Chefs At Home Recipes: Pantry Pasta from Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho Recipe Features Video Recipe Recipe Video Pasta Chef Talk Homepage CTbites Team April 18, 2020 In our NEW “Chefs At Home” Cooking Series, we asked local CT chefs to help our readers find cooking inspiration in every day pantry items. Executive Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho of Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill (Fairfield and New Haven) and Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill (New Haven) has a wonderful recipe for Pantry Pasta to kick off this series. Enjoy! Read More
Chef Richard Blais Talks Top Chef, Fitness, and (Maybe!) Opening a Restaurant in Connecticut Features Interview Interview Celebrity Chef Chef Talk Mohegan Sun Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 17, 2020 It’s crazy to think that Top Chef is in its SEVENTEENTH season! In that time, it’s amassed 59 Emmy nominations and welcomed chefs from all across the country, including Connecticut’s own Tyler Anderson. This year, the show is bringing back something near and dear to fans’ hearts: the All Star Season! CTBites got to sit down with Top Chef All Star’s first champion, Richard Blais, at the Mohegan Sun WineFest. Since claiming the title, he’s gone onto host his own podcast, make an array of TV appearances, participate in Chef demos across the country, and judge the very show that he competed on. Here’s what he had to say about life beyond cooking, his fitness routine, how to stay active on the road, Top Chef, and so much more. Read More
Sibling Rivalry on Beat Bobby Flay: Matt Storch & Lisa Storch Battle It Out Features Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay Food Network Chef TV CTbites Team April 15, 2020 Chef Matt Storch of Match and Match Burger Lobster & his older sister Lisa Storch, of Catch a Healthy Habit, Café battle it out on BEAT BOBBY FLAY, Sunday, April 26, 10pm on the Food Network. Read More
Guide To Connecticut's Dairy Farmers: Shop Locallly! Features Ingredients Local Farm Local Artisan Farm Fresh Dairy Farm Farm Stand CT Farms Homepage CTbites Team April 14, 2020 Connecticut dairy farmers selling directly to consumers are not caught up in the milk-dumping situation because they do bottling and distribution themselves. Here is Connecticut Food & Farm’s list of Connecticut dairies who sell milk and dairy like half & half, butter, and yogurt direct to you at their stands or via delivery NOW. This provides you reliable sourcing of the freshest product and the best profitability for the farm.We have not included ice cream although some make it, we have focused on the basics here. You can click through to their websites to see the other products they have available at their locations. Read More
History Happy Hour Weekly Video Series: CT Bartenders Demo Vintage Cocktails Features Recipe Video Cocktails Bar Spirits Education Stephanie Webster April 12, 2020
10 + CT Restaurants & Wholesalers Now Selling Groceries To The Public Features Grocery Store Specialty Market Ingredients Shopping Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 10, 2020 Trips to the grocery store are becoming increasingly difficult. In addition to the risks associated with heading out into the crowd, shelves are picked over and ingredients are low. In order to make premium foods more accessible, some Connecticut restaurants and food wholesalers are making their meats, produce, and other staples available to the public as groceries. We have compiled this guide to let you know which restaurants have grocery programs and which wholesalers are now offering their goods to the public. Read More
Hibiscus Flower Tacos with Pineapple Salsa from Alma de Mexico Features Recipe Recipe Mexican CTbites Team April 09, 2020 In Mexico, it is very common to find water deliciously flavored with Hibiscus flowers. Commonly known as Jamaica, these flowers have a delicious, intensely herbal and fruity taste, and infuse the water with na deep, vivid red color. Originally from Africa or India, Hibiscus flower arrived in Mexico during the colonial years and have been a staple of Mexican cooking ever since. It is well know that these flowers contain helpful diuretic and digestive properties, as well as very high levels of Vitamin C.The hibiscus is used here to make some delicious and vegan Tacos de Jamaica. It is accompanied by a pineapple salsa that brings out the flavor of the hibiscus flowers. It is colorful, fresh, nutritious and very tasty. You can also top with avocados slices or guacamole, and cilantro leaves. You can use accompany these with Hibiscus Iced tea with lime juice and sugar. Read More
