Judy's Bar + Kitchen: American Comfort Food in Stamford Restaurant Stamford American BBQ Comfort Food Brunch Lunch Take Out Jessica Ryan February 05, 2017 I first became familiar Chef Judith Roll at Tabouli Grill when it was in Southport, and was saddened by its closing. I recently learned that she had launched a second and altogether different food concept, Judy’s Bar + Kitchen that can best be described as down-home, comfort with a twist of Southernese. Located on High Ridge Road in a neighborhood that is both retail and residential, Judy is perfectly poised to keep locals (and non-locals) well-fed with her wide array of creative from-scratch cooking. When I arrived, I was thrilled to find plenty of parking, a big bonus for me. Read More
Max Restaurants Opens Neapolitan-Influenced Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar in West Hartford Restaurant Pizza West Hartford Hartford County Lunch CTbites Team February 02, 2017 Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar, the sleek, new, pizza-centered West Hartford establishment from Max Restaurant Group, is all about the flames.“There is nothing that compares to cooking with fire,” says Dante Cistulli, chef and managing partner of the downtown restaurant, which opened in October. Two wood-fired pizza ovens form the heart and soul of Savoy’s kitchen. The Neapolitan-influenced pizza, the restaurant’s flagship food, is cooked for a short period of time in one oven at 850-900 degrees. Cooking at this extremely high temperature creates a crispy and ever-so-slight char on the outside and a soft and firm inside crust that artisan pizza lovers crave. The other oven provides the heat for the restaurant’s non-pizza items, giving each dish a unique, wood-smoked flavor. Read More
Friday Froth: Strong Drinks...Black Hog, Two Roads Brewery & Litchfield Distillery Features Beer Friday Froth Brewery James Gribbon February 01, 2017 The shadows seem to be growing this January. Winter daylight is all too brief, darkness glooming in through a window you swear was sunny the last time you walked by. It suddenly feels like it's gone dark all the time now. Maybe you feel it, too. And how long to go before the next sunrise? Ugh. The days ahead seem so stretch on to the invisible horizon. Maybe you could use a drink, a 16oz. weight to hang from time's pendulum to speed those dark hours on their way. Make it a strong one, because maybe we can clip off some of tomorrow's darkness while we're at it. Gravity shapes space, as we all know, and space is tied to time, so let's grab a few high gravity beers, and bend the long arc. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of February 6-11 Features Emma Jane-Doody Stetson February 01, 2017 "First Fridays" kicks off this Friday, feb 3rd at the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, featuring a "Contemporary Cocktail Party" and nibbles via Festivities Events.86’D: A Culinary Collision is a surprise on many levels! Two surprise chefs will have a showdown at a surprise host restaurant while spectators feast on tasty appetizers and cocktails. The location will be announced just prior to the competition, which takes place on February 6 at 10pm. On Monday February 6, Wood-n-Tap in Newington presents a Victory Brewing Company Beer Dinner. Bill Covaleski, founder of Victory Brewing Company, will guide guests through a four course meal paired with five brews. Tickets are approximately $60 per person, with discounts for parties of 6 or more. Beer and chocolate? Don’t mind if we do! Still Hill Brewery in Rocky Hill will host a beer and chocolate pairing on Tuesday February 7 from 7-9pm. The event features Fascia's Chocolates of Waterbury. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online. Read More
Gluten Free? Oui! at Garelick & Herbs (sponsored post) Ingredients Gluten-Free Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market Stephanie Webster January 30, 2017 Gluten Free? Oui! at Garelick & HerbsIt’s easier than ever to choose gluten free at Garelick& Herbs. We’ve been using gluten free labels in our prepared food case, and now we’re adding the labels to the food in our grab and go refrigerated case and in house bakery items!In the entrees, there are now pasta dishes such as Pasta Primavera with fresh basil and sun dried tomatoes, a fabulous Potato “pasta” with Pesto- positively addictive whether you are gluten free or not. We have translated our Chicken Francais and Chicken Cutlets recipes to make them GF too. Read More
