Crabby-Cado + Plantain Chips Recipes Recipe Recipe Marcia Selden Catering April 28, 2016 Chips + guacamole go together like lime and tequila! We’ve kicked our guac up with fresh crabmeat. It’s guaranteed to be a hit at your Cinco de Mayo party. Make sure to taste it because you won’t have leftovers for this recipe. Check out the full recipes for Crabby-Cado and Plaintain Chips below. CRABBY-CADO Ingredients 3 ripe avocados 3 t fresh lime juice ½ C chopped cilantro leaves 1 T minced jalapeno Read More
Top 25 CT Food Trucks: New Haven & Beyond (2016 Edition) Available For Catering All Over CT Restaurant Recipe Catering Food Truck Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 27, 2016 We recently told you about the array of food trucks travelling the streets of Fairfield County and bringing delicious food straight to you (view Top 20 Fairfield County Food Trucks here). New Haven, and its surrounding areas, is also a hub for some truly excellent food trucks! They also have a bevy of food carts. From sweet cupcakes to aromatic java to finger-lickin’ good barbeque, there is a diverse assortment of mobile cuisine to savor. Here are 25 Food Trucks & Carts in New Haven and beyond worth visiting. The Cheese Truck, New Haven: The Cheese Truck brings grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, sausages, salads, and more to the streets of New Haven. It comes from the team behind Caseus, the popular New Haven bistro. The Little Red Seafood Truck, Shelton & New Haven: Nothing captures summertime in New England more than fresh seafood. The Little Red Seafood Truck is an offshoot of Szabo's Seafood, located in Shelton. They have seafood sandwiches like the scallop roll, lobster roll, and salmon burger. They also have soups and salads. Farm Belly, New Haven: The Farm Belly food truck and caterer brings farm-fresh food to the streets of New Haven. They visit local farms and farmers’ markets to find produce, meat, and dairy. One of their signature items is the egg-and-cheese sandwich, made with local eggs and farmstead cheese. They even make their own ketchup and hot sauce. Cowabunga, CT: The Cowabunga Food Truck has soft serve ice cream and grilled selections. They use pasture raised, grass fed beef. Try one of their tasty burgers, like their signature Cowabunga Burger. It comes with pepper jack, bacon, grilled onions and peppers. Book the truck for an event, or select their Backyard BBQ package. Read More
2016 Guide to Fairfield County Farmers Markets via Fairfield Green Food Guide Ingredients CT Farms Farmers Market Local Farm farm fresh CTbites Team April 26, 2016
Recap: Savor, A Celebration of Wine, Food & Spirits @ Foxwoods Restaurant Events Fundraiser Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 26, 2016 What if I told you that you could feast on Hudson Valley Foie Gras Torchon, nurse a glass of Fess Parker Ashley’s Cuvee Pinot Noir, get cooking tips from Chef Mary Ann Esposito, and dance the night away with celebrity chefs- all while raising over $70,000 to help veterans and military families? That by indulging in a bite of Truffled Tenderloin Beef Tartare you could help a young girl receive a much-needed bone transplant? Savor, now in its second year, makes all of that possible. Dishes from Connecticut’s best restaurants, wines, spirits, beer, and merchandise are all available under one roof. Proceeds from the celebration go toward the Robert Irvine Foundation. CTBites was invited to both sessions of the walk-around Grand Tasting as well as the Savor In Style Charity Gala. Here all of the delicious details. Read More
Restaurants for Mother’s Day in CT: 2016 Edition Restaurant Brunch Events Holiday Best of CT Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 24, 2016 Sunday May 8 is all about Mom! Connecticut restaurants are helping us celebrate the mothers in our lives with prix fixe menus, special a la carte items, buffets, and more. Here are many places serving Mother’s Day meals. Please add more in your comments. Bernard’s, Ridgefield: Bernard's, which can be found in Ridgefield, will serve Mother's Day brunch from 11am-12:30pm and dinner from 1:30-6pm. Morello, Greenwich: On Sunday May 8, Morello Italian Bistro will offer Mother's Day brunch and dinner from 11am to 9pm. Harbor Lights, Norwalk: In Norwalk, Harbor Lights will offer a 3 course prix fixe menu for $59.99 per person. Kids are welcome too. There is a children's menu for $25.99. Millwrights, Simsbury: Millwright's in Simsbury has created a 3 course prix fixe menu for Mother's Day. Starters include dishes like a Baby Gem Salad and Smoked Salmon Rillette. Then, choose an entree and dessert. Read More
