Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for Week of Sept 11-18 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 09, 2016 Garelick & Herbs new dream home is ready for prime time. The purveyors of all things delicious is officially open at 3611 Post Road Southport. 50 food trucks are throwing down in Thomas’ Breakfast Battle, a competition to see who can make the best breakfast dish with Thomas’ English muffins and bagels. One of Connecticut’s own, The Whey Station, is participating. Fans of the truck can start voting online beginning September 12 at ThomasBreakfastBattle.com. Voting is open for one week before the list of contestants goes from 50 to 25. Food Trucks in the Valley takes place in Shelton on Thursday September 15 from 4-8pm. The celebration includes over 25 food trucks, music, craft beer, a car show, kids’ activities, local celebrities, and more. Admission is free (though food and beverages will be purchased inside). The 2nd Annual Jazz on the Rocks in Harbor Point comes to Stamford on Thursday September 15. In addition to the music, a general admission ticket includes a whiskey, wine, and craft beer tasting as well as samples from area restaurants. VIP packages are available too. Taste of New Haven presents Apizza & Eats on Friday September 16. During the second annual New Haven Grand Prix, a national circuit bicycle race, College Street will boast dozens of food vendors, New Haven style pizza, beer, entertainment, and more. The fun takes place from 4-10pm. Read More
Photo Recap: CTbites' Chef Demo Tent @ Blues View BBQ Andrew Dominick September 09, 2016 Tropical Storm Hermine brought mid-70s temperatures, a few clouds, and soothing gusts of wind to Connecticut, that made for a picture perfect weekend at the Blues, Views, & BBQ Festival in Westport. The 9th edition of this meat-and-music-centric fair featured grilled and smoked food from area restaurants and food trucks but the real action was at the CTbites Demo Tent where 5 chefs rocked it out and dished out crowd pleasing, meat-heavy samples. This year’s lineup was kicked off by Pietro Scotti (Da Pietro’s) who made juicy milk-fed chicken marinated in a blend of citrus and “secret spices,” grilled with orange and lemon slices and fresh sprigs of rosemary. Then it got REALLY meat heavy when Matt Storch (Match, Nom-Eez) served a trio of Vietnamese grilled meats, followed by Jonathan Vaast (Walrus + Carpenter, Rothbard) with homemade curry bratwurst, and Carlos Baez (The Spread, El Segundo) who skewered tender pieces of ribeye, marinated in ginger and lemongrass, grilled mid-rare, and topped with a green chili sauce. Read More
Hapa to Leave Miro Kitchen and Focus on Expanding Hapa Brand CTbites Team September 08, 2016 This exclusive release was just received by CTbites from Chris Gonzalez. "HAPA Food Concepts, the Stamford-based hospitality company and force behind the wildly popular HAPA Food Truck, announces the end of its successful collaboration with Fairfield’s Miro Kitchen, which opened in early 2016.With menu items such as Korean Short Rib Tacos and Gonzalez’s famous ube bread, chef and HAPA co-founder, Chris Gonzalez has cultivated a loyal following with his unique ability to fuse cultural flavors.Gonzalez, his wife Nicole Samela-Gonzalez and partner George Calvar, are now turning their focus on the continued growth and expansion of the HAPA brand as they write the next chapter in HAPA’s culinary story. Read More Chowdafest 2016: 40 Chefs Compete on October 2nd CTbites Team September 08, 2016 Award wining chefs from every New England state and thousands of discernible foodies from all over descend on Westport CT on the first Sunday in October to determine who has the best chowder, soup & bisque in New England. Chowdafest will be held on Sunday October 2, 2106 at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport CT from 11AM to 3PM. The event will feature 40 restaurants from all over New England and as far away at Seattle. The festival features four categories of competition: Classic New England Clam Chowder, Traditional Chowder exclusively for Rhode Island (clear broth) and Manhattan Clam Chowders (tomato based), Creative Chowders and Soup & Bisque. Attendees receive a spoon, ballot and pencil when they arrive. They enjoy unlimited sampling and rate each entry on a scale from 7 to 10.5 with half point intervals. Restaurants with the highest overall average in their respective categories will be