Riko’s Pizza Opens New Hope Street Spot . . . with a Bar!

Stamford is no stranger to pizza joints, especially when you count ’em up on Hope Street. Misto, Vinny’s Backyard, Amore, Springdale Pizza, Hope Pizza, Pappas, Papa John’s (gag), and even (double gag) Domino’s. But now there’s another place for Stamfordites and Springdalers to go: Riko’s Pizza. Their new restaurant is loacted at 886 Hope Street and is right next to Bank of America and is directly across from the Springdale train station. Park on the road (bring quarters) or in their newly paved lot to the left of the restaurant. Their newest spot is replacing their 581 Newfield Avenue location.

Experience Pizza at Its Best on The Connecticut Pizza Trail

The Tri-State area has no shortage of pizza joints that people can’t get enough of. And while NYC spots seem to always get a heaping portion of the praise and attention, Connecticut has been stealing the spotlight as of late. The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Pizzas in America of 2015 ranked 9 CT pies (Roseland, Ernie’s, Domenick and Pia’s, BAR, Zuppardi’s, Colony Grill, Modern Apizza, and Sally’s) on their list with Frank Pepe’s of New Haven taking the #1 spot. Oh, and last year? Yeah, they took the #1 spot also. As if that weren’t recognition enough for our good ‘ole Nutmeg state, Andrew Zimmern is also in love with CT pizza, placing both Sally’s and Pepe’s on the top of his favorite pizza list. And, Food & Wine placed Pepe’s on their Best Pizza Places in the U.S. list, too. 

It’s awesome for CT to get so much (deserved) love. So awesome, in fact, that the Connecticut Office of Tourism created the Connecticut Pizza Trail so you can experience all of our state’s pizza glory. And, as official CT Food Correspondents for Connecticut, we wanted to help get the word out. The list below is a compilation of expert advice and customer love from social media. If you feel like your favorite pizza shop needs to be on this list, then throw your slice into the ring, like their Facebook page, then share your fave to their timeline or even send them a message to @CTVisit on Twitter. Our faves not on this list are Bar Sugo in Norwalk, ReNapoli in Greenwich, and Amore in Stamford. 

You’ll Want Apizza This! Zuppardi’s Food Truck Slinging Killer Pies (Review)

Yes, yes, we know CT peeps are super hardcore about their favorite pies. But with all the big guys like Colony Grill, Pepe’s, Bar, Krust, and Stanziato’s, it’s easy to not even make it out to some of the other amazing pizza shops people are talking about . . . that is, until you luckily stumble upon them while brewery hopping with Dan’s brother and sister-in-law. While Zuppardi’s has been around since 1932 (they started as a bakery but transitioned into a pizzeria in the 1940s) in West Haven, they just recently rolled out their food truck and have been parking it outside of Stony Creek Brewery, which is where we found it.

Brick + Wood Continues Guest Chef Series with 6 Local Restaurants from July to December

Brick + Wood in Fairfield has a whole new selection of great guest chefs in the works for the next few months. While Ryan Fibiger of Fliesher’s Craft Butchery finishes up the first series on June 10, Chef Jes Bengston (one of our favorite people in the world) from The Granola Bar is thinking hard about her specialty collaboration pie that will be featured on July 8. From there, a handful of other chefs and one awesome restaurant owner and BBQ boss will work with the chef and owner of Brick + Wood, Paolo Cavalli, on a pizza that highlights the chefs’ tastes and creativity down to their core. 

Just look at this talent:

Celebrate National Pizza Day @ These Fairfield County Pizza Joints

We have a weakness for pizza and we’re sure that you do too. But, it’s hard to say what’s the best part about pizza: the cheese, the toppings, the crust, or maybe it’s all the beer and wings that you have with it? Yeah, we don’t know what we love more. And, we also wonder what’s the right way to order a pie: plain, simple ingredients, or crazy combinations that somehow work? Hey, we don’t have any answers as to what makes the perfect pie for you, but we sure as hell are always ready to explore, try more pies, and see what we like. 

Pizza Oven Takeover: Brick + Wood Announces Chef Series ft. Local Area Chefs

Brick + Wood, set back off of Post Road in Fairfield, is spicing things up a bit. Starting on 2/4, they’ll be starting a guest chef series. For each night, chefs from nearby restaurants will be on hand to create a unique pie just for that night. These are events that you definitely don’t want to miss!

Here’s the schedule:

Your Name on a Bar Sugo Pizza if the Ingredients Are Right

OmNomivores, come on down, you’re the next contestants on the Ingredients Are Right! Today you’re bidding on a pizza pie that you’ll create for Chef Pat Pascarella and the staff of Bar Sugo in Norwalk. What will be your ingredients of choice be? Whatever you pick to go on your pie, don’t be that one guy that bids 1 and says just “cheese.” Then again, you don’t want to overbid and throw in 20 different ingredients on your pie. 

Once all your bids have been placed, Bar Sugo will pick their favorite ingredients and pie combination and will not only name the pie after you, but will also put it up on their menu as a special. To enter, just go to their Facebook page, find the contest post, and let your ideas fly. Good luck!

(Om + Nom) x (Brick + Wood) = ♥ in Fairfield, CT

Look, there are tons of Italian restaurants in CT, especially in Fairfield County. Some of ’em you can love, some you can just like, and some you can say aren’t even as good as Olive Garden (and that’s saying something). Well, after our press dinner we think Brick + Wood, the newest Italian spot to open in Fairfield in November 2014, is one you can love. We’re gonna break down the reasons why . . .

Fuzzy Baby Ducks, Zapata Bot + More @ NEBCO Tap Takeover! Gracias Coalhouse!

Clear your calendar for 12/23 at 5 pm, well . . . then you might as well clear your calendar for Christmas Eve, too, because you’re going to need some serious recovery time after you see what Gerard Robertson at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford has planned for you.

Yes, it’s true: some of New England Brewing’s best beers will be on tap for this special night (we’ll update with the time when we get it). Think of it as Gerard’s Christmas present to you. 

Get in the Spirit: Christmas in Black Rock w/ Fire Engine Pizza Co.

After you’ve eaten all your leftovers and you are thoroughly tired of eating turkey, you know what’s right around the corner, don’t you? Yup, it’s the start of getting ready for Christmas! You need to take our your decorations, set up your inflatables, go present shopping, and of course you need that perfect tree. Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Okay, maybe the idea of hunting for that perfect tree isn’t that great, but it should be a lot easier this year!