Friday Froth: Stone Brewing Beer Dinner + Beer Tasting Notes Beer Dinner CT Beer Events Beer James Gribbon April 25, 2014 Like beer? Like food? No? What are you doing here? Get out. Go back to your breatharian compound. Right: now that they're gone, we can lead off with a bit of news involving both beer and food, as Stone Brewing Co. and The Ginger Man in South Norwalk have announced a beer pairing dinner on Monday, May 12. The five course meal will be paired with five Stone beers, including a cask conditioned batch of their Go To IPA, Matt's Burning Rosids, Ruination, a 2012-vintage Old Guardian barleywine, and a cellared batch of 12.12.12 Vertical Epic, which I reviewed right here in January of 2013. The dinner will be $75/person, and includes tax and tip. For more info, click right here. On to the reviews...The last time I slid down the fire pole onto my usual spot at the bar at Ginger Man, I noticed a new beer from Omnipollo on the menu. I quite enjoyed my last encounter with the Swedish brewery, despite waking up covered in reindeer bites and lingonberry jam the next day, so I thought I'd give their Nathalius Imperial IPA a shot. There is an immense hop aroma just as soon as the glass makes its way within reach, like you've just stuffed your head into a bag of Chinooks, which... actually isn't a bad idea. Read More
Chef Jeff Taibe Hosts Restaurant Take Over @ Ecco, May 13th Stephanie Webster April 25, 2014 Chef Jeffrey Taibe is having a little culinary fun before he starts his job at his brother Bill Taibe's new Asian joint in Westport this summer. On May 13th, Jeff will be taking his chef tools on the road to host a 4 course restaurant takeover at Ecco rooftop eatery and bar (above La Zingara) in Bethel. When asked about Ecco, Chef Jeff explained, "Ecco is one of my favorite places around. I'd like to introduce the people of lower Fairfield County to a great beer bar serving really solid food. Plus they have a wood burning oven I will be using in my menu." On that topic, Jeff says "I will finalize the menu a day or two beforehand once I see what's fresh at Holbrook." He did mention that he will be preparing a wide variety of dishes and the courses will be broken into: Sea, Garden, Land and Dessert. There will be lots of local products: vegetables from Holbrook; shellfish from Norm Bloom & Son and Taibe will be reaching out local farmers for livestock. Details are below: Read More
OEC Brewery Opens In Oxford Ingredients Brewery CT Beer Oxford Beer James Gribbon April 24, 2014 Ben Neidhart of Beverage United International, importer of vanishingly rare and obscenely delicious beers from Europe, Africa and Asia, has announced the finalization of his brand new brewery, OEC Brewing, which will open its doors alongside B.United's headquarters facility in Oxford. A public grand opening party will take place on Saturday, June 7th, at noon.B.United imports have appeared numerous times in Friday Froth, and I had a chance to tour the facility last year as part of their Nepenthia event. BU has consistently been years ahead of the curve in barrel aging beers in creative and exotic ways as part of the ongoing experiment they call Zymatore, and OEC, while a separate entity, will be able to benefit from the other facilities on site. The new brewery, called OEC, for Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores or "Order of Eccentric Boilers" (they know their Latin is less than perfect), gives the mad scientist Neidhart family a chance to bring creations wholly their own to the market, along with a tasting room which will feature six taps of OEC beers, B.United imports, and at least one of the ultra-rare Zymatore barrel aged special brews. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Restaurant Holiday Italian Tacos Vineyard Wine Dinners Wine Tasting Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 24, 2014 Monday April 28, Napa & Co of Stamford presents FAVORITE WINES OF SPAIN. Explore the dusty, dirty and sultry wines of this HOT region from Priorat, Campo de Borja and Rioja. There will be 6 wines to experience. $50/person (exclusive of tax and gratuity). Also on Monday the 28th, Barcelona West Hartford presents “Paella 101.” Join Chef Eric in this class dedicated to the Spanish classic – Paella! Learn how to make this delicious dish and a popular Barcelona favorite. For reservations please call the restaurant at 860.218.2100. $29 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 7pm. Golden View Firenze Ristorante and Continental Fine Wine & Spirits will team up for a 5 course Tuscan Wine Dinner of Tuesday April 29. 