Chef-at-the-Market Competition @ Westport Farmers' Market Features Farmers Market Chef Maddie Phelps June 13, 2019 Watching the chefs of the hit TV show “Chopped” scramble to cook up their finest creations while the clock ticks away is truly entertaining. But watching such a competition in real life takes the cake. While the Westport Farmers’ Market didn’t bring the cast, crew, and chefs of “Chopped” to downtown Westport, they did emulate the cook-off with their very own version: “The Chef at the Market Competition.” Here’s a recap of the first “Chef At The Market” throw down, but there are many more to come. Check out the schedule below. Read More
"Max Chef to Farm" Pop-Up Dinners At The Farm June-August 2019 Schedule Features Farm Dinner Pop-Up Dinner CT Farms Farm to Table CTbites Team June 12, 2019 Max Chef to Farm, an award-winning group of events that celebrate the amazing food grown in our backyard, is heading into their 12th year. Guests are transported directly to the farm to experience seasonal and local food. Their dinners are multi-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.Max Chef to Farm dinners are adventurous events that celebrate and support CT-grown products. Their host farm for most events this season is the 160-acre Rosedale Farms, located in Simsbury, CT. They have many things in common with the Max Restaurant Group including a commitment to using sustainable farming and business practices. Speaking of support... Read More
Chef Billy Grant Hosts Pop-Up Farm Dinner Series at Rose's Berry Farm Features Farm Dinner Pop-Up Dinner South Glastonbury CT Farms Italian CTbites Team June 11, 2019 Chef Billy Grant and his Chefs Corey Cannon of Bricco Trattoria, and Jon Gyles of Bricco West Hartford invite you to join them for their Summer 2019 Farm Dinner series at Rose’s Berry Farm, in South Glastonbury. Every Farm dinner features a creative menu with ingredients sourced from a multitude of CT farms, and includes passed and stationed hors d’ oeuvres, multi-course dinner, dessert, creative cocktails, craft beers, and vino! Price per person is $89 plus 18% tax and gratuity (all alcohol is included). Reservations recommended and can be purchased online at www.billygrant.com or by emailing catering director Michelle McMahon at michelle@billygrant.com. Read More
30+ CT Restaurants, Farm Dinners & Special Events for Father's Day 2019 Features Father's Day Special Occasion Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 05, 2019 Last month we celebrated Mom... now it's time to celebrate Dad! Connecticut restaurants, breweries, wineries, and caterers are getting creative with special ways to honor fathers. From al fresco feasts to beer dinners to vineyard festivals to BBQ, here is a list of over 30 places with celebrations on Father's Day and Father's Day weekend. Be sure to make your reservations now. Seats fill up quickly!Goshen Stampede, Goshen: Just in time for Father’s Day, the 14th Annual Goshen Stampede takes place from June 14th - 16th at The Goshen Fair Grounds. There will be live music, demolition derbies, truck pulls, rodeos, barrel racing, music, rides, food, and more. Bear’s Smokehouse @ Alvarium, New Britain: Alvarium and Bear's Smokehouse are teaming up for Father’s Day. Bear's Smokehouse will serve up the best authentic Kansas City Barbeque on the patio while Alvarium pours brews to go with the meal. Untiled Bistro @ Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford: On, Sunday, June 16 treat Dad with a special Jazz Brunch. There are two seatings available: 10:30am & 12:30pm. In addition to live music by Sarah Rose Nunes and Joe Carter, tickets include a buffet, museum admission, and one complimentary bloody mary or mimosa. Match & Match Burger Lobster, Norwalk & Westport: Match and Match Burger Lobster will be open on Sunday 6/16 and serving their regular menus. Read More
