Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of May 7- 14

The Hickories, an organic farm in Ridgefield, is now selling its community-supported agriculture shares (CSAs) for the 2017 growing season.  Once a week, shareholders can come to pick up freshly harvested organic vegetables and fruits.  To learn more, visit their website.

Bistro Basque in Milford invites you to a 6 Course Early Summer Wine Dinner on Tuesday May 9.  From rose to Pinot Noir, seafood to suckling pig, there will be offerings for every palate.  It costs $65 per person, inclusive. 

Alforno restaurant in Old Saybrook will also have a wine dinner on May 9. Guest speaker will be Mike Wylie, state manager of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.  Founded in 1385, Antinori is one of Italy’s leading wine producers.  The dinner costs $68 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, contact Ben Zemmel at ben@alforno.net or call 860-399-4166.

Kevin Hall, winemaker at Alexander Valley Vineyards, will visit Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market on Wednesday May 10.  At 7pm he will present his elegant, age worthy wines.  It costs $40 per person.

On Wednesday May 10, AMG Catering presents a Mother’s Day cooking class called Small Plates from Around the Globe.  It costs $90 per person and runs from 7-9pm.

The New Canaan Farmers Market is now open. Join them from 10am-2pm, rain or shine, at the
Old Center School Parking lot on South Ave and Maple Street.

C.viche 181 in New Haven presents a Latin American & Iberian Wine Tasting on Wednesday May 10 from 5:30-7:30pm.  Try over 40 wines along with lights foods for $20 per person. 

Wednesday May 10 will be an epic “Clash of the Counties,” with The Blind Rhino, Cask Republic New Haven, and Taphouse 150 representing their respective regions.  They will fight to raise the most money for the SMS Research Foundation.  Join them to help the cause and enjoy some specials. 

Drinks, food, and art come together at Chubby’s Pub in Bridgeport on May 10.  They’ll Paint Nite, where an instructor guides you through the basics creating a painting while you add your own personal touch.  $45 covers the canvas, all supplies, and the two hour long class.  Drinks and food is available for purchase at the pub. 

Stew Leonard's is helping toddlers and kids honor their mothers via cooking classes.  Toddlers ages 2-5 can learn how to make Mother’s Day breakfast from May 9-13, while kids ages 6-12 can learn to prepare Mother’s Day dinner from May 12-13. 

Join Chef Dean at Waterford’s The Eater on Wednesday May 10 for a Mexican Cuisine Cooking Class.  Along with learning basic techniques, you will create pico de gallo with tortilla chips, homemade guacamole, refried beans from scratch, chicken enchiladas, and deep fried ice cream.  It lasts from 6:30-9pm and costs $55 per person. 

If you missed Fairfield Greenwich Cheese Company’s class on goat cheese, you have another chance!  Visit their Fairfield location on May 11 from 7-9pm to learn more about this variety.  It costs $50 per person. 

Consiglio's Restaurant in New Haven will teach you to cook a traditional Italian meal on Thursday May 11.  The menu features Roasted Lamb Chops with Spring Pesto, Spinach Fettuccini with Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Oil, Veal Tenderloin with Garlic Roasted Potatoes and Broccolini, and Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake.  Tickets are $65 per person, exclusive of tax, tip, and drinks.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling 203-865-4489.  

Spice Catering Group, Lyman Orchards, and Brescome Barton are teaming up for a Local Spring Harvest Wine and Dine at the Lyman Homestead in Middlefield, CT.  On Friday May 12, guests can feast on a menu including Beet Ravioli, New England Bouillon, Lambchetta, Beef Cheek Ragu, and a dessert station.  Everything will be paired with complementary wines.  It costs $95 per person. 

Love146 is a non-profit organization based in New Haven that seeks to and child trafficking.  On Friday May 12, they will host The Red Gala at Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT.  Enjoy an  elegant family-style dinner in the River Building along with cocktail hour, a silent auction, live entertainment, and a short program. 

The Made in Connecticut Expo returns to the Farmington Polo Grounds from May 13-14.  Over 300 booths will feature local food, drinks, crafts, books, beauty products, and more.  Admission is $8 for adults.  Children under 12 are free admission and parking at the grounds is $5 per car.  It runs from 11am-6pm both days.   

The Hops Company (“THC”) in Derby hosts a clambake on Saturday May 13.  A $30 ticket includes a steamed 1 1/4 lb Lobster, BBQ Chicken, steamed clams, New England clam chowder, salad, corn on the cob, rolls, and sliced watermelon.  There will also be corn hole and giant jenga. 

The 4th Annual French Country Market returns to the Killam & Bassette Farmstead in Glastonbury on Saturday May 13.  Shop from over 30 local vendors and eat from food trucks like Mercado, Urban Gourmet, The Farmer's Cow and Faddy's Donuts.  It lasts from 10am-3pm.  The rain date is Sunday May 14. 

On Saturday May 13, Stamford’s Bedford Street shuts down for Brews on Bedford.  Breweries, live music, games, giveaways, and more converge on downtown for a fun-filled day.  Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door and include souvenir beer mug and six 4-ounce beer samples. Additional 4-ounce samples can be purchased for $2 each at the event. 

The people who presented Smoke in the Valley and the Freedom Beer Fest now invite you to “Pour at the Shore” on Saturday Mary 13.  The Craft Beer Festival includes regional, national, and international beers, a home brew competition, live music, food trucks, artisans, and more.  It takes places at Short Beach in Stratford Connecticut. 

Jones Family Farms in Shelton invites all moms to a Mother’s Day Wine Tasting on Sunday May 14.  From 11am-5pm, enjoy two wine tastings for the price of one along with special dishes from the Harvest Kitchen. 

On May 13th from 11 AM - 2:30 PM, Millstone Farm's ethnobotanist and clinical herbalist Hayden Stebbins leads you on a walk through forest and field. During this walk, Hayden will teach you about common plants and mushrooms, how to identify them by family, and their edible, medicinal, or poisonous properties. You and the group will harvest edible plants as you go, and will bring them to the kitchen where you and the group will prepare a multicourse meal combining the harvest with regular food. This will include a wild plant pesto, hummus, salad, a couple teas and an extra dish depending on what plants and mushrooms are found. 
Pricing: $35-$50. Pay what you can. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
This event will be capped at 25 participants, so email haydenstebbins@gmail.com to register and pay.

Looking Ahead

Cask Republic is hosting a 10-year community anniversary party on Thursday, May 18th from 5:00p.m – 10 p.m. (rain date is 5/19/17).  Their spacious patio will host a pig roast, a Two Roads Brewing Company tap take-over hosted by co-founder/brewmaster Phil Markowski as well as serving up Bulleit Bourbon and Tito’s Vodka signature cocktails .  In addition to the a la carte menu, guests can purchase a $30 ticket (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and enjoy a pig roast, two side dishes, one beverage (Bulleit Bourbon, Tito’s Vodka, or Two Roads anniversary beverage) and a raffle ticket for gift card giveaways. 10% of the ticket proceed sales will benefit the Norwalk-based non-profit, STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way (www.starct.org) that has served our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1952!