Start-up Bid Mob Connects Diners with New Haven Dining Deals Restaurant New Haven CTbites Team January 23, 2014 The brainchild of Daniel Underkofler, who had been working at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Manhattan, and his “team of socially-inspired Gladsters,” BidMob is a mobile app that—quite simply but brilliantly—connects anyone interested in dining and nightlife in New Haven with the best deals of the day. "BidMob is an amazing new way to save BIG $$ for your group when you go out. Stop paying for discounts, printing coupons or wondering where the best deals are when you need them," says the description in the Apple app store. Read More
The Best of Wine & Chocolate: A Tasting w/ Knipschildt Chocolatier CTbites Team January 22, 2014 Yes please! Knipschildt Chocolatier (CT Magazine's Best of CT for chocolate) and Wine Institute of New England (CT Magazine's Best of CT for wine appreciation) join forces to bring you the best of both worlds. Join them on a gustatory journey that will surely please the senses. The evening begins with chocolate-infused hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine, followed by a guided pairing of wine and artisan chocolate from CT. This event will be held at Chocopologie Cafe, 12 S. Main Street, Norwalk, CT February 5th, 2014 7:00-9:00 pm $59/person Limited to 36 people. Advanced registration required. Purchase Tickets here. Read More
Le Farm's Signature Dish: Chef Arik Bensimon & Bill Taibe Talk Poutine Restaurant Chef Talk Westport Lou Gorfain January 22, 2014 Would Bensimom consider an encore of LePoutine for our readers? You bet! He’s putting the dish back on the LeFarm menu for a limited run, January 23 -25. Not to be missed. (If bacon ate, it would eat Poutine.) Foie gras and Poutine are two foods not usually found in the same sentence, much less married in a restaurant dish. But if you were dining at LeFarm a couple of years ago, “LePoutine” was the crazy delicious rock star in the room – a decadent, playful, steamy mashup of foie gras, fried potatoes, wine, beef cheeks, kale, gravy and imagination. A Montreal favorite, Poutine is unadulterated cardiac-on-a-plate, usually devoured with great gusto, its grease supposedly the perfect insulation before or and after a hard night of drinking. (It should be duly noted that Le Farm’s version, unlike the French Canadian, didn’t include the traditional cheese curds. But buttery Foie Gras more than made up for the missing fat calories.) “It was big, it was indulgent, and people just loved it. So did we,” Bill Taibe, the founder of LeFarm told us, grinning with the memory of his exciting crowd pleaser. Read More
Beach + Barn Opens in Branford Branford Amy Kundrat January 21, 2014 From the same folks that brought us Roomba and Tacuba, comes the shoreline's newest restaurant, Beach + Barn. The dynamic husband and wife team of Chef Arturo and Suzette Franco-Camacho have reimagined their space in Branford, re-opening their Main Street restaurant as a casual "country to coast" lunch and dinner retreat. Their approach is "to create an everyday, neighborhood spot with great tasting, affordable food." After several years of running successful restaurants in New Haven, the couple moved to Branford. Beach + Barn is their thoughtful response to living and working within the Branford community for the past several years, and a distillation of what they believe was missing in the restaurant scene in the shoreline, and especially Branford. Read More
"American Craft Beer Cookbook" Beer Food Pairing Seminar @ Mohegan Sun Features Recipe Cookbooks CTbites Team January 21, 2014 Based on recipes from the recently released American Craft Beer Cookbook, the seminar will lead attendees through a five course tasting and pairing event featuring a Grafton Village Cheese Course, three selections from sea, farm & field, and dessert. This event will take place on Friday, January 24th, Mohegan Sun Resort, 7:00pm-8:30pm Led by industry veterans Dave Hartmann & John Holl, the seminar is designed to enlighten on how the primary and broad ranging flavors in craft beer complement, contrast with and accentuate what we dine on – whether from a wide variety of hops, malt, yeast, special ingredients or even the water used in brewing itself. At least five different Long Trail beers will be in the seminar – some easy to find, some uncommon, some never before released. Attendees will also receive a fine quality Spiegelau crystal tulip tasting glass to further enhance their tasting experience. Read More
