Chef Andrew Mercado's Butternut Squash Dashi Broth Soup Recipe Recipe Features Recipe Soups CTbites Team October 22, 2024 A few years back, guests were delighted to find themselves dining under the stars in Terrain’s outdoor garden, at a pop-up dinner hosted by Andrew Mercado of FED Hospitality Group and Chef Jes Bengston. One of the lineup’s starters was this wonderful soup, inspired by campfire cooking and the fall season. The beauty of this soup, is that it is vegan, and built upon a Dashi broth base. In Mercado’s words, it is “vegan, creamy, flavorful, soul-warming, subtly spiced, coconut-infused, simple and perfect for fall weather.” We couldn’t agree more. Read More
New Cookbook from Nominee for Best Caterer 2024, Alison Milwe Grace of AMG Catering Features Cookbooks Caterer Recipe Education Stephanie Webster October 21, 2024 We have long loved Alison Milwe Grace of AMG Catering. Not only does AMG elevate the catering industry in Connecticut, but she also supports the community in so many other ways. We are excited to announce the release of her first cookbook, SAVOR, Recipes to Celebrate, just in time for the holidays. “I have always loved how cooking brings people together and I wrote this book to share my love for food and encourage others to savor time with family and friends. Savor, A Reason to Celebrate is a collection of some of favorite and simplest recipes. I want everyone to see that we don’t need a major holiday or a complicated recipe to gather with friends and family and celebrate,” says Milwe Grace. Savor is a carefully curated collection of Milwe Grace's favorite recipes, themed classes, and menus for enthusiastic home cooks to create festive gatherings for friends and family. Whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, need inspiration for a backyard barbecue, or want to impress your guests on New Year's Eve, Savor will be the cookbook you reach for again and again. Read More
Guide To Connecticut Halloween Parties, Events, Bars & Restaurants (2024 Edition) Features Halloween Holiday Guide Homepage Carly Terzigni October 18, 2024 It’s time to get spooky! Halloween is right around the corner, and restaurants across Connecticut are preparing to throw festive parties and host seasonal gatherings with plenty of decorations, costumes, and ghoulish menu specials. Whether your vibe on Halloween is to order from your favorite pizza place as you hand out candy or you want to go all-out and attend a lavish costume party until the wee hours of the morning, there’s an event for you happening in late October! There are events for all ages as well, with the littlest trick-or-treaters to the young at heart having plenty of options this month to celebrate the season. You’ll also find businesses across Connecticut featuring Día de Muertos celebrations in early November.We’ve broken this guide up by county so you can easily find a Halloween event nearest you! Read More
It’s A Woman’s World: Justine Bassani – Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, Author, Artist, + Bartender Interview It's A Woman's World Nutrition Writer Author Personal Trainer Bartender Andrew Dominick October 17, 2024 Mama’s Boy. Peaches. Gates. Probably a few others I’ve omitted. And currently, Tequila Mockingbird in New Canaan. Yeah. There’s a chance you’ve sat at one of Justine Bassani’s bars somewhere in Fairfield County. An acclaimed bartender that’s won competitions and has had her fair share of limelight in magazine articles, Justine is pretty open about her own struggles with alcohol—she’s been sober for a while now—and although she’s still in the bartending game, she’s been pretty busy outside of the industry. Read More
Day Tripping: Kingdom of the Hawk—A Fresh Take on the CT Wine Scene Features Wine Vineyard CT Wine CT Wine Trail Day Trip CTbites Team October 16, 2024 Nestled in the forests of Stonington, CT is a new winery aptly named Kingdom of the Hawk. 50 acres of pristine wilderness sits adjacent to a dark gray, contemporary, barn-like structure with fabulous wine, friendly staff, and, of course, hawks in flight. Conceptualized and designed by Michael and Merrily Connery, this winery epitomizes reimagination and, truth be told, a touch of romance. The Connery’s identified the lot and majestically repurposed the land into a burgeoning vineyard, events venue and social escape. The wine, such as the Raptor Red and the french-forward 2022 Pinot Noir Rose, is so drinkable that it is easy to see why both local residents are regulars and travelers are taking time to visit. Add the ambiance, which often includes live music and inviting fireplaces - both indoor and outdoor - and the Connery’s have essentially designed a life they love: spirited music and must-have spirits. Read More
