3 Ways To Help Our Neighbors Impacted by SNAP Cuts in Connecticut Restaurant Ingredients food pantry SNAP SNAP Benefits Nonprofit CTbites Team October 30, 2025 Due to the shutdown of the federal government, millions of Americans will see their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits halted on November 1, 2025. This impacts many in our state. 360,000 Connecticut residents rely on SNAP to feed their families. 1 in 8 Americans and 1 in 5 children rely on SNAP. Our neighbors will be losing their SNAP benefits and this is our time to step up and support them.The following list of resources are here to help those who are seeking food pantries, organizations that assist those who are food insecure, and you’ll even find restaurants that are lending a hand at this time, or if you’re looking to volunteer, many of these local nonprofits could always use the extra help. 3 WAYS TO HELPDonate to CT Foodshare at CTFoodshare dot com. Every $1 donated = two meals.Volunteer your time with CT Foodshare. This helps spread the monetary donations further.Donate food to a local food shelter. Find the closest one at 211ct.org Read More
Bake Zone CT: Handcrafted Small Batch Brioche Donuts in Stamford Events Features Ingredients Interview Donuts Woman Owned Pop-Up Bakery Baker Stamford Interview Andrew Dominick October 29, 2025 Covering the hospitality industry for as long as I have, it’s a given you’ll come across people who left a completely different career to pursue their passion in cooking or baking. Sandeep Gupta is one of those people. She left her job doing app design and once she moved from San Francisco to Stamford, she started her own donut business. “I told my husband (Mayank), who’s also a developer and does IT, that I love designing apps and logos and everything, but that I want to follow my passion as a baker,” Gupta says. “I actually liked my job! It was creative and I wasn’t just coding. I made buttons, themes, making apps look pretty. That was me.” Read More
Guide To Connecticut Caterers (2025 Edition) Features Highlight Guide Catering Guide Caterers Best of CT Homepage Carly Terzigni October 28, 2025 Want to take the stress out of cooking for a crowd? Let Connecticut caterers handle things! There are a number of reasons you may want to reach out to your local catering company. You may be hosting a large gathering, and the thought of preparing food for so many people seems daunting. Maybe it’s your turn to have everyone over for the holidays, and you want to spend less time in the kitchen and more with family and friends. There are major life events, like weddings, that you’ll definitely want a caterer for. Or, you may simply be in charge of planning an upcoming event at work. No matter the occasion, there are many catering companies across Connecticut ready to make your next meal memorable.To help you navigate this guide, we’ve organized the listings by county. Simply find your local county and see which businesses are nearby! Read More
Dos Hermanos Guatemalan Bakery & Cafe Opens in Bridgeport Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Guatemalan Bakery Latin American Black Rock Bridgeport Opening Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick October 24, 2025 If you notice a bunch of people in Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood entering a tiny storefront on Brewster Street, follow them, and the smell of fresh baked bread, inside. Welcome to Dos Hermanos Bakery & Cafe, owned by two brothers (hence the name), Giovanni and Nelson Castellon, who had a goal of opening a place of their own for a while to show the community an accurate representation of Guatemalan food. Read More
Beyond New Haven: Discovering the Greek-Style Deliciousness of Zois Pizza in Seymour Restaurant Pizza Seymour CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 21, 2025 The Connecticut Pizza Trail recently unveiled its list of the top 100 pizzerias for us pizza-loving Nutmeggers. While I could easily name a few they overlooked, it’s no surprise that many of the revered New Haven legends made the cut, with the rest fanning out in a 180-degree sweep west, north, and east across the state. Some of the additional names were instantly familiar, others have now earned a spot on my ever-growing “must-try” list. As I worked through the county-by-county alphabetical lineup, my attention naturally drifted to my home turf, New Haven County. One recognizable name after another appeared, and then, near the end, there it was: Zois Pizza. Tucked just off Route 8’s Exit 18 in Seymour, this unassuming gem might fly under the radar for outsiders, but for locals, Zois has long been among the Valley’s best. Read More
