Rive Bistro Opens in Westport: A Bistro with a View Restaurant French Westport Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger July 07, 2013 Rive Bistro, a restaurant serving French fare with a beautiful view opened recently along the banks of the Saugatuck River in Westport. As you approach the restaurant you are greeted by an awning-covered deck that seats 40-50 guests with full southern exposure. The interior features a cozy, glass enclosed dining area with a 180-degree view of the river as well as a fireplace for a romantic evening when the weather turns cold. Chef /Owner Eric Sierra brings years of experience to Rive Bistro. Many will remember that he was the chef at Westport’s Bistro des Amis before he relocated to Il Palio in Shelton. I recently attended a dinner at Rive Bistro where Chef Sierra’s presented an array of flavors from every section of the menu. Read More
Don't Miss: "Hey Bartender" Documentary at Avon Theater July 10th CTbites Team July 05, 2013 "It takes 50 to 60 tries to get a cocktail just right," says Stephen Carpentieri, owner of the classic neighborhood hangout, Dunville's in Westport, and cast member in the new HEY BARTENDER documentary released this Spring. "Cocktails are seeing a Renaissance." Hey Bartender tells the story of the bartender in the era of the craft cocktail and documents its comeback. Viewers will get a glimpse into the world’s most renowned bartenders and access to the most exclusive bars in New York City. Meet mixologists such as Jim Meehan from PDT in NYC, winner of the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Bar Program and Dale DeGroff, or "King Cocktail," as he is known in the industry, with commentary from Graydon Carter, Danny Meyer and Amy Sacco. Hey Bartender will have an exclusive screening in Stamford at the Avon Theatre on July 10th. After the screening, there will be a Q&A that will include Westport natives Douglas Tirola (the director), Susan Bedusa (the producer), and Stephen Carpentieri (cast member/owner of Dunville's) as well as other filmmakers and cast members. The screening and Q&A will be at the Avon Theatre and the after party will be at Dunville's in Westport. Read More
2013 Guest Chef Lineup @ The Westport Farmers' Market Ingredients Restaurant Farm to Table Farmers Market CTbites Team July 04, 2013 Tired of always being in the "front of the house" when you really want to be back in the kitchen watching your favorite chef work? Well here is your chance to see some talented local chefs in action, and you even get fed at the end of the show. The Westport Farmers' Market has a great lineup of Guest Chefs this Summer and all you need to do is drive up with an empty stomach (and a shopping bag if you want to go home with some gorgeous local ingredients). Chef Arik Bensimon of Lefarm is up next on July 11th, but see the complete list below: Read More
Experts Share Their Secrets to Cooking a Perfect Steak at Home Ingredients Chef Talk Steakhouse Lou Gorfain July 03, 2013 That thick, sizzling steak you’re about to devour is amazing: Behold its marbled, mahogany crust framing a pink, juicy interior that slices like warm butter and literally melts in your mouth.. What makes this magnificent steak even more incredible is that you aren’t dining in a great, leathery New York chop house. You cooked this baby at home... Think it’s impossible to duplicate a Peter Luger Porterhouse in your own kitchen? Read on. After interviewing local butchers, chefs, and food scientists, we have uncovered some of the secrets, tricks and myths of cooking a perfect steak at home. Read More
Sake Grilled Salmon w/ Kim Chi Style Pickled Vegetables via Marcia Selden Asian Recipe Marcia Selden Catering July 02, 2013 At Marcia Selden Catering, this is one of our favorite times of the year. The local farmers markets are in full swing which means great local ingredients. The fruits and veggies are bursting with color and flavor, and our chefs are always looking for inventive ways to create mouth-watering food for our clients. In planning an event, our menus are inspired by the seasons, so we’ve come up with a modern Asian menu that uses the best of what’s available right now. Serve these dishes with ice cold sake or beer for best results. Enjoy our recipes for Asparagus Tempura and Kim Chi Style Pickled Vegetables with Sake Grilled Salmon seen below: Read More
Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off: Free Food, Music & Festivities BBQ CTbites Team July 02, 2013 Come on down to Fairway Market in Stamford to enjoy free BBQ, music and giveaways on Saturday, July 13 at noon. In lieu of helmets, hoses, and axes, Fairfield County’s bravest will instead don aprons, barbecue tongs, and basting brushes when they compete in Fairway’s Firefighters Food Face-Off. This grilling “throwdown” will pit firefighters from Cos Cob, Noroton Heights, Westport, and Belltown against one another to prove whose barbecue is best. This will go down on Saturday, July 13 at noon in the parking lot behind Fairway Market’s Stamford store at 699 Canal Street (RAIN OR SHINE). The public is welcome to enjoy free samples of the firefighter’s cuisine, as well as music and giveaways. Festivities to Include Customer Appreciation Day With Grilling Contest, Free Food, Music, and Fire Trucks. Read More