35+ DIY Take-Out Meals, Desserts & Cocktail Kits From CT Restaurants Features Ingredients Take Out Delivery Service Entertaining Catering Cocktails Pizza Dessert Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 05, 2020 After weeks of being cooped up at home, you may be looking at ways to pass the time and explore your creative side. Fortunately, Connecticut restaurants, bakeries, and caterers are here to the rescue with fabulous DIY options to bring their delicacies into your kitchen. Sweet tooths and kiddos can partake in all kinds of cupcake and baking kits while the 21 and over crowd can get all of the ingredients to make their own restaurant worthy cocktails. There are also pizza kits, pasta kits, and more. Check out our full guide here! Read More
30+ Connecticut Restaurants & Caterers for Easter Dinner To-Go Features Catering Holiday Easter Special Occasion Entertaining Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 02, 2020 We may have to stay indoors, but the Easter bunny is ready to hop on over! Easter arrives on Sunday April 12, and Connecticut restaurants are making sure that you can still enjoy the holiday to its fullest with delectable to-go meals. From a la carte to family-style to catering to heat and serve, there are options to meet every need. Check out this list of 20+ places and let us know if you hear of any other places with tasty Easter meals Read More
15+ CT Restaurants & Caterers for Passover Meal Delivery and Take Out Features Passover Holiday Catering Caterers Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 31, 2020 This year, Passover begins on April 8 and continues through Thursday April 16. Although Connecticut restaurants are still closed for their dine-in operations, restaurants and caterers across the state are still offering tasty to-go and delivery options for Passover meals. Read More
Westport Farmers’ Market Launches Pilot Farmers' Market Program Ingredients Features Farm Fresh Farmers Market Specialty Market Stephanie Webster March 27, 2020 The Westport Farmers’ Market understands the value of the local food community, and the importance of access to healthy fresh food…food that has traveled a lesser distance and handled only by the purveyor and buyer. We know this local food community is important to our economy as it keeps the money spent by you and then the vendor here supporting our neighbors.Market Director Lori Cochran says “We, also, know we will find our way back to our gathering place on Imperial Ave and eventually back to Gilbertie's next winter BUT for now, it is in our blood to get you local food. To do so, we are launching a pilot farmers' market program under the strictest guidelines for shopping and collection of your purchases. The well being of you, ourselves and our vendors is the utmost priority.” Read More
Restaurant Relief Funds: Donate To CT's Unemployed Restaurant Workers Features COVID-19 Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 26, 2020 With restaurants forced to suspend their dining-in options and others closing their doors completely, COVID-19 has left many in the service industry without work. In order to help, several restaurants have come up with fundraising relief efforts to help those laid off in this crisis. From GoFundMe pages to gift card incentives, here is a guide to how you can help beloved local restaurants and their employees during these tough times. Read More
Hot Dish Podcast: "It's A Woman's World" Morning After Convo Features Podcast It's A Woman's World Interview Stephanie Webster March 25, 2020 Since we all have a little more “down time”, we thought it might be nice to have a listen to a short conversation recapping the “It’s A Woman’s World” event that feels like it occurred a life time ago. This “Morning After” podcast features Chef Jes Bengston (Culinary Director for Amis & Terrain), myself, Stephanie Webster (Editor for CTbites) and our host with the most, Marysol Castro. If you couldn’t score tickets to the March 2nd event, have a Listen here. If you were in the room, maybe we have things to say about you. Enjoy! Read More
CT Restaurants and COVID-19: UPDATED Guide To Delivery, Pick-Up, Alcohol... Restaurant Features News Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson March 22, 2020 Connecticut restaurants are pivoting to continue to serve consumers in the wake of COVID-19. This guide will be ongoing and continually updated to reflect changes to in house dining, delivery options, special family meals offered, and updated menus. CT restaurants work hard to serve this community of diners, and will continue to do so throughout this global crisis. They need your ongoing patronage. Please consider ordering out from a restaurant near you. Read More
