2014 Guest Chef Lineup @ The Westport Farmers' Market Ingredients Chef Farmers Market Local Farm Stephanie Webster June 05, 2014 Already love the Westport Farmers' Market? Here's another reason to feel good about shopping local. Market Director, Lori Cochran has announced an outstanding "Guest Chef" Lineup for 2014. Mark your calendars people as the guest chefs will conduct classes and demos from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. every Thursday. I don't know about you, but some of my favorite chefs in Fairfield County are on this list. Don't miss your chance to meet and greet the people who make your mouth water. The Westport Farmers Market will be held every Thursday from 10-2 at the Imperial Avenue Parking Lot. Read on for the complete Guest Chef Program Schedule: Read More
Doughnut Day: Best Doughnuts in Fairfield County & Beyond Restaurant Bakery Kids Breakfast Best of CT Kid Friendly Dessert Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 05, 2014 Friday June 6 is National Donut Day! Yes, it's an actual holiday... it started in 1938 and has been celebrated on the first Friday in June ever since. Back then, making doughnuts proved a complicated ordeal, with people resorting to wine bottles as rolling pins and metal tins as cutting edges. Today, however, several CT restaurants have made doughnuts an art form. As a Stamford resident, I constantly heard people talk about the legendary donuts at the Lakeside Diner. Their rounds are neither ornate nor revolutionary. Instead, the old-fashioned donuts taste just like something Grandma would have pulled out of the oven. The classic cake recipe has a dusting of granulated sugar that pleases children and adults alike. On the other side of the spectrum, Orangeside of New Haven eschews tradition and bakes up SQUARE donuts. It started out as an exercise in frugality; traditional round cutters proved expensive and the square shaped reduced the amount of scrap dough. However, the original design became an instant hit, even recognized by Saveur Magazine as one of the top 50 donuts in the United States. Read More
LobsterCraft Food Truck Opening Brick & Mortar Shop in Darien Restaurant Food Truck CTbites Team June 03, 2014 LobsterCraft, in collaboration with Imian Hospitality, announces the first brick-and-mortar location of the popular gourmet food truck of the same name. LobsterCraft Darien developed out of a relationship formed last summer at Imian’s wildly successful pop-up, The Beer Garden at Harbor Point. The LobsterCraft food truck spent many bustling nights at The Beer Garden, cultivating a loyal following of lobster lovers who track the truck using the full range of social media outlets. LobsterCraft, founded in 2012 by Norwalk-based lobsterman and Coast Guard Captain, Michael Harden, and chef-partner, Trond Fletcher, takes the traditional Connecticut Style lobster roll to the “next level.” The duo’s commitment to perfecting Connecticut’s official state sandwich has earned LobsterCraft a number of awards and accolades, including best food truck and best lobster roll in the state. LobsterCraft rolls are simple, yet elegant combinations of fresh, hot-buttered lobster meat mixed with a pinch of a proprietary 12-ingredient seasoning blend Read More
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Launches Rock ‘n Roast on June 4 Restaurant CTbites Team June 02, 2014 The countdown is on! Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is launching Rock ‘n Roast: a whole-hog barbecue with live music, this coming Wednesday. Here is what you need to know: Read More
CTbites' Best Restaurant Burgers in Fairfield County: 2014 Edition Restaurant Fairfield Norwalk SONO Stamford Westport New Canaan Best of CT Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger June 01, 2014 National Burger Month draws to a close. What better way to celebrate the conclusion of an entire month of enjoying some incredible hamburgers than announcing the 2014 CTbites' winners of the Best Restaurant Burgers of Fairfield County. More burgers challenged last year’s winners and three were successful, Olio, Mama’s Boy and Bar Sugo. For the second year in a row, the winner is: The Whelk– 2014 Best Restaurant Burger in Fairfield County 1 - The Whelk (Westport) – The Whelk Burger combines a blend rich flavored meat, sweet pickles, cry baby Swiss cheese, two varieties of bacon, crisped onions and onion mayo on a brioche bun. The dry aged blend of short rib, brisket and chuck from Craft Saugatuck Butchery was fantastic. The cheese covered, thick patty sat atop two different varieties of bacon that added saltiness and smokiness, while slices of sweet pickles, a slice of frisée and the onion accented mayo brought additional flavors and textures. Sitting atop the plump patty was a handful of crisped onions. Read More
