The Cheesecake Collection Launches with Stunning Insta-Worthy Custom Cheesecakes
Features Bakery Baker Custom Cakes Cakes Dessert Caterers Baked Goods
Filtering by Tag: Asian,Dessert
Gabriele’s: Old School Italian Steakhouse Opens in Westport
Restaurant Steakhouse Steak Westport Fine Dining Pasta Italian Dessert Wine Bar
Located in the space that was originally The Dressing Room next to the Westport Country Playhouse at 27 Powers Court, Gabriele’s opened its doors this winter. Gone are the traces of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Save for the fireplace, the space has been completely transformed. The former rustic vibe has been replaced by plush banquette seating, white linen tables, dramatic chandelier lighting, and beautiful woodwork evokes a classic steakhouse vibe, but the newly light and airy atmosphere offers a modern touch.
Gingerbread & EGGNOG Tres Leches Recipe from Chef Carlos Perez
Features Recipe Recipe Holiday Dessert
Given the current state of the world, many of us may be spending some quality time in the kitchen this holiday season. In the next few days CTbites will be providing some inspiration for the home cook. Our first holiday recipe comes from Chef Carlos Perez of @The Corner and ATC South Street in Litchfield. Enjoy this recipe for Gingerbread & EGGNOG Tres Leches. Send us a photo of your finished recipe and we will feature on CTbites.
Iconic CT Chocolatier, Bridgewater Chocolate, Looks To Expand
Restaurant Features Chocolate Specialty Market Dessert Sweets Confections Brookfield West Hartford
As I bite into my first milk chocolate dipped crunchy peanut butter patty, I’m overwhelmed by the feeling that I’ve waited far too long to discover the edible joy that comes from the confections found at Bridgewater Chocolate. A trip to any of their stores, located in Brookfield and West Hartford (as well as a Westport weekend pop-up through December), will elicit a type of longing that will have you dreaming of chocolate at night, and as Michael Stern once stated so perfectly…
Walk into Bridgewater Chocolate, and the air inside is chocoholic heaven, with an aroma that is intense but not cloying, like vaporous cocoa laced with the sweetness of fruit. The store area is fairly small, decorated with the beautiful hinged boxes in which Bridgewater packs its goodies. — Jane & Michel Stern, Roadfood.com
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
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.
40+ Places For Great Holiday Pies in Connecticut (2021 Edition)
Features Ingredients Holiday Thanksgiving Dessert Bakery Baked Goods Buying Guide
There are cake people and there are pie people, but when it comes to holidays, Thanksgiving is all about the pie. Fruity, custardy, creamy, double-crust, single crust, crumb and lattice topped, chocolatey, piled high with swoops of light-as-air meringue, fluff-filled chiffon, even savory; there is a pie for every palate around your holiday table. A slice of this, a slice of that, they are hard to resist. We won’t even go into the fact that pie for breakfast the day after a holiday quite possibly takes, well, the cake. Whether you are a traditionalist or a try-new-things-ist at your holiday table, we have the pie for you. Or at least, these delightful vendors do. Happy Thanksgiving and forks up, people!
Meet Pierluigi Mazzella of Fatto a Mano Bakery: Panettone & Artisan Bread
Features Local Artisan Bakery Bread Bread Shop Baked Goods Dessert Breakfast Homepage
Mazzella strove for this constant improvement throughout his baking journey, always moving up, always seeking to work in places where he could learn more high-level skills. He worked around Italy as a pizzaiolo, then as a panettone apprentice for the 2019 world champion of panettone, and most recently as the lead bread baker for Atticus Bakery in New Haven.
Now, at his bakery, Fatto a Mano, which translates from Italian as “made by hand,” Mazzella applies his father’s work ethic to his baking. He makes Italian-inspired artisan bread and pastry, including sourdoughs loaves and biscotti. Then there's the panettone.
