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
BLT Bridgestreet Libations & Temptations: NOT a Sandwich Joint Restaurant New Hartford Hartford Burgers Sandwich Lunch Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe March 31, 2019 Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday B L TTTT, Happy Birthday to You. Guess who’s been on the block for a year already?Ok, close your eyes. When I say Willy Wonka, what do you see? I see Gene Wilder’s crazy hair and wild eyes, amidst the bright colors of the funky psychedelic clothes of the 60s and 70s. Well, beyond that, Willy Wonka represents a fantasy where all your favorite things appear right before your eyes and everything flavorful is heightened to the nth degree. Am I right? Well, this is a little of what is in store for you at Chef Jim Casey’s haven, BLT (Bridgestreet, Libations & Temptations). It’s a mouthful of a name, but this place is worth your time, money, and palate. The casual brick exterior and extra low key vibe inside is a facade for the eating extravaganza you encounter on your plate. 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
Mama Chow Asian Street Food Opens in Southport...And It's Delicious! Restaurant Asian Vietnamese Japanese Openings Southport Homepage Andrew Dominick March 24, 2019 Something I struggle with living in Norwalk is having a go-to Asian spot for a quick lunch or affordable takeout. There are plenty of neighborhood Chinese restaurants but they’re mostly mediocre, and I haven’t liked any of them since Red Bean sold their business. Ever since they took their American General Tso’s chicken (and actual Asian specialties) out of my life, I’ve been lost, searching for something halfway decent, even branching out to nearby towns out of desperation.Cue a Southport newbie, Mama Chow, that’s been open for barely three weeks. I heard about it from CTbites Boss Lady, Stephanie Webster, who sang its praises and insisted I try it. Damn, was she ever on the money with this one. Mama Chow is a fast-casual Asian street food concept featuring popular grub from Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam. Read More
Conspiracy Cocktail Bar in Middletown Gets a Sustainable Ramen Menu via CT Magazine Restaurant Ramen Asian Middletown Noodles Cocktails Bar Connecticut Magazine March 22, 2019 Exciting Ramen news from Connecticut Magazine…The tables and chairs were not designed with eating in mind and, through no fault of its own, Conspiracyis located more than an hour away from my house. Even so, I can’t wait to go back.The reason?One word: Ramen.OK, three words: Ramen, cocktails and atmosphere.Let’s start with the atmosphere. Conspiracy is undeniably cool. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack cool. Accessible by an easy-to-miss doorway on Middletown’s Main Street, the second-floor space has the feeling of a secret club straight out of a film noir. Lounge chairs snake around an L-shaped room with painted-white brick walls. Edison bulbs hang from lofty ceilings, casting their warm light over a showstopping square bar. Behind the bar, bartenders twirl, mix and shake various liquids as they prepare alcoholic elixirs, often from historic recipes. Read More
Mothership on Main Bakery and Cafe: Hidden Gem in Danbury Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Bakery Dessert Danbury Catering Homepage Kathleen Telesco March 21, 2019 The story of Mothership on Main Bakery in Danbury began eight years ago, after owner Anna Llanos had just finished treatment for cancer. Instead of applying for a job, “like a normal person,” she did what most of us would not dare to do in the easiest of times, she turned the Airstream trailer in her driveway into an espresso bar and bakery. After opening two more kitchens in commercial buildings in Danbury, she realized that she wanted to find a location where she could be a part of the larger community. This is how she eventually set up shop in a converted 1930s-era gas station on Main Street, where fans flock for breakfast, lunch, and all the baked goods they can eat in between. 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
Don't Miss Chef Jeff Taibe's Monthly Bushido Pop-Up Dinner at Taproot in Bethel Restaurant Bethel Japanese Organic Local Artisan Sushi Pop-Up Dinner Homepage Andrew Dominick March 17, 2019 When Jeff Taibe opened Taproot in the second half of 2017, our Amy Kundrat summed up this Fairfield County gem beautifully. “Creative, seasonal, down-to-Earth, and hyper-local” (because damn near every ingredient comes from Connecticut farms) are all words she used. That summation is dead-on accurate. And yeah, you should run there. I wish I listened to her closing sentence and didn’t wait so long for a stellar culinary experience. Bethel isn’t THAT far, and Taproot is worth the drive. When I did go, I deserved the ribbing. “Hey, man! It only took you a f*cking year to get here!” Taibe joked. From the shareable, addictive apps, to carefully crafted cocktails, and braised pork cheeks that flaked apart with a slight twist of my fork, it was my favorite meal in Connecticut in 2018. All of the above is a well-deserved shout-out, but I’m not giving you a Taproot update. I’m dishing on the restaurant’s one-Sunday-per-month mood swing called “Bushido.” Bushido, as you can probably surmise, is a Japanese pop-up concept. The birth of Bushido is a story in itself. 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
Outstanding In The Field Tickets On Sale March 20th Featuring Some Amazing CT Chefs Stephanie Webster March 13, 2019 On Tuesday, March 20th, 11AM, tickets will go on sale for the 2019 season of Outstanding In The Field. This year's CT dinners will take place at the Waldingfield Farm in Washington CT on September 9, and at The Hickories on September 11th & 12th. Outstanding in the Field visits orchards, beaches and vineyards, where diners “stand” and sit for a spectacular meal…in a field. The other meaning of Outstanding in the Field is outstanding as in the best. CT Chefs for this season include: Daniel Sabia, Jeff Taibe, Craig Hutchinson, Alex Lishchynsky & Jason Sobocinski, Read More
