Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events for July 15th – 21st

Features News Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 11, 2019

On July 18, Chef Frederic Kieffer of Artisan Restaurants and L’escale comes to Wakeman Town Farm for an Intimate Chef’s Dinner. Dine on four courses of seasonal, local fare served in Tim's Kitchen. Guests are welcome to stroll the Farm's organic gardens and visit our animals before sitting down. The menu will be inspired by the best of what's available that week from the farm’s farmer/fisherman friends. Tickets are limited and the event is BYOB, so feel free to bring wine, beer or your favorite libations. Glassware and openers provided.

Chop Shop Cooking Classes continue on Wednesday July 17 with Summer Party Bites. The menu includes heirloom tomato bruschetta w/feta pesto, lobster quesadillas w/black bean mango salsa, cucumber cups w/feta, roasted peppers and olives, buffalo shrimp w/herb ranch dressing, and BBQ chicken wontons w/bleu cheese dip.

Terrain Café invites you to a Farmers' Market Dinner on July 18. Meet them on their patio for an al fresco dinner in collaboration with the Westport Farmers' Market. This three-course, plant-based meal will highlight fresh ingredients from local partners and purveyors to be enjoyed with a view of their newly expanded blooming nursery. Reservations are required. $75 per person. Cost includes three-course dinner, a welcome cocktail, and passed appetizers.

Summer Strawberry Gelato with Waffle Cones Recipe from Sugar and Olives

Features Recipe Dessert

CTbites Team July 11, 2019

It’s summer, and that means the local CT Farmers’ Markets are bursting with color and flavor. Lucious strawberries are readily available at the Westport Farmers Market (or at a market near you), but they go fast so be sure to grab your pint. If you make it home without eating all of your berries in the car, try this great recipe for Strawberry Gelato from Jennifer Balin, owner of Sugar & Olives.

Yalla Organic Hummus and Grill: Middle Eastern, The Way YOU Want It in Fairfield

Restaurant Fairfield healthy Organic Mediterranean Fast Casual Lunch

CTbites Team July 10, 2019

Yalla Organic Hummus and Grill has taken Fairfield County by storm. Yalla Organic is a consumer-oriented experience where you get to choose exactly how your lunch and dinner is prepared down to the last detail. This family-run business has quickly become a town staple of Fairfield… and their hummus is making me question all previous hummus choices I have made.

The Dilly Duck Shop in Norwalk: Checking In 18 Months Later + New Menu Additions

Restaurant Norwalk Lunch Sandwich Breakfast Homepage

Andrew Dominick July 09, 2019

Eighteen months ago, a small eatery with an odd name opened in a strip mall on the Norwalk-Wilton line. It was then that our own April Guilbault clued readers in on what The Dilly Duck Shop was all about.

Fast forward to present day. Word about The Dilly Duck Shop is getting out, and it’s all been positive for chef Russ Zappala and his mother, Phyllis, who runs the front of the house. “We’ve somehow maintained solid online ratings across the board, five stars,” Russ said. “We haven’t been able to fully commit to advertising, so we rely on that, and word of mouth. It spreads slowly, but we’ve noticed growth every month.”

That word of mouth is what brought me to Dilly Duck in the first place. Locals talk about it, as do Fairfield County chefs. Zappala’s philosophy that’s worked so far is to grow organically with the community and create a menu that the people here yearn for.

Dilly Duck is a darling amongst its regulars for a reason.

MIKU Sushi Opens in Greenwich-World Class Seafood at the Top of the Ave

Restaurant Sushi Openings Greenwich Lunch Seafood Homepage Japanese

Lou Gorfain July 07, 2019

K Dong is beaming. Not because his newly minted MIKU Sushi Restaurant in Greenwich has just opened to strong word-of-mouth and packed houses. Nope, his delighted smile is the result of a diner’s one-word reaction to the Tuna Tartare:

“Ethereal.”

That diner is me and I am quite impressed… as well as surprised. In most restaurants, TT has become a boring culinary meme — over sauced, over spiced, and overworked. K Dong’s version is totally understated. Garnished with micro greens, the crimson slices crown a mound of vividly green avocado, which sits on a gossamer of Yuzu and a whisper of wasabi. Rather than overwhelming the delicate flesh, like so many tartares, the sauce and spice enhance the pristine flavor of the Bluefin. Yep, this dish is, indeed, “Ethereal.”

Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events for July 8th – 14th

Features News Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 03, 2019

After taking a small summer break, Ordinary in New Haven is open once more. Join them Monday July 8.

Guilford Mooring hosts a Lobster Bake on Tuesday July 9. Feast on a meal of 1 ¼ Lobster, shrimp, mussels, steamers, sweet sausage, corn on the cob, Red Bliss Potatoes, and NY Cheesecake. (There are also options for land lovers and children!) It starts at 5pm and costs $55 per person.

On Thursday, July 11, Mystic Aquarium’s Conservation in Action series presents an evening of culinary education and exploration with Eating with the Ecosystem. Mystic Aquarium’s Main Gallery is the perfect backdrop for a night of cocktails and local sustainable seafood. Admission includes a delectable presentation, sustainable and adventurous seafood appetizers from the cookbook Simmering the Sea: Diversifying Cookery to Sustain Our Fisheries, plus one complimentary cocktail, wine or beer of your choice. $28 per person or $50 for two online in advance.

Carbone’s Kitchen (Bloomfield) and Carbone’s Prime (Rocky Hill) have launched “Summer Maine Lobster Nights.” Offered every Monday-Wednesday in July and August, the menu includes your choice of Shrimp Bisque or Garden Salad, a 1 1/4 lb. Steamed Maine Lobster with Roasted Potatoes and Native Corn on the Cob, and Summer Berry Shortcake. This taste of summer is being offered at $32 per person, beverage, tax and gratuity not included.

Chocoylatte Gourmet Opens in Downtown Cos Cob, Greenwich

Restaurant Openings Bakery Chocolate Coffee Greenwich Cos Cob Dessert

CTbites Team July 02, 2019

Downtown Cos Cob will be a lot sweeter with the much-anticipated grand opening of Chocoylatte Gourmet on Monday, July 8. The desserts & coffee shoppe, located at 121 E. Putnam Avenue will open its doors to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 11am.

Chocoylatte Gourmet will offer an array of handmade freshly baked desserts, cookies, pastries and assorted fine chocolates made with the finest ingredients available in the market. Every treat will be prepared from scratch, every day and handcrafted on-site. For those with dietary sensitivities, the desserts & coffee shoppe will also offer gluten-free and lactose-free goodies, and promises to maintain the same high-quality ingredients baked with thoughtfulness and care. Guests will also enjoy recipes containing less sugar, no trans fats, non-GMO ingredients, no preservatives, no chemicals, no artificial preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, and no artificial flavors.

CT Guide to Outdoor Dining (2019): 100 + Restaurants for Summer

Features Restaurant Best of CT Outdoor Dining Summer Patio RoofTop

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 01, 2019

Summer lasts for about six weeks, and I want to soak up every glorious morsel of sunshine that I can while it is here! I also want to partake in the delicious food the season has to offer. Connecticut restaurants are making sure that we don’t have to choose between those two options. Places across the state are opening up their patios, decks, and rooftop bars. Here is a lift of over 130 restaurants where you can fine al fresco this summer.

Tavern on State, New Haven: Tavern on State, owned by Chef Emily Mingrone, is one of the latest to join the dozens of exceptional restaurants in the New Haven area. There are 45 seats outdoors.

Birdman Juke Joint, Bridgeport: The much-anticipated restaurant from Chef Chris Scott will have some outdoor seating in Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood.

High George, New Haven: High George, located at The Blake Hotel in New Haven, is a new three-season rooftop restaurant that features a full food and beverage menu inspired by Summers in New England. James Beard-nominated Chef Tyler Anderson, along with partners A.J. Aurrichio and Tim Cabral, is overseeing its operations.

Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, Fairfield & New Haven: The Fairfield location of Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill has a large patio for al fresco dining with firepits for cold evenings. In New Haven, enjoy their heated patio that is enclosed for year-round dining.

