Filtering by Tag: Pasta,Tacos

East Rock Market Opens in New Haven With 5 Exciting Food Concepts

Restaurant Features Marketplace Food Court Sushi Gelato Dessert New Haven Pasta Italian Openings Homepage Japanese Juice Bar Pizza Take Out

James Gribbon

Sometimes where you live is just where you sleep. Maybe the area has a bit of feel, or maybe some real estate conglomerate slapped it together like processed-cheese-food, named it The Crossing At The Shops At The Superfund Site, and well, at least the commute is short and everyone can understand the urge to show I-95 your personal taillights.

In Connecticut’s old – let's be kind and call them historic – cities, there are still to be found that most nostalgic living situation: The Actual Neighborhood. New Haven’s East Rock is one of the latter, and lately, what’s old is new again.

East Rock Market opened this November in a space which rubs shoulders with East Rock Brewing Company, and close enough to the in-building gym to borrow a neighborly cup of protein powder. By Thanksgiving of 2021, the Market’s large, bright space housed five concepts: RAW Bowls & Juice, Panciale pasta and pizza, Nicoll Street Gelato, Rick’s Bar, and Rockfish sushi. Developer Rishi Narang has named the former WWI-era Marlin Arms factory East Rock Center, and market, brewery, and gym are all contained within the massive footprint in a sort of indulgence/repentance love triangle.

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The Cult Of Joe Bruno: Bruculino Goes Back To Its Roots, Pasta Nostra, in South Norwalk

Features SONO South Norwalk Pasta Chef Talk News Homepage

Lloyd Allen

Bruno. Joe Bruno. AKA Joe. Bold. Intense. Irreverent. Stubbornly set in his ways, yet with the naive audacity of a young teenager. Joe Bruno cares about one thing only: perfecting his art. A perfectionist in an imperfect world.

Everything else is just show, point of view, shock and awe. “I’m not a chef,” he once said to me, “but I know that I have to recreate a dish exactly as I made for you the first time.” Right? Exacting execution— that’s what we grew to expect and that’s what we were given, night after night after night.

He was 35 when he opened Pasta Nostra. It was never meant to be a restaurant. “I wanted to sell pasta. I made a few dishes to showcase my pasta and the next thing you know it’s a restaurant.”

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The Quartiere Debuts in Downtown Stamford

Interview Features Restaurant Italian Stamford Pasta Pizza Openings Homepage

Andrew Dominick

If you’ve cruised down Bank Street in Downtown Stamford, you may have noticed there’s a new Italian restaurant located in the former Cotto Wine Bar space.

The Quartiere—roughly translated is Italian for neighborhood, area, or district—aims to be a go-to spot for pizza, pasta, and the like, in an elevated, casual setting with affordable prices.

“The Q” is owned by Martin Bates, a 30-year industry vet from the United Kingdom where he ran an umbrella of 400 pubs, bars, and restaurants before taking on the role of president at a well-known sandwich and coffee franchise.

“I worked for a brewery in the U.K. that owned all these pubs; I was all over the country driving 60,000 miles a year, living out of a suitcase, I never saw my kids, and they kept buying all these businesses while I was burning myself out,” Bates says. “I took a sabbatical for a year, traveled, went to Spain. I eventually met the founder of Pret A Manger who offered me a job where I ran a chunk of the businesses. I came to NYC in 2007 to run Pret.”

Post Pret, Bates started his own private restaurant consulting firm, Ellis Rowan, and continued to open restaurant all over.

Three years ago, Bates decided he’d eventually like to open up something of his own. “I was looking for my thing,” he says. “I started looking into neighborhood Italian because I love this style of pizza and pasta. I’m a carb freak. I love it.”

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Rosina’s Opens in Greenwich with Elevated Old School Italian

Features Interview Restaurant Italian Greenwich Cocktails Pizza Pasta Homepage

Andrew Dominick

There’s a rejuvenated buzz in Byram’s business district at the old digs once housed Mill Street Bar & Table and before it, Lolita Cucina.

The sounds of chatter and laughter, forks clanking and squealing against bowls, and hungry patrons slurping peppery, parm covered cacio e pepe are all coming from Rosina’s, a new Italian restaurant brought to you by a couple of young industry veterans you should recognize.

Rosina’s is the creation of Jared Falco and Coby Blount, who met at Fortina’s Armonk location in 2014. Falco helped run the show in the kitchen, while Blount managed front-of-house operations. “We’ve been trying to do something together for five years,” Falco says. “When we met, we clicked and always had mutual respect for each other. Even if we had it out, we could still be cool.”

The pair had a dream to work together, they just needed it to come together. Separately, they kept honing their crafts in the restaurant industry. After his first stint at Fortina, Falco took up executive chef duties at Washington Prime, Amore, Speedy Romeo, and he’d return to Fortina to express his creativity as a co-culinary director. And there’s a chance you’ve come across Blount at SE Uncorked or East End to name a few.

