A Truly Excellent Apple Pie @ Stew Leonard's Ingredients Features Specialty Market Farm Fresh Dessert Stephanie Webster July 15, 2010 It's a few hours before your guests arrive for that big family BBQ. You're scrambling to get the prep done before the doorbell rings….and oh no…you realize you forgot the dessert!! Fear not my brave Fairfield County residents. Stew Leonard's has the perfect solution for you…and you'd never guess it wasn't homemade. Named "best pie in America" by Gourmet Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal (a dubious food critic, but we'll go with it), Stew's is now carrying The Elegant Farmer's "Apple Pie Baked In A Paper Bag." I know what you're thinking. 1. Stew's? Really? and 2. Doesn't the bag go up in flames? Yes and no. We were introduced to this gem by a CTbites reader, and had to check it out for ourselves. This Wisconsin based pie shop uses apples fresh from their farm, and they make their pies just how I like them. Read More
Chef Talk: Seared Stonington Scallops w/ Corn "Risotto" Features Chef Talk Recipe Farm Fresh Stephanie Webster July 09, 2010 Photo: Michelle Parr PaulsonEven if you don't make it to Dinners At The Farm this season, you can still capture some of the culinary magic that Chef Jonathan Rapp brings to each and every meal. Jonathan is the chef and owner of River Tavern in Chester, CT and the creator of Dinners at the Farm. This recipe for Seared Stonington Scallops with Fresh Corn "Risotto" is a dish you may find on the menu at one of his unique local dinners. Sure, you may not have the candlelit white tent glowing brilliantly against the farm backdrop, or the truck outfitted with a kitchen in which to cook your dinner, but set up a communal table and enjoy this delicious seasonal dish. Seared Stonington Scallops with Fresh Corn "Risotto" Read More
Top Summer Cocktails: A Connecticut Blogger Round-up Ingredients Features Amy Kundrat July 08, 2010 The summer cocktail season is in full-swing and rather than mindlessly reach for the shaker and ice we decided we needed a lesson or two (or ten). We asked ourselves, what are all the cool people drinking? To answer this we went to the source and rounded up a few of our favorite food and drink bloggers in Connecticut to share their favorite summer cocktails with CTbites. I guarantee these cool summer drinks will have you planning meals AROUND your drinks. And if you feel inspired, please share your favorite summer cocktail as a comment below. Cheers! Read More
Great Wine Buys for An All American 4th of July Ingredients Features Holiday Wine Chat JoAnn LoGiurato June 30, 2010 Our nation’s birthday brings out the patriotism in me. I like to make a toast to American winemakers by celebrating with all American wines on the 4th of July. Whether you are at the beach, the pool, picnicking in the park or on your boat, here are some wine recommendations and things to consider before the fireworks get started: 1~The wine needs to quench my thirst—for that I prefer wines with good acidity and crispness. I’m thinking-- a crisp, juicy Sauvignon Blanc. I like these California producers Girard ($16), Merry Edwards ($35), and LEED certified, organically grown Hall Napa Valley ($20). I also really enjoy the smokiness of Ferrari Carano Fume´Blanc ($17). Sauvignon Blanc is great with green salads, vegetarian dishes and anything with goat cheese or fresh tomatoes. Read More
Cheese Wheels: Smile and Say, “CHEESE!” Ingredients Features Catering Specialty Market Sarah Green June 23, 2010 There’s something udderly amazing going down in Fairfield County. MOOOOVE over Pizza and Taco truck and make way for the new cow in town! For the sophisticated palate, Westport’s Mirabelle Cheese Shop is going portable with "CHEESE WHEELS." Andrea Itin, co-owner (with her husband) of the Fromagerie since 2008, has decided to go mobile, and she’s coming to a Farmers’ Market or private function near you. Here’s the (not-so!) skinny: No matter what you’re into, there’s curd for you! Headed to your favorite wine shop for a tasting? Don’t be surprised if you see a reproduction 1940’s Tear Drop Trailer parked in the lot. As you pass, wafts of delectable cheese caress your nostrils and you go inside for a glass. As you sip the wine merchant’s favorite red of the month, you will be treated to divine local cheese on top of Isabelle et Vincent’s (1903 Post Road in Fairfiled) crusty baguette. Paired perfectly, cheese and wine are a marriage made in heaven. Another wine, another cheese, and you are in the zone. Read More
