Holiday Recipes: Champagne + Caviar + Capers = #holidaychic by Watson’s Catering & Events Watson's Catering November 19, 2015 We’re popping the cork a little early in celebration of our new video series with CTbites. Our first feature shows you how to wow any guest this holiday season with two stunning appetizers, Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cups & Caviar Mini Pancakes, and a glittering Confetti Cocktail. We’ve taken a few shortcuts to help make this easy and speedy for any host or hostess. From caviar to champagne and capers to cucumbers, these recipes are not only easy to make but are perfect to ring in the New Year. Watch the video tutorial or check out the step-by-step recipes below from Watson's Catering & Event Planning. Read More
Holiday Recipe: Black Truffle & Leek Bread Pudding from elm restaurant Recipe Holiday Recipe Thanksgiving CTbites Team November 18, 2015 Executive Chef Luke Venner, of elm restaurant in New Canaan, has a decadant and delicious Thanksgiving recipe for our CTbites readers. If you want to make your guests extra happy this season, go beyond traditional bread pudding with his recipe for Black Truffle & Leek Bread Pudding. We are quite certain it will elicit praise all around. Of course, personally I'd rather have Chef Venner cook it himself, but if you can't get to elm restaurant, try this recipe at home this Thanksgiving season. Your guests will thank you. Read More
9 Events to Check Out for CT Beer Week Restaurant Beer Brewery CT Beer James Gribbon November 17, 2015 Connecticut Beer Week has officially begun, and CTBites is here to bring you a sampling of events and other news of note. This week is a celebration of both beers made in Connecticut, and the restaurants and bars who help our small state be such a big part of the national beer scene. The hashtag for searching on social media is #CTBeerWeek, and a further list of events can be found here. Many links to further events and information are included below, and please let us know in the comments if there's anything we may have missed. 1. Kent Falls Debuts Shruggie - Kent Falls will drop its brand-newest IPA, Shruggie (¯\_(ツ)_/¯) this week, starting in Litchfield on Nov. 18. Kent Falls calls this part of their "bartender interaction series." I may have agreed to order one through interpretive dance. Their next event will be at J. Timothy's.2. Get Beer'd - J. Tim's will host a Beer'd Brewing tap takeover Nov. 17, including Elihue, This Side Of Paradise, and Midnight Oil. Read More
Stuart Family Farm: Grass Fed Organic Meat + Home Delivery in CT! (sponsored post) Home Delivery Local Farm CTbites Team November 17, 2015 With the holiday season fast approaching, Stuart Family Farm can supply your family and friends with some of the highest quality, best tasting, most humanely raised meat products found anywhere. Located on the Litchfield/Fairfield County border in picturesque Bridgewater, CT, the Stuart Family raises 100% grass fed/finished beef, pastured pork, and pastured poultry. Stuart Family Farm is an environmentally friendly farm, utilizing organic fertilizer on all pastures and hay fields and is free of all herbicides and pesticides. The cow herd is pasture rotated throughout the grazing season and is fed hay that is grown exclusively on the farm during the winter months. The farm became certified Animal Welfare Approved in 2008 and is audited annually to maintain active certification. AWA is a food label for meat products that come from farm animals raised according to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards. Read More
Thanksgiving Recipe: Match Restaurant's Maple Braised Squash + Wine Pairing Recipe Holiday Recipe CTbites Team November 17, 2015 It's time to get ready for our favorite holiday here at CTbites...Thanksgiving. Chef Matt Storch has a recipe to consider as you get your Thanksgiving menu organized, Maple Braised Squash. Our wine expert, Emma Doody, has also chimed in with some suggestions for wine pairings to enhance this dish. The sweet flavors from the maple and the squash call for a wine that imparts sweetness of its own. At the same time, I would stay away from a true dessert wine. They tend to have syrupy, thicker bodies and the maple will already have that texture. The wine should have a touch of acidity to cut through the decadence.An ideal bottle to complement this is Robertson Winery’s 2015 Late Harvest Gewürztraminer. It retails in Connecticut stores for around $9.99. The wine, which comes from South Africa, hovers on the brink of dessert wine. The late harvest makes it sweet without being rich. One could also pair an Italian Muscato with the dish. Read More
