Raphaël’s Bakery Opens in Greenwich with Authentic French Baked Goods Restaurant Greenwich Bakery Dessert Baked Goods Opening Camille Vynerib March 04, 2021 At CTbites, we like to feature the voices of food lovers of all ages. Please welcome a new writer from Staples High School, Camille Vynerib.This winter break I was unable to go on vacation due to COVID-19. However, the instant I walked into Raphaël’s Bakery in Greenwich, this snowy morning, I found I was able to catch a glimpse of France. The wonderful smells that immediately hit me as I opened the door, the beautiful pastries, and the delicious hot cocoa and baked goods, all were a treat to the senses.Amidst the pandemic, Raphaël’s Bakery has brought an authentic French experience to Greenwich, Connecticut. Raphaël, a third-generation baker born in Brittany, France, and his wife Charlotte Dequeker finally had their dream become a reality when they opened their doors this past December. Read More
Grammie's Donuts & Biscuits: Get your Breakfast Sandwiches, Donuts & Cronuts DELIVERED! Restaurant Ghost Kitchen Breakfast donuts Cronut Egg Sandwich Delivery Home Delivery Brunch Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster March 02, 2021 I often fantasize about waking up to a 6 pack of donuts and a warm bacon egg and cheese sandwich nestled on a freshly made biscuit. Seriously…all the time. I’ve got issues. Well, now there is a ghost kitchen in Westport, CT where such dreams can become a reality…and they did last weekend. Introducing Grammie’s. For those not familiar with the concept of a ghost kitchen, it just means there is no actual restaurant—not in the traditional sense. You can't come and cozy up to a table, but you can order Grammie's donuts, cronuts, flakey biscuits, croissants and breakfast sandwiches (made on ANY of the above freshly baked carbs) for curbside pickup and delivery through their website. Yup. Lay in bed and hit send…Voila! Read More
Kissaki Opens In Greenwich with An Outstanding Sushi Experience Restaurant Sushi Seafood Japanese Greenwich Omakase Homepage Opening Jessica Ryan February 27, 2021 Kissaki has finally come to CT…Greenwich to be exact. The high end boutique sushi chain has earned accolades from Eater, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Crains, to name a few. Most recently the upscale and wildly popular sushi eatery shot into the spotlight on Page Six when comedian Jimmy Fallon left a $400 tip at the Watermill NY location. CTBites is thrilled to announce the restaurant’s Connecticut debut.Kissaki is the latest in a slew of sushi and omakase joints now calling Greenwich home, but none, so far, has what this has - it’s got chutzpah. The Greenwich venue marks the restaurant’s 5th location after The Hamptons, Long Island City, The Bowery and Columbus Circle. There are plans for further expansion in the near future. Read More
Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends Vol 2 On Sale March 9th! Features Cooking Virtual Cooking Classes Recipe Recipe Video Cookbooks Homepage CTbites Team February 25, 2021 The latest Video Recipe Book from the Jacques Pépin Foundation features over 40 culinary luminaries and will be available March 9th. After a successful Vol. 1 release, The Jacques Pépin Foundation, (JPF) an organization that enriches lives and strengthens communities through culinary education, proudly debuts Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends: Vol 2. This Video Recipe Book features over 40 lauded chefs across the country including Marcus Samuelsson, Ingrid Hoffmann, Michael Voltaggio, Rick Bayless, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Diego Galicia, Traci Des Jardins, and, of course, Jacques Pépin.Each dish and drink featured in Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends includes a personal, instructional video as well a printable recipe. The Video Recipe Book is available to all JPF Members, and in addition to Vol. 2., members can access Vol. 1. Combined, nearly 100 recipes and more than 12 hours of video instruction live on the Membership site. Every JPF Membership directly supports community-based culinary training programs nationwide that provide pathways to individual empowerment, better health and employment. Membership starts at $40 per year. Read More
Antojos Colombian Restaurant: Updated Menu Drops at This Hidden Gem Restaurant Columbian Norwalk New Menu Comfort Food Delicious Dives Take Out To-Go Lunch Stephanie Webster February 23, 2021 Nestled in a strip mall in the Broad River section of Norwalk, you could easily miss Antojos Columbian restaurant. You’ve probably driven by, and barely noticed it, or you may remember our write up on this hidden gem back in 2017. Whether you’re new to Antojos, or a loyal customer, you’ll want to pay attention. They are serving up some seriously tasty authentic Columbian fare, and some exciting new menu items have recently dropped. We felt they were ready for their close-up. Enjoy the photo journey, complete with menu names for easy ordering. Get that drool cup ready… Read More
