Weekly Nibble: Upcoming CT Food Events for Week of Sept. 29th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 26, 2014 Monday, September 29, 7pm, L’escale of Greenwich will host a music and food inspired evening called “Burger and Blues.” It will showcase three different burgers in slider format. The Jay Sweeney Trio will perform blues and soul inspired music. Harlan Social in Stamford will have a night of “Wine, Snacks & Socializing” on Tuesday September 30. You can taste wines from Spain and Italy from 5:30 – 7:30pm. If you stay for dinner, you will receive 20% off the samples wines as well. For reservations call 203.883.8000. $35 pp. Also on Tuesday, Cask Republic in Stamford presents an evening of Whiskey and Cigars. Enjoy cigars from the Connecticut Cigar Company (roller on site!) and whiskey from the Willet Distillery. Guests will also receive appetizers. $75pp. On Wednesday October 1, celebrate incredible libations as Mixologist Eric Ribeiro introduces Napa & Co.’s first installment of the “Cocktail Culture.” From 5-7PM, Eric will combine the flavors of the season with juices, bitters, liquors and condiments to create ten hand-crafted cocktails to pair perfectly with Chef Adam Truelove’s culinary creations. $40per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: call Napa & Co. at 203-353-3319 On Saturday October 4 the New Canaan Nature Center will be hosting their 3rd annual Harvest Festival Read More
Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Fundraiser Features Cocktails CTbites Team September 25, 2014 The Norwalk Historical Society is hosting a fun-spirited Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Fundraiser, with speaker Gregg Glaser, publisher and editor of Modern Distillery Age, on October 3, 2014, 7:00-9pm at Mill Hill Historic Park - Town House Museum, 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT. A sampling of six selections will be tasted from around the world. Join us for an entertaining and informative discussion on the history, production, style and character of each. Appetizers are included. Must be 21 years and older to participate in the tasting. Tickets - Early Bird until 9/26: $35-After 9/26: $40-At the door: $50. Purchase tickets here. Read More
Marcia Selden's "Back To School" Recipe Roundup, Kids Will Love Marcia Selden Catering September 24, 2014 Back to school- those three little words that can strike both fear and jubilation, depending on who you ask. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our three super delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. No kid will say no to these great eats: Marcia’s “Best Evah” Granola, "BLTA" Wrap (a is for avocado), and then weve got Kebabs recipes that will suit any picky eater. Find full recipes below: Read More
Kawa Ni's Chef Jeff Taibe's Recipe for Szechuan Stewed Beans Features Asian Chinese Recipe CTbites Team September 23, 2014 Jeff Taibe is currently the executive chef of Kawa-Ni in Westport bringing Izakaya style Japanese to CT. Chef Jeff's creative, simple and seasonal cooking style is his hallmark as seen in Kawa Ni's menu. Taibe will be at The Westport Farmers' Market Thursday, September 25th, 10:15 AM demo-ing and serving up a Kawa Ni favorite (well, one of my favorites), Szechuan Stewed Beans. If you can't make it to the market to watch Jeff in action, please enjoy his recipe for the incredibly delicious, Szechuan Stewed Beans below. Read More
5th Annual Connecticut Cheese & Wine Festival 2014 Ingredients Restaurant Cheese Festival Wine Tasting CTbites Team September 23, 2014 The 5th annual Connecticut Cheese & Wine Festival, a celebration of local artisan made foods & wines will take place at Hopkins Vineyard, 25 Hopkins Rd in New Preston, on Saturday, October 18, 2014, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event will feature locally made handcrafted cheeses, boutique wines and specialty foods and crafts from some of the Northeast’s top producers. This varied celebration, with the special wine and food pairings, promises to be the artisan food event of the year. Read More
