Colony Grill Featured on New Cooking Channel Show Pizza Cuz

Want some stingers and hot oil with that pie?

A while back we wrote about a special TV filming at the cult legend pizza of Connecticut:  Colony Grill.  At the time, all we knew that it was for a new show on a major network.  Well, we’ve got the scoop for ya:  Colony Grill of Stamford will be featured on a brand new Cooking Channel show called Pizza Cuz.  The series premiere is May 6 and the Colony Grill episode will air Monday, May 13 at 9 pm on Cooking Channel.  We’ll have more information about the show and the episode shortly, but in the meantime, check out the episode description:

Dino Sforza of Via Sforza Opens Dino’s Pizza Pie in Norwalk

A couple of weeks ago we broke the news that one of our favorite burger joints, Beach Burger had closed.  In its place, we discovered would be a pizza place.  We weren’t sure Norwalk needed another pizza shop in the area, but then we heard from friend of OmNomCT, Joe Sforza.  His dad is opening Dino’s Pizza Pie up on February 18 in that spot and Joe will be the manager.  While some might say it’s another pizza joint, we’ve eaten at Via Sforza and the food is warm, rustic, and authentic Italian.  Dino will be carrying over the quality, recipes, and passion for great Italian flavors to this location.

Think of it is a pizzeria with a heart of classic Italian food.  Here are some of the dishes that you just might want to order:

• Pizza:  Quattro Stagione  (a classic we had in Rome, literally four seasons) with mooz, sauce, prosciutto, capers, mushrooms, and artichokes
• Appetizers: Burrata with cucumbers and marinated fresh tomatoes.
• Salads and Soups:  Fried Calamari Salad with Romaine and hot cherry peppers, dressed in Caesar.
• Pasta: Cavatelli Nonna with arugula, fresh tomatoes and onions in a light tomato sauce with garlic, topped with shaved ricotta salata.
• Grinders & wraps:  Sausage, peppers, and onions.  Doesn’t get better or more simple than that!
• Stromboli & calzone:  They have two standard options to pick from and also have 23 fillings available for you to make your own masterpiece.

A New Go-to for Pizza, Wings and Craft Beer: Coals in Port Chester, NY

Billy Dee Williams approves this establishment…

The weekend after our big move all we seemed to do was go from Home Depot, to Target, to Bed, Bath, & Beyond, to Home Goods and more to return and buy more crap for the house. Oh, and then we put all that said crap up and away. As you can imagine, after such a busy day, we were famished. But we didn’t want to go anywhere fancy. We just wanted some nice pizza, craft beer, wings and a laid back environment. If we were still in Stamford in this mood, we would’ve hit up Coalhouse, but where were we to go near Greenwich?

We drove past Coals earlier in the day and thought maybe, just maybe, that could be our new go-to place to fill the hole in our heart from being farther away from Coalhouse. After two trips there, we’re pretty confident we were right…

Started in da Bronx, Coals Port Chester is just a few minutes away from Greenwich. Here, the chefs and pizzaiolas are dishing up and serving some great food. But, maybe even more importantly, they love beer.

TOMĀTO TOMÄTO to Offer Italian and Takes on Modern American in the Shippan Area of Stamford

You like potato and I like potahto,
You like tomato and I like tomahto,
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto!

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Oh Gershwin brothers, you are both so wise.  Somehow they were able to fortell the coming of a restaurant in Stamford.  Somewhere around May March 2013 we’ll have TOMĀTO TOMÄTO Pizzeria and Pour House on 401 Shippan Ave, right by Cafe Silvium and Cummings Park.  At the helm of the kitchen will be the former owner and chef of Stamford’s Mona Lisa, Luciano Magliulo.  Chef Luciano also recently cooked at the now closed Piatto Osteria on Hope Street.

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So, what can you expect here?  Well, starting off you can expect a great spot to take the family for pizza and salad without breaking the bank.  Also, it’ll be a good place to swing by for a lunch or dinner, have some wine or beer, relax, enjoy, and even go on a date.   The menu will feature their thin crust pizza, traditional Italian apps, salads, and pastas with a twist of Modern American.  Luciano’s been working on and perfecting the sauce for the pies for quite a while now and everybody’s very impressed with the results.  Also, for those long days, celebrations, and just ol’ fashioned drinking they’ll have a fully stocked bar with a nice and affordable wine selection, too.  There will be over 50 different bottles that will be $6-11 per glass or $20-$55 per bottle.  And, you can also look forward to having some great beer with pizza…really one of the finer things in life.

