Alice Waters Speaks on "Slow Food Values in a Fast Food Culture" at Yale on February 2 New Haven Restaurant Chef Talk New Haven Amy Kundrat January 26, 2016 Photo: Chez Panisse Chef, author, and food activist Alice Waters will visit Yale University on February 2, 2016 at 4 p.m. to give a talk at the Yale Art Gallery titled "Slow Food Values in a Fast Food Culture." The talk is free and open to the public. Waters is the owner of the ingredient-driven Chez Panisse restaurant that opened in 1971 in Berkeley, a founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project and a recipience of the National Humanities Medal in 2015. For more information about the event, visit Yale News. Read More
Party Pix: Watson's & CTbites' Beat The Winter Blues Party Recap Stephanie Webster January 25, 2016 20 lucky CTbites readers joined forces with local CT bloggers and the Watson's Catering & Event Planning team last week to beat the winter blues the only we know how...by eating and drinking. Hey Stamford!, Local Food Rocks, Food Dudes, Greenwich Girl, Adeline Crites-Moore, & 203Foodie helped cover the event which featured some spectacularly creative food and great company. We particularly enjoyed the foie + jam and French onion mini sandwiches grilled with an actual iron, the "Resolution" signature cocktail served via ice luge, and a far superior take on the classic McDonald's apple pie. Check out the photo gallery above, contributed by our bloggers. Take a walk down memory lane or check out Watson's doing their thang. #beatthewinterblues Check out the great party coverage by 203Foodie & Hey Stamford! Read More
Marcia Selden Opens Venue in NYC, Above Twelve Catering CTbites Team January 25, 2016 CT based, Marcia Selden Catering & Events Planning, has recently opened Above Twelve, their first exclusive venue in New York City. The launch party was a twinkling, sparkly and delicious night in their completely refurbished loft-like space customizable to suit any event or party up to 200 people. Above Twelve is the entire 13th floor and includes their offices, commercial kitchen, a walk-in big enough to live in and even has outdoor patio space. Partnering with Above Twelve is their longtime family friend and Food Network's "Sweet Genius", Ron Ben-Israel. Marcia Selden was also recently inducted into the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame (CRA). Marcia Selden Catering’s ‘move’ to NYC and Above Twelve was "a very natural one, as we work in New York City all the time, and many of our clients have homes there, so it’s more of a natural extension," says Selden. It’s the perfect location to host parties, tastings, business dinners, corporate events. Contact Marcia Selden to book an event @ Above Twelve. Read More
20 Restaurants For Great Fireside Dining in CT Restaurant Best of CT April Guilbault January 24, 2016 Baby, it's cold outside, but that shouldn't stop CT residents from seeking out great dining experiences. There are literally dozens of cozy fireside dining venues with hearths and fireplaces all over the state. Whether you're looking for a warm barside cocktail or an elegant 4-star meal, one of these 20 CT restaurants and pubs will keep guests feeling warm and welcome. If we missed one of your favorite spots, please let us know by posting a comment below. Winvian 155 Alain White Road, Morris www.winvian.com Win + Vian...a combination of the previous owners' names, Winthrop and Vivian. True love began it all! On 113 acres, this luxury resort has 18 luxury resort cottages, each designed by 15 different architects. Read More
Cake Box Bakery Opening in Westport: Delicious Baked Good + Gluten & Nut Free Desserts Kids Bites Recipe Bakery Gluten-Free Special Dietary Needs Westport CTbites Team January 22, 2016 This just in from Westportnow. Cake Box, a bakery offering cakes, cookies, cupcakes and coffee as well as nut-free and gluten-free baked goods, will open Feb. 2 in the lower level of 10 Bay St., behind the former Post 154 Restaurant, according to Robert Byrnes, a Ridgefield resident, who co-owns the business with his wife, Jordan Gregory. The couple also own two bakeries in Ridgefield, Cake Box at 1 Big Shop Lane since April 2010, and Swoon, a nut-free, gluten-free bakery at 109 Danbury Road. Read more about Cake Box Bakery here. Read more about Swoon Gluten Free Bakery here. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings January 25-31 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 22, 2016 On the nights of Monday, January 25 and Tuesday January 26, Palmer's Market in Darien is turning into a pop-up restaurant! Italian food exporter Gioacchino Passalaqua and Sicilian chef Claudio Ruta,are teaming up for a 4-course B.Y.O.B. “Taste of Italy” menu. Ruta is a Michelin Star recipient for his restaurant La Fenice in Ragusa, Sicily. Dinner starts at 7:30pm and tickets are $80 per person. Seating is extremely limited. To reserve a seat, call 203.655.2077. Taste of Hartford returns January 25-February 7. Popular Hartford restaurants will offer special prix fixe menus. Participants include Capital Grille, On20, and more. NEW Brunch spots! Rothbard's & The Cottage in Westport are now serving brunch. If you missed Cheese 101 last week, you have another opportunity! Visit the Greenwich Cheese Company on January 25 at 7pm to learn all about cheese basics… and of course taste! Buy your tickets here. Or, join Greenwich Cheese Company on Thursday January 28 for a class all about Fondue! Two Roads Brewing is hosting their first-ever Igor's Dream dessert pairing event, 7pm-9pm on January 25. Read More
