Local CT Bartenders Share St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails & Mocktails Features Cocktails Mixology Bartender Khalid Williams March 11, 2024 Prominent CT bartenders shared with me what they love to make and do to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The most common answer to what they enjoy making is “plans to get my shift covered”, because we tend to hide on these holidays unless we are working. We enjoy house parties with traditional Irish food and craft minded drinks that have some real Irish pedigree.Enjoy 4 cocktails & mocktails from local bartenders: Dustin Amore, Dan Rek, Chelsea Solkowski & Victoria Tenzyk. Read More
2024 Directory: Meet the Women of Connecticut's Culinary Industry Features Best of CT It's A Woman's World Directory Resource Women Owned Business Homepage Highlight CTbites Team March 09, 2024 In honor of Women’s History Month and in conjunction with our “It’s A Woman’s World” column, we present to you, a Directory highlighting the many talented women in CT’s culinary industry. This Directory for CT’s Chefs, Female Owned Businesses, Restaurants, Products, Farmers, PR Agencies & Instagrammers + is a work in progress. We will continually update the directory, and we hope you will contact us if you are a female in the culinary industry who would like to be included.How often do you stop to think or inquire about *who* owns the restaurant you frequent, or who invented a product you love or who grew the food on your own table? It’s time to take a closer look, especially when, as you can see from this fabulously inspiring and lengthy list, woman are doing amazing things in Connecticut. We are inventing, writing, catering, managing, brainstorming, reviewing…and this is all just within the food industry in this state. We are getting it done, done well, and done in our own creative and vibrant way. New paths are being discovered, new ideas are being birthed. Inquire. Look. Support. Encourage. There’s no limit to what is coming next. Read More
50+ CT Spots to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2024: Bars, Restaurants, Breweries & More! Features St. Patrick's Day Irish Holiday Guide Homepage Carly Terzigni March 06, 2024 Winter is quickly coming to a close, and things are starting to look a little more GREEN around the state of Connecticut. That can only mean one thing…St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! Whether you celebrate for the corned beef, the Guinness, or simply to enjoy the company of family and friends, there are plenty of restaurants around the state offering menu specials and events. This guide is broken up by county so you know exactly where to go to find the perfect St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Read More
Litchfield Inn Hosts Chef Pop-Up Dinner Series in March & April Features Celebrity Chef Pop-Up Dinner Litchfield County Litchfield CTbites Team March 05, 2024 The Litchfield Inn, a family-owned, luxury boutique hotel in Connecticut's idyllic countryside, is partnering with two talented New England chefs for pop-up dinners in March and April.Known for his role as Executive Chef and owner of Chef's Table at Little Dipper in Brooklyn, Connecticut, Chef Brian Paszko is excited to bring beloved his farm-to-table dining experience to The Litchfield Inn for two very special dinners on Saturday, March 16 and Saturday, March 23. Ticket holders can look forward to a multi-course tasting menu with beverage pairings with complimentary canape and prosecco upon arrival. Tickets are priced at $110 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, with 25 tickets available. Vegetarian substitutions will be available, as well as non-alcoholic beverage pairings.On Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, 2014 James Beard Semifinalist and 3x Chopped Champion Evan Hennessey, Executive Chef and owner of Stages at One Washington and The Living Room in Dover, New Hampshire, will be offering a dining experience similar to the one found at Stages at One Washington. Guests can expect a multi-course tasting menu consisting of dishes that showcase the bounty of ingredients native to New Hampshire that are prepared with traditional Scandinavian and Japanese techniques. Canape and prosecco will also be provided upon arrival. Tickets are priced at $110 per person, excluding taxes, gratuity, and beverage pairings, with 12 tickets available. Optional wine pairings and non-alcoholic pairings will be available for an additional fee. Please note that Gluten-free allergies can be accomodated, however, vegan, dairy-free, and shellfish allergies cannot be accommodated for Evan's events. Read More