New Menu Launched at Sign of the Whale Restaurant Seafood Stamford Lunch James Gribbon April 22, 2016 Stamford's Harbor Point is starting to give the appearance of a boomtown. The peninsula, jutting into the flat expanse of the Sound, now seemingly holds more high rise buildings than the city's downtown, and they're steadily filling with residents, retailers, and restaurants. Amidst this ever present change stands one constant: Sign Of The Whale. At 16 months old, and with the little-lamented demise of the beer garden at the current site of Paloma, the Whale stands in the amusing position of being the Point's most venerable institution. In keeping with the theme around them that nothing is quite good enough as it exists, Sign of The Whale has hired a new chef, and launched a new menu. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings For April 24 - May 1 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 21, 2016 Ambler Farm invites you to their “Spring Fling Pancake Breakfast” on Saturday April 30. Stop in between 11am and 12:30pm to feast on pancakes with Ambler Farm’s syrup. Guests can also visit with the farm animals, watch wool shearing, complete a spring craft, and take home a packet of seeds. It costs $15 per adult and $5 per child. Reservations are required. The 3rd Annual Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival returns on April 30th and May 1st to the historic Lounsbury House, at 316 Main Street in Ridgefield. The festival will feature two world-champion barbecue competitions, rides, games, and good eats for the entire family. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12 years old. For a more information visit www.RidgefieldBBQCT.com. Thursday April 28th, 7 pm join top local Baristas as they compete in a bracket-style Latte Art Throwdown at NEAT Westport. $10 gets you in as a participant and drink ticket, but spectators are free. Food, cocktails and music. NEAT Westport 6 Wilton Rd. Westport. CT. (203) 557-8955. Saturday April 30th, 5 -8 pm, Westport-based broker, Judy Michaelis hosts Paleo + Plate cooking demo and tasting at one of her special listings in Wilton, CT. Watch Chef Danielle Hartog prepare a full Paleo menu. Read More
Tawa Modern Classic Indian Moves To Glenbrook, Stamford Restaurant Stamford Indian Lunch Jessica Ryan April 20, 2016 Many of the best restaurants are unassumingly tucked into the landscape without fanfare or grand decor. Such is Tawa, newly relocated in the Glenbrook section of Stamford, where the simple and modest decor takes a back seat to the food. Admittedly I am no expert on Indian Cuisine but have eaten it enough to formulate my own theories about which restaurants stand out from the crowd. Tawa is such a place. Chef Kausik Roy describes his restaurant as one that that embraces tradition but appeals to a variety of tastes. His cooking is modern, yet classically timeless. "Tawa is a very different type of Indian restaurant, one that draws on a deep respect of food tradition and a love for breaking food rules that emerged in me when I was very young.” Read More
Peaches on the Waterfront Opening Thursday in Norwalk: Live Music & Lots of Fun Norwalk Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 18, 2016 After opening the highly successful Mama’s Boy and Jax & Co. in SoNo, Greer Fredericks’ new project, Peaches on the Waterfront, opens this Thursday on Wall Street in Norwalk. The new bar is located directly above Apricot Bar and Grill and will offer a much different vibe than her previous restaurants, plus a large deck that overlooks the water. Greer told CTbites in an exclusive interview that the idea has been in her back pocket for years and when the opportunity for the “pop-up” was presented, she jumped at the opportunity. She enlisted a few of her favorite employees from Mama’s Boy, started the redesign of the space and developed the opening menu for cocktails and music. Read More