Thomas Keller...Only Minutes Away.... Features Cookbooks Events Amy Kundrat June 22, 2010 Don’t miss Chef Thomas Keller signing copies of his "ad hoc at home" cookbook this Friday, June 25 at 12 noon at The Westchester in White Plains. Chef Thomas Keller is the last chef whose cuisine would be described as “accessible” or “approachable.” If you’ve stepped across the threshold of any his celebrated restaurants including The French Laundry, Bouchon, Ad Hoc, or Per Se, you know no detail is overlooked. And if you’ve thumbed through his exquisitely detailed and daunting tomes such as The French Laundry Cookbook, let alone even try to cook from them, you know Chef Keller’s recipes take no shortcuts (and no prisoners). But accessible he will be. In his cookbook "ad hoc at home," Chef Keller brings us simple but beautiful recipes inspired by his more casual Yountville eatery, Ad Hoc. Read More
Asian BBQ & Grilling w/ Corinne Trang: Part 1 Features BBQ CTbites Team June 17, 2010 Corinne Trang is an award-winning cookbook author, Asian food historian, radio and TV personality. Lucky for us, she also recently moved to Westport. She is very serious about her BBQ…Asian BBQ that is, and she will be sharing her grill tips and recipes with us all summer. Here is her first installment including recipes for Five-Spice Soy Sauce Marinade, Grilled Bok Choy, and Mushroom Fried-Rice with Shitakes. I’m excited that grilling season is finally here. For me, it marks the end of a harsh Winter and wet Spring, and the beginning of the bright hot Summer ahead. It also means firing up the grill just about everyday from now until Fall. I think it’s fair to say that BBQ is all the rage these days. It’s been in the news for the last several years in a big way, and touted as a culinary tradition that can be as complex and refined as French or Chinese cooking, for example. I’ve tasted, seen, and engaged in lively and passionate conversations, and agree that barbecue is no small subject with regional variations to satisfy just about any palate. Read More
Food Network Star Daisy Martinez Comes to Westport Features Cookbooks Events Recipe Stephanie Webster June 15, 2010 On June 22nd, Daisy Martinez—star of the Food Network’s Viva Daisy!— is coming to Fairfield County! She will be at Barnes & Noble is Westport on Tuesday, June 22nd at 7pm with her new book, DAISY: MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT. Bringing Your Family Together with Everyday Latin Dishes. Daisy has been a “Foodie” from a very young age. She grew up cooking alongside her mother and grandmothers. On her 40th birthday, her husband surprised her with a gift of attending the French Culinary Institute. Her idol, Jacques Pepin, welcomed her personally. After a stint as a private chef, she hosted Daisy Cooks! on PBS. In early 2009, she teamed up with Rachel Ray and her production company to ramp up the Latin flavors of the Food Network. A launch pad to explore the food of Latin America, the second season of Viva Daisy! premiered in July 2009. In the introduction to her fresh and inviting new cookbook, Daisy says, “To say that I am a bit obsessed when it comes to Latin food Read More
Wine Chat: Summer Wine - A Bottle Full of Sunshine Ingredients Features Wine Chat JoAnn LoGiurato June 11, 2010 JoAnn LoGiurato is the founder of Dancing on Grapes, specializing in private wine tastings. Her passion is wine pairings with a focus on events tailored to women. Here are her picks for great Summer drinking with a buying guide for specific labels. The sun’s out, there’s music in the air, and you’re ready to throw an outdoor party. You might be thinking, “Should I serve Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or Cabernet to my friends?” Well, why not drink something different? There are so many great wines that work with summer foods; some are just perfect for sitting by the pool or sipping at the beach. Others are perfect with seasonal picnic and barbeque foods — grilled meats, fish salads and veggies. Here is a list of sassy sippers that will get you out of your wine doldrums: Read More
Calling All Dads Cooking Class @ Sugar & Olives Ingredients Features Cooking Classes Education Holiday Norwalk Recipe Stephanie Webster June 08, 2010
