Stew Leonard's Celebrates 50 Years with Special Events, Deals & Storewide Fun Features Events Stephanie Webster April 05, 2019 Starting on April 3, family owned and operated Stew Leonard’s marks its 50th anniversary with a calendar of events designed to celebrate with the store’s shoppers, Team Members, and local farmers. The celebration will culminate on November 30, 2019 with a party honoring the store’s golden anniversary as well as the 90th birthday of store founder Stew Leonard, Sr.Every month from April through November, customers will enjoy special pricing, in-store demos and more while Team Members and vendors will be spotlighted and thanked for their contributions to making Stew Leonard’s a fun and fresh place to shop for 50 years. Read More
Beer... It's Not Just For Beer Drinkers Anymore: Meet The Brut IPA Features Friday Froth Beer CT Beer James Gribbon April 05, 2019 Beer: it's not just for beer drinkers anymore. Seriously. New or casual drinkers can steer themselves safely away from anything resembling what would have been considered an actual beer even five or six years ago, and still be paralyzed with overwhelming options. Wine drinker? There's a chance I've already converted you through the deft application of a gose made with grapes, or a raspberry lambic. Are most beers too: bland/malty/hoppy/bitter, or sour for you? No problem! Because brewers can load your pint with so much lactose they call it a milkshake, and you can drink actual donuts. That's between you and your pancreas.Brut IPAs - the actual champagne of beers - are a very new, entirely American style. They're sweet and dry, beginning to show up all over the place, and I thought this week I'd do an explainer and review a few brewers' early efforts. Drinkers of the bubbly, drinkers of the murky, and Connecticut craft beer fans in general: you may just be about to have a new summer fling. Read More
Recipe: Zaragoza's Mixologist, Christine Short, Makes A Bobby Burns Cocktail Features Recipe Recipe Video Recipe Cocktails Education Kristin L. Wolfe April 04, 2019 Here's Christine Short from Zaragoza's in New Milford giving us a very smooth and silky Scotch Cocktail called the "Bobby Burns." This special drink is named after beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns, who is most notable for the poem which now makes up the lyrics for our favorite New Year's ditty, Auld Lang Syne. Short was recently a finalist for the CRAZIES Awards as Best Bartender in Connecticut, sponsored by the Connecticut Restaurant Association. and just one of five nominated in the state. Cheers! Read More
A Lesson In Sustainable Seafood: Rowayton Seafood & Copps Island Oysters Features Seafood Sustainable Norwalk Events Rowayton Local Farm Local Artisan Jessica Ryan April 03, 2019 Last week I had the privilege of attending a truly wonderful and informative dinner at Wakeman Town Farm on the importance of sustainable seafood. We first heard from Norm Bloom of Copp’s Island Oysters, followed by Kevin Conroy, owner of The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood and the Rowayton Seafood Fish Market. He was joined by Chef Charles Hoffman the restaurant’s executive chef who prepared a most memorable meal. The Blooms have been in the oyster business since the 1940s and currently operate one of the last standing traditional oyster farms in the United States. Norm Bloom and Son is a fourth generation family-owned farm that prides itself on high quality, consistent and sustainable products. They have a fleet of 15 boats and their dedicated crew harvests oysters and clams year round from the deep, cold, and nutrient-rich waters along the coast of Connecticut. Read More
And The Winner of the Bar Sugo Cocktail Naming Contest Is... Features News Giveaway Stephanie Webster April 02, 2019 Congratulations to Jen Kozak who came up with the winning name for the Bar Sugo Cocktail Naming Contest: Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica. This hilarious reference to “The Office” can now be found at Bar Sugo in Norwalk, alongside some damn fine Italian food. Stay tuned for our next cocktails naming contest… Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of March 31-April 7 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 31, 2019 On Monday April 1, Amis Trattoria in Westport hosts a Wine Dinner with French Winery Domaine Chante Cigale. Guests will get the chance to meet the vineyards winemaker, Jean Yves, while enjoying a 4-course meal created by Culinary Director, Brad Spence, paired with wines and homemade limoncello crafted by the Amis team. Oyster Club in Mystic invites you to a Panel Discussion entitled “Women's Work: In the Field” on Tuesday, April 2 from 6-7:30pm. Join them and celebrate remarkable women who are growing and producing food in our region. Enjoy a farm-inspired cocktail and sample tastes from the land and the sea from women growers and chefs. On April 4, Artisan West Hartford will be joined by Edrington Whiskey Representative Jeremy Fonicello for an evening of Macallan Whiskey. Dishes include Hazelnut Crusted Rack of Lamb, Whisky Flambe Maryland Rock Shrimp, Molten Lava Cake, and more. The event starts at 6:30 and tickets are $100 per person. Flinders Lane Kitchen & Bar will be hosting 'Symphony Uncorked' in collaboration with the Stamford Symphony Orchestra on April 3rd, from 6.30 - 9..30. Musicians will play two pieces of music whilst we pour Australian wines from smaller, boutique producers. Read More
