Community Plates, a national organization that has rescued 8.5 million meals to date, encourages you to support Hunger Action Month during the month of September in your neighborhood.
Leading the food rescue revolution, Community Plates is tackling American food insecurity by directly transferring fresh, usable food that would have otherwise been thrown away from restaurants, markets and other food industry sources to food-insecure families throughout the U.S.
Hunger affects every community, and during Hunger Action Month, Community Plates is sharing 5 ways you can make a difference in your own Connecticut neighborhood:
This summer saw a plethora of restaurant openings across the state. Local chefs are expanding their empires, celebrity chefs are setting their sights on CT, and other food-lovers are staking their claim in the culinary scene. The fall promises to bring even more debuts. Here is a list of some of our favorite recent launches as well as a sneak peek of more to come.
Chef Nick Martschenko’s (South End) newest venture, SE Uncorked, is already creating an incredible buzz throughout New Canaan for its great food and great vibe. Inspired by the speakeasies of the Prohibition era and taverns in the UK and Australia, Chef Nick told CTbites that his vision is for “guests to be comfortable and relaxed in a heavily beverage, comfortable environment with foods designed for a pub versus restaurant theme.”
Located at 15 Elm Street, both the exterior and interior have been completely redesigned. The brick-faced exterior features a drop-down wood shelf, windows at eye-level and a wood carved sign announcing “Uncorked” with the familiar South End circle-logo with the additional prelude... “Snacks & Taps.”
I like beers from Otter Creek and Jack's Abby, but their collaboration beer, Joint Custody, is a can full of nope. Thankfully it's also exceedingly rare, so chances are you'll be spared from drinking one. I don't usually talk about bad beer experiences in this column - and feel free to skip down to the two contrasting examples I give below - but this one's been nagging at me.
The collective German heritage of the OC and JA brewmasters inspired them to seek out two newborn German hop strains, Huell Melon and Mandarina Bavaria, in the creation of what they call a Nouveau Pilsner. Joint Custody pours cloudy gold, and has a slightly odd lemony scent - both fine - and then you take a drink and taste fresh Band-Aid. There is the unmistakable pils malt underneath, but what in the hell with this plasticky flavor? In beer-nerd terms, we sometimes call this ortho-chlorophenolic, because it's a medicinal smell/flavor which usually comes from residual sanitizers, or using chlorinated water to make the beer. I don't think that's what happened here, we're dealing with seriously talented brewers, so the only remaining explanation is they've done this on purpose.
Bear's Smokehouse New England BBQ Championships will take place in Hartford on Saturday September 5 starting at 6pm. The main event consists of all you can eat BBQ samples and Connecticut beer tastings (5 coupons- additional beer for sale). There will be live music as well… and the chance to vote on your favorite BBQ! Tickets start at $35.
Join Ordinary in New Haven, for their new kitchen specials. Monday and Tuesday is a “Taco-pocalypse." Wednesday and Saturday, try “3 Ways From the Farm” where veggies come raw, cooked, and pickled. On Fridays, they’ll serve up different styles of meatballs at “The Meatball Show.”
On September 2 and 3, the Woodstock Agricultural Fair celebrates 154 years of agriculture in CT. There will be animals, exhibitions, live entertainment, and over 100 food vendors.
The 8th Annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival comes to Westport, CT on September 5 and 6. The festival includes chef demonstrations, BBQ competitions, games for kids, live music, beer tastings, cocktails, and more. Tickets start at $10.
This weekend, enjoy four days of authentic Greek cuisine at “Odyssey: A Greek Festival” hosted by Saint Barbera Greek Orthodox Church in Orange, CT.
There's a new Vietnamese on the block, and we are pretty excited about this one. CanTiin, a modern French Vietnamese bistro is opening at 269 Fairfield Ave in Bridgeport this October. Can Tiin boasts Chef Brian Reilly, (you might remember the name from Vespa in Westport). Chef Brian has noodles in his culinary DNA as his resume includes the role of Executive Chef at Noodle Cat in Ohio, back when high quality noodles were just starting to catch on.
Can Tiin's COO Kevin D Lalumiere is joined by Rachel Haughey from NEAT of Darien and Westport, thus completing the management team.