Yes or No Morgan: Pop Up Immersion Mystery Dinner with Chef Tyler Anderson Restaurant Features Pop-Up West Hartford Dinner & A Show Dinner Events Kristin L. Wolfe February 22, 2021 Just how many creative things have you accomplished or experienced this year? So you’ve become a wizard of Zoom, turned your living room into Studio 54, or maybe you’ve even become TikTok famous for your golden sourdough while being an accountant in your pajamas.Good for you.You have likely NOT, however, headed out your front door to the gorgeous doors of The Goodwin Hotel in Hartford to luxuriate in an evening of mystery over a dinner created by the talented, beloved Connecticut chef Tyler Anderson. Along with TheaterWorks and weHartford, you can now, in a VERY safe, nearly contactless manner, enjoy a 2-3 hour night out. Take a deep dive into clues and mystery in your own room, and marvel in a scrumptious three-course meal. All paying homage to Hartford, Wall Street financier J.P. Morgan, and the late 19th century as it comes back to life today. Read More
Cafe Transilvania Opens in Fairfield: Romanian Cuisine with a Side of Dracula History Restaurant Fairfield Romanian Hungarian Eastern European Take Out To-Go Opening Stephanie Webster February 21, 2021 It’s not easy to find Romanian cuisine in the Nutmeg state. Aline and Christian Caldarariu, owners of the recently opened, Cafe Transilvania, say their new takeout spot is the only Romanian restaurant in Connecticut. The couple, both with backgrounds in hospitality and the culinary world, had intended to open a sit down restaurant pre-Covid, but the world changed, and so did their plans. Their new spot, located at 246 Post Road, in Fairfield CT, has opened to an enthusiastic response from both the large Romanian community in Fairfield County (who knew?), as well as local diners, who are excited to sample a cuisine that has previously eluded food lovers the Connecticut area. Read More
House Of Pho in Stratford Serves Up Much More Than Delicious Pho Restaurant Asian Vietnamese Pho Soups Noodles Noodle Soup Stratford Lunch Comfort Food Opening James Gribbon February 17, 2021 At a hillside shopping center overlooking nothing more fashionable than the far ridge line of the Housatonic River and Sikorsky’s helicopter factory steams a great bowl of pho. It’s a standard bo vien with beef meatballs, ordered lightly rich with small convex globules of transparent oil magnifying both light and flavor in the broth. I’ve recently dosed a bite with a slice of positively infernal green pepper. A less varied quarantine diet has apparently softened my usually spice-calloused tongue. My eyes are watering, and my nose is running. I’m in heaven. Read More
Columbus Park Trattoria: A Stamford Italian Favorite Gets A New Look Restaurant Stamford Italian Lunch Pasta Jessica Ryan February 15, 2021 Last week I had the privilege of revisiting an old favorite, Columbus Park Trattoria. It’s been many years since I’d eaten there, for no reason other than I had been sticking closer to home. But with the Coronavirus in full swing, travel opportunities so limited, and the ease of traveling on I-95 these days, I have started taking to the road for mini adventures and in search of a good bite to eat – and I’ve been encouraging others to do the same in effort to support our restaurants.What’s resulted is the discovery of wonderful, new to me, places that previously would have not have been on my radar and the rediscovery of some old loves. Although food will always be the focal point, the simple act of dining out is really so much more, it’s an experience – something we seem all to be craving. Read More
Where To Find (Some Of!) The Best Hot Toddies in Connecticut Features Best of CT Cocktails Hot Toddy Winter Drinking Rum Homepage James Gribbon February 13, 2021 Something struck me this winter, and do you know what it was? It was a flesh-searing blast of icy wind. On several occasions, actually, and each time I was forced to consider and reconsider which was worse: the strong possibility of frostbite, or a warm mug of gently steaming, thoughtfully prepared booze? The frostbite, I determined, was the less desirable of the two. Having made this intellectual leap, I turned my possibly cold-deadened wits to discovering where I - indeed where we, dear reader - could bend our frozen paws around a glass, mug, or if need be, dish of medium-high proof restorative.This list (and feel free to add your favorites in the comments, and on our social media feeds) is an incomplete look at everywhere in our great state where hot drinks are sold. Let's just call it a survey, a "jump off," if you must, to locating our lost good will where it can usually be found this time of year, at the bottom of a cup. Read More