declared New England champions. Read More Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Sept 22-25 CTbites Team September 07, 2016 Tickets are now on sale for festival events! The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, one of the East Coast’s most sophisticated and anticipated events, returns for its 11th year from September 22 – 25, 2016. Signature events include the Bordeaux Dinner on Thursday evening, the Wine & Rosecliff Gala on Friday evening, Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday, the Vintner Dinner on Saturday evening, Newport After Dark on Saturday evening, Jazz Brunch on Sunday and Seminars in The Breakers Stable and Carriage House throughout the weekend. Tickets are now on sale at www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org. Read More Chef Bill Taibe & Friends Host Millstone Farm Dinner To Fight Food Waste CTbites Team September 07, 2016 Join CT Bites and Chef Bill Taibe for a inspiring evening of seasonal food and conversation at Millstone Farm, the area's leader in sustainable agriculture. You'll be inspired by the best chefs in our community while you enjoy a one time only menu to support a cause close to their hearts - fighting food waste and feeding food insecure people of Fairfield County. Tickets can be purchased here. Participating Chefs: Anthony Kostelis, The Whelk | Bill Taibe, The Whelk & Kawa Ni | Carlos Baez, The Spread | Dan Sabia, Lake Kitchawan | Geoff Lazlo, Mill Street Bar & Table | Jim Eckler, Lake Kitchawan | Mogan Anthony, Village Social & Locali Read More Sarah’s on Main in Portland CT: the “Cheers” of Breakfast Restaurant Brunch Delicious Dives Diner Portland Breakfast Lunch Hope Simmons September 04, 2016 On the corner Main and Commerce in Portland is a cozy place that’s the “Cheers” of breakfast, Sarah's On Main—“where everybody knows your name and you’re always glad you came.” If you’re from either side of the river, don’t be surprised if you bump into old friends—or make new ones. I do both each time I go. Whether you find a spot at the counter or grab a table, there’s fresh and local deliciousness with a spin of creativity, courtesy of Sarah Weeden. What began as a quest for waffles grew into a steady habit of breakfast—and occasional lunch—at my newest home away from home. Day one, I realized I’d stumbled into a little gem when I tried the BLT Bennie. Served on toasted brioche, it’s sheer perfection of a Benedict, drizzled with Hollandaise. The hash of the day was summer squash and zucchini, which I requested instead of home fries. Thumbs up all the way around. Read More Nibble: CT Food Event & Happenings for Week of Sept 4-11 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 03, 2016 Newly opened Aspetuck Brew Lab in Bridgeport will host a Stoked Flame Fest from 2pm til close in their parking lot on Saturday September 10. Friday September 9 marks the Grand Opening of The Halal Guys in New Haven. Starting at 11am, 5 grand prize winners can wine free food for one month, the first 1000 guests will receive free swag, and everyone can celebrate the debut of the New Haven location. Find them at 906 Chapel Street. Every Tuesday night, join Walrus + Carpenter for a Compin’ + Stompin’ Jazz Jam Session. The evening features featuring Ian Tait, Scott Packham and Ted Morcaldi playing a mix of swing, modern and fusion. The 11th Annual Brass City Brewfest comes to Waterbury on Saturday September 10. Read More Upside-Down Pear + Ginger Cake Recipe from Westport Farmers' Market Lynn Felici-Gallant September 02, 2016 Nothing says autumn more than the fragrance of dessert baking in the oven. And this autumn-lover can think of no better dessert to usher in cooler temperatures than Silvia Baldini’s Upside-Down Pear and Ginger Cake. This year, Westport Farmers’ Market goers are in for a special treat – Fort Hill Farm has fresh ginger! Fort Hill Farm of New Milford, is a 20-acre farm operating on land leased from The Nature Conservancy/Sunny Valley Preserve. Paul Bucciaglia and Rebecca Batchie operate Fort Hill Farm, which has been certified organic by Baystate Organic Certifiers since 2003 and adheres to the NOFA Farmers’ Pledge manifesto. Read More First Taste: El Segundo Opens in Sono Starring The Spread's Carlos Baez Restaurant American Cocktails Norwalk SONO Venezuelan Mexican Indian Latin American Lou Gorfain September 02, 2016 Recently the CTbites team previewed the menu at El Segundo in South Norwalk, the