20+ Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest in CT: 2018 Edition Features Holiday Oktoberfest Beer Garden CT Beer Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 05, 2018 Fall is here! That means spice pumpkin lattes, apple picking, Halloween shopping, and of course… Oktoberfest! Connecticut restaurants, farms, museums, and fairgrounds are holding their own versions of the German holiday. These places are serving up German-inspired cuisine, brews, music, entertainment, and more. We will continue to update this list as venues announce events. Check back for more events throughout the month. Read More
8 Classic CT Drive-Ins To Visit Before Summer's End via CT Visit Restaurant Outdoor Dining Delicious Dives Diner Comfort Food Hot Dogs Burgers Lunch CTbites Team September 04, 2018 One of the best parts about being on the road in the summer in Connecticut is stopping at a drive-in for a quick but tasty meal. The state has many such spots, but here are 8 of the most tried and true.Sea Swirl, Mystic: It's easy to spot Sea Swirl as the former Carvel location, but the focus now is on fried seafood, especially clams, scallops, and oysters. The Sycamore, Bethel: Known for its steak burgers and homemade root beer, as well as its carhops and 1950's ambiance. Be sure to check out their web site for cruise nights and and other special events. Harry's Place, Colchester: Looking for a real juicy burger? Harry's shapes its patties into a ball, puts them on a grill, and then gradually flattens them with a spatula. The results have brought customers back every summer for decades. Read More
The Colombian Hot Dog Truck: Ultimate Comfort Food Restaurant Food Truck Burgers Columbian Comfort Food Hot Dogs Bridgeport Delicious Dives Homepage Andrew Dominick September 02, 2018 I can admit when I have a problem. Connecticut has several great food trucks, and I social media stalk a bunch of them. The addiction is obviously the food, then there’s this game of being able to track down the truck or trucks in question. Will I be free? Where will the truck be? What time? And for how long will they be there? One that I played cat and mouse with recently was The Colombian Hot Dog, a mobile trailer that specializes in Colombian fast food. They were put on my radar by a local photographer friend who spent some time shooting The Colombian Hot Dog crew in action one summer night. He suggested I check them out, but it took a while since the truck is only parked in Norwalk one night per week. Read More
Friday Froth: An ESB Or Three? Features Beer CT Beer Beer Garden Brewery James Gribbon August 31, 2018 This week we're going to look at some beers which could be confused for the country's least glitzy style, the Extra Special Bitter, or ESB. Most people who had access to beer, legally or not, in the Cro-The problem with taste sensations is their inevitable ubiquity. Like a new song quickly overplayed into agonizing repetition, the new hotness becomes common as mud or lobster mac and cheese. Bloody Mary gimmicks are an excellent example. Magnon craft beer era of the 1990s will remember Red Hook ESB. It was a good touch bitter, with a sharp roast and a twinge of sweetness to its malt-forward profile. English inspired bones fleshed out by a toddling American craft beer industry, it sold a ton as a delicious change of pace from Bud/Miller/Coors/Molson/Corona, and was to be one of the first brands bought and ruined by "Big Beer," in this case Anheuser-Busch. Read More
Costco Vs. Stew Leonard's "Samples" Thowdown: Who's The Winner? Features Specialty Market Homepage Lou Gorfain August 31, 2018 People love Free. Almost as much as they crave Food. Which explains why CTBites decided to pit Costco in Norwalk against Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, both famous for their generous grocery samples, in a Full-on Free Food Fight. There was a clear winner. And it wasn’t the store we thought it would be.While Costco is a membership warehouse, and Stewie’s a sui generes grocery market, both strive to enhance their customers’ in-store shopping experience -- more so than traditional supermarkets. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for September 2-9 Features Events News Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 30, 2018 Savannah Bee Company invites you to a pre- Rosh HaShanah honey tasting on Wednesday September 5 at their store in downtown Westport. Liz from Kosher Like Me will walk you through the selections.On Wednesday September 5, The Fig Cooking School in Milford presents a cooking class in honor of International Bacon Day. The Food Truck Fridays Series continues at the Clinton Crossing Outlets continues on Friday September 7. Enjoy Gourmet Food Trucks, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and shopping at your favorite retailers.The 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Seaport Association will take place Friday September 7 through Sunday September 9 at Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk. Read More
2018 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival September 20-23 Features Events Newport Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 29, 2018 Imagine sipping on wine and feasting on gourmet bites, all overlooking Rhode Island’s beautiful coast. You can at the 2018 Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival, which begins on Thursday September 20 and continues through Sunday September 23. It’s time for a road trip! Read More
