GIVEAWAY! Win 2 FREE TIX to Ninety9Bottles Craft Beer Festival Ingredients CT Beer Festival Beer CTbites Team May 19, 2015 Ninety9Bottles Craft Beer Festival is back for it's 2nd Annual Festival where Festival goers will enjoy a variety of brews while overlooking beautiful Norwalk Harbor up atop the hill at Oyster Shell Park. With an emphasis on New England based breweries, we will be pouring samples of 40+ CRAFT BEERS and some old favorites and some that you have yet to experience including new beers to the Connecticut market. YOU CAN WIN 2 FREE TIX TO NINETY9BOTTLES by telling us why YOU need to go, in the comments section below. Please include your email address so we can contact you. Winners announced May 31st. Ninety9Bottles Craft Beer Festival will feature great LIVE MUSIC along with some of the area’s most popular FOOD TRUCKS including LobsterCraft, Bounty, Melt Mobile, One Bro Pizza Co. and The Local Meatball each serving up some delicious local fare. Read More
5-Course Pasta Tasting at Bar Sugo: Decadent & Delicious Restaurant Dinner Events Pasta Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 19, 2015 Several years ago I sampled Chef Pat Pascarella’s Pasta Bolognese and it was one of the best Bolognese I had ever tasted. Since that time, Pascarella opened Bar Sugo on Wall Street in Norwalk and I have enjoyed many of Chef Pat’s creations. He recently introduced his full-table Pasta Tasting menu and invited CTbites to sample the five courses…from a straightforward tomato and basil to a complex lobster, morel and truffle. The incredible Bolognese that Chef Pat served me several years ago was a prelude to the fantastic five courses that I enjoyed with wine pairings from Sommelier Megan Pacarella. Read More
This Week @ Westport Farmers' Market: Chef Cecily Gans of Staples High School Culinary Arts Department Features Farmers Market healthy Recipe Lori Cochran May 18, 2015 Cecily Gans is a culinary teacher at Staples High School. What makes her stand out is her commitment to teaching the kids the value of using local ingredients. Cecily spearheads our Gillespie Center monthly meal program where we, WFM, purchase food from our market for to kids prepare and serve the meal to our neighbors in need. She will be the guest chef at The Westport Farmers' Market on May 21st. You can find her recipe for Grilled Scallion, Herb & Goat Cheese Vinaigrette. Read More
Camille's Wood Fired Pizza in Tolland Restaurant Pizza Tolland Lunch Kid Friendly Amy Kundrat May 17, 2015 A three hour drive to Boston is best broken up by lunch, preferably pizza, and always with a good friend. This is how I found myself at Camille’s Wood Fired Pizza in Tolland with someone as obsessed with pizza as I am. A strikingly thin and crispy yet solidly constructed crust forms the foundation for Camille’s 11 or so red and white pies. They range from the classic margherita to their signature Billy’s Bianco, a combination of pistachio, cream, goat cheese, ricotta, truffle honey, red onion (pictured). Their spicy sausage and kale was an excellent lunch partner alongside the Bianco, balanced well with savory sausage, spicy chile oil, and slight bitterness from the kale smoothed out by mozzarella. Read More
The New Fleisher's Westport (Formerly Craft Butchery) Celebrates New Chapter CTbites Team May 17, 2015 This past Saturday Fleisher's Westport (formerly Saugatuck Craft Butchery) hosted friends, family and customers old and new to celebrate the next chapter in craft butchery. With a delectable spread from the team at Fleisher's Craft Kitchen, guests enjoyed cheeseburger sliders, smoked pork ribs and chimmichurri chicken skewers along with craft beers from both Connecticut and Brooklyn. The topic of conversation was the recent announcement that Fleisher's Pasture-Raised Meats (since 2004) and Saugatuck Craft Butchery (since 2011) have joined forces to bring the best ethically raised meat to their communities across the Hudson Valley, Brooklyn and Connecticut. Each brings a shared vision, a loyal customer base, and a team of like-minded idealists who believe in the value of their work. With Fleisher's fourth location in Greenwich slated to open this summer, the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation for a promising future. Read More
SoNo Eats! Dining Deals in Downtown SoNo May 31-June 5 CTbites Team May 15, 2015 SoNo is a dining destination with a variety of culinary flavors to satisfy any appetite. Whether you are seeking delicious ethnic food or new American flavors, SoNo has the taste for your palate. “SoNo Eats” (formerly SoNo Restaurant Week) is a six-day promotion that features the unique and fine dining options available in South Norwalk with Special Prix-Fixe Dining Deals May 31 – June 5 Participating restaurants include: Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant, Burger Bar, Estia’s, Ginger Man, Harlan Publick, Local Kitchen & Beer Bar, Mama’s Boy, Match, O’Neill’s Irish Pub, Oishi Sushi & Izakaya, Quartina Trattoria & Vineria, Strada18 and The Spread. Sponsors include Acqua Panna, Bulleit Bourbon, Casa Noble Tequila, Chopin, Perrier and Tanqueray. For a complete list of menus, visit connecticutrestaurantweek.com. PLUS...SoNo Eats is holding a social media contest encouraging diners to take photos of their experience and post them on Instagram using the #SONOEATS hashtag for a chance to win over $500 in gift cards to select SoNo restaurants, a five day pass to Saraswati Yoga Joint and the grand prize is a one-night stay at Hotel Zero Degrees in Norwalk. Read More
