Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of July 15-22 Events News Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 13, 2018 The Fig Cooking School in Milford will help kids learn how to cook over summer break! From Monday, July 16– Friday July 20, kids ages 9-17 can attend a “Summer Breeze” summer break workshop. The week focuses on flavorful menus with seasonal ingredients and exploring the natural world to find the best elements. Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes Cupcake Camp Session 2 takes place from July 16-19 in Oakville. Each Session runs Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm and culminates in Cupcake War where campers compete and local celebrities come to judge. Caseus Fromagerie Bistro in New Haven is “Celebrating American Made Cheeses” on Tuesday July 17. Join them from 6-7:30pm for a tasting of domestic cheeses. It is $45 per person. Fairfield Cheese Company presents “American Pioneers: An Evening with Cypress Grove Creamery” on Tuesday July 17. Cypress Grove, founded by Mary Keehn in the 1970s, was one of the first to explore the world of goat cheese. On Thursday July 19, “Wine & Dine” with Wine & Spirits Director Gretchen Thomas and Chef Dylan Hansen at Barcelona New Haven.The Taste of Hartford's summer edition returns July 16 through July 29! Restaurants throughout the city are featuring multi-course, prix-fixe menus. Participating restaurants include Capital Grill, Porrin & Pina, Ted's Montana Grill, Trumbull Kitchen, Vivo, and more. Read More
Food & Drink Podcast: Meet Watertown's Hawk Ridge Winery Features Podcast Ken Tuccio July 12, 2018 This week Ken Tuccio sits down with Vin Giannetto and Michele McHugh, two of the owners of Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown. They tell their interesting story about how, with very little experience in wine making, they managed to turn their lot of land into one of the most gorgeous vineyards in the state. Have a listen here. Read More
Tarry Lodge Debuts "Aperitivo" Happy Hour Features Restaurant Happy Hour Pizza Westport Italian Wine Bar Andrew Dominick July 11, 2018 Happy hours are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Bad day? Have a reduced-price wine, beer, or cocktail to take the edge off. Even worse day? Have more than one. Hungry? Happy hours usually offer a handful of delectable bites to be had on the cheap as an accompaniment to your glass of booze. I’m obviously a fan of the whole idea of happy hours—and I’m betting you are too—so I’m always on the lookout for new ones in the area. That’s when I came across Tarry Lodge Westport’s brand new Aperetivo Hour.Introduced in May, Aperitivo Hour goes down Monday – Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. It features wine and cocktails for $10 each, and five snackable small plates for $5 per. Read More
Heibeck’s in Wilton: American Roadside Fare Since 1931 Restaurant Wilton Take Out ice cream Burgers Hot Dogs Tacos Comfort Food American Lunch Kid Friendly homepage Homepage Brett Levy July 08, 2018 Escape to a different era where comfort food is locally sourced, you are served with compassion and a smile on a garden patio, and you can experience a country feel that makes our fast-paced world slow down just a bit. This cute date (BYO), family fun and good vibe spot is something special to CT that you simply shouldn’t miss.Heibeck’s in Wilton opened in 1931 and has been family run for four generations. Back then, George Heibeck and Katherine Dhly Heibeck stayed up all night to hand churn over 100 of their original ice cream flavors to perfection, and then served the creamy goodness to their loyal customers daily. Though their ice cream is no longer produced on premises, the family prides itself upon the use of local food sources. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for July 9-15 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 06, 2018 Each week CTbites features upcoming events, new menus and food happenings. Starting Monday, July 9, Mecha Noodle Bar SoNo will debut a Tiki-inspired cocktail menu! They promise drinks that are “less sugary through the use of green juices and vinegars.” Read More
Episode 8- Food & Drink Podcast - Lock City Brewing Features Interview Podcast Interview Ken Tuccio July 05, 2018 Lock City Brewing in Stamford is producing some of the best beer in the state, but what's their story? Read More
Sandy Hook’s Nouveau Monde Wine Bar Has Paris-Bistro Feel Restaurant Sandy Hook French Lunch WIne Wine Bar Connecticut Magazine July 05, 2018 Looking for French fare, with an exceptional wine list? Connecticut Magazine reviews Nouveau Monde Wine Bar in Sandy Hook, CT. At some point during your visit to Nouveau Monde Wine Bar, you will start to crave wine.Maybe this craving will begin when you walk in and see the steampunk elegance of the main dining area, a space that feels equal parts bar, classic cafe, restaurant and offbeat library. Perhaps it will strike as you read the wine list itself, a thick document that goes on and on like a William Faulkner sentence punctuated by descriptions such as “spicy yet fruity, red wine drinkers’ rosé.” Maybe it will begin when your server asks, “What type of wine do you usually drink?” and you realize “IPAs” is not an acceptable response.Or, at least, that’s what happened to me. This newfound appreciation of wine capped (or in this case, corked) a visit to the restaurant that, to put it in language a wine lover would understand, was a rich, full-bodied evening highlighted by notes of cellared ambiance, clean, bright food flavors that were anything but dry and a sweet, rich finish courtesy of a knockout dessert. Read More
