Kawa Ni: Bill Taibe to Open Japanese Pub with Pan-Asian Flavors at Bridge Square Market in Saugatuck

Chef Taibe will be opening his third restaurant shortly…you ready?

Update: Kawa Ni is now open and here’s our review!

We saw the news a couple of weeks ago from LeFarm:  “Signed…”  A slew of comments, congratulations, and demands for answers from hungry fans lit up their Facebook page.  Signed what?  Autographs, Declaration of Independence, soul to the devil, or a lease to a new place?  Yes, the latter…but what kind?

Some of the gyoza Chef Taibe devoured in Osaka…

Well, we got our answers when Chef Bill Taibe shared some insights with us into his new spot, soon to be the third restaurant in his arsenal of Westport hotspots.  A name?  That’s in the works now, but he does say that they are close to coming up with one, “Japanese for sure,” he promises.

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.

Help veterans just by visiting Saugatuck Craft Butchery in Westport

Saugatuck Craft Butchery is teaming up with American Made Matters and metalshopct.com to give back to those who served our nation in the military in honor of Veteran’s Day.  Simply stop by the cafe part of their shop at 580 Riverside Avenue for lunch on November 12, and they’ll donate a dollar from every lunch item that you order.  The donations will be divided up into four groups:

1) Wounded Warrior Project:  “Your generous donation to WWP helps thousands of Wounded Warriors – and their families – as they return home from the current conflicts.” 

2) Hope for Warriors:  “Enhancing the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty.” 

 3) The 296 Project:  “Our primary mission is to encourage art as a healthy outlet for veterans suffering with the painful after effects of war and to be a clearinghouse for resources that can serve our veterans’ therapeutic needs.”

4) Warrior Canine Connection:  “Where Service Members and Veterans with combat stress take on the critical mission of training service dogs for fellow Wounded Warriors.”  

Here Piggy Piggy: Porktoberfest Brings Beer, Music, and Pork to Westport

Pork, we owe you a helluva lot.  You bring us bacon, you bring us hot dogs, sausage, bacon, and of course pulled pork.  And, everybody knows that pork is OmNomCT’s favorite vegetable.  We make sure to get at least a few servings per day to fulfill our daily PBR–Pork Blood Ratio.  And, it looks like we’ll have a chance to pump our blood full of the good stuff at Saugatuck Craft Butchery‘s 1st Annual Porktoberfest!

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

The Best Warm Weather Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Fairfield County

Dan’s jotting down some notes, I’m taking the pics

Om nom nom nom hot dog nom nom nom

Updated on 5/26/15

Winter is only one season, but why does it seem so long?  Perhaps this year we can blame it on Punxsutawney Phil who promised an early end to winter, but lied?  Yeah, never trust a rodent, that’s what momma always said.

But, look, we’re beyond it all now!  The weather has turned, we’re at the start of spring, and we can actually feel the sun’s warmth.  By now, you’ve probably already lit up the BBQ and cooked up a storm.  And, you’ve probably been thinking about eating out(side) at a restaurant to enjoy the great weather.  So, we decided to put together a nice list of restaurants in the area that we like that have either al fresco (outdoor) dining or open air dining.  Perhaps you have an amazing restaurant to add that we missed?  Let us know!  Taco Bell doesn’t count, though. ;)

Enjoy the beautiful weather people…you earned it!

Bethel

Ecco rooftop bar/eatery on top of La Zingara

Hold Your Table and Get Some Cash Back with OpenTable

One of the first things we do when we’re looking for a restaurant to hit up is check to see if it’s on OpenTable.  In just a few clicks you can see lots of restaurants in your area that are taking reservations.  From there, you can click on a restaurant, enter in your party size and time, then you’re on your way to booking your table.  You could even play restaurant roulette and enter a party size, date, and time and see which restaurants in the area have tables nearby.

Dino Poutine is killer, unique to Dinosaur Stamford

Recently, we used OpenTable to get ourselves some nice seats at Bar Sugo in Norwalk and Dinosaur Bar-b-que in Stamford.  Plus, we can’t tell you how easy this site makes vacation planning.  And, wouldn’t you know it, Dan’s Prius has OpenTable built into it?