Momma's Tacos: Mexico City in New Milford Features Interview Restaurant Tacos Mexican Interview New Milford Litchfield County Homepage Andrew Dominick March 04, 2024 Once you try Alejandra Aguilar Gonzaga’s food at Momma’s Tacos in New Milford, you’ll sense the soul that’s in it. Talk to her even ever so briefly about her story and you’ll get a glimpse of her strong will, determination, and passion.Catch Alejandra in her soon-to-be three-year-old restaurant. She’s in the back cooking her mostly Mexico City inspired recipes, she’s always smiling and talking to her several regular customers, and frequently asks for feedback on the food served at Momma’s Tacos. Read More
Ridgefield Resident Creates High-End Cocktail Mixers, Badger Bevs- Going Nationwide (via Features Specialty Products Cocktails Sandra Diamond Fox February 27, 2024 This cocktail news just in from The Ridgefield Press.Whenever town resident David Vogel said he thinks of a badger, an image of a tough little animal comes to mind. That’s why he said he chose the animal’s name for the new cocktail mixer company he founded — Badger Bevs, LLC. “It’s one of these animals that’s gone viral in recent years for their relentless nature,” said Vogel, referring to badgers. “We love the resilience, that tenacity, because we’re this small brand and we’re going up against billion dollar brands. We have high ambitions but we have to be tough,” said Vogel, who is 39 and a member of the Ridgefield High School graduating class of 2003.Badger Bevs, which was launched last summer, sells ginger beer, tonic water and club soda. The products are distributed by Chefs’ Warehouse in Ridgefield and Opici Family Distributing, which is headquartered in New Jersey with an office in Milford. Badger also makes a variety of cocktails, the recipes for which are available on the business' website. Read More
Jeff Taibe Opens Southeast Asian Concept “Next Door” Inside of Taproot in Norwalk Features Interview Ingredients Restaurant Southeast Asian Asian Openings Homepage Jeff Taibe Norwalk Andrew Dominick February 25, 2024 Jeff Taibe had a big 2023. Not only did Taibe relocate his six-year Bethel restaurant, Taproot, to South Norwalk, he received much deserved recognition at December’s edition of the CRAzies Awards in the form of a “Best Restaurant Fairfield County” win. Read More
Taco Guy Cocktail Naming Contest: WIN FREE DINNER FOR 2 @ Taco Guy! Features Cocktails Cocktail Contest Stephanie Webster February 24, 2024 Game on! We're bringing back our cocktail naming contest. WIN FREE DINNER FOR TWO AT the uber-fun TACO GUY in Norwalk. Here's How...Review the ingredients list below.Enter YOUR original Cocktail Name (or multiple names) in the comments section under this post (including your Instagram account or email so we can reach out if you are selected). If your Cocktail name is selected, it will be featured on the Taco Guy Spring cocktail menu & you will receive a FREE DINNER FOR 2 at Taco Guy + a chance to sample YOUR signature cocktail. Read More
My Favorite Dish: Sitting Duck Tavern Burger - New Go-To Joint in Oxford Features Restaurant Burgers Oxford Favorite Dish Lunch Comfort Food Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger February 22, 2024 Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, Pepsi, Pepsi.What is the fascination with cooked ground meat placed between a couple of slices of bread? From Germany to Ohio to New Haven, the simple ground beef sandwich has exploded from its plebian beginnings to a cult following, with the USDA estimating that Americans consume 50,000,000,000 (that’s 50 billion) burgers per year.And the burger ain’t what it used to be over 150 years ago; you can now grill it...fry it…smoke it…griddle it…steam it…smash it? One type of meat…two…three…four? Loose grind, course grind? Mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, pickles, avocado, onions…on and on? If you do the math there are thousands of combinations. And then the doneness decision on rare, medium-rare, medium and don’t get me started.Years ago, I ate close to 150 burgers a year in pursuit of the best in CT. Now I am a little wiser, I look for the needle in the haystack, the place where you can go with friends and enjoy a consistent and delicious burger. And the place that has delivered the consistency of the medium-rare bacon cheeseburger can be found in none other than The Sitting Duck Tavern in the Quarry Walk in Oxford (there are two other locations in Stratford and Trumbull). Each time I visit, it is a mouth-watering delight. Read More