5 dishes will be paired with 5 different Italian wines. $70pp plus tax and gratuity. Call 203-869-0865 to reserve. Tuesday April 29, New Canaan Wine Merchants invites you to raid their reserve room! Between 7 and 8:30pm, guests can select 3 high end wines to open, talk about, and taste. Free event. April 29 is also the 6th Annual Glenlivet/Cigar Dinner @ Max Fish in Glastonbury. It features cigars from "The Tobacco Shop" on Pratt Street in Hartford, CT, food, and Glenlivet pairings. $125 per person, not including tax & gratuity. Space is limited, so call for reservations today. 860.652.3474. 6-9pm. Read More
Spring Wine Picks: Austria's Hopler Vineyards, Gruner Veltliner + Ingredients This Week In Wine Wine Chat Wine Tasting Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 24, 2014 It seems as though everyone loves a good Riesling for springtime and summer sipping. Last year, New York City was just one of the regions to participate in a “Summer of Rieslings” with a number of selections on the High Line and in restaurants. Germany is revered for its remarkable versions of the varietal. However, a lesser-celebrated varietal promises to satisfy all of your desires as the warmer weather approaches. Gruner Veltliner, a national grape of Austria, shares Riesling characteristics, but has lighter, crisper, and fresher tones than its counterpart. On Friday March 28, Fairfield County hosted Christof Hopler, a respected winemaker and owner of Hopler vineyards in Austria. He presented a selection of his delicious wines to an eager room of wine enthusiasts at South End Restaurant in New Canaan. Read More
The Farmer's Cow 2014 Farm Tours: Meet Your Local Farmers! Ingredients CT Farms Local Farm Farm Fresh CTbites Team April 23, 2014 The Farmer’s Cow announces its 2014 Farm Tour schedule and invites visitors to come out to the country and meet the farmer’s that bring you real local Connecticut milk and dairy products. Locally sourced food is one of the hottest trends in the 2014 culinary forecast according to a recent survey by the National Restaurant Association. But what is local? The Farmer’s Cow milk comes from the contented cows of six real local Connecticut family-owned dairy farms, not from six other states. “Real local” means our farm fresh products get to you faster and that means greater nutritional value and a smaller carbon footprint. “If you can visit the farm, then you know it’s real local,” said Robin Chesmer, Managing Member of The Farmer’s Cow. "We invite families to see first-hand what life is like on a working dairy farm and learn about how we are working to save Connecticut farmland and sustain farming as a way of life.” The 2014 Farm Tour schedule includes events in every season – winter, spring, summer and fall. Each tour is unique and celebrates a different aspect of what it means to be “real local.” Visitors can meet the cows and calves, learn about dairy farming and sample The Farmer’s Cow milk, ice cream and beverages. Hosted by The Farmer’s Cow farm families, all events are free and fun for all ages. In case of inclement weather, please check The Farmer’s Cow Event and Facebook pages for updates. All events are free and no reservations are required. View the full Farm Tour schedule below: Read More
