Plan B Burger Bar Opening in Fairfield, Bringing Burgers, Brews, + Booze

People went crazy last year when Plan B Burger Bar opened in Stamford Town Center. What? A restaurant with great burgers, a killer beer selection, and an amazing variety of bourbon? Yes, yes, and yes. Well kiddos, ya’ll further out east in Fairfield County won’t have to drive out to Stamford anymore for your Plan B fix. Coming this fall, Fairfield will have its own Plan B Burger Bar at 1262 Boston Post Road, the old post office building. If that’s too far to wait, don’t worry. They opened the Stamford location ahead of schedule and maybe that will happen here?

Keep up to date with Plan B Burger Bar Fairfield on Twitter and their Stamford FB page to see what’s new. You’ll especially want to see what this cryptic message on FB means:

We are opening in Fairfield, CT Fall of 2013!
But, you won’t have to wait that long to have a Plan B Burger in the fair city. Stay tuned to find out what we’re doing in Fairfield for National Burger Day on May 28th.

Ginger Man + Coalhouse Celebrate American Craft Beer Week

Two of our favorite spots to get brews and grub in Fairfield County have lots of fun ahead for American Craft Beer Week.  ACBW kicks off today, 5/13, and goes until 5/19.  The focus of the beer week has always been on smaller batch brews, a focus on fine details, and more of a hands-on approach to beer.  Now, it’s no coincidence that Ginger Man in Norwalk and Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford live and breathe this philosophy year round, but you know they have to step up their game (is that possible?) to celebrate American Craft Beer Week.  It’s kind of like the Super Bowl of the beer world.

Coalhouse Pizza is featuring a week of tap takeovers:

Flights at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford CT

Monday, 5/13:  Sebago

Tuesday, 5/14:  Half Full (see a full week of special Half Full events here)

Wednesday, 5/15:  Harpoon

Sooo Meaty: Burger Wars Contest at Plan B

Plan B Burger Bar asks, tongue in cheek, “Can you beat our meat?”  Lolz.  But, taking things to a more serious level, we love us some burgers.  Heck, we’re even in the middle of our Burger a Day in the Month of May post.  And there, on May 11 is Plan B.  While they haven’t done anything specific for National Burger Month, they have planned quite the event for National Hamburger Day, May 28.

Derby Day Party at Plan B Burger in Stamford has heart…and bourbon

Gentlemen and gentlewomen, start your, er, horses.  And they’re off…well, off to Derby Day at Plan B Burger Bar in Stamford from 3-7 on May 4.  Yup yup!  You’ll be able to watch the Kentucky Derby at Plan B and get to comment on all the cool horse names such as Charming Kitten, Itsmyluckyday, Fear the Kitten, Frac Daddy, and the number one contender Black Onyx.

But, does anyone really watch the races?  Everybody knows what it’s really about:

Looking spiffy, wearing huge hats that strangely resemble ufos, dressing like a princess (or prince), and drinking lots of bourbon.  And, you’ll be happy to know that at Plan B you’ll be rewarded for your crazy hat and your daper and dressiness with contests.  There’s even going to be a raffle if you can’t find an ugly hat.  But, perhaps one of the sweetest things is that Plan B is giving back to The American Cancer Society.  You’ll be drinking bourbon anyway, so just make sure to order Four Roses straight, on the rocks, or in their mixed drinks such as their Four Roses Mint Julep.

Brewmaster Dinner with Brewers from Italy + Denmark @ Ginger Man SoNo

Good beer is worth writing and talking about.  And, do you know what else good beer is perfect for?  Drinking, duh.  So, it only makes sense that beer dinners are great because you get to drink the beer and you get to learn about the beer.  Sometimes a rep from the brewery will be present and sometimes if you’re lucky you’ll get the owner or head brewer to present.  But, in the case of the Brewmasters Dinner at Ginger Man SoNo on Monday, May 6 at 7 pm ($85 pp includes tax and tip), you’re getting much more than that.

That’s right beerologists, you’ll be getting a major treat.  We’re talking about two brewers from Italy and a brewer from Denmark.  The guests of honor, along with their breweries, are:

Zeppoleme Brings Coffee, Panini, and Zeppole to Port Chester, NY

Zeppole are perhaps one of the greatest gifts given to humanity, just one wrung below fire and internet memes. Dough balls, deep fried, then sprinkled with sugar. They bring back memories of Dan sitting around his grandma’s table, devouring zeppola (the singular form of course) after zeppola, making sure to rub in more powdered sugar all over.   Or, it’s hard to forget the countless Italian feasts that we’ve been to with the scent of zeppole and sausage in the air.  Yeah, it’s awesome to be Italian…or to be married to one, or to be dating one, or to know one, or to pretend to be one.

All this talk of zeppole is killing us…you hungry yet? Don’t worry! Getting zeppole will be a whole helluva lot easier starting in a few weeks at Zeppoleme (same owners of Nessa next door) in Port Chester, just over the border of Greenwich. First off, you will be able to get some sweet fried dough in two forms:

1. Classic:  the original, sprinkled with your choice of powdered sugar, granulated sugar, and/or cinnamon
2. Modern:  they take the original, then fold in ricotta, making it light and fluffy

Then you’ll want to dip these in one of their four sauces:

Help Garden Catering Send Campers w/ Muscular Dystrophy to Camp Promise

“I love Camp Promise because it gives me a week to hang around other kids with a similar disability and to be independent from my family. I think the work Camp Promise does is awesome!” – Ben (16)

“I like camp because of the interactions with people and the independence I get from my family. I would enjoy an awesome summer full of cool activities.” – Sam (15)

These two campers are talking about Camp Promise, an awesome week long summer camp in Hebron, CT. All campers who go there have muscular dystrophy and are treated to a wicked good time. Counselors provide them with exciting, educational, and entertaining activities that quickly become the highlight of their year. Plus, there is no charge at all for them to go to Camp Promise. Now you’re probably wondering how they get to go for free? Well, with help from good people like you, Garden Catering, and the City of Stamford!