Gates in New Canaan: New Chef, Changing Menu for Longtime Institution Restaurant New Canaan American Brunch Comfort Food Lunch Kid Friendly jeffrey schlesinger January 29, 2017 Gates Restaurant has been an institution on Forest Street in New Canaan since 1979. It was sold in 2015, completely redesigned and re-opened last February. The new Gates maintained the relaxed environment with a rustic, Americana décor, with the original gates repurposed around the entrance to the revamped bar, exposed brick-and-wood walls, bistro seating, and an open kitchen. On weekends kids’ teams continued to flock to this town fixture for post-soccer game celebrations, families scheduled weekly Sunday brunches, locals met for a casual lunch, guys sat at the bar indulging in a burger, beer and ballgame, and young adults enjoyed a few late-night drinks and live music. It was still the town watering hole...Gates 2.0. Read More
One Dish: White Sicilian Pizza, Jerry’s Pizza, Middletown Restaurant Pizza Middletown Delicious Dives Lunch CTbites Team January 29, 2017 If Middletown had a taste, it would be Jerry’s Pizza. And if Jerry’s has a signature dish, it is undoubtedly the locally famous white Sicilian pizza. Nothing speaks to the Italian — and specifically Sicilian — identity of the city like this dish. The intense flavor of the pizza is no joke: you either love it or hate it, and those who love it, really, really love it. So much so, in fact, that you have to plan your day around it. The specially made dough for the white Sicilian takes roughly two hours to rise properly. The pizzeria has been around since 1968, when it was opened by Jerry Schiano, an Italian immigrant from Naples. Though Jerry is now retired, his daughter Carmela Lockwood operates the restaurant, and says the recipe comes from her grandmother, who used to make the dish back in Italy. (Her family is not Sicilian, but the style of thick dough is distinctively from the island.) Read More
The Granola Bar Opening Soon in Stamford: Breakfast, Lunch & Killer Coffee Restaurant stam Coffee healthy Breakfast Lunch Opening Stephanie Webster January 29, 2017 The Granola Bar of Westport and Greenwich will soon be opening its doors in Stamford's Harbor Point District as part of an exciting and large scale expansion plan. The Granola Bar has joined forces with Trilynx, an investment and operating platform whose founders have more than 15 years of experience in hospitality brands such as Disney and Starwood Hotels. This new team will take The Granola Bar's breakfast and lunch hot spot beyond the boundaries of CT, but more immediately, will debut the first ever The Granola Bar TO GO at 700 Canal Street in Stamford in spring 2017 (directly across from Fairway Market). Read More
Coconut Fudge Recipe via Marcia Selden Catering Features Recipe kids activity Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster January 29, 2017 Coconut fans get ready to find a new favorite treat. Made from shredded and desiccated coconut, this is deeply flavorful and almost "healthy." Warning: This fudge is so deliciously decadent that you may not be able to stop eating it. Read More
CT Bars & Restaurants To Watch Super Bowl 2017 Restaurant Events Bar Stephanie Webster January 27, 2017 On Sunday February 5, The Patriots take on The Falcons in Super Bowl LI! Whether you watch the showdown at home or at your favorite restaurant, delicious game-day snacks are a must. These Connecticut restaurants and bars will offer Super Bowl specials and take-out options so you can have the ultimate football party! Read More
Sugar Factory American Brasserie, Outrageous Desserts, Opening at Foxwoods Stephanie Webster January 23, 2017 Sugar Factory American Brasserie, one of America’s favorite eatery and confectionary shop, expands with its new location at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT this February 2017. Located in the main concourse of the Grand Pequot Tower, the 8,000-square-foot location consists of a full service café and confectionary shop, retail shop, indoor dining room and full service bar. Read More