Serena & Lily Celebrates New Design Shop in Westport with Three Days of Food, Giveaways and Activities (sponsored) CTbites Team April 18, 2016 The perfect dinner party needs a beautiful presentation and there are few companies who can inspire a gorgeous table setting like California-based home and lifestyle brand, Serena & Lily. That’s why we were thrilled to hear the retailer will be opening its fourth retail location right here in Fairfield County on April 29th at the newly restored Kemper-Gunn House, 35 Elm Street, Westport. Serena & Lily is celebrating the Grand Opening with three days of food, giveaways and activities from Friday, April 29th through Sunday May 1st. Coffee and breakfast treats like brioche donuts, mini quiches and croissants from local favorite SoNo Bakery will be served each morning. Greenwich-based Italian gelato maker La Fenice will serve fresh-made gelato each afternoon in classic Italian flavors like cioccolato, stracciatella, limone sorbetto and caffe. On Friday, April 29th Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe and Serena & Lily co-founders Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter invite the public to join at 9:30am for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to officially welcome the company to its new location. The first 50 visitors to the new Design Shop will receive a $100 Gift Card to spend on anything in the store. In addition, Serena & Lily signature tote bags will be handed out to all store visitors throughout the weekend. Balloons and face painting will be available for kids in the top-level Kidshop area. Read More
Millwrights & Elm Pop Up This Wednesday in New Canaan CTbites Team April 18, 2016 Two of the premier chefs in Connecticut, Chef Luke Venner of Elm in New Canaan and Tyler Anderson of Millwright’s in Simsbury, will be sharing stoves again at Elm Restaurant on Wednesday, April 20th in a reunion pop-up event. The two chefs, who met in 2007, will be sharing stoves again as they did for years prior to Chef Venner joining Elm last year. Venner worked under Anderson as the chef de cuisine at the critically acclaimed Millwright’s restaurant in Simsbury. The menu (see below) is light hearted and features several dishes influenced by California where both chefs cut their teeth working in the San Francisco Bay Area. The menu will be divided into a section of smaller dishes (all priced at $15) and a section of larger dishes (priced at $25), which are designed for sharing. Dishes include strawberries with burrata and green almond, Smoked Wagyu Tri tip, and a double patty dry aged burger served “animal style”- a nod to the cult fast food chain In & Out Burger. Call 203.920.4994 for reservations Read More
Nom-Eez Opens in Bridgeport: Vietnamese (With a Side of Donuts) Restaurant Asian Black Rock Bridgeport Vietnamese Breakfast Lunch Take Out Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger April 17, 2016 The official opening of Nom-Eez, Chef Matt Storch’s new Vietnamese street food storefront, in the Blackrock section of Bridgeport occurs today. As reported by CTbites, joining Storch for this new project are his partners from Match, Jason Wojnarowski (owner of the epically delicious Donut Crazy), and Susan McConnell. CTbites was invited to a sneak peek preview to sample some of the menu and a few donuts. The menu is divided into three sections, “snacks,” “noodles” and “a bit larger.” The space is small in size, with only eight brightly colored red stools, and the flavors are equally bold and bright and engulf you in the traditional cuisine of Vietnam. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Event & Happenings for April 16 - 24th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 16, 2016 On April 16th 1-3pm, meet the peeps from Rosenthal Wine, AL FRANTOIO DI ALDO ARMATO and Miele Mario Bianco @ 109 Cheese & Wine in Ridgefield. They will be showing the most recent vintages of their Olive Oil & Honeys. On April 20th Chefs Luke Venner of elm and Tyler Anderson of Millwright's will host reunion pop-up dinner at elm restaurant. Call or reserve online. Tickets are on sale now for CLASP Homes of Westport’s 12th Annual Taste of Westport. Harvest, Pane e Bene, Rive Bistro, Matsu Sushi, and other restaurants will serve specialty dishes. There will also be samples of wine, beer, and cocktails. $75 in advance, or $85 at the door. CLASP is a 34 year old nonprofit providing homes and opportunities for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Purchase tickets online. On Tuesday April 19, Cask Republic Stamford will team up with Founders for a beer dinner. It will feature the coveted 2015 and 2016 KBS along with other brews. The five course menu (plus amuse) includes venison two ways and roasted monkfish. Tickets are $90 per person. Read More
