Wings Over Fairfield Opens w/ Serious Wings Menu, Ribs, Milkshakes & More Restaurant Fairfield Comfort Food Delicious Dives Kid Friendly Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 01, 2017 When I was a student at Cornell, Wings Over Ithaca was a staple. As I’ve spoken to more people over the years from various universities, I’ve learned that my experience was not unique. “Wings Over” locations span the country, often setting up shop in college towns. With Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University, Fairfield seems like a logical fit.The latest “Wings Over” location can be found out 2075 Black Rock Turnpike,When I was a student at Cornell, Wings Over Ithaca was a staple. As I’ve spoken to more people over the years from various universities, I’ve learned that my experience was not unique. “Wings Over” locations span the country, often setting up shop in college towns. With Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University, Fairfield seems like a logical fit.The latest “Wings Over” location can be found out 2075 Black Rock Turnpike, a space Robert Savin, owner, had his eye on for a couple of years. “Wings Over” is a national franchise broken up into smaller sections. Savin and his company, Savin Foods, is responsible for 10 “Wings Over” locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Savin also oversees Park & Oak in West Hartford. “Wings Over” is a national franchise broken up into smaller sections. Savin and his company, Savin Foods, is responsible for 10 “Wings Over” locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Savin also oversees Park & Oak in West Hartford. Read More
Greenwich Wine + Food Festival Sept. 22-23: Celebrity Chef, Burger Battles, VIP Tix & More! Features Events Stephanie Webster August 31, 2017 In case you hadn't heard, Batali Joins Celebrity Chef Participants Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli and Adam Richman at the Greenwich Wine + Food Festival September 22-23. Saturday is the heart of the 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival, celebrating food, beverage and music. The Grand Tasting tent is the center of the Festival, with tastings and demonstrations from more than 150+ of the area’s finest food, wine, spirits experts, in addition to the Bud & Burger, Empire City Casino and South of the Border Fiesta tents. Guests can also enjoy sommelier, mixologist and brew master presentations, celebrity book signings, Q&A sessions with top culinary experts, a celebrity green room with live interviews. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of Sept. 3- 10 Features Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 30, 2017 Tickets are on sale now for the Kitchen Crawl 2017 Culinary Fundraiser. Experience 5 chefs in 5 designer kitchens...while helping to feed the hungry in our community! Guests purchase a $55 ticket and proceed to 5 different Westport houses, where chefs from The Spread, Mecha Noodle Bar, Match Burger Lobster, Rothbard's & Cask Republic will be cooking just for you.The Norwalk Oyster Festival returns this weekend! Catch the festival Friday September 8 from 6-11pm, Saturday September 9 from 11am-11pm, and Sunday September 10 from 11am-6pm. INDIA New Canaan is now open 7 days for lunch. Visit them between noon and 2:30pm.Enjoy Stamford Restaurant Week while you can! Through September 4, participating restaurants are offering prix fixe lunches, dinners, and other specials. Read More
Jazz Dinner At Waldingfield Farm in Litchfield w/ CT NOFA Features Events Local Farm Farm Dinner Stephanie Webster August 29, 2017 On Saturday, September 16th, Enjoy an organic farm to table feast alongside the sounds of acclaimed jazz musicians from The Mike Casey Trio at Waldingfield Farm in Washington CT.Visit a beautiful organic farm hidden in the Litchfield Hills for a fine seasonal dinner all sourced locally. Guests will enjoy an Autumn sunset and a fine dinner in celebration organic farming in Connecticut! 4 PM Refreshments & Farm Tour5 PM Cocktails & 1st Course6 PM The Mike Casey Trio Followed by Dinner & Dessert Read More
