Weekly Nibble: James Beard Awards, Cooking Classes, Meatball Challenge + More Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 31, 2014 New Haven Restaurant Week lasts from Sunday November 2- Friday November 7. Enjoy $18 lunch and $32 dinner prix fixe menus from 36 of New Haven’s most popular restaurants, including Oaxaca Kitchen, Thali, Zinc, and more. Monday November 3, Barcelona Fairfield invites you to a “Basic Knife Techniques & Tapas Class.” Chef Ian will teach you to prepare food in an efficient yet safe way. Then, use the techniques you’ve learned to make tapas. $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Please bring your knives. To make a reservation, please call 203.255.0800. Also on Nov 3, Napa & Co celebrates its 8th year with a special 4 course $65 prix fixe dinner on Friday & Saturday nights. You can also try it with wine pairings for $80. The first-ever Meatball Challenge of New Haven County will take place on November 5 from 6 to 9 pm and will feature some of New Haven County's favorite restaurants including Barcelona Wine Bar, Cask Republic, Consiglio’s, Home, Have a Ball, Gateway Community College, Melt Mobile, and Thali. A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Hospitality Management Program at Gateway Community College. Also on Wednesday November 5, Tutto Pasta partners with Harry’s Wine & Liquor for “Fresh Pasta Plus More, & Italian Wine . . . Bellissima!” Owners and brothers of Tutto Pasta, Andrew and David Tavolacci, will serve their pastas with complimentary Italian wines. There will even be an antipasti course and dessert. $40 per person. This week, the Westport Farmers Market features students from Staples High School’s Culinary Program. On Thursday November 6, you can participate in a cooking class and a 5 course tasting menu by Chef Silvia, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef with 3 star Michel restaurant experience. She’ll show you how to create an elegant, restaurant-quality meal with local, seasonal ingredients and EVOO. Visit Southington Wine & Liquors on Saturday the 8th to meet the Brewmaster of Charter Oak Brewing and taste through their beers. You can try the 1687 Brown Ale, Royal Charter Pale Ale, Wadsworth's IPA, and Lights Out Stout. It takes place from 4-7pm. On Saturday November 8, learn how to pull off “Thanksgiving with a Twist” with Jones Family Farms in Shelton, CT. The menu includes Braised Duck, Wild Rice and Greens, Stuffed Squash, Fresh Cranberry Chutney and Blueberry Maple Slump. Limited to 12 students, $85 per student. 12-3pm. City Limits is offering a ½ priced bottle of wine when a guest orders one of the Allen Brothers Steaks. Possibilities include Rib Eye, N.Y. Strip, Filet Mignon, and Hanger Steak, served with your choice of two sides. You can also choose a topping. Sono Baking Company is officially open for business at their new Darien outpost. Conveniently located on 49 Tokeneke Road right across from the Darien train station, Sono Baking Co. is open from 7AM to 7PM. The James Beard Foundation is taking submissions. You can nominate your favorite chefs and restaurants here http://jamesbeard.starchefs.com/awards/vote/index_2.php Looking ahead... On Monday November 10, Tomato & Basil in Fairfield, CT is debuting an all new menu and wine list. They’ll celebrate the launch with a 5 course dinner with Argentinian wine pairings. The evening will be both fun and educational. Gary Grunner, brand ambassador for Rutini wines, will be on hand to guide you through the pairings and answer any questions. Please call 203.333.3600 to confirm. Bar Sugo of Norwalk will host a game dinner on Tuesday November 11 from 6-9pm. It includes rabbit, pheasant, deer, quail, duck, and boar! $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. /home/2014/10/29/game-dinner-bar-sugo-in-norwalk-rabbit-quail-deer-boar-more.html
