CTbites + Greenwich Girl Magazine

CTbites Team April 02, 2016

CTbites has a new best friend...well, editorially speaking. CTbites and the Greenwich-based luxury lifestyle digital magazine Greenwich Girl, are joining forces. “Greenwich Girl x CTbites” will highlight local chefs, restaurants, recipes and “best of Connecticut” food news, showcasing exclusive content in each issue.

Sure, you can always read the latest food news right here on CTbites.com, but if you'd like a little added value content + bonus recipes from some great local chefs, check us out at Greenwich Girl Magazine.

Bartaco Unveils New Cocktails, New Tacos & #bartacosecret: Gretchen Thomas Tells All

Restaurant Tacos

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 01, 2016

Tacos. And cocktails. A bar. Where people can have tacos. Bar. Tacos. Bartaco!

It seems simple, but the concept is, admittedly, brilliant. Barteca, the restaurant group behind Barcelona, saw the potential in the combination and launched Bartaco in 2010. Inspired by Brazilian beach culture, they opened their flagship location in Port Chester, NY. Popularity followed and they began expanding. Today, Bartaco has 3 Connecticut locations: Stamford, West Hartford, and Westport. They have also received national acclaim, with restaurants opening in Nashville, Tennessee; Tampa; Florida; Reston; Virginia, and three in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Wednesday March 23, CTBites was invited to participate in a blogger’s event featuring Bartaco’s newest cocktails and a selection of menu items. Barteca’s Wine and Spirits Director, Gretchen Thomas, led us through a tasting of three of her latest drinks and provided insights about the “bar” component of Bartaco.

Thomas has a great deal of experience in the restaurant industry, as well as an extensive career with Barteca Restaurant Group.

Spring Saketini Cocktail Recipe from Kawa Ni

Recipe Cocktails Recipe

CTbites Team March 31, 2016

It is rumored that the saketini came into being when chef Matsuda San, arriving in Queens for the World's Fair in 1964, unveiled a primitive version of the cocktail. Craig Ventrice, mixologist for Kawa Ni in Westport uses fresh spring sugar snap peas and a hint of lemon in his recipe, giving a vibrant (and slightly addictive) twist to this classic drink. Can't make it to Westport? Craig has been kind enough to share his recipe below.

Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for April 4-11th

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 30, 2016

“One Night Only,” an event to benefit Community Plates, will take place at The Spread on Monday April 4. Chef Carlos Baez will make his signature Chicken Mole that he presented on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. In addition, Ken Tuccio will do an on location recording of his Welcome to Connecticut Podcast. Reserve your table online.

Learn all about “Mastering Macaroons” with the Chefs Emporium on Sunday April 10. From 12-2:30pm, participate in a hands on cooking class all about French macaroons. You’ll create Lemon Macarons with Lemon Buttercream, Chocolate Macarons with Raspberry Buttercream, and Mint Macarons with Chocolate Ganache. It is $50 per person. Feel free to BYOB!

On Wednesday April 6, Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market invites you to learn all about Scotch from The Islands. The class will cover smaller distilleries from lesser known isles, like Arran and Skye, that are heavily affected by their oceanic environments. It costs $35 and runs from 7-9pm.

The Westport Country Playhouse will host a “2016 Season Kick-off Block Party” on Saturday, April 9 from 4-7pm. Guests will get to experience the Playhouse’s “backstage experience” while enjoying food trucks, activities, prizes, and special ticket offers. Food trucks will include Bodega, The Bounty Truck, LobsterCRAFT, and Skinny Pines Pizza.

Cake By Franck French Patisserie Opens at Foxwoods

Restaurant Recipe Bakery Foxwoods French Kid Friendly Dessert

Hope Simmons March 29, 2016

It’s whimsical, delightful and delicious—a French patisserie blended with New England style and sensibilities that’s now part of Foxwoods Resort Casino. From edible art in all shapes and sizes to a rainbow of macarons to smiling brownies, creativity abounds at Cake by Franck.

