Scratch Baking's Loaf of the Week Program

Restaurant Bakery Milford Breakfast

Amy Kundrat December 07, 2014

THE winter CSA for your bread box is BACK with Scratch Baking's Loaf of the Week club. Beginning on January 9, 2015 for 8 carb-filled weeks, Scratch Baking in Milford is kicking-off their third annual "Loaf of the Week" club. Participants, or "loafers," receive a surprise bread and spread each week, paired with a recipe.

Scratch Baking's manager Alex Malaspinas chalked the success of the program up to Scratch's community-minded approach:

Winter Cooking Classes @ The Schoolhouse at Cannondale

Features Chef Talk Cooking Classes

CTbites Team December 07, 2014

If you're still looking for the unique gift for that special person. Give them a memorable experience that is both fun & useful. Sign them up for a cooking class at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant in Wilton Ct. In fact, sign up with them. Chef Tim LaBant & his staff will be sharing their years of experience each Tuesday evening beginning in February. You'll also savor the finished culinary delights after the class. The schedule and focus for each evening is as follows:

February 3...Winter Braising and knife skills
February 10...Appetizers and ingredient pairing guidlines
February 17...How to prepare our most favorite soups and stocks
February 24...Duck cookery and grain preparation
March 3...Fish cookery; wet and dry cooking methods.When to use each method

Friday Froth: Around A Square State With Stubborn Beauty, Black Hog and Overshores

Features Restaurant Brewery Local Artisan Beer

James Gribbon December 05, 2014

What shape is Connecticut? Kind of a cleaver-shape, I think. I live down in the that cleaver's handle - along with you, by statistical probability - and the myriad horrors of highway travel in Connecticut tend to keep me there, but I'm wired to explore. If Lando can escape the Sarlacc, I can get out of Fairfield freaking County.

This is especially useful as I paddle my canoe up the rivers of craft beer this state has to offer, because breweries don't usually spring up next to yacht clubs, son. Train that spyglass further afield, and you'll spot Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company in increasingly craft beer dense Middletown, Black Hog Beer Company in Oxford, and Overshores Brewing Co. in East Haven. It's about time I gave each of them their due.

Weekly Nibble: Italian Wine Dinners; New Farmers' Market; Beer Conn. +

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson December 05, 2014

Tuesday December 9, Local in Fairfield will team up with Allagash for a “Casual Beer Dinner.” Enjoy 5 dishes like bacon cheddar risotto alongside delicious brews. You can even enjoy Founders Breakfast Stout a la mode for dessert! $45 per person, 7pm.

Wine lovers can also attend a great event on Tuesday. Golden View Firenze of Greenwich will host a Castello di Monsanto Wine Dinner from 7-9pm. $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Menu and reservations here.

Tuesday is Burger Night at Darien Social. Every Tuesday there will be new burgers, specially created by their Chef, at great prices.

Freshii, with a location in Westport, is pleased to announce a Kids Eat Free initiative, aimed at helping kids eat healthy more often. Check their website for news on the launch.

On Thursday December 11, Terrain of Westport invites you to a Winter Beer Pairing Dinner with Two Roads Brewing Co of Stratford. The four course dinner costs $48 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Please call (203) 226-2750 to reserve your seats.

Chef Pat Pascarella of Bar Sugo to Host Cooking Classes

Features Cooking Classes

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger December 04, 2014

Chef Pat Pascarella of Bar Sugo in Norwalk announced that he will conduct a new series of cooking classes beginning in Jan 2015! For those readers who have visited Bar Sugo and enjoyed his great meatballs, pastas and entrées, these classes will give the secrets for creating some of these delicious dishes at home.