Friday Froth: A First Look At The Hops Company in Derby Restaurant Beer Brewery Derby Burgers James Gribbon April 15, 2016 I was running late early on a Sunday afternoon when the obligatory traffic jam on I-95 caught me like doomed comet streaking toward the Sun and sudden annihilation. It took the sight of a wrecked Ferrari to remind me I'd forgotten my car. I was driving, yes, but the car I'd forgotten - like the aforementioned comet - was set in motion by gravity, not gasoline. Jack's Abby was hosting a pine car derby at The Hops Company in (quelle apropos), Derby, and I'd planned on making the campaign of my old car from Cub Scouts the B-story to this column. The lapse in memory had left me momentarily enraged until I remembered I'd just seen someone's red F430 Spider completely taco'd by the rear bumper of an 18-wheeler. Score one for perspective. The Hops Company is the work of Umberto Morale, who spent his early life in his native Rome before coming to the U.S. and bouncing between the restaurant scene, college, and Wall Street. He had the vision of an inclusive, German style beer hall in his head, and looked at properties all over the state before seeing the location in Derby and signing immediately. Read More
Pizza Surf Club is Coming to Fortina Stamford’s Rooftop Restaurant Cocktails Outdoor Dining Pizza Stamford Comfort Food Andrew Dominick April 14, 2016 There's a new roof top in town. Andrew Dominick of Food Dudes reports on Fortina's new Stamford "Pizza Surf Club." Remember when Fortina Stamford opened and they were supposed to open that sick rooftop that overlooks the harbor, but then it never happened? We do too. And it hurt, bad. Dreams of eating pizza while overlooking the water at sunset while thinking about life were shattered… but WAIT!!!!! Something is happening and it’s happening soon! The food will be different, and if you paid attention to their Instagram feed you may have noticed some eclectic items like hot dog tacos and stuff like bags of Doritos with jicama, carrots, cucumbers, candied peanuts, gummy bears, pickled pork skin, hot sauce, crema fresca, avocado, the obligatory Parmesan, sesame, and lime. That's a mouthful, and perfect drunk food. We've also heard whispers that they'll be whipping up fish sticks, Kobe beef corn dogs, and other super creative grub.That rooftop space will be Fortina Surf Club, basically a concept within (or on top of?) a concept, and it's going to be lit, homies. And with a name like "Surf Club," it's probably what you think it is...Tiki-style cocktails complete with little umbrellas? Yes. The opening party at Pizza Surf Club goes down at Fortina Stamford (120 Washington Blvd.) on Sunday, April 17 at noon. Take note: Pizza Surf Club will be open daily from 12 p.m. - Close after this Sunday, weather permitting. Read the full article on Food Dudes. Read More
Millwright's & Bear’s Smokehouse Opening "The Cook and The Bear" Restaurant in West Hartford Restaurant BBQ West Hartford Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 14, 2016 They say “birds of a feather flock together.” Chef Tyler Anderson of Millwright's in Simsbury and Jamie McDonald of Bear’s Smokehouse are proving that isn’t always the case. In August, the two will come together to open The Cook and The Bear in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square. The restaurant will make for an interesting meeting of the minds; Millwright’s is known for its farm-to-table cuisine while Bear’s Smokehouse serves classic finger-lickin’ Kansas City-style barbeque. “It’s a fun concept,” says AJ Aurrichio, Millwrights’ Operations Manager. “We’re taking traditional barbeque and putting a chef’s perspective on it.” They first started testing the idea of a merger in August 2015. Every Monday night, they offered pop-up dinners with dishes representative of what the new restaurant could entail. Diners were very receptive and they moved forward. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” laughs Aurrichio. Anderson and McDonald gave guests a sneak peek of the new concept at Savor’s Grand Tasting event, which took place in Hartford on April 7 and 8. They presented a “Smoked Pork Kimchi Pancake with Gochujang BBQ.” It was the perfect fusion of both elements- BBQ reimagined with gourmet view. The softer, starchier pancake balanced out the strong spice from the pork. Meanwhile, green onion on top added crunch. CTBites will keep you updated as details unfold! In the meantime, enjoy Millwright’s and Bear’s Smokehouse! Read More
