Barcelona hosts Memorial Day BBQ and pig roasts all summer long

Some of the tapas we sampled at Barcelona in Greenwich for the first Dishcrawl

Memorial Day and BBQs…they are inseparable like peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin, Lewis and Clark, Ren & Stimpy, bread and butter, and even pasta and sauce.  Perhaps they go so well together because BBQ’n brings family and friends together outside for good times, good fun, and good eats?  In essence, the grill unites people and connects us through our basic needs of friendship and food.

But, what do you do if you don’t have a grill or just want to go out and celebrate?  Easy…you head over to Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant in Fairfield on 5/27 from 1-9 pm.  For just $20 or $10 for kids (that’s a nice deal, btw) you’ll get a BBQ buffet that consists of sliders, kebabs, ribs, grilled veggies, salads, and their famous suckling pig.  For the beer lover, they’ll also have tastings from one of our favorite local breweries, Captain Lawrence.  They’ll have face painting for the kids (or that cool hipster) from 1:30-4:30, they’ll have outdoor games (cornhole please!), and they will even have a lemonade/popsicle/ice cream stand.  And, what’s a BBQ without live music?  Barcelona will have Rick Reyes & The Pasonfino Social Club playing from 2-6 while you chat, chew, and chill.

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.

Pop by PopShop Market for food, brews, local goods, and more!

You might have heard of pop up restaurants, springing up in empty spots or abandoned places.  Here one week, gone another.  You know…that’s so 2012.  PopShop Market, though, is taking things into 2013 with their pop up market.  For each pop up event they’ll have 50 or more vendors, a mini farmers’ market, they’ll feature a local brewery, and they’ll have a bunch of CT’s best food and food trucks available for your noming needs.  The first PopShop Market is being held on June 1 from 9-3 at the Fairfield Theater Company‘s warehouse and parking lot.  There’s no cost at all and there is live music, too.  Here are the details for the first event:

Bodega’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta’s So Big, It’s a Weekend!

Some of your taco options at Bodega Taco Bar in Fairfield

This is the Cinco de Mayo party that’s too big for just one day.  This is the Cinco de Mayo party to end all Cinco de Mayo parties.  Yeah, seriously…Bodega Taco Bar in Darien and Fairfield are doing it right this year with lots of omnom-like things going down.  First off, let’s start with the times:  Saturday (5/4) from noon to midnight and Sunday (5/5) from noon to 8.  Okay, let’s get into the yummy deets:

1. Tequila tastings (worm and Pee Wee Herman not included.)
2. Pig roast prepared in a custom La Caja China Roasting Box (Saturday.)
3. Taco Eating Contest (definitely Saturday, maybe Sunday.  When you get there, you’ll sign up.  We’ll update this for you when we get more info.)
4. Mariachi Band on Sunday afternoon
5. “Guacamole Slapping” demonstration (maybe you slap it because it’s soooo good, but is fattening?  Interested to see.)
6. Drink specials (you know you have to celebrate with some margaritas, right?)
7. Live music and dancing (agitarlo como una foto Polaroid.)

Having a Ball at the Launch of The Local Meatball Food Cart in Fairfield

It was a crisp, spring day this past Saturday when Mike DiStassio launched the much anticipated The Local Meatball food cart. Just the night before he had found the perfect spot on Unquowa Road, right above the tracks at the Fairfield train station, where he could begin slinging meatballs with his brother Alan.

As he was getting ready for his 12:30 opening, people were already lined up, ready to try what Mike had worked so hard on. Featured that day, were two of his five rotating balls: Serious and Kick in Da. After meeting up with Mike’s wife and Kristien’s former coworker, Anne as well as other former coworkers and friends Michael, Bill, Rob, and Lisa, we placed our order. Now, don’t get us wrong, we love catching up with old friends…but the intoxicating scent of tomato sauce was too much to bare. We ordered (and were graciously treated to) three of each meatball on rolls.