Marcia Selden Catering & Pop-Up Bagels Team Up For Epic Weekend Bagel Brunch Features Ingredients Pop-Up Bagels Caterers Stamford Westport Breakfast Brunch Homepage Stephanie Webster February 11, 2021 We love it when two of our favorite food brands team up for a pop-up that involves delicious carb-loaded brunch fare. You may have heard me sing some praise for Adam Goldberg and his ridiculously tasty Pop-Up Bagels. Well, he has found a new regular Stamford pop-up location and dedicated cooking team with Marcia Selden Catering. Last weekend, CTbites got the chance to tag along for some bagel making fun. And, don’t worry…if you missed this past week’s pop-up event, mark your calendars for March 6th, and follow @popupbagels for notifications because these bagels sell out QUICKLY!So, here’s how this bagel making and baking went down. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events for February 10-30th Features News Events Promotions Opening Stephanie Webster February 09, 2021 The SoNo Collection will be enticing diners and local residents alike with their exciting Dine and Delight promotion through the end of February. A $20 Reward Card will be given to guests when they spend a total $50 or more, Simply take a photo of your receipt including restaurant info and date of purchase, upload, and complete a few easy steps—that’s it! This promotion is applied to all takeout, delivery, and dine-in options from sought-after restaurants including Nordstrom’s Bazille, Pinstripes, Pokélicious, Romanacci Express, SoNo Ramen, Uncle Seven and more – each serving up some seriously insta-worthy meals.Join Union Kitchen & Wurst Haus for their UK Hunter's Dinner. A little bit of Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant is coming to WeHA with the help of Wurst Haus West Hartford - We'll be celebrating Game Month ALL FEBRUARY LONG with our Hunter's Dinner on February 18th! See the menu & purchase your tickets at unionkitchenct.comThe newly opened sweetgreen in Greenwich has made it a bit easier for those of us further north to grab a salad. Beginning February 10, Monday - Friday, Mike's Organic will serve as a sweetgreen outpost. It's as simple as downloading the sweetgreen app and selecting "sg Mike's Organic" as a pickup location. Order by 11 a.m. for bowl pickup between 12:15 and 12:30.Join Dom’s Cheese Shop for a Valentine Cheese and Wine Tasting virtual event! Fri, Feb. 12, featuring French cheeses and carefully selected wines to accompany. Register, pick up your cheese and wine, cozy up at home and get on the zoom! Single tickets includes a cheese plate and 2 bottles of wine, couple’s ticket includes cheese plate for 2 and 2 bottles of wine. Head to “events” on their website.Sport Hill Farm’s CSA is open for registration. Sign up ASAP to support your local farmer and receive a full season of fresh gorgeous produce, meat, bread, + gluten free and vegan options. Read More
MOON Opens in Greenwich: Japanese Omakase + European Fine Dining Restaurant Greenwich Japanese American Sushi Fine Dining Cocktails Homepage Opening Jessica Ryan February 07, 2021 Moon is the newest restaurant to grace Greenwich’s illustrious restaurant scene offering a mixed culinary concept featuring an immersive cocktail experience, and an authentic Japanese Omakase experience. The upscale eatery boasts an interior with influences from both Asia and Europe. Sleek lines, natural elements of woods, stone and glass grace the interior offering an atmosphere that is sophisticated, elegant and welcoming. Read More
Citizen Chicken + Donuts Opens TODAY in West Hartford Restaurant West Hartford Fried Chicken Breakfast Lunch Comfort Food Doughnuts donuts Bakery Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster February 06, 2021 If the buzz around KFC’s 2020 rollout of their fried chicken and donut sandwich says anything about our appetite for this decadently delicious combo, I’d say with great certainty that the new Citizen Chicken & Donuts, opening today in West Hartford, has some serious legs. From the folks who brought you Hartford Baking Company, Citizen Chicken & Donuts has made a smart addition to the team, a chef who knows things about Southern cooking, and definitely knows his fried chicken. Texas born, Chef Van Hurd, of Sayulita’s, Taino Smokehouse, and Riverhouse Catering, will be at the helm alongside Hartford Baking Company founder, Scott Kluger, who will handle the carb-ier side of Citizen’s menu, including the donuts, brioche sandwich breads, cronuts and other goodies. Kluger says “Fried chicken is not our background or culture so it’s nice to have somebody from that world to bring real authenticity to the menu.” It’s really the perfect pairing, and you can find this comfort food mecca at Hartford Baking Company’s original location on New Park Avenue in West Hartford. Read More
Nala’s Kitchen: Healthy Food Delivered & Now Available Throughout CT Features Restaurant Take Out Home Delivery Healthy Eats healthy Meals To Go West Hartford Kristin L. Wolfe February 05, 2021 As of February 1, fans of Nala’s Kitchen will be able to get some of their delicious, wholesome meals at various Noble Convenience Stores across Connecticut. Sure, You can order their meals online whenever you’d like, but what a radical shift for your gas and go stops! Imagine going to a convenience store, after pumping gas, and, instead of coming out with candy, soda, and some unidentifiable colorful snack you’d likely feel guilty and sick over twenty minutes later, you could leave your local Noble’s munching on something that will be both healthy and gaa’damn delicious. Read More
