Top 10 Burgers in Southwest CT: 2015 Edition Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger June 07, 2015 It’s that time of year again. Restaurants have opened their patios and added new menu items to highlight the newly arriving spring bounty. With the warm weather finally upon us it is time to release the 2015 list of my Top 10 Burgers in Southwest Connecticut. The burgers just keep getting better. This year I decided to return to a single list and celebrate the best of the best. Over the last year I re-visited previous winners plus sought out many other locations (three are new to this list) to taste their creations. The list was finally reduced to my favorite burgers and at the end of the day and after much soul searching and return visits, it was a tie. The Best Burger(s) in southwest Connecticut are… Read More
Food Truck Rodeo Giveaway! We've Got 6 Tix for YOU! Stephanie Webster June 06, 2015 We are giving away 3 sets of 2 tickets to the Food Truck Rodeo in Stamford. Fancy a set for yourself? Just tell us why you think you should go, and we will select the best 3 responses from the comments below. We will select the 3 winners on June 15th. Read More
Friday Froth: Beavertown Brewery, USA Features CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon June 05, 2015 "Raygun Gothic," they call it - all pneumatic curves and sleek fins blasting through air and space. This was the look of a future that meant rocket vacations to the moon, a fission reactor in every home, and wristwatch television walkie-talkies. Like Cicely, Alaska, I've always wanted to live there. Humanity has accomplished some of this - I'm sure at least one of you reading this right now has an iWatch on your wrist - but the dream, the one Huge Gernsback had while writing inside his isolator and thinking about "Vacation City" suspended 20,000 feet in the clouds, is out of reach. Maybe not quite so far as I think, though, thanks to Beavertown Brewing of London, and late of America. Read More
Al’s Angels & 20 + CT Restaurants Launch Angel-ade Cocktail Month to Raise $$ For Kids in Need CTbites Team June 05, 2015 Al’s Angels, a non-profit charitable organization founded by Al DiGuido of Westport, CT announced today the launch of its first annual Al’s Angels “Angel-ade Cocktail ” initiative. Al’s Angels provides financial and emotional support to children suffering from severe challenges resulting from cancer and rare blood diseases. As part of the initiative, more than 25 local bars and restaurants in Connecticut will be offering Angel-ade cocktails throughout the month of June to raise donations and awareness for Al's Angels throughout the community. Initiative partners are Drinx Unlimited, Triple 8 Distillery & Newman’s Own lemonade. Participating restaurants and bars will be donating $2.00 per Angel-ade cocktail purchased throughout the month of June to Al’s Angels. Angel-ade Cocktails will be offered at: Spotted Horse – Westport, Cask Republic – New Haven, Cask Republic – Stamford, The Spread – Norwalk, Murphy’s Townhouse Café – Stamford – Sunset Grille – Norwalk, Jimmy’s Southside – Darien , Coalhouse Pizza – Stamford , Brennan’s by the Beach – Stamford, BJ Ryan’s – Norwalk, BJ’s Banc House – Norwalk , Tavern on 7 – Norwalk , The Gingerman – Norwalk, Black Rock Tavern – Thomason , @Corner Restaurant – Litchfield , Bobby Q’s Westport, 19th Hole – Stamford, Blue Lemon – Westport + more to come! Read More
Summer Watermelon Recipes via Marcia Selden Catering Recipe Eating In Seasonal Summer Marcia Selden Catering June 04, 2015 Three cheers for watermelon! This sweet, crunchy fruit reaches its peak in the summer—making it perfect for a picnic or BBQ—it’s colorful, refreshing & packed with vitamin C! It can be used in a variety of dishes (or simply sliced on a platter)! The gang at Marcia Selden Catering shares three watermelon recipes that will dazzle and can easily be made ahead. Pro tip: Tap on the shell of a seedless watermelon when shopping-if you hear a hollow sound it’s ripe and ready to eat! Enjoy these delicious recipes for: Watermelon Panzanella Salad, Tomato, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Watermelon Salad & Thai Watermelon Ceviche. Read More
Napa & Co. to Host The Withers Wine Class on June 15th CTbites Team June 03, 2015 Napa & Co. in Stamford has been a cutting edge food destination for many years and on Monday June 15th they will host a Withers Wine Class with the owner of The Withers, Andrew Tow. Tow will present six wines over three courses, each duet of wine will be paired with a special dish prepared by Napa’s Executive Chef Walter Estrada. The Withers was launched in December, 2013 in Sonoma California blending wines from vineyards in both Sonoma and Mendocino counties plus the foothills. The aim of The Withers is to “produce elegant, nuanced, balanced, food friendly expressions of cool climate vineyard sites that don’t sacrifice flavor, complexity or intensity.” The six wines that will be featured at this class are priced from $20 to $44. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Moink Balls, Strawberry Festival, Kids Eat Free!, What the Funk @ Cask, Lobster Bakes + More! Festival Beer Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 03, 2015 Tis the season for Farmer’s Markets and they are taking place all over Connecticut. Find one near you. Have you ever heard of “Moink balls?” Prepare to be amazed… they are meatballs wrapped in bacon! On Mondays, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ in Hartford sells them for 50 cents each. Newly opened Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, located in Stamford, has announced that kids eat free Monday-Saturday until 7pm (with purchase of an adult platter and southern specialty). June 10th, join Cask Republic Stamford for “What the Funk,” a night featuring beers with extreme tasting profiles. Starting at 5pm they’ll serve “funky” beers from bitter to sour to barnyard! Fairfield Cheese Company offers “Perfect Pairings: Cheese & Wine” at its Fairfield Location on Tuesday, June 9 and at its Greenwich Location Thursday, June 11. They’ll pair the perfect cheese with its perfect wine match. 7-9pm, $45 per person. Read More