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar, New Haven: Shell & Bones Oyster Bar in New Haven has a fabulous view of the water with floor to ceiling doors that are open in summer and a deck directly on the water complete with fire pits and patio heaters for chilly nights. Dive into their Harbor Sampler or the Tower of Shells, with lobsters, clams, oysters, and shrimp.

Gruel Britannia Opens in Southport: The British Are Here!

Restaurant British Lunch Breakfast Tea And Coffee Brunch Homepage

Andrew Dominick June 30, 2019

Karen Hubrich will openly state that she’s not a classically trained chef. Despite that, she has certainly lived the life of a bonafide foodie.

She grew up in London, in a household where her parents were avid cooks that often threw dinner parties and they believed in eating “good food.” Her love of cuisine only grew after time spent in Italy, but she credits a restaurant owner on the Greek island of Corfu with her first true kitchen lesson in which they made moussaka.

There’s a lot more to Hubrich’s culinary origin story by our friend Dan Woog, but her past eventually led to chef gigs at the MetroTech Center in Brooklyn and Williams Club in Midtown. After that she was hired as Michael Bolton’s personal chef and had stints at the Fairfield County Hunt Club, as the executive chef for the New York Times dining room, and back to Connecticut to work at the Pequot Yacht Club. To boot, she even ran a private catering business through most of her chef life.

These days, you’ll find Hubrich doing her own thing in Southport. Chances are you’ve driven past Gruel Britannia on the Post Road and likely eased off the gas pedal as you wondered, “What is this?”

At Gruel Britannia, Hubrich is going back to her London roots by cooking British food, a cuisine she once described as “diabolical.” Hubrich’s food is more refined. It’s brighter than the bland browns and beiges we picture when we think of old-world English grub.

Strega: Fine Italian & Neapolitan-Style Pizza in Branford

Restaurant Branford Italian Lunch Mediterranean

Kristin L. Wolfe June 28, 2019

Get your passport, pronto!

The eight of you who read my work know about my passion for all things Italian: the espresso, the wine, the men (hmm, sore subject), the music (1990s Zucchero anyone?), but, when you have good, really good Italian food, it can truly be a spiritual experience.

And that just happened. At Strega in Branford. Owner and pizzaiolo Danilo Mongillo alongside his Chef Marco Giugliano have broken ground, dug their hands in, and come out with gold. Mongillo, from Puglianello in the Benevento region of Italy, has been in Connecticut since 2014 and says he’s been so thankful for the Branford community for how welcoming they’ve been since the restaurant opened in 2016.

Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For July 1st – 7th

Features News Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 27, 2019

Oyster Club in Mystic now has a cocktail lounge pop up every first and third Monday night of the month. On Monday July 1, guest bartender is Joshua Perez of Milk & Honey and brand ambassador for REAL MCCOY RUM is premiering Real McCoy 14-Year-Aged limited-edition rum, the first release in the state of Connecticut.

On Tuesday July 2, Stew Leonard’s in Danbury invites tots to a Firecracker Cupcake/Rice Krispies Toddler Class. Each child will decorate four cupcakes and two Rice Krispies Treats in red, white and blue. The class is for ages 2-5 and takes place at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

On Tuesdays at The Spread Norwalk, enjoy $1 oysters all night! Plus, join them for Happy Hour from 4:30 – 7 p.m.

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the waterfront in New Haven, is hosting an Independence Day Eve Celebration on Wednesday, July 3, featuring live music and highlights of the West Haven Fireworks viewed from the Deck. Reservations for dinner service will be available until 10:00 p.m. (inside tables only). Tables on the deck will be available for dinner only on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website or call (203) 787-3466.

Pop-Up Space Junction at North Seven Opens in Norwalk Featuring Food Trucks and More

Restaurant Food Truck Pop-Up Bar Norwalk Entertaining Catering Live Music

Andrew Dominick June 26, 2019

Unless you live in one of the apartment complexes or take the train to and from Metro-North’s Merritt 7 Station you’ve likely never had a reason to go down Glover Avenue. That’s likely going to change with the opening of Junction at North Seven, a brand-new pop-up venue with a focus on food and drink.