3 Local CT Distilleries Shift To Manufacture Hand Sanitizer Features News COVID-19 Stephanie Webster March 19, 2020 Three local distilleries have shifted gears to help the community in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. SoNo 1420, Litchfield Distillery and Fifth State Distillery are now manufacturing FDA approved hand sanitizer. SoNo 1420 and Litchfield are giving theirs away for FREE (some rules apply based on priority for high risk individuals), and Fifth State can be purchased in large 750 ml bottles for $35. (Bonus: Fifth State has a version that smells like the best Gin & Tonic you've ever had.) Visit their social media accounts for the most up to date information about availability and pick up. Read More
Chefs Doing Good Things: Ways YOU CAN HELP Others in This Crisis Features News Fundraiser Homepage Stephanie Webster March 19, 2020 We interrupt your daily dose of horror to tell you how a few chefs are changing the landscape and helping people in the community WHO NEED YOUR HELP NOW. Whether they are feeding school children, providing meals to people out of work in the restaurant industry, or donating meals to first responders and hospitals, these are a few programs we can ALL get behind. If you have the resources, please consider making donations to these incredible programs, and celebrate those just doing good work.If YOU have a program that you would like to tell us about, please contact us. Read More
60 Connecticut Breweries Still Open For Take-Out And Delivery Ingredients Features CT Beer Brewery Beer Take Out James Gribbon March 18, 2020 The wave of local breweries made this new world possible, but for now their doors are mostly closed. Here's what we can do to see them open again.Breweries are still allowed to sell to-go orders, offering pickup or curbside delivery options. This post will list info on breweries, their hours, and links to order online. I won't be able to find them all, so I encourage readers, brewers, and reps to include further info about their operations in the comments section below. Most breweries are small businesses, and all depend from some degree or entirely on in-person sales. Let's help the brewers and staff keep the Connecticut beer culture we love going. Read More
Need Groceries? CT Farm Stands Are Open! (via CT Food and Farm Magazine) Features Local Farm Grocery Store Specialty Market CT Farms Farm Stand Homepage CTbites Team March 15, 2020 Can’t find the groceries you need in a store near you? Would you rather shop outdoors vs indoors? Or would you like to just support our local farmers? We bring you this exhaustive list of Connecticut Farm Stands offering tons of local produce, generously compiled by Connecticut Food and Farm Magazine. Take a road trip to a farm stand near…or far. Read More
Muscle Up Protein Bars: The Official Bar of Team USA Weightlifting Was Born in CT Features Ingredients Special Dietary Needs Protein Bar Fitness Local Artisan Stephanie Webster March 12, 2020 A few months ago I started buying Muscle Up Protein Bars at my local smoothie joint. The packaging advertised them as the first bar to be based on the beloved sweet potato, featuring grass fed whey protein, and all of the ingredients are clearly recognizable…nothing artificial. I sampled the varieties, settled on the Peanut Butter & Cacao Nib as my flavor of choice, and went in deep. After stock piling these bad boys for weeks, said smoothie shop owner informed me that the creators of Muscle Up were actually CT residents, and had developed these right around the corner. Also, turns out, the bar of my dreams is the official bar of Team USA Weightlifting. Who knew?? Read More
Chicken Quest: My Search for the Best Fried Chicken Sandwich in CT (via CT Magazine) Restaurant Features Best of CT Fried Chicken Sandwich Lunch Connecticut Magazine March 11, 2020 Popeye’s introduced its new chicken sandwich late last summer. After a week of rave reviews, long lines and poultry passion, Chick-fil-A took to Twitter, without mentioning Popeye’s by name, to remind the public which chicken sandwich they fell in love with first. Popeye’s taunted back in the afternoon, “... y’all good?” The beef over chicken was on.Normally one to avoid chains, I was compelled to get to Popeye’s. I had to try this life-changing sandwich. I pulled up to the drive-thru with hangry anticipation only to hear, “We’re sold out.” Gut punch. I simply drove off. Nothing could satiate me in this dark moment over white meat.Eventually I returned to eating, but the craving for a great chicken sandwich never left. It became my mission. Chains be damned, I have to find the best fried chicken sandwich in Connecticut. -Mike Wollschlager Read More