Breaking Food News! Fortina is Coming to Stamford's Harbor Point Lou Gorfain June 01, 2014 We love Fortina. Christian Petroni and Jodi Bernhard's wood fired Italian kitchen is arguably the best around. Only trouble, Fortina is not really “around” It lies off in Armonk, New York, which for most of our readers is a haul, a long drive over narrow and twisting Back Country trails. Grazie a Dio. We are happy to report that Fortina is coming to Stamford's booming Harbor Point. Late last week they signed a contract for a soaring, sun splashed space on Washington Avenue, facing Commons Park. According to Petroni and his partners John Nealon and Rob Krauss, the restaurant will feel like Armonk, but be different. "It's like a Fortina snowflake," Chef Petroni explained. "Once you get closer to the snowflake, it's completely unique." Nealon added, “We hate the idea of building a cookie cutter Fortina.” The three talented partners are designing the space themselves, eschewing an interior designer. They will take a minimalist approach and envision a polished concrete floor and bar, flanked by grand, floor to ceiling windows. Read More
Cookies for Kids With Cancer: Danbury Bake Sale, June 8 at Danbury Square Restaurant Fundraiser Amy Kundrat June 01, 2014 Cookies for Kids' Cancer will hold a bake sale on Sunday, June 8 at 10 am in Danbury Square in Danbury, CT. “We are determined to raise as much as we can for childhood cancer research,” says the sale’s organizer (and Fine Cooking senior editor), Denise Mickelsen. “We invite everyone interested in volunteering, baking, or stopping by for some delicious treats to do so. Every dollar counts and we need your help!” A national 501(c)3 non-profit, Cookies for Kids' Cancer is committed to raising funds for research to develop new, improved treatments for pediatric cancer, the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. They provide inspiration and support for individuals, businesses and organizations to raise funds by hosting grassroots bake sales and other fundraising events. The Danbury bake sale will have cookies and other baked goods, raffle prizes, balloons, and much more for the entire family. For more information on the organization, visit the Cookies for Kids' Cancer website, and stay in touch locally at Danbury Cookies for Kids with Cancer on Facebook. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 30, 2014 Tuesday June 3, the Fairfield Cheese Company invites you to an evening of Cheese and Chutney. Pair and taste different variations of the two delicacies from 7-9pm. $45pp, call (203) 292-8194 to purchase. On Wednesday June 4, you can travel to Greece without leaving the country with Harry’s Wines in Fairfield. Greece has the history of being the early cradle of winemaking and the wine makers of Greece are crafting wines from indigenous varieties. $35pp, 7-9pm. Details here. Dinosaur BBQ of Stamford is celebrating the arrival of summer with Rock n’ Roast on the deck! On Wednesday the 4th from 6-9pm, enjoy all kinds of classic BBQ from a whole hog while listening to live music. Join Tomato and Basil in Fairfield every Wednesday for Wine Wednesdays. Come in, have a bite to eat, and enjoy 50% off any bottle of wine in the restaurant. Thursday June 5 is Fairfield County’s inaugural Meatball Challenge. The event will feature a variety of scrumptious meatballs from 10 area chefs, including participants from 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
Naughty Is The New Nice at Naughty Water Whiskey Bar & Grille in Bridgeport (sponsored post) CTbites Team May 30, 2014 [The following article is a sponsored post written as an advertisement] Naughty Water Whiskey Bar and Grille is Black Rock’s newest hot spot for dining and entertainment. With a nod to Prohibition (hence the “naughty water” euphemism for alcohol) and the nostalgic inclination to foster freedom of expression and the spirit of “indulge your naughty side”, this new addition to the Black Rock scene is fast becoming the go-to place for those seeking something just a tad outside of mainstream. The menu is eclectic Contemporary American featuring whiskey infusion tapas selections along with traditional comfort food with a sweet and savory twist. At the helm of this stylish new restaurant is Executive Chef Robert Morales, a CIA graduate who’s earliest inspiration was Chef Daniel Boulud. Chef Robert brings more then what you would expect to the “and grille” aspect of this whiskey bar and diners are taking notice of what is now becoming a staple on the new “Restaurant Row” of Black Rock. Read More
Recap: Chef Jeff Taibe's Rooftop Takeover at Ecco Restaurant Bethel Bill Taibe Farm to Table Amy Kundrat May 29, 2014 Earlier this month, Chef Jeff Taibe led a one night kitchen takeover of the Ecco Rooftop in Bethel, located above La Zingara. The chef and his team prepared a five-course wood-fired feast in the intimate en plein air restaurant. "We chose Ecco because I love the atmosphere. I love how casual it feels sitting on the patio. Another draw was working with the wood-fired oven," said Jeff Taibe. "Plus I wanted to bring some attention to upper Fairfield, there are a lot of hidden gems and great places to go and I feel Ecco is one of them." About 25 people sat under the twinkling lights of the rooftop, enjoying Taibe's creations presented on vintage china from Borrowed, and paired with the evening's signature cocktail, the Paper Plane, a combination of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice, concocted by mixologist Jeff Marron. Taibe will be the executive chef at brother Bill Taibe's newest restaurant in Westport. Read More
