Have a girls pint out with Black Hog Brewing at Fleishers Craft Kitchen Westport

Ok, so as you’ve probably noticed, we write our blog posts pretty ambiguously so you never really know if it’s Kristien or Dan writing it. It’s not that we’re not trying to trick you or anything, it’s just that it allows us to be more fluid in who’s writing what and when, finishing each other’s posts, etc. But for this post, we’re breaking all the rules . . . and in case you were wondering who the rule breaker is in this relationship, well, it’s usually me, Kristien!

Why am I so adamant about breaking the rules for this one post? Because I’m sick and tired of the stereotype that killer craft beers are for men and ladies only like the lighter, easier drinking stuff. EFF that, this girl is Double IPA all the way! Give me some 120 Minute, Heady Topper, or Haze any day! It’s about damn time the craft beer industry not only recognizes their loyal female fans, but maybe even plans some marketing efforts targeted TO them instead of just men. (Can’t help it, that’s the marketer in me speaking–damn day job.)

When you wanna be good, go to b.good Greenwich

Sometimes you just need to hit that restart button on your diet. . . especially, oh say, after a deeply gluttonous vacation in Lake Placid and Vermont jam packed with beer, bourbon, bbq, burgers, Bloody Marys and bacon. Luckily, there’s b.good a couple of miles from us, which makes it easy for us to be good after our trip . . . especially when they have delivery. BOOM!

Bareburger: Great Apps + Drinks, But How ‘Bout the Burgers?

For the longest time, people wondered if Bareburger Stamford would actually happen as that sad and lonely spot at 21 Harbor Point remained barren while Fortina and other spots nearby opened up and flourished. Well, glimmers of hope arrived as winter neared, and since opening up a few weeks back it has been jam-packed.

When we went to try it out this past Saturday (at around 6:45 pm) we were more than ready to eat and drink our sorrows away after witnessing our beloved Rangers lose in overtime at MSG. The space is pretty small with some seats at the bar, a few high-tops, and a handful of tables, but luckily we only had a 1/2 hour wait for a party of 6, which isn’t too bad.

Adam Richman Talks with OmNomCT ’bout Burgers, NYC, the Greenwich Wine & Food Fest + more!

The legend, Adam Richman (Photo credit: Travel Channel)

We’ve come across plenty of people in the food world who amaze us. Chefs whose culinary creativity blow our minds, oenophiles whose brains are virtually wine encyclopedias, brewers that can taste the slightest variation in their brews, and people who can give you a killer restaurant recommendation (with corresponding menu item) to any city in the whole frickin United States in less than 3 seconds flat. That last one describes the one, the only, Adam Richman. In terms of knowing all the great spots to eat across America, he’s a legend. From taking down legendary meals in Man vs. Food, to searching for the best sandwiches in Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America, to traveling across the country to find the best grub in The Traveler’s Guide to Life, it’s tough to find a more knowledgable dude.

Now, while we’re sure you all know Adam from one of those shows, or maybe even his new NBC show, Food Fighters, where experienced home cooks go up against talented and well-known chefs, you’ll all get to know him a little bit more at the Greenwich Wine & Food Festival.  He will not only be doing a demo there (he dishes about what he’s making in this interview) at 3:30 on 9/27, but he’ll also be the host of the Burger Battle that starts at 4:30 the same day.

To prep you for the big day we asked him some serious questions about how to make and where to get a great burger, his favorite baseball team (and the only team that matters)…the Yanks, prime spots to get food in his hometown Brooklyn, his new show, how he keeps things so healthy, and his plans for complete world food-domination.

Kristien: So, obviously we know why they picked you as the perfect judge for the Burger Battle at the Greenwich Wine & Food Festival…you know your way around a burger for sure.  We wanted to know, though, what do you really look for in a good burger?

Adam Richman: You know, I think everything has to be balanced. Sometimes you’ll find these burgers where it’s an average burger and an average bun with a pitchfork full of toppings. Or, sometimes the bun is overwhelming, or the burger is falling out. I think that it has to be balanced. I think that you can over topping a burger.  Because everything, more or less, can go on a burger…it doesn’t mean everything should.

In-depth w/ Kory Wollins of BSF: Burgers, Making Mooz, Life, and the Heart of a Perfectionist.

Chances are, this is the man you see every day when you come into BSF Greenwich…

A family of four walked through the door, haggard disappearing into happy, and Kory Wollins was already on them like white on rice.  “Hey, how’s it going?  Is this your first time here?” he asked as they looked a bit overwhelmed as they tried to figure out their orders.  It turns out they were there from Texas and visiting family in Norwalk for a wake, so they stopped at Burgers, Shakes & Fries, hearing about their reputation.  We know they like it big in Texas, so Kory broke down the menu for them.  They got their order in and Kory (owner of BSF Greenwich and co-owner of the Darien spot) kept talking to them about Texas, Connecticut, and just life in general.  When they got their burgers, the buttered-toast hamburgers didn’t last too long, quickly being devoured by the hungry Texans.