Authentic Italian Hits Bank Street with Cotto Wine Bar + Pizzeria – Stamford, CT

We went to one of our favorite places in the world during our honeymoon:  Italy.  It’s where our ancestors are from and it’s the one place where we’ve both always dreamed of visiting.  To be honest, we didn’t know if we were more excited to visit for the food, the sites, or the culture.  Well, turns out we loved every little thing about Italy, but one of our favorite things was our long, expansive, wine-filled meals.  See, over there, you could sit for hours while you eat and drink to your heart’s content.  Believe it or not, sometimes a bottle of water cost more than a nice local wine.  Yeah, our kind of place, how about you?

So, we get nostalgic from time to time when we think of our waiter in Venezia (Venice) who looked a lot like Stephen Colbert and who eagerly invited us back the next day after we had way over-tipped…stupid Americans.  Or, when we think of walking home bloated and full on Chianti, strolling through the streets of Firenze.  That’s Florence to you noobs.  So, yes, we get nostalgic for how great our trip was and how amazing the food was.  You best believe that when we find a great Italian restaurant, we hold onto it for dear life.  See, unfortunately every Italian spot we eat at now has to be measured in our minds against the places that we ate at in Italy.

Riko’s Pizza Expanding from Stamford into Norwalk

Update:  now open!

Whatever side you are on of the pizza wars in Stamford and Connecticut, we can all agree about one thing: ehermerged pizza is good. You might be a Pepe’s lover, a Colony fascist, a Bar addict, or even a Riko’s junkie.  Note:  they used to be called Rico’s Pizza, but are now Riko’s Pizza…same pizza.

Sausage, hot oil, stingers, onions, and cherry pepper pie at Riko’s Pizza in Stamford

Well, if you can’t get enough of your Riko’s Pizza, you will have another option. Along with their Selleck Street and Newfield Ave. locations in Stamford, you’ll soon be able to get your Riko’s fix in Norwalk too. They will be located at 345 Main Ave. and will feature take out and delivery.  With such a highly trafficked street, Riko’s could give Letizia’s and other pizza places in the area a run for their money.

What’s your favorite pizza place in the area?  Shout it out, punks.

Colony Grill to Serve Breakfast Pizza Before Memorial Day Parade – Fairfield, CT

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”                                        Joseph Campbell

You know the list of ingredients to choose from at Colony Grill:

Meatball, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, onions, black olives, cherry peppers, stingers, hot oil, anchovies, peppers, and bacon.

Well, they’re adding a few more into the mix this Memorial Day, 5/28.  At their Fairfield location on Post Road starting at 8:30 am, you’ll be able to get two new pies.  You can either have the bacon & egg pie or the sausage & egg pie.  Nothing says morning like a breakfast pizza!

Now, imagine this with sausage and egg…

Then, once you’ve had your fill, head outside to watch the parade that starts at 10.  The parade will march along east down Post Road to the library, then head south and east down Old Post Road, passing Town Hall Green.

Don’t forget that Memorial Day isn’t just a day when you don’t have to go to work…it’s a day to remember and honor those who died fighting for us and our freedom.  I’m very fortunate to still have my dad.  As a Marine, he fought in Vietnam and earned two purple hearts.  Oorah!

So, drive on down to Colony Grill in Fairfield, have one or more breakfast pizzas with your friends and family, then check out the parade together.

Colony Grill

Noms: 4.25

Cost: $$

Address:  1520 Post Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

Phone: (203) 259-1989

Amazing Pizza Zeppelin to Deliver Pizzas to Connecticut

We are sure by now that you’ve heard about the amazing Tacocopter that was created that delivers tacos to hungry people.  Local flight laws made it impossible for the tacocopter to fly, though.  So, right now it’s just a pipe dream for San Francisco.

But, lead it to Connecticutters to kick things up a few notches.  We just received a press release from DeCartio Enterprises about their brand new pizza delivery service.  That’s right, Pizza Zeppelin is fast and will get you your pizzas super hot.  CEO Papa Georgio says the secret isn’t necesarrily in the sauce.  Yup, the secret is the patented way they create their pizza.  There are small, fire-lit ovens that can be operated underneath the balloon part of the zeppelin, itself.  The extra heat from the oven rises and helps to fuel the balloon and keep it on the rise, delivering food to you.  Because Pizza Zeppelin is a manned aircraft, the same rules that burdened the unmanned Tacocopter don’t apply.  They will start their flights on April 16, 2012.

Some of the signature pies to look forward to:

The Leaddd Zeppelin.  This one is heavy, no doubt.  Thick Chicago style pizza with mozzerela, cheddar, and bangers and mash.