The Beer Garden @ Shippan Landing Re-Opens May 21 For The Summer Season in Stamford Restaurant Beer Garden CT Beer Happy Hour Stamford Beer Bar Stephanie Webster May 15, 2015 Imian Partners will open The Beer Garden at Shippan Landing for its second season on May 21st. Imian first introduced the pop-up beer garden concept two summers ago with The Beer Garden at Harbor Point and is credited for invigorating the social scene in Stamford’s South End. The Shippan spot has a significantly more relaxed vibe than that of Harbor Point, but has all the charm and beauty of the perfect summer hangout. With unobstructed waterfront views, (and the best seat in town to watch the sunset all summer long), The Beer Garden at Shippan Landing will showcase and rotate its carefully curated list of local craft beers on draft and in cans offering a variety of options. Look for favorites such as Half Full, Broad Brook, Captain Lawrence and more. We also hear that The Beer Garden will be partnering with Half Full to create a signature beer just for the garden. Pretty cool. An impressive rotating lineup of the area’s best food trucks will also be part of the nightly festivities at the Beer Garden. Stay tuned for details on some of your favorite mobile eats. The family-friendly environment will include outdoor games such as life-size jenga, corn hole, can jam and beer pong. Entertainment will include live music and special themed-events throughout the summer beginning on Sunday May 24th with a Memorial Day party. Read More
Millwright’s at the Farm with Guest Collaborators Bill Taibe & New England Brewing Co. on September 10 Restaurant Farm Dinner Beer Amy Kundrat May 13, 2015 What happens when you combine two of Connecticut's James Beard nominated chefs, a Connecticut Brewery, a community farm, and a good cause? Millwright's at the Farm, of course! This charity dinner series is held throughout the summer with guest chefs and themes. Chef Taibe will be the guest collaborator on September 10 at 6:30 pm at Community Farm of Simsbury, located at 73 Wolcott Road, Simsbury CT 06070. Price includes tax, food and beverage at $95 per person. June 11: Chef/Owner James Wayman, The Oyster Club & The Engine Room July 16: Chef Jamie McDonald, Bears Smokehouse [Theme: BBQ] August 27: Chef Jeff Lizotte, On20 September 10: Chef Bill Taibe, LeFarm, The Whelk, Kawa Ni, and New England Brewing Co. September 24: Chef/Owner Billy Grant, grants, Bricco October 8: Chef Scott Miller, Max Group Read More
Weekly Nibble: Lots of BBQ, Happy Hours, "Beers at the Beach," Farmer's Markets + More Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 13, 2015 Strada 18 in conjunction with Nicholas Roberts and Northeast Wine Brokers invite you to a casual wine dinner featuring the wines of Halter Ranch. It takes place on Tuesday May 19 at 7pm and costs $50 plus tax and gratuity. Each course will be served with a duo of wines. Also on Tuesday, AMG Catering presents a “Gluten Free The Easy Way” cooking class that includes a 3 course gluten free meal. The class is sold out, but check back for cancellations. On Tuesday May 19, Toast to Success will benefit Dress For Success of Mid Fairfield County. The evening consists of a wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction. 5:30-7:30 pm, $40 per person. Reserve tickets or call (203) 610-8570. City Stream Brewery in Hartford will host an Iron Bartender Competition on Tuesday May 19 from 7-10pm. Hartford area bars/restaurants compete to make the best beer cocktail in just 10 minutes. Prizes will be awarded for taste, presentation and creativity. The event is free and guests can enjoy drink specials throughout the night. Read More
Michel Nischan: Connecticut’s Humanitarian Chef Interview Westport CTbites Team May 12, 2015 As we go to print on this article, chef, CEO and humanitarian Michel Nischan is in Chicago receiving another James Beard Award, as Humanitarian of the Year. This honor has been bestowed on few, including Art Smith, Emeril Lagasse and the late Charlie Trotter. The award signifies Michel’s commitment to making a difference in how and where we buy food, food education, and Wholesome Wave programs that offer affordable access to all consumers, especially the food insecure. As a longtime Westport resident, I have fond memories of The Dressing Room next to the Westport Country Playhouse. The buzz surrounding the restaurant when it opened in 2006 was driven by the friendship and collaboration between the co-owners, Paul Newman and chef Michel Nischan and their shared beliefs about food. Together they contributed to Connecticut’s nascent farm-to-table movement, not only sourcing from local farms and purveyors, but also listing their products as part of the menu. Paul could be found there many evenings with his wife Joanne, and family and “sightings” were always a treat to patrons. Read More
