Brick + Wood in Fairfield Hosts Guest Chefs Pizza Series Fairfield Pizza CTbites Team January 29, 2015 What’s better than pizza? A great pizza developed by some of the best chefs in the area. Over the next six months, local favorite Brick + Wood will hand over the heat of its wood burning pizza ovens to local chefs for an evening of Love, Life {and Chefs!}. Each guest chef will bring their vision and recipe of the perfect pizza to these ovens for a special evening of food and fun. Read More
Michel Nischan Honored as 2015 Humanitarian of the Year by James Beard Foundation Stephanie Webster & Amy Kundrat January 28, 2015 Photo: James Beard Foundation Congratulations to Michel Nischan who is receiving the 2015 Humanitarian of the Year award from the James Beard Foundation. Chef Nischan is an ardent supporter of the sustainable food movement and two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner. Here at CTbites, we know and love him as the founder and partner of the former Dressing Room Restaurant and as the founder, president, and CEO of Wholesome Wave. Read More
Parallel Post in Trumbull Launches Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Dessert Menu Restaurant Trumbull Dessert CTbites Team January 28, 2015
Raising Backyard Chickens Seminar @ Cannon Grange Hall in Wilton CTbites Team January 27, 2015 Raising backyard chickens has become increasingly popular with the expanded awareness of the importance of locally and sustainably grown and produced food. Experienced chicken keeper Bil Mikulewicz will demystify the project in his talk “Backyard Chickens or One Man's Journey With A Bunch Of Dumb Clucks” on Thursday, February 5, 7pm at the Cannon Grange Hall, 25 Cannon Road, Wilton, Conn. Read More
10 Year Anniversary for Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen & Bar in Bethel, CT Restaurant Bethel CTbites Team January 27, 2015 Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen & Bar in Bethel, CT is celebrating their 10-year anniversary beginning January 25 through February 21 with special $10 lunch and $20.04 dinner prix fixe menus. Owner Bill Rizzuto opened the neighborhood Italian restaurant in December of 2004, transitioning from his career as a hotelier to restaurateur, now with multiple locations across the state, including Stamfrod, West Harford, and Westport. Read More
Kids Bites: Snow Ice Cream Dessert Recipes Kids Bites kids activity Recipe Kid Friendly Dessert CTbites Team January 26, 2015 Every year, CTbites pays homage to the first storm of the season with this classic recipe. If you're in the house with your kids and things are getting ugly...why not put that white stuff falling out of the sky to good use and make dessert ? Remember, only use clean snow. Stay away from the yellow stuff. Ick. Grab your mittens and a spoon and head outside while the snow is still fresh for some "Snow Ice Cream" and "Frosty The Snowman Ice Cream Delight." Read More
Road Trip: Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro in Clinton Ingredients Restaurant Clinton Road Trip Vineyard WIne Lunch Jessica Ryan January 25, 2015 How often does one get to visit a vineyard that’s blanketed by crisp white snow, or highlighted by a fiery autumnal backdrop, making it even more magical than it already is? Nestled in the shoreline town of Clinton, about a mile beyond the hustle and bustle of the outlet shops is a charming vineyard that boasts over 20 acres of grapes as well as their bountiful fruit, vegetable and herb gardens. One might not consider Connecticut to be wine country, but Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro is worth noting. Established in 1983, Chamard’s winning Estate Reserve wines are exclusively made in their winery, and can be enjoyed in their Tasting Room or in their dining room. The bistro offers a creative farm-to-table menu featuring a French inspired American menu. Their Chardonnay and Merlot are very good. Read More
Mura Ramen + Gastropub Pop-Up In Pound Ridge Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 25, 2015 Chef Mogan Anthony of Locali is bringing his Asian heritage and early career training to his latest venture. Over the next few weeks, Chef Mogan will team with several locations for a pop-up restaurant featuring appetizers, Ramen and other Asian specialties. The first event occurred last week in Mt. Kisco and the second session will be held this Wednesday and Thursday, January 28th and 29th just over the NY state border in Scotts Corner. After surviving the "blizzard of the century" join Chef Mogan and warm yourself with Buns, Ramen and Sweets. Tickets for this event are $29 and will feature three courses. Drinks, tax and gratuity are extra and the events is cash only. For resrvations call Village Social at 914-864-1255. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Bourbon Tasting, Super Bowl Parties, Wine, Bone Broth + More Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 23, 2015 Goose Island Bourbon County is taking over Gingerman Greenwich’s taps on Monday January 26! Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Bourbon County Coffee Stout, and Bourbon County Barley Wine will be on draught from 7-11pm. Monday January 26 Napa & Co will hold a “Jordan Library Wine Tasting 2001-06” as part of their Winter Wine Classes. Jordan is one of the icons of Alexander Valley producing Old World style Bordeaux blends. Participate in a vertical tasting of 6 wines and see how well they age and how they’ve changed. $120pp (plus tax and gratuity). “The Reds: Wine and Meat” comes to Barcelona West Hartford on Tuesday, January 27th at 7pm. Join Chef Eric and learn the secrets to pairing red wines with hearty red meats. To make a reservation, please call 860.218.2100. It costs $49 per person. Are you feeling under the weather? Or maybe you're just in need of a wellness boost. Saugatuck Craft Butchery is offering hot mugs of nutrient-dense bone broth from their healthy, pasture-raised animals. Read More
Would Thomas Jefferson Choose Sub-Zero & Wolf Appliances for Monticello? (sponsored post) CTbites Team January 23, 2015 From the time he took his domestic servant James Hemings to Paris in 1784 to learn French cookery, Thomas Jefferson made sure that his enslaved cooks were trained to prepare meals in the French manner. According to the official Monticello website dedicated to Jefferson's iconic home, Hemings passed his skills on to his brother Peter, while servants Edith Fossett and Fanny Hern received years of training from a French chef in the President's House at Washington. On Jefferson's retirement in 1809, they returned to Monticello to find a new kitchen that replaced the old one in the cellar of the South Pavilion. The site of meal preparation was now a much larger space. Read More
Boulevard 18 to Host Robert Burns Whisky Dinner CTbites Team January 22, 2015 “Prudent, cautious self-control is wisdom's root” – Robert Burns Throw caution to the wind and join fellow Scotch lovers at Boulevard 18 on Thursday January 29th and celebrate the birthday of poet Robert Burns. Chef David Raymer is creating a special four course dinner, each paired with a special Scotch chosen by Alex Meier-Tomkins, the Spirits Portfolio Manager and Scottish Whiskey Guru for Slocum & Sons Importers & Spritis Merchants. Read More
Walrus + Carpenter Launches All Pie Dessert Menu Restaurant American Bridgeport Dessert Stephanie Webster January 22, 2015 In the dessert world, pie trumps all. It's all American, even if it isn't apple, and when done right, it's just plain delicious. Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport recently launched a new dessert menu that features...you guessed it, pie. In fact, the menu is ALL pie, 6 different tantalizing options including: Bourbon-Chocolate Pecan Pie, Chess Pie, Key Lime and their signature "Walrus Pie," featuring a bacon-chocolate chip cookie crust, bacon crumble, bacon candy & peanut butter ice cream (Get in the car...there's still time). In keeping with Walrus' attention to detail, this master of all things smoked meat have put a little extra love into each and every pie. The creative cookie based pie shells, the flakiness of the Apple Pie's cheddar crust, and the gently torched meringue are just a few noteworthy elements. Plus, Walrus + Carpenter is now open 7 days a week, so you can enjoy this 6 pie menu 24/7. View the full Pie Menu Photo Gallery below: Read More
Chef Mario Batali Visits New Haven's Yale Sustainable Food Program Restaurant Italian Yale New Haven Amy Kundrat January 22, 2015 In celebration of his new book, America: Farm-to-Table, and of the opening of Tarry Lodge in New Haven, Mario Batali will visit the Yale Sustainable Food Program and join its director, Mark Bomford, in conversation on Friday, January 23 from 3 to 4 pm at the Whitney Humanities Center 53 Wall St. New Haven, CT 06511. This event is open to the public but seating is limited. Visit the YSFP website for more information on this event. Batali will also host a three-course lunch at Tarry Lodge, for $85 per person on January 23. For details or to purchase tickets, visit the Tarry Lodge website. If tickets are sold out, contact the restaurant to be added to a wait list: (203) 672-0765 or email infonh@tarrylodge.com. Read More
Winter Farm Supper with Chef Tim LaBant @ Stamford Nature Center Feb 28 CTbites Team January 22, 2015 The Stamford Museum & Nature Center will host a Winter Farm to Table Supper featuring Owner/Chef Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale. This exceptional dining experience will take place on Saturday, February 28 at 6 pm amidst the permanent collections of the Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries. The evening will begin with artisanal hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails to be enjoyed with a special preview tour with the artist James Gurney of the Stamford Museum’s new exhibition – Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum. The exhibition will also feature added selections from the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Paleontology Collection. Read More