When you show up for the reservation, make sure you give your name and they check you in before you find your seat.  At most restaurants you’ll earn 100 points for each time you show up and dine out.  There are even some restaurants on the site that will earn you 1,000 points for honoring your reservation.  When you reach 2,000 points you’ll be sent a $20 gift certificate usable at any OpenTable restaurant.

Here are just some of the OpenTable restaurants that you could hit up in just Connecticut:

Got Chili? Saugatuck Craft Butchery Announces Connecticut Chili Classic

Chili Today, Hot Tamale

The Connecticut Chili Cup.

Is it a cup, literary made of chili?

Is it a cup that holds chili peppers?

Is it a cup given in honor of The Red Hot Chili Peppers?

Or is it the trophy for Saugatuck Craft Butchery’s inaugural chili cooking contest, The Connecticut Chili Classic, to see who can make the best chili?

Okay, okay, we know you just want the details, so out with them:

Starting today through the weekend Saugatuck Craft Butchery is pre-selling competitor slots to their friends (like them on FB, dudes and dudettes). 

To enter, you’ll need to call up (203) 226-6328 to reserve one of the 25 spots.

The entry fee is $75 and that will get you, according to their FB post:

Are You and the Fam Party Masters? Wanna Show off, Be on TV, and Win Some Big $? Casting Call!

Just some of the reality show clients from Twin Talents

•••

There’s another new TV show for a major network (we can’t say which) that is casting here in the Greater Stamford/Connecticut are and it’s called “Party Masters.”  While this might not be the final name of the show, the spirit of the show fits in well with the name.  They are looking for families that love to throw parties.  The winning family will be pitted against another winning family to see who can throw the most awesome party in the world!  To beef it up and add some incentive, they are giving each family $50,000 so they can really throw a party to remember.  You might be a great family to enter if:

1) You throw parties that somehow end up on YouTube and become viral hits.

2) You throw wild surprise parties that last all night or for days.

3) You go hog wild at your backyard bbqs and they become legen…wait for it…dary.

4) Your theme nights are so intricate and involved that people forget that they aren’t in the Roaring 20’s or that they really aren’t mobsters.

Saugatuck Grain & Grape Helps Out Sandy Hook Elementary with Champagne Fundraiser

Update:  there are other fundraisers for Sandy Hook Elementary, too. 

Around 1:30 today, Saugatuck Grain & Grape in Westport announced that AT LEAST 10% of their sales for their Bubbles, Bubbles, and More Bubbles event will go to The Sandy Hook School Support Fund.  Even just a few hours after announcing this great fundraiser to help out all the families, staff, and friends of those affected by the shooting that shook Newtown and Connecticut to its core, Saugatuck Grain & Grape received a $500 donation.  If that’s any indication of the money that will be raised, this will be an event to remember in so many different ways.

Now, speaking of champagne:  Jeff, Mimi, and co. will have plenty of the sparkly stuff for you to taste.  You’ll get to sample from just some of these champagnes:  Pierre Gimonnet, Henri Goutorbe, Chartogne-Taillet, Aubry, Alfred Gratien, Pol Roger, Phillipe Gonet, Gosset, Henriot, Vollereaux and Laurent Perrier.  You’ll learn all about champagne and learn that champagne isn’t just what you’ve grown to know.  There’s a whole other world of champagne ahead of you, ready to explore.

So, come on out Saturday, 12/22/12 from 3 to 7 pm and stop by Saugatuck Grain & Grape.  You’ll need to pick up some nice champagne for Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve anyway, so why not support a local business and help people out who were cut to the bone all at the same time?  Just added:  make sure to bring $5 to contribute as your tasting fee.  The entrance/tasting fee will go directly to The Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Here’s all the event info plus an RSVP on Facebook if you feel obliged. :)

Saugatuck Grain & Grape

40 Railroad Place

Westport, CT

(203) 557-9120