Bailey's Backyard: Farm to Table in Ridgefield Restaurant Farm to Table Ridgefield Opening Amy Kundrat June 30, 2013 Bailey’s Backyard Cuisine: New American, Farm-to-table Price: Snacks & Sides $4 to $6 | Greens $10 to $17 | Mains $15 - $29 Our Highlights: Bibb Salad, Pan seared halibut with shitake mushroom arancini, micro basil and black truffle; egg papardelle with roasted lamb ragout Online: Official Website | Facebook A thirteen year veteran of the Ridgefield dining scene, Bailey's Backyard owner Sal Bagliavio recently re-opened the beloved restaurant with a farm-to-table mission, a completely renovated space and a new and talented team in the kitchen led by Executive Chef Forrest Pasternack. Why the shift? "It was time for a change," said Sal Bagliavio. "Anyone can go out to eat, anywhere these days, I want to offer our guest a true dining experience based on organic, local ingredients." The spring menu at the soft opening gave a promising peek at the seasonal creativity to come. Snacks and sides top the menu, offering a variety of small plates such as mable bacon pecans, local grits and roasted brussel sprouts. “Greens” and “Starts” are the showcase for local produce, such as the Connecticut Kale salad and a Bibb Salad. The latter was the highlight of my meal, a medley of textures, temperatures and flavors. Bibb lettuce, local blue cheese, bacon lardon, and parsley are the foundation for a crispy poached egg, an elegant take of a Scotch egg that is poached to perfection. Read More
Pinocchio Pizza Sponsors "A Slice for the Cure" Restaurant Fundraiser CTbites Team June 30, 2013 CTbites wants to offer a major shout out and note of appreciation to Bruno DiFabio, co-owner of 10 widely lauded pizzerias around the country including Wilton’s Pinocchio, ReNapoli in Old Greenwich and San Francisco’s esteemed Tony’s Napoletana, for launching “A Slice for the Cure” at Pinocchio Pizza in Wilton. On Tuesday, June 25th, DiFabio and Pinocchio Pizza sponsored the event from noon to 10PM, in which 100% of sales was donated to the American Cancer Society to benefit cancer research. The six-time World Pizza Champion debuted his award-winning Pulled Pork Pizza created with roasted pork, mozzarella, onion, bacon and barbecue sauce. CTbites attended the event and discussed DiFabio’s passion for pizza, the various types of crusts and toppings and his general vision for his continuing commitment to Fairfield County. Of course, this conversation occurred as we enjoyed a few slices of the Pulled Pork Pizza. Read More
The Farmer-Chef Connection: A Discussion Recap Christy Colasurdo June 28, 2013 Despite the threat of looming thunderstorms, the show went on at Wakeman Town Farm Monday night, as more than 200 —farmers, food artisans and writers, chefs and food lovers turned out for the Farmer-Chef Connection, a grassroots event focusing on why sourcing and buying local is so important. Moderated by Elizabeth Beller, WTF chairman, the panel included Bill Taibe, chef at The Whelk and Le Farm, Lori Cochran of the Westport Farmer’s Market, Rene Giroux, the head grower for Gilbertie’s, Nancy Roper, chef of Boxcar Cantina, along with Michael Aitkenhead, WTF Steward and teacher of environmental science at Staples High School. The main event started with a discussion about what we, as a community, can do to make it more appealing to buy from local vendors, farmers’ markets and farm-to-table restaurants, as well as what chefs of all stripes can do to work together to leverage their local purchasing power. Read More
SONO Maritime Cruise and Cuisine Fridays via The Hour Restaurant Events Norwalk SONO CTbites Team June 27, 2013 This article was originally published in The Hour. We wanted to share the good news... For the second consecutive summer, the Norwalk Seaport Association has rolled out its popular Maritime Cruise and Cuisine Fridays. With the components of a relaxing summer vacation, the mini-getaway is designed to showcase the beauty of the scenery in Norwalk's backyard. The Maritime Cruise and Cuisine Friday, which runs from June 28 through August 30, includes a Norwalk Harbor sunset cruise with the Norwalk Seaport Association leaving from Sheffield Island Dock. Guests then walk one block to Mama's Boy Restaurant, for a three-course meal. "The cruise was very popular last year. It's very relaxing," said Norwalk Seaport Association president Irene Dixon. "What could be better than sitting on a boat, enjoying the scenery, and inhaling the beautiful ocean air after a long work week?" Read the full article at The Hour Read More