Guide To Connecticut Halloween Parties, Events, Bars & Restaurants (2025 Edition) Features Halloween Events Homepage Carly Terzigni October 21, 2025 Halloween is right around the corner, so hopefully you have your costumes picked out and you are stocked up on candy! Restaurants around Connecticut are ready to celebrate over the next couple of weeks with one-night events, parties, and menu specials to immerse you in the spooky season. From family-friendly gatherings to adult-only soirees, make this Halloween one to remember with good food, drink, and company!To help you find the nearest Halloween event, this guide is organized by county. Scroll to your local county and see what is going on through the end of October! Read More
Revisiting BAR’s Take on New Haven Pizza Restaurant Pizza New Haven New Haven Pizza CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 20, 2025 Bar is located at 254 Crown Street in New Haven, CT, in an industrial building that proudly boasts its historical heritage with exposed brick, garage-style doors that open in warm weather, and vintage prints. As you walk through the different rooms and look at the food-beer offerings, you wonder whether Bar is a pizzeria that serves great pizza with a side of beer, or a microbrewery that drafts in-house microbrews with a side of New Haven pizza. For us, we were there for the pizza, and our single question was how it would compare to the other legendary New Haven pizzas. Read More
Connecticut Chefs Open Up About Wellness, Bad Habits, Mental Health, Addiction, and the 86 Challenge Features Interview Homepage Interview Health & Wellness Mental Health Addiction Chefs Beto Ortiz Damon Sawyer Carlos Perez Dante Cistulli Andrew Dominick October 16, 2025 To “86” or to “eighty-six” something is a term commonly used in the hospitality industry. It’s defined, maybe best so, in the Urban Dictionary, where it’s summarized as “getting rid of something, removing it, or refusing service.” If a dish is popular for the evening, and thus, sold out, you might hear a chef say something like, “86 pasta special.” But to “reject, discard, or cancel” or to 86, has a different meaning to Beto Ortiz in the present day. Ortiz, the founder of Humans of the Kitchen (think Humans of New York for the service industry), a chef in his own right, and someone who’s open about his own struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and an overall rebellious nature, started the 86 Challenge, a wellness program for chefs and restaurant professionals. Read More
Mystic Cocktail Classic With 12 Semi Finalists Competing Nov 7-10 Features Cocktail Contest CTbites Team October 16, 2025 This fall, Mystic will play host to the Mystic Cocktail Classic (November 7–10), a new event celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship that define modern mixology. Presented by Veritable Distillery, the festival will bring together some of the most respected voices in the spirits world for conversation, competition, and coastal hospitality.Today, organizers announced the 12 semi finalists who have advanced to the next round of the Mystic Cocktail Competition, which takes place during the event’s finale on Monday, November 10.Bartenders and mixologists from across the country were invited to submit entries across four key spirit categories - liqueur, gin, rum, and whiskey. Submissions arrived from over 25 states, reflecting the competition’s nationwide appeal. Entries were evaluated on originality, balance, technique, presentation, and storytelling, by a panel of industry experts. Read More
Little Lotus Omakase Opens in New Haven Restaurant Omakase Sushi Sushi Bar Japanese Opening New Haven Homepage Noah Schwartz October 15, 2025 There’s a new hot spot in New Haven, but you might drive past it without blinking.This small, waterside gem is located within the Pequonnock Yacht Club in the tranquil City Point neighborhood of New Haven. It’s housed in the building that was formerly City Point Kitchen, just in front of Shell & Bones, and is the pride and joy of restaurateur couple Larry Wang and Bilian “Nia” Chen.Despite having what may be the most progressive omakase menu in the state, Little Lotus is deeply rooted in history. So, if you enjoy things delicacies like sea urchin, O-toro, A5 Japanese wagyu beef, foie gras…and blow torches… keep on reading. Read More
