Atticus Cafe & Market Opens 2nd Location in New Haven: It's All About The Grains Restaurant Features Bakery Bread Shop Local Artisan Breakfast Lunch New Haven Bread Openings Baker Homepage Erik Ofgang October 06, 2021 Bite into a sourdough loaf from Atticus and you’ll taste the difference immediately.It's heartier and nuttier with an addictive chew and bolder character than most other breads, even from other artisan sourdough bakeries. The bakery’s pastries also have a wonderful and unique flavor.The bakery’s not-so-secret ingredient is simple: whole grains.The new market is Atticus’ second location. It joins the Atticus Bookstore Cafe in downtown New Haven, which has been a bookstore since 1976 and a cafe since 1981. The location has been dabbling in artisan bread and pastries since 2016. Read More
Small State Provisions IS OPEN: Let Them Eat Bread! Restaurant West Hartford Local Artisan Bread Openings Baker Bakery Bread Shop Kristin L. Wolfe July 14, 2021 Are you ready to carb out on THE MOST tremendous bites of bready goodness your lips have savored? Small State Provisions in West Hartford’s GastroPark has finally opened.Owner, and head baker Kevin Masse has been incredibly patient this last year waiting to open his storefront bakery. Despite it being a difficult time for any industry, Masse’s fan base has multiplied; and, to see him finally open the doors to his beautiful brick and mortar was a pretty emotional moment. As he opened the doors for the first time on Saturday, July 3, he grabbed his camera to capture the smiles and cheers in the line as it wrapped around the door in the parking lot of the GastroPark, now THE place to “Gather and Graze” in WeHa. Small State Provisions’ goodies were sold out in 45 minutes! Read More
Kneads Bakery Café Opening in Westport Sept 5th: Artisan Bread, Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Bakery Bread Local Artisan Pastries Dessert Coffee Homepage Maddie Phelps September 03, 2020 In his grandmother’s tapas restaurant in Dallas, a young Daniel Moreno grew up hidden away in the kitchen, learning, listening while cultivating a dream of becoming a chef. Over a thousand miles away in Connecticut, a young Brittany spent her days baking for her family, guided by the dream of running her very own bakery one day. Now married, Daniel and Brittany Moreno’s dreams have turned into a reality as they open Kneads in Westport.With coffee, sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries and, of course, bread, Kneads offers a fresh, diverse “chalkboard” menu that features 100% whole grain organic flour. And, with a heavy focus on local products within a simple, cafe format, this husband and wife duo hope to bring a newfound appreciation of milling to town. Read More
Hartford Baking Announces NEW Location In Glastonbury! Restaurant Bakery Local Artisan Bread Openings Glastonbury Hartford Dessert Lunch Coffee CTbites Team September 11, 2019 Hartford Baking Company announces a new location in Glastonbury! It's expansion time! Hartford Baking Company is delighted to announce that they will be adding a third retail location in January of 2020. The new cafe will be located at 400 Hebron Ave. in Glastonbury, CT, and will have the same vibe, menu, and bread selection of the two current West Hartford locations. Read More
Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters Opening In Westport Restaurant Westport Openings Coffee Tea And Coffee Local Artisan Stephanie Webster May 18, 2019 Ed Freedman, Fairfield County’s passionate organic coffee roaster, and owner of the successful Shearwater Coffee Bar in the Brick Walk area of Fairfield, has announced the opening of a new location in Westport, on The Post Road. Named One of the 15 Best New Coffee Roasters in America by the popular digital lifestyle magazine Thrillist.com, and bestowed a 92 rating from CoffeeReview.com for their Organic Homacho Waeno Ethiopian roast, Shearwater introduced its small batch coffee roasts to Fairfield County in September of 2013 and was soon touted by java junkies, major gourmet food markets, and reputable area chefs as one of the leading coffee brands in the state. Read More
Don't Miss Chef Jeff Taibe's Monthly Bushido Pop-Up Dinner at Taproot in Bethel Restaurant Bethel Japanese Organic Local Artisan Sushi Pop-Up Dinner Homepage Andrew Dominick March 17, 2019 When Jeff Taibe opened Taproot in the second half of 2017, our Amy Kundrat summed up this Fairfield County gem beautifully. “Creative, seasonal, down-to-Earth, and hyper-local” (because damn near every ingredient comes from Connecticut farms) are all words she used. That summation is dead-on accurate. And yeah, you should run there. I wish I listened to her closing sentence and didn’t wait so long for a stellar culinary experience. Bethel isn’t THAT far, and Taproot is worth the drive. When I did go, I deserved the ribbing. “Hey, man! It only took you a f*cking year to get here!” Taibe joked. From the shareable, addictive apps, to carefully crafted cocktails, and braised pork cheeks that flaked apart with a slight twist of my fork, it was my favorite meal in Connecticut in 2018. All of the above is a well-deserved shout-out, but I’m not giving you a Taproot update. I’m dishing on the restaurant’s one-Sunday-per-month mood swing called “Bushido.” Bushido, as you can probably surmise, is a Japanese pop-up concept. The birth of Bushido is a story in itself. Read More