There are currently six scheduled classes:

Fresh Pasta Workshop – Saturday January 24^th at 11:00am
Mama's Kitchen: Meatballs 101 – Saturday February 7^th at 11:00am
Art of Braising – Tuesday March 3^rd at 7:00pm
Pizza Workshop – Tuesday April 7^th at 7:00pm
Farmer's Harvest & Feast – Saturday May 16^th at 11:00am
Cooking with Seafood - Tuesday, June 2^nd at 7:00pm

LobsterCraft in Darien Introduces New Winter Menu & Kid-Friendly Fare

Restaurant Darien Lobster Seafood Kid Friendly

CTbites Team December 03, 2014

Back in August we reported on LobsterCraft's brick and mortar location opening in Darien. No longer did you have to chase their truck to enjoy its deliciously sought after lobster rolls. As Winter rolls around, LobsterCraft is making some exciting updates to their menu. They're not just a lobster roll joint; they are serving up New England comfort food...and it's good.

In addition to the award-winning lobster bisque, menu additions include: hush puppies, clam strips, lobster tacos, lobster salad, clam chowder, and roasted vegetable soup. The new kid-friendly menu includes the Salty Dog, a hot dog shaped like an octopus set on a bun, and Mac-N-Cheese Bites.

2014 CT Food Lovers Holiday Gift Guide

Ingredients Features Restaurant Entertaining Gift Guide Holiday Specialty Market Wine Shop Dessert

April Guilbault December 03, 2014

Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Gift giving-choosing a gift for another person that is resonant of their personality and interests-is a true art. How do we know this? We know this by the sheer number of Yankee Swap and White Elephant parties that we have all attended. You thought those salt and pepper shakers in the shape of ugly, primitive holiday carolers would be perfect for me...um, why? And thus, yet another odd gift enters the rotation of passed-along, re-gifted gifts. On the flip-side, we all hopefully have experienced the joy that comes when we do find that perfect gift. The thrill of watching the unwrapping and the smiles that follow! This holiday season, we would like to help you in your pursuit of That Perfect One....

We bring you the CTbites 2014 CT Food Lovers Gift Guide. Start shopping!

CTbites' Guide to Happy Hours in Stamford CT

Restaurant Cocktails Stamford Wine Bar Beer Bar

Eliza Schlesinger December 02, 2014

The work day comes to a close and all I can think is “Holy hell I need a bottle of wine …maybe two… maybe three… who’s coming with me?” But where do I go? What places offer specials? What vibe am I feeling? I instantly start googling “Happy Hour Downtown Stamford” but nothing pops up and suddenly I am in a panic, yes a panic. We’ve all been there many times…so I have compiled the ultimate list to help fellow happy hour enthusiasts.

Personal favorites for each day are:

Monday - Cotto, with half-priced bottles of wine and delicious tapas it’s the perfect way to ease into a hectic week;
Tuesday - Lola’s Mexican Restaurant, Taco Tuesday & Margaritas…need I say more?
Wednesday - Brickhouse Bar & Grill, known to many regulars as “wing night” it’s a low-key, delicious and fun way to finish hump day;
Thursday – Barcelona, delicious tapas and great deals on a variety of wines, the young and vibrant scene is always served up;
Friday – Hudson Grille, come for the happy hour and stay for the DJ, just be sure to bring your dancing shoes;

Dorie Greenspan Book Signing in Stamford on December 3

Amy Kundrat December 01, 2014

Barrett Bookstore is bringing Dorie Greenspan back to Fairfield County to celebrate the publication of her latest cookbook: Baking Chez Moi: Recipes from My Paris Home to Your Home Anywhere for a free event at Deane Inc. in Stamford on December 3 at 6 p.m. RSVP (required) to barrettbooks@sbcglobal.net or 203-655-2712.

Wine and treats will be prepared from Dorie Greenspan's new book by Julia Deane of Deane Inc. Greenspan will be on hand to sign copies of the book.

CTbites adores Dorie, read our interview with Dorie a few years ago.

Reservations are required for this free event. RSVP to barrettbooks@sbcglobal.net or 203-655-2712. Deane Inc. is located at 1267 East Main Street, Stamford, CT.

