Family Friendly 3rd Annual Slice Of Saugatuck is Sept. 14th w/ Wine, Food & 5 Music Stages! CTbites Team September 09, 2014 The third annual Slice of Saugatuck Festival is set to go off on Sunday September 14, from 1-4pm (rain date Sept 21). The family friendly Wine & Food and Retail Experience has once again expanded, both in the number of participating venues and what is being offered to the festival goer, especially kids. “The festival is back and it’s bigger,” said WWCC Executive Director Matthew Mandell, “Not only will there be tastings at over two dozen eateries, and great offerings by all the other merchants; there will be a mini maker space, drones, obstacle courses, bouncy houses, magicians, hoola hoops and rock climbing. The kids are going to love it.” Also added this year, will be a retrospective of historic Saugatuck created by the Town curator Kathie Bennewitz. Read More
11 Places for Apple Picking in CT Ingredients Local Farm Pick Your Own kids activity Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 09, 2014 As autumn approaches, farmers journey out to their fields to begin the harvest. Apples lie at the heart of the season: apple cider, apple pie, or even a simple Gala or Braeburn apple are beautiful bounties on a crisp afternoon. CT's farms and orchards are inviting you to pick-your-own apples as the leaves start to change their color. Here are 10 places where you can enjoy a fall afternoon. If you love apples, be sure to check out these recipes for a Hot Cinnamon Apple Toddy and a Prosecco Apple Fizz from Sugar & Olives. Bishop's Orchards, Guilford Rogers Orchards, Southington Lyman Orchards, Middlefield Rose's Berry Farm, Glastonbury Silverman's, Easton Blue Jay Orchards, Bethel Rose Orchards, Branford Drazen Orchards, Cheshire Johnny Appleseed's, Ellington March Farms, Bethlehem Scotts Orchard and Nursery, Glastonbury Read More
NEAT Opens in Westport: The Art of the Beverage from AM to PM Restaurant Cocktails Coffee Westport Bar Breakfast Amy Kundrat September 07, 2014 Coffee bar by day, craft cocktail bar by night, NEAT is now open at 6 Wilton Road in Westport from 7 am to midnight, seven days a week. If you are familiar with NEAT’s location in Darien, the approach will feel instantly familiar, if distilled into a much fuller and complete café experience. NEAT retains its unpretentious devotion to the art of the beverage, extending its reach into the evening as your palate naturally shifts from caffeine to spirits, seamlessly maintaining its full attention to the craft beverage experience. Read More
Join Us @ Community Plates "Food For All" 2014 Fundraiser: Help End Food Insecurity CTbites Team September 07, 2014 If you could deliver a meal to a family who otherwise would have gone hungry, would you do it? What if you could feed 900 people for the $50 admission price to this year's "FOOD FOR ALL" Fundraiser? If the answer is yes, keep reading... On Thursday, October 2, 2014, Community Plates will hold their annual FOOD FOR ALL fundraiser showcasing over 20 of Fairfield County’s newest restaurants and top bartenders presenting signature dishes and Craft Cocktails. Community Plates is the technology-fueled, direct-transfer food rescue organization dedicated to ending food insecurity in America. The celebratory evening begins with a VIP cocktail reception (6-7 PM) featuring Marcia Seldon Catering & The Spread, followed by the main event (6:30-8:30 PM) which will include featured restaurants, libations, music, dancing and more. General admission tickets are $50 and VIP tickets can be purchased for $100. Tickets are can be purchased here. View the complete Restaurant Lineup Here. Featured Chefs, Restaurants & Mixologists Read More
Friday Froth: Here's Where To Get A Good Beer in CT Ingredients Restaurant Beer Garden CT Beer Beer James Gribbon September 05, 2014 "Man, that sounds good. Where can I get some?" I hear this, in some variation, frequently. The answers vary: if you want OEC beer, you have to go to the brewery in Oxford on a Saturday; if you want Avery Maharaja, you have to go to 2008, before some dastardly deal blocked its distribution in the state.This week we're going to step away from specific beer reviews and focus instead on restaurants and bars where you (yes, you, specifically) can find good craft beers - bottles, cans and draft.So that's the bait, and here's the hook: I'm inviting all of you to contribute to the list. I can't know everywhere a firkin is being tapped, and I'm especially light on taprooms outside of Fairfield County, so let's make the comments section a living document, a resource for craft beer exploration. The list below will encompass places where I've actually bent an elbow, not just places I heard of, so fill in any omissions I've made in the comments. We're going to start by working our way northeast from: Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events for Week of September 8th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 05, 2014 Barolo in New Canaan hosts a Kobrand Winemaker Dinner on Monday September 8. The 4 course dinner will be paired with delicious Italian wines from the two winemakers. $95pp, 7:00 pm. For reservations, call (203) 920-4015. Here's the menu. Cask Republic New Haven hosts Nebraska Brewing Rare Beer Night Tuesday September 9 from 6-9 pm. Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market partners with Luca Ristorante and Martin Scott Wines to host a Piedmont Wine Dinner with Owner/Winemaker Guiseppe Vajra. It will take place on Tuesday, Sep 9 at 7PM. $98 with tax and tip included. Call (203) 563-9550 for information and to reserve. Darien Social’s Wine & Dine Wednesdays continue with ½ price wine and a special steak dinner. Choose from a Porterhouse, NY Strip or Filet, which comes with a salad and two side dishes, for just $28 a person. Like beer? Check out the CT on Tap beer festival, Saturday, September 13th at Ives Concert Park from 3PM-6PM! Sample over 120 craft beers from the best American Craft Breweries. VIP tickets are $55 and GA tickets are $35 when bought in advance. Day of GA tickets are $45. Read More
Match Restaurant Celebrates 15 Years w/ A Month of Special Events & Offers CTbites Team September 04, 2014 Match restaurant is thanking its patrons for 15 great years with a full month of special offers and events during September. Chef Matt Storch says "September will be a month full of gifts as we express our gratitude for your continued support." These gifts include: $30 3 course dinners, "$15 For You" program where Match hands you $15 to use in the month of September, $15 Bar Flights & oh so much more. Check out the full list of dining special below. $30 3-Course Dinner Sunday 21st – Friday 26th. The menu (filled with dishes from the last 15 years) will be on the website next week. We highly recommend reservations for this limited event! $15 For You Join us this week Wednesday –Saturday and we will hand you $15 to use throughout the month of September. Read More
WFM & Westport Cinema Initiative Team Up for FED UP October 2nd CTbites Team September 03, 2014 On Thursday, October 2, @ 7.00 p.m, Westport Farmers' Market & The Westport Cinema Initiative will screen the groundbreaking movie FED UP at the Christ and Holy Trinity Church. FED UP is the film that the food industry doesn’t want you to see. The reason: so much that we have accepted for the past 30 years as healthy eating is no more than propaganda from food-producing giants that have millions of dollars invested in temptation, and gain fantastic profits from it. But we are addicted. We say we are eager for good health – for ourselves, our children and our children’s children. But our behavior betrays us. Consider the obesity epidemic and the alarming rise in diabetes sufferers. Most of these serious conditions were rare only a few generations ago. So what can we do? Read More
Recap: CTbites Chef Demo Tent @ Blues Views & BBQ Festival BBQ Andrew Dominick September 03, 2014 Blues, Views & BBQ Recap These past few years at the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival I had the pleasure of covering it as a news guy, doing my usual reporter thing, furiously snapping photos, taking notes, chatting with vendors, you get the idea. But every year I asked my friends at the CTbites demo tent if they needed help. “Toss me an apron,” I’d say. Or “Are you sure you don’t need a hand?” I wanted to help for two reasons. One: Because I know and like them. And two: I’m sure if I helped they would feed me. Year after year the demo tent featured top Fairfield County chefs showcasing their skills and handing out free samples of all types of BBQ and grilled meats. Now do you see why I wanted in? Alas! My wish was granted when I was asked to help out at this year’s 7th Annual BLues, Views & BBQ Fest and the idea of “Will Work for Food” became a reality. Read More
Canning, Preserving & Pickling Workshops at Millstone Farm Ingredients Cooking Classes CTbites Team September 02, 2014 What to do with your overly bountiful harvest? Millstone Farm has a few ideas. How about canning, pickling and preserving those gorgeous veggies and fruit? Seems daunting? Not at all. Just sign up for one of the workshops below... Canning & Preserving TomatoesSat. Sept. 27: 10am – 1pmJoin Annie Farrell and others at Millstone Farm and learn how to preserve your summer tomatoes so they can last you all winter long. Learn the basics of canning, freezing, and methods of storing tomatoes. Come prepared to chop, cook, can, and taste. We will use water bath method, and discuss pressure canning. We will tour the farm if time and weather allow. Up to 20 participants. $30 per person. Read More