Holiday Recipe: Cauliflower & Apple Soup via Marcia Selden Catering Recipe Holiday Recipe Soups Marcia Selden Catering November 16, 2015 We are days away from Thanksgiving, and the menu planning has kicked into high gear. Marcia Selden Catering has shared one of their favorite fall soups. This recipe for Cauliflower & Apple Soup with Curry Drizzle, can be served both hot and cold, with equally delicious results. Happy holidays and enjoy. Read More
Fleishers Craft Kitchen in Westport Now Open for Dinner Under Chef Adam Truelove Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 14, 2015 Saugatuck Craft Butchery was founded in 2011 by Ryan Fibiger and Paul Nessel with the philosophy of combining “traditional butchery skills with sustainable, whole animal practices and modern-day food movement ideals.” It purchases locally raised animals from farmers that share this philosophy, dry-ages the meat in-house and sells directly to the public. Over the last four years, as its popularity increased, it expanded to a new, larger location across the street that would feature both a butchery and a restaurant and earlier this year it merged with Fleishers Butchery, of Brooklyn, to become Fleishers Craft Butchery. After the successful launch of breakfast and lunch service, Fleishers recently hired Chef Adam Truelove, formerly of Tarry Lodge, Napa & Co. and Pine Social to oversee its culinary expansion. In the last month it both opened its doors at its newest location in Cos Cob and expanded the service in Saugatuck to include dinner to showcase the farm raised meat and poultry from the butchery coupled with Chef Adam’s creativity. With a very low key environment, 30 seats and an additional six stools at the bar, the restaurant will offer a simple menu, as well as Family Dinners, from Tuesday through Saturday from 530-930PM. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Game + Farm Dinners, Beer Festivals, Knife Skills Class & Organic Delivery Service Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 13, 2015 Greenwich restaurant week continues! Through November 18, many of Greenwich’s best are offering prix fixe menus and other specials. Stonington’s Beer’d Brewing and West Hartford’s MaxBurger are teaming up for a beer dinner with guest speaker Aaren M. Simonici, owner and brewmaster. The dinner will take place on Monday November 16 from 6-9pm. Meanwhile, Cask Republic in Stamford is hosting a beer dinner of its own on the 16th. Craft brews from Jack’s Abbey will accompany a five-course meal, plus an amuse! It costs $85 per person, tax and gratuity included. Thanksgiving is fast approaching! On Tuesday November 17, join Fleisher’s Craft Butchery in Westport for “Knife Skills & Poultry 101 with Victorinox Swiss Army.” The class is designed to teach basic knife skills and specifically delve into breaking down and carving poultry. It costs $100 per person and lasts from 7-9pm. Barcelona Greenwich invites you to a scotch and game dinner on November 18 at 8pm. Chef Michael will prepare small plates and seasonal specialties alongside specialty scotches. It costs $45 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, please call the restaurant at (203) 983-6400. Read More
Westport's Popular Eatery, The Granola Bar, Opening in Greenwich Stephanie Webster November 12, 2015 The Granola Bar, the popular Westport-based restaurant known for their exceptional coffee program, creative smoothies, and their healthy approach to traditional comfort food, is set to open a second location in Greenwich in early 2016. Granola Bar owners, Julie Levitt and Dana Noorily, are excited to bring their creative and locally sourced breakfast and lunch options to Greenwich residents and businesses at 41 Greenwich Avenue. The new 2700-square-foot restaurant will offer extensive seating and a large take-out section for people on the go. In conjunction with this expansion, The Granola Bar will debut a new seasonal menu on November 11 at the Westport location. Read More