It's a Woman's World: Carissa Dellicicchi of The Stand Juice Company Features Interview Chef Talk Jeanne Muchnick July 03, 2018 Fairfield County is full of trailblazing women, particularly in the culinary world. Which is why, with 2018 being proclaimed the Year of the Woman, we felt compelled to honor the pioneers among us. Our series, “It’s A Woman’s World’ is devoted to Fairfield County female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.How'd they do it? Read on. This week, our focus turns to Carissa Dellicicchi, owner of The Stand Juice Company. Have a suggestion on someone you’d like to see featured? Email steph@ctbites.com. Read More
Gluten, Grain or Dairy Free? Pour Me Cafe in Danbury Has You Covered Restaurant Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Danbury Local Artisan Gluten-Free Lunch Breakfast Homepage Stephanie Webster July 01, 2018 You know how it goes. When you have a food allergy or sensitivity, or if you eat vegan or paleo, and you want to go out to eat anywhere, it can at times be quite the task to find a place to accommodate for what you need and want. Enter Pour Me in Danbury. I heard about them from a friend who also has food sensitivities and she called it a ‘healthy comfort food type place.’ So as someone who can’t have gluten or dairy, I was naturally intrigued. It was so nice not to have to call ahead to see if they had options other than a salad! Andrea Gartner, the owner of Pour Me, opened the fine fast food cafe in downtown Danbury on a mission to revitalize downtown, and to provide food that gives people the fuel they need to “go out and do good in the world.” Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of July 1-8 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 29, 2018 The Westport Historical Society will be hosting a cocktail and garden party on July 1 from 5-7pm. The theme is “Westport is Your Oyster” and there will be fresh oysters courtesy of Copps Island Oysters as well as Prosecco and bourbon. Read More
Strawberry-Rose Petal Ice Cream Recipe via Westport Farmers' Market Recipe Features Recipe ice cream CTbites Team June 28, 2018 'Tis the season we wait for all year...Strawberry season. Those sweet red beauties are ready to pick in CT and can be enjoyed at these local farms. If you can't pick-your-own, just head to your local farmers' market. One of our favorite markets, The Westport Farmers' Market, has shared this recipe for Strawberry-Rose Petal Ice Cream. Get shopping... Read More
Episode 7 - Food & Drink Podcast-Charter Oak Brewing (Scott Vallely) Features Podcast Interview Ken Tuccio June 28, 2018 For years Charter Oak Brewing has been trying to open up a physical brewery in Connecticut, but they've been met with roadblock after roadblock. They never quit though, and as a result they now have a gorgeous brewery in Danbury CT which is ready to pour beers for the public. Ken sits down with Scott Vallely, the founder of Charter Oak Brewing, to discuss the hurdles and challenges he faced to get to this point. Listen here Read More
Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield Welcomes New Executive Chef Zach Campion Features Chef Ridgefield CTbites Team June 27, 2018 Nearly 20 years ago, a neighborhood coffee shop was transformed into a charming New American restaurant. The concept was a simple one; a seasonal menu presented in a relaxed atmosphere; a concept that would grow with the town; and a restaurant where a chef’s creativity could shine. Owner Sal Bagliavio opened Bailey’s Backyard in October of 1999 and continues to make his culinary mark on the town of Ridgefield, CT.Today, this seasoned restaurateur is joined by Executive Chef Zach Campion, a Johnson & Whales alumn with kitchen cred that includes; Local 121 in Providence, RI whose concept was tagged as “locally harvested food and drink”; the ground-breaking Metro Bis in Simsbury, CT under the direction of Chef Christopher Prosperi; and continued to hone his craft in the kitchen of ON20 restaurant, a Hartford, CT culinary institution. Read More
Norwalk’s Catch of the Day Lasts All Summer Long (sponsored post) Restaurant Norwalk Seafood lunch Fish Raw Bar CTbites Team June 26, 2018 Photo Credit: The Cask RepublicInspired by New England waters and international flavor profiles, Norwalk Now celebrates summertime with vibrant seafood dishes befitting that of a thriving coastal community. From raw bar favorites laced with hot sauce to butter-vs-mayo lobster roll wars, Norwalk restaurants embrace the season with a variety of classic, innovative, and over-the-top seafood dishes that add to our summer enjoyment. Read More
