Behind The Bar: 3 Winter Cocktails from Mixologist Adam Patrick Ingredients Recipe Cocktails Bar CTbites Team February 03, 2016 Egg Nog (Jeffrey Morgenthaler version) Behind The Bar is a new column from bartender Adam Patrick who has graced the bars of venues such as Walrus & Carpenter, Luxe, Match and Can Tiin. He will explore trends, recipes and the cocktail culture from both the front as well as behind the bar. One of my favorite movie quotes of all time is, “I won’t tell the story the way it happened, I’ll tell it the way I remember it.” It’s from the late-nineties film adaptation of Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. Ethan Hawke delivers the line in the opening monologue. There’s something about nostalgia that adds a touch of humanity to our lives. The real world, the world we exist in day to day, can be overwhelming and unforgiving. Take your job, your family obligations, traffic jams, mortgage, credit card bills, your dog destroying your new carpet, and view it all in aggregate, and things can steam roll out of control quickly. And yet, when we look at the past, we find it difficult to remember the mundane, the run-of-the-mill, even though those experiences dominate our lives. Sure, we can generally recall tragedy, or loss, but more than not it’s memories of our childhood, or a long lost love, or a favorite pet, that we gaze back at longingly. Read More
For The Love Of...10 Unique CT Valentine's Day Gift & Events Ingredients Restaurant Gift Guide Holiday April Guilbault February 02, 2016 Oh, for the love of....! How do you typically finish that sentence? We here at CTBites have a lot of love to share and would like to complete that thought with a whole flurry of creative ways to wooooo your special someone. Show the person you love (like/lust) that they are the peanut butter to your jelly, the mac to your cheese, the frosting to your cupcake. We offer you these delish restaurants and take out spots, seductive surroundings, heavenly drinks, gratifying classes, tasteful gifts...hell, we are making this holiday easy for you. You should send US a Valentine! Take a peek and enjoy Valentine’s Day everyone! Here are 10 totally unique local CT Valentine's Day Gifts for your loved one... Read More
King & I Thai Kitchen in Hartford and Manchester: A Family Affair Restaurant Asian Hartford Hartford County Thai Hope Simmons January 31, 2016 Blink and you can easily miss the little white house as you drive down Park Street in Hartford’s Parkville section. So keep an eye out, because it’s home to a fine family business specializing in Thai and Lao dishes—generous portions, reasonably priced. And if you head east of the river, you’ll find the exact same menu and great food in Manchester. There are many choices closer to home when it comes to Thai, but when the craving hits, I make tracks for King & I. It’s changed management over time, but the food remains just as delicious as it ever was. In fact, it’s amazingly consistent. How is that even possible? The secret to their success starts in a tiny kitchen with their cook. Behind the scenes, the same woman has been busy stirring up deliciousness for the past 10 years. When the previous owner sold the restaurant four and a half years ago, Hongkham Munesaleum was already part of the kitchen. But now, with her husband, Lam, washing dishes, and his daughter Lilly, serving the front of the house (literally!), it’s all in the family. Read More
Prime Restaurant from Huntington, To Open in Dolce's Stamford Location Stamford Opening Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 29, 2016 Last week, CTBites reported that Dolce in Stamford had been sold to Bohlsen Restaurant Group, the team behind Prime in Huntington, NY. Today CTBites can confirm that the space that once housed Dolce will soon be transformed into another location of the popular Long Island restaurant. I had the chance to speak with Michael Bohlsen for an inside peek at what’s to come. Prime, billed as an “American Kitchen and Bar,” opened in 2006. The restaurant group operates seven other related locations, with an eighth set to debut in February. Stamford’s rendition of Prime will make nine. Bohlsen hopes that this newest installation will be open before Memorial Day. “The Stamford location of Prime will be a little bit different, but the concept will be the same,” explains Bohlsen. He says that the restaurant’s menu includes steak, seafood, a raw bar, and sushi. 20 percent of the menu is seasonal, which allows them to maintain a level of consistency while still getting creative with fresh ingredients. Read More
Friday Froth: Tres Hoppy w/ Olde Burnside, Kent Falls & Two Roads Breweries Ingredients Beer Dinner CT Beer Friday Froth James Gribbon January 29, 2016 This week will be an all Connecticut-brewed, and intensely hopped version of Friday Froth. We start by wishing happy birthday to one of our state's early modern craft brewing pioneers, Olde Burnside Brewing Company, which turned 15 years old this month. Olde Burnside was initially highly visible due to selling their Ten Penny Scottish Ale in 64oz. growlers at retail in area liquor stores, which was 1) a great deal, 2) useful for refilling with anything you chose, and 3) garnered a $1.50 reimbursement when returned, if you weren't so inclined. This came in handy during the years when Connecticut had around five breweries, instead of our current 30ish, and growler filling stations were rare as sober nights at Owl Farm. Read More
Michael Hazen Named Executive Chef at Pearl at Longshore Westport Opening March Restaurant Chef Talk Westport Opening CTbites Team January 28, 2016 Michael Hazen has been named Executive Chef at the highly anticipated new restaurant, Pearl at Longshore in Westport, Connecticut. Hazen, an innovative chef with over 20 years experience, most recently launched the concept for the successful Bartaco restaurants and prior to that spent years building the Barcelona restaurant brand. Chef Hazen has designed a menu influenced by fresh seasonal and sustainable cuisine, while honoring the stunning Westport waterfront and the community’s focus on a healthy lifestyle. “The menu at Pearl is centered around the food people love to eat, but also has that element of surprise, something a guest didn’t know they wanted but are glad they had it,” said Hazen. “I wanted to create a restaurant that was simple and delicious, yet adds excitement to Westport’s restaurant scene.” Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings January 31- February 7 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 28, 2016 Bodega’s Fairfield and Darien restaurants now offer “Bodega to-go.” They now offer takeout menus with dishes cooked to order. See Darien’s choices here and Fairfield’s here. Bar Sugo has a NEW HAPPY HOUR! Monday-Friday from 4-6pm, they offer ½ priced cocktails, beer and wine by the glass, and pizza. Winemaker Giorgio Rivetti is coming to Tarry Lodge Westport on Monday February 1 for a 4 course wine dinner highlighting wines from La Spinetta and Contratto wineries. The event costs $100 per person and reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at (230) 571-1038. On Wednesday February 3, Bistro Mediterranean in East Haven is hosting a Spanish wine dinner. Special guest Juan Carlos Rodriguez from Bodegas Olarra will share wines from his portfolio- include 3 reserve Riojas. The night costs $55, all inclusive. Call the restaurant at 203-467-4300 to reserve. Join Chef Geoff Lazlo for an informal afternoon tea at Mill Street Bar & Table in Greenwich. Read More
16 Restaurants for Super Bowl 50 in CT Restaurant Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 27, 2016 Super Bowl 50 is Sunday February 7 and game day specials are "touching down" at Connecticut restaurants! Harlan Social and Harlan Publick are celebrating with a Chef's buffet while Blind Rhino is hosting the first ever SoNo Bowl, and Vinny's Backyard has a Super Bowl menu with all the classics. And that's not all! Here are 16 restaurants, bars & pubs for Super Bowl Sunday. Read More
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
