CTbites Invites: Artisan Southport, Happy Hour on The Patio Invites CTbites Team May 18, 2014 Kick off the season with CTbites and Artisan Southport as they re-open their fabulous patio bar and outdoor restaurant on Wednesday 5/21 5:30-7:30 with a Happy Hour featuring creative hors d'oeuvres by innovative Chef Frederic Kieffer and specialty Spring cocktails, a Rose from Provence, wine and beer for $39, ALL inclusive of tax and tip! Buy your tickets here. Sip and savor as you also enjoy the live music of James Daniels Entertainment. Just named "Best Outdoor Patio" and "Best Hotel Restaurant" by Moffly Media's "Best of The Gold Coast", Artisan offers a beautiful setting for sunset cocktails and appetizers. Chef Kieffer has prepared a special menu of passed hors d'oeuvres to include: Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events CTbites Team May 16, 2014 If you are driving on Route 1 in Norwalk and approach the Lillian August warehouse, that brightly colored truck sitting in the parking lot is none other than Melt Mobile Truck #2. Grilling some great sandwiches, we hope they thrive at this location, since they deliver some mighty good sandwiches. Take a look here. Sugar and Olives launched its “Weekday Nooner” this past Wednesday and the cooking classes will be held @12pm every Wednesday. The classes include a 3 recipe demo + 3 course lunch + cocktail. Recipes included! $42. Call Sugar and Olives at (203) 454 3663 to reserve your spot. Drink specials all night. Help celebrate Mama's Boy's 1st Anniversary on Wednesday May 21 starting at 530 and enjoy complimentary Hors d'Oeuvres, then rock to the sounds of KUNJAN and Carlos Gomez beginning at 6:00PM. Stick around and view Mama's Boy debut on the Cooking Channel's "Road Trip with G.Garvin" at 9:00 PM. Johnny Utah’s had its Grand Opening this past weekend on Washington Street in SONO. Featuring a mechanical Bull (Bull naming contest in process) and reasonably priced food, this may be the next destinations for the 20-something set. Read More
Locali in New Canaan: New Patio...New Menu Restaurant Italian Outdoor Dining Pizza New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 15, 2014 Finally…the weather has changed…the farms are beginning to produce spring vegetables… and al fresco dining is in full swing. CTbites recently posted a round-up of over forty restaurants with al fresco dining including Locali in New Canaan and many readers added their favorites. At the northern end of Forest Avenue, aka Restaurant Row, the patio of the newest restaurant addition, Locali, opened its patio, doubled the seating and Executive Chef Mogan Anthony has completely revamped the menu. The new spring offerings include nine predetermined pizza combinations and sixteen appetizers and salads, all for sharing, plus a smattering of pastas. All of these new culinary delights combine bold flavors and textures to highlight the seasonal bounty. Read More
Win 2 Tickets to Battle of the Chefs in Ridgefield on June 1 Restaurant Ridgefield CTbites Team May 15, 2014 Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned throwdown? The Battle of the Chefs returns to Ridgefield's Founders Hall on Sunday, June 1, 4 – 7 pm and you have the chance to be the lucky recipient of two stadium seat tickets to taste and experience an epic throwdown between Forrest Pasternack of Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield, Matt Storch of Match in Norwalk, and Jeff Taibe of The Whelk and LeFarm. Here's what you need to do: Comment on this post with your dream Battle of the Chef match-up, either fictional, celebrity or local, and we'll randomly select a winner by May 23! Read More
Chocolate Pancakes with Bourbon Whipped Cream Recipe c/o Fairfield County Chef's Table Features Brunch Norwalk Pancakes Ingredients Recipe Amy Kundrat May 14, 2014 Each week we will be bringing you a recipe from one of the restaurant's featured in Fairfield County Chef's Table. We are excited to kick it off with this beautiful stack of pancakes from one of our favorite brunch (and now dinner spots) Sugar & Olives in Norwalk. To sweeten this post, we have invited owner Jen Balin and Chef Jon Vaast to share some of their pancakes at our Westport book signing this Saturday. Sugar & Olives21 Lois Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 | (203) 454-3663 | sugarandolives.comOwner/Chef: Jen Balin and Chef: Jon Vaast Chocolate Pancakes with Bourbon Whipped Cream Recipe Read More
