10 Course "New Nordic" Dinner w/ Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie CTbites Team April 14, 2013 Join us for a 10 Course "New Nordic" Dinner with Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie on Tuesday, April 23rd. Inspired by the New Nordic Cuisine of Scandinavia, and Rene Redzepi's "World's Best Restaurant," NOMA in Copenhagen, multi- talented chef, Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie, brings this cuisine exclusively to CTbites Invites, for a special one-night only ALL-inclusive 10 course dinner and wine pairing on Tuesday 4/23 from 7:30-9:30 for $95. Reserve Your Seat Here. In November 2004, on the initiative of the Danish chefs René Redzepi and Claus Meyer of the then newly opened NOMA restaurant, chefs and food professionals from all the Nordic countries met in Copenhagen to discuss how best to develop what they called the "New Nordic Cuisine." Read More
Pinot Power Wine Dinner w/ Fountainhead & Fat Cat Pie Co CTbites Team April 14, 2013 It’s Fat Cat City’s spring homage to the great grape of Burgundy, Pinot Noir, as expressed through the lens of some of Oregon’s most talented wine artisans. Fat Cat Pie Co. will host a special Pinot Power on Saturday April 20, 2013 @ 7:30 PM in their wine room. The dinner will feature two single-vineyard Patricia Green wines that are rarely seen outside of Oregon as the quantities produced are so minuscule. All of the producers are Fountainhead Selections™ discoveries, the Fountainhead crew having traveled there long before the region was recognized as world class. View the complete menu below: Read More
Branford Restaurant Week Begins April 14 CTbites Team April 14, 2013 Always wanted to try a new restaurant but not quite sure where to begin? Restuarant weeks are the perfect opportunity to explore spots new to you, as well as celebrate and support the businesses in some of your favorite towns. Branford is holding their second annual restuarant week, including over twenty restaurants with special menus and prix-fixe meals for the week. For more information, visit: http://branfordrestaurantweek.com/ Read More
10 Questions with Chef Jason Sobocinski of Caseus Fromagerie Interview Cheese New Haven Amy Kundrat April 12, 2013 Today is National Grilled Cheese Day, so what better time to interview the King of the Grilled Cheese, Jason Sobocinski of Caseus Fromagerie Bistro than today? Chef Sobocinski is the owner and founder of New Haven's innovative cheese-centric gastropub and cheese shop. A graduate of Providence College, Chef Sobocinki earned his master’s in gastronomy at Boston University and after working his way through the ranks at the Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, he opened Caseus. 1. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in 1 hour, what would you whip up? What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? I'd probably put out a few hunks of cheese, surprise. I always have good bread on hand, jam, mustards, crackers...I like the idea of having a grilled cheese party where you lay out bread, different cheeses, and condiments and let guests make their own creation. Bust out a couple of bottles of wine and everyone is happy. I’m actually judging a grilled cheese recipe and wine pairing contest. Last dish I cooked for myself was left over Easter Ham, fried up in brown butter with two over easy eggs and a hunk of bread baked in the oven. I covered the entire plate with finely grated black diamond cheddar and then a drizzle of maple syrup. This was around 1am last night. I had a Cadbury Caramel Egg for desert with a glass of St. Francis Zinfandel. Read More
Friday Froth: The Ground Beneath Our Feet Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon April 12, 2013 The swings in temperature lately set me back thinking about the equally wild temperamental capriciousness of the Greek gods. Just as it's not too difficult to convince me to go out for a beer, it only takes a slight hint for my mind to go in a Hellenistic direction, and springtime seems to always provide the nudge. It's a happy accident, then, that I've recently had a few beers fit to tell a tale. The Greeks made their gods powerful, but they didn't need them to be infallible. The Olympians were more like people; they had pride which could be swelled or injured, love, hatred, jealousy, sexual appetites, creative instincts and, every once in a while, they'd strike a deal.One of the most famous of these deals (well, if you're a classical mythology geek) is the story of Hades falling in love with Persephone and opening the Earth to swallow her so she could be his queen in the underworld. Read More
