Rare Artisan Venezuelan Chocolate Tasting Workshop Feb 14th CTbites Team February 09, 2014 A very special Artisan Venezuelan Chocolate Tasting Workshop may be the perfect Valentine's gift for your loved one. Presented by Analiese Paik, Founder of the Fairfield Green Food Guide,this will be the first in a series of artisan chocolate tasting workshops planned for the year. They begin the tasting series in Venezuela, a country famous for growing old and rare cacao that’s prized by top chocolate manufacturers. The most flavorful and aromatic chocolate is made from Criollo and Trinitario varieties which represent only 5%-10% of global cacao production. In this formal tasting workshop, you will learn to taste chocolate like a pro, using all 5 senses. More complex than wine, fine chocolate requires careful sensory analysis to detect and describe its harmonious flavors and aromas. They will teach you how to describe the flavors and aromas you detect through the use of various teaching aids. At the end of the evening, each participant will have completed a tasting card profiling all 5 chocolates. It’s a great way to learn what you like and remember your favorites. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Features Restaurant Events Wine Shop Wine Tasting Dessert Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 07, 2014 February 10-11, Caseus Fromageria & Bistro in New Haven will offer an evening of “Sweets & Treats.” This popular class has become a Caseus tradition every February. 6-7:30pm. Approximately $40pp. More Info Here. Tuesday February 11, learn how to make “Barcelona Classics” at Barcelona in New Haven. Included in the class are gambas al ajillo, potato tortilla, chorizo and figs, and more. 7pm. $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Also on Tuesday, Fairfield Cheese Company will offer a class called “Parmigiano Reggiano Academy.” Parmigiano Reggiano is often referred to as the “King of Cheese” and by tasting you can learn the difference that aging makes in authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese at 16-, 24- and 36-month stages. $45pp. Info here. Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a wine tasting event not to be missed! On Wednesday February 12, try SEXY wines poured by award winning winemaker António Maçanita. SEXY wines were recently featured at the Mohegan SunWineFest. The free event will take place from 5-8pm at Turnpike Wines in Fairfield. Walrus and Carpenter (home of the killer fried chicken) will host a beer dinner on February 13th, featuring a line up from the Victory Brewing Co. roster and some signature Walrus-flavors to match. Email Adam: roytman@walruscarpenterct.com or call 203.333.2733. Read More
Sochi Party Food Recipes via Marcia Selden Catering Features Catering Entertaining Recipe Marcia Selden Catering February 06, 2014 We are totally psyched for the Winter Olympics! What’s better than sitting on your sofa, surrounded by lots snacks and watching the fittest athletes in the world compete for gold?! Why not throw a Winter Olympics Sochi Party? Here are our favorite Russian inspired recipes to enjoy while you watch the Opening Ceremonies on February 7th at 7:30 pm. So get your vodka chilled, and invite friends to come wearing their favorite ushanka (Russian hat). Read below for the following recipes: Russian Blini, Caviar Torte, Farshirovannye Yaytsa~ Stuffed Eggs, & a classic cocktail recipe, the White Russian. Read More
SOUPer Bowl Sunday – 6th Annual Chowdafest Dishes Out Tasty Competition Kathleen Atkins February 06, 2014 This past Sunday the 6th Annual Chowdafest took place at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, drawing 7,000 chowder, soup and bisque fanatics from across the state. It was perfect prelude to the Big Game – a culinary “SOUP”er Bowl. 31 Connecticut restaurants set the scene, ladling out warm chowders and soups. Upon arrival, Chowdafest attendees were given a scoring card. As guests leisurely made their way around the perimeter of the rink sipping on samples, they were asked to rank each sample to determine the 2014 Chowdafest Champions. The competition was broken down into 4 categories: Best New England Clam Chowder, best Manhattan/Rhode Island Clam Chowder, Best Creative Chowder, and Best Soup & Bisque. The top three contenders were awarded in each category and competition was tight! Every restaurant was sure to leave their signature stamp on their chowders and soups. Guvnor’s Brewery from Norwalk dished out a delicious New England clam chowder made with their own brewed beer, while Bernard’s of Ridgefield added smoky bacon to richen the flavors. Bistro 7 of Wilton served up their award winning Buttery Nut Bisque, while Indigo by the Water of Milford brought the heat with their Cajun Shrimp and Chorizo Chowder. Read More