Dolce Restaurant in Stamford SOLD! Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 21, 2016 Photo credit: OmnomctThis just in...The popular Fairfield County restaurants Dolce in Stamford has been sold. Dolce was sold to Bohlsen Restaurant Group, who operates Prime in Huntington, NY. Prime, billed as “an American Kitchen and Bar,” won Open Table Diner’s Choice in 2015. The space that formerly housed Dolce is now closed for renovations. Lugano was sold to former partners. At this time, there are no further details. CTBites will keep you updated on developments as they unfold. Read More
Parker Mansion Opens in Westport via Dan Woog Restaurant Steakhouse Westport CTbites Team January 21, 2016 This just in on the new Parker Mansion Steakhouse (same owners as Parker Steaks & Scotch in Trumbull) from Dan Woog's 06880 blog. The restaurant gods take away, and then they giveth. Just a day after Post 154 served its last, little-lamented meal downtown, Saugatuck welcomed its newest eatery. In one of its oldest locations. While dining at Rizzuto’s tonight, an alert “06880” reader noticed some activity across the street. He wandered over to see. Parker Mansion — the reverently named successor to Mansion Clam House — is open for business. Read the complete article on 06880 here. Read More
Lemon Miso Soup Recipe from Green & Tonic Recipe Recipe Soups healthy CTbites Team January 21, 2016 As the weather cools down, soup season heats up. Winter is also a great time to nurture your body with nutrient rich healthy ingredients that will keep your immune system in fighting form. The chefs from Green & Tonic in Greenwich have build their brand creating recipes with a strong plant based foundation and this recipe for Lemon Miso Soup is no exception. This soup is simple to make and satisfying to eat. Read More
Cask Republic in South Norwalk Reinforces a Resurging Neighborhood's Destination Dining Restaurant Cocktails Norwalk SONO Bar Amy Kundrat January 20, 2016 Washington Street, the epicenter of South Norwalk and a resurging dining scene, welcomes another new dining experience worth exploring. Cask Republic is a modern take on the communal tavern, now open at 99 Washington Street, formerly occupied by The Gingerman. The new restaurant delivers on its tavern promises with chef-driven comfort food and drink – American at its culinary core with an abundance of global influences. Read More
WIN FREE TIX: Ken Tuccio & Blind Rhino Host "SONO BOWL" CTbites Team January 18, 2016 WIN FREE TIX to the 1st annual SONO BOWL event w/ open bar and live entertainment starting @4pm on Super Bowl Sunday. To win, tell us why YOU need these tickets. The Blind Rhino in Norwalk is teaming up with Ken Tuccio and the Welcome To Connecticut Podcast to introduce a brand new Super Bowl Sunday tradition to the South Norwalk area …… SONO BOWL. SONO BOWL is a first of its kind Super Bowl Pre-Game Game Show. Read More
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant Opens in Westport Restaurant American Farm to Table Westport Jessica Ryan January 17, 2016 When one restaurant door closes a new one opens. The institution that was Mario's closed last year, but this week I had the privilege of attending an intimate event celebrating the opening of Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant, at their newest location on Railroad Avenue in Westport. This farm to fork eatery joins the popular Greenwich and New Haven locations as well as Cava, Scena and 55, and is the result of the collaborative endeavor of the Kluber, Nube and Vincente Siguenza sibling team, who have over the past 10 years combined their passion for wine, food and customer service to create some of the area’s finest dining establishments. Read More
Barcelona SoNo Moving to Waypointe After 20 Years Restaurant Norwalk Spanish Opening Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 17, 2016
The Winners of The Beat The Winter Blues Cocktail Party Are... CTbites Team January 17, 2016 It is time to announce the winners of The Beat The Winter Blues cocktail party contest, hosted by Watson's Catering and Event Planning & CTbites. 10 lucky CTbites readers will enjoy an evening of cocktail luges, delectable nibbles, and general merry making. The winners were selected by the folks at Watson's based on their responses to regarding their favorite catered events. Winners have been contacted via email but are listed below for good measure. Each winner may bring a +1. Winners: Ken, Jen, Steven D, Lisa, Deejaydubya, Erika, Nancy, Catherine, Tim, & Liz. Read More
Harlan Publick in South Norwalk Hosts Honig Wine Dinner January 26th CTbites Team January 16, 2016 Harlan Publick is hosting a “NAPA COMES TO SOUTH NORWALK” dinner on Tuesday January 26th. Join Michael Honig of Honig Wine for a one-of-a-kind dinner and learn about the nuances of the wines of the Napa Valley and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine during the "Meet & Greet" reception followed by a 4-course wine-paired dinner prepared by Chefs Stephen Lewandowski & Kamal Rose. View complete menu below. Read More