Behind the idea of Junction on North Seven is Building and Land Technology (BLT), a development group that’s in charge of evolving of that part of Norwalk, and they’re doing it with a “live, work, play” approach.

A major part of that “live, work, play” philosophy, and what Junction will feature, are local food trucks. Melt Mobile, Meˈstēzō Grill, Caffè Bon, Greek Style Grill, Cowabunga, Carmela’s Italian Kitchen, and DCW, an ice cream sundae truck that incorporates donuts, churros, and waffles into their creamy creations, have all made multiple appearances.

Others that will soon sling food outside of Junction’s garage bays are Hapa, Angie’s Cocinita, Crazy Taco Mex, Planet Pizza, and The Chamo.

Wood Fire Food Custom Catering Events with Chef Dan Sabia

Features Farm Dinner Catering Entertaining Farm to Table CT Farms

Maddie Phelps June 25, 2019

When was the last time you thought about where each element of your dinner came from? The plates, the table, the meat, the cups; each item seems to come from an arbitrary supermarket, creating a culture where the process of making and eating food is incredibly solidarity. That, in a nutshell, is why Dan Sabia left the restaurant industry. And now, he’s using his work with wood, fire, and food to change that norm in a world where very few are trying. Chef Dan Sabia is changing the way we think about private catering with his innovative new business, Wood Fire Food.

Pools, Patios, Pergolas...Luxury Tasting Event To Benefit Food Rescue US July 13th!

Features Events

CTbites Team June 24, 2019

A new local food and home luxury event will provide attendees an exclusive opportunity to enjoy fabulous outdoor living spaces and the best summer fare and specialty cocktails. Pools, Patios, Pergolas, a Luxury Tasting Event, benefiting Food Rescue US and being held on Saturday, July 13 from 5 pm to 9 pm, is a fun evening featuring the finest of summer entertaining with signature cuisine and cocktails from Fairfield County’s top caterers: AMG Catering, Festivities, and Marcia Selden Catering in beautiful backyard settings.

The Meatball Shop Opens in Westport June 25th: It's Ball Time People!

Restaurant Westport Openings Italian Kid Friendly Comfort Food Lunch Cocktails Bar Homepage

Maddie Phelps June 24, 2019

Picture this: you’re walking down Westport’s Saugatuck River Bridge on a beautiful summer evening. You’re feeling Italian, but you don’t want pizza. You’re craving some meat, but you don’t want steak. Then you see it. The sign you’ve been looking for since you stopped in to one of their ball-licious locations in New York City. “The Meatball Shop” stands proudly along the river, and you thank your lucky stars that a small town like Westport has been blessed with this treasure of a restaurant.

This fantasy will become a reality for locals this Tuesday, as The Meatball Shop will finally be opening the doors to its Westport location. With seven additional locations– one in D.C. and six in New York– The Meatball Shop has already made a name for itself with its unique take on meatballs and a variety of other delicious choices. For its Westport location in particular, CEO Adam Rosenbaum said he wanted to create a menu that ensures every palette is satisfied by the end of the meal. Diners, I assure you…It does.

Guide To Adult Cooking Classes in Connecticut: 2019 Edition

Features Cooking Cooking Classes Education Best of CT

April Guilbault June 23, 2019

You’ve arranged to keep the kids busy all summer long with camps and lessons, sleepovers and maybe a bit of volunteer work here and there, but what about some fun for YOU? Those kids shouldn’t get all the fun. And because we are, eh-hem, adults, learning a few new things alongside that good time is always a welcome bonus. Cooking classes are a unique way to have a memorable evening. You can go solo, with a friend or a group. Choose the flavors or the skills you are interesting in knowing more about. Then walk away with a full belly, new information and probably a few laughs under your chef’s apron. What the heck are you waiting for? Remember too, these are great gift ideas as well. Friend with a birthday during the summer? Treat them! It’s like dinner out but so much better. Pencil in some time for yourself this summer and treat yourself..like a kid.

Here is our Guide To Adult Cooking Classes in Connecticut.

