tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84373645308242674342024-03-21T07:25:30.017-04:00The Secret IngredientThe Secret Ingredient offers cooking classes to food enthusiasts of all skill levels. Cooking instructor, Tracy Holleran, teaches classes on a wide variety of cuisines and cooking themes. Monthly classes are offered, in addition to classes and parties for private groups/girls' night out groups. Her food blog is updated weekly with postings on various seasonal topics. As a freelance food writer, she also publishes articles in magazines and newspapers.The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-14955185160079968502011-11-16T21:05:00.002-05:002011-11-22T14:57:53.845-05:00Fast New Eats in FairfieldIf you’ve driven down the Post Road in Fairfield Center lately, you may have noticed the bright yellow food truck parked outside the library. Christophe’s Crepes began serving up crepes-on-the-go late this summer and has been going strong ever since. Reminiscent of the street-side crepe carts I first experienced in Paris almost 20 years ago, Christophe, a Frenchman, whips up fresh The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-38109709091323928062011-09-20T06:00:00.001-04:002011-09-20T06:00:09.627-04:00What's New in Fairfield: Pancakes & Crepes!Whenever my parents visit from out of state, they always make the same comment. "It doesn't look like there is a recession in Fairfield!" Based on the fact that it seems like more new restaurants/food spots have been opening lately than have been closing, I'd have to agree. Maybe we Fairfielders are just in a state of denial, or we just love a good meal out! Now, right in The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-45457945507970213082011-08-22T12:29:00.002-04:002011-08-22T17:19:33.107-04:00Farm-to-Table, Delivered Fresh to Your Doorstep!
GrazeDelivered began in our area about a year ago, and delievers artisinal foods, prepared meals, and farm fresh meat throughout Fairfield County. The idea came about when Westport mom, Christy Colasurdo, teamed up with Vermont-based friend Julianna Doherty Konczal, to bring quality foods being produced by small, family run farms to a wider market. By keeping prices on par with The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-56325926184943364022011-08-15T08:36:00.002-04:002011-08-15T08:37:18.026-04:00"What's Cooking?" on Connecticut Channel 12The Secret Ingredient is what's cooking!
You may have seen me on Channel 12 over the weekend demonstrating one of my very favorite side dishes, a Black Bean Salad with Cilantro. As promised, here's the recipe! Enjoy!
Black Bean Salad with Cilantro Serves 6 as a side dish 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed ½ cup diced carrot ½ cup diced red pepper 2 scallions (green The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-64203042786110889132011-07-26T09:30:00.001-04:002011-07-26T09:30:00.497-04:00Restaurants: Artisan at The Delamar Southport**My below review of Artisan originally appeared on SuzySaid.com on July 25, 2011.
The highly anticipated Artisan Restaurant opened in the Delamar Southport Hotel on July 13 and has been going strong ever since. Described as “New England inspired cuisine influenced by the rhythm of the season and the farmstead offerings,” Artisan hits the mark
When we first arrived and glimpsed The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-78244466283077703492011-06-21T12:31:00.000-04:002011-06-21T12:31:02.808-04:00Summer at PinkberryI've blogged about Pinkberry before, but I needed to add a new post because I'm pretty certain the new summer flavors were created especially for me. I don't know how they managed to get into my head, but they succeeded in choosing two of my very favorite flavors of all time: watermelon and salted caramel.
In addition to the standard flavors available (original vanilla, The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-20460739683976073232011-06-07T22:53:00.000-04:002011-06-07T22:53:20.145-04:00Restaurants: What's Shakin' in FairfieldLots of exciting food news in Fairfield this summer!
Perhaps the most highly anticipated opening is that of Shake Shack on the Fairfield/Westport border (across the street from Home Goods). For those of you not familiar with Danny Meyer's "roadside burger stand", it's a whole lot more than just great shakes (my friend Anne over at SuzySaid promises the caramel shakes are The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-48100317973704438862011-02-27T22:14:00.001-05:002011-10-19T21:44:40.026-04:00Restaurants: Recent Discoveries in Fairfield CountyIt seems I've been doing a lot of eating out lately, and have tried to check out some new/newer places instead of frequenting my old favorites. Here are some places I've been recently....it's a huge mix of places that span the spectrum. All good, depending on what kind of mood you're in...