Franck Iglesias started working in a kitchen at age 14. Also a chef, his father warned him it was no easy way to make a living. With days that can last 18 hours and sometimes end at 2 a.m., Chef Franck is no stranger to hard work. But pastry is his passion, and it’s obvious even before you set foot in his new store.

Peering through the window, a giant chocolate pirate rabbit tempts you to take a closer look. Once you’re inside, where to begin? Domes upon domes of croissants (chocolate, almond and coconut, thank you very much), pastries and cookies await along with an assortment of chocolates so artfully designed, they’re almost too beautiful to eat. But resistance is futile.

Because we first eat with our eyes, feast yours on what’s in store at Cake by Franck.

In Westport, A Visionary’s Community Kitchen Rises: C & K Community Kitchen

Anna Bendiksen March 29, 2016

“‘The future must enter us, long before it happens,’” says Sarah Gross, quoting the poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

That “future” for Gross is a newly realized dream of building a community kitchen in the Saugatuck neighborhood of Westport. “I feel like I’m 18 again,” she says. “I’m doing something that I know is true.”

Gross, who clearly is enjoying life more than most imagine possible, runs C & K Community Kitchen to support and accelerate the use of organic, non-GMO, locally sourced products and services.

“You are what you eat,” she says, “and when you start understanding what that means, it’s overwhelming.”

The collaborative incubator kitchen offers affordable, certified commercial space and can be rented in eight-hour shifts, potentially as much as 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a wise and experienced mentor at the helm.

Rothbard Ale + Larder: Westport's European Gastropub

Restaurant Beer Gastropub German Westport Comfort Food

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger March 27, 2016

Rothbard Ale + Larder opened in Westport last November, the second restaurant by Chef Adam Roytman and his business partner, Joseph Farrell. The pair also own Walrus + Carpenter in Bridgeport. Roytman and Farrell’s original idea was to recreate a German beer hall, but as the concept of the restaurant progressed, the vision was slightly modified to design a restaurant that would offer comfort food based on the regional cuisines of central Europe including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Alsace, Switzerland, with an occasional side trip to Italy.

Access to Rothbard is a throwback to a 1920's speakeasy, with its unassuming side entrance leading to the lower level. Once inside, you are surrounded by a central European ambience, with its reclaimed wood and brick walls and cement and metal beams protruding from the ceiling. To the left of the entrance is a bar with several high-tables plus nine stools in front of antler-topped beer taps, plus a refrigerator that houses up to 45 traditional and unique European beers including Einbecker, Tripel Karmeliet, Del Ducato, Christian Drouin and Abbaye. Wine, aperitifs, an array of Schnapps and Absinthe are also available. With low-lighting illuminating the entire space, the atmosphere is very European gastro-pubbish.

3rd Annual Martini Madness Tasting & Competition April 6: Guests Vote! (sponsored)

CTbites Team March 25, 2016

Don’t miss the 3^rd Annual Martini Madness Tasting & Competition! Local mixologists will shake up their signature cocktails and compete for the title of the best in the area. Guests are invited to sample the drinks, vote on their favorites, enjoy savory and sweet food samples from local eateries, dance the night away with beats by DJ International, take silly photos, and bid on a selection of fun items in our Silent Auction.

Martini Madness will take place on Wednesday, April 6th at The Waterview in Monroe from 6pm to 9pm in the main ballroom. Buy tickets here.

Similar to last year, local restaurants and vendors will send their best mixologists to compete to win under the categories of “Best Presentation,” “Best Overall,” and “Most Creative” cocktail. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a small sample of each cocktail and vote on their favorites.

Once again, guests will enjoy the upbeat atmosphere featuring beats by DJ International, savory and sweet food samples from local eateries and browse and bid on a selection of fun and practical items in the silent auction.

This is a 21+ event ONLY. Attendees will be required to show a valid ID at the door before entry.