2014 Greenwich Wine+Food Festival Announces Culinary Village Participants CTbites Team September 23, 2014 The 2014 GREENWICH WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL, presented bySerendipity, has just announced the participants for its one-day Culinary Village event, taking place on Saturday, September 27 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. The center of the entire weekend, the Culinary Village, will offer grand, savory tastings and demonstrations from food, wine and spirit vendors. For people who love food, the Culinary Village is a free for all of flavors and a whole lot of fun. You can spend the entire day there meeting chefs, sipping wine and enjoying the amazing array of cuisine available to guests. Have fun! This year’s participants have been announced & will include: Read More
Picador v3.0 - Bold Spanish Tapas in the Works in New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger September 21, 2014 Change is again in the air as Picador recently announced that sous chef Frank Barrese has assumed oversight of the restaurant’s menu and kitchen. As co-owner Ray Rivera explained to CTbites, “Leo (Rivera’s business partner) and I wanted to offer the best in Spanish Tapas and Chef Frank has proven his ability to create the level of dishes that we were looking for since we opened.” To introduce several items that will be included on the new autumn menu, Rivera invited CTbites to sample an assortment of Chef Frank’s creations. Many were delicious and others are still in the final stages of their development. Read More
Garelick & Herbs Opens in Saugatuck: Prepared & To-Go In Westport Features Restaurant Prepared Food Specialty Market Breakfast Lunch Dessert Jessica Ryan September 21, 2014 It’s been just over a month since Garelick & Herbs opened its newest, and second Westport, location in the Saugatuck section of Westport with the familiar food favorites and a slightly more industrial vibe than its other locations. It's the most recent food establishment to open just below the new luxury condominiums, sharing the small section of town with Craft Butchery, The Whelk, and Saugatuck Sweets. Many favorite dishes from the other locations are available, including an array of bright and beautiful salads (a crowd pleaser is the ever popular Kale and Quinoa). Also tempting are their prepared fish, chicken and meat entrées. Numerous pre-packaged pastas, sauces, soups and salads, as well as their selection of breads and cheeses are ready for purchase, whether to the beach or for a quick easy dinner. Their same, dangerously decadent, selection of sweets grace the counter by the register. For customers looking for a sandwich, Garelick offers Paninis, breakfast sandwiches and omelets. The space includes a large, brightly lit, dining area with plenty of comfortable seating, plus an e and coffee bar, more baked goods and delicious oatmeal; or enjoy outdoor seating. Read More
The Winners of the Greenwich Wine + Food Giveaway.... CTbites Team September 21, 2014 We are excited to announce the winners of our 2014 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Giveaway! Please contact us and confirm your attendance. Have fun and we will see you there. Jennifer DeGirolomo --2 Tickets to Gala Tickets Friday evening Steven Draper -- 2 Tickets to On Stage Box Seat Dinner with Red Rooster Saturday evening Heather Millett--2 Tickets to Oysters & Wine Thursday evening Read More
Two Roads Brewing Hosts First Connecticut Brewers Festival October 6th Restaurant Brewery Festival Beer CTbites Team September 19, 2014 As a prelude to CT Beer Week (October 13-20), over 20 breweries from around the state will be converging a week early on Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford for the first ever Connecticut Brewers Festival on Monday, October 6th from 6-9 p.m. Over 20 breweries will be in attendance with only 250 tickets available for festival-goers. Tickets are $25, which gets patrons a pint glass commemorating the event as well as unlimited three ounce pours of some of their favorite CT beers. The event is 21+. All proceeds to this event benefit the Connecticut Brewers Guild. Food Trucks include: Lobstercraft, Local Meatball and Bounty Burger. Connecticut, like most places around the country, is seeing a boom in craft beer. In 2011, there were only a handful of breweries and today, over 25 breweries are operating within the Nutmeg State with more and more opening every month. Read More