Elm in New Canaan Relaunches Afternoon Tea Service Ingredients Interview Restaurant Elm New Canaan New Canaan Afternoon Tea Tea Time Interview Andrew Dominick October 15, 2025 Fridays and Saturdays are for sipping…TEA! Pinky extension for each taste of herbal, green, or black tea is mandatory, of course. On the heels of Elm’s overhaul of their interior and food menu, afternoon tea is back! If it feels like we’ve taken this tea journey once before, we certainly have. Back in 2021, I covered Elm’s spread of scones, bites both savory and sweet, a piping hot teapot, and for an extra charge, and if you desire, a glass (or bottle, if that’s how you get down) of bubbly. Read More
BOOK SIGNING: Meet Cookbook Author Dana Pollack of "Bake it Gluten Free" Features Cookbooks Author EVENT CTbites Team October 14, 2025 Join 365 Collective by Abigail Fox + Serendipity for a special evening with Dana Pollack, founder of the cult-favorite Dana’s Bakery and author of the brand-new cookbook Bake It Gluten Free: 100 Recipes for Classic Treats (out October 21, 2025), on November 6, 2025 from 6 - 7:30pm.In her first fully gluten-free baking collection, Dana reimagines beloved desserts and baked goods, think Confetti Birthday Cake, Babka French Toast, Monkey Bread, and Strawberry Shortcake Cookies so everyone can enjoy them, without sacrificing any of the flavor of the original. With her trademark creativity and expertise as a trained pastry chef, Dana makes gluten-free baking approachable, fun, and irresistibly delicious. Read More
Chefs For Chef Tasting Dinner To Benefit CT Hospitality Foundation Oct 26th Events Features Dinner Events Chef's Tasting Fundraiser CTbites Team October 13, 2025 Gioia, an Italian restaurant, market, gelateria and rooftop space located at 150 Wooster Street, New Haven, is hosting “Chefs for Chef,” a 5-course tasting dinner on Sunday, October 26 beginning at 6pm. In partnership with the Connecticut Restaurant Association, proceeds from the dinner benefit the Connecticut Hospitality Education Foundation, supporting education and opportunity in the local hospitality community. The event will begin with a festive welcome cocktail and passed bites, followed by a five-course dinner featuring a signature dish from each chef with wine pairings. Participating chefs include:Tyler Anderson, Millwright’s RestaurantTim Cabral, Gioia, OrdinaryPrasad Chirnomula, Chef Prasad Indian CuisineMichelle Greenfield, Allium EateryAvi Szapiro, GioiaChelsea Tripp, KouignTickets are $175/pp for café and bar seating (not including tax and gratuity), and $350/pp for VIP Chef’s Counter Seats (only 4 are available!). To purchase tickets, visit https://www.opentable.com/r/gioia-wooster-street-new-haven. Read More
LobsterCraft Food Truck X SONO 1420 Weekend Tasting Room Fireside Collab Features Norwalk Distillery Lobster Lobster Roll Opening Food Truck CTbites Team October 13, 2025 SoNo 1420, America’s Maritime Distillery in South Norwalk, CT, recently introduced its new food service partner, Norwalk’s popular LobsterCraft food truck. The partnership between SoNo 1420’s Double Gold Award-Winning whiskeys and spirits and LobsterCraft’s #1 voted lobster roll, make for a great new weekend visit in the Norwalk food scene. This collab takes place amongst outdoor firepits, SONO 1420’s outstanding cocktails c/o mixologist Blake Poon, every Thursday-Saturday 5-9PM, with live music every Friday! Read More
60+ Connecticut Event Spaces For Your Next Celebration Features Catering Event Rental Events Private Party Highlight Homepage Amy S. White October 09, 2025 Whether you're planning a holiday party, corporate retreat, dream wedding, or milestone celebration, the right venue sets the tone for the entire event. Across the state, there are countless hidden gems and well-known favorites that offer the perfect backdrop for gatherings of all kinds, each with its own charm, amenities, and atmosphere. Scenic shoreline locales. Historic mansions. Elegant ballrooms. Rustic barns. Wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Restaurants, inns, and pizza joints. A vintage car club. A lace factory. A historic opera house. A room dedicated to Vlad the Impaler. And yes, much, much more. Connecticut offers an incredibly diverse range of unique event spaces that cater to every style and occasion and transform any event from ordinary to extraordinary. In this guide, we’ve curated a list of the best event spaces across the state, each selected for its ability to create unforgettable experiences. No matter your vision or guest count, there's a perfect space waiting for you here. This list is organized by county for your convenience. Read More