Community Plates "Food For All" Fundraiser May 4th, To Showcase Local Restaurants: Tix On Sale! Stephanie Webster April 13, 2016 COMMUNITY PLATES’ FOOD FOR ALL 2016 is May 4th! Get your tickets now for one of the best parties in Fairfield County. Food For All Showcases Fairfield County’s Newest Restaurants and Craft Cocktail Bars in a benefit to End Food Insecurity in Fairfield County. (View the complete list of participating restaurants below) Community Plates is a technology-fueled, direct-transfer food rescue organization dedicated to ending food insecurity in America. Since launching in 2011 Community Plates Fairfield County has already picked up and delivered over 8 million meals at a value of over $13 million to local food insecure people. This means over 12 million pounds of food has been kept out of landfill and gone to where it’s needed most. Participating Restaurants nom-eez, Fortina, El Segundo, b.good, Blind Rhino, Boothbay Lobster Co., Lithos, Chez Vous, Del Frisco's Grille, Franklin Street Works Café, Judy’s Bar & Kitchen, Noir Stamford, Old Greenwich Social Club, Tavern 489, WUJI, Harbor Point Stamford, Paloma, Sign of the Whale Read More
Top 20 Food Trucks in Fairfield County CT : 2016 Edition Restaurant Recipe Catering Entertaining Food Truck Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 13, 2016 Fairfield County residents know that the area rocks… and it also “rolls”! Fairfield County hosts a number of outstanding food trucks that serve an array of cuisines. Meatballs, crepes, tacos, potatoes, Carribean… It’s all available right on the city streets or even in your backyard! Here are 20 delicious food trucks you can visit or hire for your next event. Hapa: Based in Stamford, Hapa serves three types of tacos: Korean short rib, Philippine chicken adobo and Nonny’s sweet peppers, burgers, both beef and Ahi, plus bowls of poke and chicken adobo. The Poutine King: The Poutine King prides itself on being "the first food truck in the north east United States" to offer Poutine, a Canadian dish. Those wanting a classic version can order the traditional poutine. More adventurous eaters can enjoy the Sweet Potato Poutine or the Poutine Burger. Skinny Pines: The Skinny Pines pizza truck sells wood fired pizzas. It makes use of local ingredients by sourcing its toppings from area farms. The menu changes with the season, but past pizzas have been topped with fresh sun gold tomatoes, zucchini, scapes, garlic, and eggplant, to name a few. Taco Loco Party Truck: Taco Loco is recognized as the first Mexican food truck in CT! The restaurant is based in Bridgeport. Read More
CT Chef & Chopped Champion Silvia Baldini Competes Again On Food Network’s ‘Chopped Champion Celebrity Chef Chef Chef Talk CTbites Team April 12, 2016 Chef Silvia Baldini, Founder of New Canaan, CT based culinary group Strawberry and Sage, will compete again on Chopped Champion, the Food Network’s hit series. On April 19st at 10 pm, Baldini will be one of the 16 returning champions chosen to battle it out for a chance to earn the Chopped Champion title and $50,000 in prize money. Four preliminary rounds will determine who gets a spot in the finale. But only one chef from among the four finalists will be named the winner. Read More
Acuario Peruvian Seafood Restaurant Opens in Stamford Restaurant CTbites Lunch Events Peruvian Seafood Stamford Sarah Green April 10, 2016 There’s a new Latin pulse beating on West Park Place in Stamford and it goes by the name ACUARIO (Aquarium, in Spanish.) Funky, warm and charming, the new Peruvian jaunt is the latest culinary jewel from the treasure box of Saida and Nicolas Oshiro, who opened the original ACUARIO in Port Chester in the 1980s. This new ACUARIO is in the worthy hands of Oshiro offspring, Eduardo, and his wife, Beth, and they know what’s cookin’. We’ve dined at ACUARIO twice and each time the restaurant has been packed, with many patrons speaking Spanish - ALWAYS a good sign. Read More