Mine Hill Distillery in Roxbury: Spirits Distilled + Bottled in Connecticut and a Cocktail Program Coming Soon Features Interview Ingredients Distillery Spirits Litchfield County Roxbury Homepage Andrew Dominick October 15, 2024 Driving on Connecticut State Route 67 towards Roxbury, you’ll notice a handful of historic buildings that date back to the 1800s. What used to be a train station, cigar factory, lumber shed, general store, and a post office is now a distillery. And unless you’re up in that area, Mine Hill Distillery may have popped up on your radar in this very moment as you’re reading this. Read More
2024 Chicken Wings Guide: 90+ Connecticut Bars + Restaurants for the Best Wings Features Restaurant Chicken Wings Guide Chicken Wings Homepage Wings Hannah Goodman October 11, 2024 Phew, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as football season is finally back and in full swing and with that comes anxiety, heart palpitations, and, oh yeah, WINGS! Connecticut might be a small state but man oh man, do our local restaurants know how to represent when it comes to great barbeque and deliciously elevated pub food. Listen, not everyone is a sports fan (which maybe you should reevaluate), but you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy all the chicken wing options that CT has to offer. Read More
My Favorite Dish: Wagyu Brisket Bao Buns at The Cottage in Westport + Greenwich Ingredients Interview Restaurant My Favorite Dish The Cottage Westport The Cottage Greenwich Westport Greenwich Bao Brisket Ingredients Andrew Dominick October 11, 2024 No trip to The Cottage is complete without…IT. At least one, but probably two. Fans of Brian Lewis’ flagship restaurant in Westport (and in Greenwich in recent years) know that I’m talking specifically about the wagyu brisket bao buns, a day one appetizer (though I could eat these as my main course) when Lewis opened in 2015. The buns have had their share of the spotlight, too, as they’ve been gushed about in TheNew York Times, Forbes, and countless local news sites and blogs. Read More
2024 Catering Guide: 20+ Connecticut Caterers for Your Special Event Ingredients Events Catering Guide Caterers Caterer Catering April Guilbault October 10, 2024 Ah, the “ber” months-filled with so many great holidays and events! I think we can all agree that while we are excited for the holiday season, it can also be a bit daunting. Happily, at our beck and call are a plethora of fabulous resources, such as these skilled, creative, and enthusiastic caterers. Your work just got easier, your event just got more memorable, and the food just got more delicious. Book ‘em soon so you can lean back and enjoy these “ber” months! A note: We are listing towns where the caterers are based, but many of them work throughout CT, so don’t hesitate to call them. Enjoy! Read More
Allium Eatery in Westport: Nominated for Best CT Chef 2024 Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Restaurants French Modern American Westport Chef Interview Homepage Andrew Dominick October 09, 2024 Now almost three years old, Michelle Greenfield’s Allium Eatery started out, as she puts it, “small.” Her restaurant, inside, is also small. Put a dozen people in there and it feels full. When the weather cooperates, Allium can take some walk ins for patio dining, otherwise you have a choice between either the 5:30 seating or the 7:30. n this case of “small,” small is good, and Greenfield’s restaurant is one of the hottest tickets in town. No website, just social media, and they’re more active on Instagram, FYI. And chances are, when a table does wiggle free from a prior reservation on busier nights, it’s a given that someone will see their Instagram story announcement and snatch it right up. Read More
