Cousins Maine Lobster Truck Rolls into Connecticut Restaurant Food Truck Seafood Lobster Tacos Lunch Catering Homepage Jessica Ryan October 21, 2018 On Wednesday afternoon the Cousins Maine Lobster trucked rolled into the circle at Bedford Square in Westport to offer their version of the perfect lobster roll. Although I hail from the city that never sleeps, my New England roots were planted well over 30 years ago having lived in Boston, and summered in both Maine and Newport. At the risk of sounding presumptuous I daresay that I happen to know a thing or two about what makes a good lobster roll. So when I was invited to try them out I couldn’t possibly say no. Read More
Organika Kitchen Opens on Main Street in New Canaan Restaurant New Canaan Vegan Vegetarian Lunch Breakfast Openings Jessica Ryan October 19, 2018 Nearly one year after announcing its plans, vegan and vegetarian, Organika Kitchen, officially opened Monday in downtown New Canaan at 96 Main St.Owners, Gino and Cathy Riccio are excited the new location for their organic plant-based eatery, the first having met with great success in Southport. While many alleged healthy eateries have been popping up all over the place, Organika Kitchen takes the idea of healthy eating to a new level. Organika is more than a restaurant Gino explained, “It’s an experience that is as much about the food as it is the customers and the employees.” Organika opened its doors in August to praise from vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike. Cathy expanded on her husband’s thoughts. “We felt that we needed to be eating healthier. Read More
Afternoon Tea at Alice in the Village Tea Shop, Mystic Restaurant Tea And Coffee Lunch Kid Friendly kids activity Mystic Dessert Breakfast Bakery Homepage CTbites Team October 18, 2018 Adding a bit of whimsy into the Olde Mistick Village shopping center and amping up its already kid-friendly atmosphere, let yourself go into the looking glass at the recently opened Alice in the Village tea shop and café. The completely decked out exterior is replete with faux floral window frame and the beloved doorknob from the 1951 animated Disney film Alice in Wonderland. And is this uber-theme continued on the inside? Of course!Step inside and you will find an enchanted tea house split roughly into three sections: Eat Me!/Drink Me! to go orders, an Alice-themed shop, and tea room. In addition to Alice in Wonderland collectables and kitsch, the shop section stocks an excellent selection of Harney and Sons teas. The bright green walls and sage green ceilings are decorated with hanging playing cards, pictures from Alice in Wonderland scenes, and flying books. My favorite décor element is the life size bottom half of Alice hanging down from the ceiling—any child who loves Alice in Wonderland would love a visit to Alice and the Village simply to see the décor. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events, Halloween Parties, Festivals & Tastings, October 21-28 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 17, 2018 Experience Greenwich week runs from October 22-28. Over 150 merchants, retail stores, restaurants, and art galleries will have specials across town. Barcelona Fairfield hosts a Fall Patio Paella Party on Thursday October 25 from 6:30-8:30pm. Chef Jose will show you how to make the Spanish dish. Plus, there will be seasonal tapas, wine, and a DJ. L’Escale invites you to a St. Supery Wine Dinner on Wednesday October 24. Dinner starts at 6:30pm. Seating is limited, so call (203) 661-4600 for your reservation.Sport Hill Farm in Easton presents “Barn Bon Vivants” on Sturday October 27. The Halloween themed evening for adults will be catered by Chef Anne of The First Bite and Chef Genee of Herbaceous Catering. The evening features one seasonal cocktail and five small plates featuring seasonal produce from the farm. Read More
Chef Carole Peck Celebrating 25 years at Good News Restaurant and Bar Features Celebrity Chef CTbites Team October 16, 2018 Award-winning Good News Restaurant and Bar, created and co-owned by Chef Carole Peck and her husband, Bernard Jarrier, is celebrating 25 years since first opening its doors at 694 Main Street South in Woodbury. To commemorate this milestone, the couple is hosting an anniversary celebration at the restaurant on Friday, November 9th. Read More
An Evening with Top Chef Judge & Food + Wine Writer, Gail Simmons Features Celebrity Chef Chef Talk Interview Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 16, 2018 The life of a Top Chef judge, Food + Wine writer, author, and culinary personality is exciting. Gail Simmons regularly travels- and around the world at that!- to film television shows, headline events, find inspiration, and uncover new recipes. At the same time, Simmons is a wife and a mother of two. Sometimes she just wants to go home. Her new cookbook, Bringing It Home, bridges the gap between her personal and professional lives. Drawing from all of her experiences, she’s created dishes that instill feelings of comfort and belonging.Terrain Garden Café in Westport served as the perfect backdrop to bring Simmons’s vision to life. Read More