Friday Froth: Brewer Variants from Victory Brewing, Two Roads & Rodenbach James Gribbon January 15, 2016 One of the principle joys of live music is hearing familiar songs played in unfamiliar ways. An extended improvisation, a song's slow dissolve as band members explore different chords and reconnect through the voices of their instruments, the pure truth of an imperfect voice, the energy of a band and crowd playing off one another until every molecule in a room hums with energy... living, breathing creation. This is why we go, and why most artists aren't content to play the same songs over and over again the same way. Brewers are also creators and, once they have a formula down, start looking for a new way to express it. A new song is a new song, but what happens when you play with what you already have? What might evolve from here?At this point, many of you reading this are already familiar with variants of existing beers like Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin, Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, even NEBCO Zapata-Bot (Gandhi-Bot aged in tequila barrels). This week we're going to take a look at a very few of the ways brewers are riffing on their beers, and what the results can be. Read More
South End Uncorked / Mura Ramen Pop Up Dinner January 31st Pop-Up Dinner CTbites Team January 14, 2016 Two of our favorite local chefs, Chef Nick Martschenko of the South End Restaurant Group and Chef Mogan Anthony of Mura Ramen Gastropub & (Locali) are joining forces to host a pop-up dinner at SEUncorked on Sun, 1/31. There will be two seatings: 6pm and 8pm and *reservations are required.* Guests can make reservations by calling SEUncorked at 203-920-1212. VIEW COMPLETE MENU BELOW. Michelle Mauro of the South End Restaurant group will create beverage pairings as well as having their full bar open. - $36/person (CASH ONLY) plus gratuity - Beverage pairing is additional $24/person.- Beverages charged upon consumption Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings January 18-31 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 14, 2016 Craft 260 hosts their anticipated home brewer’s competition on Monday January 18. Contestants will bring their homemade concoctions to be judged by guests from Sierra Nevada, Two Roads Brewery, and more. Come by to see who wins! If one of your resolutions involves honing your culinary skills, you might consider joining the Cookbook Club in New Milford. This week, they’ll focus on one pot wonders from Martha Stewart Living. Meet at the Candlewood Valley Country Club on January 18 from 7-8:30pm. There is no cost involved. Fleisher’s Westport presents “Pork Butchery 101” on Tuesday January 19. Learn about where pork comes from, different cuts, and cooking techniques with expert butchers. Tickets are $100 per person. On Wednesday January 20, The Stamford Innovation Center will be the venue for “Making Products People Want: The Nothin’ But Granola Story.” Jerri Graham started the business in her home, and turned it into a national brand. Learn about how they did that and try some samples! It begins at 6:30pm and tickets start at about $17. Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport hosts a special edition of their Brewgrass and Whole Pig Roast on Thursday January 21. Read More
Tap-a-Tree Maple Syrup Program @ Ambler Farm Ingredients CT Farms Local Farm kids cooking party CTbites Team January 13, 2016 It's that time of year again. Sign up for Ambler Farms immensely popular, Maple Syrup Tap-a-Tree program. Sign up quickly...these classes fill up fast. Learn the science and history of maple syruping by being a hands-on part of the process at Ambler Farm in Wilton. Training Sessions: Saturday, February 6th at 10am or 1pm Learn the science and history of maple syruping by being a hands-on part of the process. There will be two training sessions offered (February 6th at 10am or 1pm); only ONE session is required for training. On that day, participants will choose a tree and hang their bucket that will collect sap. Ambler Farm will send regular updates on the running of the sap so families can come to the Farm to collect sap from their trees. Sap will be boiled down in the Farm’s sugar shack and each family will go home with their very own bottle of Ambler Farm maple syrup. Read More
[OINK] Pop-Up Dinner Inspired by Italy @ The Whelk in Westport CTbites Team January 12, 2016 "[oink] pop-ups travel down to Westport to transform the beloved American Seafood restaurant The Whelk into a tasting of Italy called il Arbitrario - translation: the Arbitrary. An arbitrary word that states we cook Italian food. Be there January 31st for the 7 course, $85 tasting which includes 3 wine pairings. Ticket sales only! Buy them here today! They will go fast... [oink] is the first step of truly sustainable food in CT. [goal]: to educate our community, via small dinner parties and restaurant pop ups, all about "local." Read More