Now let's talk Menus....Lunch is broken down into Pho, Banh Mi, Steam Buns, Salads & Starters, and Noodle & Frys. The Dinner menu features a mouthwatering array of dishes including Spiced Duck Breast, Pork Belly with Daikon, Crispy Rice & Coconut Crepe, Spicy Baby Octopus Stor Fry, Marrow & Miso, and a nice twist on the classic burger, a Grilled Burger Steam Bun.
We will update you on additional details and the opening date as we move into October.
Mark your calendar for Harvest Fest, the grassroots event of the season, on Sat. Sept. 12 at Wakeman Town Farm in Westport featuring local chefs, musicians, libations, and more!
At this festive cocktail party/dinner, dig into a locally grown feast--hors d'oeuvres to desserts--using delicious cheeses, produce and meats from nearby farms, all prepared by a lineup of farm-friendly local chefs. In addition to dishing up inspired seasonal eats, they'll be pouring signature cocktails, fine wines and craft brews and kicking up our heels to the sounds of a killer live band. There will also be a live auction with some out-of-this- world experiences in dining and travel. It's all to benefit our local town farm! Some of the local venues included in this year's lineup:
The Spread, Artisan, Blue Lemon, Fairfield Cheese Co., Fleischers Craft Butchery, AMG Catering, Olivette & Saugatuck Sweets
What is it about taking a boat to lunch that transforms what would have been an ordinary meal into a clandestine rendezvous?
Luckily there are no code names or other spycraft necessary for a visit to Marley’s Cafe, a seasonal restaurant located at the Essex Island Marina. Getting there is half the fun, requiring your own vessel or a free ride on the tiny 6-person ferry for a 2-minute trip across a sliver of the Connecticut River.
Marley’s Cafe is BYOB, open seasonally from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, serving breakfast and lunch with dinner served at the height of summer. Your best bet is to call ahead to confirm hours before you arrive or visit their Facebook page.
In a letter posted on Facebook, Greer Fredericks officially announced the sale of Mama’s Boy in SONO. CTbites was introduced to Greer prior to its opening and watched as the restaurant expanded the boundaries of the food scene in SONO, both from a geographic as well as culinary perspective. Mama’s Boy started several food crazes in Fairfield County including shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and introduced catfish to many. And when the desserts arrived at the tables, guests stared in awe at the size of the cake slices. Greer did not stop with Mama’s Boy. Last year she opened Jax, named after her son, serving some of the best sandwiches in the area.
Greer told CTbites a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to spend more time with her adorable son Jax, take a break and plan her next venture. All of us look forward to the next time we can enjoy her food and be told to “Kiss My Grits.”
Stamford Summer Restaurant Week lasts for TWO weeks this year! Through August 30, enjoy lunch and dinner prix fixe menus from over 30 popular restaurants. There are a number of price tiers to choose from. The prices for lunch are $10.15, $15.15 or $20.15 and dinner is $15.15, $25.15 or $35.15.
Every Sunday and Monday, bottles of wine under $125 are half price at Match in Norwalk. Reservations are recommended.
On Wednesday August 26, The Spread in SoNo is lending tremendous support to a local teacher, and for one night, Guest Bartender, who is running in this year’s New York City Marathon as a member of Team Sandy Hook Promise. Sandy Hook Promise is a grassroots organization committed to providing resources and programs through education and intervention that protect children from gun violence and work to foster connections in the community. All tips received at the bar will go to the SHP charity through the marathoner’s pledged commitment.
Also on Wednesday August 26, enjoy a "Goodtime Barbecue" at the Schoolhouse Restaurant in Wilton. The menu will be Schoolhouse Farm Dinner meets Traditional BBQ.....Family Style. The price is $65 per person, excluding alcohol, tax & gratuity. Please call them at 1-203-834-9816 for reservations. The patio will be open weather permitting.
Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, although we love to cook it in pies, purée it into sauces, and preserve it into jam as if it were a fruit. Watson's Catering shares their turnover-like take on this vegetable, a fun way to enjoy the sweetness of this tart vegetable.
This summer marks the 10 year anniversary for Sono Baking Company. To celebrate the milestone of this beloved local bakery, we sat down with owner, John Barricelli, to talk about the business of baking and his plans for the future.