Rob VanKeuren’s Flour Water Salt Bread Opens in Darien Restaurant Openings Darien Breakfast Bakery Local Artisan Homepage Andrew Dominick November 22, 2018 When I first covered Rob VanKeuren more than a year ago, I found him in the early morning hours baking countless loaves of bread and hundreds of croissants at Lombardi’s Trattoria in the Georgetown section of Wilton. A lot has changed since then. customers—over to a larger space at GrayBarns, where he sold loaves and pastries out of a barn.Unfortunately for VanKeuren’s sourdough-obsessed following, his stint at GrayBarns was short-lived. As a result, his sought-after bread for public sale disappeared for a bit.Some months after, VanKeuren announced something more exciting, plans to open a bakery of his own, right next door to NEAT in Downtown Darien. And now, it’s finally come to fruition. Read More
SoNo Baking Company & Café Opens in Southport Restaurant Bakery Local Artisan Dessert Breakfast Lunch Brunch Coffee Tea And Coffee Southport Openings Jessica Ryan November 08, 2018 Welcome to the neighborhood SoNo Baking Company. We’re awfully glad you’re here! (Though my waistline may beg to differ.) SoNo Baking Company & Café officially opened its doors on Pequot Avenue in Southport today. Behind the glass display cases a beautiful array of cookies, tarts, pastries, cakes, and croissants all neatly arranged all ready to be purchased. Trays filled with delectable treats, fresh out of oven, were stacked and cooling. Brand new coffee and espresso machines glistened along the back wall. Read More
Gluten, Grain or Dairy Free? Pour Me Cafe in Danbury Has You Covered Restaurant Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Danbury Local Artisan Gluten-Free Lunch Breakfast Homepage Stephanie Webster July 01, 2018 You know how it goes. When you have a food allergy or sensitivity, or if you eat vegan or paleo, and you want to go out to eat anywhere, it can at times be quite the task to find a place to accommodate for what you need and want. Enter Pour Me in Danbury. I heard about them from a friend who also has food sensitivities and she called it a ‘healthy comfort food type place.’ So as someone who can’t have gluten or dairy, I was naturally intrigued. It was so nice not to have to call ahead to see if they had options other than a salad! Andrea Gartner, the owner of Pour Me, opened the fine fast food cafe in downtown Danbury on a mission to revitalize downtown, and to provide food that gives people the fuel they need to “go out and do good in the world.” Read More
World View Shapes Progressive American Cuisine at The Essex In Centerbrook CT Restaurant American Centerbrook Lunch Seafood Local Artisan Brunch Homepage Hope Simmons January 28, 2018 Say you wanted to eat your way around the globe, but you were short on time and money and didn’t feel like flying. Problem solved. Chef Colt Taylor can take you there through his ever-changing menu. No jet lag or weather delays, and oh, the places your palate will go!“We want to create more than a restaurant,” Colt explains. “We want to create this experience. Like you can come to four different places, and have four different meals, experiences, moments. We’re on menu 15 in five months. It’s exciting and it keeps things fresh.”Not big on leaving the comforts of home? His Tuesday night burger night’s got all-American appeal, replete with fries and a craft brew. Wednesday is a popular Italian night. Mexico more your style? Take a trip on Thursday for tacos and tequila. And soon they’ll soon launch bourbon and braises on Fridays.Then, come Sunday, it’s time for boozy brunch. “It’s eggs Arcadia and red velvet pancakes, all that fun stuff.” What’s eggs Arcadia, you say? “It’s my signature little brunch thing—like merging a Connecticut lobster roll and poached eggs. We put poached eggs over butter-poached lobster on a biscuit with a ginger-citrus hollandaise. It’s delicious!” Read More