Fall Fun @ Walter Stewart's Market in New Canaan (sponsored post) Sarah Green September 19, 2014 Halloween is just around the corner and WALTER STEWART'S MARKET is ready with all of autumn's most BOOtiful offerings. Don't miss out on scrumptious CIDER DONUTS and HOOLIGAN cheese and be sure to wash it all down with some TWO ROADS "ROADSMARY'S BABY" PUMPKIN ALE! Walter Stewart's grocer in New Canaan, family run since 1907, offers the very best in local produce as well as every day items, beer, wine and SPIRITS -not ONLY for Halloween!- and exotic, specialty fare. What says "Autumn" more than - Back to School!? Walter Stewart has plenty of healthy Back to Nature Snacks including Planet Fuel Organic Juices and the latest from Lunch Bundles - the Gluten Free Snack Pack. (Check it out at lunchbundles.com!) And don't forget to pack those lunchboxes and pie crusts full of fresh, delicious apples. Local apple season is starting any day now and all varieties of local CT apples and pears will be arriving soon from Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, CT. Also new for fall is beautiful local produce from Boot Camps Farms in Newtown, CT. Read More
Friday Froth: Oktoberfest Was Born In March Ingredients Restaurant CT Beer Oktoberfest Beer James Gribbon September 19, 2014 I'm forever tempted to geek out in Froth: Hop varieties from New Zealand, Gemini astronauts on labels, fat tankers, coolships - I'm curious about everything, and I'll drink most of it once. Today I'll attempt to make a few points, mention beer early, then get out. Here we go: Oktoberfest is not a style of beer. In fact, it has more to do with a horse race than anything we drink. Most beer drinkers have heard the basic origin story: On October 12, 1810, crown prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen and everyone in Munich was invited to party on the fields in front of the city gates, which have been known as Theresienwiese, or "Theresa's meadow" ever since. Everyone had a great time, and you know damn well there was some beer involved, but the highlight of the party for everyone but the non-royals (probably) were the horse races which closed the jubilation. It was the desire to have the horse races again the next year which lead to Oktoberfest becoming an annual tradition. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events for Week of September 25th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 19, 2014 Match of Sono continues its new prix fixe menu through Friday the 26th. It includes 3 courses for just $30! SBC has launched “Southtoberfest,” which features seasonal brews and an Okoberfest inspired menu. Pumpkin crème brulee! View menu here. Thursday September 25, Taco Loco of Bridgeport will hold a tequila tasting w/ a 3 course Mexican meal, 3 mixed drinks, and Azunia tequila! $40 presale, $45 at the door. Walrus + Carpenter continues its BrewGrass with pig roast on Thursday Sept 25. It includes live music, a roast pig, draft specials, and more. The pig is served at 7:30pm. THE GREENWICH WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL IS FINALLY HERE! It takes place at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich overlooking the Long Island Sound with more than 100 vendors, local & nationally recognized chefs, cooking demos, and live music. Read More
New Canaan Nature Center Hosts Harvest Festival w/ Beer, Music & More Restaurant Festival Beer CTbites Team September 18, 2014 On October 4th New Canaan Nature Center will be hosting their third annual Harvest Festival from 7-10pm. This event is a fundraiser for the Nature Center, and is also the party everyone loves to attend but doesn’t want to host anymore. Boots, jeans, and a jacket in the meadow with beer, a bit of wine, music, and food for one ticket price. A local band called the Jazzholes will be performing, and Half Full Brewery and Two Roads Brewery, will be coming to serve party go-ers. There will be a wide variety of beer and wine to choose from and some great eats. Last year, vendors pouring beer and wine included Half Full, Two Roads, Estrella, GW Beer, Berkshire, DogFish Head, Widmer, Murphy’s and Charter Oak along with 3 liquor stores pouring a selection of wines and a few signature cocktails. This year they will also have a selection of gluten free labels.For more information about the location/time/etc.: http://www.newcanaannature.org/programs/adult/index.php Read More