20+ Places For Afternoon Tea in Connecticut: Pinkies Up! Events Features Restaurant TEA Tea And Coffee Tea Time Afternoon Tea Guide Homepage Highlight April Guilbault February 17, 2024 Tea for two and two for tea, a scone for you, petit fours for me. What a charming way to spend an afternoon, isn’t it? Simply slow down and sip; a flavorful cup of tea asks only this of us, to take time and relish all it has to offer. Around our state, there are tea rooms of every shape and size-with gardens and sunrooms, quirky themes, historic leanings-yet all encourage you to stop, steep, and slow down. Make sure to scroll the entire listing, as we first list those establishments that regularly offer afternoon teas, then follow it with a listing of interesting places around the state that hold special event and holiday teas. This is a great year to explore the world in a cup… Read More
"Neighborhood Bar" Flying Scotsman Opens in Norwalk's Wall Street District Interview Features Norwalk bar barten Homepage whiskey scotch bourbon classic cocktails Cocktails Openings Andrew Dominick February 15, 2024 A few days after I interviewed owner and bartender, Alan Heron of the Flying Scotsman, he posted one of the portraits I captured of him on Instagram along with the caption, “Mediocre service guaranteed.” Read More
CT Cider Guide: 15+ Connecticut Cideries, Farms, and Taprooms Features Seasonal Ciderhouse Cidery Cider Apple Cider Farms Guide Homepage Highlight Hannah Goodman February 13, 2024 Are you looking to branch out of your basic beer and wine slump? Bet ya didn’t know there were cider houses all over Connecticut looking to prove that hard cider (and non-alcoholic cider) can be just as refreshing, if not more, than beer, wine, and hard seltzers. Don’t know where to start your cider-tasting journey? We got you covered! Read More
First Look: Elicit Brewing Company Opens Second Location in Fairfield Features Brewery Restaurant Elicit Brewing Company Fairfield Craft Beer Beer ct beer Homepage Brewery James Gribbon February 10, 2024 Elicit Brewing Company’s second location will open to the public on Monday, February 12, and CTbites has the inside scoop. More accurately a brewpub, the brand-new location will encompass a microbrewery, 100-tap taproom and social space, an in-house cocktail-focused speakeasy, and a large, covered back patio with direct access from the Fairfield Metro train station. Read More
Fryborg Serves Homemade Cake Donuts Every Weekend in Trumbull Features Restaurant donuts Doughnuts Trumbull Pop-Up Breakfast Breakfast Sandwich Homepage Andrew Dominick February 06, 2024 When I visited Fryborg in 2023 for a follow up article on its new Trumbull location and expanded menu, owner Johnathan Gibbons tossed me a tidbit that I teased at the end of that piece about a weekend morning pop up featuring something sweet. Read More
100+ Spots To Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Connecticut (2024 Edition) Features Valentine's Day Holiday Carly Terzigni February 02, 2024 It’s February, which means love is most certainly in the air! If you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two to celebrate that special someone in your life, there is no shortage of places in Connecticut offering Valentine’s Day specials. There are plenty of prix fixe menus to go around, taking the guesswork out of the holiday! Be sure to book your reservations well in advance if you want to dine at your favorite restaurant. If your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day involves less of a candlelit vibe and more of a laidback one, there are a lot of fun promotions to keep your Valentine’s Day more casual (I’m personally eyeing all of the great pizza specials). And if you want to celebrate Galentine’s Day with your closest friends, there are tons of special events happening this month, too.Long story short, this is the month to celebrate all of our loved ones, and Connecticut’s finest restaurants want to be a part of that celebration! Read More
50+ Sports Bars, Restaurants, Caterers, BBQ Joints & Pizzerias With Specials for Super Bowl LVIII Features Super Bowl Catering Comfort Food Homepage Carly Terzigni January 31, 2024 Super Bowl LVIII is just around the corner! This year the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Of course, that’s all secondary information – no matter who is playing or where the Super Bowl is taking place, the most important part of the day is the food!Restaurants across Connecticut have been preparing their menu specials for Super Bowl Sunday, including exclusive promos on wings, pizza, nachos, ribs, beer, sliders, subs…you get the picture! If your idea of the perfect Super Bowl is at a lively sports bar surrounded by the biggest fans in the state, this list will give you plenty of options of where to go park you and your closest friends just in time for kickoff. If you’re staying at home, keep reading as well – a ton of restaurants and catering companies have platters and meal combos available for pickup and delivery! As is the case every year, the Super Bowl is a big day for pre-orders. If you see your favorite business on this list, be sure to get your orders in quickly! Read More