Lobster Post: Casual Fresh Seafood in Fairfield

Restaurant Catering Fairfield Lobster Seafood Take Out Kid Friendly

Sarah Green November 30, 2014

Two words: LOBSTER FRIES. No...Really! If you want to cozy up to some delicious and decadent comfort food, get your claws over to the LOBSTER POST at 222 Post Road in Fairfield. Opened and owned by Jack Jagetic and now run by our man, Scotty and chef Mel, the LOBSTER POST offers fresh, tasty and unpretentious fare that both adults and children will devour.

As we walked in the doors of the simple yet charming little jaunt with a beach town vibe, we were treated to a sample of piping hot LOBSTER BISQUE. Seasoned to perfection with a tiny bit of heat at the end of the gulp, this soup was excellent. Not too creamy, and with a touch of sherry wine, the lobster flavor was allowed to blossom. We sat, we ordered, all was right with the world.

On the agenda:

Chef Matt Storch's Recipe for "Day After Turkey & Waffles"

Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Breakfast

Matt Storch November 28, 2014

Every Thanksgiving, we ask our friends in the Chef community for their favorite holiday recipes. This year we got a last minute entry from Chef Matt Storch of Match Restaurant & The Chelsea with a great idea for all those leftovers. Ok...that picture above...it's not turkey...those are chicken livers, but it's the best we could do on short notice. Here is Matt Storch's Day After Turkey & Waffles Recipe.

CT NOFA to Host Organic Hop Workshop on Dec.11th

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 27, 2014

On December 11, join the Connecticut Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (“NOFA”) for a relaxing evening where guests can enjoy a beer or soft drink, unwind, talk about this past season, and learn the full brew cycle of their favorite local beers from the hop yard to the pint glass. Named as one of the "5 Connecticut Craft Beer Events You Don’t Want to Miss" by Connecticut Magazine, "It might just be the only Connecticut event where aspiring farm-to-barrel brewers can learn some of the tricks of the trade. Sustainable agriculture never tasted so good."

Cast Iron Roasted Fruits & Vegetables Recipe from Chef Arik of Le Farm

Features Thanksgiving healthy Recipe

CTbites Team November 26, 2014

Arik Bensimon, Chef de Cuisine at Le Farm, has always been an innovator when it comes to cooking. His roots run deep with French technique, but the ingredients always come first. We liked the simplicity and deconstructed quality of his Thanksgiving side dish. Not only is the recipe absolutely beautiful but it preserves and highlights the integrity of the seasonal ingredients. Enjoy Chef Arik's recipe for Cast Iron Roasted Fruits & Vegetables.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Bosc Pear Soup Recipe from The Spread in SoNo

Features Holiday Soups Thanksgiving healthy Recipe

CTbites Team November 25, 2014

It's not too late to run to the store and pick up some Butternut squash for this incredibly delicious recipe created by Carlos Baez of The Spread in SoNo. This one is sure to be a keeper. When your guests are sighing with delight, please feel free to thank us. Enjoy this recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash and Bosc Pear Soup.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Bosc Pear Soup

1 Butternut Squash, cut in half and seeded

1 Tsp Kosher Salt, divided

½ Tsp Black Pepper

Down Home Apple Crisp Recipe from Mama's Boy in Sono

Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Dessert

CTbites Team November 25, 2014

You really can never have too much dessert...especially when it involves warm fruit. Grab yourself some apples and try out this recipe from Chef Chaz Mazas of Mama's Boy Southern Table & Refuge in Sono. Mama's Apple Crisp never tasted so good!

Brick + Wood: New Neapolitan Pizzeria & Wine Bar Opens in Fairfield

Restaurant Fairfield Italian Pasta Pizza Wine Bar Take Out

Christy Colasurdo November 23, 2014

You know how you “just know” when a new restaurant is going to be good? That’s the feeling you get in the first ten minutes at Brick + Wood, a new restaurant and wine bar in Fairfield’s Brick Walk Plaza on the site of the former Ponte Vecchio restaurant. When you make a great find like this, it’s a double-edged sword: You want to share it with friends, but at the same time keep it your secret a little longer. We decided to share. You’re welcome.

