Nibble: CT Food Events & Happenings for February 22-30

Chefs Craig Hutchinson and Alex Lischynsky have started [oink] pop-up dinners to showcase local, seasonal ingredients.  Main Street Grill in Watertown will be the next setting on Sunday February 28.  This time, The Cocktail Chemist, Dimitrios Zahariadis, will be there to create cocktail pairings.  The menu includes salt sturgeon, risotto, and more!  $75 pp.  

If you love sausage, be sure to sign up for “Sausage Making 101” at Fleisher’s Craft Butchery’s Westport location.  On Tuesday February 23 at 7pm, learn about basic anatomy, knife skills, and more before trying your hand at skills like butchering, twisting, and linking sausages.  It costs $100 per person.  https://www.fleishers.com/school/classes/ 

Chef Donatella Arpaia, judge on The Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America, will speak at The Quick Center’s Open VISIONS Forum on Friday February 26 at 8pm.  The Quick Center is located at Fairfield University, which Arpaia is an alumnus of, so it’s fitting that the talk is called “From Undergrad Stag to a Hotshot TV Foodie: How This Iron Chef and Restaurateur Followed Her Dream to Success.”  Tckets are $45.

What happens at the Ice Bar stays at the Ice Bar! Rizzuto's in Westport is holding its Second Annual Ice Bar Party on Friday February 26 and Saturday February 27 from 6pm to midnight! The outdoor party includes New Amsterdam Cocktails and more.

Napa and Company’s winter wine classes continue with “Train to Tuscany” on Monday February 22.  Try Sangiovese wines, Super Tuscans, and more over the course of the evening.  Classes start at 6:30pm and include samplings of 6 wines and 3 small plates.  It is $65 per person and sign-up is required.  http://www.napaandcompany.com/ 

Last week we celebrated Valentine’s Day… and this week we can celebrate another perfect pairing: cheese and wine!  Greenwich Cheese Company invites you to an evening where you will taste wines and cheeses that complement one another in spectacular ways. Tuesday Feb. 23 from 7-9pm.  Tickets are $50.  http://fairfieldcheese.com/ 

Festivities’ award winning Executive Chef Bill Kaliff is sharing his recipes, entertaining design techniques, and resources in quarterly entertaining demonstrations co-sponsored by Lillian August and Festivities hosted at The LA Café in Norwalk.  February 24’s session all about “Dinner in One Pot.”  The events are complimentary.  To reserve, email bkaliff@festivitiesevents.com or call 203.847.7774

Are you curious about what goes into your food?  The movie Consumed investigates genetically modified food.  View the film at the Trumbull Marquis 16 theatre and engage in a post-film discussion on Thursday February 25 at 7:30pm.  The event is in conjunction with Catch a Healthy Habit in Fairfield.  Purchase your tickets there or get them online: https://gathr.us/screening/14065 

On Thursday February 25, Walrus + Carpenter is celebrating Jonny Cash’s birthday!  Their second year of “Johnny Cash Birthday Bash” includes a pig roast, Kent Falls tap takeover, birthday cake, and music by the Man in Black.  http://www.walruscarpenterct.com/events/ 

Also on Thursday February 25, New Canaan Wine Merchants invites you to a wine class all about Sonoma!  Learn about… and taste!... wine from the California region while enjoying cheese from the Darien Cheese Shop.  It costs $10 per person and advance sign-up is required since seats fill up quickly.  Please call the store at (203) 972-0100.

On Saturday February 27, the Stamford Museum and Nature Center will host a Farm to Table Supper from 6-10pm.  Chef Scott Miller, who achieved acclaim in the Max Restaurant Group, will create delicious seasonal dishes.  Guests can also enjoy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, special cocktails, and a tour of New York artist Peter Bradley’s new pop-up exhibit.  It is $175 per person with other sponsorship opportunities available.  http://www.stamfordmuseum.org/farmtotable/index.html 

Embark on a Connecticut Craft Brewery Tour in New Haven on Saturday February 27.  The day will include visits to Overshores Brewing, Thimble Island, and Stony Creek.  Be sure to bring cash for your time at Stony Creek, where food trucks will be on hand.  Meet at 12:45pm at Helen Hadley Hall, located at 420 Temple Street, for a prompt departure at 1pm.  The day ends at that same spot at 6pm.  

Sixpence Pie Company in Willmantic will teach you how to make 3 kinds of savory pies on Saturday February 27 at 3pm.  You’ll have the chance to get hands on, taste, and bring home recipes.  Tickets are $49 per person.  

Center Street Public House in Darien now delivers!  Click on the Grubhub icon on their website and place your order!  If you’d rather visit them in person, be sure to stop by on Saturday February 27 to see Ireland take on England.

Ridgefield Restaurant Week goes through February 27!  Participating restaurants will offer special multi-course lunches and dinners.  To see which restaurants are involved and additional details, see: http://www.connecticutrestaurantweek.com/restaurant-weeks-ct/ridgefield-restaurant-week/

Make your plans now to attend The Chelsea’s Leap Year Industry Night on Monday February 29!  IT will be a full-fledged party with DJ Rob and drink specials.

Bishops Orchards has unveiled its 2016 CSA Program.  Share options include flower shares, cheese shares, egg shares, and more.  http://bishopsorchards.com/the-farm/csa-program/