Cocktail Naming Contest: WIN $100 at Match Sono Celebrating 25 Years! Features Cocktail Contest Cocktails Stephanie Webster October 08, 2024 Game on! We're bringing back our cocktail naming contest. WIN $100 for dinner at Match Restaurant in South Norwalk. Here’s How!Review the ingredients list below.Enter YOUR original Cocktail Name (or multiple names) in the comments section under this post (including your Instagram account or email so we can reach out if you are selected). If your Cocktail name is selected, it will be featured on the Match cocktail menu & you will receive $100 to enjoy Match + a chance to sample YOUR signature cocktail. Read More
Nice Day Chinese Opens in New Haven: Chinese-American Cuisine With A Mission Restaurant Chinese Opening Homepage New Haven Delivery Asian Jessica Ryan October 03, 2024 (Have a) Nice Day! Young Zhao and Wanting Zhang, owners of Junzi Kitchen, recently opened Nice Day in the heart of New Haven. We met the two young owners at their newest restaurant a few days prior to their grand opening. Nice Day’s Elm Street location marks a bit of a sentimental reunion for the Chinese duo who first met as undergrads in the classrooms behind Yale University’s Neo-Gothic stone walls. Their first Chinese concept, Junzi Kitchen which they opened in 2011, sits just across the street. The model for Nice Day is rather unique. Each Nice Day restaurant replaces a Chinese restaurant that has shuttered. Their goal is to save the traditional Chinese takeout while offering a fresh take on Chinese American Classics with their modern aesthetic, fresh ingredients, and menu which draws influences from the varied cuisines from throughout China. without altering the concept of traditional American Chinese food. In doing so, Young and Wanting have found a delicious recipe for success. Read More
Don Memo in Westport Introduces a Limited Happy Hour Burger Ingredients Restaurant Burgers Burger Happy Hour Westport Mexican Andrew Dominick October 02, 2024 When Don Memo posted on Instagram that they’d be serving a burger during their Hora Feliz (that’s happy hour in English), their fans were pretty stoked, present company included. Show me a good happy hour AND throw in a limited cheeseburger, something Don Memo has never offered before, and I’m there. Read More
Guide To Fall Flavors in CT: Pumpkin Spice...and Everything Nice Features Fall Specials Fall Treats Fall Flavors Homepage Carly Terzigni October 01, 2024 Perhaps more than any other season, fall is strongly associated with flavors: pumpkin, apple, maple, cider, and so on. As the temperatures start to dip, we suddenly feel the urge to enjoy a glass of apple cider, bake a delicious loaf of pumpkin bread, and fill our kitchen with hearty, cozy aromas and ingredients. Restaurants and businesses around Connecticut also take note as the seasons change and what is arguably the best time of the year in New England begins to take shape.If you’re looking for all things fall, this guide is your one-stop shop for the cafes, restaurants, cider mills, and ice cream shops offering the latest fall flavors. Whether you’re looking for a sweet pumpkin donut or a tasty fall-inspired cocktail, there are many options with limited-time offerings. Some of the following businesses are only open seasonally, so don’t wait to check them out! Read More
Magic 5 Pie Co. Expands Menu in Norwalk...And It's TASTY! Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Norwalk Magic 5 Pie Co Pizza Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick September 27, 2024 Now almost three years old, Magic 5 Pie Co. has had no problem with repeat diners. But the people have to first find it before they can return.Tucked away in the parking lot of the East Norwalk Metro-North Station, even longtime Norwalkers won’t even see it from the usual slow crawl of East Avenue traffic. You’ll have to go all the way in the back. Or you can plug in “Magic 5 Pie Co.” in Google Maps for an assist. “Lots of people still don’t know we’re in Norwalk,” says Shawn Longyear, who along with Chris Hickey, Andrey Cortes, and Christopher Rasile, are also all co-owners of The Spread and El Segundo just across the bridge in South Norwalk. “But once they find us, they come back.” Read More
Guide To Great Coffee in CT: Celebrate National Coffee Day Sept 29 (2024 edition) Features Guide Coffee Shop Coffee Highlight Homepage April Guilbault September 26, 2024 Beyond the basic and hydrating beverage of water, tea and coffee seem to be duking it out for the number two spot as the most consumed drink on the planet. About 80% of them regularly partake in a cuppa at home, with drip coffee coming in first, and cappuccinos and ice coffees picking up the rear. Overall, Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day, roughly 1,095 per person, per year and overall- hold onto your stirrers-as a nation, we swill 146 billion cups a year. Our beans overfloweth. Knowing that you will be soon looking for your next cup, read on… Read More