Adults Only "Maritime With A Twist" June 27: Sip & Sample at The Maritime Aquarium (sponsored post) Features Events CTbites Team June 05, 2019 Celebrate the summer with sips and samples and sharks and seals during the “Maritime with a Twist” adults-only evening event on Thurs., June 27th at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Get your tickets here. Open to anyone age 21 and over, “Maritime with a Twist” features tastes from nearby restaurants in the South Norwalk (or SoNo) neighborhood, as well as refreshments by artisanal distillers and distributors. Sample them all while enjoying the entire Aquarium for one price. Music for the evening will be provided by Big Yachty, Fairfield County’s premiere Yacht Rock cover band. Participating restaurants and retailers include: Bandido, Evarito’s, CulinArt, Local, La Dolce, Saltwater, Tablao, Blind RhinoPouring the tastings will be from: KRAKEN Rum, Total Wine, Thimble Island Brewery, Owl’s Brew, Asylum Vodka, Eder Brothers Wine Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of June 9-16 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson June 04, 2019 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, Read More
Recap: Marcia Selden Hosts Wakeman Town Farm Spring Dinner Features Events Catering Kristin L. Wolfe June 04, 2019 There’s no doubt that spring finally sprung at Wakeman Town Farm with a cooking demo and three-course dinner from Marcia Selden Catering. It might have been a bit misty and grey outside, but each table was adorned with flowers, cocktails flowed into every glass, and some of the adorable goats, chickens, and ducks could be seen in the distance from the dining room, called “Tim’s Kitchen,” inside. Read More
The Glass House Hosts Summer Party: Picnic & High Wire Artist Philippe Petit Features Events Stephanie Webster June 01, 2019 The Glass House announces its annual Summer Party to celebrate their 70th anniversary year with a dynamic program of performance, exhibition and auction to benefit the iconic Philip Johnson designed house (built in 1949) and 49-acre site. The site will be activated by French high wire artist Philippe Petit for a site-specific aerial walk. Tickets include a farm-to-table picnic by South End, rosé from Whispering Angel and artisanal cocktails. Enjoy a game of ping-pong or challenge a friend to a game of oversized chess. The day’s picnic along with the event’s festivities benefits preservation initiatives at the Glass House. Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of June 2-9 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 29, 2019 Visit Taprock Beer Bar in Farmington on Monday June 3 for an evening with Bellis Bourbon. The amazing CT product recently hit the market. Meet the creators, chat with the mixologists, enjoy three different Bellis Bourbon cocktails, and dine on some appetizers. Tickets are $40 online and $45 at the door. Back40 Kitchen in Greenwich invites you to a Maison Louis Jadot "Gems of France" Wine Dinner on June 6. Each course has been carefully designed to highlight 5 wines. It is $95/person, tax and gratuity excluded. Email Sandra@back40kitchen.com to reserve your seat today! Summer is finally here and what better way to kick-off the season than a beer at East Rock Brewing Company in New Haven? Visit them on June 6 for an afternoon of socializing over beer, pizza, and board games. This “Summer Social Kickoff” is free, but registration must be completed online. Elm City Social in New Haven hosts “The Mixer” on Tuesday June 4. The event, which takes place on Elm City Social's rooftop patio in New Haven, includes a live mural by Magge Gagliardi, a bartending competition, Collective Arts beer, and samples of their new gin. 5pm-Close. Taste of Bishops Corner 2019 takes place in Hartford on Wednesday June 5. The indoor/outdoor event features Harrys Bishops Corner, Crown Market, Blue Plate Kitchen, OCHO and more. June 5, 2019 marks the 11th Annual SoNo Stroll Benefit. In its eleventh year, the Stroll has become the biggest and most successful fundraiser that benefits the Human Services Council. Read More
The 10th Annual Hartford Rib Off is Back June 14-15 Features Events CTbites Team May 29, 2019 The 10th Annual Hartford Rib Off is back and returning to Hartford’s Riverside Park from June 14-15, 2019. 100% of the proceeds from the Hartford Rib Off festival is donated to local charities: MARC Community Resources LTD, Mayor Mike's Foundation for Kids, and The Hartford Rib Off Scholarship Fund. Guests can enjoy a Kick-off Party, an All-Day BBQ event, Kansas City Barbeque and New England Barbecue Society Competitions, Live Music and more while 100% of proceeds are donated to Charity. The Hartford Rib Off Festival is supported by community partners, 102.9 The Whale, Radio 104.1, Miller Lite, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and GN Construction LLC. Presenting Sponsor this year is Hall’s Market of West Hartford. 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 unlimited water and soft drinks. The best pitmasters in New England will come together to compete for first place in a New England Barbeque Society sanctioned Steak and Wing Tailgate contest. Read More