Ted Turner's "Ted’s Montana Grill" Opens in Hartford May 12th Restaurant Hartford Lunch Kid Friendly Burgers CTbites Team April 23, 2014 Ted’s Montana Grill, the classic American grill co-founded by media entrepreneur, environmentalist and philanthropist Ted Turner and award-winning restaurateur George McKerrow Jr., announced that a new restaurant would be opening up on 35 Front Street in downtown Hartford on May 12th. The restaurant will be 4,600 square feet and will seat 160 guests. This is the second Ted’s Montana Grill in Connecticut; the first location is in The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor. Ted’s Montana Grill serves time-honored favorites in a relaxed setting reminiscent of the 19th century American frontier. The design of the Hartford location is inspired by old western saloons, with all the romance and classic touches that make it feel luxurious, but in a casual, warm way. The décor will feature Mahogany paneling, pressed tin ceilings, brass fixtures and beautiful crown molding. From traditional comfort food to unique signature dishes, all meals are made from scratch fresh daily - nothing frozen or microwaved. Chefs only use fresh Certified Angus Beef, National Bison Association-certified bison, all-natural chicken and premium seafood. Ted’s Montana Grill also believes in fresh, sustainable, organic and locally grown ingredients. Read More
10 Questions with Gopi Nair of Tikkaway Grill Restaurant To-Go New Haven Indian Amy Kundrat April 22, 2014 Equal parts businessman and chef, Gopi Nair is the man behind New Haven's 'fast casual' Tikkaway Grill. The former managing partner of South Norwalk's Coromandel, he is a familiar face to Indian food lovers in Fairfield County and has thankfully extended his reach east to New Haven. His passion for Indian cuisine and dedication to customer service has inspired Tikkaway’s central tenants: a fresh, healthy, and informal take on Indian food. "I have been thinking that to me the world has two sets of people," said Nair. "Those who love Indian food but can't get enough and more frequently, and those who don't know Indian cuisine and have stayed away from it till now! Tikkaway grill is for both of them." 1. If you had unexpected guests arriving at your home for dinner in one hour, what would you whip up? Read More
Celebrating Cinco De Mayo in Fairfield County CT Restaurant Cocktails Holiday Tacos Mexican Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 21, 2014 It is said that Cinco de Mayo originated when Mexican-American communities wanted to commemorate freedom during the first years of the American Civil War. Now you can commemorate freedom from winter with these awesome Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Here's what's going on at Bartaco, Bodega, Baró, Taco Loco, and more. Ole! The Cinco de Mayo celebration lasts for 5 days at Taco Loco in Bridgeport! Thursday May 1: Get competitive with a taco eating contest at 7pm and a guest bartending mixology showdown at 7:30. You can sign up for the events on facebook. Friday May 2: Free tequila tasting from 6-9pm featuring over 15 tequilas. Read More
Taste of Westport Returns May 1st 2014 Restaurant CTbites Team April 21, 2014 CLASP Homes of Westport will present its 10th annual Taste of Westport on Thursday, May 1, at The Westport Inn from 6:00 to 9:00. Enjoy an evening tasting the favorite dishes of choice area restaurants, accompanied by a selection of wines, beers and cocktails, and end it with desserts, cappuccino and gelato - all to support a great cause. Start your evening perusing a terrific selection of silent auction items while you enjoy fresh oysters and clams on the half shell from Hummock Island Raw Bar, move on to dishes from several new restaurants, including The Spread, Geronimo and Little Barn, and from many long time favorites - Pane E Bene, T & C Steakhouse and Bobby Q’s. Taste a selection of wines, local artisan beers and fun cocktails. And end your evening with low fat protein-enriched Forte Gelato and cappuccino from Eventi Cafe - all while listening and dancing to the smooth stylings of the Carruthers Brothers Trio. Tickets for Taste of Westport are $75 and may be purchased at www.tasteofwestport.com Read More