newest restaurant from the talented partners who created The Spread just up the block. The concept: Eat the Street. Intersect some of the world’s tastiest street food at the corner of Washington and North Water in SONO. What began as a tasting quickly turned into a party ... a coming out party for Carlos Baez, Executive Chef of The Spread, one of the region’s most versatile, yet unheralded, chefs. The menu flaunts Baez’ extraordinary range -- a gastronomic tour de force featuring over 3 dozen dishes curated from the boulevards and back allies of 27 countries on all seven continents, including barren Antarctica. (More about that selection later) Read More Wakeman Town Farm Annual Harvest Fest is Sept. 24th CTbites Team September 01, 2016 Wakeman Town Farm Sustainability Center's annual Harvest Fest is on Sat. Sept. 24, a fundraiser to support farm programming. The evening kicks off with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and dessert by stellar local chefs (like Gus Christman III of Harvest Wine Bar and Restaurant, Carlos Baez of The Spread, Jon Vaast of Rothbard Ale + Larder, Pietro Scotti of Da Pietro's Restaurant, Alison Milwe Grace of AMG Catering and Events, tapas by Barcelona Fairfield, cheeses by Fairfield Cheese Company, and dessert by Saugatuck Sweets), as well as wonderful wines, a live auction, a great band, and more. It's all to raise funds for Westport's Town Farm! Tickets: www.wakemantownfarm.org. $150 per person. Read More Eastern CT Beer Sampler: A Trip to Beer'd, Outer Light Brewing & Moxie Ingredients Restaurant Beer Beer Garden CT Beer James Gribbon August 31, 2016 Last Friday, around the time the afternoon crowd was clicking on last week's column, I was overflowing with the desire to get out of town. A neighbor of mine, a semi-recent immigrant from eastern Europe, was heading home. In the years of our acquaintance I'd only known him to go two places: his day job as a carpenter, and his back yard. His whole idea of Connecticut, his entire concept of the U.S., for all I know, would be worksites, the highway, and a quarter acre of manicured grass. He was utterly unconcerned, but I was tragedy stricken - and determined to get out and do... something.Just like in a movie script, that's when the phone rang."Sorry this is last minute, man," the caps lock Wisconsin accent told me who it was immediately. "But I need a trip to the casino. I got the room paid for, you just bring your liver." I didn't really have the money to play with, it was Friday rush hour on I-95, and I try to avoid casinos in general."Sure. Let me pack." Let's see what happens, I thought. I am a leaf on the wind.Although the end results were largely indistinguishable, the casino was marginally more entertaining than feeding those same $20 bills to sea gulls. I was neither keen to go back the next day, nor on the prospect of a two hour, day-wasting drive home. It was my turn to provide the inspiration:"Let's hit a brewery I know." Read More Odyssey Greek Festival Sept 2-4: An Invitation to Share Greek Cuisine & Community Anna Bendiksen August 30, 2016 If there’s one thing that the Greeks are known for, it’s warm hospitality. The ancients, believing that the gods walked among us, saw this as a practical matter; the lowliest beggar could be Zeus or Athena in disguise, and so was given a lavish welcome. For Greek-Americans today, faith and tradition still make hospitality a priority. Just ask the members of St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church in Orange, CT, as they prepare to welcome guests to their 36th annual “Odyssey” festival this Labor Day weekend. The Odyssey Festival takes place at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road, Orange, CT, 06477. Hours are 12 noon to 10 PM on Friday through Sunday, September 2nd through 4th, and 12 noon to 7 PM on Monday, September 5th, 2016. Read More Spiga - Old World Meets New Italian in New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 28, 2016 Spiga Wine Bar opened quietly in New Canaan a few weeks ago, offering a menu that combines old world Italian red sauce cuisine with modern interpretations of classic dishes. As reported in the CTbites Sneak Peek, the new owners redesigned the interior to offer a family focus for early guests followed by a hip environment as the evening progresses. During its opening weekend, my wife and I visited after a movie and then again with friends for a late lunch. On both occasions