It is a very exciting time in Westport with the announcement that Chef Brian Lewis and Chef Bill Taibe have entered into a deal where Lewis will take over the space that previously housed Le Farm Restaurant on the Post Road. Before opening in early November, Lewis will reimagine the interior to reflect his warm hospitality and cuisine with layered flavors in an inviting setting. CTbites sat with Chef Lewis to discuss his latest venture.
“I am thrilled about opening a restaurant in Westport. This is my first step towards becoming a vibrant part of the community. I looked at numerous properties in the area but this location feels like home. I’m looking forward to settling in and getting to know residents of the neighborhood.”
With forty seats, the restaurant will maintain its comfortable downtown character as the backdrop to Lewis’ consciously sourced cuisine. Known for his balancing of flavors and textures, Lewis will continue to emphasize the flavors of the seasons. With his relationships with local farms, foragers and artisans, the dishes will embrace only the best local ingredients.
Chowdafest 2015 announced their menu for this year's competition being held on Sunday October 11th from 11AM to 3PM at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. Chowdafest is a unique fundraiser supporting the alleviation of hunger where people pay to judge chowder, soup and bisque from 40 restaurants representing every New England state.
Attendees receive a spoon, ballot and pencil when they arrive. They enjoy unlimited sampling and rate each entry on a scale from 7 to 10.5 with half point intervals. “It's a true people's choice event” noted Jim Keenan, event director.
Chowdafest features four categories of competition with ten restaurants competing in each: Classic New England Clam Chowder, Traditional Chowder exclusively for Rhode Island (clear broth) and Manhattan Clam Chowders (red, tomato based), Creative Chowders and Soup & Bisque.
Dust off your lederhosen and get ready for pork! On Sunday, October 25th, Fleishers Craft Butchery puts on the 4th Annual Porktoberfest, a day of whole-roasted pigs, flowing beer, housemade sausages, live music and more. This is a family friendly event, with plenty of non-alcoholic cider, s’mores and games for kids.
CTbites is GIVING AWAY 5 Pairs of FREE Tickets to Porktoberfest (all access). TO WIN, Tell us why you need to go in the comments section below. Winner will be selected on October 18th.
Admission, Beer & Food details:
The Big Piggie: $50 includes ADVANCED admission, all-you-can-eat pork, our Porktoberfest beer mug and 1 free beer ticket.
The Little Piggie: $25 includes advanced admission, our Porktoberfest beer mug and 1 free beer ticket.
Day-of only: $30 includes admission, our Porktoberfest beer mug and 1 free beer ticket.
CTBite’s own editor Stephanie Webster will team up with Match’s Chef Matt Storch on Monday October 5 at the Fairfield Public Library to talk all about cooking and their culinary experiences. Questions are highly encouraged! It starts at 7pm in the Rotary Room.
The 3rd annual Milford Restaurant Week – Ciao Milford! –October 5 to 11. 24 restaurants will be offering dining deals via special multicourse prixe fixe fare – most will be offered at $24.95 pp.
Rosie in New Haven will hold a Collage Night on Thursday October 8 starting at 7pm. Get in touch with your artistic side while enjoying spaghetti, meatballs, and wine. Seating is limited, so be sure to call 203-966-8998 to RSVP.
Grace Farms is a stunning new farm and community driven space in New Canaan, CT. Its opening weekend is October 9-11, and they will celebrate with a Community Day on October 10. The day will include performances, art, music, hands-on activities for kids, and a family barbeque. In the future, Grace Farms will offer meals from local purveyors and a glass enclosed gathering place. It is free and open to the greater community, not just New Canaan residents.
The 3rd Annual “Brew at the Zoo” will come to Bridgeport’s Beardsley Zoo on Saturday October 10.
Forget Chopped…forget Top Chef…forget Hell’s Kitchen…as a matter of fact…forget The Food Network all together, because today’s millennials are learning about food and being entertained on You Tube…and the biggest You Tube food star is Connecticut’s own, Daymon Patterson, known to his many fans as Daym Drops.
Daym, who lives in New Britain, started his You Tube channel in 2008 and has over 66 million views and over 500, 000 subscribers who tune in to see Daym’s latest video food review. They are a mixture of honest reporting and entertainment, as Daym verbally dissects the food and dines basically from the front seat of his car. His big personality matches his size, but his love of what he does shines through and he appreciates his loyal and vocal fan base. Many of his visits are the direct result of fans that comment on his videos of where he should go next.
His big break came in 2012, when he did a review for Five Guys Burgers and Fries that just hit 7.0 million views. His video review is even immortalized in a song by the Gregory Brothers entitled, “ Oh My Daym ”, which is at 27 million views on You Tube.