Craft Butchery Dinner Party: Spotlight on Dinner #5 Spring Lamb Restaurant Butcher Dinner Events Events Lamb Amy Kundrat April 20, 2014 Each month Saugatuck Craft Butchery hosts an eight course dinner party paired with wine for twenty guests that highlights a different protein and Craft's pasture to table ethos. This approach—sourcing whole pasture-raised animals from small to medium-sized farms—follows what is often referred to as a nose-to-tail philosophy of utilizing the entire animal. These dinners are a celebration of this approach, a collaboration among the butchers and chefs at Craft, and a creative challenge for the Craft culinary team. "They are so talented that my challenge as an owner, is to keep their interest. These dinners are a creative outlet and they celebrate what the shop does. They use all parts of the animal, from snout to tail," said owner and head butcher, Ryan Fibiger. Selecting the themes for these dinners may be a team effort, but much of the culinary planning comes from Mark Hepperman, Craft's Resident Chef and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with over 20 years of experience. One of the previous events in this series was the "Spring Lamb Dinner" which utilized two thirty pound young lambs for eight courses sourced from Josef Meiller farm and slaughterhouse in Pine Plains, New York. Read More
PAWS Uncorked: A Taste for Rescue CTbites Team April 19, 2014 Please join us for PAWS Uncorked: A Taste for Rescue as we host an evening of delicious food, spirits and gifts to help the animals in our care while they wait for their new home. Local restaurants, speciality food purveyors and local businesses with unique gift items will be attending and showing off their best creations! Bev Max will be supplying the spirits. Vendors include: Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant of Stamford, Bistro 7, Lola's Mexican Kitchen, Olio Restaurant, Redding Roadhouse & more. The event will also feature a silent auction filled with great items for both people & pets! Tickets for this evening of food, fun, and helping animals in need are just $45.00 in advance and $55.00 at the door. Read More
The Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Restaurant Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 18, 2014 There is live jazz every Monday night at Fat Cat Pie Co in Norwalk! Enjoy delicious food and wine while listening to soulful melodies from 9-11pm. Tuesday April 22 at 7pm, Barcelona New Haven presents a “Light & Delicious Spring Tapas” cooking class. Join Chef Frank and learn how to make a variety of salads, soups and vegetable dishes. $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 203.848.3000. The same class will take place at Barcelona Stamford with Chef Scott on Saturday April 26 at 2pm. Also on Tuesday, Bistro Basque in Milford, CT will hold “Southern France: Excellent Wines, Excellent Cuisine” from 6:30-8:30pm. They will focus on the top 3 grapes of Southern France: two are the French equivalent: mourvèdre/ monastrell, grenache/garnacha, and the Syrah. The Chelsea takes a trip to New Orleans on April 23rd and 24th. In conjunction with The Revivalists concerts at FTC, The Chelsea will be serving NOLA classics inspired by legendary NOLA restaurants: Gumbo as eaten at "Herbsaint;" Boudin, you'd find at "Cochon;" Jambalaya like KPauls and the list goes on. New Orleans inspired drinks will be served as well. This is good times. Call 203-254-8200 for reservations. Wine & Dine Wednesdays go down every week at Darien Social! You get a salad, 2 sides, and your choice of Porterhouse, NY Strip or Filet for just $28. 1/2 OFF on Select Bottles of Wine. Read More
Friday Froth: Seasonal Spring Beer...A New Crop Ingredients CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon April 18, 2014 Dark beers and dark nights are falling away. Fresh life is shouldering its way through the crusty ground, and new batches of lively, energetic spring seasonals are seeing the light of day for the first time in brewery tasting rooms across the country. Spring time is for beer lovers. The season lends itself to saisons, the ancient staple of farmers and field hands in need of relief during the planting and cultivation of new life. Stillwater Artisinal Ales is celebrating the arrival of fresh, new life with the release of its Debutante American Farmhouse Ale. This saison, brewed with a combination of spelt and rye, and accented with a blend of heather, honeysuckle, and hyssop, is actually a collaboration between Stillwater and Belgian beer specialists The Brewer's Art, of Baltimore. Read More