Nibble: CT Food Events & Happening for March 28 - April 4

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 25, 2016

“One Night Only,” an event to benefit Community Plates, will take place at The Spread on Monday April 4. Chef Carlos Baez will make his signature Chicken Mole that he presented on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. In addition, Ken Tuccio will do an on location recording of his Welcome to Connecticut Podcast. Reserve your table here.

New Haven Restaurant Week begins Sunday April 3! Hotspots like 116 Crown, Adrianna’s, Barcelona, Cask Republic, and Miya’s Sushi are all participating.

Branford Restaurant Week starts on Monday March 28 and runs through April 2. A number of the city’s restaurants will offer special menus or prix fixe options for the occasion.

On Thursday March 31, Craft 260 in Fairfield will host a Founders Tap Takeover. It will include the coveted 2016 KBS (starting at 6pm), 2015 Blushing Monk, 2014 Backwoods Bastard, Mango Magnifico, All Day IPA, Mosaic Promise, Pale Ale Nitro, Hoppy Brown + more.

Beers and Beethoven! Though those aren’t two things you’d expect to hear together, it’s happening! The New Haven Symphony Orchestra invites you to join them for a beer tasting in the lobby before catching their performance on Thursday March 31.

Fortina Cooks The James Beard House: Photo Gallery

Tom McGovern March 24, 2016

The boys from Fortina hit the road last Saturday night to take over the tiny kitchen at the prestigious James Beard House in NYC. The dinner was a celebration of The Feast of St. Joseph and the menu included decadent nibbles such as Crispy Polenta with Lardo Ibérico and Sage, Baked Clams with Bone Marrow, & a Veal Meatball Tart that would have made Jackson Pollack proud.

Photographer Tom McGovern was on hand throughout the day and night to document the energy and camaraderie that is so a part of everything Fortina does. Thanks to Tom for sharing these incredible images.

Cauliflower Gratin: The Perfect Side Dish via Marcia Selden

Marcia Selden Catering March 23, 2016

Cauliflower is one of our favorite vegetables and it’s definitely having a moment; it’s good for you, full of vitamins and makes a great substitute for potatoes or other starches. Our recipe is perfect for a family meal or holiday, it’s flavorful, creamy and delicious. Enjoy!

Rothbard Ale + Larder's Patty Melt Extraordinaire: Find It In Westport

Restaurant Westport Comfort Food Burgers

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger March 22, 2016

The patty melt was introduced at Tiny Naylors in California in the late 1940s and since its debut, it has experienced an intense and loyal following throughout the country. Described by some as the love child of the grilled cheese and the hamburger, it is, at its essence a pair of beef patties, melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, all served between slices of buttered-griddled rye bread.

The Patty Melt at Rothbard Ale + Larder is a traditional interpretation with a few nuances. Two small patties were grilled and served between slices of buttered and griddled rye bread with caramelized onions, bacon, and melted Jarlsberg cheese. The bread was cut on the diagonal, and nestled inside each half was a mini-patty, smothered in its accompaniments. The thin patties were cooked to medium, still maintained a pink interior and were rich in flavor. The Jarlsberg cheese was thick, beautifully melted and delivered a wonderful level of creaminess and a deep, rich nuttiness. The caramelized onions were outstanding, sweet and soft from their low and slow preparation and when it intertwined with the mildly salty bacon delivered an incredible balance. People nervous about the bread versus bun…no need to worry, the buttered and griddled bread added great crunch and a delicious salty-butter flavor.

Local Female Farmer Lecture Series at WCSU

CTbites Team March 21, 2016

Ashley Kenney, the manager of the Jane Goodall Permaculture Garden on the Midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University, will host a series of lectures in April featuring local female farmers. The Jane Goodall garden is still in its first full year, and as of last Fall it donated hundreds of pounds of its organically grown produce to local food pantries in Danbury, as well as to the students of Western Connecticut State University.

