribs” meaty St. Louis Sticky and Memphis Dry Rub with Two Roads, Roads to Ruin Double IPA. Read More
Spring Workshops at Millstone Farm in Wilton Ingredients Features Cooking Classes Education CTbites Team March 01, 2013 Millstone Farm's spring workshops series has been announced. These events range from Pig Carving 101 with Chef Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse to Raising Backyard Chickens with Millstone’s Master Farmer, Annie Farrell. You'll want to check these out. Pig Carving 101 with Chef Tim LaBant Saturday, March 23: 12pm – 3pm Cost: $50, RSVP to f2f@schoolhouseatcannondale.co Back by popular demand! Join us for a hearty lunch and an up close and personal workshop on how to carve a whole pig, lead by Chef Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale. Read more... Raising Backyard Chickens Saturday, April 6: 1pm – 4pm Read More
Knipschildt & Red Bee: Chocolate & Honey Tasting Event Ingredients Events Local Artisan Specialty Market Dessert CTbites Team February 28, 2013 Fritz Knipschildt of House of Knipschildt/Chocopologie and Marina Marchese of Red Bee Honey are teaming up for a very unique evening of tasting and pairings. Marina and Fritz will present tasting flights partnering Artisan Chocolate & Single-Origin Honey at Chocopologie's SoNo location. Sweet! This event includes hors d’oeuvres & Cava, in addition to the tasting flights seen below. Tasting Flights Include: Farmhouse Honeycomb Enrobed in 96% Dark Chocolate Orange Blossom Honey Drizzled Over Cocoa Nib Brittle Buckwheat Honey Ganache Truffles Red Currant Honey Drizzled Over a Raspberry and Pink Peppercorn Bonbon Goldenrod Honey and 71% Ecuadorian Single Bean Dark Chocolate Fondue Creamed Honey Spread Over Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Read More
"Join the Conversation" with Mark Bittman on March 16 at Ikea in New Haven Restaurant Events Chef Talk CTbites Team February 27, 2013 New York Times food writer Mark Bittman will be appearing as part of WSHU Radio's "Join the Conversation" series on March 16 at 11 am at IKEA in New Haven. Bittman will give cooking tips from his new book, How to Cook Everything: The Basics. This event is $25 per person, including a copy of his new book. Learn more or register for this event. One of the country's most widely respected food writers, Mark Bittman is also a champion of home cooking. He will discuss his new book: How to Cook Everything: The Basics (All You Need to Know to Make Great Food), revealing fundamental techniques and essential lessons from dicing vegetables and roasting meat. Read More
Pasta Bolognese in Fairfield County Roundup: Part II Restaurant Cos Cob Greenwich Norwalk Pasta Stamford Jeff Schlesinger & Lou Gorfain February 27, 2013 Déjà vu all over again so…Mangia, Mangia Mangia…and Mangia again... We recently recommended several places that are serving up delicious Bolognese and promised more. So here is our second, and last, installment of 2013 Recommended Pasta Bolognese of Fairfield County that includes two slight variations of the traditional sauce, one with chicken and another with oxtail. Let the games begin...and let the lipitor flow for these 2 brave diners who sampled Bolognese from all over Fairfield County. From Cotto in Stamford to The Spread in SoNo to Louie's in Cos Cob, we bring you tasting notes on 10 more Bologneses. Read More
elm Restaurant Events: Whole Hog, Cheese Tasting & More Features Restaurant Events CTbites Team February 26, 2013 Chef Brian Lewis and his staff at elm Restaurant in New Canaan are pleased to announce the following events during March, in conjunction with many Fairfield County Artisans. Some of the unique culinary experiences include: The Whole Hog Dinner with Craft Butchery of Westport, Localvore Cuisine, and A Cheese Primer & Feast with local expert Erin Hedley. View the complete calendar of events below: Read More
Mike’s Organic Delivery Brings Local, Organic Food to Your Door Ingredients Delivery Service Farm to Table Local Farm Organic Special Dietary Needs Deanna Foster February 26, 2013 Mike Geller likes that he can tell his customers stories about how the food he delivers is grown and about the farmers who grow it. Conversely, he states, “There are no stories to tell with big agricultural suppliers. No one wants to know about thousands of chickens crowded in a small space with no room to move and no access to the outdoors.” Mike started Mike’s Organic Delivery in June 2010 with a mission to reconnect people in Fairfield and Westchester Counties to where, how, and when their food is grown. After careful research, he selected 12 farms from the Hudson River Valley, Westchester County and Western Connecticut to become the suppliers for his nascent farm to home delivery service. The farms all use practices many of us look for when supermarket label gazing: organic, sustainable, free range, pesticide-free, no added hormones, no steroids, and no antibiotics. While we may find some of these methods on supermarket labels, Mike guarantees that his produce is picked no more than 36 and usually less than 24 hours before it reaches your door. That is not likely the case with the produce we cart home from the grocery store. Read More
