NOA Thai Celebrates 1 Year in New Haven, From September In Bangkok Team Restaurant New Haven Thai Lunch Asian Food Jessica Ryan November 28, 2023 NOA, located on Crown Street in the heart of Downtown New Haven, just celebrated its first Birthday and we were recently invited to check it out. NOA is the second restaurant owned by chef and owner Winyu “Win” Seetamyae who also owns the wildly popular and favored September In Bangkok, also in New Haven. Although both restaurants are Taiwanese, the “vibe” and dishes are quite different. NOA is a bit more youthful with a vivid nighttime scene. NOA, which happens to mean delicious in Thai certainly lives up to its name based on the dishes we tried. Read More
Hartford Baking Company Announces New Location in South Windsor Restaurant Opening Windsor South Windsor Bakery Breakfast breakf Breakfast Sandwich Lunch Dessert Tea And Coffee Espresso CTbites Team November 27, 2023 Hartford Baking Company announces a new location in South Windsor! It's expansion time! Again! Hartford Baking Company is delighted to announce that they will be adding a fourth retail location in the Spring of 2024. The new cafe will be located at 150 Sullivan Ave in South Windsor CT, and will have the same vibe, menu, and bread selection of the two current West Hartford locations, plus an expanded menu and some other exciting new offerings. Read More
My Favorite Dish: Zuppardi's Apizza's Clam Pie in West Haven Restaurant Pizza New Haven West Haven Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger November 22, 2023 In the early 1920s, Dominic Zuppardi brought his master bread-making skills from southern Italy to New Haven and after several years of working for others creating artisanal breads and “abeetz,” he opened Salerno’s Bakery on Donnelly Place in New Haven in 1932. Two years later he moved to Union Street in West Haven and opened Zuppardi’s Bakery, and in the 1940s Dominick handed the reigns to his son Anthony. In the early years, Anthony produced a small variety of apizzas, primarily the traditional tomato pie, and as the menu grew (a customer favorite was Anthony’s Italian fennel sausage), he decided to focus on apizza and rebrand the family shop Zuppardi’s Apizza. After Anthony’s passing in 1988, his children and grandchildren assumed the familial leadership to ensure the continuation of Dominick and Anthony’s tradition and almost 90 years after Dominic opened on Union Street, Zuppardi’s Apizza is still considered one of the best in the New Haven area. Read More
40+ Places For Great Holiday Pies in Connecticut (2023 Edition) Features Ingredients Restaurant Seasonal Holiday Thanksgiving Catering Pies Pie Pie Guide Dessert Homepage April Guilbault November 15, 2023 In various rankings online, stuffing generally comes in first place on the Top 10 list of Thanksgiving foods. I personally cannot argue with that for one hot second. Desserts such as pumpkin or chocolate pie have hovered around 5th or 6th place, respectively, wistfully lagging behind mac and cheese and mashed potatoes but ahead of the love-it-or-hate it green bean casserole. Read More
Proof Pizza Truck In Fairfield: If You Don't Know...Now You Know Restaurant Pizza Pizza Truck Food Truck Kid Friendly Homepage Ella Alpert November 15, 2023 Beyond the beautiful views, calming sounds, and salty smells of Sasco beach, one may hear the cries and laughs of a baby and delicious smells of pizza. These senses come from Proof Pizza, the food truck stationed at the beach Thursday through Saturday between four and eight pm in the Summer seasons, and out and about in CT spots including Sport Hill Farm and St. Thomas School in the Fall.In another life, co-owner Jennifer DeGirolomo was in the banking industry, and her husband and co-owner Lenny was in construction. The couple has had a love for pizza since they started dating 16 years ago. In 2019, they made this love into a career. “We had the opportunity to kind of restart and reinvent ourselves. He’s always wanted to do a food truck and we’ve always done pizza together and so it was kind of a no brainer. We said, we’re never going to have this chance again so we took everything we had, threw it into getting this little pizza oven from Italy and we did farmers markets and little pop up stuff,” Jennifer said. “We love being down here, this has been kind of life changing for us. Like I said we love it, even on bad days that’s your view. We were driving down and my younger son was like, ‘Mom, there’s our office.’”This oven from Italy was the perfect find for the DeGirolomo’s specific needs. They wanted a wood fire oven that was portable so it would fit in the truck, but was also high quality and could cook enough pizzas at once to keep up with demand. Once the oven was secured, they were able to develop the other key component of what makes Proof Pizza unique: the dough. Read More