NEW & NOTABLE: Chef Duane Shand Takes Over At Cafe 47 @Perfect Provenance in Greenwich Restaurant Greenwich Lunch American far Burgers Dessert Homepage Lou Gorfain October 14, 2018 Cafe 47, an intimate dining space inside Perfect Provenance in Greenwich, reflects the luxury retail and exhibition space that surrounds it: tasteful, diverse, and capricious. The restaurant’s new chef, Duane Shand, fits right in to the unpredictability of the place.He radiates a rainbow of ethnicities -- West Indian, African, and Asian—a callaloo kid from Trinidad who unexpectedly, delightfully, now presides over a chic restaurant in one of America’s most patrician enclaves. Shand landed in Greenwich via a serpentine culinary route: from training at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando to restaurants around the world, such as the Royal Mail Hotel in Australia, Asador Etxebarr in Spain and Bad Saint in DC. But what ultimately brought him to Greenwich was… Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events, Festivals, Dinners, & Tastings for October 14-21 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 12, 2018 During the month of October, Letizia's Pizza is serving up "Gertie's Pie of Hope," a Mac & Cheese pizza that raises money for the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research and awareness. 100% of the proceeds are going to charity.Wine events are back at Go Fish in Mystic. Visit them every Wednesday at 5:30pm for cheese and crackers, a complementary food pairing, and of course- wine!. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. It begins on October 17 with “Lighter, Brighter, Reds.”Wakeman Town Farm and Bar Sugo’s Chef Alan Roytman are teaming up on Thursday October 18 for a Fall Farm Dinner. Roytman will prepare a 4 course meal, complete with wine pairings. It is $100 per person, and the intimate affair is limited to 20.Every Wednesday starting October 17, the Fairfield location of Quattro Pazzi is going vegan! Reservations are recommended. Call 203.259.7417 to secure your seat. Read More
26+ Restaurants, Sports Bars, & Caterers for 2018 Football Season in CT Features Sports Bar Big Screen TV Bar Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 11, 2018 Ready, set, hike! Get out your jerseys… football season is here and it’s time for you to root for your favorite team. These Connecticut restaurants, bars, and caterers are serving up specials and take-out options or you to enjoy during the season. These dishes will leave foodies yelling “touchdown!” Don’t see your favorite sports bar or restaurant here? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.The Blind Rhino, Norwalk & Black Rock: The Blind Rhino is the hotspot for watching sports events. TVs surround the bar and restaurant. They are known for their wings and craft brews, but they have other tasty eats on the menu as well.Fortina, Stamford: Fortina in Stamford will offer discounted food and drinks during football season on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday. Plus, wear your jersey and get a complimentary famous rays or margherita pizza.The Irons, Mystic: Head to the Irons in Mystic for football on Sundays. Starting at 1pm, they'll have $5 Burgers, 20 Wings for $20 , $3 Sam Adams Drafts, and other game time specials. Read More
Union League Café Celebrates 25 Years in New Haven CT Restaurant New Haven Lunch Brunch WIne French American Homepage Andrew Dominick October 09, 2018 Union League Café is frequently mentioned as one of Connecticut’s best restaurants. They’ve won multiple awards in various publications—in fact, it’s one of the more acclaimed places in the state—and they’ve been a New York Times darling three different times. Additionally, Union League’s chef/owner, Jean Pierre Vuillermet is recognized as a Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, translated, a Master Chef of France. Awards aside, Union League Café is set to celebrate what’s arguably its greatest achievement, their 25th anniversary. To celebrate this quarter century milestone, ULC is rolling out a handful of throwback dishes inspired by their first 25 years. All October long, diners will have the option to partake in a three-course, prix fixe tasting for $55 per person, or $79 if you’re down for carefully selected French wine pairings alongside your meal. Read More
Cross Culture Kombucha Opens Kombucha Taproom and Brewery in Danbury Restaurant Ingredients Brewery Tea And Coffee Danbury Openings Kristin L. Wolfe October 09, 2018 Cross Culture Kombucha just opened its doors in Danbury. It’s the first Kombucha taproom and brewery in the state, and they’ve been welcomed with open arms and growlers ready to fill. The light, effervescent drink has been around for ages but has most recently seen the limelight as a non-alcoholic alternative; one that is both really delicious and packed with healthy goodness. Read More
Pokémoto Opens: Fast Casual Hawaiian Poké Bowls Now In New Haven, Hamden, Fairfield, & Norwalk Restaurant Fairfield Seafood Lunch To-Go Take Out New Haven Hamden Norwalk Homepage CTbites Team October 06, 2018 The delicacy of Hawaiian fast casual poké has finally made its way to Connecticut at the new Pokémoto, now open in New Haven, Hamden, Fairfield, & Norwalk. The fresh, sushi-grade fish, in addition to tofu and chicken options, is offered in an assortment of ways with a multitude of toppings and marinades from which to choose. I recently visited Pokémoto’s Fairfield location to try the savory bowls and enjoyed the revamped space showcasing colorful fish, fruit, and vegetables aplenty. The offerings were laid out both simply and beautifully, allowing guests to either select from Signature Bowls or create their perfect mix of flavors in a customized entrée. Poké can be enjoyed in three formats: A poké bowl over rice, a wrap nestled in a sheet of roasted Nori, or over a salad. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of October 8-15 Features News Events Emma Jane-Doody Stetson October 05, 2018 October 11 is Ladies Night Out at Sport Hill Farm! Join them for an evening of female farm fun featuring honey inspired light bites, casual conversation, and henna tattoos (temporary!). BYOB. The event runs from 7:30-9 pm and costs $28 per person. Stony Creek's annual Docktoberfest will unfold on October 13. They're turning the brewery into a German Beer Garden with live music, games, food trucks, and beer! Fairfield Restaurant Week returns October 8-14. More than 30 restaurants throughout Fairfield are participating with special fixed price lunch and dinner menus. The Hubbard Park Fall Food Truck Fair in Meriden returns October 13 and 14. There will be Food Trucks, local vendors, kids’ entertainment, live music, and more. Read More