Speakeasy Night at Walrus+Carpenter: CTbites Invites Recap Restaurant BBQ CTbites Invites Events ellen bowen May 14, 2014 As the back door opened a crack, a tuxedoed man eyed me and said, “What’s the Password?”… “Bees' Knees” I hesitantly whispered, palms sweaty, and only then I was ushered into the Walrus + Carpenter back room “Speakeasy” for a Throwback Thursday CTbites Invites event on May 8, 2014, of Prohibition cocktails, silent films and the food and music of the Roaring 20’s. Owner Joe Farrell and GM Adam Roytman were on hand to greet the 30 attendees of this sold out evening, most who chose to follow the Invites suggestion of dressing for the period…every where I looked were Al Capone look-alikes dressed in pinstripe suits and fedoras…Fancy “molls” in fringe dresses, sequined headbands, multiple strands of pearls and fur boas. Read More
Best Burgers in Stamford CT: Celebrate National Burger Month Restaurant Stamford Best of CT Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 13, 2014 It’s National Burger Month. To kick it off, we are launching a series of haunts and restaurants where you can enjoy some excellent burgers. For the first of this series we bring you the “Burgers of Stamford.” From basic bacon cheeseburgers to one with 100% Wagyu beef, each of these bundles of beef offers different flavors, toppings, buns and sides Last year one Stamford location was included in the 2013 Best Bar Burger category, Dinosaur BBQ’s “Dino Burger Deluxe." Check back next week when CTbites rolls out its 2014 list of Best Bar Burgers. Two Stamford locations earned spots in CTbites’ 2013 Best Restaurant Burger category. The “Harlan Burger” at Harlan Social and Napa & Co.’s “Wagyu Burger.” We recently reviewed a strong contender for inclusion in this year's list with Olio’s “House Burger.” Check out Olio’s burger here, and come back at the end of the month when we unveil “The Best Restaurant Burgers in Fairfield County.” Read More
Cocktail Naming Contest: Win Free Dinner @ Match Stephanie Webster May 13, 2014 WIN a FREE Dinner for two @ Match Restaurant in SoNo. Here's how... It's time for another cocktail throw down! Match has decided to trust the fate of their new summer specialty cocktail to the naming skills of our CTbites readers. If your cocktail name is selected, you will win a FREE DINNER FOR TWO at Match Restaurant (cocktails included) + bragging rights. Here are the ingredients for the cocktail in need of a name: 1.25oz Don Julio Anejo 1.5oz Cocchi Americano 1oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice .75oz Fresh Lime Juice .5oz Honey Syrup Grapefruit Zest Post your submission below (include email). We welcome input from readers. If you see a name you like...chime in! Read More
New Chef @ Barcelona (SONO) : Introducing Chef Wayne Homsi Restaurant Norwalk Wine Bar Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 11, 2014 With a hip and lively environment, the Barcelona restaurants have consistently offered bold cuisine, inspired by the Iberian Peninsula accompanied with some of the best drinks and Sangria in the area. Each location adheres to the basic premise that a visit to Barcelona must combine great fun with great food. To continue in this tradition, Barcelona (SONO) recently introduced its new Executive Chef Wayne Homsi. Fresh from his culinary journey throughout Spain, CTbites stopped by to sample Chef Homsi’s new additions to the Spring menu. Chef Wayne graduated with honors from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and joined The Waldorf Astoria Hotel where he became the youngest sous chef in its history. He subsequently worked at Picholine and then became the opening sous chef at its sister restaurant Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro in New York. He next joined Il Barilotto as Executive Chef and Partner in 2002 before joining Barcelona SONO earlier this year. The menu at Barcelona offers “Meat + Cheese,” “Tapas” plus a few smatterings of “Paella,” “Meat + Fish” and Mixed Grill.” The Tapas contains bar bites and others that are more closely described as small sharing plates. Read More
Westport Barnes & Noble Book Signing May 17th: Come Meet Amy & Stephanie Chef Talk Cookbooks Local Artisan Stephanie Webster May 10, 2014 We hate to shamelessly promote ourselves, but we would be remiss if we failed to mention our upcoming book signing at Westport Barnes & Noble on May 17th. Come meet CTbites Founders, Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster @ Barnes & Noble in Westport on Saturday, May 17th @ 1PM. If you haven't heard the news, check out our post on our recently published book featuring over 50 of the best restaurants and chefs in Fairfield County. BONUS: Chef Jon Vaast from Sugar & Olives will be with us serving up their recipe from the book. Read More