Bishop’s Orchards: Pick Your Own Peaches, Pears & Raspberries In Guilford Ingredients Local Farm kids activity Kid Friendly Deanna Foster August 28, 2017 Yes, we can squeeze the peaches before we buy them in the supermarket and cherry-pick the basket we like at the farmer’s market, but there is nothing more satisfying than standing under a a tree limb full of ripe peaches. There is a tangible joy in choosing one, reaching up to feel the soft fuzz against the firm fruit and inhaling it’s perfume as you gently twist it from its stem. This was our experience yesterday and not one person in our party of 8 put their first picked peach in a bag. Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford can offer you this experience 4 times over, as their orchards are currently yielding peaches, pears and raspberries. Bishop’s is a straight shot up Rt. 95N(exit 57; take a right) and the 45 drive is well worth it. Read More
4 Reasons Taproot Should Be Your Next Dinner Out Features Bethel Farm to Table Homepage Lunch Celebrity Chef American Amy Kundrat August 27, 2017 Taproot is one of Fairfield County’s newest chef-driven restaurants. Jeff Taibe (Kawa Ni) and Steph Sweeney (Whelk, Jesup Hall) have teamed up to open the doors to a dining experience that combines a hyper local menu in a charming and down-to-earth setting. If you’re close, it's almost guaranteed to become a contender for a regular hangout spot. If not (but hey, Westport to Bethel is only 30 minutes), it is worth the drive. Thanks to a creative and seasonal menu, it's one of our new favorite spots. And here are just a few reasons why. Read More
Tix on Sale! Kitchen Crawl 2017 Culinary Fundraiser: 5 Fabulous Chefs/ Mixologists + 5 Designer Kitchens Features Events Stephanie Webster August 26, 2017 Experience 5 chefs in 5 designer kitchens...while helping to feed the hungry in our community. Tickets are now on sale for the 2nd annual Westport Kitchen Crawl.Here's how the Kitchen Crawl works. Guests purchase a $55 ticket and proceed to 5 different Westport houses, where chefs from The Spread, Mecha Noodle Bar, Match Burger Lobster, Rothbard's & Cask Republic will be cooking just for you. Cooking demos and specially prepared bites will be enjoyed alongside wine and beer provided and paired by Stew's Wines... all in spectacular designer kitchens. This year, the chefs are bringing their mixologists so get ready for some killer cocktails. Tickets sold out quickly last year, so don't wait too long to Purchase Tickets to Kitchen Crawl here. Read More
“Party in the Parking Lot" w/ Westport Farmers’ Market Sept. 14 Features Events Stephanie Webster August 25, 2017 For years the Westport Farmers’ Market has converted a non-descript parking lot at 50 Imperial Avenue into a weekly shopping extravaganza featuring local food and farmers, children’s, activities, music, and more. On Thursday evening, September 14th, the WFM will further transform that same lot into a not-to-be-missed “Party in the Parking Lot!” Just wait till you see the list of chefs! Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events & News For August 28- September 3 Features homepage Events Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 25, 2017 Join The Spread in Sono for a Labor Day Luau, featuring a pig roast and Captain Morgan cocktails September 3rd 5PM.On Friday September 1, sample over a dozen local and rare beers in Downtown New Haven's Historic 9th Square! During the event, participating pubs, bars, and restaurants will offer special food pairings and exclusive discounts. Tickets are $18 in advance, or $20 at the door. 21+ only. The place to be every Friday through October is the new Lachat Town Farm in Weston. Join them from 4pm -8pm and shop a great selection of vendors, food trucks, + live music. Vendors include: Dough Girls Wood Fired Pizza, Nutty Bunny, Sugar and Olives, Szabo's Seafood, The Granola Bar, The Green Grunion & Valencia Luncheria.Say cheese… and beer! On Monday August 28, Caseus Fromagerie Bistro in New Haven will hold a Beer and Cheese Pairing Class focusing on Belgian Beers. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased online. Read More
Best Restaurants In CT via Thrillist Restaurant Best of CT Homepage CTbites Team August 24, 2017 One of our favorite CT food writers, Erik Olfgang, crafted this delicious roundup of the Best Restaurants in CT for Thrillist.Connecticut is responsible for gifting the world a number of important foods: the hamburger, the lobster roll, and New Haven-style pizza. And while you’ll still find excellent versions of all of these in the Nutmeg State, its dining culture has also expanded well beyond them. Today you’ll find things like slow-smoked barbecue, steaming bowls of pho and ramen, San Diego-style burritos, and sushi made from fish caught in Long Island Sound. With food-friendly cities like New Haven, Westport, and Norwalk, there are countless places to eat in the state -- here’s your guide to the very best. Read More