NEW CTbites Hot Dish Podcast: Chefs Bill Taibe & Dan Kardos Features Interview Chef Talk Interview Podcast Stephanie Webster March 28, 2019 Two of CT's leading chefs, and long time colleagues, Bill Taibe & Dan Kardos, discuss what it takes to stay at the top of their game. Host Marysol Castro explores what it takes to maintain their sanity, life in the kitchen, how social media has changed the restaurant business, and what they want their guests to know when they dine at their restaurants. Listen here! Read More
Guide To Kids Cooking Camps & Classes in Connecticut for 2019 Features Cooking Cooking Classes kids cooking party Kids kids activity Summer Camp April Guilbault March 28, 2019 Hot summer days and you don’t feel like cooking. The stove, oven, even the grill…it’s all so hot. But hold on a minute there, maybe *you* don’t have to! With a little foresight (read: now), your kids can learn to cook this summer, get inspired and whoa-oh, looks who’s not in the kitchen anymore?! Beyond your parental joy, though, kids will enjoy learning cooking skills, whipping up some pretty cool menus from around the globe and even having a cooking competition or two just to test their mettle. Just be sure to sign up your aspiring chefs soon, these classes and camps fill up quicker than hot grease will jump out of a pan! Read More
Shake Shack Launches "Chick'n Bites"… A Better Nugget Features Burgers Westport New Haven Fast Casual To-Go Take Out Kid Friendly CTbites Team March 26, 2019 Shake Shack released their brand new Chick’n Bites nationwide on March 1st, and so far they’ve proven to be an incredibly popular menu item. But don’t call them nuggets! Customers refer to them as chicken nuggets, which implies that the meat is grotesquely blended and not 100% chicken. Shake Shack purposefully diverged from this label and meat process to brand their bites as a cleaner, more pure option. I was very interested in the testing process of the Chick’n Bites. I spoke with Mike Maver, the General Manager of the Westport location, who gave me some insight into the Shake Shack lab located on the lower west side of Manhattan. The Shake Shack culinary team brainstorms recipes for the Chick’n Bites and guest chefs come in to give their two cents. The team sells different versions to consumers and then receives feedback. After a long drumroll, the Chick’n Bites are finally here. Read More
Nibble: Fresh & Delicious CT Food Events for Week of March 24-31 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 20, 2019 CTbites’ Founder, Stephanie Webster will be dancing at The Wall Street Theater’s “Dancing with the Stars of Connecticut!” The event features community leaders (including Greer Fredericks from Peaches & Chef Plum!) who will kick up their heels to benefit WST Broadway Teens of Connecticut. Cheer them on Saturday March 30th. Buy tickets (starting at $25) or just VOTE for the “bass lady” here any time before the event. Millwrights in Simsbury hosts a Game Dinner on Wednesday March 27 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $115 per person, which includes a 5 course dinner, beverage pairings, tax and gratuity. On Wednesday March 27, Washington Prime in SoNo will have a Frank Family Vineyards Wine Dinner. They will pair 5 courses with wines from this prestigious Napa Valley producer. It is $95 per person. Rothbard Ale + Larder is giving us a crash course on German beer on Thursday March 28. Tony Pellino of B. United Imports and OEC will guide you through brews and food pairings. It costs $40 per person and starts at 6:30pm. Wine and cookie dough?! Yes, please! On Saturday March 30, Stonington Vineyards invites you to try wine flights alongside DoughLuv edible cookie dough. Read More
