SoNo Restaurant Week 2014: Classics and New Digs Like Local, Johnny Utah’s, Quartino, and Mama’s Boy

June 8-13, 2014

SoNo Restaurant Week is back from June 8-13 and this year, there’s some fresh meat (literally and metaphorically speaking) as well as some of your favorite spots to check out.  First, let’s go through the new spots like Quartino Trattoria Vineria which has taken over where Bacchus used to be, Johnny Utah’s which has taken over Black Bear and is putting a lil’ bit a country into SoNo, Sweet Lucy Lynn’s which was John Dough’s and Archie Moore’s, and Local Kitchen & Beer Bar (30 brews on tap) which is a reboot of NOLA and a sister restaurant to the Fairfield location.

Branford, New Haven, and Stratford Restaurant Weeks Hit Mid-April

We told you about the 1st Annual Stratford Restaurant Week at the start of the week, but you’ll be happy to know that there are lots of other options for branching out and trying new spots throughout the middle of April, too.  So, let’s break these restaurant weeks down in order from Branford, to New Haven, and then to Stratford:

April 6-12, 2014

First up is Branford Restaurant Week, make sure to enter for a $25 gift card good at any of the participating restaurants.  Secondly, check out the selection of restaurants that will feature specials, deals, and prix fixe menus.  Third of all, don’t forget about Stoney Creek and Thimble Island breweries, both in Branford.  Make a day of it!

Commence Noming: Darien Restaurant Week 2014: Feb 2-6 and Feb 9-13

Because of the TWO snow storms, Darien Restaurant Week has some new added dates:  2/9-2/13!

Darien is back with another restaurant week from February 2 through February 6.  This time around, the choices are pretty eclectic with some new spots:  we’re talking about Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Bodega Taco Bar, Cesco’s Trattoria, Chuck’s Steakhouse, Coromandel, Darien Social, Estia’s American, Jimmy’s Southside Tavern, Meatball & Company, Rory’s Restaurant, Scena Wine Bar, Tengda, The Goose, and The Melting Pot.  

Full 3 Day Recap of the 2013 Greenwich Wine and Food Festival (We’re Still Full)

Because of prior commitments, we were only able to attend the Grand Tasting at last year’s Greenwich Wine & Food Festival.  So, after having a great time at that last year, we vowed to hit up every event this year…and we did!

Thursday’s kick-off party was held at Miller Motors in Greenwich and featured wine, cocktails, finger food, and lot of goodies up for auction to help benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang.  We learned a great deal about the charity that Paul Newman founded to give children with disabilities a chance to attend a great summer camp and met some great people.

And, then there was Friday’s Grand Tasting (see our complete album with descriptions here).  This year’s event was in a bigger tent, so there was lots of room to stroll around and go from table to table.  This event was amazing and featured some of the best chefs from NY and CT including Michael William Batt from Food Design Catering, Rui Correia from Douro, Clifford Crooks from BLT Steak, Eric Gabrynowicz of Restaurant North, Bryan Gilmore of 121 Restaurant, Frederic Kieffer of l’escale, Michelle Klem of CakeSuite, Fritz Knipschildt of Chocopologie, Eric Korn of Good Life Gourmet, Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Debra Ponzek of Aux Delices Foods, and Bill Taibe of LeFarm and The Whelk.  There was a nice variety of wine, plenty of great top shelf liquor, and even lots of sweets and coffee to wind the night down with.  We finally had the chance to meet Chris Barrett and Brianna Pennel from Steam, so that made us very happy.  And, we got to meet and talk with Raphael Palomino, owner and culinary brain behind the amazing Sonora and the newcomer to Greenwich, Bistro Latino.  We also finally had the chance to meet Graham Elliot who became part of the auction by offering up not one but two exclusive experiences at his new restaurant in Greenwich, Primary Drink & Food.

Westport + Weston, Greater Valley, Milford, Fairfield, West Haven, and Connecticut Restaurant Weeks Info and Listings

Restaurant weeks are about exploring new places, trying new restaurants, and saving mucho dinero.  Lucky for us, there are always restaurant weeks here in Connecticut.  In October, alone, there are 6 special weeks.  So, let’s look at all the restaurants that are taking part in the Westport + Weston, Greater Valley, Milford, Fairfield, West Haven, and the statewide Connecticut restaurant week.