we were all impressed with the cuisine, but were a little taken aback by the noise. CTbites was subsequently invited by the owners to visit one afternoon to sample additional items, discuss the changes envisioned to the menu and how the owners are addressing the desire of guests to enjoy conversation with friends and family. Read More Small Name, Big Flavor from Nit Noi Provisions' Chicken Recipe via Westport Farmers' Market Lynn Felici-Gallant August 26, 2016 In Thai, “nit noi” is defined as small or tiny. But there is nothing small about the flavor of Nit Noi Provision’s food. Founded by Jill and North Shutsharawan, Nit Noi Provisions of Westport delivers enormous flavor in every dish and seasoning crafted by this relative newcomer on the food scene. From Thai noodle soups, to broths and condiments, Nit Noi uses fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients that explode with exotic yet accessible flavor. A weekly vendor at the Westport Farmers’ Market, Nit Noi proffered samples of its popular KMG dish at a recent happy hour at Patagonia. They share their recipe below. Read More Tix on Sale! Kitchen Crawl Culinary Fundraiser: 5 Fabulous Chefs + 4 Designer Kitchens Stephanie Webster August 25, 2016 Join CTbites, Moffly Media’s AtHome Magazine, and realtors Judy Michaelis & David Vynerib of CCO Habitats for Fairfield County's first ever, “KITCHEN CRAWL,” a culinary tour to benefit Community Plates. Here's how the Kitchen Crawl works... Guests will purchase a $45 ticket and proceed to 4 different Westport houses, where chefs from The Spread, The Pearl at Longshore, Nom Eez, Rothbard's & Vespa will be cooking just for you. Cooking demos and specially prepared bites will be enjoyed alongside wine and beer provided by Stew's Wines...all in spectacular designer kitchens. Purchase Tickets to Kitchen Crawl here. Read More Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for Week Of August 28 to Sept 4 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 25, 2016 Stamford Summer Restaurant week returns! Through September 4, select restaurants will offer special prix fixe lunches and dinners, starting at $10.16 and $15.16 respectively. Participants include popular eateries like Cask Republic, EOS, The Fez, and many many more! For menus, prices, and details, visit: PARTY LIKE THE SUMMER’S NOT OVER!!!! Match Restaurant is switching up its regular menu for one night only and teaming up with Norm & Jimmy Bloom from Copps Island Oysters & Lobsters to bring you seafood fresh seafood from Long Island Sound! Special drinks alongside a full beer and cocktail menu. Monday August 29. See the menu here. Fleishers Craft Butchery in Westport will have another installation of Beef Butchery 101 on Tuesday August 30 at 7pm. The night covers Craft Butchery philosophies on sourcing and sustainability, butchering knife skills, basic animal anatomy, demonstrations by a Craft Butchery master butcher, and tasting of samples. Get your tickets now for a screening of “At The Fork” on September 8 at 7:30. Filmmaker John Papola, and his wife Lisa provide unbiased look at how farm animals are raised for our consumption. Read More Summer Corn Chowder with Grilled Vegetable Confetti via Marcia Selden Recipe Recipe Soups healthy CTbites Team August 24, 2016 It's that time of year, the time when fresh sweet corn is at its best. This is the season for homemade corn chowder, and Marcia Selden makes it easy. Go swing by your local farmers' market and grab some corn. Summer Corn Chowder with Grilled Vegetable Confetti Read More Taberna Mediterranean Tapas and Wine Bar in Fairfield's Brick Walk Restaurant Fairfield Italian Mediterranean Spanish Tapas Jessica Ryan August 21, 2016 I have an affinity for those underexplored sweet spots that are slightly off the beaten path, tucked away, or unheard of. For whatever reason, Taberna, a Mediterranean tapas and wine bar located in the Brick Walk in downtown Fairfield hasn’t been widely discovered. Although I hadn’t heard of it many have, and those who have sing its praises. Some of you might be familiar with the name, thinking it’s not in Fairfield, it’s in Bridgeport! And you would be correct, sort of... Prior to opening the Fairfield location, Chef Daniel Lopez and his brother Jaime owned and operated the Bridgeport restaurant for 8 years. Upon hearing that it was closing, longtime diners were happy to follow to the new larger venue with light-filled dining area, large bar