It's A Woman's World: Jes Bengsten of Terrain Features Chef Interview CTbites Team August 29, 2018 Fairfield County is full of trailblazing women, particularly in the culinary world. Which is why, with 2018 being proclaimed the Year of the Woman, we felt compelled to honor the pioneers among us. Our series, “It’s A Woman’s World’ is devoted to Fairfield County female influencers who’ve forged their own paths, often in food-related fields long dominated by men.How'd they do it? Read on. This week, we feature Jes Bengsten, Chef at Terrain Garden Café. Stay tuned to see who’s next. And feel free to send suggestions for your candidates to steph@ctbites.com. Read More
Banh Meee Brings Vietnamese Delights to Hartford’s Flourishing Capitol Avenue Restaurant Asian To-Go Take Out Hartford Vietnamese Noodles Connecticut Magazine August 28, 2018 Author Michael Lee-Murphy from Connecticut Magazine shares a great Vietnamese find in Hartford, Banh Meee. Dung “G” Tran says, “Three years ago, I didn’t know how to cook.” Really? His menu at the new Banh Meee Vietnamese restaurant on Capitol Avenue in Hartford sure doesn’t taste like it.Tran says he taught himself how to cook by watching YouTube tutorials and adding his own modern spin on traditional Vietnamese cooking. After operating for a few months as a food truck, Tran moved into the space made available by GoldBurgers’ closing of its Hartford location late last year.Born to Vietnamese parents in San Bernardino, California, Tran says his parents sent him and his siblings to New England as youngsters to, as he puts it, avoid the gang violence of the area. Tran worked in insurance in Windsor for several years before launching himself into the food business. Read More
Sift Bake Shop in Mystic: Winner of "Best Baker in America" Restaurant Bakery Mystic Breakfast Lunch Celebrity Chef Chef Talk Specialty Market Homepage CTbites Team August 26, 2018 I recently sat down with Chef Adam Young, co-owner and head baker at Sift Bake Shop, to discuss his recent win as "Best Baker in America," Sift’s success, future plans, and what you should order during your next visit.Opened in spring 2016, Sift Bake Shop in downtown Mystic has gained rapid success from a winning combination of Adam Young’s (co-owner/head baker) infectious passion and skill in the kitchen. This French-inspired bakery takes cues from Young’s own travels in France and is a combination of aspects he liked from a variety of different European bakeries. This vision translated into a bright, open space outfitted with dark wood floors, a long display case stocked with everything from sandwiches to dainty entremets and crispy baguettes, and hanging silver lighting shining like spotlights on the baked goods. Read More
Friday Froth: Kent Pils, Two Roads Spills on Area 2, And A Hazy IPA That Kills Features Ingredients CT Beer Beer Garden Beer Brewery James Gribbon August 24, 2018 This week in Friday Froth we're going to toss back a beer in the middle of a trend, a new creation in an old style, and some brewery news which leads us to an aged beer.And now, as another James May say, the nyeewws:I recently was among the first few dozen civilians to ever see the inside of Two Roads' new mixed fermentation secondary brewery, Area 2. First announced in 2016, this new on-site facility in Stratford will focus on sour, barrel aged, and wild ales - all the little organisms bursting with possibility, and voted most likely to make your wine or Bud Light drinking friends say "This is beer?!?" Read More
Chef Tyler Anderson Hosts Taste The Nation To Support No Kid Hungry Sept 30th (+Tons of Talented Local CT Chefs) Features Events CTbites Team August 23, 2018 Hartford’s Taste of The Nation fundraiser to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign returns to the state’s capital on September 30, 2018. One-hundred-percent of proceeds from the event will benefit No Kids Hungry's work to end childhood hunger in America. Hosted at the historic Goodwin Hotel, the annual culinary event will again be led by Chef Chair Tyler Anderson. CT chefs include: Jessica Bengston, Prasad Chirnomula, Kevin Cottle, Kristin Eddy, Joel Gargano, Billy Grant, Frederic Kieffer, Jamie McDonald, Scott Miller; Jesse Powers, Dorjan Puka, Xavier Santiago, Chris Sheehan, Luke Venner, and Matt Wick. Read More
Podcast: An Interview with Tribus Beer Co. Features Podcast Beer CT Beer Brewery Interview Ken Tuccio August 23, 2018 It was a long road for Tribus Beer Co. to become a reality. One of the founders of Tribus, Sean O'Neill, sits down with Ken Tuccio to tell the story about how he and his partners got together, took their idea and turned it into one of the most anticipated brewery openings in the state. Listen here. Read our pre-opening article on Tribus Beer Co here. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of August 26- September 2 Features Events Festival News Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson August 22, 2018 El Segundo is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary with a party on Thursday August 30. It begins at 4pm with Complimentary Bites until 7pm. Live Music in the courtyard by PANA starts at 8pm. There will also be Drink Specials, A Dunk Tank, and more carnival activities.The 2018 New England Food Truck Festival takes place September 1 & 2 at Mohegan Sun Casino. There will be food, live music/bands, face painting for the kids, field games, and fireworks on Saturday starting at 9:30 P.M. The 2018 Caribbean Cultural Jerk Festival arrives in Danbury on Sunday September 2. On Monday, August 27, Chef Billy Grant of Grants Restaurant & Bar, Restaurant Bricco, and Bricco Trattoria will host a gourmet dinner featuring award-winning, local celebrity chefs in an unforgettable evening to benefit Foodshare. Read More