The Dilly Duck Shop: New England Craft Eatery Opens in Norwalk Restaurant Breakfast Lunch American Local Artisan Norwalk Comfort Food Catering Homepage April Guilbault January 10, 2018 Nestled at the farther end of a strip mall in Norwalk, right off of Rt. 7, is the newly opened eatery, The Dilly Duck Shop. Honestly, I feel it necessary to begin with the most obvious…what’s up with the name? “Dilly” is British slang for something notable or excellent, Duck is an homage to our fair state of Connecticut and the charm that flourishes here (ducks are also proud and colorful) and shop denotes “workshop”, as in a place of craft. So there you have it. The Dilly Duck Shop. It is not a store for winged fowl nor do they carve decoys. They sell food. Really good food. Read More
Millwright’s: Chef Tyler Anderson Creates Inspired New England Cuisine in Simsbury Restaurant Simsbury American Local Artisan Local Farm Special Occasion Celebrity Chef Outdoor Dining Homepage Catering Lou Gorfain December 02, 2017 Four years. That’s the time Tyler Anderson devoted to perfecting his signature dish, Tapioca Custard. A lush confection of clams, bacon, onion, potato and fennel, the delicacy perfectly defines the wizardry of this celebrated chef … a magical spin on homespun.The small portion is intentionally introductory, a riff on a classic New England starter. As if by sorcery, the custard conjures “all the flavors of clam chowder.” Anderson conceived the dish as a tribute to the meal – and the moment -- that super-charged his culinary life. “I went to the French Laundry in 1997 when Tomas Keller was in the kitchen,” he recalls. “Up to then I had been cooking mainly to meet women and go drinking with my buddies.”He began the feast with Keller’s classic, Oysters and Pearls, a sabayon of pearl tapioca with beau soleil oysters and white sturgeon caviar. “I took the first bite,” he remembers. “And at that exact second understood that cooking could be more than just cooking.” He pauses and grins. “It made me smile. I was happy. I now had a passion to make people happy.” Read More
Friday Froth: Around A Square State With Stubborn Beauty, Black Hog and Overshores Features Restaurant Brewery Local Artisan Beer James Gribbon December 05, 2014 What shape is Connecticut? Kind of a cleaver-shape, I think. I live down in the that cleaver's handle - along with you, by statistical probability - and the myriad horrors of highway travel in Connecticut tend to keep me there, but I'm wired to explore. If Lando can escape the Sarlacc, I can get out of Fairfield freaking County. This is especially useful as I paddle my canoe up the rivers of craft beer this state has to offer, because breweries don't usually spring up next to yacht clubs, son. Train that spyglass further afield, and you'll spot Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company in increasingly craft beer dense Middletown, Black Hog Beer Company in Oxford, and Overshores Brewing Co. in East Haven. It's about time I gave each of them their due. Read More
Jason Sobocinski Hosts Friends of Boulder Knoll Fundraiser Restaurant Cheese Farm to Table Local Artisan Local Farm Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 29, 2013 Usher in autumn with an elegant farm-to-table dinner featuring beautiful wines, craft brews, and delicious cuisine. On September 18 at 6pm, the Friends of Boulder Knoll will hold a multi-course meal prepared by Jason Sobocinski, host of The Cooking Channel’s “The Big Cheese.” The event will also feature wine pairings created by Southend Wine and Spirits of Cheshire, CT. They will pour “boutique” vino from the Halter Ranch line. Mikro Brew Bar will offer craft beers andPi Pies Bakery will provide a sweet ending to the evening with artisanal, freshly made baked-goods. Guests will be entertained with music by On Call, “Connecticut’s premier musical duo.” They can also participate in a silent auction featuring items from local businesses The event supports Friends of Boulder Knoll, a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to educating the community about sustainable agriculture and sustainable communities. Read More
A New Chef @ Terrain's Garden Cafe in Westport Restaurant Farm to Table Local Artisan Westport Christy Colasurdo June 16, 2013 A recent event at Terrain brought together farmers, foodies and local food purveyors to kick off the spring season and to introduce the Garden Café’s new Executive Chef, Jared Frazer, to the Westport dining scene. The introduction of the new chef is good news to fans of Terrain who previously gave mixed reviews to Garden Café’s food. After a few lunches and the recent spring dinner party, it’s clear that Chef Frazer has a firm grip on the farm-to-table concept, recently completing a stint as Sous Chef at Terrain’s Glen Mills flagship café. He brings over 13 years of culinary experience including Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine at Supper in Philadelphia and Perry’s in Washington, DC. He also worked with world renowned Chefs Jose Andres and Michel Richard in several top restaurants throughout Washington, DC, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Read More