The lectures will take place every Wednesday evening in April and are called "Farm For Yourself" when local female farmers will talk about different areas of their respective expertise. This series is FREE and open to the public and will be held in the lovely Science building on WCSU's campus (right next to the garden!). In addition to introducing the guests to the permaculture garden, the series will also recognize the work the team is performing in urban, community gardening.

Pho 170 Opens in Middletown: Vietnamese + Thai Cuisine Gets Top Marks

Restaurant Asian Middletown Noodles Thai Vietnamese Homepage

Hope Simmons March 20, 2016

“That’s it,” I overheard a man say with a smile, holding his takeout order as he joked about having come in four days in a row. The word is out downtown...Pho 170, M’town’s newest/latest, is busy. The service is friendly and attentive, showing this new kid on the block is already in the groove, cranking out fresh and delicious dishes—both Vietnamese and Thai.

It’s not been quite three weeks since Viengthong Charonesuk opened the doors to her newest restaurant. And, unlike so many other spots when they first get started, everything’s well under control. Even on a night when they were one person short on the waitstaff, they pulled everything off without a hitch. Vieng hails most recently from Bann Thai in Cheshire, and she’s run restaurants in other locations across the state as well. Little things, like making sure you have extra plates when you share a dish, aren’t overlooked. And it’s always a nice touch when your water glass is refilled before you even need to ask.

Taco Loco Launches New Menu in Bridgeport's Black Rock Neighborhood

Restaurant Bridgeport Cocktails Tacos Mexican

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 18, 2016

It’s time for a bit of trivia! What was Bridgeport’s first Mexican restaurant? What was the first Mexican food truck in the state?

The answer to both questions is the same and it might surprise you: Taco Loco! The restaurant, which now lies on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock, opened its doors in 1982 by bothers Miguel and Louis Tomasio. Originally, Taco Loco functioned as a small taco shop located on Main Street. It served inexpensive Mexican Food late into the night. As demand grew, the business transformed from counter service to a full scale restaurant. In 1985 Miguel added a food truck and they moved to their present-day location in 1989. Taco Loco currently seats 100 guests, has a four season patio, and a coveted food truck.

Now, in 2016, Taco Loco is about to undergo another evolution! Miguel, along with his son Zachary Tomasio, are releasing a brand new menu aimed at “authenticity and quality.” With a background in marketing and a fresh perspective, Zachary is ready to explore the latest trends and additional avenues of business.

Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for March 21-27th

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 18, 2016

PEARL at Longshore in Westport is now open for lunch and brunch on Saturdays & Sundays 11-3pm. Mediterraneo in Norwalk opens for brunch March 27th, Sundays 11-3 with $10 bottomless mimosas!

Frank Pepe Pizzeria is celebrating the 10th year of its Fairfield location this March. To celebrate, they are teaming up with the Susan G. Komen Southern New England in the fight against breast cancer. For donations of $100 or more, Pepe’s will be giving away a free large pizza.

If you’re eager to learn more about the “History of Food and Wine in Connecticut,” head down to the Milford Public Library on March 21. Authors Eric Lehman and Amy Nawrocki will tell you the story of food in the state and have copies of their new book for sale. The event is free and open to the public.

On Monday March 21, Napa and Company in Stamford invites you to “Taste the Dirt!” Don’t worry… the experience is a pleasant one, focusing on wines from Oregon. The class includes 6 wines and 3 small plates for $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The night starts at 6:30pm. http://www.napaandcompany.com/

The Greenwich location of the Fairfield Greenwich Cheese Company will teach you all about charcuterie on Tuesday March 22. Explore their meet offerings and learn the origins of the processes behind them. It costs $50 per person and runs from 7-9pm.

Bidding Farewell to Blue Lemon: Chef Bryan Malcarney Moves On

ellen bowen March 17, 2016

This week, the local food scene was surprised and saddened to hear of the end April closing of Westport’s Blue Lemon. A long time fixture in Westport’s dining scene, Blue Lemon opened in 2003 joining the then limited restaurant scene anchored by Da Pietro’s , The Mansion Clam House and Tavern On Main. Back then, Chef/Owner Bryan Malcarney, having lived in Connecticut most of his life, had just returned from a two year stint as Chef de Cuisine at The Straw Hat on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, and jumped at the chance to open his own restaurant.