100+ CT Restaurants, Caterers & Farms for Thanksgiving 2023 Features Restaurant Thanksgiving Catering Caterer Holiday Guide Homepage Carly Terzigni November 10, 2023 We don’t have to explain how big of a deal Thanksgiving dinner is. Arguably, it is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year – not just for the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie, but for the time spent with loved ones. Some years, you want to go all out and embrace your inner Martha Stewart. There are businesses in Connecticut ready to supply you with the highest quality fresh turkey. Other years, you want to kick back and let someone else do the cooking. There are countless restaurants and catering companies across the state ready to take your order for a fully prepared meal. Or, maybe, you want to switch things up and take the family gathering on the road – as you might imagine, there are tons of excellent Connecticut restaurants open on Thanksgiving with special menus just for the holiday.For your convenience, the guide is organized by county – simply find yours to see what local options are available! We have also made note of which locations are providing Vegan options this year. And, finally, if you want to pick up a fresh turkey to cook at home, there is a section devoted entirely to Connecticut farms at the bottom of the guide. The time is now to make your Thanksgiving dinner plans, and either place your orders for a catered meal or book those reservations at your favorite restaurant! Read More
Josie & Tony’s Italian Deli and Supper Club Opening in Pasta Nostra Spot In South Norwalk Features Restaurant Opening South Norwalk Norwalk ita Deli Sandwiche pasta CTbites Team November 09, 2023 Have you been wondering what will be going into the old Pasta Nostra space in South Norwalk? Josie & Tony’s Italian Deli and Supper Club have just announced that they will be opening in this iconic spot this December as a private members club, fine dining restaurant, and gourmet Italian deli. This “supper club” concept is the first-of-its-kind for Fairfield County, and will cater primarily to its members with a limited number of reservations available to the public seven days in advance. Walk-in patrons will be accommodated at the 14-seat full-service bar. The deli, however, will be open to the public and will feature premium Italian sandwiches, prepared foods and other to-go items. It will also be the face of the Josie & Tony’s Pasta Club, a subscription-based service offering fresh pasta and sauce to cook at home. The deli is slated to open in early 2024. Read More
30+ Spots for Great Bagels in Connecticut Features Restaurant Bagels Breakfast Sandwich Breakfast Comfort Food carb Bread Shop Homepage April Guilbault November 09, 2023 Nicely sized and expertly formed, with a nice bit of pillowy fluff to its appearance. A firm golden crust that your teeth have to work a bit to pierce, which then leads you to the satisfying crunch and the doughy, chewiness inside. Choose a flavor, from the sweet to the savory to the quirky seasonal, finish with a generous schmeeeeeear (also in the above flavors) and enjoy one of the simple pleasures in life: a good bagel. Here are 30+ spots to score yourself some bagel-y goodness in Connecticut. Read More
First Look: Jacob’s Pickles Opens at The SoNo Collection Features Interview Restaurant Jacob's Pickles Homepage Southern Food Cocktails Craft Beer Southern Openings Norwalk Andrew Dominick November 05, 2023 For several months, as in, almost all of 2023, a lot of Fairfield County restaurant buzz centered around Jacob Hadjigeorgis and his pickles. Read More