Cooking w/ Match Restaurant's Matt Storch Features Chef Talk Cooking Classes Norwalk Recipe Farm Fresh Amy Kundrat June 07, 2010 The home cook versus a trained chef. There are thousands of reasons that separate these two knife-wielding gourmands in the kitchen. And I'm not even talking about dicing technique, the battle scarred hands or the colorful vocabulary. I'm thinking more about the dozens of small things that only chefs can learn from years spent in kitchens developing and preparing dishes hundreds of times under the pressure of executing them perfectly for customers, that forces insight and knowledge. The Clarke Culinary Center in Norwalk is giving us entree into the world of the trained chef, allowing voyeuristic home cooks throughout southern Connecticut the chance to watch, smell, taste and touch alongside some of the best chefs in the area. This series launched in September 2009 and features some of the most talented and well-known chefs in our area including Matt Storch of Match in Norwalk; Read More
Chef Talk: Lolita Cocina's "Crack" Cornbread Features Chef Talk Greenwich Mexican Comfort Food Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster June 04, 2010 Executive Chef, Juan Manuel Reyes, of Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar in Greenwich, came to Byram by way of Mexico City and several prestigious restaurants in Manhattan. His passion for the bold bright flavors of Mexican cuisine is felt throughout Lolita’s menu, and he has a unique ability to create comfort food with a kick. When we recently dined at Lolita Cocina (review coming soon) we couldn't help but audibly kvell over his delicious cornbread. The version on the menu is bathed in garlic butter, but I think it's fair to say that if you drizzle a little melted butter or honey over this side dish, you'll have some happy guests. Enjoy. Lolita Cocina Cornbread Recipe Read More
Get "Baked"... The Perfect FC Clambake Features Catering Holiday Seafood Sarah Green June 01, 2010 It’s that time again, isn’t it? The moon is in the 7th House, and Jupiter is aligned with Mars. Summer’s comin’, dude. Relax, crack open a cold one and get “baked” - Clam Baked, that is. Invite your friends over for a typical New England summer culinary experience. Or head down to the beach and get “baked” by the shore. (Penfield 2 in Fairfield allows it, Compo Beach in Westport also, some others too!) A clam bake is a great way to enjoy the best of New England and the perfect way to entertain. Birthdays, rehearsal dinners, anniversaries, graduations, start of summer, middle of summer, end of summer, because it’s a Thursday, the list goes on and on. There is always a good reason for a clam bake and there are several great seafood suppliers in Fairfield County. Here are some of your options: Read More
Chef Nicole: Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken Features Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight May 28, 2010 I don’t make fried chicken regularly, but when I do, I always use this recipe. It is a Memorial Day tradition in the Straight family, and it's all about the brine. I soak the chicken for a whole day in a buttermilk brine to give it plenty of time to soak up the tangy seasoned buttermilk. The extra liquid keeps the chicken juicy during cooking resulting in moist, flavorful delicious fried chicken. Note: When you are brining your chicken, make sure all of the pieces are completely immersed in the liquid. Happy Memorial Day!! Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken Read More
What's Fresh @ The Westport Farmers Market Ingredients Features Ask Chef Nicole Farmers Market Recipe Farm Fresh Opening Stephanie Webster May 28, 2010 Chef Nicole and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Westport Farmers Market all Winter, and finally the day had arrived. The weather held up, and under the new leadership of Market Director Lori Cochran, we were delighted to see some exciting new vendors in the mix. Chef Nicole made the rounds looking for ingredients for a Memorial Day market fresh lunch, and while gathering the goods we chatted with a few of the vendors who made this menu possible. Check out the video to hear about a new sustainable coffee roaster, buying your milk straight from the cow, backyard chickens, and a great reason to clean out your pantry every Thursday. Here are Chef Nicole's recipes from the market: Read More