Westport + Weston:  9/29/13-10/12/13

Lunches for $10 or $15, dinners for $20 or $30

23 participating restaurants (info here)

323 Main Restaurant & Bar ($15/30), Acqua Ristorante ($15/30), Arezzo Ristorante ($15/30), Artisan ($15/30), Blue Lemon ($15/30), Cru Restaurant & Lounge ($15/30), DaPietro’s ($15/30), Matsu Sushi ($15/30), The Mumbai Times ($10/$20), Pink Sumo Cafe ($15/30), Positano’s Trattoria ($15/30), Post 154 ($30), The Red Hen at the Westport Inn ($15/$20), Rive Bistro ($15/30), Rizzuto’s ($15/30), Sakura Japanese Restaurant ($15/30), Spotted Horse Tavern ($15/30), Tabouli Grill ($15/30), Tarantino’s ($15/30), Tavern on Main ($15/30), Tarry Lodge ($15/30), Tengda Asian Bistro ($30), Terrain Garden Cafe ($15/30)

OmNomCT Readers: Vote in ur faves for CT Magazine’s Best of 2014 Awards

After reading your comments on our posts, our FB page, and our Twitter, we know that all of you are food critics at heart.  You know what’s good, you know what’s great, and you know what’s freaking redonkulous.  And, it’s those redonkulous restaurants that need your help to get voted into the Best of Connecticut 2014 survey from Connecticut Magazine.  And, you know what?  We want to see some major representation from Fairfield County restaurants on this list.  We love you New Haven and Hartford counties, but we’re hoping that FC will dominate this year!  So, get your vote in by clicking here and entering your favorites in by the end of the first week in October.  When you vote, make sure that you leave some comments because they might use what you say in the Best of Connecticut 2014 issue that comes out in December.  You can drool over this year’s winners here or even on your iPad, too.

Discount codes and how to win tix to Food for All: A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County

It’s September 8.  That’s the date we told you that you’d no longer be able to get the early bird prices for the Food for All 2013:  A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County event for Community Plates.  This event was put together to help Community Plates in their mission to rescue over 3,000,000 meals by 2014, feeding the hungry in Fairfield County.  Quite an admirable goal, especially considering that they’ve rescued 2,000,000 already since they began in 2011.  Food for All is taking place on October 1 at The Loading Dock in Stamford and there will be two ticketing options depending on how much you’d like to help out.

And, even though the early bird pricing is gone, by using two special codes you can get a nice discount!  Enter the code “OmNomVIP” without the quotation marks and you’ll receive $50 off the price of the cocktail reception, bringing the total price down to $200 or enter the code “OmNom” and you’ll receive $25 off the price of the main event, bringing the price down to $125.  But, there’s even another way to get yourself in the door for this highly coveted ticket…just donate.  Yes, just click here, and donate whatever you feel comfortable with.  The winners of 10 pairs of tickets will then be chosen by Community Plates and announced on September 21.

Here’s the description from our original post of what you’ll get with each ticket to further entice you to come along!  We hope to see you there.

1) VIP Cocktail Reception from 6:30-7:30

VIPs will have access to a cocktail reception that features local chefs, an Oyster bar courtesy of Norm Bloom and Son, an open bar, and other surprises.  You’ll also receive access to A Night to End Hunger.

Tickets are $200 each until September 7 or $250 until October 1.  Use OmNomVIP as your discount code for $50 off.

2) A Night to End Hunger from 7:30-10

Some of Connecticut’s hottest and newest restaurants will be on hand, giving tasty portions of their food.  There will be dancing, an open bar (they go very nicely together), a talk about food insecurity, special recognitions, and lots of surprises along the way.  We can’t wait to share some of the great stuff that’s planned out for you.  In the meantime, here are some more details about A Night to End Hunger

Tastings from…

• Cask Republic, the Stamford-based tavern voted one of the best pubs in Connecticut.
• Aladin Indian Bistro (Norwalk), where lighter more health conscious ‘traditional’ Indian food delivers the dramatic impact of the cuisine’s spices and preparation techniques.
• Mama’s Boy Southern Table & Refuge, which offers Southern hospitality and charm with a little sass.
• NOLA Oyster Bar in Norwalk, where the dining experience incorporates “from New Orleans to Maine and all shorelines in-between.”
• Post 154 (Westport), with a land and sea menu concept that is global, often playful, occasionally more refined, and always flavorful and contrasting.
• 323 Restaurant & Bar in Westport, which combines the charm of an authentic New England farmhouse with New York sophistication.
• The Spread in Norwalk (just added)
• Millstone Farm in Wilton (just added)
• Bar Sugo in Norwalk (just added)
• Oak + Almond in Norwalk (just added)
• Mecha Noodle Bar in Fairfield (just added)
• Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield (just added)
• Baro in Fairfield (just added)
• Boca in Stamford (just added)
• Redding Roadhouse in Redding (just added)
• And even more restaurants that will be added shortly.

