New Haven Restaurant Makes Top 100 Best Restaurants List from OpenTable

Cojunudo from Olea in New Haven, a Top 100 Restaurant. Picture from Olea website.

We might have a slight problem and addiction with OpenTable. But, hey, that’s okay. We use it to set up reservations, check out reviews on restaurants, and stack up points to earn some cash back on our meals.

But, aside from being a great app and site to use, OpenTable also gathers an amazing list each year of the most loved restaurants. This year’s list, 100 Best Restaurants for Foodies in America is a result of combing through over 5,000,000 reviews at more than 20,000 restaurants! 

The Fez Grand Reopening Party Drops on August 15 – Stamford, CT

Back on May 21, we broke the sad news that The Fez in Stamford would be closed for a couple of months to further fezzify it and bring in some much-needed updates. Well, wait no more Fezavores . . . they’re just about ready to open their doors again!

And, lucky for you, you’ll only need to wait until August 15! That’s when owner Eric Monte will be hosting the Grand Reopening Party and the reveal of the made-over restaurant. On that night you’ll not only get tastes of Chef Shelby’s updated menu, but there will be live music from The Casablanca Project, The Juicy Grapes, and a few special guests. Plus, it’s also owner Eric Monte’s birthday, so it’s just gonna be a killer good time.

Mercado: Street Food + Rave Takes a Bite Outta Stamford

When we went to Barcelona a few years ago, we checked out La Boqueria. It was an amazing experience with fresh food, veggies, and fruits that seemingly went on for miles aisle after aisle. And, mixed in around the mercado were restaurants that specialized in foods like pizza, empanadas, coffee, fresh squeezed jugos, seafood, and more. Well, Barcelona is a bit far to travel for that kind of experience, but checking out Mercado on March 1 isn’t so tough.

CT’s Biggest Food Truck Festival EVER, ever, ever: 1st Annual Connecticut Food Truck Festival

Set aside July 19 and 20…now…seriously…we’ll wait…

Update:  the festival organizer changed the price for tickets to $5.  Bring your ticket back on Sunday and pay only $2 admission! 

Connecticut peeps really like their food trucks.  And, on July 19 and 20 from 11-7 on both days, CT peeps are gonna fall straight up, head-over-heels in LOVE with a helluva lot of food trucks at the The Connecticut Food Truck Festival at the North Haven Fairgrounds.  Although the final details are still being worked out, there are already a few dozen trucks that have been signed up, with 40-50 expected by the time of the festival.  That brings this festival into the record books here in CT as the biggest food truck festival.  The previous record was at Westbrook Tanger Outlets with about 20 food trucks, and the recent RBS Food Truck Festival clocking in at 15.  And, the top record will soon be broken with an estimated 33 trucks at the Hamden Food Truck Festival…still not as big as the CT Food Truck Fest, though.  

Top 10 Local Kids Compete @ Future Chef’s Cook Off w/ Tastings, Activities, and Raffles

Three of the winners cooking and baking in the kitchens of DiMare, Cafe Oo La La, and Casa Villa

When you picture cooking competitions, who do you picture cooking up a storm?  Seasoned (pun intended) vets in the kitchen, talented chef/owners who own culinary empires, food truck operators, or CIA grads ready to make names for themselves?  How about a group of kids?  Well, that’s exactly what you’ll get when you head to the Future Chef’s Cook Off on June 8, 2014 from 12 to 3 at The Italian Center in Stamford.  Tickets are $35 online or $40 at the door, $10 online or $15 at the door for ages 7-18, and free for kids 6 and under.  Tickets get you in the door, get you tastings of all the food, and get you the happiness in knowing that you’ll be helping kids with cancer via Yale-New Haven Hospital.

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.

A Week of Caring @ Mediterraneo and Terra to Benefit Greenwich United Way

Not like you need an excuse to eat out, but here’s a great one…both Mediterraneo and Terra in Greenwich are giving back with their annual Week of Caring.  This year they will be donating a portion of their sales to the Greenwich United Way from 4/28-5/4.  It’s really that simple…just eat and drink and you’ll be helping fund vital community projects and services.  Check out more about Mediterraneo by looking at our Greenwich and Norwalk reviews.  Also, look through the Terra site, take a look at the menu, and maybe if you’re lucky you could run into some celebrities like Kathie Lee, Regis Philbin, and Isiah Thomas.

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!

Drinks, food + fun at A Novel Affair 2014 fundraiser for The Ferguson Library – Stamford, CT

 

Quite the novel idea…

Last year we were invited to attend A Novel Affair, The Ferguson Library‘s annual fundraiser, right in the library.  While it seemed pretty naughty to be eating and drinking in a library (we were even TALKING), we got over that quickly and had a blast.  All in, $160,000 was raised for the library during that event between ticket prices, donations, and auction items.  And, this year around, the needs

Half Full will be pouring out some magic!

of the library have not disappeared.  They still need to fund the awesome events and classes they put on for kids and adults, purchase books and materials, help make initiatives happen, and maintain the library as a beacon light in the Stamford community.   

So, please join us at this year’s event on April 10 from 5:30-8:30, for food, drinks, and tons of fun.  Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here (sponsorship options available, too) or by calling (203) 351-8205.  Like we said, not only will you be helping to fund the library’s offerings and collections, you’ll also be able to take advantage of some of the area’s best food and drinks.

Just look:

David Cingari of David’s Soundview Catering Opens Cafe 1000 in Bridgeport

David Cingari and Mayor Finch make it official on Feb 12 at the Cafe 1000 Grand Opening party!  Just a note:  not sure we can trust him with scissors that big!  Eeek.  (all photos from David’s Soundview Catering)

David Cingari is. the. man.  He’s a graduate of not only New Haven Hotel & Restaurant Management, but also of the Culinary Institute of America.  On a personal level, he is probably one of the nicest and most hilarious guys that you’ll ever met, and he’s also the proud owner and Head Chef of David’s Soundview Catering in Stamford.  We got to know him and the DSC crew at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Maple Sugar Chef’s Challenge, and at many charitable events that they support and help organize.  Needless to say, when it comes to awesome food like their redonkulous taco bar that we tasted at Fine Food for a Cause, they’ve got it all under control.  And, with over 25 years under their belts, David’s Soundview Catering has garnered an excellent reputation, becoming a staple in the community.

Stamford…and now Bridgeport

Well, we’ve got some great news to share with you:  David’s expanded a bit out of Stamford with the recent addition (opened 5 weeks ago) of Cafe 1000.  His idea for this brand new restaurant?  Offer up some great, high quality breakfast and lunch options for the good people of Bridgeport.  The area they moved into (the ground floor at 1000 Lafayette Street) will soon house over 600 new apartment units, is close to 95, the train, and even the waterfront.  Plus, Bridgeport is a great and growing alternative for young professionals with costs noticeably more affordable than Stamford.