Deadly Dirigible:  Never have you seen a pie like this.  The world’s hottest peppers are baked into the crust and are piled on top of the pie.  Also, throw in some sausage, mushroom, and ricotta and you’ve got one of the deadliest pies around.

How to Order and Where to Catch Pizza Zeppelin

Monday-Saturday, they are in operation from 11-7.  Ordering is simple!  Tweet your address and phone number to @PizzaZeppelinCT and they will write back with confirmation and will call you to set up the sale by credit card.  When they are close by for delivery, they will tweet the delivery time and address.  Be outside and ready to receive your steaming hot pies!  The technology to receive the pie is actually a bit primitive:  they just lower the pies by a rope, but it works and gets the job done.  They advise you to pay close attention to the flight times below in order to avoid any confusion in the delivery process.  We’ll update this when we get more info.

11:   Greenwich, CT

11:30:  Cos Cob, CT

12:  Stamford, CT

12:30:  New Canaan, CT

1:  Darien, CT

1:30:  Rowayton, CT

2:  Norwalk, CT

2:30:  Shelton, CT

3:  Danbury, CT

3:30: Waterbury, CT

4:  Bristol, CT

4:30:  Hartford, CT

5: Manchester, CT

5:30:  Norwich, CT

6: Mystic, CT

6:30:  Bridgeport, CT

7:  Fairfield, CT

Pizza Party in Connecticut as Fairfield County Pizza Shops Branch Out

Have you been stung? The stinger is a must have topping at Colony Grill!

Cult pizza worshippers across Connecticut, rejoice.  In fact, maybe lather up in some tomato sauce and sprinkle some cheese all over…it’s getting warm and toasty in here.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria, Colony Grill, Rico’s Pizza, and Pizzeria Rosso.  Two legendary pie makers and two newcomers to the scene, all vying for your pizza loving heart.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria

Frank Pepe Pizzeria in Danbury

Yes, there’s the original location in New Haven that people swear is the only authentic version, but there are other locations in Fairfield, Manchester, Mohegan Sun, Danbury, and even in Yonkers, NY.  That’s a pretty serious spread…when do you think they’ll open in Stamford or Norwalk? :)  People need their fix of white clam pizza, ya know?

Colony Grill

Also a legend in the Connecticut pizza scene is Colony Grill.  Colony Grill pizza started baking up in Stamford, but expanded into Fairfield, Avon, and will soon be in Milford!  Hot oil and stingers are the must add-on to ANY pie you order.  No plain pies allowed, remember?  Of the four, our favorite.

Riko’s Pizza

Rico’s Pizza…see the signature pock marks?

Despite the pizza-pilfering controversy when Riko’s first opened, they continue to thrive in Stamford and grow.  They have taken over the spot where Frascati was on Newfield Avenue, also in Stamford, and are open.  Despite our original review, we plan to try things out again now that Rico’s will only be a few minutes from our house.

Pizzeria Rosso

Pat Pascarella has been hard at work at his Norwalk Neapolitan pizza location.  He has garnered for himself quite the reputation for his pies, too.  So much, in fact, that he is expanding out into Greenwich and Bridgeport.  Pat told us on Super Bowl Sunday that he wanted to do something different, something more than pizza.  Well, now he’s got his chance!  CTbites has the info on what his new spots will be like.

Which of these four places is your favorite?  If your favorite cult pie isn’t on here, what is it?  Let us know!

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Locations

157 (and 163 “The Spot) Wooster Street in New Haven, CT

238 Commerce Drive in Fairfield, CT 

221 Buckland Hills Drive in Manchester, CT

1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard in Uncasville, CT

59 Federal Road in Danbury, CT

1955 Central Park Avenue in Yonkers, NY

Colony Grill Locations

172 Myrtle Avenue in Stamford, CT

1520 Post Road in Fairfield, CT

315 West Main Street in Avon, CT

36-38 Broad Street in Milford, CT

Rico’s Pizza Locations

170 Selleck Street in Stamford, CT

581 Newfield Avenue in Stamford, CT (May 22, 2012 opening)

Pizzeria Rosso Locations

4 New Canaan Ave in Norwalk, CT

960 Main Street in Bridgeport, CT  

???? in Greenwich, CT (not open yet)

Getting Fired Up About Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza? – Darien, CT

The Paul & Young Ron Pizza

Ok, so hear us out.  We’ve never been fans of chain restaurants for a few reasons.  Usually, you’re served up sodium and preservative laden frozen meals that are so blah that you feel robbed of your calorie allowance for the day.  But we pushed these thoughts aside for Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza because a bunch of people recommended it, including Froggy on the Z100 morning show who said he was in love with their pizza.  Plus, Anthony’s twitter manager had been twalking us (Twitter stalking duh) to get us to try out their pies, so we had to oblige!