I caught up with Bryan on the eve before St Patrick’s Day, while he worked lunch service at his other restaurant, Rory’s in Darien.

Over a simmering 15 lb. Corned Beef Brisket, Bryan and I talked about his decision to close Blue Lemon and shared with me how life has changed for him and for the local restaurant scene.

Restaurants To Celebrate Easter in CT: Make Your Rez Now! (2016 Edition)

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 17, 2016

It’s time to “hop to it and make reservations! The Easter bunny is coming on Sunday March 27 and a number of Connecticut restaurants are serving delicious Easter meals. Here are 17 places to celebrate the holiday.

Redding Roadhouse, Redding: Redding Roadhouse has seatings for its Easter buffet at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, and 6:30. Adults are $38.95 while kids are $19.95. Please note there is no dinner service.
Norwich Inn, Norwich: The Norwich Inn will present an Easter brunch buffet complete with a carving station, omelet station, raw bar, and more.
Match, Norwalk: Doughnut Muffins! Wood Roasted Organic Chicken & Fried Waffles! Seared Wasabi and Sesame Rubbed Tuna! All of this and more is on the menu for Match's Easter brunch.
The Cottage, Westport: Join Chef Brian Lewis for his first Easter brunch at his new restaurant, The Cottage, in Westport. From brunch dishes like Buttered Maine Lobster Eggs Benedict to traditional plates like Lamb Roasted with Garlic & Rosemary, there's something for everyone.
Dinosaur BBQ, Stamford: Dinosaur BBQ in Stamford has Easter Packages should you want to have the meal catered. Get their Pit Smoked Ham along with sides of your choice.
Artisan, Fairfield: Artisan Restaurant in Fairfield is known for its delicious Easter brunch. This year, try dishes like Stonington Jumbo Sea Scallops, Prime Omaha Hangar Steak, and Mandarin Creme Brulee. There are options for adults, young adults, and children.

Butchers Meat Brewers Recap: Stubborn Beauty Brewing At Fleisher's Westport

James Gribbon March 16, 2016

I was using a sort of ornate hacksaw to part a hip ligament at the time, on my way to removing the whole leg.It was November of 2012, and I was taking a class in how to butcher a pig at what was then Saugatuck Craft Butchery. Owner Ryan Fibiger was making swift, clean cuts, demonstrating exactly what to do, his hands seemingly working on their own while his speech flowed. He was talking about the locally sourced Duroc cross-breed, common 40 years ago, but now made scarce in the quest for leaner protein; the importance of the way they were treated, the flavor which resulted from the pigs being free to forage. The terroir of meat.

"Everything we sell," he said at the time. "Comes from within a 50-mile radius of Westport."

This principle of local quality followed when the butchery became Fleishers Westport, and extends to their new Butchers Meat Brewers dinner series, which starred Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company for one night in February.

“Fresh” Décor Ideas for Spring via The Local Vault Luxury Consignor (sponsored post)

Recipe Design

CTbites Team March 15, 2016

The Local Vault is an online luxury consignor of home décor and furniture offering easy access to a curated collection of high-end furnishings, bridges the gap between brick and mortar and online shopping with its personalized service, it’s like shopping with your best friend.

Eating “in-season” is a major movement in food right now, and it completely makes sense. Why would you want to eat last season’s previously-frozen produce if you can have something picked fresh from the garden instead?

The same principal applies to home décor. There’s a seasonality to it, meaning that certain styles just aren’t right for certain seasons, like wool throw blankets in the summer, for example, or linen when it’s -5 outside. The solution: Think about your home the way you think about your salad bowl (yep, we just made that comparison!). You want to fill it with what feels fresh now.

Here, a few examples to help you fill your home with life this season.