Connecticut Cheese Festival: Curd Is The Word October 13th CTbites Team October 07, 2013 “Curd is the word on October 13th,” says Brian Civitello, founder of Mystic Cheese Company and event co-host. On Sunday, October 13, the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market is sponsoring a three-hour Cheese Festival to coincide with its weekly market, held 11am to 2pm, at the Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street in Coventry, Connecticut. You can find the schedule of events below... For more information, visit http://ctcheese.com/ Read More
Pizza Luca: Neopolitana Pizza Truck Debuts at Beer Garden @ Harbor Point in Stamford Restaurant Catering Entertaining Food Truck Pizza Stamford Kid Friendly Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 06, 2013 How cool is it to walk up to a 1952 Chevy Pick-Up truck and order a perfectly prepared Napoletana pizza, with great ingredients imported from Italy, prepared by a classical trained Italian chef, and baked in under two minutes in a blazing hot, wood-fired oven. Pizza Luca, the brain child of Chef Dean Medico, creates pizza masterpieces that are steeped in the tradition of Italy, using only the best ingredients from Italy to create three distinctly southern Italian pizza delicacies, the Marinara, the Margherita, and the sauce-less Bianca. Read More
Friday Froth: Cali Connection James Gribbon October 04, 2013 A lot of the best product comes from California. Sticky buds are packed into trucks out west and travel thousands of miles to the voracious markets here on the east coast. I, for one, don't think there's anything wrong with that at all; hardly anyone can grow nuggets like this out here, and it's not hurting anyone. Fresh, stinky, green hops are for the people, baby.I'm pretty sure I prefer the climate in the northeast to the damp northwest, but I envy the edible biodiversity they have out there. The American craft beer movement, and certainly the all-conquering American style of west coast IPA, largely got its start out west because of local access to the variously piney, citrusy, and just outright dank hops which grew wild in the mountainsides and dripping Alpine valleys of the Cascade and Olympic ranges. This week we're going to go deep on a few beers which have done some traveling to land in the Constitution State. Read More
The Winners of The Marcia Selden Ultimate Dinner Party Contest Are... CTbites Team October 04, 2013 It's time to announce the winners of Marcia Selden Ultimate Dinner Party Contest. These 3 women need to don their aprons and get ready to throw down with the help of some of the finest caterers on the East Coast. Here are the winning submissions and email addresses. Look for your name below! Our third winner is a Freshman at Staples High School in Westport. We wish them all good luck on October 16th! krystle920@yahoo.com "My ultimate dinner party was held in Palawan, an island in the Philippines that was voted world's best island by Travel and Leisure magazine this year. From our resort in El Nido, we took a private boat to a secluded island surrounded by turquoise waters framed by the setting sun. Even from afar, we saw the blazing torches, beckoning us to come closer and seek sanctuary. We were to dine under the stars!" eppdarien@aol.com I always host for all holiday celebrations. I am from a family of 8, everyone is married and there are 23 grandchildren on my side of the family alone! I love hosting and would not have it any other way! I make many of the dishes that my parents used to serve when they were alive and hosted the family celebrations. However, my dream dinner party would be to host my family and not have to get stuck in the kitchen cooking. hbukzin@aol.com author of http://smallchefbigworld.blogspot.com "My ultimate dinner party is definitely going to have to include some lamb. Marinated in garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh thyme, rosemary and oregano. Then throw it on the grille for 7 minutes and get really nice grille marks and a medium rare center. So yummy and juicy." Read More
5 Reasons Why Wolf Convection Ovens Will Change Your Kitchen (sponsored post) Features Kitchen Gear CTbites Team October 04, 2013 Every day when customers come into Clarke - New England's Official Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom and Test Kitchen - in South Norwalk, we get questions like these about Wolf's Convection Ovens: "Why is convection cooking better?" "How does convection cooking work?" "Is convection cooking faster?" "Why is convection baking energy efficient?" So here are five reasons why using a Wolf Convection Oven will change your kitchen in a dramatic way and save you time and energy. Read More
Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Tix Winners Have Been Announced Stephanie Webster October 04, 2013 The 10 lucky winners of The CTbites Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Giveaway have been selected and contacted. Congrats to those who have received free tickets to the festival as well as credentials for access to the CTbites Blogger Lounge. We look forward to seeing you there. For those who did not win this round, we've got plenty more Giveaways coming up. Stay tuned! Read More
Millwright's & Community Table Host Restaurant Swap CTbites Team October 03, 2013 Chef Joel Viehland of Washington, CT's Community Table & Chef Tyler Anderson of Millwright's in Simsbury will be teaming up and trading kitchens over the next two months. Chef Joel Viehland will be presenting his wildly local cuisine at Millwright's on Oct. 15 @ 6 p.m. Likewise, Millwright's will be hosting a dinner at Community Table in the same style on Nov. 11th. Both events will include 6 courses and a selection of wines to accompany. These are two of the most talemted chefs working in CT and these dinners should be outstanding. Call to reserve your seat. $90 plus tax & gratuity. Read More
Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro Closes Its Doors Stephanie Webster October 02, 2013 It is with a heavy heart that we report this bit of foodie news. Chef Rob Troilo, owner of Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro in Norwalk has closed his doors as of yesterday. Known for a killer breakfast and casual tasty dining, Nicholas Roberts will be missed. Chef Troilo has been researching other possible spaces for his restaurants and catering business for several years now, as the current location has been challenging (and "lacking in proper heat and AC" says Troilo). The current lease on his Norwalk space was up for renewal and he has decided to pass. Chef Troilo says "I have several other opportunities in the works." He will let us know when there is something definite, but Troilo assures us he will be back soon. Read More
Who's Coming To The Blogger Lounge @ Greenwich Wine & Food Festival CTbites Team October 02, 2013 The big day is soon upon us, and readers and fellow bloggers have been asking us who is appearing in the CTbites Blogger Lounge @ The Greenwich Wine & Food Festival on Saturday, October 5th. Below you will find the list of bloggers and the amazing Guest Chefs who will be sitting down and speaking with CTbites and the blogging community ALL DAY LONG! If you are a CTbites reader, and did not win one of the 10 Free Tickets we gave away, feel free to swing by the Blogger Lounge. We will try to get you in based on space. Bloggers OmnomCT, Food Dudes, Fairfieldista, The-e-List, Small Bites (Westchester), Bon Vivant, Tina Rupp Photography, CheapEats (NYC), Dee Cuisine, Hamlet Hub, Mister Belly, New Haven Living, Burgers & Brews Food Reviews, CT Girl About Town, For Love of Carrots, Home Place Blog, Flora's Table / Clicks & Corks, Pappa Don't Preach, Fairfield Countess, NYCFoodiefinder, Gina Zammit, Fork n Plate (NYC), Red Wine Please, Sprinkles & Booze, Sweet Jenny's, Fine Cooking Magazine. CTbites Blogger Lounge Chef Talk Schedule Chef Geoff Lazlo --The Whelk 12:00 PM Chef Michael Lucente -- Barcelona Restaurant 12:30 PM Chef Prasad Chirnomula -- Thali 1:00 PM Chef Rui Correia -- Douro 1:30 PM Chef Arik Bensimon -- le Farm 2:00 PM Chef Michael Psilakis -- MP Taverna 2:30 PM Adam Patrick--Mixologist --Walrus & Carpenter 3:00 PM Chef Cliff Crooks -- BLT Steak 3:30 PM Gretchen Thomas -- Wine & Spirits Director--Barcelona/ Bartaco 4:00 PM Laurie Forster -- The Wine Coach & Stand Up Sommelier 4:30 PM Read More
Nominate Your Favorite Local CT Green Restaurant for Nature’s Plate Award CTbites Team October 02, 2013 It's down to the Final Voting for CT's Nature's Plate Award. It's time to pick your favorite and get voting! The finalists for Connecticut, in alphabetical order, are: G-Zen Restaurant, Branford leFarm, Westport SeaGrass Grill, Branford Six Main, Chester ZINC, New Haven The Nature Conservancy is asking foodies in Connecticut, and across the country to nominate their favorite green restaurants for Nature’s Plate, a second annual people’s choice contest to find each area’s top green restaurant. Whether you're a vegan, vegetarian, or a meat-eater, it's a good bet the healthiest and tastiest food on your table came from nature. To vote, visit: www.nature.org/naturesplateCT. Read More