FreshDirect Online Grocer Expanding Throughout Fairfield County! Features Delivery Service Home Delivery Stephanie Webster March 19, 2019 FreshDirect, the Northeast’s leading online fresh food grocer, announced that it will be extending its service further into Connecticut, and will now be delivering to Fairfield, Norwalk, Southport, and Westport, in addition to Greenwich and Stamford, starting Tuesday March 26th. Why is this exciting? For those not familiar with FreshDirect, they pioneered the short supply chain, so you can experience fresh food at its finest. Place an order online before 9pm, and you can have ALL of your groceries delivered to your house the following day. From responsibly sourced seafood to organic produce, their food comes to their campus straight from the source and is delivered to your door at peak freshness in just a few days. That's less handling by middlemen—and it puts more money in the bank for local farmers, skilled artisans, and responsible fishermen. Read More
March Madness & Bobby V’s Restaurant & Sports Bar (sponsored post) Features Bar Stamford Windsor Locks Sports Bar CTbites Team March 17, 2019 The time has come, where college hoops dominate schedules, dinner plans & most of all – your / your significant others / your friends’ social life. If you’re looking for that special place that everyone can enjoy ... look no further than Bobby V’s Restaurant & Sports Bar. They’re literally the ultimate sports destination, and as they call themselves … “the newest concept in sports entertainment.” With two unique destinations in Connecticut - Stamford & Windsor Locks, you’re going to want to check them out! The Stamford location features over 200 TV’s, along with a MASSIVE 2 story media wall, while the Windsor Locks location is equally impressive with over 80 TV’s & a HUGE 17’ LED screen … there’s not a bad seat at either location! Read More
"Food For All" Fundraiser: 15 CT Chefs + YOU Can Help End Hunger in America Features Events Stephanie Webster March 15, 2019 Help end hunger in your community by supporting Food Rescue US's annual fundraiser, FOOD FOR ALL on April 24th, and enjoy a great culinary experience with 15 incredible local chefs. View the complete list of chefs below.Food for All has become one of Fairfield County's most popular strolling, tasting events and this year features many fan favorites from past years and some of the hottest, new restaurants on the local dining scene. General Admission tickets are $150. Click here for tickets: foodrescue.us/foodforallFood Rescue US, is a direct-transfer food rescue organization dedicated to ending food insecurity and food waste in America. Food for All helps make their mission happen. Please join us on April 24th at the Loading Dock in Stamford, CT. The event highlights the organization’s important work delivering more than 7 million meals a year to the food insecure and keeping more than 8 million pounds of food waste out of landfills. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events for Week of March 17-24th Features Events News Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 15, 2019 Tavern at GrayBarns will now be open for lunch! Starting March 20, visit them Wednesday-Saturday from 11:30am-2pm and for Sunday Brunch.Oar & Oak in Stratford now offers happy hour Tuesday-Friday from 4-6pm.Dom’s Cheese Shop in Avon presents Cheese 101 on March 22. They’ll walk you through 7 kinds of wine and teach you how to pair wines with cheese. Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre and The Wise Old Dog are combining their powers for a night of chef inspired after hours snacks, drink, and good times! It takes place on 3/21 from 6-9pm.The Schoolhouse at Cannondale invites you to a “Rockin Rhone Wine Dinner” on Wednesday March 20. Four courses will be paired with 4 wines from the Rhone Valley. It starts at 7pm and costs $95 per person plus tax and gratuity. Read More
NEW CTbites Hot Dish Podcast Episode: Chef Matt Storch, Beyond The Burger Features Interview Podcast Celebrity Chef Chef Talk Interview Stephanie Webster March 14, 2019 This week on the CTbites Hot Dish Podcast we sit down with Chef Matt Storch, owner of Match, Match Burger Lobster & Match Taco. We discuss the restaurant biz, cooking for Julia Child, the importance of travel, the origins of the famous "Match Burger," favorite restaurants (you'll wanna write these down), and his 45 course dinner at El Bulli. Listen here! Read More
How New Haven’s Salsa Queen Became the State’s First Black Female Brewer (via CT Magazine) Features Ingredients Brewery CT Beer Beer Connecticut Magazine March 12, 2019 We love celebrating local CT entrepreneurs. Connecticut Magazine gives a shout out to this trailblazing woman who’s shaking up the primarily male dominated craft brewing industry. We also hear that Rhythm beer will be available at Chef Chris Scott’s highly anticipated Birdman Juke Joint in Bridgeport. Craft beer needs more diversity. The realization hit New Haven’s Alisa Bowens-Mercado five years ago while she was at a beer festival. She didn’t mean diversity in terms of more women and minority ownership of breweries; not yet anyhow. Back then she was thinking about diversity of flavor.At that festival, every beer she tried was either too hoppy or too sour for her taste. She felt the craft industry needed more approachable options for drinkers like her.“I want to make a beer that, when I go to a beer festival, that I can drink,” she told her husband.Four years later Rhythm Brewing Co. was born and Bowens-Mercado, owner of Alisa’s House of Salsa, a dance studio in New Haven, became Connecticut’s first female African-American brewer. This month, as she celebrates Rhythm Brewing’s one-year anniversary, the company’s flagship product, Rhythm Unfiltered Lager, is available at more than 200 locations across the state. Bowens-Mercado is also getting ready to start distributing it in the Bahamas. Read More