Melt Mobile in Stamford: Great Sandwiches Day & Night Restaurant Food Truck Stamford Comfort Food Eliza Schlesinger April 11, 2013 CTbites is pleased to welcome Eliza Schlesinger as a new contributor. She will help guide our readers to great tasting venues perfect for 20-somethings in the Stamford area. When the weekend night bar scene in Stamford comes to a close, a girl has two options, take home a man or take home a sandwich, and this single lady prefers a sandwich. As my friends and I were finishing another night of laughter and dancing, I looked around to see if anything caught my eye. I peered across Bedford Street and instantly had my answer, the Melt Mobile. As a little girl, there were few things as delicious and comforting as a grilled cheese, and Melt Mobile’s creations bring me back to my childhood while igniting the flavors that my adult taste buds love. The scene is exactly what I would expect around 2 am, utter drunken chaos and sloppy flirtation combined with an aroma that makes it all bearable. Until this visit I’ve always ordered the same sandwich, the Caprese, for two simple reasons. The first, it’s typically listed towards the top of the Specials menu, and the second because I swear it’s always tasted like heaven. The sandwich is a wonderful balance of fresh mozzarella and Prosciutto di Parma, accompanied by my favorite combination of roasted red peppers, arugula, fresh tomatoes and pesto aioli on Kalamata olive bread. But I am here to be objective and thorough, so I let my eyes wander down the rest of the deliciously cheesy menu to look for new and exciting options. Read More
Giveaway: Win 2 Seats to Tastings & Tapas Evening @ Todd English's Tuscany CTbites Team April 10, 2013 Mohegan Sun and CTbites are teaming up to GIVE AWAY 2 SEATS for 1 LUCKY WINNER to the monthly Tastings and Tapas event at Todd English's Tuscany on Wednesday, May 1st. To Enter: We will select one winner from our FACEBOOK FRIENDS. If you are not already following us on Facebook, Click HERE and join us on Facebook! Mention that you'd like to attend this event. The first Wednesday of every month, though, has a special offering: “Tasting and Tapas” at Todd English’s Tuscany. Our Wine contributor, Emma Doody had the pleaseure of attending in March. Here is what she had to say about the event: Read More
ROÌA Restaurant Opens in New Haven: A First Taste Restaurant French Italian Vegetarian New Haven CTbites Team April 09, 2013 As “Grand Openings” of restaurants go, this one was as grand as they come. A crowd of lucky invitees, including members of the press, city officials, business, university leaders, tastemakers, foodies, area restaurateurs, friends and family gathered around Executive Chef Avi Szapiro, to watch him cut the ceremonial ribbon. At promptly 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27th, in New Haven ROÌA Restaurant officially opened its doors. After several months of research, demolition plus an additional six months of meticulous renovation, this venerated-but neglected 101 year old space, which once housed the dining room of the Taft Hotel was finally reborn. ROÌA, named after a river that flows between France and Italy, has been buffed, primed, renovated into a glistening Beaux-Arts jewel of a restaurant with a decidedly modern tilt by Szapiro and his lovely wife, Meera. The couple, who moved here in 2011 from Brooklyn (where else?) have truly left no stone unturned in their mission to revamp this historic landmark: uncovering original mosaic-tile marble flooring, reclaiming white oak walls, buffing woodwork, installing red leather banquettes, restoring flourishes and medallions on the ornate plaster ceiling and moving (yes, moving!) the soaring dramatic staircase. While descending up or down these “storied” treds, patrons can reenact their very own “Hello Dolly!” moment. (At least I did.) Read More
Dishcrawl Makes Its Greenwich Debut: 6 Tickets Left!! CTbites Team April 08, 2013 Due to to overwhelming amount of support from local foodies and the fact that they sold out the event in 3 days, Dishcrawl has decided to add a SECOND NIGHT to the Downtown Greenwich Dishcrawl! The second night will be held on TUESDAY MAY 7TH! Dishcrawl, a national start-up founded on the premise that communities can be brought together through good food and good company, is expanding to Greenwich this May. Dishcrawl takes food lovers on a gourmet Dishcrawl to four distinctive restaurants in one night. Similar to a pub crawl—but more delicious. Participating restaurants are kept secret until two days before the event, at which time the first location is revealed to ticket holders. Dishcrawl expands into Greenwich’s downtown neighborhood with the mission of building community through a commonality of a passion for food. Dishcrawlers have the opportunity to experience the best of Greenwich’s culinary scene with each other while simultaneously helping local restaurants gain exposure in their respective communities. Reservations are $45 per person and can be purchased here. Read More