"SEXY" Wine Tasting Feb. 12th w/ Portuguese Winemaker Antonio Macanita Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 05, 2014 Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a wine tasting event not to be missed! On Wednesday February 12, try SEXY wines poured by award winning winemaker António Maçanita. SEXY wines were recently featured at the Mohegan SunWineFest. The Sparkling Rosé is the perfect treat for Valentine’s day with its delicious taste and chic bottle. SEXY also makes a white, rose, and red. SEXY wines are a fun fusion of old and new. They mix fashionable grape varietals with local grape varietals and fuse old techniques with modern methods. Their vision is to “give something that you just want to drink… something SEXY.” Antonio Macanita is one of the leading Portuguese winemakers of his generation… but is also charming, down-to-earth, and driven. Critics have called him “dynamic and restless.” He got in contact with grapes at the early age of 4, playing in the vineyards during harvest, drinking fresh juice from tanks, and stepping on grapes at a cousin’s winery. A gymnast as a kid and surfer and rugby player as teenager, he studied winemaking in Portugal and worked in Napa Valley, Australia and France before launching his wine project in Portugal. Along with SEXY wines, António is also the founder and owner of FITAPRETA Vinhos and consultant winemaker to 13 wineries in Portugal. He still surfs and plays beach rugby in the summer. He proclaims that he “loves wine and loves life!!!” Read More
Congrats to The Chowdafest 2014 Winners! CTbites Team February 04, 2014 28 Chowders were consumed by over 7500 people this past Sunday at Chowdafest 2014. All of the restaurants, chefs, and sponsors deserve special mention for donating their time to raise money for CT Food Bank. It was an epic success. Here are the results. Congratulations to all! Check out our video highlights here. Read More
Valentine's Day Roundup: CT Gifts, Eats & Vacations for Your Loved One Ingredients Features Restaurant Gift Guide Holiday Travel Dessert April Guilbault February 02, 2014 “My love for you is like a red, red rose” said the venerable Robert Burns, but maybe, just maybe it’s like a truffle making class or a sassy, classy Valentine cocktail. Every love is different, right? Valentine’s Day typically bubbles over with all things red, pink and sparkly. Boxed chocolates abound (some left in the box, half-bitten into) and romantic dinners are de rigueur. But, as with everything in life, it’s good to mix it up a bit to keep things fresh-dare to be different! This year, maybe try something new with your Valentine that will create a memory for years to come; take a cooking class together, go to a theme dinner, try a salt cave, stay overnight at a local, romantic hotel. Sometimes, a mini-vacation in your own backyard can be the most fun and deliciously decadent. So start with a red, red rose and branch out from there... Read More
Dressing Room in Westport Closes Its Doors After 8 Years Stephanie Webster January 31, 2014 It is with a heavy heart that we report the Dressing Room in Westport has closed its doors. While we work on the full story, here are the words of Michel Nischan via their web site. Paul Newman and Michel Nischan were pioneers in the farm to table movement. Michel will continue his great work at Wholesome Wave, and we hope to see Chef Jon Vaast very soon. "After eight great years and hundreds of thousands of delicious, local and sustainable farm-direct meals, Dressing Room Restaurant has closed. Founded by internationally renowned chef Michel Nischan and the late actor Paul Newman in 2006, the restaurant was Fairfield County’s first farm-to-table restaurant. We thank our customers who shared our passion and genuine interest in supporting regional growers and responsible farming methods. As a result of their loyal support, and the resulting successful 8-year run of the restaurant, there are now nearly a dozen farm-to-table restaurants gracing discerning Fairfield County palates while supporting Connecticut agriculture. Dressing Room Restaurant received numerous awards and accolades in the local and national food press, including one of Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 95 New Restaurants in the World” (2006) and recognition for “The Best Burger in America” by Steve Raichlen, USA Today (2010). This is a testimony to meals made with the best locally grown, artisanal and organic foods. Yet, it reflects only one of Michel Nischan’s many talents. Read More
Friday Froth: BigBrew NYC News and Alex Le Rouge Ingredients CT Beer Events Beer James Gribbon January 31, 2014 Every once in a while I like to spike the gruel of my disjointed ramblings in this column with some actual news, which is why I'm going to lead off by telling you all about a beer festival that is about to happen a short drive/train ride away pretty soon. The Big Brew NY Beer Festival will have its inaugural event on Saturday, February 8th, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.The organizers expect 1,500 to 2,500 people, which is positively tiny by beer fest standards, so there should be plenty of access to over 300 beers. General admission tickets are $50, designated drivers get in for $10 (in advance) and VIP tickets, which allow access to more beers, an extra hour of tasting time, and a buffet designed by Chef Anthony Goncalves of 42 The Restaurant, go for $80 in advance, or $90 at the door. All attendees will have the opportunity to discuss beer and food pairing with John Holl, author of The American Craft Beer Cookbook, and are invited to 42 The Restaurant for an after party and a 10% discount on their bill.I discussed the impending launch of this year's batch of Igor's Dream Russian Imperial Stout in the last edition of Friday Froth, Read More