Baró Hosts Cinco de Mayo Block Party on May 4 CTbites Team April 18, 2014 Join Baró in Fairfield for their first annual Brickwalk Block Party on Sunday, May 4 from 12 noon to 8 pm. Their take on the traditional Cinco de Mayo party will include a cocktail competition, live music, dominoes, and outdoor seating while enjoying food and drink. Tickets are $40 and include admission, 1 signature drink, 1 complimentary drink, tapas, tacos, and more. To purchase tickets, call Baró at 203.292.9560 or visit them at 1229 Post Road in Fairfield, CT. http://www.baroct.com/ Read More
Great Recipes for Spring via Marcia Selden Catering Features Entertaining Farmers Market Recipe Marcia Selden Catering April 16, 2014 Spring couldn’t come soon enough in our books, and while we love the warmth and comfort of soups and stews, we are so ready to hit the farmers markets to cram our reusable bags full of fresh spring produce. Here are our three favorite spring recipes that you’ll want to make just as soon as you throw open the windows and dust off your flip flops. Check out Marcia Selden's recipes for: Bruschetta w/ Smashed Fava Beans, Baby Pea and Bacon Risotto with Pea Shoots and Parmesan, and Fusilli w/ Roasted Fennel, Leek and Arugula Pesto Read More
2014 Guide to Fairfield County Farmers' Markets via FGFG Ingredients Features Farmers Market CTbites Team April 15, 2014 The spring/summer season brings many things: rain, blooms, a high pollen count, and vastly improved temperatures. The onset of warmer weather also means that farmers from all over our fair state will begin to harvest and sell the fruits of their labor at The Fairfield County Farmers' Markets. Sure, there were a selection of dedicated year-round markets this year which kept me deep in kale and root vegetables, but summer brings vibrant colors and flavors we can only imagine in the winter months. Perhaps, you already have a favorite, but the list of farmer's markets expands every year due to growing demand. Here's the roundup you need to stay in the local loop. Analiese Paik of The Fairfield Green Food Guide has the ultimate Guide to Fairfield County's Farmer's Markets. This cheat sheet is all you need to enjoy beautiful local produce, baked goods, and prepared foods all summer long. Let the season begin!! Read More
Ruuthai’s Kitchen: Real Thai in Bridgeport CT Restaurant Asian Bridgeport Thai Delicious Dives Lunch Kid Friendly Elizabeth Keyser April 13, 2014 Word’s out. There’s a new Thai place in Bridgeport worth traveling for. Ruuthai is a little family-run restaurant making authentic Thai dishes. Even better, Ruuthai offers dishes rarely seen in these parts, like mussel pancakes, boat noodles and steamed red curry fish custard. And then there are the desserts. Thai desserts are decidedly weird to Americans. Pork in a dessert? What?! Yes, and it’s good. Ruuthai has been open almost five months. It’s in a residential neighborhood off North Avenue. The storefront is cheerfully decorated with orange and lime accents, and pink and purple swirly, girly flower stencils. The effect is simple and charming. They’ve added a few more tables recently (they’re getting busier), and they do a lot of take-out, but I believe in eating food when it’s at its best – moments after Def Ruangsikul, head chef, has prepared it. If you sit down to eat you will probably meet Chef Ruangsikul’s daughter Dif. Dif McGeough is the manager and waitress. She was born in Thailand and raised in the United States, and she’s a knowledgeable and gently humorous guide. Over the course of several visits, here’s what we’ve tried: Read More
Battle of the Chefs to Feature Chefs Forrest Pasternack, Matt Storch, Jeff Taibe Restaurant Amy Kundrat April 12, 2014 The Battle of the Chefs returns to Ridgefield's Founders Hall on Sunday, June 1, 4 – 7 pm and will feature Chefs Forrest Pasternack of Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield, Matt Storch of Match in Norwalk, and Jeff Taibe of The Whelk and LeFarm. In a culinary showdown similar to those featured on television shows such as Top Chef and Chopped, three seasoned chefs will match sharp knives and quick wits for the benefit of Founders Hall. The participating chefs, Pasternack, Storch, and Taibe, will compete to create an entree from a basket of surprise ingredients in front of over 200 people. Read More