Harvest Wine Bar Opens in Downtown Greenwich Restaurant American Greenwich Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 07, 2013 Harvest Wine Bar, located on the lower end of Greenwich Avenue, elevates the restaurant offerings in downtown Greenwich to a much higher level. The Sigueza brothers, Vicente and Kleber, can now add another fantastic restaurant to their portfolio, which includes Cave Wine Bar in New Canaan, Scena Wine Bar in Darien and 55 Wine Bar in Fairfield. A beautiful casual dining space in the front area is dominated by a large brick wall and accentuated with wood tables and chairs. You can continue walking to the rear of the restaurant and enjoy the long bar or tables, all with views through the large west-facing windows lining the entire rear wall of the restaurant. Overseeing the kitchen is Chef Eben Leonard who is migrating from Scena Wine Bar where CTbites enjoyed his creativity and culinary talent on numerous occasions. His opening menu combines aspects from southern Europe, with a modern twist, to American classics. Read More
Block Party @The Westport Playhouse: Food Trucks, Shake Shack, Beer & More.. CTbites Team April 06, 2013 Westport Country Playhouse will host a “2013 Season Kick-off Block Party,” on Saturday, April 13, 4 to 7 p.m., offering a fun, party-like atmosphere with food trucks, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse’s “backstage experience.” Admission is free and open to the public. Three local food trucks, Skinny Pines Pizza, LobsterCRAFT, and Christophe’s Crepes, will be on site with their specialties available for purchase. Beaver Beer will provide a free tasting of their brews, and Shake Shack will offer complimentary custard. “To celebrate our 2013 Season, we’re throwing open the doors to the theater and offering self-guided tours, special insight into this year’s five productions, and fun games and activities for adults and kids alike,” said Jennifer McCool, Playhouse community engagement coordinator. “Come party with the Playhouse!” Read More
Butchering Classes at Stone Barns Center CTbites Team April 05, 2013 "Have you ever wondered where the tenderloin is on an animal, what the taste difference is between a leg of lamb and a lamb chop, or what to do with a bone-in shoulder roast?" Sharpen your knowledge and skills in understanding meat with Stone Barns two upcoming classes focusing on lamb and pig butchering led by butcher and writer Adam Danforth. For more information and to register, visit Stone Barns Center. April 9 – Break it Down: Lamb - "Butchers sometimes say that once you learn the cuts of a lamb, you’ll understand any animal. Learn about all of the cuts on a lamb, how best to prepare them, and participate in a taste test." April 16 — Break it Down: Pig - "Pigs are well-known for being used from "nose-to-tail." Fortify your butchering foundation, and taste the difference between the different parts for yourself." Member adult $67.50 adult $75.00 Read More
Friday Froth: Bouncing 'Round The Room Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon April 05, 2013 A while back, I was reading about the defenses ostensibly neutral Switzerland has constructed around its countryside. Mountainsides rigged for landslides, underground fortresses capable of protecting most of the population, alpine meadows, dotted with cows, under rocky peaks which would rotate away and send forth squadrons of attack aircraft from interior runways - the punctual, predicable Swiss were capable of some pretty heavy surprises. There's a part of the Jura mountains with a nickname I like: "Franches Montagnes": the Free Mountains, which holds another surprise, beer from Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes. An import this exotic is, of course, the work of Oxford, Connecticut's own B. United, which is how I had several pints of BFM's La Douze. "Douze" is French for "twelve" - from the Latin "duodecim" and giving us our word "dozen" - and was brewed for the BFM's twelfth anniversary. The best categorization I can offer for this one is a Belgian Pale Ale. Douze is an unassuming golden color and had a light head as it was poured when I encountered my first pint. There is a light floral aroma, but it's very subdued. Richness - that's what comes through on the first taste. The ethereal essence of Belgian yeast floats its bouquet above a surprisingly toasty body. Read More
