Weekly Nibble: Mark Bittman, Oktoberfest Parties, Chowdafest & More Upcoming Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 03, 2014 Westport Restaurant Week returns October 5 – 19! Many of Westport’s beloved restaurants offer prix fixe menus for lunch and/ or dinner. Napa & Co invites you to take a “trek through South Africa” on Monday, October 6. They will give you tastes from producers like Hamilton Russel, Boekenhoutskloof, Stark Conde, Spice Route, Southern Right and Kanonkop paired with 3 small plates. $55pp (plus tax and gratuity). Sugar & Olives will teach you to make HORS D'OEUVRES IN A PINCH on Wednesday, October 7. The menu includes rosemary flatbread, quinoa and black bean galettes, polenta "fries," and beef sliders. $80pp, 7-9pm. On Wednesday October 8, The Spread in Norwalk will hold an Oktoberfest celebration. Chef Carlos will prepare a 5-course meal that transcends the usual brast and wurst... And it even includes beer pairings! $55 per person, reservation required. Author and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman will have a conversation with the Director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project on October 8, 2014 from 6 to 7 pm. Read More
13 Pumpkin Treats & Cocktails To Enjoy This Fall in CT Features Restaurant Holiday Kid Friendly Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 02, 2014 Fall is officially here… and nothing embodies the season as perfectly as the pumpkin! Many of CT’s best restaurants, eateries, and specialty stores are celebrating the arrival of autumn with pumpkin-inspired treats. For fun for the whole family, Chips serves up pumpkin pancakes; Ferris Acres Creamery is serving "Pumpkin Pie" ice cream (pie crust included); while the over 21 crowd can sip on homemade pumpkin vodka at Darien Social, or a Spiced Pumpkin cocktail at Napa & Co. Darien Social, (Darien): Housemade Pumpkin Vodka SONO Baking Company, (Westport, Norwalk, Darien) Pumpkin Cookies, Pies & muffins SBC, (Milford, Branford, Southport) Pumpkin Crème Bruleé Ferris Acres Creamery, (Newtown) Ice cream specials include: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin Cookies and Cream - with crushed Oreos, Pumkpin Pie, Oh Snap - pumpkin w/ crushed ginger snaps Stew Leonard’s, (Norwalk, Danbury, Newington) Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt The Schoolhouse, (Wilton) Kabocha Squash Soup Fresh Market, (Westport) Pumpkin Salsa Read More
Westport Restaurant Weeks October 5th - 19th...Now w/ Cocktails! Restaurant Restaurant Week Westport CTbites Team October 01, 2014 Westport Restaurant Week is here again...now with 2 weeks! It just keeps getting better, so get out of the house and let one of these great restaurants do the cooking for you. Each of the participating venues will be offering a Prix Fixe meal, and this year, there is a flexible pricing program to further enhance the experience. Lunches will be $15, $20 or $25, Dinners $25, $30 or $35 and Brunch, if offered starting at $20, its up to each restaurant to set their fixe. Also new this year is the addition of Specialty Cocktail venues. So enjoy a pre dinner drink or a night cap at one of these fine establishments. VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS BELOW. Just click on a name or logo to see what is being offered. Read More
K is for Killer Local Cookies, Baked in LeFarm's Kitchen, Sold Around CT Features Dessert Deanna Foster September 30, 2014 Consider the cookie. For many of us, it was likely our first dessert – if you can consider a zwieback cookie a dessert (but what do infant palates know?). Through the years they become our ‘quick-grab’ to satisfy a sweet tooth, or our ‘go-to’ when we want to bake something home made. For Kelly Clement, eating and baking cookies was all of the above, until baking also became her physical therapy. For years, Kelly baked cookies as a hobby that satisfied her own sweet tooth, and made her visits to family and friends deliciously anticipated. When she was sidelined by a misdiagnosed knee injury, physical therapy included all the usual grueling exercises, with one exception: her physical therapist ordered her to stand in the kitchen, and bake. Read More
Napa & Co. Offers Fall Wine Series Restaurant Education Wine Dinners Wine Tasting CTbites Team September 29, 2014 Napa & Co. continues its Fall Wine Series, offering overviews of several distinct regions of the world from California to South Africa. The brainchild of Sommelier and Owner Mary Schaffer, the series will feature guest speakers, wine tastings plus a few selections by Chef Adam Truelove. To reserve your spot to any, or all, of these events contact Napa & Co. at 203-353-3319 or e-mail them at info@napaandcompany.com Monday, October 6th - A TREK THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA. Enjoy exceptional selections from producers Hamilton Russel, Boekenhoutskloof, Stark Conde, Spice Route, Southern Right and Kanonkop paired with 3 small plates. $55pp (plus tax and gratuity) Monday, October 20th - SPANISH INQUISITION! The exceptionally deep wines of Rioja will be the centerpiece of the evening. Enjoy 6 wines and 3 small plates. $50pp (plus tax and gratuity). Read More
Shake Shack's Shacktoberfest Menu On Tap October 3-12 @ Westport & New Haven Restaurant Holiday Westport New Haven Burgers CTbites Team September 29, 2014 The best of the wurst is almost here! Shake Shack’s 9th Annual Shacktoberfest is on tap from Friday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 12th.As is the case every autumn, Shake Shack’s highly anticipated Oktoberfest-inspired festival celebrates good food, drinks and friends—the Shack way! Get ready for special-edition biers, bratwursts, burgers, and frozen custard treats at both Westport & New Haven locations. Shacktoberfest is the only time of year to snag a commemorative Shake Shack Bier Stein for $10.00 (25 oz.). Filled to the brim with your choice of Brooklyn Brewery’s brisk, malty Oktoberfest beer or their very own ShackMeister Ale, the hefty glass stein is yours to keep and just $7.00 to refill throughout Shacktoberfest. Read More
Chef Geoff Lazlo to Open a Place of His Own w/ Focus on The Farm Stephanie Webster September 28, 2014 Geoff Lazlo, former Executive Chef at The Whelk in Westport, is heading back to his hometown of Greenwich, CT to open a place of his own. The restaurant will be located in the former Lolita Cocina space on Mill Street in Byram and will reflect the type of cooking he has done at esteemed venues such as Gramercy Tavern, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and The Whelk. Often seen walking into his kitchen with something freshly picked from his home garden, Geoff will continue to feature produce from local farms on the menu, but also bring the farm into the physical space and the surrounding neighborhood. With a strong focus on locally-sourced, seasonal American cuisine, Lazlo hopes to push this concept one step further by partnering with the Back 40 Farm in Washington, Connecticut. Read More
An Evening with Mark Bittman at Yale on October 6 Restaurant Author Chef Talk Amy Kundrat September 28, 2014 Photo c/o MarkBittman.comMark Bomford, Director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project will lead a conversation with author and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman on October 8, 2014 from 6 to 7 pm. The talk will take place at Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona, 1 Prospect Street in New Haven. This event is hosted by the Yale Sustainable Food Program. The talk is being hosted in conjunction with the release of his new book, How to Cook Everything Fast: A Better Way to Cook Great Food, Bittman is speaking at Yale and will be on-hand following the talk to sign books. Read More
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