Habitat, Harvest, and Happy Hour: New Haven Land Trust Benefit CTbites Team September 18, 2014 The New Haven Land Trust us hosting a bus tour of New Haven area nature preserves and community gardens ending in downtown New Haven's historic bar Ordinary on Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 4:30 to 8:30 pm. The organization will present the Environmental Business Award to Blue State Coffee. Tickets begin at $45 for party-only, $80 for a tour and party, and $125 for patrons. For more information and tickets: New Haven Land Trust Benefit Event.Featured food and drink: *Ordinary's selection of fine wines*Outstanding beers, including drafts from Connecticut's new brewery, Black Hog Brewing Co. *Cheese and charcuterie hand-selected by the cheese mongers from Caseus Fromagerie Bistro. Read More
Chef Speaker Lineup Announced for the 2014 CTbites & Serendipity Blogger Lounge at Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Restaurant Greenwich Greenwich Wine + Food Festival CTbites Team September 17, 2014 CTbites is pleased to announce the schedule for the CTbites & Serendipity Blogger Lounge at the Greenwich Wine+Food Festival on Saturday, September 27, 2014, co-hosted with the event's presenting sponsor, Serendipity magazine. The lounge will host the CTbites & Serendipity Chef Speaker Series, a schedule of 13 regionally and nationally recognized chefs who will take part in a Q & A with editors from Serendipity and CTbites. Food bloggers, writers, and photographers are welcome to visit the tent, meet the chefs, and listen to the guest speakers. Speakers will be interviewed by CTbites' honarary team member Chef Matt Storch. CTbites Chef Speaker Series 12:15 pm Aaron Sanchez 12:45 pm Anne Burrell 1:15 pm Adam Richman 1:45 pm Geoffrey Zakarian 2:15 pm Christian Petroni 2:45 pm Fritz Knipschildt 3:00 pm Geoff Lazlo 3:15 pm Joel Viehland 3:30 pm Michael Young 3:45 pm Bill Taibe 4:00 pm Jean-Georges Vongerichten 4:30 pm Mixology Panel: Gretchen Thomas, Jeff Marron, Adam Patrick Read More
Fairfield Cheese Company Fall Class Schedule Restaurant Cheese Cooking Classes Education Wine Tasting CTbites Team September 17, 2014 Fairfield Cheese Company classes are back in session and school has never been this delicious. Whether you are a cheese novice looking for a anintroduction to the basics, or a cheese-aficionado seeking to expand your knowledge on a specific variety, they've got the class for you. I jumped at the chance to attend one of these sessions back in October and spent some time with owners Laura and Christopher who lead these entertaining and informative evenings. If you would like some background on Fairfield Cheese Company, check out our review, "Cheese 101." With wine pairings from Harry's Wine & Liquor, this is the perfect way to break out of that dinner-and-a-movie date night rut. Read More
Celebrate The Cocktail Culture @ Napa & Co. October 1st CTbites Team September 16, 2014 On Wednesday October 1, celebrate incredible libations as Mixologist Eric Ribeiro introduces Napa & Co.’s first installment of the “Cocktail Culture.” From 5-7PM, Eric will combine the flavors of the season with juices, bitters, liquors and condiments in developing ten hand-crafted and unique cocktails that will pair perfectly with Chef Adam Truelove’s amazing culinary creations. The matching of cocktails and food is becoming an experience in Fairfield County and Eric and Chef Adam have worked closely in developing the combinations. Priced at $40 (plus tax and gratuity) this event is sure to please those who are advocates of these new pairings and make converts of those who have not experienced its pleasure to the palate. To reserve a spot at this event, call Napa & Co. at 203-353-3319 Read More
Dan Barber Talks on How to Make Farm-to-Table A Truly Sustainable Movement Ingredients Farm to Table Amy Kundrat September 16, 2014 Photo: Food 52 In a recent interview with Yale's Environment 360, Dan Barber dsicussed the failure of the farm-to-table movement to support sustainable agriculture on a large scale. He tasked "the table that must support the farm, not the other way around." For the full interview and to listen to the podcast, visit Environment 360. But I went to Klaas’s farm [in upstate New York] to learn this recipe of wheat and I was standing in the middle of a field and all of a sudden discovered that he was growing very little wheat, and that instead he was growing a whole suite of lowly grains like millet and buckwheat and barley, and leguminous crops like Austrian winter peas and kidney beans. He was growing a lot of cover crops like vetch and clover. Read More