VOTE NOW!! CRAzies Awards 2024 Nominees Announced Features CRAZIES Awards CTbites Team September 25, 2024 The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) announced today the award winners and nominees for the 2024 CRAzies Awards Gala. Each year, the CRAzies recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s restaurant community at this prestigious awards gala. Restaurant owners, operators, chefs, vendors and more will come together to celebrate the success of the industry at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Monday, December 9. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES HERE.On Monday, December 9, hospitality owners, operators, chefs, servers, and vendors from across the state will come together at Foxwoods Resort Casino to celebrate the success of their industry and honor winners across more than 20 award categories. Last year’s CRAZIES gala had more than 1,400 guests and generated more than 25,000 online public votes for award winners. Read More
Taco Dia Opens in Newtown from the Bailey’s Backyard Team Features Interview Restaurant Ingredients Newtown Homepage Interview Mexican Tacos Cocktails Opening Andrew Dominick September 23, 2024 On the heels of their quarter century anniversary, Bailey’s Backyard, and its original and forever owner, Sal Bagliavio have a sequel. And no, it’s not following in the exact footsteps of Bailey’s—one of Connecticut O.G. farm-to-table restaurants. Ristorante numéro dos for Bagliavio and chef/partner Forrest Pasternack, who returned to Bailey’s recently, are entering the world of tacos with Taco Dia—because every day is taco day, not just Tuesdays. If you’re at least a little familiar with Bailey’s, Bagliavio and Pasternack entering the realm of Mexican cuisine isn’t that shocking. Bailey’s is very New American, and if you’ve eaten there, Mexican pops up on the menu frequently, and especially on their Wednesday night Market Table tasting menu. Read More
Guide to Catering The Jewish Holidays in CT (2024 Edition) Features Caterer Catering Guide Catering Jewish Holidays Deli Hannah Goodman September 20, 2024 Fall is on the horizon and with that comes the celebration of two major Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These events are incredibly significant to many in our community, as both are packed with thousands of years of history and generational traditions. While every religion has its own beliefs and customs, I think each culture can agree on one single truth: food is good and good food is even better. This list we’ve compiled includes restaurants, caterers, synagogues offering communal dinners, and markets, all of which are offering traditional, mouth-watering High Holiday favorites (plus a little extra). From our CTbites community to yours, we hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season. Shanah Tovah! Read More
Guide To CT's Fall/Winter Cooking Classes For Adults & Kids Features Cooking Cooking Classes Education Kids Cooking Camp kids cooking party Kids Cooking Classes Highlight Hannah Goodman September 14, 2024 Let’s admit it, summer is over. But instead of being sad about the end of hot days and warm nights, why not get excited about what autumn and winter have in store for us? Put away those bathing suits, flip-flops, and floppy beach hats we bought on a whim because we thought they were cute but never actually wore. Now get out those deliciously cozy leaf-colored sweaters, oversized flannels, and UGG(ly) slippers because it’s time for the best cooking, baking, and cocktail classes CT has in store this season. Oh me, oh my, are there some amazingly inspired courses out there! Whether you’re looking for a date night culinary adventure, a girls’ night out pizza making and wine tasting experience, classes for your little ones, or advice on eating clean, mean, and in-between, this list has you 100% covered. So don’t be sad that those long summer days are behind us, be glad they happened. Then get over it, because the best of 2024 has yet to come! Read More