Their friendship kept them in touch, and they’d occasionally entertain meetings with possible investors.

“They didn’t have what we wanted,” Falco says. They wanted Sophia Loren on the walls eating spaghetti and that’s not us.” Blount chimes in, “Some of them wanted to use other people’s ideas or rip them off completely,” he says. “It didn’t feel like what we wanted to do. Or they wanted to do something corny that we weren’t into.”

What they wanted to do was classic but refined Italian food. And although it took a few years to come up with the concept, it’s the food Falco has been cooking for over a decade. Think along the lines of riffs on traditional pasta dishes, big salads, thin and crispy pizzas, and seasonal vegetable small plates. They also knew they wanted to be a neighborhood spot with affordable prices but with a handful of indulgent offerings if the mood should strike you.

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¡Ay Güey! Cocina Mexicana Opens In Stratford

Restaurant Stratford Mexican Delicious Dives Tacos Lunch Openings

James Gribbon

There's a spot in Stratford most people can't see. An eighth of an acre, give or take, on Rt. 110 between I-95 and the River Road, where nothing seems to exist unless you're looking right at it. Focus your eyes on the spot, and your mind might register the word "Deli" on the storefront, which itself might be different each time you did, because they've been opening and closing in the location for years, flashing in and out of existence with the frequency of the scroll on an electronic billboard. There was nothing wrong with any of them, they just didn't send a signal from enough people's eyes to their brake pedals. A new spot has them taking notice.

¡Ay Güey! Cafe & Cocina Mexicana is a wholly different concept, and has transformed the space as much as the food served within. Everything from every deli before it went out the window. The interior is bright white, with inset drink coolers and a few tables for inside dining, while the sidewalk patio has been joined by a fenced and landscaped outdoor dining area to the side. Snag a Mexican Coca Cola, Mundet, Jarritos, etc. and whatever from the case and take a good luck the menu. Horchata, Topo Chico, and cafe de Olla (coffee dosed up with cinnamon and Piloncillo raw sugar) are also available for the soda-averse.

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Chef Carlos Perez Debuts New Menu & A Sneak Peek at His Mexican Spot...Coming Soon!

Restaurant Litchfield Mexican American Tacos Openings Lunch Brunch Asian Dessert Homepage

Jessica Ryan

When asked if I wanted to head back to Litchfield to check out Chef Carlos Perez’s new spring menu at The Corner Restaurant and get a sneak peek into his newest Mexican venture (around “the corner”) I replied with a resounding Hell Yeah!

I first met Chef Carlos last July in the courtyard outside of his then new restaurant. It was in the height of the pandemic and I was thrilled to have an excuse to get out of dodge, but I had no idea just what was in store for me. (You can read more about that here.)

Last week, on a cool, rainy May day I hopped into my car for the beautiful hour-long drive along the newly verdant landscape. The drive there was the rainbow leading me to the proverbial pot of gold - The Corner Restaurant.

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Fortina Announces Menu Changes, New Direction for its Rooftop

Restaurant Stamford Pizza Pasta Italian Rooftop Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Inquiring minds want to know…What’s the deal with Fortina after the departure of its founder, Christian Petroni? What’s new? What’s sticking around? What changes are coming?

We’ve got all that.

Oh, but before you freak out, those Fortina staples you know, and love aren’t going anywhere. You can take a deep breath.

“If we every got rid of stuff like the pastasciutto, paccheri, or The LB (Luigi Bianco), people would burn the buildings down,” jokes co-food director Paul Failla.

Failla, along with his cohort in culinary creativity, Jared Falco, say that the sky’s the limit for what you might see show up on what they’re calling a bit of a menu refresh.

One pop-up Fortina fans might have already noticed on social media is a weekly burger event at the Harbor Point location. The limited burgers are seemingly no frills from the outside looking in, but frills there are. Each is a chuck and short rib blend patty griddled in duck fat on a cast iron flat top for a crusty sear, then enveloped in good ol’ American cheese. It’s placed on a toasted Martin’s Potato Roll with homemade burger sauce, diced onion, and served with a house-brined pickle spear. The first burger event sold out in just over 30 minutes, so stay tuned for their burger announcements, and if you want one or several, be punctual.

The rest of the menu update will obviously progress with the seasons. Failla says they want to take a fresh approach and keep it local, citing Sport Hill Farm in Easton as a place they frequently get their produce from. When peas are at their springtime peak, expect to see fresh cavatelli with peas and sugar snaps, chunks of pancetta, black pepper, and parmesan. And while it’s still cool out, they’ve added two classic Italian soups, pasta e fagioli (actually pronounced PASTA FAZOOL!) and Italian wedding soup that doesn’t skimp on the meatballs.