Eating Greenwich & Port Chester Dining Deals March 3-7 CTbites Team February 25, 2013 The New England Culinary Group is gearing up for a week-long celebration of dining in the neighboring towns of Greenwich, Connecticut and Port Chester, New York. Eating Greenwich & Port Chester will offer consumers specially discounted prices on prix fixe menus and special offers throughout the week. Participating restaurants Greenwich: Avenue Café, Bistro Latino, Centro at the Mill Restaurant, Eleven14 Kitchen, Greco's Bella Cucina, Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar, Morello Bistro, Polpo, The Ginger Man. Participating restaurants Port Chester:Alba’s, Arrosto, China White (Purchase), COALS, John's of Arthur Avenue, Sonora, Tandoori, Tarry Lodge, Willett House Read More
Northeast Organic Farming Education & Food Event March 2nd CTbites Team February 25, 2013 All are welcome to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut’s annual celebration of local food and organic farms, the Winter Conference on Saturday, March 2. Now in its 31st year, the 2013 Winter Conference will feature more workshops and vendors than ever before and has moved to a new larger venue, Wilton High School. The 2013 Winter Conference will feature over 50 workshops for homeowners, farmers, cooks, students, environmentalists and activists. Also, some of the areas finest farm-to-table restaurants will be serving lunch including: elm, le Farm, The Schoolhouse, Dressing Room, Barcelona, Sugar & Olives, & Terrain. Read More
Exceeding Expectations at Trumbull's Parallel Post Restaurant Farm to Table Trumbull Lunch Amy Kundrat February 24, 2013 The Trumbull Marriott’s Parallel Post restaurant is the result of a prescient collaboration with a James Beard nominated chef and a well-known hotel chain just off the beaten path of Fairfield County's regular dining haunts. Leveraging its proximity to the region’s small and robust network of farms, and the fisheries of Long Island Sound, this three-month-old restaurant draws its inspiration from the bounty of land and sea. The effect is a modern and seasonal New England menu that skews upscale, but without any pretense. Chef and restaurateur Dean James Max was tapped by Trumbull’s Marriott to reimagine its restaurant—an intensive project that included a two month renovation of its dining spaces. Opened at the end of November 2012, the restaurant has been gaining momentum, thanks in large part to this embrace of local farms, a superlative understanding of seafood, a talented team led by Executive Chef Christopher Molyneux, and a welcome, if seemingly inauspicious location inside the Trumbull Marriott. Read More
Celebrate National Margarita Day w/ Fresh Orange Margaritas Features Cocktails katie vitucci February 22, 2013 Yep...today is National Margarita Day, and in honor of said "holiday," we suggest you celebrate with this delicious recipe for Fresh Orange Margaritas c/o local blogger, The Parsley Thief. I consider myself to be a very good margarita mixer and have made many different types over the years. One thing is always a constant and that is - Patrón tequila. Along with with the good tequila you must also have some sort of orange liqueur. Mostly, I use Cointreau {pricey!}...other times Triple Sec {when money's tight}....and once in a blue moon {usually because it's all I have laying around}, I'll use Grand Marnier. While I am sure this recipe would be equally delicious using blood oranges - I opted to use fresh Florida juice oranges because they're in season at the moment and I just so happened to have a 25 lb. box of them laying around. Read More