A Moveable Feast: Skinny Pines Brick Oven Pizza Truck Features Catering Local Artisan Pizza kids activity kids cooking party Liz Rueven May 26, 2010 The green Dodge pick-up truck slowly backed into my narrow, curved driveway with the 6 x 13 foot trailer leading. A dome shaped, brick pizza oven was mounted on the open trailer by some ingenious contraption that prevents it from being jostled and toppling off in a crumbled mess of mortar. Jeff Borofsky, chef/owner of SKINNY PINES, a portable wood fired oven catering company, was bringing the party to my home. A group of lucky CTbites contributors and other Fairfield County food producers were due to arrive in 90 minutes. I was beginning to wonder if the party would be ready for these friends with their discerning palates and voracious appetites. Read More
Daily Fare: Down To Earth Gourmet To-Go Features Restaurant Bethel Catering Coffee Breakfast Amy Kundrat May 20, 2010 Being greeted with a cup of locally roasted coffee and the promise of a healthy prepared meal each day may be the only foolproof way to overcome the indignity that is a Metro North train commute. Located inside the Bethel train station, Daily Fare offers a nourishing and caffeinated segue into the freneticism of a work day and the welcome flexibility of a healthy prepared take-home meal for lunch or dinner. This coffee shop-meets-gourmet-to-go is not just for commuters. For many of us faced with the daily demands and dwindling hours of busy schedules, Daily Fare affords us hungry and time-crunched souls the luxury of well balanced meals instead of shopping, cooking and preparing a meal. For many of us who like to cook, it can be a much-needed respite. For others who can't cook or don't want to, it's like having your own personal chef without having to foot the bill. Read More
Chef Talk: Tuna Marinato From Morello Bistro Features Chef Talk Greenwich Seafood Recipe Stephanie Webster May 18, 2010 Photo Credit: Thomas McGovernThe beautiful dish comes from the Marches region of Italy and is typically prepared with salt cod. Executive Chef Townsend Wentz of Morello Bistro in Greenwich uses tuna, which has a richness and fattyness that is cut by the spicy tomato. The tuna itself is marinated in rosemary and orange zest, which is mirrored in the rest of the dish. If you are wondering where to purchase your sushi grade tuna, check out our Sushi Party Primer. If you have a favorite local seafood resource, share it with the group and post a comment below.Tuna Marinato Read More
GreenChic: Shrimp in Spicy Garlic Adobo Sauce Features Seafood healthy Recipe Jennifer Spaide May 14, 2010 I like to periodically check out the local blogs to see what culinary feats the Fairfield County home cooks are coming up with. One of my favorite places to browse for healthy recipes with seasonal ingredients is Jennifer Spaide's GreenChicLife.com. As a nutritionist, Jennifer uses her vast knowledge to create recipes that are both flavorful and packed with nutrient dense ingredients. Here's what Jennifer has to say about why you should make this dish in your home (other than it just looks great): Shrimp are a healthy addition to any diet. Aside from being an excellent source of low-calorie, low-fat protein, shrimp boast a high concentration of many important nutrients including selenium, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against cancer and other degenerative diseases. Vitamin B12 is a key factor in cardiovascular health. And the omega faty acids are anti-inflammatory as well as heart protective. Enjoy her beautiful recipe for Shrimp in Spicy Garlic Adobo Sauce. Read More
Thai Coconut Curry w/ Chicken, Shrimp & Veggies Features Asian Ask Chef Nicole Chef Talk Recipe Nicole Straight May 07, 2010 I don't know about you, but I'm often daunted by Asian food prep as the list of ingredients always seems to require multiple pages. I'll admit it...this scares me. My lack of fortitude is unfortunate as Asian flavors rank high on my list of preferred meals. When it comes to a food conundrum of this magnitude, I always rely on Chef Nicole of Time to Eat! to streamline the situation. I told her I wanted a simple weeknight dish with Asian flavors that would not require a trip to the specialty market in Norwalk (not that I don't relish walking those aisles). She came up with this great Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables. Vegetarian? No problem. Simply omit the chicken and shrimp and use diced extra firm tofu. Thai Coconut Curry with Chicken, Shrimp and Vegetables Read More