#Streating On9 in New Haven on July 5 Restaurant New Haven Amy Kundrat June 27, 2013 Our Empty Space and On9 New Haven are teaming up once again for an evening in the streets. This pop up dining collaboration between Our Empty Space, a company that targets vacant Connecticut storefronts with pop up experiences, and New Haven's historic Historic 9th Square neighborhood, will take place on July 5 for up to 125 guests along a single table on Orange Street. Still not convinced? Check out this time lapse video from their last #streating event. Read More
Cru Restaurant Opens in Westport Sarah Green June 26, 2013 Cru - the French wine term for "growth" - is also the spankin' new restaurant behind the Gap on Main street in Westport - and this is the perfect name for this hot new spot which shows great promise. The grand, yet very soft opening, happened this week and we were there to get a glimpse of what is to come once the wait staff and kitchen get some mileage under their aprons. Chic and very stylish, CRU is the second restaurant for Steve Prokop and Todd Rose, also of CUVEE' In West Hartford. The decor is very New York lounge-y and the bar seating and tables are inviting and hipster. But the food's the thing and, although there were some bumps along the way, the potential for a smooth road ahead is evident. Review coming soon, but here's what you can expect down the "rue": The menu is eclectic and a lot of fun. The categories from which you may choose include AMERICAIN, PACIFIQUE, and MEDITERRANEEN' and there is something yummy for every palette. If you're craving Asian cuisine, select the Californication Roll or Hamachi Tatare or a delicious SWEET and SOUR BEET Salad. On the MEDITERRANEEN side, choose from HUMMUS FRIES, GREEK SALAD or the SHORT RIB GNOCCHI (which we heard from the table next to ours, was "outstanding.") For the kid within, try CRU's sophisticated take on GRILLED CHEESE and TOMATO SOUP - on brioche with midnight moon cheese and truffle honey served with green tomato gazpacho or sample the CRAFT MAC and CHEESE made with goat cheese, comte, brie and truffled wild mushrooms. Read More
The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s (sponsored post) Restaurant Catering Darien Events Seafood Steakhouse Lunch CTbites Team June 26, 2013 The restaurant of The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s is a gem hidden at the fringes of Darien, Connecticut. The restaurant marries the subtleties of Italian cuisine with the boldness of an American Steakhouse to create a dining experience unique in its balance and complexity. Each menu selection is made from the freshest of ingredients and designed to tantalize the palette. A core tenant of The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s is to serve only the best food and the best food starts with the best ingredients. Vegetable dishes, such as the restaurant’s stuffed zucchini flowers, are made from homegrown and hand picked vegetables to ensure maximum freshness. Seafood is purchased live whenever possible and, in the case of the restaurant’s blue point oysters, sourced locally and brought to the restaurant directly from the Tallmadge Brother’s boat in Norwalk. Beef, which the Restaurant’s staff butchers and ages in house to produce the best possible flavor and texture, is always prime Certified Angus Beef. This commitment to quality ingredients extends not just to the restaurant’s dining customers but also to the weddings and other events The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s hosts and caters. Read More
The Connecticut Wine Festival Returns July 27th & 28th Wine Tasting CTbites Team June 25, 2013 The Connecticut Wine Festival will be returning this year for its fifth year of showcasing some of Connecticut’s best wines. It is a reflection on the growing popularity of Connecticut wines, which are quickly gaining a reputation as quality vintage worthy of attention from wine lovers everywhere.This year, the Fifth Annual Connecticut Wine Festival will be staged again at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Litchfield County, on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th. Sponsored by the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association (CVWA) and presented by the CT Wine Trail, the festival features fine wines from a wide variety of local vintners, making it one of the “must attend” events of the summer. The festival also features wine classes, specialty food vendors, artisanal crafts, as well as a variety of live musical entertainment. Read More
Mama's Boy Southern Table & Refuge: Southern in SONO Restaurant Brunch Norwalk SONO Southern Lunch Kid Friendly Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger June 23, 2013 Visit Mama’s Boy Southern Table and Refuge in SONO and experience some good old-fashioned southern hospitality and cuisine. The newest addition to SONO offers a Georgian-Carolina cuisine with the flavors and ingredients not seen on other Fairfield County menus; not spicy Cajun or Creole but grits, okra, shrimp, catfish, with a little fried chicken thrown in. Fairfield County native and owner Greer Fredericks, and her business partner Ami Dorel, bring a southern feel to the décor, and flavors to the menu, from Greer’s years in the South. Overseeing the kitchen is Chef Scott Ostrander who recently relocated from Jacksonville, Florida. His previous restaurant, ‘Town, won the Robert W. Tolf Award for Best New Restaurant from Florida Trend magazine and voted one of Jacksonville Magazine’s Northeast Florida’s Top 25 restaurants. After graduating from the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, Ostrander worked in restaurants from DC to Florida and brings authentic southern cuisine to the Mama’s Boy menu. Ostrander is currently sourcing many of his ingredients from South Carolina while simultaneously building a stable of local farms, vendors and merchants. Read More