Haven Hot Chicken Announces Openings in Downtown Fairfield & Oxford CT Features Restaurant Fairfield Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Fast Casual Take Out Comfort Food Lunch CTbites Team January 31, 2024 Haven Hot Chicken, which brings Nashville Hot Chicken and “Not Chicken” to the area as one of the first fully dedicated Nashville Hot Chicken concepts in New England, today announced that it will be opening two NEW LOCATIONS in Fairfield, CT at 907 Post Road in Oxford, CT at Quarry Walk, later this year. When I asked the Haven Hot Chicken team how long it took them to arrive at this just about perfect combination of crispy, juicy and flavorful chicken, they laughed and said they have been recipe testing for over a year. Their tagline is “CRISPY CRUNCHY JUICY SPICY DELICIOUS,” and I’m gonna say “nailed it.” You can truly taste the time and commitment to research in every item on this takeout/delivery menu.Both locations will feature the brand’s signature menu of crispy, crunchy, juicy, spicy, delicious chicken and vegetarian options ranging from Country (not spicy) to Haven (extremely spicy), including the epic and signature “THE Sandwich,” as well as other featured mains, classic sides and seasonal limited-time offerings. Read More
Explore The CT Wine Trail: Winter Passport Program Giveaway ($5000 In Prizes!) Features Vineyard CT Wine Wine CTbites Team January 31, 2024 Looking for something unique to do in Connecticut in the Winter months? Why not explore The Connecticut Wine Trail with their Winter Passport Program – a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts and novices alike to explore the CT countryside, visit member farm vineyards, taste delicious local wines, and win fabulous prizes – valued at over $5,000!Through March 30th, visitors can pick up a free passport at any of the 13 participating wineries and start on a quest to visit each one. Those who get their passports stamped at all 13 wineries before March 30th become eligible to win fantastic prizes, like hotel stays, spa facials, rounds of golf, fabulous restaurant and gift cards, and of course…wine. Stamped passports must be submitted to one of the participating vineyards by the deadline date to be eligible (photocopied passports or pages will be disqualified). Winners will be chosen by random drawing on April 19th and will be notified by email or phone.https://ctwine.com/events/winter-wine-trail/ Read More
Guide To Connecticut Bread Bakers & Bakeries Features Restaurant Bakery Bread Shop Bread Breakfast Homepage Highlight Hannah Goodman January 27, 2024 Bread. It’s the culinary foundation for so many cultures, each with its own unique varieties and history. Bread plays a pivotal role, whether it’s mopping up a beautiful sauce after a meal, or given to a child slathered in butter, after school. Bread baking is an art, a science, and a labor of love, especially for those bakers nurturing their sourdough starters, passed down for generations or created many years ago. “Often, our choices of bread are all about feelings. Flavour too, yes, of course. But the emotional resonance of bread is like little else.” -The Borough Market Guide to BakingThe explosion of Bread Bakers in Connecticut is a gift. So please, let us “break bread” together and enjoy this list of exceptional local bread bakeries. If we missed a local bread baker you know and love, please contact us. Read More
Birdcode, A CT-Based Hot Chicken Restaurant, Opens In Darien (via Darien Patch) Features Restaurant Opening Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Hot Chicken Lunch Darien Richard Kaufman via The Patch January 26, 2024 This Hot Chicken Sandwich News just in from Darien Patch…Bird is definitely the word in Darien these days.Birdcode, a new Connecticut-based hot chicken restaurant that offers up scratch-made chicken sandwiches, tenders, small chicken bites, southern sides and tasty desserts, opened a new location in Darien this week at 151 Post Road.This represents the brand's second CT location, with the other being in West Hartford, and the first for the company to feature a convenient drive-thru.Birdcode uses farm-fresh, 100 percent air-chilled, never frozen, steroid and antibiotic-free chicken that must meet certain specifications.Guests can choose their heat level for chicken sandwiches, tenders or "Code Bites." Heat level options range from country, mild and medium, to hot and code breaker (eat at your own risk).Read the complete article on Darien Patch. Read More