Chef Emily Mingrone Opens Tavern on State in New Haven: A Delicious Take on Traditional Tavern Fare

Restaurant New Haven Gastropub Bar Cocktails Comfort Food Tavern Homepage

Jessica Ryan June 21, 2019

Tavern on State, owned by Chef Emily Mingrone, is the latest to join the dozens of exceptional restaurants in the New Haven area. I was fortunate to check out the new digs, sit down with Emily, and sample some of the exciting items on the menu.

The restaurant boasts a tavern vibe, but perhaps more in appearance than what’s on the plate. Rich, warm woods welcome you inside a space that seats about 45 (with an additional 45 outdoors) but this is where your notion of tavern starts and ends.

Traditional tavern fare might include burgers and fries, nachos and the like, but a menu that features a blue cheese & truffle burger with thick bacon & red onion on English muffin, Spicy crispy chicken skins & chicharrones, Fried cheese curds with smoked tomato dip, or chilled oysters with yuzu kosho & cucumber, is anything but traditional.

The menu here is as eclectic as it is sophisticated; it raises high the burger bar. It is tavern fare reimagined, and certainly for the more discerning palate that can see beyond a standard plate of fish and chips, jalapeño poppers, calamari, and pepperoni pizza. I have had plenty of tavern fare in my day, and tavern fare doesn’t look or taste like this.

Listen to Top Chef's Chris Scott on the CTbites Hot Dish Podcast

Features Interview Podcast Celebrity Chef

Stephanie Webster June 20, 2019

This week on The CTbites Hot Dish Podcast , we chat with Top Chef’s Chris Scott, who recently opened Birdman Juke Joint in the Black Rock, Bridgeport. Scott talks about his long road to TV's Top Chef, the importance of family and community, and the "Birdman," the inspiration for his new authentic Southern restaurant. You won’t wanna miss this episode. Listen here.

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Search for CTbites Hot Dish or click here.

Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For June 23rd-30th

Features News Events

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 20, 2019

On Thursday June 27th, The Spread Greenwich will have their next Chef's Tasting! Join in for a 5-course culinary adventure served by award-wining Chef Carlos Baez! Limited seating available. Visit them online for details and call today to book your reservation.

The Meatball Shop in Westport, Conn. has a pre-opening party on June22nd! Wine, beer, and their famous meatballs and other favorites will be served to the public for the first time prior to their TBA opening date. All money raised from tickets is going to non-profit Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service. Tickets can be bought online, or at the door. Info here.

Artisan in West Hartford invites you to a garden party on June 27. From 5-7pm, sip on Artisan rose while enjoying a craft cocktail, light bites, and music. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online through Eventbrite or at the door.

Check out the Connecticut Taco Festival: Hartford County on Saturday June 29 at Auerfarm in Bloomfield. Admission covers access to the festival where you can purchase tacos on-site and vote for “Top Taco.” There will also be tequila, Mexican inspired drinks, beer, a taco eating contest, music, and more. Tickets start at $15.

Celebrate the summer with sips and samples and sharks and seals during the “Maritime with a Twist” adults-only evening event on Thursday, June 27th at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Open to anyone age 21 and over, “Maritime with a Twist” features tastes from nearby restaurants in the South Norwalk neighborhood, as well as refreshments by artisanal distillers and distributors. Sample them all while enjoying the entire Aquarium for one price. Music for the evening will be provided by Big Yachty, Fairfield County’s premiere Yacht Rock cover band.

Bar Zorro, Evarito's Rooftop Bar in Downtown South Norwalk, Your New Summer Spot!

Restaurant Norwalk South Norwalk Openings RoofTop Bar Cocktails Mexican

Andrew Dominick June 18, 2019

If you’re strolling around South Norwalk, flip your Ray-Ban aviators on and glance up at the corner of N Main and Washington streets. You see that? The string lights, and oh, wait, there are people up there! And they’re drinking! They’re clearly having fun but you’re down there being lame. Go into Evarito’s and take the elevator to the roof. The doors open, you walk up the ramp’s slight incline, and you’re instantly transported to a tropical oasis. Brightly colored drinks are flowing, cans of Corona are being popped open, and tacos are getting crushed in three bites or less. I bet you feel the opposite of lame. Your cool factor just increased tenfold.

Welcome to Bar Zorro!