Royal House Cambodia Cuisine in Fairfield: A First Taste Elizabeth Keyser January 19, 2014 Food is a never-ending exploration, and the latest before us is the food of Cambodia. Fairfield has a new restaurant, Royal House Cambodia Cuisine. Chef-owner Minh and his wife Mandy Truong have come to Fairfield after owning Siam Thai in Chelsea, New York City for 20 years. Siam Thai was written up in the New York Times and Bon Appétit. Cambodia is a land of rivers and lakes, bordered by the Gulf of Thailand, and nestled between Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The cuisine is lighter and features more vegetables and fish than Thai or Vietnamese, says Mandy, “The curries are more watery and delicate, less sticky and strong than in Thailand.” Cambodian cooks use the familiar flavors of basil, ginger, cilantro and lemongrass, and a far wider range of herbs, vegetables and fruits unavailable in New York and Connecticut. Here’s what we tried: Read More
Healthy Stew Recipe Roundup from Marcia Selden Catering Features Recipe Recipe CTbites Team January 18, 2014 Phew...you’ve made it through another frantic holiday season. It seems life has been one giant party from Halloween through New Year’s. It’s now time to relax a bit! While many people feel blue during January, we love to enjoy the slower pace. Feel the warmth and quiet while enjoying one of these wonderful hearty, stews. We've got easy recipes for Truffled Italian-Style Beef and Porcini Stew, Spicy Pork Posole & Moroccan Chicken Tagine. Try any one of these at home on a cold winter's night. Read More
Ny Haven: A Nordic Inspired Pop-up with Chefs Marcell Davidsen & Tommy Juliano at 116 Crown Restaurant Chef Talk Underground Dinner Amy Kundrat January 17, 2014 Photos: Signe Birck TICKETS HAVE GONE ON SALE! Tickets A 13 course Nordic-inspired menu is the inspiration for Ny Haven, a one-time pop-up dining collaboration between chefs Marcell Davidsen and Tommy Juliano, that will take place at 116 Crown on March 3, 2014. Ny Haven is a play on words. In Danish, Ny means New, and Haven means garden. In Copenhagen, Nyhavn is a main gathering point for people to meet at cafés to eat and drink. The chefs, best known for their culinary risk-taking and locavore approach at Community Table in Washington, CT, will descend upon the kitchen of 116 Crown in New Haven for a single night for 25 lucky gourmands. "We are very excited to showcase our style of new New England cuisine, and Nordic influenced cooking, to New Haven," said Davidsen. "With my Danish background and Tommy's New England approach on desserts." Read More
Friday Froth: CT Pour Tour At Two Roads, Plus Reviews And Assorted Nonsense Ingredients Restaurant CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon January 17, 2014 Mark Twain once said the best thing about writing was having written. I tend to enjoy drinking more than having drunken (which is to say, I like drankin'), but it's especially nice to have a built-in justification. Todd Ruggere has given all of us in the Constitution State just such an excuse with the CT Pour Tour, in which he will drink at least one beer this year in all 169 towns in Connecticut, and raise money at every stop for Yale Children's Hospital. Todd has published a list of when and where he'll be over the course of 2014, and I caught up with him at the CT Pour Tour launch party at Two Roads in Stratford this past Saturday. Todd spent 2013 completing his first pour tour, traveling through all 351 towns in his home state of Massachusetts. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 16, 2014 Locali Pizza Bar & Kitchen is now officially opened for lunch in New Canaan. Friday January 17th kicks off Friday Night Wine Downs at Nicholas Roberts. The tasting will feature Barbera, Barbaresco and Barolo. As usual, there is no charge for the tasting, but a $5.00 donation to Turning Wine Into Water gets guests a staff glass. 6-8pm. On Monday January 20, Caseus in New Haven is hosting an “Oskar Blues Beer and Cheese Pairing.” Visit them for samples of delicious beers from the Oskar Blues catalogue along with some seasonal treats. Approximately $40pp. 6-7:30pm. January 21 is the Sixpoint Beer Dinner at Harlan Social in Stamford. The guys from Sixpoint Brewery stop by for 5-courses of great food matched with their craft ales. $90 all-inclusive, 6:30 - 9:30pm. Saturday January 18, Whole Foods in Darien will hold a storewide sampling called “Healthy and Delicious Meals.” From 2-4, the store’s departments will be sampling healthy options that pack wonderful flavors too. Tuesday January 21 is also a Cocktail Party & Mixology class at Bistro 7 in Wilton. Students learn the basics of bartending and watch a pro make classic martinis and seasonal specials. The entire experience lasts about four hours, two of which are spent in a cocktail-party setting. Save money on this fun experience via Groupon. Barcelona New Haven hosts “Paella 101” January 21, 2014 at 7pm. Chef Frank will teach you how to make this delicious dish and pair it with some delicious Spanish wines. $25 pp plus tax & gratuity. Read More