and outdoor patio. I was able to sit down and chat with Chef Lopez who was born and raised in Ecuador who revealed to me that he had been enamored with the flavors and cuisines of the Mediterranean since he was a child. In 1994 he and his brother emigrated to the states and immediately began working in the restaurant industry - for many well-known Fairfield County favorites. Read More Back to School with Kohlrabi & Radish Salad from The Whelk and Westport Farmers’ Market Recipe Recipe Lynn Felici-Gallant August 19, 2016 It might be back-to-school season, but it’s still summer at the Westport Farmers’ Market. Thirty vendors plus guests, including many favorites and a few new faces, brave every sort of weather each week to bring us the very best in fresh vegetables, cheese, meat, fruit and berries, coffee, tea, pasta, pet food, flowers, prepared foods, and artisan crafts. Before saying so-long to the kids for the season, stop by the market to stock up on fresh ingredients for hearty breakfasts and healthful lunches. Anthony Kostelis of The Whelk, offers this refreshing salad to pack in the kiddo’s box or serve at dinner. Read More Newer Older Our Sponsors Sign Me Up! Archive of All Reviews Openings Featured Chef Ian Vest Opens Modern Italian Restaurant, Talia, in Port Chester Specialty Coffee Shop, Carpe Diem Cafe, Opens in Norwalk Malby Bakery Opens in New Haven with Creative Pastries & Elevated Classics Dos Hermanos Guatemalan Bakery & Cafe Opens in Bridgeport Little Lotus Omakase Opens in New Haven LobsterCraft Food Truck X SONO 1420 Weekend Tasting Room Fireside Collab Delamar Hotels Opens American-Mediterranean Restaurant, Dandelion, in Westport Cosetta Pizzeria and Paninoteca Opens in Fairfield from Bailey's Backyard Team Omakase Westport Opens With 16 Course Omakase ONLY Dining Hidden Gem Alert! Istanbul-Style Turkish Bourekas at Crunch in Woodbridge Massimo Tullio Opens Neapolitan Inspired Massi Co. in Westport Bartone's Apizza: Community Meets Great Pizza in Derby CT Tacos 203 by Taco Guy Opens at South Norwalk Train Station Mr. Cookbop Brings Hearty Korean Soups & Comfort Food to New Haven Chef Nick Martschenko Opens Second SE Uncorked in Redding Suburbia Sandwich Co Hits The Road in Fairfield CT In a Vintage 1969 Citroën Find Us On Instagram
Chowdafest 2016: 40 Chefs Compete on October 2nd CTbites Team September 08, 2016 Award wining chefs from every New England state and thousands of discernible foodies from all over descend on Westport CT on the first Sunday in October to determine who has the best chowder, soup & bisque in New England. Chowdafest will be held on Sunday October 2, 2106 at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport CT from 11AM to 3PM. The event will feature 40 restaurants from all over New England and as far away at Seattle. The festival features four categories of competition: Classic New England Clam Chowder, Traditional Chowder exclusively for Rhode Island (clear broth) and Manhattan Clam Chowders (tomato based), Creative Chowders and Soup & Bisque. Attendees receive a spoon, ballot and pencil when they arrive. They enjoy unlimited sampling and rate each entry on a scale from 7 to 10.5 with half point intervals. Restaurants with the highest overall average in their respective categories will be declared New England champions. Read More
Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Sept 22-25 CTbites Team September 07, 2016 Tickets are now on sale for festival events! The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, one of the East Coast’s most sophisticated and anticipated events, returns for its 11th year from September 22 – 25, 2016. Signature events include the Bordeaux Dinner on Thursday evening, the Wine & Rosecliff Gala on Friday evening, Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday, the Vintner Dinner on Saturday evening, Newport After Dark on Saturday evening, Jazz Brunch on Sunday and Seminars in The Breakers Stable and Carriage House throughout the weekend. Tickets are now on sale at www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org. Read More