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Columbus Park Trattoria: A Stamford Italian Favorite Gets A New Look

Restaurant Stamford Italian Lunch Pasta

Jessica Ryan

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.

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Amis Trattoria Westport Shifts Towards Lighter, Fresher, More Fun Approach

Features Restaurant Italian Westport Outdoor Dining Pasta Homepage

Andrew Dominick

When Jessica Bengston quietly took over the executive chef reigns at Amis Trattoria in July 2019, she’ll tell you bluntly that “most of the people that work here didn’t even know what the hell ‘Amis’ meant.”

“Amis” or “ami” translated from French means “friends.” And there’s a flashy new “Amis Means Friends” neon sign that pops in dining room near the chef’s counter to proudly stress that mantra.

But French, Amis is not. It’s an Italian-ish concept that’s changing its stripes.

“We didn’t change much the first few months when I took over because we were in transition—we weren’t sure if we’d rebrand or close,” Bengston says. “We thought about changing the name and even considered making it Italian tapas but COVID happened, so we scrapped the idea of shared small plates.”

Bengston—who also serves double duty as the executive chef at Terrain—mentioned that the team at Amis is trying to move on from what the concept was under the previous culinary team that included well known Philadelphia chefs Marc Vetri and Brad Spence. After URBN (that owns Urban Outfitters, Terrain, and Anthropologie) made a deal to acquire Amis and Pizzeria Vetri restaurants, both Vetri and Spence departed the company not long after.

After figuring out what a new ethos would look like, Bengston, plus a new culinary director and new team members, decided to lighten up the menu.

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Camacho Garage Opens in New Haven From Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho

Restaurant Mexican Tacos Cocktails New Haven Openings Lunch Homepage

Kristin L. Wolfe

Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho is no stranger to pleasuring CT diners. As a matter of fact, on top of numerous accolades, he’s been nominated for Chef of the Year. Along with the team from Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, and Nantucket’s Bar Yoshi, Chef Arturo certainly has a following for his food. (That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if his silver mane has its own instagram page). So, we know when he gets in the kitchen, the food will be fresh, high quality, and pretty friggin’ delicious. And yet, his creativity with each new venture still offers elements of surprise. Cue his newest, Camacho Garage in New Haven.

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Taco Daddy's Cheesy Cracker Crusted Fried Chicken & Waffles Crunch Wrap Recipe

Recipe Features Recipe Tacos

Stephanie Webster

CTbites recently partnered with Taco Daddy’s Chef Mo Major to help promote Milton’s new Cheesy Cheddar Crackers (which are really rather delicious). We asked Chef Major to create a Crunchwrap with the addition of these snackables, and in 30 minutes he came out of the kitchen with this ridiculously tasty recipe for a Cheesy Cracker Crusted Fried Chicken & Waffles Crunch Wrap. Guess what? Now you can make it at home. Enjoy!

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Chef Stephen Lewandowski Is Back, Cooking Exceptional Fare at Townhouse in Greenwich

Restaurant Openings Greenwich American Lunch Take Out Fine Dining Homepage Seafood Pasta Private Party Outdoor Dining Patio

Jessica Ryan

At Townhouse, contemporary meets traditional not only in décor, but in cuisine as well, where color and layers are just as prevalent in each carefully prepared dish. The menu takes simple fare and elevates it to the next level, layering flavors, colors and textures from around the world, delivering dishes that are nothing short of superb.

This should really come as no surprise and one would expect nothing less with the trifecta of excellence at the restaurant’s helm. Chef Stephen Lewandowski (formerly of the Harlan restaurants, Tribeca Grill and Gotham Bar & Grill) has teamed up with longtime friend Drew (Nierport of Tribeca, Nobu & Batard), and Director of Operations Dana Cifone (formerly of Duoro, Starr and One Group) to create an experience of distinction that is multifaceted.

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Cavatappi with Carrot Pesto and Lemon Arugula by Sue Smith, Prime Health Style

Features Recipe Recipe Vegetarian Pasta

CTbites Team

What’s cooking people? The Westport Farmers’ Market and Sue Smith from Prime Health Style, have a great vegetarian recipe for the pasta lovers out there. Cavatappi is the Italian word for corkscrew, hence the name of this spiral-shaped, macaroni-like pasta. It’s ideal for use with a thick sauce, here paired with a zesty carrot pesto. This vegetarian recipe creates a tasty and satisfying summer one-dish meal, or can be served as a side dish. See notes below for easy vegan and gluten-free substitutions.