Silvia Baldini & Alina Lawrence Launch "The Secret Ingredient Girls" Features Ingredients Online Store Local Artisan Stephanie Webster June 26, 2018 Silvia Baldini is a local CT chef, and a national expert and celebrity in the food and media industry. Alena Lawrence is of the few women Olive Oil experts in the US, and was the owner of Olivette, an award winning boutique and olive oil tasting room in CT. The two met several years ago and immediately discovered they shared the same passions: cooking, traveling and living a high-quality life to the fullest. Now, they have joined to create The Secret Ingredient Girls, a curated site that sells only ingredients that adhere to their discerning taste and expertise in the food industry. Read More
LobsterCraft Opens Lobster Shack in Fairfield CT Restaurant Seafood Lobster Lobster Bake Catering Food Truck Lunch Fairfield Comfort Food Outdoor Dining Homepage Jessica Ryan June 24, 2018 It’s just as you’d imagine a perfect lobster shack to be – small, somewhat quirky, a whole lotta fun and absolutely delicious. LobsterCraft opened its retail doors a few months ago in Fairfield, just off of the Post Road. You have to look for it. If you blink you’ll likely drive past the sandwich board sign, the first time you go. But once you find it you’ll never forget. Parked next to the shop is their truck, and a tented, casual seating area, reminiscent of those great roadside eateries along the coast of Maine. I think those are the truest gems – lobster rolls the way lobster rolls are meant to be. This is a paper plate and paper napkin eatery which only enhances the whole lobster roll experience. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of June 24-31 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 22, 2018 On Thursday June 28 at 6pm, attend a Sunset Cruise with Mystic Whaler Cruises and the Mystic Cheese Company! You bring the wine and they’ll provide hors d’oeuvres and a beautiful trip along Connecticut’s coastline. It is $60 for those 13+ and $30 for kids ages 5-12. Walrus + Carpenter is celebrating 5 years in Black Rock! Join them on Saturday June 30 to commemorate the occasion with WalrusFEST 2018. In addition to a pie eating contest, a bouncy house, live music, and cornhole, there will be a pet adoption event in conjunction with Little Dog Rescue. High West will also be on hand with plenty of whisky. This summer, Plan b Restaurants is bringing the shore indoors with its Summertime Seafood menu! Available from June 25 to July 22 at all CT and MA locations, the menu features dishes like whole belly clams, classic New England style clam chowder, Maine lobster rolls, and a “Best of New England” platter with fried clams, shrimp, and pollock. This summer, Millstone Farm is hosting Summer Soiree Dinners with Chef Geoff Lazlo. The evening begins at 6pm with a cocktail hour featuring a signature cocktail infused with herbs from the farm and passed hors d’oeuvres. A three course dinner will then be served family style while guests dine al fresco (BYOB). The first takes place on Thursday June 28. Read More
Episode 6 - Chef Bill Taibe: Kawa Ni / Jesup Hall / The Whelk Interview Features Podcast Interview Celebrity Chef Ken Tuccio June 21, 2018 Chef Bill Taibe's culinary reputation is nationally known. His restaurants in Westport (Kawa Ni, The Whelk and Jesup Hall) are destination dining locations. Chef Taibe is making some big changes to the way he does business however, and he sits down with Ken Tuccio to discuss exactly what those changes are and how he's dealing with them both professionally and personally. Listen here. Read More
Guide To Lobsterbake & Clambake Caterers in Connecticut Restaurant Clambake Lobster Lobster Bake Catering Seafood Best of CT Homepage April Guilbault June 21, 2018 Summah. Lobstah. Chowdah. Did you notice that all of these “words” end in “ah”? Ahhhh, guess there is a reason. Summer, with it’s blazing sunshine and easy and delicious seasonal eats, is perfectly ahhh-inducing. One of great things about this time of year is the fresh seafood. Does anything really compare to a New England clambake with all the trimmings? Fresh, sweet lobster, briny clams, crunchy fresh corn, succulent mussels, creamy red potatoes…wait! Don’t forget the buttah. There’s that “ah” again. We hope you have many of these enjoyable shared meals with friends and family in the beautiful, warm months ahead. Here’s a list to help you on your way… Read More
Hey Stamford Food Festival is Back With Amazing Food Truck Lineup Features Festival Food Truck Stamford Stephanie Webster June 20, 2018 The Hey Stamford! Food Festival is back! The two-day, family oriented food festival will feature a full concert experience on the Minchin Buick GMC mainstage. Joining us is legendary rapper Tone Loc, “The Worlds Best Party Band” Party Rock, Country star, Dylan Scott and regional country favorites, Jump the Gunn to name just a few. The Blind Rhino Beer Garden will highlight the finest in regional and national breweries, the Fairfield County Bank Kids Zone will include a host of games and activities for the family. And it’s not a food festival without some amazing cuisine! Check out the amazing line-ups of food trucks and vendors... Read More