Fork It Over Recap: Westport Farmers' Market Goes Full PIG Stephanie Webster October 01, 2013 It was all about Pig at the 2nd of four “Fork it Over” fundraising dinner to benefit the Westport Farmers’ Market last Sunday night. The event was hosted at the Cannon Grange, an appropriate fit for an event that champions local producers given the Grange's deep roots in Wilton's agricultural history. The surprise Chef team was none other than Chef Johnny Vaast of The Dressing Room and Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale. Food Advocate and Chef Michel Nischan was also on hand throughout the evening, but his culinary skills took a back seat to his musical talents. Read More
Yale's Foodtober Events Celebrate & Examine Our Food Culture Road Trip Restaurant Events NYC New Haven Amy Kundrat October 01, 2013 This October, the Yale Alumni Association of New York is co-sponsoring Foodtober, a month of food-related events and activities in NYC in association with numerous shared interest groups, alumni organizations, and community partners. These events are open to the public. Touching on food culture, creation, politics, business, media, history and science, Foodtober uses food as a common thread to explore and share the great diversity of our community. These events, from small restaurant dinners in the outer boroughs, to an International Food Fight at the Yale Club of New York hosted by Jacques Pépin, will raise funds to support the Yale Sustainable Food Project and Just Food. For more information or to register for an event, visit: http://yaany.org/foodtober/ and/or purchase tickets on EventBrite. Read More
Guess The Chef Part 3: Win Westport Farmers' Market Swag Stephanie Webster October 01, 2013 We're back with our 3rd exciting edition of "Guess The Chef." This round, we are guessing the Chef for the October 6th dinner.... If you follow CTbites, you've likely heard their "Fork It Over" underground dinners to benefit The Westport Farmers' Market. If not, WFM is hosting 2 more pop up dinners over the next month with both mysterious locations and guest chefs. The Guest Chef Cooking on October 6th 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!! What is your favorite ingredient? Right now...roasted tomato juice. Next month? Who knows? Hobby when not cooking? Coaching my children sports teams Read More
Award Winning Bareburger "Organic" Burgers Opening in Ridgefield & Stamford Restaurant Ridgefield Stamford Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger September 29, 2013 Tremendous construction activity is happening at 38 Danbury Road in Ridgefield as the micro-chain Bareburger is slated to open in mid-November, bringing a wide variety of meats, toppings and, for those looking for a little less in the calorie-count, salads. In 2009 after receiving rave reviews preparing hamburgers in the kitchen of Sputnik, an underground music haunt in Brooklyn, Euripides Pelekanos founded Bareburger in an Astoria, Queens’ storefront. After bringing his winning formula to thirteen additional NYC locations, Bareburger is now expanding into Connecticut with its first Nutmeg State location in Ridgefield with a second slated for opening in Stamford in mid-2014. In an exclusive interview with CTbites, Pelekanos explained his philosophy and vision as Bareburger expands from its single Astoria location into a regional micro-chain. “I want all of my products to be organic or as close to organic as possible. From the meat to the toppings to the salads, I want natural or organic; that is my personal preference; that is what I eat.” With organic producers Albert’s Organic, Blackwing Quality Meats and Rick’s Picks already in the food chain, Pelekanos is now interested in developing relationships with local farms. The Bareburger brand represents products that are “free of hormones, pesticides and other unsavory elements.” Read More
The Next Food Network Star TV Show is Casting: They Want You!! CTbites Team September 27, 2013 The Next Food Network Star, one of Food Network’s hugely successful culinary reality series is currently casting for season 10 and they are holding an open casting call in NYC on October 7th.They are looking for those with a captivating personality who believe they’re at the top of the culinary game and want to inspire a Food Network audience through their passion for food and cooking. If you are a chef or culinary professional who might be interested in becoming the host of his or her own cooking show please find the details of the casting event below: Read More