This was just 10 minutes of one day (while even more people came in to order during this time), of one week, of one year at BSF, but to that family, Kory made a difference.  On that day, Kory met with Dan and they talked about burgers, the restaurant biz, blogs, his quest to conquer making Fior di Latte mozzarella, and waxing philosophical about life.  During previous conversations they talked a lot about how blog culture tends to bury the good restaurants that have been around in a while in favor of the newest and hottest spots.  There was one comment that stood out from our most recent conversation that we want to start with:  “In the end the most important question to ask is, ‘Did you walk out with a smile when you left?'”  We always smile when we leave, especially when we have the smell of burgers and fries wafting from our bag as we speed our grub home.  So, let’s dig in and grill Kory for a bit…hey, he’s not the only one who can grill.

Bounty Food Truck: Farm to Mobile Kitchen Gourmet Burgers + More w/ ALL the Juicy Details

The Border Burger in all its glory, via Chef Vacca’s Twitter

Burger month?  Pssshh, what Bounty Food Truck and its three owners have in store for you will make every single day burger day and have you quivering, falling to your knees in praise of the burger gods.  This, all from a brand new food truck that’s just entered into its first full-time week traveling around Westport.  The owners, James Edkins, Chris Vacca, and Christiaan Rizy, all from the Westport/Wilton area, are ready to make your mornings, days, and maybe even nights a little better.

The Chef:  Chris Vacca

Like any great food truck, it all starts with a talented chef who’s manning the grill, coming up with great menu choices, and pumps out awesome food quickly.  And, you could say Chef Chris Vacca has been around the kitchen a bit…22 years, actually.  Not only is he a graduate of the CIA, he has also traveled the world, and worked in culinary meccas like NYC (Park Avenue Cafe, Le Madri, Il Toscanaccio), Napa (Cantinetta Piero), Italy (Antica Trattoria San Lorenzo), and other European spots like Switzerland (Giradet), and he also owns Trevi Trattoria in Wantagh, NY.  He has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants and also has local connections, recently consulting at Zaza in Scarsdale and 323 Restaurant in Westport.  By his side are James Edkins and Christiaan Rizy who help run the food truck, offer up guidance, resources, business planning, organization, and help in growing the food truck into an even more successful business.  Bounty Food Truck all began because they loved seeing the mobile food truck scene thriving in NY and thought, hey, we can do that.  And do that they are…

Burgers and Half Priced Drafts @ City Limits Diner – Stamford, CT

Look what’s on tap…

One of our go-to destinations when we’re looking for a quick bite or want to stop at a diner when we’re in Stamford is City Limits.  It’s the fanciest diner that we can think of, but they also throw down some great food, much made from scratch.  Depending on his mood, Dan might order one of their tried-and-true breakfast items, or he just might go for the Italian Burger:  piled with pancetta, onions, housemade smoked mozzarella, and with a nice portion of crispy french fries.  Don’t judge, he can have breakfast any way that he wants.  

Win a Bareburger Gift Card and Sir Kensington’s Condiment 4 Pack

What’s ironic about the name Bareburger is that you’d be crazy to ever order a bare burger there.  What, with all the different kinds of patties like beef, wild boar, ostrich, turkey, fried chicken, lamb, and wild boar, all the different burgers on the menu, or the countless options and toppings in order to make your own Barest Burger, you’d seriously have to be cray cray to order just a patty.

Well, whatever burger, sides, or shakes you order, things just got a bit saucier!  That’s because Bareburger is testing out a new ketchup in 5 select locations: Ridgefield, Park Slope, Chelsea, 73rd Street on the Upper East Side, and their Astoria location.  But, we’re not talking about just any old ketchup.  We’re talking about Sir Kensington’s, a gourmet, all-natural, non-GMO ketchup that some great restaurants like ABC Kitchen, Sarabeth’s, and Spotted Pig in NYC use.  Visit any of these locations, try out Bareburger’s new ketchup, then leave your feedback via comment card.

Little Pub Opening Third Restaurant in Cos Cob, Greenwich

Artist’s rendering of Little Pub Greenwich, from FB page

Ridgefield got Little Pub in 2009.

Wilton got Little Pub in 2013.

And, damn right, Greenwich is getting Little Pub in 2014.

That’s right.  Little Pub is opening up its third location and has set its sights on Greenwich, more specifically Cos Cob.  Their new location will be located at 531 East Putnam Avenue, the former location of Fonda la Paloma.  We’re gonna miss saying “Fondle my Paloma” every time we pass it now, but that’s okay…Little Pub is coming in.

Where Are You Celebrating National Cheeseburger Day?

Kristien needed her regular burger, though she did contemplate the Surf and Turf!

Load ‘er up! Super Duper Weenie Cheeseburger

B.E.C. Burger. Yes, those are french fries.

To be honest, we’re a bit disappointed.  And, do you know why?  The US government has seriously been lax in their duties.  Yes, 9/18 is National Cheeseburger Day, yet it’s not an official government holiday.  We deserve a day off to go to our local burger joints and devour burger after burger all day long.  Well, don’t forget the fries…or the shake, yeah, you need a milkshake too.

So, in honor of this most awesome holiday, we were wondering where you get your favorite cheeseburger?  Let us know all the juicy details!

Yours in burger noming,

Dan and Kristien