Little Dumpling House Ghost Kitchen Opens in Westport from Folks at Grammies Donuts
Restaurant Asian Chinese Japanese Sushi Westport Openings Ghost Kitchen Homepage
The team that brought you the uber popular Grammies Donuts + Biscuits is back with another crave-worthy ghost kitchen concept, Little Dumpling House. For those unfamiliar with the notion of a “ghost kitchen,” it simply means there is no dining space. Guests can order online and either get their meals delivered or picked up. In this case, it’s Asian to-go.
Little Dumpling House is the brainchild of owners, Charlie Gilhuly and Molly Healey, but their Asian inspired playlist is all Healey’s handiwork. The menu at Little Dumpling is small but very well executed, and also quite nicely priced. Healey wanted to create healthy clean flavorful Asian cuisine with something for everyone (including the kids), and they have delivered on that promise.
The Wheel Opens at The Village in Stamford
Features Restaurant The Village Stamford The Village Farm To Table Stamford Cocktails Dessert Openings Homepage
Chances are that by now you’ve heard at least a little something about The Village, located in Stamford’s South End. If you haven’t heard a peep about one of Fairfield County’s most buzzworthy openings in a while, you must be totally cut off from civilization aka social media.
The CliffsNotes explanation of The Village is simple. It’s a multi-purpose space. Think offices, pop-up events, an outdoor patio that’s exclusive to Cisco Brewers from Nantucket, a rooftop garden, private event spaces, a tequila bar, and a New American anchor restaurant in The Wheel.
The Village, as a whole, is financed by media mogul and Greenwich resident Brent Montgomery who with Jimmy Kimmel, founded Wheelhouse and all of its umbrella companies. Brent’s wife, Courtney, who founded Wheelhouse Properties, oversaw the development of The Village.
That ends your crash course on The Village. But this is a food site and we’re here to talk about The Wheel and what it offers to quench your thirst and fill your bellies.
“Let’s start at the bar” seems typical for one of these articles but we have to in the case of The Wheel. There’s a team of heavy hitters in the industry that are on board here, including beverage director Kyle Tran. Tran’s resume includes stints at Grant Achatz’s molecular gastronomy-based bar, The Aviary, and the Los Angeles branch of Employees Only. The current lineup of cocktails leans toward refreshing for summer with spritzy, ice cold, tiki type drinks. Expect fresh squeezed juices, house-made syrups, infused liquors, and for each beverage to be made with precision and care.
Much like the cocktails, The Wheel’s menu is as farm fresh and seasonal as it gets. Chief food curator Mike Geller, owner of Mike’s Organic, is using his connections to local and semi-local farmers and purveyors to get the highest quality ingredients right to The Wheel’s kitchen. To boot, Geller and the culinary team are even growing produce and herbs in The Village’s rooftop garden to use in the restaurant and at the bar.
In said “kitchen” is executive chef Chris Shea. Shea is the culinary director for APICII, a hospitality management and development company. He’s also headed the pass at The Wayfarer and David Burke Kitchen, to name a few.
Grounds Donut House in Danbury with Premium Drinks + Ice Cream Injected Donuts!
Restaurant Features Danbury Doughnuts donuts Dessert Breakfast
Danbury Connecticut has been on a donut driven sugar rush ever since Grounds Donut House has arrived. With completely unique flavors like Arnold Palmer Iced Tea, Orange Milano & Chips Ahoy, there is no doubt that you will leave the donut haven with smile on your face and a yearning for more. We are also excited about their new…wait for it… Ice Cream Injected Donuts available for in store purchase only.
Located off of the Lake Avenue Exit, Grounds Donut House serves donut lovers creative donuts, premium coffee, over-the-top coffee drinks, and for the 21+ crowd, alcoholic beverages featuring local brewers with donut-y friendly flavor profiles. Grounds keeps their menu pretty consistent, as they have their everyday classics, but they also rotate new donuts in to allow their customers to try new flavors each time they come into the donut house.
