CTbites Invites: Speakeasy Night at Walrus+Carpenter CTbites Team May 01, 2014 Join CTbites for Prohibition cocktails, Prime rib, silent movies, and a piano player as part of this unique evening Thursday May 8th 7-9:30 pm at hip Gastropub, Walrus+Carpenter. For $65, you get to spend an evening back in the Roaring 20's as guests of owner Joe Farrell and General Manager Adam Roytman. With private entrance to this special Speakeasy ( a secret password for entrance will be sent by email to attendees), enjoy a tasting of Prohibition cocktails and family style 3 course Prime Rib dinner. From the moment you are admitted thru a back door, you will be whisked back to an era of Prohibition and silent movies. While you mingle and sip Old Fashioneds, Side Cars, Bees Knees, and nibble on passed hors d'oeuvre to include oyster + ramps Rockefeller and bone marrow + chicken liver mousse with bacon and onions... you will be serenaded on the piano with 1920's Jazz and The Blues. A 3 Course family style dinner will follow and includes a first course of a modern take on a Waldorf salad and deviled eggs. Read More
Cinco De Mayo Recipes: Pomegranate Margarita & Chile Braised Pork Tacos Features Recipe Cocktails Recipe Marcia Selden Catering May 01, 2014 Ole, Happy Cinco De Mayo! While this holiday celebrates Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, we think that whether you’re Mexican or not, this is a great time to have a party. Invite your friends, turn up the music, blend a few of our fabulous pomegranate margaritas, grab some tacos, and get ready to have a ball! Here are our favorite Mexican recipes to feed a crowd: Pomegranate Margarita, Tomatillo Salsa, Chile Braised Pork Tacos with Pickled Onion. Happy Cooking. Read More
Dining for a Cause with Mezon & Danbury Hospital Restaurant Fundraiser Events Amy Kundrat April 30, 2014 Latin Cause. Latin Food. Latin Drink. Mezon Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Danbury is teaming up with Danbury Hospital to host a benefit dinner, "Latin Cause. Latin Food. Latin Drink" at Mezon on Tuesday, May 13. All proceeds will support the Western Connecticut Health Network Global Health Education Program. The WCHN's GHEP charity supports healthcare services and overall community health in Paraiso, Dominican Republic. Read More
Harlan Publick to Open in SONO: From Harlan Social Owners Restaurant Lunch Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 30, 2014 There is a lot of activity in SONO on the northwest corner of Washington and Water Streets...and this is great news for CTbites readers. Harlan Social’s Managing Partner, Chef Stephen Lewandowski informed CTbites that Harlan Publick, the first sister location to Stamford’s Harlan Social, will open by mid-June. Branded as a less formal sibling, Harlan Publick will feature “global inspired street food” in an atmosphere dedicated to “hanging out, enjoying friends, having a good time and enjoying incredible food.” Chef Lewandowski described his vision for his new restaurant in an exclusive interview and walk-through with CTbites. Harlan Publick will feature approximately sixty seats in the dining area and another forty-plus in the bar, with the interior space having a “very industrial feel, like a public tap house with lots of exposed wood trusses, three long communal tables, and reclaimed glass panels encasing chicken wire hanging from the ceiling to separate the bar and dining areas.” It will also feature the “Tap Room,” a private room with eighteen seats, three beer taps installed in the wall, and a large screen TV. Reserve the room for a private function or a Sunday sport’s event, choose three beers and pour your own. Read More
Best Balls? The Meatball Challenge of Fairfield County Rolls in June 5 CTbites Team April 29, 2014 FIRST-EVER MEATBALL CHALLENGE OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY FEATURES MEATY COMPETITION AMONG FAIRFIELD COUNTY RESTAURANTS Fairfield County’s latest food competition is a whole new ball game. The inaugural Meatball Challenge of Fairfield County, featuring a variety of scrumptious meatballs from 10 area chefs, will take place on June 5 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the Factory Underground , located at 16 Isaac Street in Norwalk. Hosted by Savor Productions, the Meatball Challenge of Fairfield County will be donating a portion of the net proceeds to Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of CT. During the Meatball Challenge of Fairfield County, chefs will face off in a friendly ball-bout where they will prepare their unique spin on the classic meatball as well as one savory side dish. Competing challengers include Bar Sugo, Bobby Q’s, Craft Butchery, David’s Soundview Catering, Have a Ball, Match, Meatball & Co., The Local Meatball, The Spread and Strada 18. Read More
CT Guide to Outdoor Dining: 40+ Restaurants for Summer Restaurant Armonk Bethel Darien Fairfield Norwalk Outdoor Dining Patio Stamford Stratford Westport New Canaan Best of CT April Guilbault April 27, 2014 There are some ingredients in this world that, when you add them to anything, they pretty much make it spectacular. Bacon, for example. It would probably make a sneaker taste good. “Air” is another ingredient. Air-a bizarre ingredient on an episode of Chopped? No. Air, as in fresh air. Eating outside. Have you noticed that when you eat a lobster roll outside on a deck overlooking the ocean, it makes you happy? Or eat a grilled burger at a picnic table on a warm summer evening? Or sip a frothy cappuccino at a sidewalk cafe? What is the common ingredient here? Fresh air. Good food combined with a hefty dose of the outdoors. And lucky for you, we’ve put together a long list of our favorite eateries (40+) that have lovely outdoor dining spaces. If we missed an outdoor venue you frequent, please share your find below. For more Summer Eats see our Guide to The Best Warm Lobster Rolls on the CT Coast. Read More
Olio's "House Burger" - Excellent in Springdale Restaurant Stamford Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 25, 2014 In my constant search for great burgers in Fairfield County I found myself heading to Stamford to sample the new lunch menu at Olio that includes the Olio House Burger. And I am glad I did. Olio recently began serving lunch and it is slowly turning into the go-to location for many locals. The lunch menu includes a soup a few salads, and several sandwiches from chicken salad to steak, plus a pasta and sautéed shrimp. But I was there for the burger. The Olio House Burger is a unique combination of flavors and ingredients. It starts with a thick all-beef patty topped with Tasso ham, melted Manchego cheese, caramelized Cipollini onions, with a schmear of roasted tomato aioli, all encased in a Brioche roll from Eli’s. It is served with thick steak fries and a side of ketchup. The burger is excellent. Read More
Kentucky Derby Parties @ All Plan B Burger Bar Locations Restaurant Events Burgers CTbites Team April 25, 2014 Saturday, May 3rd is the Kentucky Derby and Plan B Burger Bar will be partying at all locations. We're talking hats, dresses, seersucker, horses and, of course...BOURBON! They will be celebrating on Saturday, May 3rd from 4-7 p.m. Mint Juleps will be flowing like water. The Plan B chefs are preparing a special Derby menu which you can view below. They will be watching the race on all the TV's, and of course no Derby Day party is complete without Raffles, a Best Dressed Contest, and a Best Hat Contest. Bring out your Southern Belle or Southern gentleman with fedoras, fascinators, straw hats, sundresses, roses, pinstripes, pink, and pastels. Anything seersucker will do! Read More
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