First Look: Rothbard Ale + Larder European Gastropub Opens in Westport Restaurant Beer Gastropub German Westport Comfort Food Stephanie Webster November 11, 2015 Rothbard Ale + Larder European Gastropub quietly opened its doors last week in downtown Westport. The menu focuses on central European fare with dishes drawing inspiration from the cuisines of Alsace, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. The beer and wine list mirror this sentiment, and a beautiful interior renovation transports diners to a cozy chalet in the depths of the Bavarian Alps. Chef Adam Roytman's commitment to both the cuisine and "larder" concept are tangible in every detail of this new speakeasy-esque venture with longtime partner Joseph Farrell (Walrus + Carpenter). From the crispy schnitzel and rich hearty bratwurst (house-made) to the authentic absinthe fountain and German beer steins, Rothbard Ale + Larder is the real deal. Read More
15 CT Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Holiday Thanksgiving Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 10, 2015 Thanksgiving arrives Thursday November 26 and many Connecticut restaurants are inviting you to spend the holiday with them. From buffets to prix fixe and traditional to creative, there are a number of styles so that you can pick the best for you and your loved ones. NOTE: We came across a few more restaurants after the publish date of this article, so we've gone beyond 15. Enjoy! Millwright's, Simsbury Cafe on the Green, Danbury Artisan, Southport Bernard's, Ridgefield Elm Restaurant, New Canaan Mill on the River Restaurant, South Windsor Capital Grille, Stamford and Hartford Harbor Lights, Norwalk Read More
Help Others Receive a Weekend Meal Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 09, 2015 How many of us enjoyed a delicious dinner with friends and family at a restaurant this weekend? For many of our neighbors, just having a hot meal on the weekend is something they can only hope for...and now you can help. On Monday, November 16th, Baldanza in New Canaan is opening its doors and hearts and sponsoring "Bowls at Baldanza - Supporting National Hunger and Homelessness Week." The evening will support Filling in the Blanks, an organization that provides needy children with meals on the weekend. 100% of the proceeds, yes all of the proceeds, will go to Filling in the Blanks...so no child goes hungry Read More
Video: Tofu Master Minh Tsai Talks Tofu and Sustainability at Yale Ingredients Chef Talk Video Amy Kundrat November 09, 2015 Minh Tsai, investment banker turned tofu master, is speaking at Yale this week about the intersection of tofu and sustainability. Watch the event live on Tuesday, November 10. From Yale CBEY: Meet Minh Tsai, the investment banker turned tofu master, and learn about his company Hodo Soy, an artisanal tofu supplier from Oakland. Minh has been a pioneer in getting chefs and large institutions to use tofu including Chipotle (heard of sofritas?) and Costco. This talk is sure to entertain and inspire and provide an enlightening discussion on how traditional recipes (along with Masters students) can be used to change our future impact on the earth. Read More
WUJI in Scarsdale NY: A Fresh Approach to Chinese Food Jessica Ryan November 08, 2015 Update: WUJI will be opening in Westport & Greenwich in 2016. I was recently invited to dine at WUJI, a new Chinese dining concept in Scarsdale. I heard rumors that WUJI was different from many other local Chinese restaurants that serve Americanized Chinese food, which can be heavy, greasy and salty, and those rumors are true. Nestled in the charming village of Scarsdale, WUJI sits unassumingly tucked away from the sidewalk, with several red and white bicycles parked in front for local deliveries. There’s a very small seating area outside, protected by large hedges for privacy. Inside, the interior is simple, stylish and elegant without formality. Light grey walls, dark furniture with clean lines and framed oversized photographs of Buddha statues hang on the walls and give the restaurant a gallery-like feel. The bar area is framed by two enormous blue and white ginger jars that sit against cool white subway tiles. A mosaic created by shards of Blue Willow China anchor the far wall. Read More