Chef Bill Taibe & Friends Host Millstone Farm Dinner To Fight Food Waste CTbites Team September 07, 2016 Join CT Bites and Chef Bill Taibe for a inspiring evening of seasonal food and conversation at Millstone Farm, the area's leader in sustainable agriculture. You'll be inspired by the best chefs in our community while you enjoy a one time only menu to support a cause close to their hearts - fighting food waste and feeding food insecure people of Fairfield County. Tickets can be purchased here. Participating Chefs: Anthony Kostelis, The Whelk | Bill Taibe, The Whelk & Kawa Ni | Carlos Baez, The Spread | Dan Sabia, Lake Kitchawan | Geoff Lazlo, Mill Street Bar & Table | Jim Eckler, Lake Kitchawan | Mogan Anthony, Village Social & Locali Read More
Sarah’s on Main in Portland CT: the “Cheers” of Breakfast Restaurant Brunch Delicious Dives Diner Portland Breakfast Lunch Hope Simmons September 04, 2016 On the corner Main and Commerce in Portland is a cozy place that’s the “Cheers” of breakfast, Sarah's On Main—“where everybody knows your name and you’re always glad you came.” If you’re from either side of the river, don’t be surprised if you bump into old friends—or make new ones. I do both each time I go. Whether you find a spot at the counter or grab a table, there’s fresh and local deliciousness with a spin of creativity, courtesy of Sarah Weeden. What began as a quest for waffles grew into a steady habit of breakfast—and occasional lunch—at my newest home away from home. Day one, I realized I’d stumbled into a little gem when I tried the BLT Bennie. Served on toasted brioche, it’s sheer perfection of a Benedict, drizzled with Hollandaise. The hash of the day was summer squash and zucchini, which I requested instead of home fries. Thumbs up all the way around. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Event & Happenings for Week of Sept 4-11 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 03, 2016 Newly opened Aspetuck Brew Lab in Bridgeport will host a Stoked Flame Fest from 2pm til close in their parking lot on Saturday September 10. Friday September 9 marks the Grand Opening of The Halal Guys in New Haven. Starting at 11am, 5 grand prize winners can wine free food for one month, the first 1000 guests will receive free swag, and everyone can celebrate the debut of the New Haven location. Find them at 906 Chapel Street. Every Tuesday night, join Walrus + Carpenter for a Compin’ + Stompin’ Jazz Jam Session. The evening features featuring Ian Tait, Scott Packham and Ted Morcaldi playing a mix of swing, modern and fusion. The 11th Annual Brass City Brewfest comes to Waterbury on Saturday September 10. Read More
Upside-Down Pear + Ginger Cake Recipe from Westport Farmers' Market Lynn Felici-Gallant September 02, 2016 Nothing says autumn more than the fragrance of dessert baking in the oven. And this autumn-lover can think of no better dessert to usher in cooler temperatures than Silvia Baldini’s Upside-Down Pear and Ginger Cake. This year, Westport Farmers’ Market goers are in for a special treat – Fort Hill Farm has fresh ginger! Fort Hill Farm of New Milford, is a 20-acre farm operating on land leased from The Nature Conservancy/Sunny Valley Preserve. Paul Bucciaglia and Rebecca Batchie operate Fort Hill Farm, which has been certified organic by Baystate Organic Certifiers since 2003 and adheres to the NOFA Farmers’ Pledge manifesto. Read More
First Taste: El Segundo Opens in Sono Starring The Spread's Carlos Baez Restaurant American Cocktails Norwalk SONO Venezuelan Mexican Indian Latin American Lou Gorfain September 02, 2016 Recently the CTbites team previewed the menu at El Segundo in South Norwalk, the newest restaurant from the talented partners who created The Spread just up the block. The concept: Eat the Street. Intersect some of the world’s tastiest street food at the corner of Washington and North Water in SONO. What began as a tasting quickly turned into a party ... a coming out party for Carlos Baez, Executive Chef of The Spread, one of the region’s most versatile, yet unheralded, chefs. The menu flaunts Baez’ extraordinary range -- a gastronomic tour de force featuring over 3 dozen dishes curated from the boulevards and back allies of 27 countries on all seven continents, including barren Antarctica. (More about that selection later) Read More
Wakeman Town Farm Annual Harvest Fest is Sept. 24th CTbites Team September 01, 2016 Wakeman Town Farm Sustainability Center's annual Harvest Fest is on Sat. Sept. 24, a fundraiser to support farm programming. The evening kicks off with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and dessert by stellar local chefs (like Gus Christman III of Harvest Wine Bar and Restaurant, Carlos Baez of The Spread, Jon Vaast of Rothbard Ale + Larder, Pietro Scotti of Da Pietro's Restaurant, Alison Milwe Grace of AMG Catering and Events, tapas by Barcelona Fairfield, cheeses by Fairfield Cheese Company, and dessert by Saugatuck Sweets), as well as wonderful wines, a live auction, a great band, and more. It's all to raise funds for Westport's Town Farm! Tickets: www.wakemantownfarm.org. $150 per person. Read More
