Cocktail Naming Contest CTbites Team September 05, 2013 WIN 2 free ticket to CTbites Invites Happy Hour @ Parallel Post on 9/12! Here's how... It's time for another cocktail throw down! The beautiful farm-to-table restaurant, Parallel Post in Trumbull, decided to trust the fate of its new fall specialty cocktail to the naming skills of our CTbites readers. If your cocktail name is selected, you will win 2 free tickets to CTbites Invites Happy Hour @ Parallel Post on Thursday September 12th 5:30-7:30. Here are ingredients for the new drink featuring East Hartford's own Onyx Moonshine, the first legal Moonshine in the US! 1 oz fresh cucumber juice 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice 1 oz Luxardo Liqueur 2 oz 111 Onyx Moonshine Shake all ingredients together and strain in martini glass and garnish with an olive and cucumber strip. Post your submission below (be sure to include your email). We welcome input from readers. If you see a name you like...post your vote! Read More
Guess The Chef!! Win Westport Farmers' Market Swag CTbites Team September 05, 2013 If you follow CTbites, you've likely heard about the upcoming "Fork It Over" underground dinners to benefit The Westport Farmers' Market. If not, WFM is hosting 4 pop up dinners over the next 2 months with both mysterious locations and guest chefs. We've had so many questions regarding what mystery chef will be cooking on which dates that we thought we'd have ourselves a little fun. The Guest Chef Cooking on September 22nd gave these clues to CTbites. The FIRST PERSON TO GUESS THE CHEF BELOW WINS a basket of fabulous swag from local CT vendors courtesy of The Westport Farmers' Market. Good luck!! The first dinner is scheduled for September 22nd and tickets go on sale @ 8AM Monday, Sept. 9th. You need to be subscribed to Westport Farmers' Mkt's newsletter to get ticket info. What is your favorite ingredient? PASTA OR ANY MEAT PROTIEN Hobby when not cooking? FAMILY TIME AND GOLF What is the last dish you cooked for yourself? RIBEYE WITH PAN ROASTED TINY POTATOES AND PEARL ONIONS, GRILLED CORN, SUN GOLD TOMATOES WITH OLIVE OIL AND MOZZARELLA Read More
The Beer Garden at Harbor Point Hosts 2 Weeks of Oktoberfest Restaurant Beer Dinner Holiday Stamford Beer CTbites Team September 04, 2013 As the hazy summer days drift away and the cool, crisp fall air sets in on the South End, so begins one of the biggest seasons for beer lovers. The Beer Garden at Harbor Point is set to launch an Oktoberfest created to mirror that in Munich. Oktoberfest, widely known as The World’s Greatest Beer Festival, is a sixteen-day annual celebration. The Beer Garden’s inaugural Oktoberfest will run from September 21st through October 6th and will bring authentic German festivities to Stamford. The celebration promises fun for all including live music, colorful costumes and plenty of German grub. Many of the fan favorite food trucks have joined in on the party as well. Vanchetta, a new addition to the world of food trucks, will feature an authentic German menu including schnitzel and bratwurst. Pretzel fans? Do not fear: Maddy’s Food Truck promises to deliver hot, fresh and delicious soft pretzels to the masses. Read More
Live Green Connecticut w/ Food Trucks & Family Fun CTbites Team September 04, 2013 Live Green Connecticut!, www.livegreenct.com, taking place at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk on Saturday, September 14th from 10am - 4pm and Sunday, September 15th from 11am - 4pm. Live Green Connecticut! is a wonderful family-friendly community festival for all ages. Live Green Connecticut! will feature Pony Rides, a Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Live Music, SoundWaters and Creatures from the Sea exhibit, Nature Center exhibits, Food, Beverages, the Ford Go Further Tour, Electric Cars and over 100 Exhibitors, Environmental Speakers and Demonstrations. See and experience businesses that are showcasing their new technology to positively impact our lives and environment. Come away with tips and ideas that will save you money! FREE ADMISSION! Food Exhibitors: Ripka’s Bulls Head Market The Stand Juice Company Skinny Pines Pizza Green Leaf Organic Bakery & Cafe LobsterCraft (Sunday Only) Melt Mobile (Saturday Only) Maddy’s Food Truck Read More