Stew Leonard's Introduces Croissant - Bagel Hybrid...The Crogel Features Restaurant Bakery Norwalk Kid Friendly CTbites Team January 15, 2014
Chowdafest 2014! 32 Local Restaurants Compete for Your Vote CTbites Team January 15, 2014 Chowdafest is around the corner! This year marks the 6th annual Chowdafest competition, pitting 28 award winning chefs & restaurants against each other where YOU are the judge! On February 2nd from 11-3PM, grab you ballot and sample 32 decadent samples of chowder, soup and bisque. It's up to you to determine who has the best. Chowdafest 2014 ius excited to have some new additions and award winning chefs in this year's lineup including: Mecha Noodle Bar, The Spread, Bernard's, Parallel Post and Tikkaway from New Haven. Chowdafest is as popular as a sporting event which is why it's held at the 10,000 indoor seat Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. It's also why the event is held annually as a pre-event to the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2014. Food and football fans alike come out to experience this culinary competition between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, then go home to family & friends to watch the big game later that evening. Chowdafest is one of the best deals around. It's just $12 (adults) $5 kids (6-12). Read More
Celebrity Mixologist Adrian Alvarado Kicks off "Prohibition Wednesdays" @ Prime 16 Restaurant CTbites Team January 14, 2014 On January 29th, at 5 P.M., Celebrity Mixologist Adrian Alvarado will be kicking off the "Prohibition Wednesdays" at Prime 16 in Orange.As an Actor/Mixologist, Adrian is best known for his role on ABC's General Hospital where he played Detective Cruz Rodriguez. Originally from Jersey City N.J., Adrian moved to L.A. where he started booking commercials and TV appearances in "Without a Trace," "Big Love," "Law & Order: LA" and "Body of Proof" before landing his longest running role on General Hospital.Since moving back to the East Coast with his wife and two children, Adrian has expanded a passion for the hospitality industry. Bartending didn't just become a side income, it became a passion. As a Mixologist he worked for the famous Soho House Group in Los Angeles and New York "The Cocktail culture is vastly growing, It's not just about going out and getting a drink. It's about going out and enjoying a new experience in flavors and it's history in a responsible way." Read More
Plated.com: Mise en Place Delivered to Your Doorstep! Features Catering Delivery Service Home Delivery Natalie Levitt January 14, 2014 There is nothing better than being able to select a gourmet recipe and have all the needed fresh ingredients arrive and ready to cook with just a few clicks. Plated.com makes meal making fun, easy, and a delicious experience. It is a mash-up of an online grocery store and a private cooking lesson. Easy to follow recipes, with pictures are provided. This is a great activity for two or the entire family, helping to reconnect people while sharing great food. The average time to prepare one of the meals is 30-40 minutes. “Each week, 7 chef-designed recipes are featured on the menu. The dishes include 4 healthy meat & fish options and 3 unique vegetarian dishes.” The produce is fresher than what is typically found at the grocery store and can be enjoyed all week long. Costs are simple to understand, they are per plate. Trial offers are currently running so check it out and go cook something extraordinary! Go check out www.plated.com for more information. Read More