"Food Trucks in the Valley" September 18 w/ 15+ Food Trucks! Restaurant Food Truck CTbites Team September 02, 2014 Parent Child Resource Center hosts "Food Trucks in the Valley" on September 18th, 4 - 8 pm (rain date the 23rd). Food Truck in the Valley is a FREE event with 15+ food trucks, wine and beer, ciders, live music, a car show, and childrens' activities such as face-painting, hula hooping, candy art and more. Food Trucks in the Valley will be held at The Shelton Riverwalk and is the first event of its kind in the area. Proceeds support PCRC's programs that serve children and families, most of whom suffer from trauma, abuse and neglectFood Truck & Vendor Lineup House of Bones BBQ - Ribs, BBQ variety Szabo's Seafood - Lobster rolls and more Firedog Food Truck - Hot dogs, pulled pork Pierogies on Wheels - Pierogies w pork, sauerkraut, mushroom, etc... 3 Chicks Grille - Steak and cheese bombs, fried oreos Wrap That Food - Wraps and salads The Caseus Cheese Truck - Grilled cheese varieties Fryborg - Fries with unique dipping sauces Spuds Your Way - Baked potatoes with choice toppings DiSorbo's Bakery - Fried dough, cannoli's, italian ice Read More
Summer's Best Restaurant Openings in Connecticut Restaurant Norwalk Stamford Westport Amy Kundrat and Stephanie Webster September 01, 2014 Labor Day marks the unofficial end to that glorious season we know as summer. Days filled with warm weather, early happy hours, and treks to the beach are hereby numbered. Thankfully, several new restaurants have opened in Fairfield County and beyond this summer, giving us more than a few things to look forward to as we ease into the seriousness of the back-to-school season. Here are a few new restaurants that opened this summer we think are worth checking out. Read More
Stamford Museum & Nature Center Hosts Farm to Table Supper w/ Chef Brian Lewis of elm restaurant Dinner Events Education Farm to Table CTbites Team August 31, 2014 Join The Stamford Museum and Chef Brian Lewis of elm restaurant in New Canaan for an exceptional dining experience amidst the permanent collections of the Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries. On Saturday, September 20th, Chef Lewis, a fierce advocate for eating local, will be cooking works his magic for four courses of delicious seasonal foods, paired with a selection of exquisite wines. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets here. The evening will begin with farm-fresh hors d’ouvres and signature cocktails to be enjoyed with a special preview of the Stamford Museum’s new exhibition – The Smithsonian Institution’s The Way We Worked – with added selections from SM&NC’s historic Agricultural Tool Collection that served the farmers of North Stamford c. 1900. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events Sept. 1-6th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 29, 2014 Stamford Restaurant Week lasts until September September 1! On Tuesdays, both locations of Geronimo’s serve up “Tacos, Tequilas, and Tails.” Receive 2 tacos and a house margarita for $12. There will also be other food specials. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation presents “The Wine Opener” on Thursday September 4 from 6-10pm. The Wine Mapp of Greenwich will have delicious wines for you to taste while you enjoy cuisine from popular restaurants in Fairfield County. $100pp. “Outstanding in the Field” comes to The Hickories in Ridgefield September 4 & 5. The event is an open-air feast in celebration of the farmer and the gifts of the land. Guests sit at a long table on a local farm while a chef prepared a beautiful meal. It starts in California and travels across the country. Bill Taibe of LeFarm & The Whelk comes to the Hickories on September 4 while Wirt Cook of the Redding Roadhouse comes on the 5th. Sugar and Olives in Norwalk reopens on Wednesday September 3 after a brief summer vacation. Read More
Parallel Post & Onyx Moonshine to Host Moonshine Dinner CTbites Team August 29, 2014 UPDATE - THE DINNER IS RE-SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11th Parallel Post and Onyx Moonshine, the first legal ultra-premium moonshine brand home based in East Hartford, CT, will host their inaugural Onyx Moonshine Dinner Pairings on Thursday September 4th September 11th, from 5:00-8:00 PM. The five-course tasting menu will feature a culinary menu prepared by Parallel Post’s Chef de Cuisine, Ali Goss and Executive Chef, Chris Molyneux. Each course will be paired with Onyx Moonshine flavors including its original Onyx Moonshine, plus Sweet Stash, Onyx 111, Apple Honey Infusion, and Cape Cod Cranberry. The menu for this event, much like Parallel Post’s weekly-changing restaurant menu, will focus on localism and follow the philosophy that natural and sustainable products, and responsible farming, are the key components in ingredient selection. The fare will also feature Onyx Moonshine-infused dishes with local farm fresh items including Drunken Scallop Ceviche, Gilbertie’s Fall Harvest Salad with Cape Cod cranberry moonshine vinaigrette and Prohibition Canapés. Read More
