The CT Bites Suzysaid Lunch Recap

Yesterday a group of CT Bites and Suzysaid readers enjoyed their first in a series of lunch events, this one at Cafe Lola in Fairfield. The dining room was abuzz with satisfied diners who, for a mere $15, savored a wonderful 3 course meal in the warmth and elegance of owners Ivanina & Henri's Donneaux French bistro.  

We arrived early to check out the scene.  In the kitchen, Chef Henri had things under control and was beginning to prep his first plate of Ratatouille. Ivanina (who manages the restaurant and creates their excellent wine list) was greeting guests and making sure things were running smoothly. And they were! I sat down with two of our CT Bites contributors, Sarah Green and Jenny Vynerib and began strategizing the meal. 

Here is what we ate:

The lunch started with a signature cocktail, Lola's Cookie Treat, infused with the flavor of sweet gingerbread liqueur and apple cider. It was the perfect way to start the meal. This was followed by their Salad Verte with fresh local goat cheese and dried cherries. It was delicious and was accompanied by slices of crispy baguette from Billy's Bakery, also in Fairfield. For entrees we were tasked to select between the Croque Monsieur and Ratatouille Provencale. Wanting to save room for the Belgian Chocolate Mousse that I had eyed in the lineup, I opted for the lighter Ratatouille which was served with cous cous and a rich syrupy balsamic drizzle. You can read about the croque in our review of Cafe Lola from this Summer. It is divine! 

Of course, we couldn't leave without ordering the Moules (Mussels) Au Curry which are bathed in a light Madras curry sauce that is absolutely drinkable. It is also an excellent choice for frite and bread dipping. Yes, we went rogue and ordered off menu, but I couldn't bear the thought of missing out on those mussels. 

Every great meal ends with chocolate…or it should anyway, and this was no exception. The individual ramekins of rich chocolate mousse were served up with a dollop of fresh whipped cream…enough said. 

For all of you who attended the event, I hope you enjoyed yourselves and I look forward to seeing you at the next one. It was wonderful to meet some of our readers in person.

If you have any comments or suggestions for the next event, please feel free to leave them below or contact me directly.