On a recent lunch visit, as we perused the distressed-wood and worn-brick decor, an amuse bouche appeared out of nowhere—two crispy crostini topped with fluffy homemade ricotta, sautéed broccoli rabe and imported prosciutto—as if to say, “Let’s get this party started.”

Chestnut Butter Bruschetta with Burrata, Kale or Arugula Recipe from Locali Pizza Bar

Features Entertaining Thanksgiving Recipe

CTbites Team November 23, 2014

As family and friends arrive, it's always a great idea to have a few nibbles ready for them to enjoy as the cooks in the kitchen place the final touches on the main courses. Many homes will be filled with the aroma of chestnut stuffing, so tantalize the taste buds with a delicious appetizer with a hidden ingredient, chestnut butter. Chef Mogan Anthony of Locali Pizza Bar + Kitchen shares his recipe for “Chestnut Butter Bruschetta with Burrata, Kale or Arugula” that pairs chestnut butter with greens and Burrata.

Napa & Co.'s Maple-Bourbon Banana Pudding Cake Recipe

Features Holiday Thanksgiving Recipe Dessert

CTbites Team November 22, 2014

You’ve finished the turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, sides galore, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, salads, cole slaw, and maybe a few glasses of cider, wine and beer. In the background, the football games are on the TVs and maybe a little jazz, rock or classical fills the air. It’s been a great Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family. So what’s next? Close your eyes and travel to the South and focus on one of their comfort food desserts, Bread Pudding.

Chef Adam Truelove of Napa & Co. in Stamford was kind enough to share his version with CTbites, and he starts with a simple bread pudding and adds his special twists…bourbon, maple syrup and bananas. Here's Chef Truelove's recipe for Maple-Bourbon Banana Pudding Cake.

Friday Froth: Beer Pairings For A Very Merry Thanksgiving

Features CT Beer Thanksgiving Beer

James Gribbon November 21, 2014

You can smash that wine bottle against a new ship's prow, because I'm drinking beer this Thanksgiving. I enjoy wine, but the waveform of my interest in it describes a gentle curve approaching zero on this particular day of the year. There's very little you can put on the table in late November that will get my personal circuits firing like a nice beer pairing.

This week's Froth will be a selection of suggested beers for both Thanksgiving hosts and guests, presented in the order you may like them to appear during our country's great feast. I enjoy typing that word. Say it with me: "FEAST!" I wish I had a relative with an eight foot tall fireplace suitable for roasting an entire ox. I hope at least one of you reading this is going to attempt a feat of inadvisable open flame cookery next week. Bonus points if you have to bribe a child so they don't tell a spouse what you're doing.

A quick note to begin: I wrote a Thanksgiving column back in 2011, and this new post is an update/overhaul.

Weekly Nibble: Paella 101, Santa @ Stew's, Half Full Open House, Live Music & More

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 21, 2014

Monday November 24, taste 16 wines from award winning producers with Golden View Firenze in Greenwich. The evening also includes a 4 course dinner. It lasts from 6:45-9:15pm and costs $145 per person. Reservations are required.

Usher in the holidays with Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, CT on Monday November 24 with omplimentary samples and appetizers while you visit the tasting room and gift shop.

Wednesday November 26, Half Full holds its famous Open House. Receive a cup and stamp for $15 and enjoy drinks from the open taps. The brewery also has corn hole and life-sized Jenga. 5-8pm.

Darien Social sandwiches Thanksgiving with 2 nights of live music. On Wednesday November 26, listen to Tangled Vines and on Friday November 28 enjoy the Fry Daddys. Both bands go on at 9pm.

Several restaurants are open for Thanksgiving and offering special menus in honor of the occasion.