August is a bittersweet month: the last bits of summer are dripping down, parents, teachers, and students are ready to head back to school, and the boys of summer are gone (points for the reference). But, screw that bittersweet crap: we’re talking ’bout just sweet for the next two weeks! In CT Food + Beer News, Volume 15, we’ve got openings, restaurant updates, fairs, restaurant specials, and more. If you’d like a full list of events that we’ve covered in previous posts, check out our Events page up above.
Restaurant Openings and Updates
Pepe’s Pizza will be opening up a restaurant in Brookline, MA, further expanding their cheesy empire. Pepe’s will be replacing The Fireplace restaurant, formerly owned by Jim Solomon. Other locations include the original Pepe’s in New Haven, and their pizza satellites in Danbury, Fairfield, Manchester, Mohegan Sun, West Hartford and Yonkers.
The Stand Juice Company is moving from their current location in Norwalk to the Ironworks Building at 20 North Water Street. With them they’ll be bringing their freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, and salads with um with maybe a few tricks up their sleeves, too.
Dinosaur Bar-b-que in Stamford is making lunchtime at work just a little bit better with lunch delivery! Yup, yup…Monday through Friday, 11:30-5 pm, Dino will deliver within a two mile radius. If you’re three miles away, we’d suggest that you quit and find a closer job. Call ’em up at (203) 517-3272 and let ’em know we sent ya.
Food Events
8/2-8/3 Check out the beautiful Audubon Greenwich for Honey Harvest Time this weekend from 10-4 pm. You’ll meet real beekeepers and learn how honey is made. In addition, you can even buy the honey that gets harvested! Entry is free for members and only $1.50 for youth and seniors or $3 for adults.
8/3 Wakeman Town Farm in Westport is putting on the 1st Annual Chili Cook-off and Barn Dance. They’re taking things on the spicy side from 2 to 5 that day with tickets costing $20 per person, $5 per child, or $50 per family. Once inside, you get chili samples, you get to storm the barn and dance like mad, and by doing all of this you get to help the Wakeman Town Farm “raise the roof” campaign which will help them to create an excellent classroom space to teach about farms and the environment. If you’re interested in competing, you have until Friday, August 1 to contact ccrider453@gmail.com.
8/6-9 Come down to the Chickahominy area of Greenwich for the annual St. Roch’s Festival! There will be lots of food, rides, games…and…wait for it…a wine and beer garden! That’s something to give thanks over! ;)
8/6 Take a trip to Rosedale Farms & Vineyards at 25 East Weatogue Street in Simsbury for Rosedale Farm Fest. The party’s going down from 6-10 pm and includes hay bale tossing, a corn shucking contest, hayrides, farm games, food from Caseus food truck, J. Gumbo’s Cajun food truck, Kane’s Meat Market, beer from Hooker, wine from the Rosedale collection, and lots more. Admission is just $5, too!
8/14 Darien Library is hosting a salsa-making contest as well as a special performance from Mariachi Flor de Toloache at 7 pm! If you’d like to make your own salsa, make sure that you bring enough for three judges to sample with a nice amount left over for the hungry masses. Don’t worry, Darien Library will provide the chips. And who judges such an awesome contest? OmNomCT and Meg Spicer of Darien News!
Beer and Liquor
The Harbor Brewfest has been busy adding in lots of the breweries that will be on tap for the 9/20 event. Tickets are still available, but for how long is another story…
Boston Magazine’s Christopher Hughes recently shared his Seven New England Pilsners to Drink Right Now and we’re happy to say that Two Road’s Ol’ Factory Pils made the list! Congrats!
8/4 Eli Cannons will be hosting a Charity Beer Fest from 5-9 pm at their Middletown location. There will be over 40 breweries represented, food trucks including The Whey Station, Lucky Taco, Fryborg, and NoRA Cupcake Company, and live music all to help benefit the Middlesex YMCA and Camp Ingersoll. Tickets come in at just $22.09.
Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford now has a nice collection of bourbon to try in addition to their 52 brews on tap. Don’t get twisted…or get twisted. Go ahead, we dare ya.
If you’re still ordering Rum + Cokes when you go out, we’ve got some major schooling for ya. And, Gretchen Thomas of Barcelona is just the one to show ya! She’s created three brand new cocktails including (with their descriptions):
Bees Wings: A modern take of the classic Bees Knees cocktail from the Prohibition era, the Barcelona version is a blend of Bar Hill Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, agave nectar, orange blossom water, lemon juice and pasteurized egg whites.
Whiskey Root: Responding to guests’ requests to add another whiskey-based cocktail to the menu, the Whiskey Root is made with Byrrh Quinquina, fresh ginger, basil leaves, lemon juice, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
Tarragona: Named after the Catalan city, Tarragona, this cocktail is made with a refreshing blend of house-made tarragon syrup, lemon juice, Rhum JM Blanc, and Blume Marillen Apricot Eau-de-Vie.
Meals, Deals, and Specials
8/21 Jason Sobocinski of Caseus and Black Hog Brewing will be hosting a fundraising dinner at Boulder Knoll farm starting at 6 pm. The meal will be BBQ inspired and will have not only wine pairings, but also pairings from Black Hog Brewing. Oooh, we wouldn’t doubt if there was a secret stash of something that Jason brings. There will also be live music by Hannah Fair and a silent auction with some crazy cool items. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here.
Go crazy with Mussels every Thursday from 5-10 pm at Parallel Post in Trumbull. For just 16 bucks, you’ll get all you can eat Spicy Mussels served up with a perfect side of grilled bread to sop up the juices. This deal starts today (7/31) and goes all the way until 9/4 so get on down!
For the Weeks of July 27 and August 3, when customers purchase the following national brands at Stop & Shop, they’ll receive Stop & Shop Own Brands for free so you can se which one ya like. Stock up!
Week of July 27 -August 2, 2014
| Buy this national brand product… | …and receive this Stop & Shop Own Brands product for free. |
| Velveeta Shells & Cheese (12oz) | Own Brands Shells &Cheese (12 oz) |
| Juicy Juice (64oz) | Own Brands 100% Juice (64oz) |
| Goldfish crackers (6.6oz) | Own Brands Penguin crackers (6.6oz) |
| Kleenex (80ct) | Own Brands Tissues (80ct) |
Week of August 3 – 9, 2014
| Buy this national brand product… | …and receive this Stop & Shop Own Brands product for free. |
| Tyson Chicken Nuggets (32oz) | Own Brands Frozen Breaded Chicken (32oz) |
| Cheezits (9.7-13oz) | Own Brands Cheese Squares (11.5013/7oz) |
| Kelloggs Corn Flakes (18oz) | Own Brands Corn Flakes (18oz) |
| Listerine mouthwash (33.8oz) | Own Brands Mouthwash (33.8oz) |
Dan and Kristien Del Ferraro
OmNomCT 
Guys, why such a sad intro? The whole month of August is still ahead of us! As well as Stamford restaurant week :)
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You’re right, no reason to be sad!
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