Friday Froth: Beers to Sample While Waiting for Spring Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon February 22, 2013 Between typing, I'm looking at surging whitecaps. The water glints with the stray sparkle of sunshine, but mostly it's the blue color of anodized chrome, evening off to a shallow green. It's cold, and the wind knifes into any exposed skin wherever it can, but there's that sunshine. Random patterns run across my chest and face, and I hold up a palm like a screen to see the fluid waves of light move on its surface. The Sun is starting to burn stronger - it's holding off the darkness for longer each night. I smile, sip a Whale's Tale, and try to remember where the hell I put my notes.Spring beers are already starting to hit the market, it seems, like Magic Hat's Pistil, which has replaced the Vermont brewer's previous spring seasonal, Vinyl. Victory looks ready to release several new beers this spring, including the K-Bomb and Ranch double IPAs, NATO IPA (made with American, English and German ingredients), and Swing Session Saison. Read More
CTbites' Canned Film Festival: Food Movie Favorites Ingredients Features Entertaining Food Movies ellen bowen February 21, 2013 The Awards Season is in full swing! The Golden Globes, Sundance Film Festival are already old news…the Grammy’s just scored record ratings and now the anticipation builds for the “motherlode” of all awards… The 85th Academy Awards for Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (also known as the Oscar’s ) airing on Sunday 2/24 on ABC. And what better way to spend a winter evening than with Dinner and a Movie! But, what if you don’t feel like braving the weather, the crowds or JUST can’t stand the smell of popcorn? How about staying in and watching a movie and ordering in or making dinner? Therefore, I offer you the CTbites, “CANNED FILM FESTIVAL" with tasty recomendations for food focused movies in 4 categories: Food Flick Classics, Watch With Your Kids, Food Education, and Flicks For Wine Lovers. Read More
Discover Bethel Restaurant Week Starts February 24 Restaurant Restaurant Week CTbites Team February 20, 2013 Discover Bethel Restaurant Week is Back! Visit Bethel from February 24 - March 2, 2013 for the town's second annual Restaurant Week. Several Bethel restaurants will be offering special discounts and prix-fixe specials for lunch and dinner. Participating Restaurants: Stella Restaurant and Bar - 213 Greenwood Ave: Lunch Special - $10 or $15 prixe fix menu (includes appetizer, entree, tiramisu and coffee) and Dinner Special - $30 prix fixe menu (includes appetizer, salad, entree, tiramisu, coffee and glass of house wine) Daily Fare - 13 Durant Ave (Free Coffee or Scone with any lunch purchase) Sycamore Drive In Restaurant - 282 Greenwood Ave (10% off total bill) Sal'z Pizza - 211 Greenwood Ave. Greenwoods Grille and Ale House - 186 Greenwood Ave O'Neills Sandwich and Coffee Bar - 114 Greenwood Ave LaZingara Restaurant - 8 PT Barnum Sq Lebanese Cuisine - 23 Stony Hill Rd LaFortuna Restaurant - 37 Stony Hill Rd Putnam House Restaurant - 12 Depot Place Ruzzuto's- Stony Hill Road For more information, visit www.bethelchamber.com. Read More
Winesday: Best Wines from the Mohegan Sun Winefest Wine Chat Wine Tasting Winesday Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 20, 2013 There’s a lot to wine about at the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest. I watched in horror as my printer spewed out 16 pages of wines that would be featured over the course of the weekend. The annual event is an exercise in diversity; exhibitors bring everything from the commercial to the exclusive, the traditional to the innovative. There are wines with long-lasting legacies and bottles that haven’t even hit shelves yet. Fortunately, I carefully siphoned through all of the offerings to bring you a report of the very best the event had to offer. Armed with my 16 page list, I diligently worked my way through the tables, asked questions, and sampled the wines. (Don’t worry, there was a significant amount of spitting involved!) It’s difficult to compare wines, especially with such an extensive range available. How can one compare an expensive Napa Valley Cab to a fruity white made for casual drinking? To solve the predicament, I broke my explorations down into categories. In this first installation, I feature Robust Reds, Wonderful Whites, and Wines to Watch. In Robust Reds and Wonderful Whites, my aim is to focus on quality. Some of these wines might come off as a bit of a monetary splurge, but they drink beautifully. Wines to Watch also hinges on quality. Read More
Bar Rosso Wild Game Dinner on March 6 CTbites Team February 20, 2013 Bar Rosso in Stamford will host their first annual Wild Game Dinner on March 6, 2013. Cost is $120 per person. To reserve a table, email info@barrossoct.com or call 203.288.8640. Game Dinner Menu: TUSCAN FETTUNTA Fig Marmelade, Wild Boar Prosciutto Wine Pairing: Barbera D’Alba Pio Cesare HOME-MADE PAPPARDELLE Stained with Chianti in a Braised Rabbit Ragu Wine Pairing: Nero Di troia, Botromagno RISOTTO Braised Wild Boar and Truffle Butter Wine Pairing: Nero Di troia, Botromagno Read More