Artisanal Tasting Event @ Trinity Church in Southport Restaurant Events Local Artisan CTbites Team October 24, 2012 Get your taste buds revved up for Saturday, November 3rd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport. Artisanal foods and beverages will be available to swish, swill, sniff, and savor. Sample all kinds of goodies from Fairfield Cheese Company, Red Bee honey, Olivette oils and vinegars, Wave Hill Breads, Izzy B’s cupcakes, The Pop Shop cake pops, and Tea-RRific! ice cream. And when you get thirsty, try Henri's Reserve boutique champagnes or the latest brews from Beaver Beer. Need a hot beverage to soothe your savage soul? No problem! Try Babycat Milkbar’s fabulous teas. Sure to be a crowd pleaser! The artisanal tasting is meant to not only explore those foods and beverages that are unique and extraordinary, but it is also a great way to support local businesses. Read More
Dine With Design @ The Glass House: Chef Update Restaurant Events Farm to Table Local Artisan Local Farm New Canaan Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger May 21, 2012 The second annual Dine with Design will happen June 9, 2012, on the magnificent and incomparable grounds of Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan. With the tremendous success of prior year’s food presentations, the afternoon will again feature incredible tasting menus designed and prepared by some of the most renowned and respected chefs in America. Several of the chefs are featured in Darryl Estrine and Kelly Kochendorfer’s cookbook, Harvest to Heat and this year’s day and evening lineup will create one of the most delicious culinary experiences of the season. The participating chefs include three locals, Jeremy McMillan from The Farmhouse Restaurant at The Bedford Post Inn, Frederic Kieffer from Artisan in Southport, and Tim LaBant from The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton; two chefs from Cambridge, MA, Tony Maws from Craigie on Main and Ana Sortun from Oleana; plus Missy Robbins from A Voce in New York City and Gabriel Rucker from Le Pigeon in Portland, OR. The last two of the featured chefs, Missy Robbins and Gabriel Rucker present two vastly different paths up the culinary ladder and as well as approaches in their current restaurants. Read More
Sweet & Simple® Cookies...Baked Locally, With Love Features Restaurant Local Artisan Fairfield Kid Friendly Dessert Margie Treisman May 03, 2012 Cookies are, by definition, hard to resist. Fairfield resident Michelle Jaffee has made resistance even more difficult with her new line of cookies, Sweet & Simple, adorable in their individual cellophane wrappers, brown and white labels and retro daisy logo. What’s more, the label proclaims, they’re “baked with love.” We at CTBites like to support the local, entrepreneurial spirit. (Plus – let’s face it -- we don’t hate eating cookies.) So we set out to sample the sweets. Read More
Food, Friends & Fun at New Canaan Farmers’ Market Ingredients Restaurant Farmers Market Local Artisan Local Farm New Canaan Farm Fresh CTbites Team August 04, 2011 The past few years have seen a spike in the amount and popularity of Farmers’ Markets, and the New Canaan Farmers' Market is no exception. Every Saturday morning from May through November vendors and townspeople crowd into (and around) the Municipal Parking Lot across from the town library. They come here to shop for local produce, pick up breakfast or lunch, and mingle with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers. The market is still small compared to others in the area, but the number of vendors and buzz around it is on the rise as more and more people seek quality, fresh food and want to know where it comes from. Read More
Chef to Farm Dinner Series w/ Max Restaurant Group Restaurant Farm to Table Local Artisan Local Farm CTbites Team July 25, 2011 CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY As the July sun softened beneath the vineyard, diners gathered in Simsbury on Thursday night to enjoy another Chef to Farm dinner at Rosedale Farms, in partnership with Max Restaurant Group. Now in its third season, Chef Scott Miller and the Max Chef to Farm team will delight diners with a truly local menu for another six Thursday evenings through October. View photo gallery here. Each three-hour feast begins with a wine tasting reception featuring Rosedale wines. After the reception, stroll through the vineyard or take a hayride to an elegant tent filled with lights and music, set peacefully between the vineyard and the cornstalks. Past events have featured Bombster Bros. seafood from Stonington, pork belly from Rowland Farms in Oxford, and vegetables sourced right from Rosedale Farm. Guests enjoy four- to six- courses of local, seasonal ingredients, designed to highlight the best available that day. Read More