Essential Outdoor Entertaining Product Guide from D2 Interieurs Features Entertaining Kitchen Gear Design CTbites Team May 29, 2019
Local Boxing Trainer Creates Hot Lady Hot Sauce Brand Ingredients Features Ingredients Hot Sauce Local Artisan Andrew Dominick May 28, 2019 The hot sauce market is stacked with thousands of brands trying to win over your taste buds and into your pantry, but few have roots right here in Fairfield County. Cue Hot Lady Hot Sauce, created by Adam Colberg, a Connecticut resident who grew up in Westport. For Colberg, hot sauce wasn’t always in his overall plan. “Before I graduated from Staples High School, I always embarked on different projects, I always did things differently,” he said. “I wasn’t ready for college, but I wanted to do something adventurous, so I joined the Marines.” His time in the corps, where he was a jet mechanic, granted him the opportunity to travel the world, including a tour in Spain. Read More
Westport Farmers’ Market Opens For 2019 Summer Season Features Farmers Market Maddie Phelps May 26, 2019 It was as if the Connecticut weather knew it was a monumental day in the local food community, as ominous early morning clouds faded into beaming sunlight. Just like that, it became a beautiful day for hundreds of people to unite through their love for one thing: good food. It was opening day at The Westport Farmers’ Market!Since 2006, the Westport Farmers’ Market has been a destination for locals to browse a diverse selection of produce from farms, bakeries, breweries, and more. Opening day brought vendors from all corners of Connecticut, including several first timers excited to get their names out to locals. Read More
Chef Brian Lewis To Appear on Beat Bobby Flay May 30th Features News TV Food Network Celebrity Chef Stephanie Webster May 23, 2019 Cheer on CT’s own Chef Brian Lewis, of The Cottage and OKO, as he competes on Beat Bobby Flay, airing Thursday, May 30th @10PM. “We taped this episode months ago and I’m excited for everyone to see this episode of ‘Beat Bobby Flay.’ Just as I cook my heart out in the kitchens at OKO and The Cottage, I gave it my all for the competition. Tune in to see if I had the chance to go head to head with Bobby!” says Chef Lewis. The episode is intriguingly titled “Bye Bye Birdie,” and features Food Network's Michael Symon and Jet Tila working hard to outsmart their good friend Bobby Flay. They bring in one of his proteges, Chef Rebecca Weitzman, and fine dining's finest, Chef Brian Lewis, to muscle Bobby out of his kitchen. Read More
Connecticut’s Brewery Legitimus & Barden Farm Partner Again for 2nd CSABC (Community Supported Agriculture, Beer & Cheese) Share Features CSA Local Artisan Local Farm CT Beer Cheese Farm to Table CTbites Team May 23, 2019 Brewery Legitimus, the 7 barrel craft brewery co-founded by husband and wife team Chris and Christina Sayer, is partnering once again with Barden Farm (New Hartford, CT), to bring a Community Supported Agriculture, Beer & Cheese (CSABC) Share to the community. Back for a second year in a row, the 10-week “Farm, Beer and Cheese Share” begins July 11th and will run until September 12th. The first in the area, the CSABC share brings together locally grown produce from Barden Farm, locally crafted beer by Brewery Legitimus, and locally made cheese from several different farms in CT.A CSABC share membership is $485 for the 10 Weeks and includes Craft Beer from Brewery Legitimus, Cheese and of course a Farm Share from Barden Farm. It works just like a CSA. Here’s what’s included: Read More
Taproot & Redding Roadhouse Owners Take Over The Holbrook Farm Business Features CT Farms Farm Fresh Local Farm CSA Bethel Farm Stand Maddie Phelps May 22, 2019 More than 40 years ago, John and Lynn Holbrook purchased 12 acres of land in Bethel, Connecticut to open their very own family farm. With a mere 2 acres available for farming, the Holbrooks were tasked with maximizing space while remaining environmentally friendly. The rest is history.While the Holbrooks still own the spectacular farmland, as of this past March, four new faces have joined the farming family. Jeff Taibe, Stephanie Sweeney, and Sean and Erin Reilly decided to tackle the business side of things when the previous tenant opted not to renew her lease. With Taibe and Sweeney owning their restaurant, Taproot, and the Reilly’s owning the Redding Roadhouse, the four decided to merge the Bethel and Redding communities with Holbrook Farm as their link. Read More