Freshii "Fast Casual" Healthy Breakfast & Lunch Coming to Westport Restaurant Gluten-Free Special Dietary Needs Vegetarian healthy Vegan Westport Fairfield CTbites Team September 03, 2013 This just in from Dan Woog's 06880 Blog... The fact that the old Westport Library building — opposite what will soon be the former Klaff’s — now houses a Starbucks is seen by some longtime Westporters as a symbol of how the town changes. Another symbol is on the way. Freshii — a strangely spelled “fast casual” restaurant offering salads, burritos, wraps, quinoa and rice bowls, yogurts, breakfast, soups, juices and smoothies, all made with high-quality, fresh ingredients — opens soon in the same former library building. The address is both 1 Main Street, and 19 Post Road East. There will be entrances on the Post Road, and Parker Harding Plaza. Read the full article here. Read More
Chimichurri Burger with Roasted Sweet Potato Fries via Marcia Selden Features Catering Recipe Marcia Selden Catering September 03, 2013 September might feel like the beginning of fall to some, but to many others it means the return of the nightly back to school dinnertime dilemma, and the sentence that sends chills through many parents; the dreaded “I’m hungreeeee, what’s for dinnerrrr?!” Our mouth-watering chimichurri burgers are a sure-fire way to please everyone at the family table. If you can’t wrap your arms around making home-made sweet potato fries, use the frozen ones, we won’t tell! Enjoy this perfect weeknight recipe for Chimichurri Burger with Roasted Sweet Potato Fries. Read More
Tikkaway Grill: Indian "Fast-Food" Opens in New Haven Restaurant New Haven Indian Take Out Opening Amy Kundrat September 01, 2013 [Update: November 4, 2014] Tikkaway has opened a second location at 2 Howe Street in New Haven, in addition to their original location at 135 Orange Street in New Haven. There is a movement underway in New Haven that may change the way Americans view Indian food. Often the domain of full-service restaurants, Indian cuisine has yet to enter the category of ‘fast casual.’ This scarcity is what some would call an opportunity. Tikkaway Grill is the brainchild of businessman Gopinath (Gopi) Nair, a chef with the rare combination of a culinary degree and an MBA. Gopi may be a familiar face to Indian food lovers in Fairfield County as a former managing partner of Coromandel, spending much of his time in its South Norwalk location. His passion for Indian cuisine, combined with an unfailing dedication to customer service, has inspired Tikkaway’s central tenants--a fresh, healthy, and informal take on Indian food. A pared down menu, casual setting and approachable price point, seeks to demystify while at the same time celebrating, the south asian spice-loving cuisine for the masses. Read More
Wakeman Town Farm's 2nd Annual Grassroots Harvest Dinner Sept. 21 CTbites Team August 30, 2013 Wakeman Town Farm's Second Annual Grassroots Harvest Dinner is Saturday Sept. 21st! Mark your calendars for a rockin' good time, featuring locally grown fare, fine wine and live music on the farm. Local rock star chefs will create a special menu using only the freshest seasonal vegetables provided by our generous area farmers. Presenting some of the talented young culinary stars for this event: Pat Pascarella, Bar Sugo, Norwalk Arik Bensimon, Le Farm, Westport Adam Halberg, Barcelona, SONO Tickets are limited and will go on sale shortly. They will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Last year, tickets sold out in three hours!) Check the WTF website after Labor Day for ticket release date! www.wakemantownfarm.org Read More
Brendan Walsh, Dean of Culinary Institute of America Speaks Sept. 18 Education CTbites Team August 30, 2013 Ridgefield Magazine presents a year of discussions with prominent people in the food industry. Restaurateurs, farmers, and chefs will speak about relevant topics in their world of culinary expertise. It begins Wednesday, September 18, at 7 pm at The Prospector Annex, 454 Main St., to hear Brendan Walsh, dean of the Culinary Institute of America and former owner of the Elms Restaurant & Tavern, speak about how What We Eat Can Change the World. Seating is limited. Read More
