CT Food + Beer News, Vol. 14: Dinners, Events, Lots of Openings, Booze, and More…

After that unseasonably cool week, you knew what was bound to happen.  Yes, the inevitable heat, sticky, hazy days of summer are back, but remember the alternatives.  If anything, we should be grateful for the hot weather because it gives us a reason to drink our body weights worth of beer and booze, and it gives us a chance to eat outside under umbrellas or the stars.

So poetic…okay, let’s go:

Events

7/24 Everybody’s favorite barista/owner/awesome-person Leyla Dam of Lorca will be talking about coffee on the third floor auditorium of the Ferguson Library from 4-6 today.  She’ll talk about the process of making coffee from bean to cup and she’ll have samples, too!

7/25-7/29 Check out the massive book sale going on at the Pequot Library in Southport AND munch away on some great food truck food while helping the library raise 10% of what you spend.  Here’s the schedule:

Buzz truck (Fri., Sat., Sun. 9am – 11am)
Phil & Tom Ice Cream (Fri., Sat., Sun. 3pm – 5pm)
Bodega (Fri. 11:30am – 2:30pm)
Local Meatball (Sat. 11:30am – 2:30pm)
Christophe’s Crepes (Sun. 11:30am – 2:30pm). 

7/29 Tune into The Food Network at 10 pm to see Westporter Hannah Bukzin compete on Chopped:  Teen Tournament.  For a complete interview with Hannah and some more info, check out site.

7/31 Check out Pinot’s Palette in the Harbor Point area of Stamford for a special painting night…a bourbon painting night!  Not only will you get to paint a bourbon bottle, there will also be a bourbon tasting!  You speak our language.

8/6 Juding the Fairway Firefighters Cook-off was a blast.  Westport, Cos Cob, Belltown, and Noroton Heights all competed with a round of burgers, chicken, and ribs.  But, in the end, Belltown got first place, unseating Cos Cob as the winners, and took home a $500 gift card, the trophy, and major bragging rights.  They also will have a charity shopping day for The Stamford Fire Safety Foundation Fund.  All you have to do is shop between 4-10 after you’ve register and 25% of your purchases will go directly to Belltown’s charity.

---

 

Openings

The Beer Garden at Shippan Landing opens TODAY at 5 pm with Vanchetta, Lobstercraft, and Maddy’s on hand to feed ya.  After today, normal hours are 4-close Wednesday-Friday and at 2-close on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you missed our breaking news announcement this weekend, Aaron Sanchez’s Paloma opened on Monday.  See our review for some drink and food recs.

Corbo’s Deli is now open in the Harbor Point area of Stamford.  This makes their 4th location which includes Greenwich, Old Greenwich, and Cos Cob.  It’s a good deli and breakfast/lunch joint and our favorite sandwich is the Roadie which includes meatballs and chicken parm on a roll or hoagie.  Oh yeah!

JOJOTO:  Venezuelan Restaurant + Bar will open Mid-August in Branford at 130 Shore Drive.  Owner Victor Figueroa will be working with the Singing Chef Neil Fuentes.  Expect dishes like arepas, empanada platters, to stones, cachapa, mejillones a la vinaigrette, Cabernet braised short ribs, Venezuelan BBQ, and lots more.  For drinking, you’ll want to down some of their cocktails that are made with some Latin flare including mango, passionfruit, and fresh juices.  They’ll also have craft beers on the ready and a wine list carefully selected from Spain and Argentina.

Brick + Wood is set to open early fall at 1275 Post Road No. 7 in Fairfield.  The focus of Paola and Clara Cavalli’s (husband and wife) new spot will be on wood-fired pizza and Italian street food.  Some of the dishes to expect are a mozzarella bar, imported meats, arancini, fried calarmari, stuffed calzone, toasted panini, salads, and desserts like Nutella pizza.  Also, add in some killer Neopolitan pies that gets cooked in a 900º wood–fired over for a short 60 seconds, and you’ve got a new spot to check out.  Oh, and did we mention they’ll have 26 taps of wine that will be flowing like mad?  Yes, wine on tap…

Chocopologie is moving…but not too far away.  They’ll be taking over the spot where Caffeine was at 133 Washington Street.

---

 

Beer

8/5 Ginger Man SoNo is hosting their second home-brew competition.  The judging of the contest begins at 3 and costs nothing to enter.  Contestants get their first pint of beer free and a shot at the prize.  Even if you don’t enter, come down for the party at 5.  For more info, check here.

Two Roads Brewery is the focus of Ken Tuccio’s latest podcast for Welcome to Connecticut.  Check it out here as well as last week’s episode with Aaron Sanchez of Paloma.

Christopher Hughes from Boston Magazine who had entirely snubbed CT from a top breweries to visit in New England list, spent time visiting CT breweries and came up with a list of some of his favorites.  Whatcha think of the list?

---

 

Dinners

7/29 Come down to 850º Wood Fired in Ridgefield at 6 pm for a wine and food supper on their patio.  For $48 per person, all in, you’ll get three courses praised with food and wine and will end the night with some cafe and biscotti.  Call either 850º at (203) 894-5283 or Village Wines at (203) 431-5850 for reservations.

8/10 Parallel Post is taking their restaurant on the road as they host a farm-to-table dinner at Gilbertie’s Farm in Easton.  The event goes from 1-4 and tickets cost $75.  Make sure to RSVP so you can get your sport as Chef James Dean Max, Chris Molyneux, and Ali Goss prepare a killer meal while keeping it local.

---

 

Casting Call

Hell’s Kitchen is casting right now and there’s even a live NY casting event, so get on it if you want a piece of the action.  Just e-mail castingHK2014@gmail.com and be sure to include the following info:

Put “YOUR NAME/CURRENT CITY/STATE” in the subject title  
You MUST include :your full name, age, tel #’s, RECENT PHOTOS, where you live currently-city/state,  culinary experience, Why you are the next Winner of Hell’s Kitchen? Why this opportunity would mean so much? Why you would be the perfect contestant for the show & what sets you apart from the rest! 

Maybe you come from a long line of chefs, farmer? hunters? military chef? prison chef? celebrity chef? pastry chef? butcher? Maybe you are an engineer turned chef? maybe you were a fry cook in a fast food restaurant,  maybe you cooked at old age home, summer camp, cooked for a President or somewhere interesting and different?

 Tell us your story!