Eastern CT Beer Sampler: A Trip to Beer'd, Outer Light Brewing & Moxie Ingredients Restaurant Beer Beer Garden CT Beer James Gribbon August 31, 2016 Last Friday, around the time the afternoon crowd was clicking on last week's column, I was overflowing with the desire to get out of town. A neighbor of mine, a semi-recent immigrant from eastern Europe, was heading home. In the years of our acquaintance I'd only known him to go two places: his day job as a carpenter, and his back yard. His whole idea of Connecticut, his entire concept of the U.S., for all I know, would be worksites, the highway, and a quarter acre of manicured grass. He was utterly unconcerned, but I was tragedy stricken - and determined to get out and do... something.Just like in a movie script, that's when the phone rang."Sorry this is last minute, man," the caps lock Wisconsin accent told me who it was immediately. "But I need a trip to the casino. I got the room paid for, you just bring your liver." I didn't really have the money to play with, it was Friday rush hour on I-95, and I try to avoid casinos in general."Sure. Let me pack." Let's see what happens, I thought. I am a leaf on the wind.Although the end results were largely indistinguishable, the casino was marginally more entertaining than feeding those same $20 bills to sea gulls. I was neither keen to go back the next day, nor on the prospect of a two hour, day-wasting drive home. It was my turn to provide the inspiration:"Let's hit a brewery I know." Read More
Odyssey Greek Festival Sept 2-4: An Invitation to Share Greek Cuisine & Community Anna Bendiksen August 30, 2016 If there’s one thing that the Greeks are known for, it’s warm hospitality. The ancients, believing that the gods walked among us, saw this as a practical matter; the lowliest beggar could be Zeus or Athena in disguise, and so was given a lavish welcome. For Greek-Americans today, faith and tradition still make hospitality a priority. Just ask the members of St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church in Orange, CT, as they prepare to welcome guests to their 36th annual “Odyssey” festival this Labor Day weekend. The Odyssey Festival takes place at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road, Orange, CT, 06477. Hours are 12 noon to 10 PM on Friday through Sunday, September 2nd through 4th, and 12 noon to 7 PM on Monday, September 5th, 2016. Read More
Spiga - Old World Meets New Italian in New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger August 28, 2016 Spiga Wine Bar opened quietly in New Canaan a few weeks ago, offering a menu that combines old world Italian red sauce cuisine with modern interpretations of classic dishes. As reported in the CTbites Sneak Peek, the new owners redesigned the interior to offer a family focus for early guests followed by a hip environment as the evening progresses. During its opening weekend, my wife and I visited after a movie and then again with friends for a late lunch. On both occasions we were all impressed with the cuisine, but were a little taken aback by the noise. CTbites was subsequently invited by the owners to visit one afternoon to sample additional items, discuss the changes envisioned to the menu and how the owners are addressing the desire of guests to enjoy conversation with friends and family. Read More
Small Name, Big Flavor from Nit Noi Provisions' Chicken Recipe via Westport Farmers' Market Lynn Felici-Gallant August 26, 2016 In Thai, “nit noi” is defined as small or tiny. But there is nothing small about the flavor of Nit Noi Provision’s food. Founded by Jill and North Shutsharawan, Nit Noi Provisions of Westport delivers enormous flavor in every dish and seasoning crafted by this relative newcomer on the food scene. From Thai noodle soups, to broths and condiments, Nit Noi uses fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients that explode with exotic yet accessible flavor. A weekly vendor at the Westport Farmers’ Market, Nit Noi proffered samples of its popular KMG dish at a recent happy hour at Patagonia. They share their recipe below. Read More