Extra Virgin Tasting Menu at Community Table with Olivette Restaurant Events Farm to Table CTbites Team May 10, 2014 Alina Lawrence of Olivette and Joel Viehland of Community Table will present an 'Extra Virgin Tasting Menu,' a night of eating, drinking and learning about authentic extra virgin olive oil, how to properly taste it, and the myriad of ways to enjoy it with food. This tasting menu will take place June 3 inside Community Table in Washington, CT. Alina Lawrence is an olive oil educator and owner of Olivette, a boutique olive oil tasting room in Darien, CT. Alina received her training and certification in olive oil sensory analysis from the National Organization of Olive Oil Tasters (ONAOO) in Imperia, Italy. Chef Joel will work with Alina to share her extensive knowledge of olive oil. As Alina guides you through the complexities of each oil, Chef Joel will present a matching five-course tasting menu, accompanied by wine, that will make for a memorable evening. Read More
Pizzapalooza to Benefit Working Lands Alliance CTbites Team May 09, 2014 Join Working Lands Alliance for our spring fundraiser at Hindinger Farm in Hamden, CT. This fun and casual (and kid-friendly!) event will be held on Thursday, May 15th at 5:30 pm. We will again be featuring Big Green Truck Pizza, great local beer, and bluegrass music from New Haven-based Five in the Chamber. So come thaw out from the winter and help raise funds to support WLA's efforts to protect CT's farmland! Purchase Tix here. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 09, 2014 Monday May 12, Napa & Co in Stamford invites you to help them finish off the last of some single vintage wines before they restock the cellar. Cocktail style event with family style food and vino galore! Reservations required – limited to 25 people. Ted’s Montana Grill in Hartford officially opens its doors on Monday May 12! Ted Turner, a philanthropist, environmentalist and avid outdoorsman joined forces with famed restaurateur George McKerrow Jr. The restaurant embodies Big Sky Country and its tradition of hearty food. American Craft Beer Week is May 12-18 and the Gingerman locations are celebrating with beer dinners: On Monday May 12, the Gingerman in SONO will hold a Stone Brewing Co. Dinner in honor of Craft Beer Week. 5 hard to find brews, including the Go to IPA (cask conditioned) and Ruination, will compliment 5 courses. Tickets are $75 per person, tax and tip included. Call 203-354-0163 for reservations. On Wednesday May 14, the Greenwich Gingerman will have a Goose Island Beer Dinner. Thie paired dinner features six beers, including brews not yet readily available in this area. Tickets are $85, tax and tip included. (203) 861-6400. Cask Republic of New Haven will also participate in American Craft Beer Week with daily events and specials. View full schedule here. Read More
Event Roundup: American Craft Beer Week In CT May 12-18 Restaurant Beer Dinner CT Beer Beer James Gribbon May 08, 2014 One hundred twenty four. That's how many breweries posted events for the first American Craft Beer Week in 2006. Since then, the number of microbreweries, brewpubs and beers bars has quintupled, and they all bring out their best and brightest for this one week celebration of fermented grain. Last year there were 1,269 individual events reported to the Brewer's Association. with who knows how many slipping under the radar. So, the question rises: where will you be during American Craft Beer Week?We've compiled a quick primer with a rundown of events for each day of ACBW 2014 to give you all an outline of what Ninkasi has let slip between her delicate fingers and onto your town. There are more events in the Constitution State this week than we can print, but we've tried to find something for everyone in several different counties, and feel free to comment if you know of anything we may have missed. Allons-y! Read More
‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ Author Brings Her Italian Wines to Connecticut Features Author WIne Wine Tasting Douglas P Clement May 07, 2014