Annual Sunset Picnic at Ambler Farm in Wilton is June 14 Restaurant Farm Dinner CTbites Team May 28, 2014 Ambler Farm has announced plans for their annual "Sunset Picnic – An Evening in the Garden" on Saturday, June 14 from 6 to 10 pm. The evening will be catered by Barcelona restaurant and tickets are $95 members / $110 non-member. Ambler Farm is located in Wilton at 257 Hurlbutt Street. Registration is now open to members, and will open to the general public (space permitting, and tickets are going FAST) on May 15th. Register Here. Read More
Port Chester Hall & Beer Garden is Now Open! Ingredients Restaurant Beer Garden Port Chester Beer CTbites Team May 27, 2014 This just in from the folks at PORT CHESTER HALL: After undergoing a full renovation and transformation into the first ever food hall, beer pavilion and garden in one venue, Port Chester Railroad Station is proud to announce the opening of PORT CHESTER HALL & BEER GARDEN. The Hall will be pouring 12 unique craft beer selections, created by Kelly Taylor, Director of Brewing for Port Chester Hall (in addition to Houston Hall and Flatiron Hall in Manhattan). These specialty beer styles include English, Belgian, German, and American, however all use mostly American ingredients. In addition to the proprietary beer selection, the Hall is serving imaginative cocktails by the in-house mixologist, as well as top shelf spirits and a variety of wines. The station's historic architecture, originally designed in 1890, was preserved and retooled with vintage lighting, seating, and century-old murals. The Pavilion combines the original railroad steel design with communal wood tables and a towering stone fireplace. Read More
Rhubarb Compote Recipe from Sugar & Olives Features Chef Talk Farmers Market Recipe CTbites Team May 27, 2014 SUGAR & OLIVES will be the guest at The Westport Farmers' Market THIS Thursday May 29th. SUGAR & OLIVES is devoted to serving wholesome, healthy and happy {LOCAL} food. If it's grown in CT, then it's served up at Sugar & Olives. SUGAR & OLIVES will demo-ing and serving up recipes for RHUBARB COMPOTE & PICKLED RAMPS (view complete recipes below) as well as providing rhubarb lemonade. Chef Jon Vaast and Jenn Balin will also discuss the many uses for these ingredients like ramp and rhubarb chutney, rhubarb tom collins, ramp martini, & ramp butter. SUGAR & OLIVES always strives to educate and cultivate its diners. A recent addition to the lineup at S&O is Jon Vaast, former executive chef of the Dressing Room Restaurant. We look forward to seeing him at the market. Read More
Sono Restaurant Week is Back June 8-13th Restaurant Restaurant Week CTbites Team May 27, 2014 Sono Restaurant Week is back this spring with almost 20 restaurants participating in prix fixe menus and great dining deals for lunch and dinner in downtown South Norwalk. Restaurant Week also gives diners the opportunity to check out some new venues in SoNo including: Quartino Trattoria Vineria, Johnny Utah’s (ride the bull while you're there), Sweet Lucy Lynn’s, as well as Dan Kardos' new Local Kitchen & Beer Bar. Participating Restaurants & Price Points Below: Read More
Food Trucks Schedule for Veteran's Park Stamford via Hey Stamford! Food Truck CTbites Team May 27, 2014 Thanks to Hey Stamford! for this update on the Stamford food truck schedule: That's right, you heard that right! You can now enjoy lunch from some of the hottest food trucks in our area every Tuesday-Thursday(11am - 3pm) in Veteran's Park (Atlantic and Main) this Summer! There is a great line up of food trucks for your summer lunch: Tuesday: The Poutine King, Valencia Luncheria, Wednesday: Firehouse Grill Food Rescue Truck, Melt Mobile and LobsterCraft Thursday: Firehouse Grill, Valencia and Volta Gelateria Creperia! They've got tables with umbrellas and music playing for your summer lunchtime get-away! Read More
gingerbitz Bakery Opens in New Canaan: A Sneak Peek Restaurant Bakery Specialty Market New Canaan Kid Friendly Dessert Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 26, 2014 “gingerbitz” is opening its doors in what owners Andrew and Karen Zuckert call the store’s “dress rehearsal” and CTbites and Hearst Connecticut Media Group were invited for a sneak peek and sample several of Karen’s delicious creations. Described as a bakery and café, gingerbitz is a welcome addition to New Canaan, which has yearned for a local bakery for many years. The longtime dream of New Canaan residents Andrew and Karen Zuckert, gingerbitz represents years of dedication. Karen is well known within Fairfield County for her amazing gingerbread houses that have graced many mantles, as well as featured at numerous holiday festivals. When the opportunity arose to open a bakery in town that would “broader showcase Karen’s talents,” the couple jumped at the opportunity. They painstakingly and meticulously renovated the location, developed relationships with vendors to provide organic products and Andrew embarked on his search for the perfect coffee. Read More