Craft 14 Kitchen + Bar Opens In Wilton: American Fare with a Twist Restaurant Wilton American Cocktails Bar Homepage Lunch CTbites Team January 22, 2017 Craft 14 Kitchen + Bar is the sort of place you want to wander into on a winter’s day with its warm, welcoming reclaimed wood interior accompanied by the nostalgic aroma of decades-old wood burning ovens and fireplaces. The restaurant, which opened at the end of last summer, greets a steady stream of diners throughout the day and well into the night, as I was witness to when I went to meet owners Cristina Ramirez and Mario Lopez. Read More
Ki Asian Bistro & Sushi in Danbury's TNT Lover Sushi Roll via CT Magazine Restaurant Danbury Sushi CTbites Team January 20, 2017 CT Magazine waxed poetic about this dish from Ki Asian Bistro & Sushi in Danbury. We hear this isn't the only item on this menu that is worth the trip. Here's what writer Erik Ofgang had to say... Get ready for an explosion of flavor. The TNT Lover roll is made with chopped bluefin toro (the fatty belly meat of tuna), caviar, tempura flakes, scallion and asparagus topped with raw tuna and served with truffle soy sauce. The result is a sushi roll that can redefine your perception of what a sushi roll can be. At least that’s what it did for me. The raw tuna provides a burst of fresh-as-the-sea notes, cut and enhanced by the crunch of the tempura flakes and the rich truffle soy sauce, creating a taste simultaneously sushi and non-sushi. The bistro was opened in 2012 by Chef Benny Chow, a veteran of Nobu restaurant in New York, who trained under Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. I discovered the restaurant earlier this year and have been hooked ever since. Read the full article on CT Magazine. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week Of January 22- 29th Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 19, 2017 Chef Tim LaBant’s Vegetarian Dinners return to The Schoolhouse at Cannondale. On Wednesdays through February 22, they will offer a $48 prix fixe menu featuring vegetarian dishes made from local ingredients. Reserve early- seats fill up quickly. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! On Sunday January 29, The Chocolate Expo takes over the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk with over 35 vendors offering sales and samples of their specialty products. From chocolate covered bacon to chocolate infused Brussels Sprouts, sweet treats are endless. Chef Brian Lewis, of The Cottage in Westport, returns to the James Beard House in New York City for an elegant evening on January 24. Friends of The Cottage can receive the member price of $135 versus the public price of $175. To book, call 212.627.2308. Namaste meets beer at Broad Brook Brewing in East Windsor. On January 24, $25 includes an hour of yoga and 2 pints (or flights). Tickets are available at the brewery. Enjoy a 5-course dinner alongside wines from Greece! On January 25, The Fez in Stamford welcomes special guest Andreas Zinelis for an evening of great foods and complementary wines. It is $75 per person (tax and tip included). Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill in Fairfield is hosting a Tequila Dinner on Wednesday, January 25 at 7pm. Read More
10 Questions with Peter Crawford of Darien Butcher Shop Ingredients Features Butcher Darien Amy Kundrat January 18, 2017 Darien native and chef Peter Crawford is the culinary braun behind lower Fairfield County's newest destination butchery, The Darien Butcher Shop. The shop focuses on high quality meat and gourmet specialty products, as well as events and catering, not to mention hot pressed sandwiches if you're looking for a new lunch option. We had a chance to chat with Peter, and wanted to know what this carnivore cooks for himself, his preferred cut of meat, and his most memorable meal. Why did you become a butcher? Read More