CTbites Invites: Dinner Crawl to Osianna & Quattro Pazzi for $65 CTbites Team September 26, 2013 Join CTbites for a quick trip to Greece and Italy on TUESDAY 10/8 7:00- 9:00 pm for a special CTbites progressive dinner at family owned, Osianna Mediterranean Taverna and Quattro Pazzi for $65, ALL INCLUSIVE of wine, tax and tips! Ticket Info Here. Gino and Maria are your hosts, as you begin the evening with a glass of Prosecco at Osianna, www.osianna.com , for an authentic Mediterranean Spread selection of Tzatziki yogurt, cucumber, garlic, Ktipiti hot peppers, feta cheese, Melitzanosalata eggplant caviar, hot peppers, Dolmathes grape leaves, grilled pita, and Mocroccan olives.Escorted by your CTbites host, you leisurely will stroll just around the corner to Quattro Pazzi, www.quattropazzi.com , where a choice of beet and goat cheese salad or Caesar salad awaits, followed by three of Quattro's bestselling fresh pastas: FETTUCINI MITTY with scallops, shrimp, chopped lump crab meat in a pink sauce, CAVATELLI MARCO POLO: Chicken, sun dried tomatoes, broccoli, garlic oil and, RIGATONI BUTERA: Hot sausage, Peas, pink sauce, topped with ricotta...and your choice of glass of red or white wine. Read More
WIN TIX to Blogger Lounge & Greenwich Wine & Food Festival!!! Stephanie Webster September 26, 2013 10 lucky CTbites readers will WIN TICKETS to the Greenwich Wine & Food Festival & PASSES to the CTbites Bloggers Lounge, (reserved only for press). How to Win? It's easy. 1) All entrants must be FACEBOOK FRIENDS & CTbites Newsletter Subscribers (sign up on the left). 2) Just tell us you'd like to win one of these FREE TIX below in the comments section. We will announce the winners on Thursday October 3rd. Must be 21+ to enter. Read More
Little Barn in Westport: Local Pub Gets Ready for Fall Opening Restaurant Westport Beer Bar Comfort Food Kid Friendly CTbites Team September 24, 2013 “Things are starting to move really quickly now” said Scott Beck the co-owner of the soon to open Little Barn in Westport. He and his partner Kevin McHugh are working to get the new Pub opened before the holiday season starts. “We’re building a barn, and putting a pub inside” ‘Since Kevin sold his shares in The Little Pub in Ridgefield we have been looking for a great spot to put a new pub concept. When we found out that the Swanky Frank’s space could be had we moved quickly. I loved the idea of redoing such an iconic building in Westport particularly since we both grew up in Westport and spent lots of time in the Dairy Queen back in the days before it was Swanky Franks.” While the shape of the building harkens back to its Swanky days, the interior has been completely reconceived. Beck says “I want people to be surprised when they walk in.” “The plan is to keep the original lines of the building intact but basically rebuild the entire place as a barn with a pub inside it. The gambrel shaped roof will be kept but the bright red roof will be replaced with a galvanized steel one. The building, inside and out, will feature lots of reclaimed red barn siding, the 2 spectacular reclaimed roof vents just went up, the 2 sided stone fireplace is being built now which will be perfect for the cooler nights. It will cozy up the inside and also warm up the outside when eating or drinking on the outside stone patio. In the summer the bar and dining room have sliding doors that open onto the patio as well which will give it a nice open air feel. The menu and ambiance will be casual and fun, with no dish priced over $20. Read More
Bar Rosso Hosts Palmar Vineyards Wine Dinner Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 24, 2013 On Thursday October 17, Bar Rosso will hold a wine event that marries the wines of Palmaz Vineyards with traditional cuisine from Peidmont, Italy. The event will highlight the talents of the restaurant’s Chef, Ches Massimo Stecchi, who heralds from the region. He will prepare five courses that will be accompanied with a complementary wine. Palmar Vineyards has an interesting story. It is located in Napa Valley, California. Henry Hagen first transformed it into a vineyard in 1881 and it went by the name of Cedar Knoll. He produced many award-winning bottles and marshaled acclaim in the region. Unfortunately, prohibition brought its Golden Age to an end. When the Palmaz family purchased it, it was just a disheveled older house on a tract of land. Today, they are working to restore it to its previous grandeur. Read More
Winvian Hosts Culinary Fundraiser for CT NOFA Sept 29th CTbites Team September 24, 2013 This Sunday, September 29th, spend an amazing afternoon wandering the luxurious grounds of one of the most beautiful resorts in Connecticut and enjoy some amazing food as Winvian presents a Special Culinary event to benefit Connecticut’s Northeast Organic Farming Association. From noon until 3PM, guests will sample appetizers by Winvian’s Executive Chef Chris Eddy using the freshest ingredients from Winvian’s and other local farms. Then tour the cottages, enjoy live music and participate in the auction. A relaxing day in a luxurious setting. For reservations contact CT NOFA at 203.888.5146 or www.ctnofa.org/winvian Winvian is located at 155 Alain White Road, Morris CT 06763 Read More