Dave’s Gourmet Paletas: Artisan Ice Pops Opens in Fairfield
Restaurant Openings Fairfield Ices Ice Pops Dessert Kids Kid Friendly Popsicles homepage
Craving something sweet but not in the mood for the full indulgence of ice cream? Do you want something that tastes just as good without as much guilt? Have no fear, Dave’s Gourmet Paletas has just opened in downtown Fairfield serving up 20 flavors of homemade paletas…made fresh daily. These pops are far cry fro from the average popsicle as paletas are made entirely from whole ingredients, delicious things…like fresh fruit and nut butters. Dave’s Paletas also feature gluten free, dairy free and vegan options with a menu ranging from classic flavors like strawberry and banana to more unique ones like matcha and mango chamoy. Paletas are a traditional Mexican frozen treat and owner and CEO Dave Rock says,
“We wanted to offer standard flavors, traditional ones that everybody likes, but we also wanted to sprinkle in some of the more uniquely Mexican options like a mango chamoy.”
75+ Spots For Ice Cream, Gelato & Frozen Desserts In CT (2021 Get Licking Edition)
Features Restaurant ice cream Italian Ices Gelato Kid Friendly Best of CT Dining Guide Summer Dessert Frozen Yogurt Homepage Highlight
Sitting on a bench, licking a drippy ice cream cone on a warm summer day or a balmy evening can be, well…sublime. The skies are clear, the sun or moon is hanging in the sky-all is right with the world and these are a few moments to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. And creamy rich ice cream or scoop of blissful gelato is one of those pleasures, indeed. Honestly, unless you have dropped that cone (bloop, splat! *tears*), when have you ever gone for ice cream and left unhappy? Cream, fruits, swirls of caramel, bits of chocolate chips, a nut here and there-nothing can beat it. Take a few moments this summer to enjoy those simple things, like a cone with a friend or even by yourself. Here’s a list to point the way…
Enjoy these 75+ Spots for Ice Cream, Gelato and Frozen Desserts in CT.
Kawit! Filipino & U.S. Barbecue Traditions Combine in New Haven Ghost Kitchen
Restaurant New Haven Filipino Asian Pop-Up Take Out To-Go Openings Homepage
Kevin McGuire wanted something more.
The Connecticut chef began his culinary career as a cook while in the Navy. Afterwards he spent years working in kitchens at Connecticut restaurants including the Hard Rock Cafe at Foxwoods and New Haven spots such as Caseus, Olmo and High George. But he always knew he wanted to venture out on his own in some capacity.
“The industry is tough,” says his husband, Seth Wallace. “Not a lot of folks see a great future for themselves cooking on the line. And so we had talked for a long time about, ‘What are you going to do? And do you want to open something? And if so, what?”
Eventually, McGuire realized the answer could be found in his Filipino heritage and its culinary traditions, which he had never delved into professionally.
“It was one of those moments where I was like, ‘Oh, it's been with me this whole time,’” McGuire says. “I started to dig into my own culture and actually get more acquainted with just a lot of the things that I wasn't aware of when I was growing up as a child.” He adds, “It's been a really cool way to build relationships with other branches of my family.”
It has also led to amazing food.
Sea Salt Baking Company: Outrageously Delicious Cookies...Delivered!
Features Bakery Cottage Bakers Cookies Delivery Dessert
I’m not sure when I first heard about Sea Salt Baking Company but as Connecticut’s cottage baking industry has been exploding recently and my interest in fresh, local, treats has shown no signs of waning, I was eager to learn more. Plus, If the word on the street matched the actual product from this baker (with cookie baking in her DNA), I knew I’d be in for a treat.
Sea Salt Baking Company is the “baby” of Jaeca Sweeney, a Fairfield mom of two who found herself with a little extra time on her hands during the pandemic and knew cookies were calling.
Classic Strawberry Shortcake Recipe from Kosher Like Me & Barberry Hill Farm
Recipe Features Recipe Dessert Local Farm
If you’re lucky enough to live anywhere near a farm that grows strawberries, be sure to venture out to pick your own. When you tire of having sweet, ruby tinged juice staining your fingers, and you can tear yourself away from eating every other berry you bend to pick, head home to bake these easy and classic strawberry shortcakes.
Thank you, Christy Colasurdo and Tracey Medeiros, for sharing this recipe from their just released cookbook, The Connecticut Farm to Table Cookbook; 150 Home-Grown Recipes from the Nutmeg State, June 2015. This beautifully photographed book is a celebration of the local and seasonal. Although it highlights CT. chefs, the recipes are suitable for all die-hard locavores anywhere.
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
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.
Milk N Cookies Cookie Café and Cereal Bar Opens in Stamford
Restaurant Openings Stamford Cookies Dessert Kid Friendly Bakery
Although it took co-owners Louis Apicella and George Spirou 14 months to open their doors due to the pandemic, Milk N Cookies has finally opened in Stamford. Adding to their first location in Mamaroneck, Westchester, the duo signed their lease in Stamford last December when they realized that the city was “hungry for a nice dessert hangout spot.”
The cookie café and cereal bar features twelve unique 4.5-5 oz cookies, some of which are stuffed, and a variety of cereal infused milkshakes and ice creams. The menu has an abundance of options to satisfy your sweet tooth, whether you’re craving a chocolate chip cookie, an out-of-this-world galaxy cookie, or a fruit loops infused milkshake, you’ll find it here.
45+ Spots for Easter Treats in CT: Cookies, Chocolates, Cakes, Bunnies & More
Restaurant Features Easter Holiday Dessert Cookies Chocolate
Bunnies and chicks and eggs, oh my. So much chocolate, so many jelly beans. Our baskets will runneth over. We’ve got the classics and have also found some new and unusual Easter treats for you to enjoy. If anyone you love is not on this list, feel free to add them in the comments. We all need to know great places to go for holiday treats-I think we can all agree on that. Happy Easter, everyone!
(In case you need dinner recommendations too…head to our CTbites Easter Dining Guide!)
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop "Automat" Announces 5 Connecticut Openings...New Haven 1st
Restaurant Openings Dumplings Automat Asian Fast Casual
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, the nation’s fastest growing dumpling automat concept, has signed its first franchising deal to bring five locations to Connecticut. The brand is poised to disrupt the quick-service restaurant industry with their innovative automat technology and contactless format. Even before the first location opens its doors in New York, potential franchisees are eager to sign on to the concept.
Taproot 2.0: Chef Jeff Taibe Launches Southeast Asian Menu...And It's Delicious
Restaurant Bethel Openings Asian Southeast Asian Chef Talk New Menu Homepage
“It was like having a sparkler in your mouth,” says beloved Connecticut Chef Jeff Taibe on his early food experiences in Singapore.
Many of us regular CT diners are familiar with his passion and talent for cooking, and his following is testament enough to know that his food….well, sings. There’s even been pomp and accolades from the big whigs, and “Best Ofs,” and yet, he’s been holding out on us. Joking aside, he has flung his flair for Southeast Asian cuisine our way for some time through Kawa Ni, in Westport and, more recently at the original Taproot, and, even more recently, from the On the Fly food truck. BUT, after twenty years-ish, he’s ready to pull out all the stops and bring us his love affair with Singapore on a plate, every single day. Well, the days they are open.
Having spent time in Singapore first as a teen baseball player, then again as a serious cook, you can imagine how that “sparkler” left a lasting impression. Chef Taibe says, he just had to have that depth of flavor on the new menu. “I remember the Miang Kum (which is actually Thai); or The Mee Goreng that he’d have three times a week for lunch. He’d have dosa and chai tea most mornings in Little India or the chicken murtabak, “at 2 in the morning, while a bit tipsy; it woke me right up with how perfect of a bite of food it was.”