We're going to ignore the seasonal background noise this week, and focus on the always topical subject of IPAs. Two of the beers we taste in today's Froth are Connecticut originals, and I'm also taking the opportunity to introduce the newborn Vital IPA from Victory Brewing. A single can of this last made its way into my sinister grasp a few days before its official introduction to the world, and your first look is below the jump.
First, though, I have to geek out about some Firefly Hollow trivia...
Firefly is located in Bristol, and run by partners Rich Loomis, Bill Collins, and brewmaster Dana Bourque. Two out of three at UConn grads, and I've mentioned their beers here before. A while back I had the opportunity to try another one of their beers, Lil Troll session IPA. As the name suggests, this one is just under 5% abv, and pours golden with a big head. The hop aroma is earthy, and maybe even a bit sour on the nose.
Boothbay Lobster Company is opening its first bricks and mortar location at Harbor Point in Stamford in the upcoming months. To give the community a taste of what to expect from super-fresh Maine lobster, the company is periodically parking its Boothbay Lobster Company truck 100 yards down the street from the restaurant, serving two types of Lobster Rolls, a BLC sandwich, Lobster Mac & Cheese, plus a few non-lobster items. On a beautiful afternoon CTbites visited the truck to sample the newest addition to the Harbor Point neighborhood. As I approached the truck I noticed a sign stating that the lobster were caught the previous day…this was an ultra-fresh product.
Bar Sugo has announced its Fall Pasta and Wine classes. Chef Pat Pascarella will offer his vision and recipes for eight different pasta dishes and Meghan Pascarella will teach attendees the beauty of several Italian wines. They commence this Saturday, October 3, so give a call to 203-956-7134 to reserve your spots.
HOMEMADE PASTA COOKING CLASSES - Under the guidance of Chef Pat Pascarella, you will learn all there is to know about making fresh pasta. In this interactive class, you will knead, cut, roll and even fill ravioli! His recipes are all based on freshness, high quality ingredients, tradition and most of all, Chef Pat’s long-time experience.
Have you heard the “buzz”? Tuesday September 29 is National Coffee Day, and CT is home to some great local coffee spots where you can celebrate. There's a lot of coffee in this state so we've divided our list into Fairfield County & Beyond FC. Here are 24 places that serve some of CT’s best java. One might even say they’re more than just your average “joe….”
If we missed any of YOUR favorite spots, please let us know in the comments section below.
Last week I accepted an invitation to experience the newly opened Saltaire Oyster Bar and Fish House which recently opened in Port Chester just over the Greenwich border. Located in the beautifully restored Willet House Building which has been redesigned and transformed into a bright contemporary restaurant with a wealth of historic nautical charm. The bar area, vibrant, energetic and spacious has a modern yet traditional feel. An impressive raw bar sits at the center, welcoming patrons as they settle in ready to place their drink orders. Two televisions sit on the opposite side of the bar so that sports enthusiasts can cheer on their favorite teams. The dining room, despite its grand and impressive size, is warm and welcoming. The antique hay lifts and wood beams retain the space’s history. Handsome black and white photographs of fishermen at sea capture authentic coastal life. The elegant yet rustic lighting casts a warm glow off the brick. The restaurant isn’t quiet; a lively energy permeates the air.
Ernest Hemingway told us to always do sober what we said we'd do drunk. "That will teach you to keep your mouth shut," was his lesson. I don't get space here on Fridays for keeping my metaphorical mouth shut, and a few weeks ago I could be found pleading with you to hold off on All Pumpkin Errthang, and take the limited time we have at summer's end to enjoy the brief grunion-run of harvest ales.
The same day Froth published, I went out, slapped my modest gains on a counter, and walked out, brown bottles with orange labels in my hands. I've found some good ones for you, so here's a sampler.
Southern Tier Harvest special ale is an Extra Special Bitter, and pours with a golden ruby color. Decent head foams up at first and settles into thickish ring. The first whiff is bready malt, bouncing with hops. Rich and bitter, but mellow, Harvest is a hedge fund divorcee on xanax. It is also terrifically easy to drink, which means the robust 6.7%ABV tends to sneak up on you. The world is not exactly full of beers which aren't heavy, or beset with fruits or lactose, and still manage to feel like a treat, but Harvest is the exact recipe. It is decadent despite a deceptively simple formula, and a prototypical autumn beer.
Doom Noodle, a weekly ramen pop-up restaurant will launch this Sunday, September 27 at Firehouse 12 in New Haven.
The pop-up's weekly core menu will offer two options for ramen, a weekly bao offering, and shrimp chips, available as eat-in or take-out. Drinks will be available separately from the Firehouse 12 cocktail menu. Dinner starts on Sundays at 6 pm until they sell out.