Connecticut podcast host Ken Tuccio debuts "Beers At The Beach" at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk: Tix On Sale Today! James Gribbon May 11, 2015 Tickets on sale today for... Welcome to Connecticut podcast host Ken Tuccio will debut "Beers At The Beach" at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. The event will be held at Ripka's Beach Cafe, and is designed to be the first in a series of exclusive beer related events featuring breweries that are a bit out of the way if you live in Fairfield County, according to Tuccio. The first event will featuring Beer'd Brewing from Stonington, and the taps open at 6:30p.m. Advance tickets are $35 ($45 at the door), and include your choice of hamburger, veggie burger, or two hot dogs from Ripka's. Attendance will be capped at 150 people, so it makes sense to get yours early and guarantee yourself a spot to grab a bite, taste beers, and participate in Tuccio's live interview with Aaren Simoncini of Beer'd Brewing. This event WILL sell out, so we encourage you to purchase your tickets today. Read More
Support Celiac Disease Awareness Month by Eating @ These Great Local Restaurants & Markets CTbites Team May 11, 2015 May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. To support Celiac Disease Awareness Month, several local restaurants we frequent and who take measures to serve us safe gluten free food are partnering with R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) by offering 10% off Gluten Free orders to those with celiac for the month of May. Restaurants include: Meli Melo (Greenwich), Quattro Pazzi (Fairfield), Catch a Healthy Habit (Fairfield), The Stand Juice Company (Fairfield and Norwalk), Terrain (Westport), Villharina's Pasta (Westport), Stiles Market (Westport). If restaurants or markets would like to join the cause please contact us. Read More
Hoodoo Brown BBQ Opening May 15 - Outrageous BBQ in Ridgefield Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 08, 2015 For our readers that have longed for real Texas BBQ, the wait is about to end when Hoodoo Brown BBQ opens for dinner in Ridgefield next Friday, May 22rd Friday, May 15th. CTbites was invited for a sneak peek to meet the owner Cody Sperry and Chris Sexton, spend some time with renowned pitmaster Nestor Laracuente, and most importantly sample some of the outstanding slow cooked meats that will be offered. Cody (on the left above) and Chris (on the right above) were friends growing up in Ridgefield and had the dream of bringing real BBQ to their hometown. For the last 17 years they researched all aspects of this fantastic cuisine, from the smoker to the meat to the pitmaster. They eventually drove to Georgia and personally transported the 108” long Lang smoker. But it wasn’t until the final, and most important, piece of the puzzle was put in place that their dream would become a reality. Chris was engaged with renowned pitmaster Nestor Laracuente (pictured left with beef ribs) on social media and when the opportunity was presented to Nestor to move to CT from his native Queens, he visited Ridgefield, discussed the vision of Hoodoo Brown and decided to bring his craft to Fairfield County. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Stamford Rooftop Bars; Mystic Food Truck Rally; Brews & BBQ; Cheese & Cider Class + More Food Truck Beer Bar Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 08, 2015 Stamford’s Harbor Point now boasts “Sign of the Whale,” a roof top beer garden with views of Long Island Sound. Visit them on weekdays for happy hour from 4-7pm. During that time, try $4 drafts, $5 mixed drinks, and $2 off all wine by the glass. Freshii Fairfield is encouraging kids to eat healthy with its “Kids Eat Free program” in the month of May. Kids ages 10 and under will receive a free, healthy lunch on weekends with the purchase of an adult entrée. CT has great beers and now you can try them at Cask Republic New Haven. Monday, May 11 is an ALL CT Night! They’ll have brews from every brewery in CT available. May 12th, Vespa in Westport will host the 1st of their Vintage Vespa wine dinners w/ Marchesi Fumanelli's “Iconic Wines from an Iconic Family.” The Marchesi Fumanelli family have been cultiaving grapes and producing prestigious wines since 1470. Event starts @6:30pm, $125 not including tax or gratuity Read More