2021 Valentine's Day Guide to Restaurants, Caterers, Gifts, Sweets & Events in CT Features Valentine's Day Holiday Dessert Chocolate Homepage April Guilbault February 04, 2021 Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! In a time when giving a hug has become an event, any reason to celebrate love has to be embraced! Whether you are planning a cozy-delish dinner at home, venturing out (safely) to a restaurant, wanting to give a sweet gift or even try a new class with your sweetie, we’ve got you covered.Take a lookie! We’ve arranged this listing in a different way this year, with the hopes that you can find exactly what you are looking for easily. About Valentine’s Day, ya got nice dinners, ya got chocolate and ya got time with your honey. So, those are our categories: Restaurants/Caterers, Sweets/Gifts, and Events/Classes. Scroll the list to find what you want and need and enjoy the holiday. There are some great ideas here, proving that nothing stands in the way of love. Pssst: This is also quite possibly the first time the word “thong” has appeared in CTbites copy. Find it. Read More
It's A Woman's World: Chef Fran Medina of Rio Salado in Mystic Features It's A Woman's World Interview Chef Talk Stephanie Webster February 02, 2021 Connecticut is full of trailblazing women, particularly in the culinary world. Our ongoing column, “It’s A Woman’s World’ is devoted to CT female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.Whether farming the land, bringing healthy food to the masses, feeding an entrepreneurial spirit or injecting feminism with food, these groundbreaking ladies have set a new definition of women’s work, creating new paths and setting examples for those who follow.How'd they do it? Read on. This week, we speak with Chef Fran Medina of Rio Salado Mexican Restaurant in Mystic. Stay tuned to see who’s next. And feel free to send suggestions for your candidates to steph@ctbites.com. Read More
45+ CT Caterers, Restaurants, & Sports Bars for Super Bowl 2021 Features Restaurant Super Bowl Catering Roundup Homepage April Guilbault January 30, 2021 Instead of the usual sports equipment, players, and fans, Super Bowl 55 will also be brimming with masks, wipes, sanitizers and safety cards this year. The stadium will be 1/3 full and sitting next to those real folks will be cardboard cutouts of more “fans”. Where is Flat Stanley when we need him? We can only hope a flat Bernie will be somewhere in that crowd. Pandemic aside, one bit of equipment for *any* Super Bowl remains the same: food. And lots of it. Crammed in a stadium or at home with just your pod, food reigns supreme on Super Bowl Sunday and Connecticut eateries and caterers are offering great packages for you (and Bernie. And Stanley). So eat up, cheer loud, and thank the heavens above that there are only cardboard cutouts of fans, not food!Here are 45+ Restaurants, Sports Bars, and Caterers for Super Bowl 2021. Read More
Badass Bagels: A Pandemic Pivot Yields Wild Yeast Bagels At Sugar & Olives in Norwalk Features Restaurant Bagels Pop-Up Breakfast Carbs Take Out Norwalk Homepage Amy Kundrat January 28, 2021 If in times of crisis we tend to go back to our roots, then in times of pandemic I suppose it’s only fitting we reach back to our biblical roots. Sourdough may have been discovered by the ancient Egyptians but it has been perfected by Jennifer Balin of Sugar & Olives in the form of Badass Bagels.These naturally leavened bagels have a light crunch on the outside, light as air and chewy with a slight tang on the inside. Badass Bagels come in six varieties, including sesame, poppy, smoked sea salt, everything, caraway, and plain, as well as an offering of unique cream cheese flavors including green goddess and pimento scallion—these sourdough bagels may become your new weekend obsession. Read More
Fourth & Pride Vodka: Founded in CT, In Support of the LGBTQ+ Community Features Liquor Spirits Specialty Products Cocktails Local Artisan Stephanie Webster January 27, 2021 There’s a new vodka in town, and before you say, “they all taste the same,” get ready for something a little different. The brand is Fourth & Pride, and it was founded by John Edelman (former CEO of Design Within Reach), and his partners, Douglas Slayton and Jesse Weinberg, in recognition of the spirit, vitality, and camaraderie of the famous East Village pride bars and their patrons. What does this tasty new vodka brand have to do with Connecticut? The CEO lives right here in Westport, and with Edelman’s background in high design, this brand has some serious swagger. Plus, if you need another great reason to go forth and score yourself a bottle, Fourth & Pride donates 5% of all sales to charities in support of the LGBTQ+ community and may just be the smoothest vodka you’ve ever tasted. Read More