The duo behind Doom Noodle, Jordan Waters and Molly Kennedy, are recent New Haven transplants who enjoyed participating in a weekly supper club. Jordan, who assumes the cooking responsibilities, and Molly, the creative who will run the front of house, see Doom Noodle as an evolution of their club and a reflection of what they like to eat.
New York chic meets laid back cool at The Fez, a Middle Eastern eatery located in Stamford. The restaurant, located on Summer Street, is unobtrusive from the outside. The inside, however, is alive! Wine flows and aromatic Mediterranean cuisine comes out of the kitchen. Patrons flock to hear live music and conversation echoes throughout the intimate space.
On June 1, 2015, the Fez shut its doors to undergo a renovation. After a few busy months, they are proud to announce their grand reopening. Lunch and dinner service has resumed, as well as live music.
The same team behind the original Fez will see it into its new age. Greenwich native Eric Monte, who has a self-professed “love of food and wine,” partnered with Jay Patel, who comes from a family of restaurateurs. Chef Shelby prepares the delicious cuisine. Originally Monte had hired a French chef, but Chef Shelby and his Indian background wound up being the perfect match for the restaurant. Fred Laist manages the business aspect. He has a rich history in corporate catering and Monte calls him “brilliant in food service.”
On Monday September 28, Sen. Tony Hwang and The Buzz Truckare teaming up to bring free coffee to commuters! The event is honor of National Coffee Day, which takes place on the 29. Sen. Look for Hwang and The Buzz Truck in the parking lot side of the station (northbound) from 6-8am.
Even Fairfield Cheese Company is getting into the Oktoberfest spirit! On Tuesday September 29, their typical cheese class will be replaced with a five-course meal paired with Oktoberfest brews. It costs $100 per person and will take place at the Fairfield location from 7-11pm.
Smoke in the Valley returns to Seymour, CT on October 3 and 4. There will be live music, food trucks, local vendors, beer and wine tastings, and more. New for this year: a food truck challenge where attendees can vote for their favorite! Tickets are $45 pp.
Pies and Pints, located in Waterbury, CT, has the next installation of its monthly beer dinner program on Wednesday September 30. Attendees can mingle during the welcome social from 6-6:30 and then sit down to a three course dinner with beer pairings. Reservations required: triburyct@gmail.com or call 203.573.1743.
Match Restaurant continues its birthday celebrations with “The Reunion Dinner Service” on Wednesday September 30. Former staff members will return to dine with guests. All gratuities will benefit CDSC and Fiona’s Firefighters.
The Spread in South Norwalk invites you to an Oktoberfest beer dinner on Thursday October 1. The five course meal includes autumn inspired fare like a sausage and sauerkraut fritter, pork shank, and pumpkin bread pudding. Each dish is paired with a delicious Oktoberfest beer. Reservations are required.
The new Fall Wine appreciation classes have been announced at napa & company in Stamford. These highly regarded introductions to the art of pairing wines with fine foods kicks off on October 12th with Not "KJ" that will feature six New World Chardonnays. The courses continue with a focus on other varieties including Beaujolais, South African and vintages perfect for the Thanksgiving Dinner. Each of the classes will pair these wines with three small courses.
The third annual Milford Restaurant Week – Ciao Milford! – will take place Monday, October 5 to Sunday, October 11. Twenty-four restaurants will be offering affordable dining choices via special multicourse prixe fixe fare – most will be offered at $24.95 pp.
The 24 participating restaurants include Aldario's Restaurant, Archie Moore's Restaurant & Bar, Bar 3 Thirty-three, Bella Napoli Pizza, Bin 100 Restaurant, Bridge House Restaurant, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Colony Grill, Curry Leaves, Eli's Tavern on Daniel Street, Fratelli's Italian Restaurant, Gusto Trattoria/Italian Restaurant, Jeffrey's Restaurant by Claudio, La Famiglia Vincenzo Ristorante, Mama Teresa's Italian Restaurant & Pizza, Michael Anthony's Tuscan Grill, Milford Green Pizza & Restaurant, Oscar's Bistro & Bar, Rainbow Gardens, Reggiano's Pizza & Pasta House, SBC Restaurant and Brewery, Scribner's Restaurant, Stonebridge Restaurant, and Tengda Asian Bistro & Hibachi.
These lucky readers have been given a pair of tickets to The Greenwich Wine + Food Festival for use on Saturday Septmerb 26th. Winners have been notified via email. Congrats and enjoy! See you there, and don't forget to visit the Celebrity Green Room where CTbites will be moderating a Chef Panel in the afternoon.
Chef Brian Lewis