CTbites' James Gribbon Talks Beer on CT Style: Best CT Breweries For An Outdoor Drink Features Beer CT Beer Interview CTbites Team August 21, 2018 You never know where you're going to see CTBites. This past week our own food writer and "Friday Froth" beer columnist James Gribbon was invited to make a guest appearance on Channel 8 afternoon talk show CT Style to talk about great spots to have a beer outside. Summer may be winding down, but there's still plenty of time to enjoy a drink in the fresh air.Some of his favorite spots included the beer garden and hop yard at Two Roads in Stratford, The Hops Company beer garden, the yard at BAD SONS in Derby (with a nod to take out wings from nearby Dew Drop Inn), and road trips to OEC brewing in Oxford, and Kent Falls farm brewery. Watch the whole video below, and keep an eye out for James appearing on CT Style in the future. Read More
Winner of The MECHA Cocktail Naming Contest Is... Features Cocktails Stephanie Webster August 21, 2018 Congrats to Stefanie, who came up with the winning name for the MECHA Cocktail Naming Contest: Pok Pok Shakur.Kudos to all of our readers on creating some truly inspired names. We will be back soon with another chance to win. Read More
CTbites Chef Demo Tent @ 11th Annual Blues Views and BBQ September 1-2 Features Events Chef Talk Festival ellen bowen August 20, 2018 This year Blues Views and BBQ will feature 20 bands, hours of family fun at the famous Imperial Jam with the bounce park, Touch a Truck, airbrush tattoos, pie and rib eating contests and our second stage showcasing local and family friendly musical entertainment all day long. The festival will be held in the Imperial Ave commuter lot in addition to the Levitt Pavilion. Don’t miss the KCBS BBQ competition, and CTBites returns on Saturday 9/1 with cooking demos providing culinary inspiration. CTbites Chef Demo Tent Lineup12 Noon-Chef Jonas Daniela from Amis Trattoria1 pm- Chef Pietro Scotti from Da Pietros Restaurant 2 pm- Chef Carlos Baez from The Spread and El Segundo 3 pm- Chef Jess Bengston from Terrain Garden Café 4 pm- Chef Adam Roytman from Bar Sugo Read More
Barbacoa Smokehouse Opens in Fairfield: Casual Customized BBQ Restaurant BBQ Fairfield Openings To-Go Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage Jessica Ryan August 19, 2018 Barbacoa Smokehouse is one of the most recent restaurants to grace the Fairfield food scene. The smokehouse marries modern technology with a rustic and relaxed setting. Kiosks replace waiters, though Ambassadors are on hand to help and answer any questions you may have. So how does a restaurant with no menu yet tons of options work? The idea is that each customer can create something unique. Certain to appeal to Millennials and Gen Z-ers, this digital-age friendly way of ordering your food is incredibly easy to use. If you can get cash from an ATM, you can order your meal! The touch screen computer guides you through the process quickly and seamlessly in four easy steps. Read More
Mystic’s Grass & Bone Can Be Your New Sandwich Shop & Butcher via CT Magazine Restaurant Butcher Mystic Lunch Take Out Sandwich Specialty Market Connecticut Magazine August 17, 2018 Connecticut Magazine shares a unique find in Mystic. Half sandwich shop, half butcher, these guys know a thing or two about meat. Check it out. A sandwich is a common thing. Delis and grinder shops can be found throughout our state. But once in a while a new sandwich comes along and causes us to look with fresh eyes at this most classic of foods. Down in Mystic, the brains behind the operations at seafood-focused Oyster Club and burger-centric Engine Room have launched a new venture called Grass & Bone, structured around making the best sandwiches they can, with the freshest, most locally sourced ingredients they can muster. Read More
Tix on Sale! Kitchen Crawl 2018 Culinary Fundraiser: 4 Fabulous Chefs/ Mixologists + 4 Designer Kitchens Features Events Fundraiser Homepage Stephanie Webster August 16, 2018 Experience 4 of CT's hottest chefs in 4 of Westport's most beautiful designer homes, while helping to feed the hungry in our community. SAVE THE DATE: September 29th. Tickets are now on sale for the 2nd annual Westport Kitchen Crawl.Here's how the Kitchen Crawl works. Guests purchase a $85 ticket and proceed to 4 different Westport houses, where chefs from The Spread, Mecha Noodle Bar, Match Burger Lobster, and Jesup Hall will be cooking just for you. Cooking demos and specially prepared bites will be enjoyed alongside wine and beer provided and paired by Stew's Wines... all in spectacular designer kitchens. This year, the chefs are bringing their mixologists so get ready for some killer cocktails. All proceeds benefit Food Rescue US. Using technology, Food Rescue US empowers communities to reduce hunger and food waste through direct-transfer food rescue. Our vision is a hunger free and food waste free America. Read More