Romanacci Pizza Bar Opening By Westport's Train Station Restaurant Pizza Westport Lunch Opening Stephanie Webster August 23, 2017 Big Pizza news from WestportNow...Grab a slice before you hit the train. Romanacci Pizza Bar will open at 50 Railroad Place, Westport in late September, according to Graziano Ricci, co-owner with his brother Maurizio. The brothers currently own two eateries in Norwalk, Osteria since 2009 and Romanacci Pizza Bar since 2012. Since then, the Ricci brothers expanded to Monroe and Trumbull over the past two years. Graziano said the Westport shop, at the beginning, will offer pizza only on a delivery or takeout basis and said commuters can text order from the train and the pizza will be ready for pick up. “We are applying for a beer and wine license,” he said. Read CTbites' review of Romanacci's Norwalk location. Read More
Mecha Noodle Bar Fairfield Expands Dining Room & Bar Features Restaurant Fairfield Asian Noodles Kid Friendly Bar Stephanie Webster August 22, 2017 Have you spent some time waiting in line to get into Mecha Noodle Bar in Fairfield? Good news! Mecha has just gotten bigger and is celebrating with a party on September 2. Here's the scoop. One of the area’s most acclaimed Asian restaurants, Mecha Noodle Bar, has premiered its new expanded restaurant space in its Fairfield location. With an additional 705-square feet added to the existing space, the space boasts a second bar and additional seating for 20 guests. More patrons than ever before can now enjoy Mecha Noodle Bar’s widely popular dishes and innovative cocktails. The space now conjoins the evolving Mecha space with its high energy, 90’s-themed music, and of course, the “bowl and a stiff drink model.” From a design perspective, the signature 2x4 wood continues throughout the ceiling as well as some fun pop culture-themed artwork adorn the walls. The new bar allows for more guest interaction and the opportunity to debut our new spiked boba teas, cocktails and house made sodas. Read More
Tomato Montadito w/ Goat Cheese Recipe via Barcelona Wine Bar Features Recipe Recipe healthy Stephanie Webster August 22, 2017 Tomato season is in fill swing in CT and Barcelona Wine Bar is featuring this gorgeous local bounty. There is nothing simpler than this recipe for Tomato Montadito w/ Goat Cheese but some things are better left simple. Read More
Hidden CT Gem: Flour Water Salt Bread Artisan Baker Ingredients Restaurant Bakery Dessert Georgetown Specialty Market Homepage Breakfast Andrew Dominick August 20, 2017 On certain mornings, the village of Georgetown smells as if it was baked inside a loaf of bread. That was my initial thought when attempting to track down local baker Rob VanKeuren. I had the address, but wasn’t certain where he was exactly. My “Where are you?” messages went unanswered, although not on purpose, the guy was wrapped up in baking. A cluster of mailboxes and my own lack of sleep the night before combined for confusion and I ended up in a driveway, still sniffing the air, and I was greeted by a tiger-striped cat, then a kid. I asked if he knew where I could find “the guy that bakes bread.” He brought my question to his mom and returned with, “Go to Lombardi’s. A right turn out of the driveway and immediately on your right.” Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of August 20-27 Features Events News Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 18, 2017 Didn't get to Europe this summer? Experience an "Evening in Italy" at Elm Restaurant on Saturday August 26th with a special wine pairing event. Enjoy a delicious 4-course menu created by the chef accompanied by unique Italian wine varietals. Limited seating, reserve a spot now. 203 -920-4994. $85/pp exclusive of tax/gratuity.On Monday, August 21, Cask Republic New Haven will host a Counter Weight Tap Takeover at 5:00pm. The brews on tap will include Headway IPA, Workhorse Pilsner, Space Coyote IPA, Spiral Architect DIPA, Wizard Fight DIPA, Mixed cassette Grisette, Cask Conditioned Headway IPA, and more. Visit their Facebook and Instagram pages or call 475-238-8335 for more information.New Haven Craft Beer Week returns August 20 – 26 in partnership with Beer Collective! Read More