"Fork It Over" Recap: The Westport Farmers' Mkt Hosts Fundraiser ellen bowen June 02, 2015 Definition of a Food Coma: The feeling of listlessness, bordering on sleep, that one feels after eating a large meal, often caused by a rush of blood to the stomach and intestines during food digestion. Well that explains why I am having such a hard time writing up this recap of today’s Westport Farmers' Market Fork It Over benefit brunch as I must be in a food coma. As the kick off event celebrating 10 years of the Market under the passionate direction of Marketing Director, Lori Cochran, this first of four planned Fork it Over events was a collaborative effort by Chef Bill Taibe of The Whelk, owner Ryan Fibiger of Fleishers Craft Butchery and owner Mimi McLaughlin of Saugatuck Grain and Grape. Read More
Clambakes & Pig Roasts: A CT Summer Catering Guide Catering April Guilbault May 31, 2015 “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James said that. And ok, so it’s probably cliche to start an article with a quote, but you know what? This one works. And fits the bill when you are taking about taking time to enjoy a fully catered clambake or a pig-roast on well, a summer afternoon. There is warmth from the sun. You can smell the sweet scent of freshly cut grass or the salty sea breezes. When friends gather on these delightful summer days and evenings, shall you enjoy the treats of the land or the sea? Thankfully, we have gathered a treasure-trove of options for your al fresco dining pleasure! And yes, Mr. James, we agree. Enjoy CTbites' Catering Guide to Summer Clambakes & Pig Roasts. Read More
Discount Code for CTbites for "Beers At The Beach" Event CTbites Team May 30, 2015 "BEERS AT THE BEACH is a summer beer series put on by the Welcome To Connecticut Podcast and hosted by Ken Tuccio. Ken Tuccio, the host of BEERS AT THE BEACH has put together a special discount for readers of CT Bites. If you purchase tickets on June 1st (before 12am on Tuesday June 2nd) and use the coupon code CTBITES at checkout, you will get 15% OFF of the ticket price! You can buy tickets HERE. The first event in the series takes place at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Thursday June 11th. The event kicks off at 6:30pm and will feature the beers from Beer'd Brewing Read More
Chefs of Our Kitchen (C.O.O.K.) Series Restaurant Dinner Events New Haven CTbites Team May 30, 2015 The third annual C.O.O.K. series presented by Gateway Community College Foundation features chef-led culinary evenings at Gateway's campus in New Haven. Upcoming events include Neil "Singing Chef" Fuentes on June 3, 2015 and Abby Dodge on November 4, 2015. Tickets for the Neil Fuentes dinner are $65 per person. Tickets include: 6 p.m. Pre-event reception with wine, beer soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres in Gateway’s New Alliance Foundation Art Gallery A cookbook, memoir or recipe booklet A chance opportunity to meet the author/chef A 6:45 p.m. 3 course meal prepared by the featured chef and Gateway Community College Culinary Read More
The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook: Author Signings w/ CTbites Contributor Christy Colasurdo CTbites Team May 29, 2015 Updated to include new event dates and locations. The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook, a beautiful new cookbook co-authored by CTbites' contributor Christy Colasurdo, launches on June 1. The book, a celebration of local food and farms, takes readers on a tasting tour of Connecticut, where you'll meet the state's top chefs and the farmers who provide them with hyper-local provisions. For a full list of events and information, visit connecticutfarmtablecookbook.com. June Book Signings Stew Leonard's in Norwalk: Saturday, June 6 from 11-1Back 40 Mercantile in Old Greenwich: June 4 from 3 to 6 pm Read More
Best Doughnuts in CT 2015 Edition: Friday June 5 is National Doughnut Day! Restaurant Bakery Doughnuts Breakfast Best of CT Dessert CTbites Team May 29, 2015 Yes, it’s a recognized national holiday, and CT has great doughnuts for sweettooths ready to celebrate! Here are places serving delicious ones. Thank you, readers, for your contributions! Uncle Leo’s, ReddingSpeedy Donuts, NorwalkWhitney Donut & Sandwich Shop, HamdenLakeside Diner, StamfordBeach Donuts, Old LymeDarien Doughnut, DarienOrangeside, New HavenLorca, StamfordCoffee An’ Donuts, WestportStew Leonard’s, Norwalk, Danbury, Newington, Yonkers SoNo Baking Company, NorwalkDonut Crazy, Shelton, StratfordNeil's Donuts, WallingfordFaddy's Doughnuts & Ice Cream, Windsor Read More