Let’s start off with Serious, aka the original with ground beef from Saugatuck Craft Butchery.  The sauce was slightly sweet and tangy, but with a warm, rustic taste. The bread, straight from Il Forno in Da Bronx to Mike’s door step, was amazing. Ya know, it’s hard to beat bread from Da Bronx.  The meatballs themselves were good, but we wondered if they were just a bit too dense this first time around. The flavor was good though, with the perfect amount of herbs, and the meat was super fresh.

Help Save King’s Kitchen Beach Shack of Southport Beach!

King’s Kitchen, pic from the Fundrazr account

Hunter King couldn’t have been happier.  King’s Kitchen Beach Shack became one of the best places to get food in Fairfield last summer.  It certainly didn’t hurt that it was right on Southport Beach, either.  Or, it didn’t hurt that Hunter was serving up farm to table food that he got straight from local farmers’ markets.  But, all of that success and hard work got washed away when Hurricane Sandy came along…literally.  The shack was carried by a wave over Pequot Avenue and even almost fell into the Sasco Creek.  Luckily, Hunter was able to recover the shack and the interior is now in perfect shape, but there’s a major problem ahead for King’s Kitchen, a 1950′s landmark.  There are new rules and regulations set up in Fairfield and that means that King’s Kitchen will need $35,000-$45,000 worth of work so that it can be up to code.  Hunter already put in $30,000 worth of work last year to get King’s Kitchen set and ready to go, so you could understand that he’s in quite a bind now.

Hunter set up a fundraising account on GoGetFunding where people could help out any way they could.  He is looking to raise $55,000 by August 19 and already has $50 shortly after just starting the fundraising.  While, as a single person, you might not be able to give much to help King’s Kitchen, when the community bands together we can see enormous gains.  For example, in 2009, 57,578 people lived in Fairfield, so just $1 each would save Hunter’s dream.  So, if you’ve been to King’s Kitchen and loved it, if you support local food, or if you just want to help out, think about giving what you can to help keep King’s Kitchen in business.

Best wishes in fundraising and starting the dream over,

Dan and Kristien

Getting Saucy: The Local Meatball Cart Launches Saturday, Connecticut Rejoices

From The Local Meatball’s FB Page

We broke the news about the saucy balls of Michael DiStassio back on March 9 and here we are telling you where you can get your first tastes.  Yes, we told you 4/20, but now we’ve got the location and time, too.  They’ll be plopping down on Unquowa Road from 12:30-2:30 just up the hill right by where the northbound train lets out.  He’ll be there rain or shine, but it looks it will be reaching around 60 with just a few clouds in the sky.

By the way, make sure you’ll following Michael and The Local Meatball on Facebook and Twitter.  He’s giving special insight into the meatballs such as this factoid (which Dan guessed correctly, earning him a sandwich):  he has eaten 350 meatballs in preparation for the opening.  That’s a whole lotta devotion!

For more info, make sure to check out our original post about The Local Meatball, how it’s a farm-to-table kind of experience, and what you can order.

The Local Meatball Food Cart Rolls into Fairfield w/ Locally Sourced Balls

Update: the opening was delayed to 4/20 (hmm, was that done on purpose?  4/20?) 

January 23:  National Pie Day (shouldn’t that be 3/14, right math geeks?)

February 9:  National Pizza Day

February 15:  National I Want Butterscotch Day

March 17:  National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

Ah, the holidays and special days of the year that are near and dear to our cholesterol-sodden hearts!  And, did you know that today is National Meatball Day?  Well, why not celebrate this joyous occasion with a major announcement?

Starting on April 6 20, the people of Fairfield will have their own supply of serious balls.  That’s because The Local Meatball food cart will be plopping down and serving up some seriously delicious meatballs in Fairfield at places like the train station and the green.  Really, who doesn’t love meatballs?  And, who doesn’t love meatballs that are sourced locally?  The meat is supplied by Saugatuck Craft Butchery, the bread is from Il Forno Bakery, the ricotta is from Calabro, and the eggs come from The Farmers Cow.  In terms of meatball options, here we go:

Pick your form:

On a roll or in a bowl

Pick your size:

Smashed slider w/ 1 ball (child size)

Average Joe w/ 2 balls (…Are better than 1)

Grinder w/ 3 balls (7″ of Meatball Heaven)

Pick your balls:

It’s baaaack: SoNo Restaurant Week 2012, 6/17-22. Get Your Prix Fixe On!