Nibble: Boozy & Delish CT Food Events for Week of May 19-26 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 17, 2019 Mystic Cheese Company and the Engine Room present A Cheese & Cocktail Pairing on May 23. Join Jason & Sylvia Sobocinski from Mystic Cheese Co. & Nick Georgetti, Beverage Director for The Engine Room, in Mystic CT as they pair their favorite cheeses alongside classic and original libations. It costs $45 per person and runs from 6-8:30pm. "Walk the Walk" on The Brick Walk Fairfield takes place on Tuesday, May 21. Check out the area’s best restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. Participants include Brick + Wood, Broadway Method Academy, CT Cookie Company, Island Outfitters, Mecha Noodle Bar, and more. On Tuesday May 21, Max a Mia hosts a Beer Dinner on the Patio featuring Victory Brewing Company. The evening begins with a 6:30 reception and continues with sit down dinner. Special Guests are Adam Lang and Aron Daniels from Victory Brewing Co with a menu by Chef Stephen Lundgren. Join the Stratford Health Department and A Pinch of Salt's Raquel Rivera-Pablo to learn how to make easy and kid-friendly recipes using ingredients found in the garden on Tuesday May 21. This free cooking class is appropriate for ages 2-10. Adult supervision is required. For additional questions, please call Kelley Meier at 203-385-4090. Read More
Westport Farmers’ Market Summer Season Starts May 23rd! Features Farmers Market Westport Local Artisan Local Farm Specialty Market CTbites Team May 13, 2019 Mark your calendars for the start of the Westport Farmers’ Market on Thursday, May 23rd, from 10 to 2 at 50 Imperial Avenue. Whether you are on a break from work, have a day off with kids, or are meeting a friend to shop, this season’s market has something for everyone. “We work hard to make the Westport Farmers’ Market a weekly destination for the community,” said Lori Cochran-Dougall, Executive Director. “We’re really excited with the result this year! We’ll have all of the vendors and activities that people love plus some new vendors and programs to add to the mix.” Read More
Nibble: Tasty CT Food Events For Week of May 12-19 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 11, 2019 Wakeman Town farm and Marcia Selden Catering are teaming up for a Spring Dinner on the Farm. On Tuesday May 14, Robin and Jeffrey Selden will be teaching participants a seasonal three-course meal, plus three signature cocktails. Then, sit down together to enjoy the feast! “A Taste of Hope Street” takes place on Wednesday May 15 in Stamford. Restaurants along the street, like Vinny’s Backyard, Olio Restaurant, and Amore Cucina & Bar will have samples. There will be beer, wine, and entertainment as well. Proceeds go to Healing Hearts. ARTISAN Restaurant, Tavern and Garden is kicking off the summer season on its patio by uncorking its private label Rosé wine at its annual Kick-off Garden Party in West Hartford on Thursday, May 16th from 6-8 PM. Experience the spectacular outdoor setting while enjoying Artisan Rosé wine and craft cocktails from the cash bar, along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres in the picturesque Artisan garden. Our House in SoNo hosts Casino Night on Friday May 19. $25 includes Poker/Roulette, a Raffle, Give-aways, and Paparazzi. Opt for the 7-8pm VIP All Inclusive with Hors d'oeuvres and vodka bar plus 1000 casino chips. On Saturday May 18, Hunt Hill Farm hosts “Fermentation Magic” with Cheryl Paswater. From 12-3pm, learn about the process and taste foods using the technique. It costs $90. On Sunday, join them again for “Foraging and Feasting” with Hayden Stebbins. Hunthillfarm.org Read More
NEW Podcast Episode: Greer Fredericks of Peaches Southern Pub & Juke Joint...and The Rolling Stones! Features Podcast Stephanie Webster May 11, 2019 This week on The CTbites Hot Dish Podcast , we chat with Peaches Southern Pub & Juke Joint’s owner Greer "Peaches" Fredericks, and man does she have some stories! Greer talks about making the perfect fried chicken, life lessons and touring with the ...um...Rolling Stones. You won’t wanna miss this episode. Listen here. Read More