Jason Sobocinski Hosts Friends of Boulder Knoll Fundraiser Restaurant Cheese Farm to Table Local Artisan Local Farm Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 29, 2013 Usher in autumn with an elegant farm-to-table dinner featuring beautiful wines, craft brews, and delicious cuisine. On September 18 at 6pm, the Friends of Boulder Knoll will hold a multi-course meal prepared by Jason Sobocinski, host of The Cooking Channel’s “The Big Cheese.” The event will also feature wine pairings created by Southend Wine and Spirits of Cheshire, CT. They will pour “boutique” vino from the Halter Ranch line. Mikro Brew Bar will offer craft beers andPi Pies Bakery will provide a sweet ending to the evening with artisanal, freshly made baked-goods. Guests will be entertained with music by On Call, “Connecticut’s premier musical duo.” They can also participate in a silent auction featuring items from local businesses The event supports Friends of Boulder Knoll, a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to educating the community about sustainable agriculture and sustainable communities. Read More
Front Porch Cocktail Recipe via Saugatuck Grain & Grape Ingredients Features Cocktails Entertaining Recipe Jeff Marron August 28, 2013 I like making (and drinking) this cocktail. Maybe it's because that you can't tell how bitter the Sibila Amaro is. It adds just the right amount of complexity to cut through the sweetness of the preserves. The Domaine Canton adds an underlying ginger spice while the Plymouth Gin and Carpano Antica Vermouth tie everything together. I like to call this kind of cocktail a "think or drink" cocktail. You can either think about every sip, analyze it and pull the flavors apart or just sip it on your front porch on a beautiful Summer day while watching the grass grow. Read More
Two Roads Brewing Hosts Oktoberfest Celebration Restaurant Brewery Events Holiday Beer CTbites Team August 27, 2013 Two Roads Brewing Company announces its first annual “Ok2berfest” celebration to be held on the grounds of their brewery in Stratford, CT on September 21 and 22. “Rain or Shine, this will be an absolute blast” said Brad Hittle, Two Roads’ CEO. Influenced by Two Roads own name, Ok2berfest plans on being “twice” the fun of a traditional US Oktoberfest event. “We are doubling down on everything, introducing 2 different Oktoberfest beers and hosting 2 bands each day, for 2 days.” Even Head Brewer Phil Markowski will be getting into the Ok2berfest spirit, delivering 2 unique renditions of classic Oktoberfest beers, one named “Eine” and the other named “Zwei.” Read More
Honey Harvest Celebration with Red Bee Honey & Saugatuck Grain & Grape Restaurant Cocktails Weston Westport CTbites Team August 27, 2013 Red Bee Apiary will be toasting to this year’s honey harvest with their final Talk, Tour and Tasting of the beekeeping season on Sunday, September 8th, 1-3PM. Jeff Marron of Saugatuck Grain & Grape joins the festivities year with special honey-inspired cocktails and liqueurs for the tasting menu. Marina Marchese will lead a private tour of her Red Bee apiary and gardens and demonstrate the honey harvest process. Guests will then be seated at farmhouse tables in the apiary for a tasting flight of seven single-origin honeys and perfect pairings using locally-sourced cheeses and breads and fresh herbs from Red Bee’s garden. Read more and check out the menu on Fairfield Green Food Guide. Read More
Great Gatsby Moonshine Ball & Cocktail Contest in Middletown Celebrates Prohibition Era Restaurant Cocktails Middletown Amy Kundrat August 26, 2013 The producers of Onyx Moonshine, a Connecticut liquor distillery, are hosting The Great Gatsby Moonshine Ball on September 27, 2013 from 8 pm to midnight at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, CT. The prohibition era-inspired event will bring together 15 restaurants for a cocktail challenge. Each restaurant will compete by creating a custom jarred infusion using fruits, vegetables and herbs, with Onyx Moonshine 111, the company's higher proofed version of its moonshine. Read More
Baro New World Cantina: Latin American Tapas in Fairfield Restaurant Brazilian Mexican Latin American Sarah Green August 24, 2013 Craving some Latin American delicacies? Head over to 1229 Post Road in Fairfield and check out the brand-spankin'-new BARO' New WORLD CANTINA, the latest labor of love brought to you by the Reyes family (also owners of MEZON and 2 other restaurants in Danbury.) The wine list is mostly Spanish but the food selection - served mostly "tapas" style - comes from Brazil, Uraguay, Argentina, Mexico and the Dominican Republic where Juan and Richard Reyes and family were born. The decor is welcoming and stylish, complete with a glass-faced ceviche bar which looks onto the bustling and aroma filled kitchen. Dark wood tables and benches, some high tops and a large bar as well as birch branch wall decorations are inviting. But the food's the thing. We'll be back for a more intensive review but here are our first impressions: Read More