2nd Annual Greenwich Restaurant Week November 12th - 18th Restaurant Restaurant Week CTbites Team November 08, 2015 Coming off a successful inaugural year, The 2nd Annual Greenwich Restaurant Week starts On November 12th and runs until November 18th. Participating restaurants include L'escale, Polpo, Harvest, Terra, Mediterraneo, Le Peguin, Le Fat Poodle, Osteria Applausi, Lugano's, Gabriele's, Char, Famous Greek Kitchen, Firenze, Blackstones Steakhouse, Little Pub, Bella Noona, Caren's Cos Cobber, Bobby Q's Pitstop, Coast, The Drawing Room, Elm Street Oyster House, Jhouse, Morello, Tengda, Mt.Kisco smokehouse, Greenwich Cheese Company and Winfield's at the Hyatt. Read More
Friday Froth: Iceland And Sweetwater Come To Connecticut Ingredients Beer CT Beer Friday Froth James Gribbon November 06, 2015 Reykjavik and Atlanta usually don't have anything in common besides yours truly, but we've all come full circle this week. The daisy chain works like this: I love Iceland, and have done some work for the country here in the U.S. which allowed me to to visit the land of fire and ice, eat hákarl, and learn the correct pronunciation of Eyjafjallajökull. I also have a degree in history from the University of Georgia, where I became acquainted with Sweetwater Brewing Company. Just recently, Two Roads and Evil Twin conspired to produce Geyser Gose, using Icelandic ingredients, and Sweetwater made their Connecticut debut. Hell yes. Read More
Weekly Nibble: Ladies Night, Thanksgiving Tasting Events, Elm City Brew Fest, Monger Mingle + More! Emma Jane-Doody Stetson November 06, 2015 Greenwich Restaurant Week returns November 12-18! This year, there are over 30 participating restaurants with special deals. View full list of participants and offers here . On Wednesday November 11, Veuve Clicquot and Le Fat Poodle in Greenwich are teaming up for a Ladies Night Out! “Le Grande Dame Ladies Night” will feature champagne and truffles with winemaker Pierre Casenave. The cost is $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. It starts at 7pm. Reservations are required. Please call 203-717-1515. “The Hub” is back in Cos Cobb! On Thursday November 12, they will hold the “Monger Mingle,” an open house style event featuring Greenwich Cheese Co., Fleisher’s Craft Butchery, and Fjord Fish Market. It runs from 7-9pm and benefits Community Plates. This weekend, November 14 & 15, Stew Leonard’s invites you to get a “taste of Thanksgiving!” From 11am-3pm, they are going to have sampling stations all over the store featuring their most popular Thanksgiving dishes such as fresh turkey and home-style stuffing. Read More
bfresh Grocery Store Opens in Fairfield with Fresh New Shopping Experience Ingredients Features Fairfield Specialty Market Jessica Ryan November 05, 2015 Not another grocery store… Not something else to create more congestion to our already congested Post Road… These were my thoughts when I heard that yet another grocery store was coming to town. Read More
"Monger Mingle" Event w/ Fleishers Craft Butcher, Greenwich Cheese Co. & Fjord Fish Market in Greenwich @ The Hub CTbites Team November 05, 2015 Fleishers Craft Butcher has officially opened its brand new retail butcher shop and market in Greenwich, CT at 160 East Putnam Road. Alongside neighbors Fjord Fishery and Greenwich Cheese Co., Fleishers is aiming to revive this area, formerly known as The Hub, as Greenwich’s specialty premier food destination. To celebrate the opening of Fleishers, The Hub in Greenwich will host a special "Monger Mingle" open house night for the community on Thursday evening, 11/12, from 7 - 9 p.m. Guests will sample fare from Fleishers, Greenwich Cheese Co. and Fjord Fishery, along with complimentary tastings of beer and wine. The event is free and open to the public. Read More
14 Places For Great Holiday Pies in CT Features Bakery Entertaining Holiday Dessert April Guilbault November 04, 2015 Holiday season is heeeere, with its feasts and parties, and let’s be honest, you can’t really have too much pie, now can you? Note: with the brief exception of a kooky aunt who, after a post-Thanksgiving bout on the tread mill, did wearily proclaim “Too....Much....Pie!” but that’s another story for another time. So where to go for the best pies with the flakiest crusts, sweetest streusel toppings and the most flavorful fillings? We’ll be happy to tell you. Get those dessert plates ready and, um...you might want to loosen that belt. Here are 14 places to buy great holiday pies in CT. Read More