Wildly Different Beer Class: Wild Beer Co. & B. United @ Harry's in Fairfield Ingredients Beer CTbites Team January 21, 2015 Harry's Wine & Spirits is teaming up with B. United & Wild Beer Co for a very unique beer class and tasting on Thursday, February 19th 7-9pm. The Wild Beer Co was set up in September 2012 by Andrew Cooper and Brett Ellis to brew beers with a bit of a difference. Their goal is to focus on different ingredients, different yeasts and different barrel aging techniques. Which will be discussed throughout the tasting class. Their Evolver IPA that was featured in Draft Magazine as a one of the TOP 25 beers of2014. Wild Beer Co's beer is not brewed to style but are inspired by ingredients, occasions or experiences. Read More
13 Tasty Places to Watch The Super Bowl in CT Bar Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 21, 2015 It’s official… the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will face off in this year’s Super Bowl! It all takes place on Sunday, February 1 and area restaurants are making sure the event is both entertaining AND delicious. While some of your favorite places are showing the game on their TVs with food and drink specials, others have prepared takeout options perfect for your game day parties. Here are 13 Tasty Places to Watch Super Bowl 2015 in CT. O’Neill’s Irish Pub, Norwalk: O'Neill's Super Bowl party features specials, wing specials and lots of door prizes! Harlan Social, Norwalk: Harlan Social will have a gourmet buffet and unlimited tap beer and house wine from 5:15 p.m. to the end of the 3rd quarter. The buffet features Harlan burger sliders, smoked turkey reubens, Korean fried chicken wings, brats & krauts, braised lamb tacos, and more! Bodega, Darien and Fairfield: Bodega Fairfield and Darien have a super bowl menu and catering options. Email catering@bodegatacobar.com for more information. Read More
Morello Bistro Hosts Blue Point Beer Dinner Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 20, 2015 On Thursday, January 22nd, Morello Italian Bistro will host the BLUE POINT BEER DINNER featuring the beers of BLUE POINT Brewing Company. Enjoy a 4-course dinner and listen to guest speaker Mark Weiner, Blue Point’s Brew Master. (View menu below.) Blue Point Brewing Company is famous for its World Beer Cup winning Toasted Lager. Blue Point Brewing Company was founded in Patchogue, NY in 1998 by Mark Burford and Pete Cotter. This traditional 30-barrel brewhouse produces more than 20 different ales, stouts and lagers that have helped make them one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the country. Read More
Bistro Versailles Hosts La Soirée Couscous Restaurant Greenwich CTbites Team January 20, 2015 [UPDATED] Bistro Versailles is hosting La Soirée Couscous on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 7 p.m as part of their dinner event series. The evening is $75 per person excluding tax and gratuity. R.S.V.P. at 203.661.6634 or emailing bistro@versaillesgreenwich.com. La Soirée Couscous Read More
Soosh Sushi Opens on Summer Street in Stamford (And It's Kosher!) Restaurant Japanese Kosher Stamford Sushi Jessica Ryan January 18, 2015 The best places, I believe, are the more unassuming places. The little treasures that are off the beaten path, hidden away where you least expect. The best food is the food that is what it is – unpretentious, fresh and bursting with flavor. And that’s the best way to describe this new unassuming little Japanese restaurant in Stamford, Soosh. It was a social media friend of mine, Pierre-Christian D. Frye, owner of PCDF Architecture in Greenwich, who first told me about Soosh. Perhaps he was a bit biased as he was hired as the restaurant’s architect. He explained how he turned what was basically an old storage space into a stylish Japanese eatery. “For the new Soosh restaurant I worked closely with the owner to bring the vision to life of a truly modern, timeless dining experience. I accentuated the compact space with unique lighting and a rich mix of textures, tiles, wood and metal. Read More
Tap-a-Tree Maple Syrup Program @ Ambler Farm CTbites Team January 18, 2015 It's that time of year again. Sign up for Ambler Farms immensely popular, Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree program. Sign up quickly...these classes fill up fast. Learn the science and history of maple syruping by being a hands-on part of the process at Ambler Farm in Wilton. There are two training sessions offered (February 7th at 10am or 1pm); only ONE session is required for training. On that day you will choose a tree and hang your bucket that will collect sap. We will send regular updates on the running of the sap so that you can come to the Farm to collect sap from your tree. We will boil down the sap in our sugar shack and send each family home with their very own bottle of Ambler Farm maple syrup. Read More