Chef Michael Lucente Launches Barcelona's New Menu in Greenwich Restaurant Greenwich Spanish Wine Bar Sarah Green April 05, 2013 In search of my culinary Dulcinea, I heard there was a new "cocinero" in the town. So, instead of hopping on a faithful nag, I got in my fickle Mini Cooper and headed to the Greenwich Barcelona for the culinary offerings of new head-chef, Michael Lucente. Chef Michael comes to Barcelona after 10 years of experience, starting as a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America. He has been Sous Chef at BLT Steak in Westchester and Napa in Stamford and head chef at La Promenade des Anglais in New York. He had the exciting opportunity to Sous Chef on Iron Chef America in April of last year and joined Barcelona Greenwich in November. Greenwich, you're in luck. And so are Barcelona patrons everywhere as the revamping of Barcelona's signature menu is making tapas-cravers everywhere muy feliz. Read More
Dan Aykroyd Coming to Total Wine in Norwalk This Saturday Norwalk CTbites Team April 04, 2013 Actor, musician, writer and now distiller Dan Aykroyd will be visiting Norwalk, Connecticut on Saturday, April 6th 2013. Total Wine & More will host Dan Aykroyd for a bottle signing from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Aykroyd, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and in films including Trading Places, Ghostbusters and Driving Miss Daisy, has been involved with producing and distributing wine and spirits for more than seven years. He recently created Crystal Head Vodka (view hilarious promo here) as a result of his fascination with the supernatural. The super-premium vodka is made with water from a deep aquifer in Newfoundland, Canada, blended with selected grains for a creamy and slightly sweet finish, and triple crystal filtered through Herkimer diamonds, which, according to New Age belief systems, embody positive energy and goodwill. Read More
The Local Meatball Food Truck Rolls into Fairfield County Restaurant Fairfield Food Truck Italian Kid Friendly Kathleen Atkins April 04, 2013 There is a new food truck on the block in Fairfield (well, not so much food truck as in food car – Smart Car to be exact). The Local Meatball is rolling into town and making its debut this Saturday, April 6th, dishing out meatballs on the Town Green in Fairfield, made with local, organic ingredients. Meatballs, a comfort food of many, no longer need to be served over spaghetti to complete a meal. The Local Meatball is proving these balls stand great on their own! Wanting to share his passion for meatballs with the town, chef and Fairfield resident Michael DiStassio started The Local Meatball. “Meatballs are such a simple idea, but they resonate with so many people,” says DiStassio. The Local Meatball was revealed online on March 9th, National Meatball Day and “People have been so responsive to the idea,” added DiStassio. Working from his grandmother’s recipe, DiStassio has tweaked it slightly to come up with a variety of 5 different kinds of balls that will rotate weekly. Read More
CTbites Awarded Best Website & Best Blog by The Connecticut Press Club Stephanie Webster April 03, 2013
Pizza Truck Festival in New Haven on April 10 Restaurant Events Pizza New Haven CTbites Team April 02, 2013 What do a dozen pizza trucks look like rolling down I-95 in Connecticut? On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, The Big Green Pizza truck will be organizing a Pizza Truck Festival to commemorate their tenth season in business. They have invited between 12 and 15 pizza trucks (including local favorite Skinny Pines) to join them in a makeshift parade and gathering in the parking lot of the newly renovated Sport's Haven at 600 Long Wharf Drive in New Haven. The public is invited to meet up with the mobile pizza parade at their final resting spot at Sport's Haven's parking lot and buy a pie or a slice from 4 to 6 pm. "Ten years ago no one was doing pizza for catered events. Now the Big Green Pizza Truck has five trucks and some some weeks we feed over 3,000 people," said Douglas Coffin, founder and owner of Big Green Pizza Truck. "Many other people have gotten into this business; by my count at least ten other companies are doing similar style operations. My goal with this event is to say 'look how far this idea has come!'" Read More