Nibble: Tasty, Ramen-Y, Boozy CT Food Events for March 10-17 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 09, 2019 Wilton Restaurant Week returns March 11 – 17. Restaurants located in and around Wilton are serving up special prix fixe menus and other culinary selections. Participants include Bernard’s of Ridgefield, Oak and Almond, Parlor Restaurant, and more. EAT RAMEN!! During the month of March, Mecha Noddle Bar is donating 50 cents from every bowl of ramen to Food Rescue US - whose mission is to reduce hunger and food waste throughout the United States. Every dollar raised= 9 meals. Their goal is $5,000 (or 10,000 bowls of ramen) for the month.Bistro on Main is delighted to announce a fundraiser dinner, with all proceeds to benefit Interval House, on March 11th at 6 pm. Interval house provides often life altering assistance for men, women, and children fleeing domestic violence. The 4 course meal is $85 per person. Carbone’s Kitchen, located at 6 Wintonbury Mall in Bloomfield, has launched three special weeknight menus that will run through the end of June. Join them for “Delicious Monday,” Tuesday “Prince Spaghetti Night,” and Wednesday “Franklin Ave Lasagna Night.” Each meal is a 3 course prix fixe menu for $25, plus tax and gratuity. Read More
Celebrate International Women's Day w/ Fleisher's Craft Butchery's Female Butchers Features Butcher CTbites Team March 08, 2019 Who do you picture when you hear the word "butcher?" For many, a grizzled older man with strong biceps comes to mind. Butchery is undeniably male-dominated, with only 27% women, only slightly higher than the 25% of women farmers and ranchers. But times are changing, and the rise of craft butchery has meant more opportunities for women. For International Women's Day (Mar. 8), Fleisher’s Craft Butchery (locations in Westport, Greenwich & Brooklyn) interviewed some of the many women in the Fleishers family. Read More
45+ Restaurants, Bars & Events for St. Patrick’s Day in CT: 2019 Edition Features St. Patrick's Day Holiday Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 08, 2019 This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday! That means that Connecticut restaurants and bars are opening their doors even earlier, and, in some cases, festivities are lasting all weekend long. From buffets to live music to step dancers to Guinness, here is a list of 46+ places where you can get out your green and be Irish for a day in CT.Tigin Irish Pub, Stamford: Tigin Irish Pub in Stamford opens at 7:30am on Saturday 3/16 and Sunday 3/17. There will be outdoor tents, live music, food specials, drink specials, and more.EAT IN Connecticut Pub Crawl, Hartford: Eat IN Connecticut will host a “Culinary Corner St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl” in West Hartford, CT on Saturday, March 16 from 1-5pm. Participating venues include Artisan (at The Delamar Hotel), Flora, INDIA, The Cook and The Bear, & VintedO’Neill’s, South Norwalk: O'Neill's is celebration St. Patrick's Day all month long! On 3/17, the festivities begin at 7am with an Irish buffet breakfast. The day continues with music, Irish dancers, food specials, and more.Bobby V’s, Stamford: Bobby V's St. Patrick's Day celebration lasts from March 15-17. There will be food specials, drink specials, and plenty of giveaways.Wadsworth Athenium Museum, Hartford: At The Wadsworth Athenium Museum, members and nonmembers can enjoy an à la carte brunch with live Irish music by The Executive Session. There are two seatings, one at 10:30 am and one at 12:30 pm. Read More
Cocktail Naming Contest! Name This Bar Sugo Cocktail & WIN $100 Gift Card Features Cocktails Contest Giveaway Stephanie Webster March 07, 2019 WIN a $100 gift card for Bar Sugo!! Here's how...It's time for another cocktail throw down! Bar Sugo’s Mixologist Seth Hiravi has decided to trust the fate of their new signature cocktail to the naming skills of our CTbites readers. If your cocktail name is selected, you will win a $100 gift card for Bar Sugo (cocktails included). Here are the ingredients for the cocktail in need of a name: Read More