Raise $$ for Community Plates @ Baró Restaurant Grand Opening Fund Raising Event Stephanie Webster January 31, 2014 We love it when local restaurants step up to support a great local cause. Baró Restaurant in Fairfield is doing just that on February 19th, 2014 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Baró has partnered with Community Plates to donate 50% of ticket sales at their Grand Opening Fund Raising Event to end hunger in the U.S. What can you expect at this event? Tons of tapas, tacos and more, signature cocktails from the master mixologists at Baró as well as a silent auction. Plus...Baró + Community Plates = a really fun night. Tickets are $40. We hope to see you there. Read More
The Spread's Poblano & Corn Chowder with Fresh Crabmeat Features Chef Talk Entertaining Recipe Comfort Food CTbites Team January 30, 2014 Get ready to rumble. Chowdafest is this weekend at the Webster Bank Arena, where 28 chefs will battle it out for "best of," and then Superbowl eating goes into full swing. The Spread in Sono under the direction of Chef Carlos Baez, will be competing for the first year at Chowdafest in the "Creative Chowder" category. Chef Baez may be a rookie to Chowdafest but he certainly is no rookie in the kitchen. Check out his very simple and delicious recipe for Poblano & Corn Chowder with Fresh Crabmeat. Make it for your Superbowl party or skip the work and sample some at Chowdafest before the big game. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 30, 2014 Darien’s Restaurant Week returns from February 2 through February 6. Selected restaurants will offer a multi-course meal for a special set price. Lunch is priced at $12.14 or $18.14 while dinner is $20.14 or $30.14 depending on where you dine (plus tax and gratuity). Try: Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Bodega Taco Bar, Cesco’s Trattoria, Chuck’s Steakhouse, Coromandel, Darien Social, Estia’s American, Jimmy’s Southside Tavern, Meatball & Company, Rory’s Restaurant, Scena Wine Bar, Tengda, The Goose, and The Melting Pot, and more. Tuesday February 4, the Fairfield Cheese Company will hold a fondue class. Experiment with several different fondue recipes in all their warm and creamy glory. There will be lots of delicious dipping accompaniments and a couple of wine selections to add to the fabulous fondue fun. $45. Info here. It’s a Sierra Nevada tap takeover at Cask Republic Stamford on February 5th at 7pm. Guests can taste Bigfoot Barleywine, Torpedo, and Ruthless Rye IPA in the back room. 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 on February 5th from 7:00-9:00 pm. Read More
Sneak Peek at F·I·S·H Restaurant Coming to Stamford Restaurant Seafood Stamford Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 29, 2014 The finishing touches are being applied to F·I·S·H Restaurant in Stamford as it prepares for its grand opening in a few weeks. Housed in the space formerly occupied by Boca Restaurant, the staff is busily preparing to change the focus from small plates to one focused on more traditional offerings of seafood with a smattering of meats and poultry. Overseeing the kitchen is Chef Domenico Gurliacci, who also directed the kitchen at Boca. Prior to joining Boca, Gurliacci prepared some delicious Greek cuisine at Kouzina in New Canaan and was a cook at the Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood. As Gurliacci told CTbites, “There were too many restaurants in Stamford offering the small plate concept. We wanted to change it up a bit.” The menu is designed to appeal to both the lunch crowd as well as those at dinner and features a varied approach. Guests can choose from several Raw Bar offerings or one of the appetizers that range from Lobster Corn Chowder, mini fish tacos, and mini beef empanadas to traditional seafood appetizers of fried calamari or oysters, plus Asian inspired mussels and spicy buffalo shrimp. Sandwich choices include Oyster Po-Boy, Buffalo shrimp, Crab cake BLT, Steak and Gorgonzola and the F·I·S·H burger. Entrées consist of several pan-seared or grilled fish options or F·I·S·H’s modern comfort food interpretations of ricotta gnocchi with lobster; beer battered fish & chips; seafood gumbo and spaghetti with clam sauce. Read More
Bruno DiFabio of Greenwich's Re Napoli: Next Judge on Food Network's "Chopped" CTbites Team January 28, 2014 Connecticut resident Pizza maestro Bruno DiFabio — an owner of 10 artisan pizzerias around the country including ReNapoli in Old Greenwich and Pinnochio Pizza in New Canaan — has been named as the new judge on Food Network's Chopped. A six-time world world pizza champion (winner at Euro Disney Mondial de la Pizza and last year's Pizza Expo in Las Vegas), DiFabio is currently working with the Guinness Book of World Records to break the fastest pizza in the world. Bruno will preside over the Season Premiere of Chopped on Superbowl, joining Amanda Freitag and Alex Guarnaschelli. Read more about Bruno over at ConnecticutMag.com Read More