Where To Find Great Ramen in CT Via CTNow Restaurant Asian Japanese Noodles Vietnamese CTbites Team January 17, 2017 Photo: Suzie Hunter/Hartford Courant This in from CTNow's reporter, Leeanne Griffin... Where's the ramen? It's a common question among food lovers in Connecticut, where the authentic Japanese noodle soup can be scarce, compared to booming scenes in big cities New York and Los Angeles. But ramen's availability has been growing here, as established restaurants have responded to demand, and new noodle bars have popped up around the state in cities and suburbs alike. Here's a guide to some of Connecticut's top ramen (not to be confused with the packaged brand). Tiger Belly Noodle Bar Granby's Tiger Belly opened in August, and a few early visitors balked at the price tag for its pork and vegetable ramens, confusing the dishes with the inexpensive packaged instant noodles, said owner Ki'yen Yeung. Read the complete listing of CT Ramen joints here. Read More
Peaches Juke Joint in Nowalk: Two Guys Enjoy Some Southern Hospitality Restaurant Norwalk Southern Bar jeffrey schlesinger January 15, 2017 CTbites has been following Greer Fredericks since she opened Mama’s Boy in Norwalk in 2013. She believed that low country southern cuisine could tantalize Fairfield County diners, from shrimp & grits, chicken and waffles to mile high desserts. Mama’s Boy’s food started the trend where down home, stick to your ribs cooking with bold flavors, deep fried, with cheese and calories were an accepted cuisine. Greer’s newest venture is Peaches’ Juke Joint, a fun-loving, take off your shoes, leave your inhibitions at the door and have some fun with a side of food. She hired Paul Failla to oversee the kitchen; many will remember Failla from his days at neighboring Bar Sugo. Ctbites was recently invited to sample Chef Paul’s newest creations and feel the vibes at Peaches. Read More
The Closing of Stamford's Napa & Co...In Mary Schaffer's Own Words Restaurant Stamford Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger January 15, 2017 Sad, relieved, elated, surreal, proud and excited. That is how Mary Schaffer described her feelings the day after Napa & Co. closed its doors after ten years serving some of the finest cuisines and the most exciting wines to hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests. During that time, Mary, with her keen instinct for great chefs, hired notables to oversee the kitchen at Napa, including Bill Taibe, Arik Bensimon, Adam Truelove and Dan Kardos. In the last seven years, CTbites, Mary and Napa have shared a unique relationship, Mary was kind enough to open her kitchen to our first Behind the Scenes Mushroom Iron Chef article, offered inside glimpses of the hamburger that changed the scene for hamburgers in Fairfield County and allowed us a visit with Celebrity Chef and world pizza champion Elizabeth Faulkner while she grilled pizza. We could write a very long tribute to Mary, her team and the cuisine at Napa, but decided to ask a few questions and allow Mary to tell our readers what it was like creating the groundbreaking restaurant that changed it all in Fairfield County… The big question on everyone’s mind is why now? Read More
Chef Brian Lewis of The Cottage Cooks @ The James Beard House CTbites Team January 13, 2017 Chef Brian Lewis returns to the James Beard House in New York City for an elegant evening on January 24. Friends of The Cottage to receive the member price of $135 vs. the public price of $175. To receive, book by calling 212.627.2308 and reference the code THYME. VIEW THE FULL MENU BELOW The evening of the event, there will be a livestream from the kitchen from 6:15pm-10:00pm at jbfkitchencam.org. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for January 15-22 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson January 12, 2017 The Hops Company (THC) in Derby hosts their first game dinner on January 17. Partake in dishes like Wild Game Sausages, Native Duck, Wild Boar Osso Buco, and Chocolate “Moose” alongside beer or wine. It costs $65 per person. On January 18, Nouveau Monde Wine Bar in Newtown presents a Ramey wine pairing dinner at 6:30pm. The evening features 4 courses alongside complimentary wines. The Spotted Horse in Westport offers a "Wine and Dine Wednesday" promotion all day. Bottles under $100 are 50% and bottles over $100 are 25% off. Walrus + Carpenter invites you to one of their popular Brewgrass & Pig Roast events starting at 7:30pm on January 19. Listen to melodies as Walrus + Carpenter dishes up a whole hog. New Canaan Wine Merchants will have a wine class about Tuscan Wines on Thursday January 19. It lasts from 7:00-8:30pm and includes cheese from the Darien Cheese Shop. Read More