Tim LaBant’s Neapolitan Pizza ‘Parlor’ Now Open in Wilton Restaurant Wilton Openings Pizza Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage Andrew Dominick October 02, 2018
Guide To Connecticut Caterers: 2018 Holidays Made Easy! (sponsored post) Features Catering Holiday Best of CT Entertaining Homepage April Guilbault September 30, 2018 Less than 90 days until Christmas and less than 70 until Hanukkah. Please don’t hate us, we want to help you! Wonderful, albeit somewhat stressful holiday gatherings are fast approaching and with them come the planning, cooking, and hosting. Looking to streamline and maybe, eh-hem, enjoy your holidays this year? Toss those oven mitts aside, grab a cold, ice-clinking drink and hire a caterer for your soirees! Courteous and attentive staffs, creative and unique presentations, swoon-worthy and drool-worthy foods. When we put it that way, what’s to discuss? CTbites has assembled a list of caterers that are sure to lend that special bit of flair to your gathering, whether it be grand or cozy. These folks are eager to please and ready to tackle the upcoming season with panache. Book now, though, or those oven mitts might be back on your hands. Read More
CRUSH: Norwalk Now Presents 5 Days of Beer, Wine, & Spirits Themed Events October 16-20th (Yass!!!) (sponsored post) Features Beer Cocktails Bar Norwalk South Norwalk Events CTbites Team September 30, 2018 NORWALK NOW presents CRUSH, A 5 Day Celebration of Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tuesday thru Saturday, October 16-20, 2018 (*Sunday Bonus – DETOX Run/Walk/Bike/Yoga).CRUSH comes to Norwalk! This 5-day schedule of thirst-quenching events celebrating the beer, wine, and spirits world is being presented by Norwalk Now’s talented group of businesses and special guests from the beverage world. Visit the CRUSH calendar page for the complete schedule. New events are being added every day, and reservations are suggested for all events. Read More
35+ Places for Great Coffee in Connecticut: 2018 Edition Features Restaurant Best of CT Coffee Tea And Coffee Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 28, 2018 When temperatures plummet, it’s the perfect time to warm up with a piping hot cup of joe! These shops, restaurants, and markets serve up some of Connecticut’s best java, from espresso to cups to iced options. Be sure to check out the pastries and other eats, too! Read More
Stamford's Fairway Wines and Spirits Helps Consumers to Go Green by Drinking Red or White Closed with Natural Cork Features News CTbites Team September 28, 2018 More and more consumers are considering the environmental impact of the food they eat and the beverages they drink. We've seen it most recently in the concerns over plastic straws. With that in mind, wine drinkers may be interested to know how their wine is closed and how that closure affects our ecosystem. Stamford's Fairway Wines and Spirits is taking a leading role in this dynamic. Starting September 29th, Fairway Wines and Spirits will begin an educational campaign in its stores in CT, NY and NJ. The Saturday, September 29th 1pm-3pm kickoff event in Stamford will include select wine tastings and prizes for those who bring in 3 or more corks to recycle. Customers will learn how it is that cork is biodegradable, sustainable and recyclable. Read More
Nibble: CT Food Events For Week of September 30th - October 7th Features Events News Oktoberfest Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson September 27, 2018 On October 7, put your stomach to the ultimate test with the inaugural Dew Drop Wing Eating Contest! It costs $25 per person to enter and proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club. Millwright’s Social Club, in conjunction with The Wise Old Dog, will take place on Wednesday October 3 from 6-7:30pm. The “casual night of food and drink in the loft” will feature wines from Lieu Duet and Peterson Winery. It is $50 per person. On October 4, Hadley + Occum, Farm Dinner Events continue with Chefs from Àvert. The series takes place at Sub Edge Farm in Farmington from 6-9pm. It’s the end of summer (sigh) and Artisan in Southport invites you to an “End of Summer Patio Party” on Tuesday October 4. From 5-7pm, enjoy complimentary cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, and live music. Read More
Beer Podcast: An Interview with Noble Jay Brewing Ken Tuccio September 27, 2018 In 2015 Noble Jay Brewing made headlines by funding a Kickstarter campaign to make their dream of opening a brewery a reality. Then ... nothing happened ... for three years. It wasn't until this year, 2018, that Noble Jay finally opened their doors and poured their first beers as a fully functioning brewery. What was with the delay? What went wrong? Ken Tuccio sits down with Mike Lincoln, the founder of Noble Jay, to talk about the long, long road they took to get to where they are today. Listen here. Read More