Il Pastaficio in Westport: Artisanal Pasta Market Launches Dine In Restaurant...And It's Outstanding Restaurant Westport Greenwich fresh pasta Pasta Italian Specialty Market Lunch Opening Homepage Jessica Ryan October 31, 2023 In 2018 I headed to Cos Cob to meet Frederico Perandin and his wife Anissa Nouhi at the location of their brand new restaurant, Il Pastificio, adored by all in the Greenwich area. Born and raised in Padova, Italy, the founder of a successful Italian advertising agency, Federico Perandin moved to Greenwich in 2016 where he immediately fell in love with the town, the scenery and the lively international community.In 2022 Perandin and Nouhi found a second home for Il Pastificio in Westport. Initially it was to serve as a market of sorts with its take out menu, but that changed when, after closing for a month over the summer for some light construction, a new sit-down eatery was born. The new restaurant is best described as rustic chic. Its elevated casual atmosphere offers guests a comfortable setting dressed in pale yellows and woods in which they can linger comfortably over Frederico’s authentic recipes, steeped in tradition alongside a healthy serving of Prosecco and conversation. Read More
Strega in Milford Expands Menu w/ New Haven Location Coming Soon Features Interview Restaurant Italian Milford New Haven Danilo Mongillo pizza Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick October 30, 2023 Danilo Mongillo may have opened his witchy named restaurant, Strega, back in 2016, but believe this, he’s just getting started. Read More
Let's Do Lunch at The Cottage in Greenwich: Seasonal Menu Drop Restaurant Greenwich Lunch Asian Food American Jessica Ryan October 27, 2023 When looking for a place that’s special The Cottage often tops the list of recommendations with its focus on excellence and elevated dishes that that are creative, stunning and delicious. The Cottage in Westport has been a staple of the restaurant scene since its inception in 2015. In 2022 Brian Lewis opened a second location in Greenwich and it has taken the restaurant scene there by storm. While the vibe in Greenwich is different with a more casual setting, it offers something that Westport doesn’t: lunch. And the lunch scene in Greenwich is bustling. The lunchtime menu is streamlined but not at all limited. In fact it’s really quite varied considering its size, featuring dishes that appeal to a wide range of tastes and diets. Read More
Studio Café In Westport: Coffee, Daytime Dining & Stunning Design Restaurant Breakfast Breakfast Sandwich Lunch Coffee Shop Tea And Coffee Healthy Eats Westport Homepage Stephanie Webster October 20, 2023
Massimo Italian Corner Opens in Norwalk With Gourmet Italian Specialties Features Interview Restaurant Deli Italian Norwalk Homepage Interview Openings Andrew Dominick October 17, 2023 Like Batman running to help the Gotham City Police Department when he sees the Bat-Signal in the night sky, CTbites was summoned in a similar fashion. Only we spotted our Bat-Signal across the street from Aitoro Appliance in Norwalk, in the form of a neon sign that read: “Massimo.” I hadn’t been that far up Westport Avenue in a while, so I turned to Steph and said, “Hey, hey. What’s this place? Heard of it?”“Ohhh! Yeah! Fritz Knipschildt told me about it! He loves it!” was her reply. Read More
Winfield Street Coffee in Stamford Launches “Tudo” w/ Brazilian Pressed Sandwiches + Smash Burgers Features Interview Restaurant Burgers Tudo Brazilian Winfield Street Coffee Stamford takeout Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick October 13, 2023 If you hear the word “tudo” being whispered around Fairfield County, don’t try to decipher what it means without your iPhone’s translate app and “Portuguese (Brazil)” selected.Don’t actually open your app. I’ll do you the favor.“Tudo” translated to English means “all” or “everything.”We’re talking loaded and pressed sandwiches. Two types of smash burgers, a hot dog, a fried chicken sandwich, plus a few sides and a couple of unique (at least to this area) desserts. Read More
5 Spots For Great Philly Cheesesteaks in Fairfield County CT Features Restaurant Sandwich Philly Cheesesteak Comfort Food Sandwich Guide Hannah Goodman October 12, 2023 When you are raised by a Philadelphia native, the only things you know to be true are “go birds!” and what makes a true Philly cheesesteak. I have tried and (mostly) enjoyed cheesesteaks up and down the eastern seaboard. Fairfield County, Connecticut has never been known for making a great cheesesteak, that is, until now. I have rounded up the top five restaurants in Southwestern Connecticut that offer authentic cheesesteaks and if you know a good cardiologist, please send them my way, because these are the ones that have truly stolen my heart (and worsened my cholesterol). Read More