Friday Froth: Back To The Land With Kent Falls Brewery Ingredients CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon May 08, 2015 The drinking population, increasingly located in cities as we carve through the invisible gelatin of time's future, has been separated from the earth. Beer taps in brick buildings reflect the light of televisions, and fluorescent light sears our retinas as we grab a shiny cardboard package from metal coolers. We obtain beer from chrome. The paradox is that brewing culture in the extravagantly digital 21st century has begun to bring us a little closer to the farm, and to the inextricable link between agriculture and beer. Breweries were farms and farms were breweries, for most of human history. People fed themselves with what they grew and raised, but they also drank it, and the beers changed based on whatever crop was in season. We still drink the different styles of beer which resulted from these changes, but now we hardly ever see the farm. That's beginning to change, in food as well as beer. Read More
Colony Grill To Open in Norwalk CT @ New Waypointe Site Restaurant Norwalk Pizza Lunch Kid Friendly CTbites Team May 07, 2015 Colony Grill Development, LLC has reached a lease agreement with CP IV Waypointe BP I, LLC to open a Colony Grill within the newly-constructed Waypointe development, located at 515 West Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Colony, famous for its thin-crust hot oil pizza, plans to open the location in mid-summer 2015. “We believe Colony Grill is one of the restaurant linchpins of this project, “said Paxton Kinol, principal at Bellpointe Capital, the Waypointe developer. “We love their pizza, their local authenticity, and their commitment to community as a company. Colony is a tremendous amenity to the Waypointe project.” Read More
How To Stock Your Pantry for Spring Entertaining via Marcia Selden Marcia Selden Catering May 07, 2015 Spring is finally here, and that means open doors, bare feet and friends dropping in to say, hi! If you want to make sure you're never be caught off guard, make sure you keep a few of these essential items on hand to throw together a fabulous impromptu platter of nibbles. Serve with a nice bottle of wine, and you’re ready to party...anytime! Check out our complete list of pantry must haves to make your warm weather entertaining a breeze. Perfectly Stocked Pantry List Thai lime chili spiced almonds or cashews, truffled Marcona almonds, candied walnuts Pickled asparagus or green beans Read More
Basso Cafe to Host 5-Course Dinner Featuring Wines of Italy CTbites Team May 07, 2015 Join Chef Renato Donzelli of Basso Cafe on May 21st when he hosts a five course dinner with wine pairings featuring wines from Italy. Joining Chef Renato will be Larry Tortorici, who will discuss each of the wines. Many may know Tortorici who conducts the weekly "Saturdays with Larry" tastings at Stew Leonard's. The first course of the evening will be a Tuna tartare with roasted almonds and currants served with caraway seed tuiles. The tartare will be paired with Ponte Prosecco - DOCG - Valdobbiadene-Conegliano from Veneto. For the second course Chef Renato will prepare Maine Diver Sea Scallop served over roasted tomato Provencal and creamy polenta with pancetta, drizzled with black truffle vinaigrette. Complementing this course will be a Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi - DOCG Monterotondo, Gavi from the Southern Piedmont region. Read More
Meet Walrus + Carpenter's Pitmaster, Ben McCrea, The Man Who Makes The Meat Interview Restaurant American BBQ Bridgeport Lunch Sarah Green May 06, 2015 Ben McCrea is a gentle-giant of a man, but don't let his warm, friendly facade fool you. Underneath that kind-hearted shell is a mean, Auss-een, grilling machine. In the WAY back of the lot on Fairfield Ave in Bridgeport that Walrus + Carpenter calls home, is the perch where Ben keeps watch. His job... smoking all types of meat to perfection. But what makes the man that makes the meat?Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Ben gained his skills from watching his grandfather grill on the "barbie," but becoming a grill master wasn't his first passion. Ben came to the States as a boxer and did very well in that 'arena.' However, boxing is a short career and Ben knew something more awaited. What he didn't know was that it would be a smoker with a 500 gallon propane tank, commissioned by Walrus co-owner Joe Farrell (along with Adam Roytman.) Read More
Westport Farmers' Market "Fork It Over" Dinner Series On Sale May 13th: Chef Lineup Here! Stephanie Webster May 05, 2015 What is "Fork it Over?" Well...the specifics for these events are a tad on the down low, but we can tell you a few savory and succulent details. The Westport Farmers' Market will host 4 fundraising events featuring seasonal ingredients. Each of these dinners will be hosted at locations to be announced the day of each dinner, and the chefs (or chefs) will be a complete surprise. Chefs for these events include (sit down for this one): Arik Bensimon (le Farm); Matt Storch (Match); James Cooper (BONDA); Barcelona; Geoff Lazlo; Pat Pascarella (Bar Sugo); Jenn Balin (Sugar & Olives); Nick Martschenko (South End); Tim LaBant (Schoolhouse); Matt Stanczak (Stanziato's); Breno Donati (JHouse); Bill Taibe; Anthony Kostelis of The Whelk; Craft Butchery/Fleishers & Phoebe Cole Smith. Join in the fun...and mystery. Help support the amazing efforts of Lori Cochran, and the Westport Farmers' Market. Read More
