Discounted Tix for 6th Annual CT Chef’s Challenge Still Available

From now until September 1, you can get your Connecticut Chef’s Challenge tix at a discounted rate. Yup, for just $60 you can pick up a ticket that would normally cost $75. Entry gets you in on the action as you watch some of CT’s best chefs compete, passed apps, dessert, and free wine and beer. Or, you could buy a VIP ticket  ($100) that gets you into the Chef’s Reception and gets you a chance at winning a seat at the Chef’s Table Tasting Seat. There are also other seating options available that get you a guaranteed seat at the Chef’s Tasting Table.

Win a Pair of Tix to the 8th Annual Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover’s Evening

Marla is the winner, but keep an eye out in your e-mail boxes because there might be a special deal waiting for some of you! 

Every year we look forward to a massive event that helps us get through winter. No, we’re not talking about football: we’re talking about the Chocolate, Dessert & Wine Lover’s Evening! This year is the 8th year . . . and it will definitely prove to be even better than the rest! 

The action is going down on February 4 from 6-9 at the Stamford Marriot Hotel & Spa with all proceeds going directly to Shelter for the Homeless. There will be over 70 different dessert, chocolate, food, and adult drink vendors on hand to help ya warm up. In addition, there will be entertainment and tips from host Chef Plum, music, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and even chances to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts for your precious little love. Tickets are $45 per person or $80 if you buy them in pairs: perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat.

Cozy up as Chef Plum presents his 1st pop-up of 2016

The ever-awesome Chef Plum has set up his first pop-up of the year . . . and you need to grab your tix STAT. He’s prepared a 5-course menu featuring local ingredients that will literally warm your body and metaphorically warm your heart. His events always sell out and are worth it on so many levels. 1st up, the food’s always on point. 2nd, the drink pairings are awesome, whether it’s beer, wine, or cocktails. And, 3rd, it’s great to get an inside look into how each course was put together by Plum and his crew as he talks about each course.

Win Two Tix to Friday’s Connecticut Chefs Challenge 2015!

Update: Thanks to all that entered, what an awesome contest! Sorry to say, there can be only one winner, but we’re happy to announce that Michele, you’re the winner. We’ll be contacting you via e-mail soon. Tix are still on sale if you didn’t get to win. :)

We’ve been counting down the days, hours, and minutes until 7 pm this Friday, 9/18 at the Lincoln Culinary Institute in Shelton. That’s when 8 super-talented chefs from Connecticut will do battle to see who takes home the culinary belt and gets to brag about the win all year long. But, it’s not just about watching these incredibly talented chefs do battle and rib each other. Nope. You can check out the buffet, taste some apps, drink some free wine and beer (Host Chef Plum’s arranged for some great beer, btw), and dessert! Also, there will be some judges that we love there, too: Chef Derrick Prince of Stanton Social, Judy and Joy, and Ken Tuccio. 

2015 CT Chefs Challenge Competitors and Judges Announced

We already told you to save the date, so it’s about that time to get your tickets for the 2015 CT Chefs Challenge! The competition goes down on Friday, September 18, starting at 7 pm at the Lincoln Culinary Institute in Shelton. This year you have two options for tix, too: GA for $50 which includes free beer/wine, apps, food buffet, coffee, and dessert or the Tasting Ticket for $100 which also includes a reserved seat at a shared table, and a tasting dish from the chefs for the table to share. Also included is the cocktail hour where you’ll have the chance to drink, try some apps, meet some new friends, and learn about The Optimus Foundation who are the benefactors of this incredible event.

Now, here are some of the great things to look forward to:

Book This Dinner: Chef Plum Pops-up @ Minor Memorial Public Library in Latest Dinner Underground Series

Chef Plum continues to kick ass and take names with his ever-popular and continually-sold-out Dinner Underground series. This time, though, it’s a new deal for him, as he takes over the Minor Memorial Public Library in Roxbury! And, what he has in store for undergrounders will be pretty damn awesome. Before we check out the menu, here are the down and dirty deets:

Chef Plum takes over Edmond Town Hall for next installment of Dinner Underground

One of our favorite chefs here in Connecticut is hosting another event in his Dinner Underground series, but this time around it’s in a brand new spot. Yup, Chef Plum and the Plum Luv Foods crew will be taking over Edmond Town Hall (45 Main St.) in Newtown on March 8 from 7 until 11:30.