Chef Jared Falco Hosts Pop-Up Dinner at BJ Ryan's to Honor Chef Michael Maroni Features Pop-Up Dinner Stephanie Webster October 09, 2025 TThis is a dinner you won’t want to miss. On October 22nd, Chef Jared Falco, of Bar Rosina’s is teaming up with BJ Ryan’s for an iconic Italian family-style dining experience, to honor the legendary Chef Michael Maroni, of Maroni’s Cuisine. Yes, there will be black burgundy and white truffles from NUNZIA involved, as well as caviar from Pierless Seafood. Read More
Last Call for Carnitas: Super Taqueria Las Salsas in Bridgeport Closing On October 19 Interview Restaurant Carnitas Bridgeport Mexican Tacos Interview Closing CTbites Team October 09, 2025 After well over a decade serving traditional carnitas and Mexican street food on Bridgeport’s State Street, owner and lifelong taquero, Gil Salvador Perez Hurtado, is shutting down shop at his beloved Super Taqueria Las Salsas. October 19, 2025 will be the final service day for the legendary taqueria which, if you read our story in 2024, began first as a low-key pop up out of Hurtado’s apartment, then became one of the state’s more popular food trucks, before he moved it to a brick-and-mortar location. Read More
Hidden Gem: You'll Wanna Know About Downright Breads Micro Bakery Features Bread Baker Bakery Farmers Market Micro Bakery Homepage Kendall Arkay October 08, 2025 ’Tis the season of football, hayrides, haunted trails, apple picking, pumpkin cold brews—I could go on and on. But in honor of the first weekend of fall, let me set the scene: it’s a crisp 60-degree Sunday morning, you’re heading back from the farmers market with a slightly overstuffed bag of fall goodies, just to go rot on the couch and alternate between RedZone and Gilmore Girls. A New England fall is like no other and, in my opinion, one of the best times of year.The farmers market in question is New Haven’s Edgewood Park Market, and the bag in question is filled with treats from Downright Breads—a micro bakery in the greater New Haven area where the wonderful baker Soli, alongside her family, serves up absolute heaven in bread form. We’re talking sourdough, cookies, challah, cinnamon rolls, English muffins—the list goes on. After a quick trip down Whalley Ave, I indulged in a full feast of Downright Breads’ offerings, and I’m here to report back on my five favorites. Read More
It’s A Woman’s World: Bartender + Beverage Manager Kylie Keeley of Bar Bushido in Norwalk Ingredients Restaurant Interview It's A Woman's World Interview Bartender Bar Bushido Norwalk Cocktails Andrew Dominick October 07, 2025 Walk through the doors of Jeff Taibe’s izakaya, Bar Bushido, and chances are, you’ll be greeted by Kylie Keeley, especially if you’re sitting down at her bar. Correction. One of her bars. The pub part of Bar Bushido—where you’ll find yakitori, ramen, karaage chicken, DIY hand rolls, and other Japanese bar bites—is where Keeley says the “drinks match the energy.” The izakaya is a vibe; it’s loud (but with good energy), casual, and a great hangout for any occasion, and it’s where she’s rocking out a drink list of highballs, creative sake bombs, and cocktails ingredients (especially Japanese ingredients) that should spark your curiosity and tickle your tastebuds. At the very back of the space is Bar Bushido’s alter ego, a quieter, more intimate hand roll bar, where Keeley’s cocktails are more focused on highlighting a certain flavor profile. Read More
Why Modern Apizza in New Haven is #1 on the New CT Pizza Trail Restaurant Pizza New Haven New Haven Pizza CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 06, 2025 Over the past months, I’ve been on a quest to find the best pizza in the Valley, exploring Waterbury and its neighboring towns. Now, it feels like the right time to turn my attention to what many consider the epicenter of Connecticut pizza: New Haven, where you're met with no shortage of options to explore. When a couple of buddies and I were scheduling a pizza lunch, we decided to sidestep the potential chaos of Wooster Street and headed over a few blocks to Modern Apizza on State Street. Once you manage to find parking, be prepared to wait, and count yourself lucky if you have that lucky timing of an immediate opening. We arrived just after noon and, to our good fortune, a booth was open in the back room. We took it as a sign of good things to come. As soon as our server arrived, we ordered a couple of bottles of Foxon Park, Kola and Root Beer, then got down to topping talk. We kept it semi-classic: one pie fully loaded with pepperoni and the other topped with sausage and onion. Read More