Pantanal Restaurant & Churrascaria: Brazilian in Bridgeport Restaurant Brazilian Bridgeport Delicious Dives Comfort Food Elizabeth Keyser January 12, 2014 The smell of grilling meat perfumes the air on Frank Street in Bridgeport. What’s going on here? This drab residential neighborhood is crowded with cars. And what’s that funky-looking vividly green-and-yellow building? The sidewalk’s striped green and yellow too, the colors of the Brazilian flag. This is Pantanal, a Brazilian buffet and churrascaria. We’re going in. It’s Thursday at lunchtime and the place is crowded. We grab plates and try to take in all that’s offered at the cold and hot buffet. We’re overwhelmed, and we’re in the way. Everyone else knows what they want. We’re gawking, and we know we could easily overload our plates with the choice of salads, fruits, hearts of palm, collards, white rice, Spanish rice, mac ‘n cheese, black beans, pinto beans, fried sweet plantain, fried chicken, fried fish and stews. Customers are digging in to those stews. The chicken and okra stew looks intriguing, but I need to exert restraint. I need to focus. I chose an orange-colored stew of smoked pork ribs and white beans. Excellent choice, smoky and deeply flavorful. Read More
"Fine Food For a Cause" Fundraiser to Fight Childhood Obesity CTbites Team January 12, 2014 Please help conquer an important battle that is being waged in our own backyard - the fight against childhood obesity and the critical need to teach local children and their families about the value of healthy eating and exercise. On Monday, January 27, 2014 the Stamford Family YMCA will host more than 200 local supporters to help their fight against childhood obesity. The event, Fine Food For A Cause, will be held at the Palace Theatre in Stamford at 6:30PM. At this year’s event guests can sample a plethora of culinary creations provided by chefs of 10 outstanding well-known Stamford restaurants including: Barcelona, bartaco, Columbus Park Trattoria, Bar Q, Quattro Pazzi, Sushi Charlie, Tabuouli Grill, Sweet Lisa’s, Napa & Company, Forever Sweet Bakery and David’s Soundview Catering. The evening will include dinner, music, live auction and a commemorative journal, with special guest, Chris Hansen, TV Journalist and NBC Dateline correspondent, serving as Master of Ceremonies Proceeds from the event will support the Stamford Family YMCA’s youth development and healthy living programs. Read More
Recap: Plan B Magical History Tour, Featuring Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon James Gribbon January 10, 2014 Tucked back to one side off the well beaten path of the Post Road in Milford, roughly a hundred red heads lie on their sides in elevated cubbie holes. Hardly anyone paid them attention. In fact, I may be the only one who even noticed. A double stacked row, maybe 25 gallons of Maker's Mark bourbon - original wax seals unbroken - is just for decoration. My eyes roamed elsewhere, and caught George Harrison sprinting away from a Blue Meanie. I shook my head and returned my attention to the chicken and waffles. This past October, thieves (likely insiders) made away with approximately $26,000 worth of Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old bourbon. Each bottle in the 65 cases stolen is worth roughly $130, but many sell for hundreds of dollars more. Pappy had a small cult following of aficionados until rock star chefs like Anthony Bourdain and David Chang blew up its spot in the past few years. Ever since, the small supply that leaves Frankfort, Kentucky each year has been dwarfed by the demand. Drew Kulsveen, a minor royal in the bourbon world and friend to CTBites, could barely get one bottle. On a weeknight at Plan B Burger Bar, we were about to be presented with two servings. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Restaurant Cooking Classes Wine Tasting Beer Lunch Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 09, 2014 The Whelk in Westport will start serving LUNCH on January 15th! Lunch will be served Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays 12pm-2:30. Saturday January 11 is Step Out at Stepping Stones Museum. The wine and food tasting supports the museum’s educational initiatives. It includes the Melting Pot, Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines, The Brewhouse, and more. 7-9:30pm. $40 and up per person. More info here. Mohegan Sun’s Restaurant Week begins Sunday January 12th and goes through the 17th. Visit the website to see what the casino’s renowned eateries are offering. Sundays are ½ off bottles of select wines at many local restaurants, including The Spread, Bar Sugo, and Bistro Latino. On Tuesday January 14, learn how to braise at Barcelona Fairfield. Join Chef Helton and learn the art of braising and complementing it with a few vegetable side dishes. 4-7pm. $35pp plus tax and gratuity. http://www.barcelonawinebar.com/calendar.htm Also on Tuesday, Caseus Fromagerie in New Haven is offering a class called “Relishing the Rind.” The class will explore categorizing cheese by types of rind. You will get to taste bloomy, ash, wash-rind cheeses ...and more! 6-7:30pm. Approx $37pp. Buy Tix Here. Read More
