Make Your Thanksgiving Feast Totally Local w/ Special Westport Farmers’ Market

One of the biggest struggles of Thanksgiving is finding that right balance between buying food in advance and dealing with other shoppers when you’re running to the store the last minute if you’re lucky enough to have a grocery store open on Turkey Day. But, hey, it’s even easier this year to make a great Thanksgiving feast with a special Westport Farmers’ Market Holiday Market! Come down to Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens (7 Sylvan Lane in Westport) from 10-2 on November 24, and there will be plenty to check out.

Getting “intimate” at The Whelk’s new themed dinner series

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“I always wanted to draw,” Chef Bill Taibe of The Whelk shrugged off, “but I couldn’t.” When he discovered his love of cooking and went to school, he realized something great: “This is my art, this is how I draw.”

This is one of the many interesting things we learned about Chef Taibe’s perspective. Perhaps it’s that perspective, that open-mindedness that makes him such an amazing chef and restaurateur. It’s lead him to branch out from owning leFarm, to then opening The Whelk, and then to opening up Kawa Ni with his brother Jeff–three AMAZING restaurants! And although he recently sold leFarm to Chef Brian Lewis, he’s not done with his evolution and experimentation.

What Creative Chowders and Soups/Bisques Are Cooking at Chowdafest 2015?

Chowdafest is right around the corner, and you’ll want to check out this one. It’s gonna be bigger and bad-assier than ever, helped out by the new location: Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. From 11-3 on 10/11 you taste killer chowders and soups from New England and even, in one case, Seattle . . . then you vote for your favorites. The winners will go down in fame and will have definite bragging rights.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for kids 6-12 (you can also buy them online), and parking is absolutely free. So, as promised, here’s a delicious preview of the Creative Chowders and Soups/Bisque that you’ll be nomming on:  

Round 1 of Kawa Ni Cocktail Wars: Cream Cheese Floaters, Ancho Liquor, Sake Bombs + Walruses

Dimitrios Elias Zahariadis puts the finishing touches on his cocktail

The first ever Cocktail Wars stirred up some action yesterday at Kawa Ni. People began gathering around 5, pregaming with cocktails, good company, and plenty of good spirits (both kinds). The anticipation built up as Chefs Bill and Jeff Taibe and Beverage Manger Jeff Marron waited for the action to begin.

 

The contestants (listed below and in our Facebook slideshow) were off in the corner, trash talking and just catching up. During all of this, the staff at Kawa Ni brought out plenty of snacks and treats from Joe Farrell of Walrus + Carpenter. There was crispy edamame, pork rind nachos, hush puppies, chicken livers with toast, and fried olives, so plenty to snack on.

Chill Out @ Rizzuto’s Ice Bar + Winter Patio Party ft. New Amsterdam Vodka

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but at the Rizzuto’s Ice Bar it’s so delightful. So, go ahead and grab your bros, it’s so cold, it’s so cold, it’s so cold. 

Okay, enough of that, let’s just get down to the details for the 1st Annual Ice Bar and Winter Patio Party at Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar & Restaurant in Westport. Just stop by their 540 Riverside Avenue spot starting at 7 on 2/27 and 6 on 2/28 for some super-chilled drink, food specials, and (yes it’s true) an ice luge. And, cuz we love you so much, we’re sharing the menu with ya: 

Michel Nischan Named 2015 Humanitarian of the Year by James Beard Foundation

Michel Nischan in his element; photo from WholesomeWave.org

Chef Michel Nischan makes us happy and is someone that we look up to in so many ways. He worked with Paul Newman to create the legendary Dressing Room in Westport that was one of Connecticut’s first farm-to-table restaurants. His cooking and approach to food helped to show that local was not only better for the community, but could also taste better. Along with his love of all things local came a movement that would soon become the major focus of his life: sustainability.

Bacon’s the secret ingredient in the next Westport Farmers’ Market cooking contest

Think you’ve got a killer bacon recipe . . . or want to create one? Then you’re definitely going to want to compete at the Westport Farmers’ Market competition on 1/24! If you want to compete, here’s whatcha need to do:

• E-mail Lori Cochran by 1/20 to secure your spot.
• Pick up bacon from one of the vendors at Westport Farmers Market
• E-mail Lori again with the recipe including which farm your got your bacon from by 1/24
• Create three servings of your dish and bring them to WFM by 10:30 on Saturday, 1/24
• Get ready for judging at 11! You’ve got tough critics as the judges this time are co-owner of The Spread Chris Hickey and Chef Carlos Baez, also from The Spread. 

The winner will snag a cornucopia of goodies stuffed into a market bag and will also win a WFM tee. In addition, that killer recipe will be shared with over 3,000 subscribers via the WFM newsletter!

Westport Farmers Market is located (for winter) at 7 Sylvan Lane in (you guessed it) Westport!

Whole Foods Darien, Fairfield, Westport Host Giving Day for Stepping Stones Museum for Children

 

Whole Foods Darien, Fairfield, and Westport have teamed up for their latest giving day that benefits an important institution in Norwalk: Stepping Stones Museum for Children. All you need to do is buy something at any of the three grocery stores on January 13 and they’ll donate 5% of your sale right to Stepping Stones. That easy, that simple.

So, hold off on shopping today or get an early start for next week. Plus, they do have a good beer selection too, just sayin’ it might be a nice time to stock up for football playoffs. ;) 

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Here’s more about Stepping Stones Museum for Children and what they do:

Chilifest Returns to Westport! Get the Fiery Deets Here!

Back when we started our blog, we were around for the first ever Chilifest! At first it was created as an off-shoot of the very successful Chowdafest, run by Jim Keenan. When we went, we had a great time and tasted some awesome chili. One of the things we remember the most, though, is that during the time of stuffing our faces how much snow fell down, crippling power lines and the drive home. But, hey, we were fed, we were warm, we were full: we didn’t care!

The Granola Bar in Westport Hosts Holiday Boutique; Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary w/ Deals

Even though we live in Greenwich, we’ve come on over to Westport a few times to check out The Granola Bar. The first time, we had a nice breakfast with plenty of great coffee and food, we checked out their new menu when they began to stay open for dinnertime, and we stopped in after Christmas tree shopping for some snacks and had a chance to sample some of the great desserts that they are serving.