Shake Shack Labor Day Specials: Get Your Corn Dog On! CTbites Team August 28, 2014 In honor of Labor Day Weekend, Shack Corn Dogs (Vienna all-beef hot dog dipped in Shack-made corn batter, cooked golden brown and served with Rick’s Picks sweet corn relish; $4.50) are back at the Shack, along with Peach Pie Oh My Concrete (vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of delicious Shack-made peach pie; Single: $4.25/Double: $6.50). Both seasonal specials will be available Friday, August 29-Monday, September 1. It all washes down swimmingly with our SHACK X IPA, our special edition collaborative beer (16oz: $5.25) brewed by our longtime sudsy buds Brooklyn Brewery. Labor Day Weekend is your last chance to raise a pint of SHACK X to a Decade of Shack. Read More
CT on Tap on Saturday, September 13th at Ives Concert Park Restaurant CT Beer Events Festival CTbites Team August 28, 2014 Like beer? Check out the CT on Tap beer festival, Saturday, September 13th at Ives Concert Park from 3PM-6PM! Sample over 120 craft beers from the best American Craft Breweries. VIP tickets are $55 and GA tickets are $35 when bought in advance. Day of GA tickets are $45. Leave the kids at home as this is a 21 and over event. Each general admission ticket will get you admission to the event, a special tasting cup, beer samples, and access to food vendors where food will be available for purchase. VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF BREWERIES BELOW. With the CT on Tap VIP Experience you will have admission to the festival 1 hour before general admission ticket holders (2pm). In this VIP area, you will have access to EXCLUSIVE RARE BEERS that the rest of the festival does not have access to. Additionally, there will be a catered meal provided which is included with your VIP ticket. You will also receive an exclusive SWAG BAG with special beer related items and other cool stuff. The event concludes at 6pm. Read More
4th Annual Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Is On!! Sept 25-27th CTbites Team August 27, 2014 The fourth annual GREENWICH WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL presented by Serendipity magazine to benefit Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, will take place Thursday, September 25 – Saturday, September 27 at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Conn. The festival will feature a Raw Bar wine tasting on Thursday, September 25, the Most Innovative Chefs Gala on Friday, September 26 and the Culinary Village on Saturday, September 27. Also back this year will be CTbites & Serendipity's Blogger Lounge! with a full lineup of interviews with local and celebrity chefs. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the event date. The official weekend kickoff on Thursday evening brings the First Annual Raw Bar wine tasting to the festival. This evening’s events will be held at L’escale Restaurant in Greenwich. The Most Innovative Chefs Gala on Friday evening, with special guests Geoffrey Zakarian and Jean-Georges, Read More
15 Great Spots for Happy Hour in Fairfield County Restaurant Cocktails Bar Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 26, 2014 Why limit happy to an hour? Many of your favorite restaurants are inviting you to weekday happy hours where you can enjoy signature drinks, discounted beers, special appetizers, and more! See which of your favorite hotspots are offering specials below. The Fez, Stamford Gingerman, Norwalk Bar Sugo, Norwalk Taco Loco, Bridgeport Butterfield 8, Stamford Barcelona, varying locations Tomato and Basil. Fairfield Napa and Company, Stamford Morello, Greenwich Craft 260, Fairfield Read More
Walrus + Carpenter Burger: The Bar is Raised in Bridgeport Restaurant Bridgeport Comfort Food Kid Friendly Burgers Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 24, 2014 A good friend told me that the WC Burger served at Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport near the Fairfield border was the best burger in the area. Those are strong words from someone I trust so I drove one evening and grabbed an outside table. The menu is divided into several categories and each reads like a who’s who of comfort food. I was pleasantly impressed when I saw that the chef gave top billing in the Large Plates section to “WC Burger + Fries - Smoked mayo, bacon, bourbon onions, cheddar.” It was a simple decision and I ordered the burger medium-rare. The burger was served on a metal tray accompanied by fries and small mound of pickle slices. There was a crisp char on the exterior and the texture of the interior was soft. I sampled the meat; it was rich in flavor, reminiscent of grass fed, the medium grind was still loose and it was moist without being overly juicy. It was an excellent patty. The first topping I tasted was the Bourbon onions. Read More
