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
Guide To Cooking Classes In Connecticut (2023 Edition) Features Cooking Cooking Classes Education Kids Cooking Classes Guide Highlight Carly Terzigni November 01, 2023 It’s that time of year again when fall-inspired meals are probably popping up all across your social media feed. If you ever caught yourself thinking, “Wow, I’d love to be able to cook something like that myself,” then it may be time to look into taking a cooking class! And with the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to brush up on your culinary skills. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year or have been charged with bringing a dish to your office holiday party, make this year the one where you really impress your family and friends!There are many businesses across the state that offer cooking classes and workshops to hone your craft. Classes can range from learning how to use the various tools in your kitchen to preparing everything from soups to desserts. Take a look through this roundup of classes and see which ones you can put to use this holiday season – they also make for a great gift idea for the budding chef in your family! Read More
$200 GIVEAWAY!!! New Haven Restaurant Week Returns Nov 5-10 Giveaway Restaurant Week New Haven Stephanie Webster October 31, 2023 ‼️ $200 DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY ‼️ New Haven Restaurant Week (Nov 5-10) is celebrating 15 Years!WINNER receives $100 gift card to @villaluluct + $100 gift card to the @shubertnewhaven (winner can pick whatever show they want to see and dates) TO ENTER GIVEAWAY👉FOLLOW @infonewhaven & @ctbites on Instagram👉LIKE this giveaway on Instagram and TAG at least one friend in the comments. The more people you tag, the more likely you are to WIN. BONUS LOVE FOR SHARING THIS POST!👉Winner announced November 7thNew Haven’s longest-running foodie event, New Haven Restaurant Week, returns November 5-10 marking the 15th anniversary.The fall edition of New Haven Restaurant Week features 25 of the City’s most popular restaurants- 14 will offer $25 lunch specials, with all participating locations offering pre fixe dinner experiences for $45 or $55 per person.Off the plate, New Haven Restaurant Week gives back. Since 2009, more than $55,000 has been raised for the Connecticut Foodshare, an organization that works year-round to combat hunger and food insecurity across the state. This year participating restaurants have donated $5,000. 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
Craven Dawgs & Ting Reemerges in Norwalk w/ Jamaican Inspired Hot Dogs + Burgers Features Interview Jamaican Hot Dogs Burgers Food Truck Norwalk Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick October 25, 2023 Swing by the Norwalk Town Green on any given day, and you’ll see at least one food truck parked out there. If you meandered over there this summer, you may have noticed a silver trailer that’s about as big as your smallest clothes closet. It’s also where you’ll find Darlene and John Banks slinging Jamaican…hot dogs and burgers?! Read More
RAW* in Hartford: Seafood, Cocktails And A Hell Of A Party From Place 2 Be Team West Hartford Seafood Raw Bar Hartford County Cocktail Lounge Cocktails Jessica Ryan October 24, 2023 We recently had to the opportunity to visit the newly opened RAW* restaurant in downtown Hartford. Raw* is the newest concept by Gina Lauri, founder and CEO of The Statement Group which also owns the successful The Place 2 Be restaurants. Much like its predecessors RAW* is visual eye candy with a vibrant aquatic theme. The interior boasts an artistic and modern flare which was created by mixing assorted metals, white subway tile, neon lights, fun and whimsical artwork, graffiti, and a swimming-pool blue for an ultimate industrial-meets-under-water-vibe. But there’s no need to hold your breath here. In fact you’ll want to breathe deeply and take it all in. And there’s so much to take in! 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
CRAZIES Awards Announces 2023 Nominees for CT's Best Chef, Restaurants, Bartender + Features Awards CRAZIES Awards Best CT Restaurant CTbites Team October 20, 2023 The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) announced yesterday the award winners and finalists for the 2023 CRAZIES Awards Gala. On Monday, December 4, hospitality owners, operators, chefs, servers, and vendors from across the state will come together at Foxwoods Resort Casino to celebrate the success of their industry and honor winners across more than 20 award categories. The public can now vote by CLICKING HERE through the end of November for each category: Chef of the Year, Baker of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Server of the Year, Caterer of the Year, People’s Choice, Restaurant Newcomer, County Restaurants of the Year and Overall Restaurant of the Year. Winners will be selected from not only the public vote, but also from our nominating panel members. The CRAZIES selection process began in August with an online public nomination process and state-wide chef panel. Subsequently, nearly 40 food writers, critics, bloggers, and social media influencers held multiple meeting to finalize the list of honorees and nominees for 2023. The nominees for Restaurateur of the Year and CT Hospitality Hall of Fame were brought to the CRA Board of Directors, where the overall award winners were selected in each of these two categories. Read More