What can you expect? Well, to be frank: an awesome time. We’ve been to many of Plum’s pop-ups (Butcher’s Best, Williams-Sonoma, and his most recent Sourcopia at Two Roads) so we’re kinda experts. Actually, that kinda makes us groupies, huh? You can expect excellent service, great food and great wine pairings to go with each course. And, when you leave, you’ll actually leave full because portions are always nicely sized.

Phil Markowski Talks Kriek, Gueuze, Philsamic, Unorthodox + Roadsmary’s “Other” Baby at Two Roads Sourcopia Dinner w/ Chef Plum

If there’s something that we’ve learned about Two Roads, it’s that when Two Roads does something, they always do it big…and they do it right. Case in point: last night’s Sourcopia paired beer dinner from Chef Plum and the Plum Luv Foods crew. There were five courses of food dreamed up by Chef Plum that he paired with new Two Roads beer, including their three new sours that everybody in attendance got first tastes of. There was Kriek, Gueuze, Philsamic, and two other brews including the soon-to-be year round Unorthodox and a delicious Roadsmary’s “Other” Baby.

The pairings were really spot-on and the courses were spaced out nicely…quite a feat considering what Plum, Chef Kern, and the crew were dealing with. They were there, hours before, setting up a make-shift kitchen in the side room where you normally go to get growler fills. Our favorite courses were the sashimi tuna, the Surf and Turf, and of course the pork belly and our favorite brews were Philsamic and Roadsmary’s “Other Baby.” Excellent job, again, Plum and Two Roads.

To Do: Two Roads Sourcopia Beer Release Party and Sourcopia Beer Dinner with Chef Plum

For a two year old brewery that has become the biggest in the state, Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford has been putting out impressive beer…especially when it comes to their special and limited release brews. Take Igor’s Dream, for example: when they held a special release event on January 25, hundreds of people lined up for hours to get their own bottles to take home—including us! And this year there is going to be a special release party with food trucks on 10/25 from 12-9 at the brewery where you can get to try and take home two lambic beers (Kriek and Gueuze) as well as the highly-anticipated Philsamic. Beer can be purchased by bottle (max of 2 per style) and will be on tap at the brewery while supplies last. Here are some descriptions from their site along with pricing: 

Chef Plum Takes Over Williams-Sonoma for Latest Dinner Underground – Danbury, CT

Some shots from the last Dinner Underground at Williams-Sonoma

Chef Plum, his trusty Sous Chef Justin Kern, and the Plum Luv Foods crew are back for some more action with Dinner Underground at Williams-Sonoma in Danbury.  This do-not-miss event is taking place on 5/4/14 and starts at 6:30.  Tickets come to $74.84 after a processing fee, but the meal is definitely worth it…don’t delay, either, they are almost sold out.  Not only will you get 7 courses, you’ll also get nice pours of wine, access to the Williams-Sonoma store after hours with a special discount, and maybe even a few surprises.

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We went to the last dinner (the first pop-up dinner ever held at a WS) and had so much fun and, ironically, sat with the same awesome people that we sat with when we went to a Dinner Underground session that took place over a year ago.  Our favorite dishes are pictured above:  scallops with pork belly and a killer do-it-yourself polenta plate that featured three different toppings.

This time around, Chef Plum is featuring a menu that we want to devour bit by bit and of course he’s using pork belly:

Amuse Bouche – pickled veggie plate

Smoked Scallop “Crudo” with Celery Leaves and Fennel Pollen (ode to John Currence)

Asian Fried Chicken, Jalapeno and Onion

Compressed Ahi and Watermelon with Frisee

Crispy Beet Fries with Black Garlic Aioli, Birch Beer, White Bean

Roasted Pork Belly, Red Chili and Beer Foam, Local Maple

Mikshake (they are leaving this as a surprise, can’t wait…)

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Williams-Sonoma

Danbury Fair Mall

7 Backus Avenue

Danbury, CT 06810

(203) 797-0182