Tix on Sale! Kitchen Crawl Culinary Fundraiser: 5 Fabulous Chefs + 4 Designer Kitchens Stephanie Webster August 25, 2016 Join CTbites, Moffly Media’s AtHome Magazine, and realtors Judy Michaelis & David Vynerib of CCO Habitats for Fairfield County's first ever, “KITCHEN CRAWL,” a culinary tour to benefit Community Plates. Here's how the Kitchen Crawl works... Guests will purchase a $45 ticket and proceed to 4 different Westport houses, where chefs from The Spread, The Pearl at Longshore, Nom Eez, Rothbard's & Vespa will be cooking just for you. Cooking demos and specially prepared bites will be enjoyed alongside wine and beer provided by Stew's Wines...all in spectacular designer kitchens. Purchase Tickets to Kitchen Crawl here. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for Week Of August 28 to Sept 4 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 25, 2016 Stamford Summer Restaurant week returns! Through September 4, select restaurants will offer special prix fixe lunches and dinners, starting at $10.16 and $15.16 respectively. Participants include popular eateries like Cask Republic, EOS, The Fez, and many many more! For menus, prices, and details, visit: PARTY LIKE THE SUMMER’S NOT OVER!!!! Match Restaurant is switching up its regular menu for one night only and teaming up with Norm & Jimmy Bloom from Copps Island Oysters & Lobsters to bring you seafood fresh seafood from Long Island Sound! Special drinks alongside a full beer and cocktail menu. Monday August 29. See the menu here. Fleishers Craft Butchery in Westport will have another installation of Beef Butchery 101 on Tuesday August 30 at 7pm. The night covers Craft Butchery philosophies on sourcing and sustainability, butchering knife skills, basic animal anatomy, demonstrations by a Craft Butchery master butcher, and tasting of samples. Get your tickets now for a screening of “At The Fork” on September 8 at 7:30. Filmmaker John Papola, and his wife Lisa provide unbiased look at how farm animals are raised for our consumption. Read More
Summer Corn Chowder with Grilled Vegetable Confetti via Marcia Selden Recipe Recipe Soups healthy CTbites Team August 24, 2016 It's that time of year, the time when fresh sweet corn is at its best. This is the season for homemade corn chowder, and Marcia Selden makes it easy. Go swing by your local farmers' market and grab some corn. Summer Corn Chowder with Grilled Vegetable Confetti Read More
Taberna Mediterranean Tapas and Wine Bar in Fairfield's Brick Walk Restaurant Fairfield Italian Mediterranean Spanish Tapas Jessica Ryan August 21, 2016 I have an affinity for those underexplored sweet spots that are slightly off the beaten path, tucked away, or unheard of. For whatever reason, Taberna, a Mediterranean tapas and wine bar located in the Brick Walk in downtown Fairfield hasn’t been widely discovered. Although I hadn’t heard of it many have, and those who have sing its praises. Some of you might be familiar with the name, thinking it’s not in Fairfield, it’s in Bridgeport! And you would be correct, sort of... Prior to opening the Fairfield location, Chef Daniel Lopez and his brother Jaime owned and operated the Bridgeport restaurant for 8 years. Upon hearing that it was closing, longtime diners were happy to follow to the new larger venue with light-filled dining area, large bar and outdoor patio. I was able to sit down and chat with Chef Lopez who was born and raised in Ecuador who revealed to me that he had been enamored with the flavors and cuisines of the Mediterranean since he was a child. In 1994 he and his brother emigrated to the states and immediately began working in the restaurant industry - for many well-known Fairfield County favorites. Read More
Back to School with Kohlrabi & Radish Salad from The Whelk and Westport Farmers’ Market Recipe Recipe Lynn Felici-Gallant August 19, 2016 It might be back-to-school season, but it’s still summer at the Westport Farmers’ Market. Thirty vendors plus guests, including many favorites and a few new faces, brave every sort of weather each week to bring us the very best in fresh vegetables, cheese, meat, fruit and berries, coffee, tea, pasta, pet food, flowers, prepared foods, and artisan crafts. Before saying so-long to the kids for the season, stop by the market to stock up on fresh ingredients for hearty breakfasts and healthful lunches. Anthony Kostelis of The Whelk, offers this refreshing salad to pack in the kiddo’s box or serve at dinner. Read More