Let the eating begin!  SoNo Restaurant Week is back again and in full force.  You’ll be able to get either a 2 course lunch for $9.99 or $14.99, or you’ll be able to feast on a 3 course dinner at a reasonable $19.99 or $29.99.  We’ve got the info from the Connecticut Restaurant Week site and we’ll update this when they release more info.  So, clear your schedule from June 17-22 and make those reservations!  Our reccos?  Check out Coromandel, The Ginger Man, Bacchus, SoNo Baking Company, Match, and Red Lulu.  But, it’s hard to go wrong with the other spots on this list, too.

 $9.99 Lunch (2 Courses):

Bradford’s  (203) 956-7243

Sono Brewhouse  (203) 853.9110

Bulls Head Market

Coromandel  (203) 852.1213

Donovon’s  (203) 354.9451

The Ginger Man  (203) 354.0163

O’Neill’s  (203) 838.0222

 $14.99 Lunch (2 Courses):

Bacchus (203) 956.6220  Reservations

SoNo Baking Company (203) 847.7666

Strada18  (203) 853.4546

$19.99 Dinner (3 Courses):

Bradford’s  (203) 956-7243

Sono Brewhouse  (203) 853.9110

Donovon’s  (203) 354.9451

The Ginger Man  (203) 354.0163

O’Neill’s  (203) 838.0222

 $29.99 Dinner (3 Courses):

Bacchus (203) 956.6220  Reservations

Barcelona  (203) 899.0088

Coromandel  (203) 852.1213

Match  (203) 852.1088  Reservations

Red Lulu  (203) 939.1600

Strada18  (203) 853.4546

Get Clawed! LobsterCraft Lobster Roll Food Truck Scuttles into Rowayton Farmers’ Market Fridays!

Pic from LobsterCraft’s Twitter feed

Check out our review!

Well, Here we come! LOBSTERCRAFT is almost ready to open. Hot Buttered Lobster rolls in Gourmet style. Featuring Fresh baked rolls!

—
  (@LobsterCraft) May 15, 2012

Hear that, Omnomivores?  Hot buttered lobster, fresh and local, in a truck!

The @LobsterCraft Truck will be at the Rowayton Farmers Market this Friday 12-4! Stop by and try the best Hot Lobster roll around!

—
  (@LobsterCraft) June 04, 2012

Yeah, you like that, don’t ya?  ;)  We know who’s checking out the Rowayton Farmers’ Market on Friday…you!  LobsterCraft has run some private parties and events and is soon to open to a more permanent spot somewhere in Fairfield, CT.  When we get more info, we’ll let you know about their location and their site.  We do know they’ll have a gourmet buttered hot lobster rolls of many kinds:  Plain, Spicy, Californian, and the Famous LBLT.  So, check them out and check out all the other vendors because it’s not all about lobster…well, who are we kidding?  It’s always about the lobster.  Well, it’s also about Sticky-Nuts, and they’ll be there, too.

Rowayton’s Farmers’ Market 

Noon to 5 pm, Fridays from 6/1-10/27/12

Pinkney Park

Rowayton Avenue

(Also Thursdays at Westport Farmers’ Market and M-W at Oyster Shell Park at the end of Ann St.)

Beldotti Bakery/St Ex 

Bongo & Capacci Pasta 

Du Soleil Fine Foods

Eagle Wood Farms

Flour City Pasta

Horman’s Best Pickles

Josie’s Empanadas

Little Chocolate Company

LobsterCraft 

Nothin’ But 

The Original Cupcake Truck

Pinchbeck Farm’s Roses for Autism

Prima Dolce Company

Ronnybrook Farms

Rowayton Clam Company

Savor Cookies

Sixpence Pie Company

Skinny Pines Pizza

Smilin Chef

Sticky-Nuts

Three Dog Cookie Co

Vaszauskas Farm