Westport Farmers' Market Fundraisers Feature Mystery Location & Chef Lineup Restaurant Farmers Market Underground Dinner CTbites Team August 24, 2013 This year, the Westport Farmers’ Market will turn its annual Fork It Over fundraiser into four dinners on four different nights, featuring some of the area’s most celebrated chefs. The chef list reads like a Who’s Who of the Fairfield County culinary scene: Matt Storch (Chelsea and Match), Bill Taibe (LeFarm and The Whelk), Michel Nischan (Dressing Room, featuring Johnny Vaast), Tim Lablant (Schoolhouse Restaurant) and Jeff Taibe (Oak & Almond) to name just a few, are planning meals and menus unlike anything you’ve come to expect from them, and featuring ingredients from Norm Bloom, Sport Hill Farm, Fort Hill Farm, Oxhollow Farm, Craft Butchery, and others. The catch? WFM will tell you when, but not where (at least, not until the day before). And they’re not telling who, either. Read More
No Kid Hungry New Canaan Hosted by Elm Restaurant Events New Canaan CTbites Team August 23, 2013 Join Host Chef Brian Lewis of New Canaan's Elm restaurant for a multi-course dinner and live auction of sensational culinary lots to ensure No Kid Hungry in Connecticut and across the United States on September 30, 2013. No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign is ending childhood hunger in this nation by connecting kids in need with nutritious food and teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. You can help surround kids with the nutritious food they need where they live, learn and play. For more information or to support this cause and attend this event, please visit ShareOurStrength.com. Special Guest Chefs: Carey Savona, Heirloom (New Haven, CT)Geoff Lazlo, The Whelk (Westport, CT) Special Guest Sommelier:Jeff Barbour, New Canaan Wine Merchants (New Canaan, CT) Read More
Fritz Knipschildt & Team Chocopologie Add New Nordic Dishes to Menu Restaurant Chef Talk New Nordic Norwalk SONO Lunch Dessert ellen bowen August 23, 2013 Surrounded by candles on a wet Tuesday evening in April, Master Chocolatier, Fritz Knipschildt, of Chocopologie, and his talented Danish born and trained chefs; Christian Wilki and chef/manager, Christel Marie Moerck introduced 35 CTbites guests to the Nordic cuisine of their homeland, Denmark. Inspired by the New Nordic Cuisine of Scandinavia, and Rene Redzepi's "World's Best Restaurant," NOMA in Copenhagen, this special 12 course meal turned into an amazing four hour event curated as part of the CTbites Invites program. The evening itself was so well received, and so much fun for the chefs and the guests, that this Chocopologie creative team was inspired to offer as part of their new Fall menu some of the traditional Nordic dishes and techniques they had been trained in and missed preparing here in the United States. Read More
Friday Froth: Summer Morning Coming Down Beer Dinner Events Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon August 23, 2013 Who's ready for summer to be over? You are? Well go stand in the corner with your dunce parka on, because NO. Don't listen to the dermatologists, with their "rules" and "facts": long days are our friends and we all have to get out and show some appreciation or the great dragon will return and swallow the Sun. That's the way it works and LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU telling me there are only two weeks left in the season. No. There is an absolute pile of beer and event news I want to tell you about this week, but I think this first one belongs above the jump, with beer reviews to follow: SoNo Marketplace will present Barks&Beer this Saturday, a $5 event to benefit Bully Breed Rescue, a New Canaan organization that helps save pit bulls, Staffordshire terriers and bulldogs. I have personal experience with pit bulls who have been rescued from abusive, neglectful owners, and seeing their transformation into happy, loving dogs just because someone cared about them for the first time in their lives is tangible proof there is good in the world. See the proof for yourself, and maybe let it lick your face, Aug. 24 from 1 to 6p.m., 314 Wilson Avenue, Norwalk. (bullybreedrescueinc.org)B. United will be running another beer academy at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford on Aug. 27 on the subject of bottom fermented beers. Read More
