This past Sunday the 6th Annual Chowdafest took place at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, drawing 7,000 chowder, soup and bisque fanatics from across the state. It was perfect prelude to the Big Game – a culinary “SOUP”er Bowl.
31 Connecticut restaurants set the scene, ladling out warm chowders and soups. Upon arrival, Chowdafest attendees were given a scoring card. As guests leisurely made their way around the perimeter of the rink sipping on samples, they were asked to rank each sample to determine the 2014 Chowdafest Champions. The competition was broken down into 4 categories: Best New England Clam Chowder, best Manhattan/Rhode Island Clam Chowder, Best Creative Chowder, and Best Soup & Bisque. The top three contenders were awarded in each category and competition was tight!
Every restaurant was sure to leave their signature stamp on their chowders and soups. Guvnor’s Brewery from Norwalk dished out a delicious New England clam chowder made with their own brewed beer, while Bernard’s of Ridgefield added smoky bacon to richen the flavors. Bistro 7 of Wilton served up their award winning Buttery Nut Bisque, while Indigo by the Water of Milford brought the heat with their Cajun Shrimp and Chorizo Chowder.
Americans have a loving obsession with coffee. We crave our daily fix, whether it is black, iced, with extra cream and sugar, or a shot of espresso. We crave the aroma, the taste and how coffee brings people together. However, coffee is so much more than just a beverage; it is a huge global business.
Ed Freedman of Shearwater Coffee Roasters is in the thick of this global business, but is marking his own stamp on it. Shearwater Coffee Roasters, headquartered in Trumbull, Connecticut is the first and only USDA certified organic coffee roaster in Fairfield County. Shearwater bases its business on the three core principles of organic, artisan and altruism. They pride themselves on being committed to the integrity of organic roasting. “Organic is not a product line,” says Freedman. “It’s a way of life and what we do. “
The coffee plant is often grown with harmful chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.
Café Lola, the charming French bistro that recently closed its doors after 5 years, has been reinvented with a classic American spin by owners Ivanina and Henri Donneaux. What is more comforting than the quintessential grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of homemade tomato soup? These are just a couple of the delicious items being served fresh daily at the Grilled Cheese Eatery, which is nestled among the shops on Fairfield's Unquowa Road near the Old Community Theater. “Eating habits have changed,” says Ivanina. “There is less formality when you go out to eat and we wanted to create a place that was more than a special occasion place,” thus the creation of The Grilled Cheese Eatery.
The best life has to offer often happens around the dinner table. Mealtime moments shared with family and friends over good food and good drinks. However, making a meal that will impress your guests is a time consuming feat, one that takes you away from those life-well-lived moments at the table. That’s when Book-a-Cook steps in, relieving you of any stress and work involved in planning a family meal, dinner party or culinary event. There is so much culinary prowess in Fairfield County, and with Book-a-Cook you can book a chef’s table right in your own kitchen.
Book-a-Cook was founded by Westport native and Fairfield resident, Ashley Hart. Hart, an Institute of Culinary Education graduate and former New York City and Hamptons personal chef, wanted to provide intimate access to some of the great chefs in this area. Many cities offer similar services, but the suburban market had yet to be tapped. “We live in a very social community and it seemed like the perfect fit,” says Hart. With the help of business partner Amy Strife, Book-a-Cook launched in January. “Our goal is to take a restaurant experience into your home and make the experience as seamless as possible,” says Strife. “You are able to have a much more personal experience with the chef.”
The Pop Shop Market is popping up in Fairfield this weekend! The first of 4 yearly Pop Shop Markets will be making its debut at the Fairfield Theatre Company’s warehouse and parking lot on Saturday, June 1st. People of all ages are invited out to experience the European-style open-air market. Kelly Scinto, Andrea Espach and Ashley Kane, founders and curators of the Pop Shop Market wanted to create a unique experience unlike any other pop up shop. “We wanted to plan a fun day; one that would bring shopping, food, drinking and music together,” says Scinto.
The Pop Shop Market will feature a variety vendors from all over the area, showcasing items such artwork, jewelry, and repurposed furniture by local artists, designers and merchants. All this shopping will surely leave you hungry! Or perhaps it is the all the incredible local food that will draw you out this Saturday. The Pop Shop Market has recruited some of Connecticut’s most popular food trucks! Grab a lobster roll from LobsterCraft, a meatball grinder from theLocal Meatball, some California-style fish tacos from Taco Pacifico, fries from Fryborg, and top it all off with some soft-served ice cream from Cowabunga Food Truck.
There is a new food truck on the block in Fairfield (well, not so much food truck as in food car – Smart Car to be exact). The Local Meatball is rolling into town and making its debut this Saturday, April 6th,dishing out meatballs on the Town Green in Fairfield, made with local, organic ingredients. Meatballs, a comfort food of many, no longer need to be served over spaghetti to complete a meal. The Local Meatball is proving these balls stand great on their own!
Wanting to share his passion for meatballs with the town, chef and Fairfield resident Michael DiStassio started The Local Meatball. “Meatballs are such a simple idea, but they resonate with so many people,” says DiStassio. The Local Meatball was revealed online on March 9th, National Meatball Day and “People have been so responsive to the idea,” added DiStassio.
Working from his grandmother’s recipe, DiStassio has tweaked it slightly to come up with a variety of 5 different kinds of balls that will rotate weekly.
Jane Costello of Too Little Thyme has mastered the art of pickling to perfection. Based out of her home in Westport, Costello has been sharing her old family pickle and preserves recipes with Connecticut for the past 15 years. “I am a foodie,” says Costello. “I am always in the kitchen and I am happy to be turning this hobby into my career.”
Growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Costello spent her weekends browsing the rows of stalls at the Lancaster Central Market, America’s oldest operating farmer’s market. “I was used to produce not wrapped in cellophane,” says Costello. “My mother always had something fresh on the counter.” It was from her childhood days in the market and in her family garden that Costello developed her love for fresh ingredients. “It sounds like the old story, but everything I learned in the kitchen was from my mother and grandmother,” says Costello, “including my pickle recipe.”