Guide To Connecticut Halloween Parties, Special Events, Bars & Restaurants (2023 Edition) Features Halloween Events Holiday Holiday Guide Homepage Carly Terzigni October 20, 2023 There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier each day. That can only mean one thing – Halloween is right around the corner! Restaurants across Connecticut are celebrating the season with an array of special events to take part in. Whether you want to find something for the family or for a fun date night the weekend before, there are plenty of parties to choose from (many of which include costume contests, so be sure to dress up!). And on the night of Halloween (don’t forget it’s on a Tuesday this year), there are even more special events in case you want to take this year off from passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.It won’t take too long to find a spot in the state to dance the night away this Halloween while you enjoy a bite to eat with a specialty-themed spooky beverage. Check out what the restaurants below are offering, and be sure to check ahead of time if they recommend making a reservation. Read More
17 Outstanding Connecticut Caterers For Your Next Event Features Highlight Catering Guide Catering Caterers Guide Entertaining Homepage Private Party April Guilbault October 18, 2023 Back in January did you proclaim 2023 the year when you make things a little easier for yourself? Do you aim to make holidays and events memorable without stretching yourself to your breaking point? Read on and make it happen. Connecticut is overflowing with culinary talent and experts who know how to throw a party to remember, trust us! From setting the tone and creating swoon-worthy atmosphere to creating delicious, unique food and drink that your guests will be thinking about long after the event, these caterers will have you enjoying your event as well as making life just that extra bit more fabulous. Here are 15 of our favorite caterers in CT. Read More
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
Delamar Hotels Launch Chauffeured Classic Car Luxury Picnic Experience (CTbites Promo Code) Features Unique Dining Experiences LUXE CT Picnic Homepage Jessica Ryan October 12, 2023 Looking for a completely unique CT experience this Fall? There is simply no better way to spend an afternoon than to be chauffeured around in a classic car followed by a delicious picnic prepared by Chef Frederic Kieffer. This newly created Chauffeured Classic Car Picnic Experience is part of the Delamar Hotel Group’s Luxury Experience program and is not to be missed. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy this myself. 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
Friday Froth: Viva La Michelada Ingredients CT Beer Friday Froth Mexican James Gribbon October 10, 2023 Call it a "bloody beer," and I will have you flensed. An associate from Oklahoma calls them that, and his entire recipe consists of V8 and Gas Station Lite, like some sort of godless swine. I call it a michelada when I drink them, and you should, too. This sounds prescriptive, and it's intended to, because it's best to be forewarned and forearmed when we encounter a new specie. I have long been a fan of the bloody mary - in fact, I credit her with saving my life many a time during the Great Patriotic Keg Wars of my early 20s, but 30 was stealing up on me like Trotsky's assassin before I was swept up in the red coup of the michelada, and I've been a member of the party ever since, comrade.Mistakes were made along the way, of course. 'This is a recovery drink,' I remember thinking. 'A sort of tremens-drip for the drinking class. It stands to reason that the more vitamins, minerals and other assorted Earth-stuffs, the better, yes? V8 is packed with many of the vegetables I hate, ergo it's bound to be good for me/this drink.' Ice, hot sauce, salt, pepper and beer went into the glass with the red fluid from the colorful bottle, and the results more successful than The Great Leap Forward only in that no one actually died. It was like drinking carrot juice from a storm drain. Read More