What made you decide to launch Sono Baking Company?
We launched Sono 10 years ago because we found that the need for baked goods and breads were hard to find in this area....everything was being brought up from the city....I always wanted to bake bread in a big oven early in the morning with no days off!
Has the business of baking changed in the past 10 year? How?
The business has not changed, but competition has grown a little....we still think we are superior to anything out there...we bake fresh everyday....bake locally, distribute locally.
Vespa Restaurant recently introduced its new culinary team, Executive Chef David White and Pastry Chef Susanne Berne to create a vibrant menu to complement the relaxing décor and wonderful water view. The duo will collaborate in creating a menu for the full dining experience, from the first bite of Antipasti to the last bite of Dolci. In addition, the restaurant recently unveiled its lunch service, a new dessert menu and the commencement of “Apertivo Hour” from 4-6PM, offering half price beer, wine, $8 select cocktails and a small plates menu.
Chef David joins Vespa from The Inn at Pound Ridge, where he was the Chef de Cuisine. Prior to working with Chef Jean-Georges, he sharpened his skills in Europe before returning to the US to further refine his talents with award-winning Andrew Masciangelo at Savona. Chef Berne’spassion for the culinary arts was sparked by a pastry course in college before receiving her Grande Diploma in Pastry Arts in 1999. She subsequently won back-to-back ACF Florida Pastry Challenges in 2003 & 2005.
CTbites recently visited Vespa to sample a variety of the new culinary team’s Italian-inspired creations.
The 8th annual Blues, Views & BBQ Festival presented by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association will be held in Westport CT on September 5 & 6 at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts and the grounds of the Westport Library.
CTbites will once again play host to the areas top chefs as they grill up and demo some of their favorite dishes and offer up samples for attendees of the festival. Come on down and meet this incredibly talented group of local chefs.
As children, we’re instructed not to eat with our hands. But at Teff, a newly opened Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant in Stamford, CT, you’re supposed to do just that.
On the brink of Harborview and a stone’s throw away from downtown, Teff’s location is ideal. It sits in the space that formerly housed the Red Sea Deli. The Mekonen family owned the deli for 14 years. Although they mainly served classic American fare there, they offered Ethiopian food from Thursday-Saturday.
“We had good reception, people wanted it, but it was time consuming,” says Elsa Mekonen, Teff’s operations manager. “We thought it would be good to have a full time Ethiopian restaurant.”
The concept led to the creation of Teff, which officially opened for business on July 30.
Hadas Mekonen, matriarch and chef, grew up in Eritrea, a small country that used to be part of Ethiopia. She was the third oldest in a family of 16, so learning how to cook was essential to help provide for the family. At age 9 she started observing how her mother browned and prepared the spices. From there, she learned how to cook entire dishes.
With August in full swing, farmers across Connecticut are preparing for one of the most important times of year; harvest season. On September 13th, 2015 Connecticut Farmland Trust will be celebrating the bounty of the harvest at The Hickories farm in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Please join other local food enthusiasts from 3:00 to 7:00 PM for a locally grown dinner prepared by Chef Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale. Chef LaBant will be preparing hors d’oeuvres, a family style dinner, and dessert from farms across the state featuring produce from The Hickories farm and Sport Hill Farm, meat from Stuart Family Farm, ice cream from the Farmer’s Cow, and cheese from Beltane Farm and Cato Corner Farm. (Ticket info here)
Wine and local beer will also be served at the event, however, attendees are also encouraged to bring their favorite beverages. Bluegrass music will be provided by Dick Neal and Friends.
CTbites writer, Jessica Ryan, recently attended a press dinner at Table 104 Osteria & Bar in Stamford. Here are her tasting notes.
Tucked away unassumingly on Long Ridge Road, this unpretentious restaurant offers exceptional fare. Together Chef Domenico Iovieno, Restaurateur Walter Cappelli and Chef and Restaurateur Enzo Bruno have teamed up to produce a restaurant that is vibrant, inviting, spacious and modern.
Table 104 Osteria & Bar offers a creative menu featuring fresh, cooked from the heart comfort food with notable inspirations from Rome and the Italian coastline.