BAD SONS Brewery Opens In Derby: Designed For Guests Ingredients Features Derby Brewery Beer CT Beer Beer Garden Road Trip James Gribbon August 18, 2017 First of all: Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, Shelton - in acronym, BAD SONS, collectively "The Valley." Once the manufacturing heart of an industrial state, the factories shut down to reopen out west, overseas, or not at all, but their brick shells remained. Once known for hats, watches, and artillery shells, there is new life to be found in old factories in the valley, which have become perfect incubators for the Connecticut brewing industry's baby boom.The BAD SONS brewery inhabits a space in Derby just down the Housatonic river from the Yale crew team's boathouse, about 300 yds from the Dew Drop Inn. This coal-era brick monolith may be where "BAD SONS" comes to mean "Valley Beer." Read More
Chef Brian Lewis To Open Modern Japanese Inspired Restaurant in Westport Restaurant Chef Talk Westport Japanese Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster August 17, 2017 Chef Brian Lewis, of The Cottage, has an exciting announcement...From the moment that we opened our doors and started cooking at The Cottage, I knew that we had really stumbled onto both a truly special town and adventurous clientele in Westport, one that really connected with my cooking and supported my full creative expression.So as we turn the corner in completing our second year of cooking our most heartfelt local American Cuisine at The Cottage, with simply the best culinary and service team that I have ever had the privilege of working with, I am delighted to announce that we are now set to expand our other culinary passion – with a modern Japanese Izakaya meets Omakase restaurant in a treasured Westport landmark, The Vigilant Hose Company Firehouse, right across the river on Wilton Road. Read More
Hummock Island Oyster Company Lauches "Oyster Tours" Features Seafood Events Oysters Norwalk Specialty Market Education Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 16, 2017 You may have been told not to eat raw oysters in months that don’t have an R. It’s not true. It was a beautiful, temperate August afternoon when I stood on Hummock Island slurping freshly harvested oysters and casting their shells onto the ground below. Hummock Island Oyster Company recently started offering “oyster tours,” giving the public an opportunity to visit the island, witness the operation, and taste oysters fresh from the sea. I eagerly accepted their invitation to participate, which is how I found myself indulging in oysters in early August. Read More
CTbites Hosts Chef Demo Tent at Blues Views BBQ Festival Sept 2nd CTbites Team August 15, 2017 The 10th annual Blues, Views & BBQ Festival presented by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association will be held in Westport CT on September 2 & 3rd at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts and the grounds of the Westport Library.CTbites will once again play host to the areas top chefs as they grill up some of their favorite dishes and offer up samples for attendees of the festival. CTbites Chef Line-up for 2017Saturday 9/2 12-4 pm 12:00- Match/OmNeez (and soon, Burger Lobster in Westport) - Chef Match Storch1:00- Fleishers Craft Butchery- Paul Nessel 2:00- The Spread/ElSegundo- Chef Carlos Baez3:00- ‘Port Westport- Chef Justin Kaplan4:00- Da Pietros Restaurant - Chef Pietro Scotti Read More
Paci Restaurant in Southport Re-Launches with New Interior & Menu Features Southport Opening Stephanie Webster August 14, 2017 Paci, one of Connecticut’s best Italian restaurants, has completed a grand remodeling and renovation after 21 years in businessThe restaurant, located in the nationally recognized historic train depot in Southport, will reopen on September 5th after a two month long redesign. The fresh new space showcases a new gleaming 1000 square foot glass walled bar with spacious seating as well as a gorgeous new dining area. The adjacent grounds will offer patio seating hedged with lush greenery. A new menu and hours of operations are also planned. Read More