Strawberry Picking is On @ Bishop's Orchards Ingredients Local Farm kids activity Kid Friendly CTbites Team June 22, 2013 This just in from Bishop's Orchards... "The 2012 Pick Your Own Season is OFFICIALLY here. Picking is at its peak right now so come PYO Strawberries this weekend, from 8:30 am - 5 pm. The Strawberry crop looks great this year and they are absolutely delicious and so sweet. Remember, our Strawberry season is only a few weeks long, so don't miss your chance to pick and enjoy the freshest local strawberries! We hope to be open most mornings thru mid July, but weather conditions and the plentiful availability of ripe berries determines our daily schedule, so call in daily for our schedule. 203.458.PICK We hope to see you in the fields!" For more information on Bishop's Orchards see their web site. Read More
Meatball & Co. Opens in Darien Restaurant Darien Italian Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team June 21, 2013 Meatball & Co., in Darien, was in “soft opening” mode last week in anticipation of next week's "official" opening and CTbites stopped by to taste a few of their meatballs. The main entrance is in the rear of the building and I decided to sit on their patio and enjoy the beautiful weather. The menu is separated into numerous sections so please listen carefully as the server explains the various options. I chose an assortment of sliders including a Beef with Cheesy Goodness, a Spicy Pork with Pesto and the special of the day, a Buffalo Chicken Slider. Each was served on a delicious and sweet brioche bun from Kneaded Bread in Port Chester. Chef / Owner Joe Criscuolo showed a deft hand in both the texture and the flavors. Read More
Friday Froth: Sunshower Ingredients Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon June 21, 2013 I have met a lot of great people at beer bars. Whether the conversation starts with an apology for bumping elbows or parachuting into someone's conversation, there's a good chance they won't act like you've tried to cut them off in traffic. Plus, there's always beer to talk about if the conversation stalls out - most people are there for the same reason, after all. I like beer bars, but June is hardly a time for working on your hunchback impression over rings stained into a wooden bar, is it? No, ma'am. The recent spate of thunderstorms have currently left my basement in good condition to solve the drought problems of the entire American southwest, but it's still outdoor drinking season, dammit. Outdoor drinking, especially outdoor day drinking, is the best drinking. Park, yard, beach, rocky outcrop in the Dolomites, it doesn't matter: you've already escaped the four walls which house most of life's tedium. Simply getting outside at all apparently makes us happier all on its own, but a drink in the hand does tend to add a certain air of possibility. Read More
Mecha Noodle Bar Opens in Fairfield: An Interview w/ Tony Pham Restaurant Asian Fairfield Japanese Vietnamese Norwalk SONO Nancy Kleeger June 20, 2013 Ramen noodles are having "their moment," and restaurateur Tony Pham, owner of Pho Vietnam in Danbury has just opened a new venture in Fairfield that will have fans of Asian food slurping without pause. Welcome to MECHA. Pham, a Vietnamese American who opened Pho Vietnam at the tender age of 21, again uses his raw talent drawing from his years of experience traveling around the world and working in numerous kitchens. His newest baby, Mecha, located on Post Road in Fairfield is a hip, cozy joint that serves up Ramen as well as Asian street food. Consulting with a master Ramen chef, Tony Pham is placing all bets on this age old Japanese noodle..and we hear Pho is on the way. For a new restaurant aiming directly at the college crowd around Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, it's a perfect match. Read our interview with Tony Pham below to find out more about Tony's family, the history of Ramen, the meaning of "MECHA," and what inspires Tony Pham. Read More
And The Food 411 Winner Is.... Food 411 CTbites Team June 19, 2013 You've waited long enough. We are pleased to announce a winner for our recent Food 411, featuring this fine looking piece of meat. The Restaurant is The Waters Edge at Giovanni's in Darien. Two readers guessed this venue, but the first person is the true winner, so Matt Pergo, you have won this round of Food 411. Great guesses were made by everyone. If you're hungry, go check these guys out. Read More