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Mariposa Taqueria Opens in Danbury from The Folks That Brought you Mezon

Restaurant open Danbury Tacos Latin American Mexican

Maddie Phelps

For the four Reyes brothers, the butterfly is a symbol that pays homage to their mother, representing her strength and signifying a rebirth. In the midst of the restaurant industry’s toughest times, Javier Reyes says such a symbol is what we need most. That’s why he and his family have closed the doors of their popular Mezon Tapas Bar & Restaurant, and have opened a new Latin restaurant in Danbury. Fittingly, they’ve named it the Spanish word for butterfly, “mariposa”, that embodies the boldness of their mother.

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Local Spotlight: Vita Cacciari of Vita Pasta Lab + Virtual Italian Cooking Classes

Features Interview Cooking Classes Pasta Italian Noodles

Andrew Dominick

If not for my friend Micaela, I might have never met Vita Cacciari. Micaela sent me a text one night after she attended a pasta making class at Wakeman Town Farm. She asked if I knew of any commercial kitchen spaces so the woman who teaches these classes could have more options in the area. Micaela’s text, in regard to “the woman,” were of high praise; amazing, hard worker, and nice person were all phrases she used to describe Vita. “She’s Italian” was another.

A slew of photos, video, and a website link followed. I browsed Vita’s site for her cooking class business, Vita Pasta Lab, and was instantly curious. I like to cook. I like to learn. I LOVE pasta. And Vita’s pasta looked stunningly beautiful.

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Takeout Chronicles: Joe’s Pizza, bartaco, Cafe Silvium, & Twelve Percent Beer Project

Restaurant Take Out To-Go New Canaan Mexican Tacos bartaco beer ct beer homepage Pizza

Andrew Dominick

As some Connecticut restaurants begin the slow process of reopening with outdoor dining, you’ll either rush right out, ease back into it, or wait a bit longer when it comes to reintroducing yourself to your favorite eateries based on your level of comfort. Regardless of where you stand, it’s a safe bet that your dining repertoire will still include takeout.

With that said, and on the heels of James Gribbon’s takeout picks, I’ve got a bunch worth checking out.

At the very beginning of quarantine, one of my first orders came from an oldie. Joe’s Pizza has been open since 1967, almost two decades before I was born. I’ve actually had my entire life to try it, but here I am in 2020, a Joe’s newbie.

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Heibeck's Stand Opens For Season With Crave-Worthy Homemade Ice Cream, Loaded Dogs, Tacos and more

Features ice cream Tacos Lobster Hot Dogs Burgers Homepage

Andrew Dominick

The homemade ice cream, butter lathered lobster rolls, and topping loaded hot dogs at Heibeck’s Stand all made their season debut a few weeks late, but the popular Route 7 roadside gem is back in action.

The delay in their opening is due to the obvious COVID-19 climate. Like many restaurants, Heibeck’s took the extra time to work out how to open as a takeout-only model with online or call ahead ordering and to put even more sanitation measures in place. “We definitely took a step back in our opening to make sure we were ready,” says manager Rachel Williams. “We love our customers, and our main concern was to make sure they’re safe and comfortable.”

Williams also mentioned that Heibeck’s took additional time to properly mark where walk-up traffic should flow and social distancing markers once in line at the windows to help ensure customer safety. Entrance, for now, is through the parking lot in back, then let the arrows and signs guide you from there.

To Heibeck’s regulars, noticeably absent will be their charming, pet friendly, BYOB dining patio that is usually decked out with tables, chairs, flowers, greenery, and string lights. Where folks would normally go to kick back and devour a cup of Deep Purple Cow or Trash Can ice cream, is now mostly empty. “It was sad not putting out the furniture and plants,” says co-owner Barbara Heibeck, who owns the stand with her son, Skylar Smith. “It felt different.”

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Camacho Garage Opening in New Haven with Mexican Street Food

Features Restaurant New Haven Openings Mexican Tacos

Stephanie Webster

Camacho Garage, a new restaurant and bar from co-owners Robert Bolduc and Marc Knight, Executive Chef/co-owner Arturo Franco-Camacho and the team behind the award-winning Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill and Nantucket’s Bar Yoshi, will be opening at 36 Fountain Street (corner of Fountain Street and Central Avenue) in the Westville neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. The restaurant, offering a fun and lively atmosphere with an elevated vintage garage theme, will serve Mexican street food, and a bar menu focused on beer, specialty cocktails, Tequila and other Mexican beverages.

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18+ Places for Cinco de Mayo: Virtual Parties, Margaritas, Takeout, and More!

Features Cinco de Mayo Holiday Mexican Tacos Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

We may be stuck inside, but Connecticut restaurants and caterers are helping us travel south of the border with their Cinco de Mayo packages! Some places like Bartaco and Wakeman Town Farm are bringing the fiesta into your home with virtual events while others are offering delicious cuisine and all the fixings to make your own margaritas! Are you ready to party? If the answer is “si!” check out our guide below.

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