Nice night out:
The Pine Social, New Canaan, CT
I am usually suspect of restaurants in shoppingThe Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-34724669175303786532010-12-12T19:20:00.000-05:002010-12-12T19:21:26.005-05:00Restaurants: Avellino's, Fairfield, CTI cannot explain why I hadn't been to Avellino's in years. I remember being there with my extended family for some sort of special dinner. I remember the food being good. I remember not having any complaints. What I do not remember is why it took me something like five years to go back. I can only chalk it up to the fact that I love trying new restaurants, and latelyThe Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-31962676842451189622010-11-01T12:25:00.001-04:002011-02-12T15:27:07.589-05:00Restaurants: BONDA, Fairfield, CTBONDA
Bonda is back…and this time it’s right in Fairfield! Bonda was previously located in Westport near the train station, and was better known as a take-out/catering establishment called Abbondanza. In fact, for ages I thought it was only for take-out, and did not realize that to the left of the catering store-front was a fabulous, sit-down restaurant. Luckily for me, we have Westport friends The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-47656813615488078452010-10-25T15:17:00.000-04:002010-10-25T15:18:50.427-04:00Now Open in Fairfield: Tasti D Lite AND PinkberryFairfield is now the home of not one, but two new 'ice cream' shops. They amazingly opened practically the same week, and from the buzz I hear around town, have already developed cult-like followings. Both are chains better known in other parts of the country, but particularly in New York City. Tasti D Lite actually opened it's doors in NYC in 1987 and has been popular ever The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-20178297127106170362010-05-28T12:36:00.000-04:002010-05-28T13:49:50.859-04:00Post Road Food Finds in FairfieldToday marks the opening of the much anticipated Colony Grill on the Post Road in Fairfield (in the former Fairfield Stationers space). I, for one, cannot WAIT to go, as I'm still thinking about that delicious 'hot oil pie' I had in the original Stamford location a couple months ago. If you've never experienced the hot oil pie, do not let the name turn you away. The thin crust pizzas drizzled The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-6862996197215129242009-09-27T17:10:00.001-04:002009-09-27T17:45:49.897-04:00Restaurants: Crumbs Bake Shop, Westport, CT Over the summer while I was window shopping at the Westport Tiffany's something off the beaten path caught my eye. Nestled behind Tiffany's and across the street from the Westport Public Library lies a (relatively) new confectionery mecca, Crumbs Bake Shop. Crumbs is a chain featuring gourmet cupcakes and has several locations in the Tri-State area, including the new spot in Westport, plus New The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-61663562120766929532009-08-31T14:58:00.001-04:002009-09-08T19:00:39.012-04:00Ommegang: Belgian-Style Beer Brewed in NY On a recent trip to visit my family in upstate New York, we decided to finally take a tour of the Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown. Mind you, the brewery has been there for years, but I'm not sure what on earth took me so long to get there!Ommegang began brewing in Belgium in 1549. In 1997, it opened a US microbrewery on a former hops farm right outside of Cooperstown. Recently, Ommegang was "The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-7505951557785676992009-08-23T21:54:00.000-04:002009-08-24T08:43:41.638-04:00Restaurants: Eating Out In South Norwalk, CTSouth Norwalk is one of my favorite places in Fairfield County. It has the vibe of a fun New York neighborhood...but is much closer to home and you can actually park your car! All summer I've been sticking closer to Fairfield, but over the weekend we celebrated our anniversary with a great night out in SoNo.It had been a while since we ventured down the Turnpike, and I was surprised to see lots The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-43830267569977832772009-08-17T15:00:00.000-04:002009-08-17T18:28:18.527-04:00Food Openings in Fairfield, CTI just took a walk down to the newly expanded Brick Walk Promenade, and am very excited about the food happenings in Fairfield! Lots of yummy openings on the horizon....Amore Bakery is set to open later this week and will feature cakes, cupcakes, biscotti, and a selection of baked goods from SoNo Bakery in South Norwalk. This well-located bakery will be a welcome addition to Fairfield Center!The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-84541991570958673972009-06-22T09:22:00.000-04:002009-06-22T12:55:16.633-04:00Restaurants: Harborview Market, Bridgeport, CT Harborview Market, located in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport (adjacent to Saint Mary's by the Sea), has been around for years, but outside of its immediate neighborhood, is perhaps one of Fairfield County's best kept secrets.The bustling market selling all types of grocery provisions, and also does a brisk restaurant business at both breakfast and lunchtime. Mornings they offer house made The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-61549076262167552962009-06-19T11:45:00.000-04:002009-06-19T11:47:22.551-04:00Movies: Food, Inc.Coming (hopefully) soon to a theatre near you....watch this YouTube trailer for a new documentary on the food we eat and why it is making us sick....Food, Inc. trailerThe Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-31288916200781748092009-06-15T10:52:00.000-04:002009-06-16T22:53:00.073-04:00Restaurants: Garden Catering, Fairfield, CTGarden Catering, the well known establishment revered for its fried chicken and famous chicken nuggets, has opened an outpost on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. It began in the late 70s in Greenwich, and later expanded to Old Greenwich, Stamford, and Westchester County. Now Fairfielders can see what all the buzz is about! One friend, who is originally from Old Greenwich, said "I grew up on The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-24809518959279756612009-06-11T14:16:00.001-04:002009-06-16T22:53:17.491-04:00Restaurants: Amici Miei Cafe, Bridgeport, CTI've blogged about my favorite Bridgeport eateries before, and with so many new spots opening in downtown Bridgeport, I'm adding more to my list all the time! Downtown Bridgeport has really become a nighttime dinner destination, and now you'll want to head there for lunch as well!Today I went to check out Fraiche Burger (997 Main Street), only to find its chef/owner, Marc Lippman, outside with The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-9443823666513228002009-05-31T21:14:00.001-04:002011-02-12T15:28:07.447-05:00Restaurants: Cafe Madeline, Fairfield, CT
You may have noticed that Caffe Quattro has a new name, "Cafe Madeline". Owner Madeline Migliorini has obtained a liquor license and has turned the cafe into a full-service restaurant. Fear not, the delicious panini, pizzas and gelato are all still on the menu, but are now joined by a larger selection of "small plates", salads, and entrees.
I have always enjoyed lunch at the cafe, and often The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-11757424213076845852009-05-18T14:23:00.000-04:002009-05-19T22:15:46.239-04:00Now Open: Fairfield Cheese Company, Fairfield, CTThe Fairfield Cheese Company opened its doors last week in the Post Road space formerly occupied by The Budding Gourmet (next door to Harry's Wine's and Liquors). It is the newest endeavor by local caterer Chris Palumbo and business partner, Laura Downey. The shop will carry anywhere from 35 to 40 varieties of artisinal and locally produced chesses at any given time, as well as a selection of The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-71670564195005902672009-04-28T22:39:00.003-04:002011-10-20T13:53:13.252-04:00Restaurants: New Burger Openings--Fraiche Burger Joint, Fairfield CT
Burger connoisseurs, prepare yourselves! There is big burger news in Fairfield!
Open right now:Fraiche Restaurant, which I blogged about previously, has reinvented itself as Fraiche Burger Joint (75 Hillside Road, Fairfield) and everything on the menu is under $22. According to today's press release, Fraiche Burger Joint will offer " 'the greatest burger on earth' (according to Connecticut The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-73024380580778642172009-04-16T20:06:00.001-04:002009-04-20T19:36:34.235-04:00Product Review: Three Punks Relish and Buitoni Reserve PastasFrom time to time, companies send me products to taste-test. Obviously, their hope is that as a food blogger, I will then write something about them---hopefully something good. I've had a few things that I did not like, but decided to contact the company representative privately, rather than bad-mouth them all over the internet. I feel the same way about restaurant reviews/profiles; if I don't The Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437364530824267434.post-16813617072163361972009-04-06T10:22:00.001-04:002009-05-18T14:54:06.278-04:00Restaurants: Martel, Fairfield, CTAt a time when many restaurants are struggling, Fairfield’s newest eatery seems impervious to the faltering economy. Martel, a casual French bistro opened by the owners of Pane Vino in Westport, has been bursting at the seams since it opened in February. It is located on the Post Road in the former space occupied by Rory’s, however you’d be hard-pressed to find any similarities (save for the sameThe Secret Ingredienthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598771086025566475noreply@blogger.com1