Fairfield Cheese Company Celebrates 5 Years Restaurant Cheese Fairfield Specialty Market CTbites Team May 06, 2014 Five years ago Laura Downey and Chris Palumbo combined their love for cheese and their entrepreneurial spirit and created Fairfield Cheese Company, a bustling cheese shop located in a food loving Connecticut suburb. To celebrate five years of artisanal and farmstead cheese, charcuterie and fine foods, and their popular cheese school, Fairfield Cheese Company will mark their anniversary with a calendar of special events during the month of May. View the complete list of events below: Read More
Join the CSA @ Hubbard Heights Farm in Stamford: Here's Why... Lou Gorfain May 06, 2014 The CSA from Hubbard Heights Farm is different than most subscription food programs. That’s because its fields lay smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Stamford, the state’s third largest city. Consequently, most subscribers live within a few minutes of the farm, so it’s easy to drop by and watch their groceries grow. “They really identify with the place,” says Randy Brown, the Cornel l-trained Wizard who conceived and created this one of a kind urban farm. “Because they’re sort of shareholders, the subscribers feel ownership of the crops.” Convenient access also allows people to customize their weekly supply of just picked vegetables, greens, and flowers. “We don’t have to transport the boxes to a central pickup point like most CSA’s,” Brown points out. That allows subscribers to personalize their portions. In fact, they can even go into the fields and pick their own food. “It doesn’t get fresher than that,” Randy adds. Read More
The Buzz Truck: Mobile Coffee Truck in Fairfield County Restaurant Coffee Fairfield Food Truck Westport Jessica Ryan May 04, 2014 Have you heard the buzz? If you haven’t and you live in the Westport and Fairfield areas you’ll not only hear it but you’ll see it any day now! The Buzz is The Buzz Truck, the brainchild of Jessica and Alex Grutkowski. Sleek, hip and sharp, this handsomely renovated school bus will have tired moms and dads cheering with delight. But it’s not just for parents - this little black bus has something for everyone. The idea was conceived about a year ago when Jessica Grutkowski wondered why there wasn’t an ice cream truck for grownups. Only her ice cream truck wasn’t going to sell ice cream, it was going to sell coffee. “I was waiting on line for my coffee,” she told me, “and there was this person in front of me placing this ridiculously long order. I knew I was going to be late in picking my kids up from school.” Her eyes kept darting to the clock as she debated whether to ditch the line or not. And that was when the idea of the coffee truck came to her. “I knew right away that it would be called the Buzz Truck.” Read More
The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution is coming to New Canaan Restaurant Celebrity Chef Kids New Canaan CTbites Team May 02, 2014 Designed to educate children about healthy eating while getting them to try something new, a Pop Up Park will be created (off Elm Street) on Saturday May 17th between 9:30 – 11:30am. Kids can register for a fun food trail, and be entered into a drawing to win a special prize. New Canaan residents Silvia Baldini, Founder / Chef Strawberry & Sage and Rachel Lampen RLPR Ltd, have volunteered their time to be the 2014 Food Revolution Ambassadors as one of four towns participating across Connecticut, as New Canaan joins Branford, Meriden, and Middletown. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Restaurant Stamford WIne Beer Dinner Beer Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 01, 2014 Tuesday May 6, Cask Republic in Stamford is hosting a 5C Bluepoint beer dinner. Cask has invited all 5 of their head chef's from Cask Republic and Ginger Man to lead the evening's culinary journey. Each will throw down a dish of their choice to be paired with a hand-picked Cask Ale from Blue Point Brewery. Wednesday May 7 is “Mommie Food Fair” at Pellicci’s in Stamford. Fairfield County Dishcrawl, FC Moms Blog, and City Moms Blog have partnered together for the National Event. The Mommy Foodie Fairs take place in 16 cities across the United States. From a mocktail competition to a create your own chip dip contest, this is an opportunity for moms to meet and mingle. A number of fun brands will be represented. Tickets can be purchased directly here. “Wonderful Wednesdays” returns to New Canaan Wine Merchants on Wednesday May 7. A portion of all sales from the evening will go to benefit Meals on Wheels. Wednesday is also a class on “Wines of 2010 Vintage” at Harry’s in Fairfield. Read More