When we got to this new Darien spot, owned by Anthony Bruno and Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphin’s, we were sooooo hungry. So needless to say we were a little bummed when we were told there was a 40 minute wait, but then totally happy again when the wait only turned out to be 20 minutes. Love when that happens!  Plus, it was just enough time for us to pick out what we were going to eat.   Yeah, if you’re a serious eater, that’s the strategy:  get the menu while you wait. So here’s the play by play…

Game plan:  some roasted chicken wings, Anthony’s Classic Italian Salad, and the Paul & Young Ron pizza. Oh and craft beers, duh.

As we sat down, our very friendly server Tara told us about Anthony’s, in short:  always fresh, never frozen and “pizza well done.” More on the well done part in a sec.  Lucky for us, from 4-7 you can get $1 off draft beers, so you best believe we partook in some hoppiness.  Hoppiness, is a cold beer after all (get it?).  I asked for a Hooker, a Blonde one in fact, and yes I giggled when I ordered it.  Danny went with Blue Point Brewery from Long Island — the Hoptical Illusion and the Toasted Lager.

Touchdown:  Oven Roasted Chicken Wings

These wings are great, but they’re not your typical chicken wing at all.  Before they even roast them in their 800 degree coal oven, they marinate them overnight in salt, pepper, and rosemary.  The results?  The outside of the wings are crispy, a bit charred, and are full of flavor, especially with hints of rosemary.  The inside of the wings were nice and juicy, too.  Yeah, so the wings were great, but then they add on about 30 lbs. of beautifully caramelized onions.  Awww yeah my favorite.  For a different taste, put some of the onions on the wings, then chomp down. Also, try the same thing with the focaccia bread.  We will definitely order these again.

20 Yard Gain:  Anthony’s Classic Italian Salad with mozzarella

On the menu it says, “Enough for Two,” but we have to disagree.  It’s probably enough for four.  :)  The salad was piled on with lettuce, eggs, chickpeas, olives, red onion, tomato, celery, and some mozzarella.  They serve it up with a nice golden Italian dressing that has just the right balance of flavors.  Overall a much bigger, heartier salad than what most pizza joints serve up.

Field Goal:  Paul & Young Ron Pizza

And, we went bowling afterwards where I proceeded to kick Danny's butt! : O

So, back to their slogan:  ”Pizza Well Done.”  Basically, they just cook the pie until the crust becomes thick and not floppy, which, in a coal oven, usually means the outside is cooked well done, with a bit of char.  If you don’t like pizza cooked this way, you won’t like Anthony’s. But if you do, you’ll like how crispy and thick this crust is. It’s definitely not the kind of crust you’ve seen from places like Pepe’s or Colony Grill.  We’d say it’s a medium thickness, putting it somewhere between Chicago style and thin crust style. It was a bit on the dry side, but not too bad.

Now, onto the toppings:  meatballs, sausage, hot peppers, and ricotta.  Their toppings are super big and chunky.  Yeah, not the kind of place where you get a lame amount of toppings and come out disappointed.  Danny said his stingers were spicy, but the peppers I had weren’t really.  The sauce was zesty but didn’t overpower all the other ingredients.  The meatballs were big, plump, and kept their juiciness even through the baking in the coal oven.  This is definitely a hearty, hearty pie, so you’re going to fill up faster than at other pizza spots.  But, that’s okay;  That just means you’ve got more leftovers the next morning. In fact, Danny woke up the next day, dove right into the leftovers and declared it was really great cold, especially with the creamy ricotta.  Heating it up again, the pizza was still just as good and crispy which is always nice.

The Final Score

Yeah, we dug Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza for the most part.  My dad is a huge fan of pizza that’s well done, so he has already put it on his list of places for us to take him when he’s visiting.  We’d come back to get those wings, get some beers, try out some of the other pizzas and definitely try the ribs which we hear are delish.  If we’re ever in Darien for lunch, we’ll be sure to check out their lunch size pizzas and meals.  So, this is a good place to try out, especially if you’re one of those crazy Connecticuters who like thicker crust pizza.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza

Noms:  3.5

Cost:  $$$

Address: 319 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT 06920

Phone: (203) 655 – 2625

Site: 
http://anthonyscoalfiredpizza.com

Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/#!/AnthonysCFPizza