Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of June 9-16

On Tuesday June 11, Porron join Missing Link Wine Company, the Wise Old Dog, Finca Volvoreta Winery, and Chef Tyler Anderson for Porron’s very first vegetarian Pop Up Supper.  Begin with a reception of Txakoli and then sit for a tasting menu with wine for each course. 

On Thursday June 13, Kala Bistro is celebrating women with a “Wine Dinner with a Focus on Female Winemakers.”  The 5 course meal will be complemented with wines from Spain and France.  It is $69 per person, inclusive, and begins at 6:30pm. 

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield presents “A Place at the Table” farm-to-table dinner on Friday June 14.  Enjoy a locally sources 3 course dinner prepared by Hayfields Market.  Members can participate in an exclusive chef’s tasting before dinner.

The 10th Annual Hartford Rib Off is back and returning to Hartford’s Riverside Park from June 14-15, 2019.  This year's festival will begin on June 14th with the Hartford Rib Off Kick-Off Party where guests can enjoy live music, beer samples from 20 different breweries, Tito’s Vodka craft cocktails, and contests with local pitmasters.  It continues on Saturday with with a family-friendly day packed with an Unlimited BBQ, Unlimited Beer, Tito’s Craft Cocktails, water and soft drinks, Live Entertainment, kids activities, and vendors. 

The Oyster Club is teaming up with Stone Acres Farm on Saturday June 15 for a Garden Party.  Enjoy a variety of craft cocktails and farm fresh bites as you make your way through the 150 year old boxwood gardens and fragrant blooms. 

On Saturday June 15, White Silo Winery in Sherman hosts a cheese and wine tasting, complete with live music from Guy Tino.  Sample local and imported cheeses, local honey, and other White Silo farm products. 

Brizo, located in Rocky Hill, CT will host an oyster shucking class with Chef Aaron on June 11th. Purchase tickets here.

Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, with locations in Fairfield and New Haven, will be offering a monthly appreciation day, offering a complimentary Geronimo Margarita by showing a business card, badge, etc.  On June 12, they honor veterinarians.

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the waterfront in the historic City Point area of New Haven, will be donating 10% of all food sales from the day to Save the Sound on June 12.

The Connecticut BBQ Festival arrives in Bethlehem on Saturday June 15.  It promises to be a day full of BBQ, Brews, Bacon, Bourbon, Eating Contests, Crafters, Live Music, and a Kids Zone. Local restaurants and food trucks will compete for the title of “Best BBQ “in multiple categories decided by YOU. 

Please join Red Bee Honey's Marina Marchese and independent Scout & Cellar consultant Catherine Mackay for The Pollinator Plate, a Pollinator Week Celebration.  They invite you to a zero waste event featuring a tasting flight of 4 single origin honeys and 4 clean-crafted natural wines paired with seasonal local foods at the Red Bee Barn in Weston, CT on Sunday, June 16, 2019 from 1-3 pm. 

Is there a particular dish or ingredient, cooking tradition or dining ritual, that unlocks these doors for you? The Rowayton Arts Center (RAC) would love to read about it. To that end, RAC is running a food-themed writing contest as part of a celebration of all things culinary. Winners will be awarded prizes, and their work will be shared during the upcoming exhibition At the Table.  This writing contest is open to all ages. The judge, Sarah Gold, is an award-winning food and culture journalist and former Connecticut dining critic for The New York Times. Submission requirements: stories, essays, and poems of up to 1,000 words must be received by July 1 for consideration. Email writing@rowaytonarts.org.

Taco Loco has expanded to Loco Catering Group!  Just in time for summer, they now offer “Loco BBQ,” authentic Southern BBQ smoked low and slow. They start with high quality local meats and add  their signature “LOCO” spice rubs.  Book the truck or place your order online.  

Millwright’s is now accepting OpenTable reservations for tables in their tavern.

Chef Brian Lewis has partnered with Suzie and Jay Flores, owners of Stonington Kelp Co., to bring their Connecticut-grown sugar kelp to the table at OKO in Westport, CT (and soon, Rye, NY).  OKO is the only restaurant in Connecticut serving their product.  Cultivated using organic farming practices in the Fisher’s Island Sound off the shores of Stonington, CT, the kelp grown uses zero inputs while being farmed (no fresh water, no fertilizer or pesticides) and helps absorb chemicals that are damaging our local waters. 

Max Chef to Farm, an award-winning group of events that celebrate the amazing food grown in our backyard. This is our 12th year, and we are excited to bring you directly to the farm to experience seasonal and local food.  Our dinners are mulit-course feasts showcasing the delicious bounty of Connecticut-grown produce and other locally-sourced ingredients prepared on site by Chef Steve Michalewicz of Max Catering & Events, Chef Hunter Morton, Culinary Director of the Max Restaurant Group, and the entire Max Chef to Farm team. Our dinners are typically $109 per person and include reception, dinner, local wines, beverages and service. Most dinners located at: Rosedale Farms, 25 East Weatogue Street, Simsbury, CT 06070 Schedule here: https://maxcheftofarm.com/events

Local author and senior writer at Connecticut Magazine, Erik Ofgang, will be at Hartford Baking Company, 625 New Park Avenue, West Hartford on June 14th from 1-3 pm to sell and sign copies of his new book The Good Vices, which features all the good stuff that you were told was bad for you - and turns out - is not so bad after all! Is bread featured? You betcha. Also on the roster: booze, sex, and a work out you might actually enjoy vs. suffering through. He will be selling and signing copies of his book, and answering any questions you may have on this glorious news for all of us that like to have a cheat day now and again. Erik's father, Dr. Harry Ofgang, is co-author on the book. Copies may be purchased here: https://www.hahnemannhealth.com/