Chef Prasad in New Canaan's Chef Collab Events: How It Started + Where It's Going Events Interview Restaurant New Canaan Indian Interview Chef Prasad Collab Pop-Up Andrew Dominick October 10, 2023 Between courses at one of his collaboration special events, Prasad Chirnomula spoke to his full dining room about creating a bond with his fellow Connecticut chefs.“We’ve been doing this for almost a year now, bringing chefs together,” he says. “The whole point of doing this, is we, as chefs, work our asses off. We’re always back in the kitchen on Saturday nights, Sunday nights, holidays, and everything else. I’ve done my share of work, so I said to myself that I’m gonna enjoy what I did for so many years of my life. I want to create a legacy and a bond with people I recognize and know of. Even if I don’t know someone, I’ll pick up the phone, call them, and say, ‘Hey, buddy! How are you doing? Do you wanna cook together?’ This is the hardest industry to work in and food brings people together.” Read More
Darbar India: Indian Pizza, Tacos & Beautiful Authentic Indian Cuisine in Branford Restaurant Branford Indian Pizza Tacos Takeout Lunch Cocktails Comfort Food Homepage Jessica Ryan October 05, 2023 So this taco and this pizza walk into an Indian joint…Darbar India located in Branford, Connecticut is a family run business that has been a staple of the Branford community, serving authentic Indian cuisine for nearly 30 years. Sunny, Vinny and their father Haresh Nariyani took over the business in 2008 and this past January they relocated to its current location on Montowese Street. When we were invited to check them out we naturally had to scope out their Instagram account which was filled with images of pizzas and tacos! Whaaaaat??? We really had to go see what this was all about. Inside we found a small, modern space flanked by quintessentially Indian artifacts and figurines, punctuated by their fish pond. While the decor might be simple, it’s the food that steals the show. Darbar prides themselves on their traditional flavors and cooking styles. While Sunny and Vinny were both born in the states, Haresh did not come over until 1990. Read More
Old Street Hot Pot Opens in Milford With Dim Sum All Day & Hot Pot Restaurant Hot Pot Chinese Chinese New Year Dim Sum Milford Asian Homepage Jessica Ryan October 03, 2023 There’s Chinese food and then there’s authentic Chinese food. Old Street Hot Pot in Milford offers diners an incredible Chinese experience – from authentic Dim Sum to original hot pot. Don’t let the American strip mall exterior fool you (but do take note of the fabulous H Mart at the end of the block!) Once you walk through the doors you’ll forget where you are. You’ll be transported into a large space that combines traditional and contemporary elements with a large modern wooden architectural feature that stands within the existing building. Painted murals peer down from the ceiling through the wooden structure. The ambiance is created by a mix of wooden accents, vintage Chinese artwork, and soft lighting. Tables are arranged to accommodate both small and large groups, with cozy booths lining the walls. The space is designed to evoke a sense of cultural authenticity while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for guests. A private dining room featuring an enormous round hot pot table that seats 16, making it the perfect entertaining space. The restaurant’s total seating capacity is 135. Read More
My Favorite Dish: Grigg Street Pizza’s Dry Aged Cheesesteak Interview Ingredients Restaurant Favorite Dish cheesesteaks cheesesteak Pizza Greenwich Andrew Dominick October 03, 2023 Dave Portnoy’s 8.2 score of Grigg Street’s popular sour dough pizza was ehhh…good. Could’ve been higher even by a smidge in my opinion, but anything in the “8s” is a fine rating.What Dave wasn’t wrong about, though, was scoring Grigg’s cheesesteak a full point higher at a 9.2, and despite being on a major pizza eating and scoring tour, he kept going back for another bite, saying, “This is great. You weren’t fuckin’ around.”Portnoy dove in with his mouth. I’m about to dive into this haute “Philly” by giving you the culinary facts behind it.To get the skinny on this appropriately greasy, pungently cheesy, slightly spicy, and beefy sandwich, I caught up with my homie, Grigg Street Pizza co-owner and chef, Matthew Watson. Read More