Friday Froth: Connecticut Beer Triple Double Ingredients CT Beer Friday Froth Beer James Gribbon May 29, 2015 When we last left Friday Froth, your occasionally humble and rapidly expanding host wastalking American Craft Beer Week, and local offerings from OEC, Stony Creek and Stubborn Beauty. We'll continue the furthering rides the Connecticut beer bus this week as we take our minds on a drive to Bristol, Hartford, and Stratford. Buckle up, because it gets heavy. Life is currently pretty fluid out there on the vast, rolling prairie of American craft beer. Everyone who lays hands on a mash paddle seems to be inventing a new style, or at least melting an existing style down and sculpting it into a new form. Much of this morphology arrives in the world with enough alcohol to sterilize minor gunshot wounds. These come stamped with labels marked "double" or "Imperial," which are largely interchangeable, and just mean "strong." Read More
Where to Enjoy Negroni Week in CT: June 1 - 7, 2015...Every Drink = $$ For Community Plates Amy Kundrat May 28, 2015 7 days. 3 ingredients. A good cause. Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari, will take place from June 1-7th when bars around the world will mix their favorite Negroni variations and donate a portion of proceeds from each Negroni sold to a charity of their choice. Launched in 2013, Negroni week is as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charitable causes. It has grown to include more than 1,300 participating bars around the world, raising more than $120,000 for charities. In Fairfield County, proceeds will be going to Community Plates, Fairfield County’s local food rescue organization. Connecticut's Participating Bars 116 Crown, New Haven Amore Cucina & Bar, Stamford Brick + Wood, Fairfield Carbone's Bloomfeld & Hartford DishNEAT, Westport Luxe Wine Bar & Cocktails, Westport Main Street Grill, Watertown Match, Norwalk Oak Haven Table and Bar, New Haven Ordinary, New Haven Read More
Weekly Nibble: Guide to CT Farmers' Markets, SoNo Eats, Ninety9Bottles Beer Festival, Book Signings + More Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 28, 2015 “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. View participating restaurants here. On June 6th, Stamford Museum & Nature Center will host their 6th Annual Food & Wine Celebration Enjoy a festive evening of fine wines, delicious fare from the area's top caterers and restaurants, celebrating the museum's rich history as an educational and cultural treasure for Stamford and the surrounding communities. Buy Tickets here. Fairfield Cheese Company has posted their summer Cheese Class School schedule and it's creamy and delicious. Kick off the summer "al fresco" season at the gorgeous outdoor patio and restaurant at Artisan Southport on Wednesday June 3 with a Happy Hour from 5:30-7:30pm. Enjoy creative hors d'oeuvres by innovative Chef Frederic Kieffer and specialty Artisan Margaritas for $39 per person. View menu and purchase tickets here. Read More
Sugar & Olives' Ramp and Pistachio Pesto Recipe Recipe CTbites Team May 27, 2015 Jenn Balin of Sugar & Olives will be the guest chef at the Westport Farmers' Market Thursday May 28th and she will be whipping up some of her incredibly delicious Ramp and Pistachio Pesto. I've had it over eggs. It's killer good. You can find the recipe below. If you'd like to taste some for yourself, head on over to The Westport Farmers' Market or visit ANY farmers market as ramps are in season, and pick up the ingedients to make this recipe at home. Enjoy! SUGAR & OLIVES' RAMP AND PISTACHIO PESTO Read More
Food Truck Rodeo & Music Fest: Food Trucks, Music & Beer via HeyStamford! Restaurant Events Food Truck Hey Stamford! May 27, 2015 Here's the scoop on Stamford's Food Truck Rodeo from our friends @ Hey Stamford! A few weeks back we shared the news with you about the Blue Point Brewery Food Truck Rodeo & Music Fest. The event is just weeks away, June 20th at Mill River Park in Stamford Downtown and we are excited! With live music, almost 20 food trucks and kids games galore, it will literally be a fun family day of food and music! It's a who's who of local food trucks slinging their best meals with almost 20 of the best food trucks in our area in one spot you can expect a little of everything from apps, to main courses to desserts and everything in between. Check out this list..it's a work in progress as more are being added as we speak. Read More
The Revitalized Downtown Milford Farmers' Market Farmers Market Milford CTbites Team May 27, 2015 The newly revitalized Downtown Milford Farmers Market will be operating every Saturday all spring and summer, located at 58 River Street 9am- 1pm. It will boast a variety of specialty local vendors (vendor list can be viewed below). In addition to fresh produce, tasty treats and artistic treasures, Market Masters Lesli Flick and Alex Malaspinas of Scratch Baking will be distributing a market specific recipe each week to excite your taste buds and liven up your weekend cooking. “Our daytime market will provide a shopping experience for the entire family,” Flick, owner of Milford’s Scratch Baking, said. Amidst the hum of CT based vendors in this stylized farmers market setting, patrons will also enjoy live music, interactive events and entertainers, as well as prepared foods. From flowers to free-range meats, this year’s market has set it's sights on outstanding pleasures for the palate and the people. Read More