Friday Froth: Two Roads, Half Full, Stone Brewing, Vapeur Cochonne & More Brewery CT Beer Beer James Gribbon May 23, 2014 Satan's favorite sin may be vanity, but I like to think I've earned a curt nod of his horned head with my recent achievements in the fields of gluttony and sloth. A detailed recap of my travels during American Craft Beer Week would run about 20,000 words, and even I don't think I'm that interesting, so I've put reviews of some of the sweet, sweet beer I lucked into below, interspersed with a few tidbits of news. The gems which did not make this week's column will be coming your way soon, though - I took a LOT of notes. Biggest news [by size]: Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, already the largest brewery in the state, has announced plans for an expansion which will more than double their output, from ~80,000 barrels per year to over 175,000 barrels, at an estimated cost of $2.4million. Two Roads has expanded its reach from Connecticut to Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, so demand has obviously increased, but only 25% of current capacity goes to brewing their own portfolio. Read More
109 Cheese & Wine's Perfect Grilled Cheese Recipe c/o Fairfield County Chef's Table Features Restaurant Cheese Ridgefield Recipe Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster May 23, 2014 In our second week featuring recipes from Fairfield County Chef's Table, we looked no further than Ridgefield to feature 109 Cheese & Wine's excellent grilled cheese sandwich with wild mushrooms. In addition to trying your hand at the recipe below, the shop also makes made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches in their shop. 109 Cheese & Wine will be hosting a free event with Bernard's Restaurant and Southwest Café at 11 am on May 31 in their upstairs classroom, complete with food from all three restaurants, bubbly and beverages, as well as copies of Fairfield County Chef's Table. Stop by for a snack, and have the chefs and author sign your book! 109 Cheese & Wine109 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877 | (203) 438-5757 | 109cheeseandwine.com Owners: Monica and Todd Brown Wild Mushroom Grilled Cheese Sandwich Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Holiday News Beer Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 23, 2014 This Memorial Day, you can support our troops by eating delicious dishes from Dinosaur BBQ in Stamford! Each time you dig into a “Sweetheart Deal” or a “Brisket Plate,” Dinosaur Bar-B-Que will be donating $$ to the nonprofit organization Wounded Warriors Project, which supports a full range of programs and services for this generation of injured veterans and their families. Take part in this from Sunday, May 25th through Monday, May 26th. It’s a Memorial Day BBQ at Barcelona Fairfield! An all-day buffet will be served from 1-9pm for $20 adult and $10 for children. Nick Marzock will performs live from 2-6pm and there will be face painting for the kids from 1:30-4:30pm. There will even be a Narragansett Brewery beer tasting. Full menu & details here. The Darien Farmers' Market is open for the spring and summer season. It takes place every Wednesday in the Goodwives Shopping Center parking lot. Visit http://darienfarmersmarket.net/ for all the details. Wednesday May 28, Half Full Brewery in Stamford invites you to participate in a pub run! From 6:30–7:30pm, run a little, beer a little. Runners of all ability levels can start and finish at the brewery the 4th Wednesday of every month. Read More
Bounty Food Truck Rolls into Fairfield County with Grass Fed Gourmet Burgers & More Restaurant Food Truck Burgers Stephanie Webster May 22, 2014 We just had a moment with a new food truck that has rolled into Fairfield County, Bounty Food Truck featuring "Gourmet Burgers & More." With two CIA trained chefs manning the grill, this "farm to mobile" kitchen has some serious legs...and some really tasty burgers. We sampled the "Bordelaise Burger" with caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, malbec butter and arugula. We asked for pink in the middle, and perfectly pink it was served. The burger was thick and juicy, caramelized onions deeply flavorful, with gruyere blanketing the beef, all softy nestled under a perfect brioche bun. We'd go back. Other selections today were a "Simple Burger" with lettuce, farm tomato and onion, as well as the " Bounty" with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and "Bounty Spread." Intriguing... All of their ground beef is 100% grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free and straight from Saugatuck Craft Butchery in Westport. Their produce and eggs are sourced from Holbrook Farm in Bethel as well as Gilbertie's Farm in Easton. The gorgeous brioche bun is made by Wave Hill Breads in Norwalk, CT. Read More