The Granola Bar Opens In Westport: Great Coffee & Good Eats Restaurant Brunch Coffee Westport healthy Breakfast Lunch Kid Friendly Nancy Kleeger January 26, 2014 Get your highlighter out and start counting how many times I drop the G bomb in this article. Some things cannot be avoided. The Granola Bar at 275 Post Road East in Westport has created a lot of caffeinated buzz, as well a bit of traffic congestion in the parking lot of Playhouse Square, right in the heart of Westport. Julie Levitt and Dana Noorily, two local Westport moms with years of combined business experience and a passion for food, first co-founded Oats Granola, currently sold at Whole Foods, Stew’s and other select markets around the area. The success of their product was not enough for these two entrepreneurs who had their eyes on the prize. Continuing down the foodie path with a vision to create a happy place where good, clean food and a little schmoozing can take place, they launched The Granola Bar. Read More
Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lovers Evening to Benefit Shelter For The Homeless CTbites Team January 25, 2014 The Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover's 'Tasting' Evening to benefit The Shelter for the Homeless is back! On Thursday, February 6th, over 50 vendors will be serving up an evening of glorious culinary indulgence in the form of decadent chocolates, confections, and mouthwatering baked good, all washed down with fine wines, beer and specialty beverages. Here's the real bonus…You can enjoy your nibbles from favorite restaurants and shops like Bar Sugo, Darien Cheese Shop, Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters, Chocolate Lab, and Izzi B’s Allergen-Free Cupcakes, knowing that 100% of every ticket sold supports the Shelter for the Homeless programs. Check out the complete list of vendors below and we'll see you there! Read More
Chowdafest Announces Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstrations CTbites Team January 24, 2014 Chowdafest has just announced their four celebrity chefs who will be giving cooking demonstrations during this year's event. The Clarke Cooking Stage will be graced by 3 great local chefs: Chef Pietro Scotti of Da Pietro’s in Westport; Chef Plum, a regular contributor on “Better CT” on WFSB, FoxCT and the Food Network; Chef Forrest Pasternack, the executive chef at Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield; and Chef Hunter Zampa, an 8th grader from Stamford, who recently won the Food Network’s Chopped Teen Talent. The chefs will appear on the new Clarke cooking stage and cooking demonstrations are co-hosted by OmNomCT.com and CTbites.com. Cooking demonstrations are approximately 20 minutes long and are scheduled on the hour. Additionally, each segment is supported by an event sponsor and each chef’s creations will be able to be sampled after the demonstration. Clarke Cooking Stage Schedule 11:30 Teen Chef Hunter Zampa presented by Frontier Soups and Westminster Crackers 12:30 Chef Pietro Scotti presented by Victoria Foods, FIAT of Fairfield County and E.& J. Gallo Wines Read More
Sarah & Monica's Excellent Birthday Dinner Restaurant Ridgefield Amy Kundrat January 24, 2014 Sarah Bouisseau of Bernard's & Sarah's Wine Bar in Ridgefield, and Monica Brown of 109 Cheese & Wine have been the closest of friends for over a decade, beginning when they discovered they shared the same birthday. Over the years, the oenophiles and food lovers have hosted an evening including some of their favorite foods and wines for their customers, and it has evolved into a beloved annual event. This special dinner and wine tasting happens only once a year, on Friday, January 24 (tonight!) at 7 pm at Bernard's in Ridgefield. The price is $90 per person plus tax and gratuity, call 203 438 8282 for reservations. Sarah & Monica's Birthday Menu Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 23, 2014 It’s an Onyx Moonshine tasting extravaganza on Thursday January 23! Join Amity Wines of New Haven as they welcome Onyx Spirits Owner Adam von Gootkin to discussg the history of moonshine and prohibition. You will sample the 80 proof black (with a cocktail), the high proof 111 (with infusion example), the delicious Apple Honey, and the Onyx Whiskey. Free event. 6:30-8:30pm. Reserve your space at: http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/514204 Friday the 24th is another “Open House” style event at Half Full Brewery in Stamford. From 5:30-8:30pm, $15 gets you in the door armed with a Half Full branded recycled plastic pint glass and THE TAPS WILL BE OPEN. While you are there, try your hand at bags, life-size jenga, draw on our chalkboard wall, or just enjoy some great conversation over great beers. Saturday January 25 is the 5th Annual Valentine Chocolate Festival in New Haven. It is an elegant chocolate competition for both amateurs and professionals and a sumptuous sampling session benefiting the Montessori School On Edgewood. Submit your entry and/or just come sample sumptuous diverse, delectable chocolate treats. Read More