Yes, these campers need your help, but it’s easy. Just come by Garden Catering on Main Street in Stamford on 3/15 (that’s officially Stamford Against Dystrophy Day) when 10% of all purchases go to Camp Promise. In addition to their killer specials, sandwiches, and meals, they will also be offering up some Irish favorites. We’re talking about freshly cut, lean corned beef boiled with Guinness that’s served with Idaho potatoes, sliced carrots, cabbage, and homemade Irish soda bread for just $10.95 per person. 

A Feast of Classic Rustic Italian with Modern Flare @ Bar Sugo – Norwalk, CT

Prosciutto wrapped truffle fries

How’s this for a greeting while you’re waiting at the bar for your table?  A manager comes up to you, gives you a plate of prosciutto-wrapped truffle fries, then gives you the following message from the chef:  ”It’s about damn time.”  Yeah, it was about damn time we got down to Bar Sugo in Norwalk and Chef/owner Pat Pascarella had the right to call it like it is!  He had invited us several times and had even invited us to the inaugural Vinsotto wine event, but the world always seemed to conspire against us going.  Yet, here we were at the cozy and rustic Bar Sugo, ready for what would be a meal of epic proportions.

We decided that we’d take it easy, sampling a few things on the menu.  Starting off, we’d go with three cicchetti (Italian for small snacks) that were $7.50 each, 3 for $20, or 5 for $30, we’d go for three mozzarellas (same pricing as the cicchetti), the meatball sampler, and we’d end up with the cavatelli that both Mark Famous and Andrew Dominick recommended when they saw our check-in.  It’s cool to have foursquare friends who love to eat!  Well, that was the plan anyway.  Yes, we got our dishes, but Chef Pat provided us with even more so we could get a full taste of what Bar Sugo was all about.  By the time we were done, we tried 24 different items on the menu (that includes the Barrel Aged Negroni and the wine).  Ugh, we think we’re still full! Ready for the most epic review ever captured on our blog?

Asparagus with duck prosciutto, and black pepper

The asparagus came two ways:  raw and pickled.  Having both on the dish was a nice idea, but we really loved the vinegary pickle vs. the bitterness of the raw.  The duck prosciutto was really great and wasn’t overpowering despite the saltiness you expect from a cured meat.

Rabbit loin with lentils, prunes, and mustard oil

The Fez in Stamford Hosts 6 Course Starry Night Winery Dinner

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When people meet us out at events or parties, they tend to shoot right to the important question:  what’s your favorite restaurant?  That’s a really tough one to answer, especially because there are so many different kinds, price ranges, cuisines, and such…but, invariably, The Fez in Stamford is always a part of our conversation.  We’ve never had a bad meal there and people that we’ve sent on over have come back happy, satisfied, and ready for more.

If you’ve never been, we have a perfect opportunity to cozy up with this Moroccan/Mediterranean stalwart on 2/19 at 6:45:  a Starry Night Winery.  For just $69, you’ll get six glasses of wine from Starry Night Winery in California paired with some of The Fez’s favorite treats:

Bobby Q’s Pit Stop in Greenwich: Bob LeRose Opens 3rd Restaurant with Cousin Joey Boucher!

BBQ…burgers, dogs, and more to be served at Bobby Q’s Pit Stop in Greenwich

Bob LeRose, owner of Bobby Q’s in Westport and Bar Q in Stamford grew up in the Riverside neighborhood of Greenwich, CT.  Do you think he ever realized that just right down the block from his first home would be the site of his future restaurant, his third nonetheless?  Or, do you think he ever could have imagined that he’d create one of the best festivals in Connecticut:  Blues, Views, & BBQ?  How could any person (aside from John Edwards) fortell such awesomeness?

So, what does Bob LeRose have in store for us in Greenwich with Bobby Q’s Pit Stop (no site yet) that will open in about three weeks?  Well, starting off he’s teamed up with his cousin Joey Boucher who first opened up Joey B’s in Cos Cob.  This team makes the perfect pairing for what Bobby Q’s Pit Stop will be all about:  bbq, burgers, dogs, chili, sides, and salads to go.  Their new restaurant will be located at 1340 East Putnam Ave. in Greenwich right where Moe’s Burger Joint used to be.  If you feel like eating in, there will be 12 seats and plenty of standing room while you devour the best of American cuisine.  Speaking of the food, let’s dive deeper into the menu.  There will be some classic dishes from Bobby Q’s in Westport.  On the menu will also be five different chilis based off of the family recipe, held onto by their Uncle Frank.  The dogs featured here blew Bobby and Joey away and are made by a company in Boston.  They are the first restaurant in Connecticut to serve these dogs up!  The burgers are going to be great too, made with fresh daily ground beef that is sourced locally.  Also, the salads are a nice option for friends or family members who don’t want meat or want something not as heavy…there are plans for three different kinds right now.  Rounding things up are the sides, many of which are vegetarian friendly…very nice touch.  You don’t have to be Debbie Downer anymore and be the one to say, “Oh, but they don’t have anything vegetarian here!”