CT Food News, Vol. 8: Rare Booze, Beer, Trux, Festivals, + Fun

 

Jumping for joy and trying to swallow those Pez whole

Old news is not new news, people…that’s why we’re getting ya some of the freshest nomworthy bites of food news for Fairfield County (and beyond) for this weekend and next week, too.  This week we’re talking booze, br/lunch, food news, food trucks, festivals, farms, and farmers’ markets.  Full event listings here.  

Beer and Liquor Get Ya There Quicker

6/13:  Harry’s in Fairfield is hosting “Harry’s Open that Bottle Event” that will feature rare and exclusive Scotches, Ryes, and Bourbons that they’ve been stocking up on over the past few months.  Sample these awesome spirits from 5-8 and get some (or something similar) for yourself or dad this Father’s Day.

6/19:  Jack’s Abby launch party with co-founder Sam Hendler at 7 pm, held at Cask Republic Stamford.

Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford will also soon carry Thimble Island of Branford AND Jack’s Abby.  What what?

Hop to it: Todd Ruggere to drink a beer in all 169 CT towns in 2014 for charity

Some people sell chocolates, some people grow mustaches, some people run marathons, and there are even some people who go from door to door to raise money for their favorite charities.  Well, “some people” have never met Todd Ruggere of Grafton, MA.  Last year he traveled to every single town in Massachusetts (351 of them) and had a beer there.  His hope was to meet some great people, have some great beer, but most importantly raise some money for children’s cancer research.  

But, how could he expect the amazing reaction that he would receive from people who were following his journey?  They’d give him suggestions of where to have a drink, would invite him over for a beer, and they’d set up amazing events upon his arrival that would help him to raise about $40,000 by the end of his trip.  But, he’s not stopping there.

Stand Up 2 Cancer Just by Dining Out!

Mastercard is standing up to cancer again this year with their Stand Up To Cancer campaign.  All you need to do is buy at least a $10 meal at any restaurant with your Mastercard.  With every purchase they will donate a penny to Stand Up To Cancer or 2 cents if you make a PayPal transaction at the restaurant, up to $4,000,000.  While a penny might not seem like a lot, that money will add up very quickly.  Already, since July 12, $1,280,280 has been raised!  The Stand Up To Cancer Mastercard campaign goes until September 28, 2013, so get out there and get eating!  Normally, we’d create a list of our favorite spots for you to check out, but you see that all the time with our posts and our annual OmNomy Awards.  So, we thought we’d ask you all, our fellow OmNomivores:

What’s your favorite spot in Fairfield County?  Let us know down below by commenting or by talking with us on Twitter or Facebook.  We’ll update the list down below.   Let’s all take a stand against cancer!  

OmNomivore Favorite Restaurants in Fairfield County

Go Down Home at Hash House a Go Go at Mohegan Sun

“Is that a meal or a monument?” Dan’s friend Adam asked on Facebook.

He was referring to a pic of the legendary Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles dish at Hash House a Go Go, newly opened in Mohegan Sun.  This dish is famous because the redonkulously amazing Adam Richman of Man vs. Food tasted and loved its epicness at their Las Vegas spot.  You know if Adam Richman put all other chicken and waffles on notice, it has to be good.  So, we did like any other brave and upstanding American would do…we pigged out and got down and dirty.

Spiked Kiwi Watermelon Lemonade

Our first piece of business was checking out the drink options.  While they don’t have any beers on tap, they do have a decent selection of the classics and some craft beer choices by the can and bottle.  Also, there are some wine choices, but their mixed drinks menu is what really shines.  The two drinks that stood out to us were the beautiful Spiked Kiwi Watermelon Lemonade that Dan ordered and the perfectly balanced Champagne Supernova that Kristien drank.  Dan’s was a great balance of sweet, herby, and tart with just the right amount of liquor.  Kristien’s was also nicely balanced with a mixture of two different champagnes, Riesling, mint, lemonade and sugar cane.