Open bar and dancing…

Reveal of Community Plates award-winning GoRescue program

Recognition of Fairway Market Stamford (food donor), Thomas Merton Center/St. Stephen’s Food Pantry (Partner Agency), and Siobhan Crise (Volunteer Food Runner).

Tickets are $125 each until September 7 or $150 until October 1.  Use OmNom as your discount code for $25 off.

Food for All:  A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County

10/1 from 6:30-10 pm

The Loading Dock

375 Fairfield Avenue

Stamford, CT

 

Food for All 2013: Ending Hunger in Fairfield County with Community Plates

Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.
–Clint Eastwood

Community Plates has always been about taking things into your own hands.  From their food runners that pick up food from local restaurants and stores then deliver them to local shelters and food organizations, to food shelters and other food organizations that feed the food insecure, to organizers who spend countless hours finding ways to get meals into the hands of the hungry.  And, it’s nice to be a part of the magic as we join the Community Plates Benefit Committee this year for an awesome event called Food for All 2013:  A Night to End Hunger in Fairfield County.  This great event doubles as a fundraiser for all the awesome work that they do every year.  In fact, they are hoping to rescue over 3,000,000 meals by 2014.  And, that shouldn’t be hard because since starting in 2011, they have already rescued over 2,000,000.

Food for All 2013, which is the third annual event, will take place on October 1 at The Loading Dock in Stamford.  And, there are two different tickets that you can get for the night, depending on what you’d like to do and how much you’d like to donate:

Meet Your Neighbor: A Taste of Port Chester w/ 34 Restaurants!

Awesome grilled wings at Coals

When we lived in Rye Brook, we’d often travel into Port Chester and check out some great restaurants like Q, Sonora, or try the countless restaurants that were serving up ceviche.  Now that we’re in Greenwich, we’re even closer to Port Chester, so we travel in quite often and have discovered one of our favorite places:  Coals.  Well, we’re excited to share the third annual A Taste of Port Chester, 2013.  This event is taking over nearly the entire downtown area of Port Chester on June 2 from noon to 3:30 pm with registration beginning at 11:30 am.

Greenwich Library Book Sale Weekend Party, Food Truck Takeover + More

After we had moved into our new place in Greenwich in December, one of the first things we did was head over to The Greenwich Library on West Putnam Avenue.  We got our library cards and explored.  We saw thousands upon thousands of new books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, computers, help desks, an art gallery, and even an art loan program.  Plus, we loved just gathering up our CDs and books on Ireland and checking ourselves out…nice and simple.  Having all of these great features, hosting awesome events and programs, and keeping up the library isn’t easy at all, so The Greenwich Library is hosting a Book Sale Weekend from May 17-19.  Books (and more) will be on sale including audiobooks, biographies, children’s books, DVDs, cookbooks, fiction, romance novels, young adult literature, and more.  Here are the Book Sale Weekend details:

May 17, 5-8 pm:

Special Book Sale Preview Party for $100.  That gets you early access to the books that are on sale and let’s you in on a fun party with food from Burke Catering, Barcelona, and Whole Foods Market Greenwich.  And, yes, there will be drinks…espresso NEAT will be pouring coffee and espresso, there will be wine and liquors from Horseneck Wines & Liquors, and there will be plenty of drinking of the library’s signature “Book-tini” cocktail.  Guests will also get a chance to meet with antique book appraiser Ken Gloss who is a frequent appraiser on Antiques Road Show.  Ken will appraise up to five books and documents for free as part of your entrance fee, plus you’ll be able to hear Ken talk about “Is There Value in Your Old and Rare Books?” in the Cole Auditorium.  Tickets can be purchased by going here https://greenwichlibrary.ejoinme.org/booksalepreviewparty or contacting Sarah Falvo at (203) 622-7957.

May 18, 9 am to 4 pm: