Restaurants: 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 Magazine) and “Millionaire’s Macaroni n’ Cheese” –a mouth-watering concoction of five different cheeses finished with truffle oil." I loved Fraiche, and can't wait to try its new, more casual, less expensive incarnation. A smart move during these tough economic times!

Open the week of June 15th:

Also from the owner of Fraiche will be Fraiche Burger in the newly-renovated Arcade Building in downtown Bridgeport (997 Main Street, near the Peoples Bank headquarters and Courthouse). Again, according to the press release, this outpost will feature " 'a modern twist on the classic burger' offering a selection of burgers, hot dogs and other fast food staples including a smaller version of Chef Lippman’s Classic Burger from Fraiche Burger Joint in Fairfield - for under $6." Now that's something to talk about!
***Please note that Fraiche Burger is now closed.

Future opening--- you heard it here first!

When I was taping my most recent appearance on News Channel 12's "What's Cooking", I met the chef/owners of Mediterranean Grill in Wilton. They shared with me that they will soon be opening a brand new, low-key but high-quality burger restaurant on the Fairfield Post Road space formerly occupied by the recently shuttered Flying Dish. It will be family friendly and offer casual fare that mom and dad will love too! I'll keep you up to date as soon as I hear more! Keep your eyes open and your ears perked!!

Above photo by "pointnshoot".

Favorite Food Finds of 2008

I follow several food blogs, and it seems as if everyone is putting together their "Best of 2008" lists this week. So, I decided to follow suit and create a list of my own favorite things from 2008. Think Oprah's "favorite things" show without all the fancy give-aways! Here it goes:

Favorite local restaurant: Osianna in Fairfield. Blogged about it ages ago---still love it.

Favorite lunchtime discovery: Roly Poly sandwiches. These sandwiches can be ordered cold or warm and have tons of interesting combinations to choose from. They are big too, so half a sandwich is more than enough. I'm especially excited about the new Fairfield location on the Post Road (next to Vincent et Isabelle French Bakery)! Where have I been all these years?

Favorite cookbooks I got this year: I've cut back considerably on cookbook purchases, but these I received as gifts and are great: 1. Mediterranean Fresh by Joyce Goldstein. A beautiful collection of salads and small plates with great photography. 2. Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's by Deana Gunn & Wona Miniati. The perfect book for the busy cook---lots of yummy recipes using great short-cuts available at Trader Joe's.

Favorite food-related tv shows: Everyday Food and America's Test Kitchen--both on PBS. I love these shows because they are so practical....not all the flash of some of the Food Network shows. Just good, straightforward cooking and tips any cook will appreciate.

Favorite new wines: Luzon Verde Organic Jumilla Red Wine from my favorite wine shop, Mo's Wine and Spirits on the Post Road in Fairfield. It is a simple red wine perfect for every night drinking...remember a glass of red wine a day is good for you! Plus, it's organic! At about $8 a bottle, you can't go wrong.


Favorite new cheese & crackers: Cambozola---- a fantastic combination of Camembert and Gorgonzola. I found it at Trader Joe's. And on that note, the Gorgonzola Crackers, also at Trader Joe's. Great on their own or with mild cheese.

Favorite new gadget: The Bialetti Mukka Express stovetop cappuccino maker my husband bought me for Christmas. It is just like the Bialetti "macchinetta" I blogged about earlier this year over at Season to Taste, but has the added attraction of a built-in milk frother for perfect cappuccini in under 5 minutes.

Favorite tip: This is from my friend Elena in Italy, whose family was in the restaurant business. If you have champagne left over, don't toss it. Put the handle of a spoon into the neck of the bottle and refrigerate. I've had it stay bubbly for an entire WEEK!

Favorite "can't wait" for 2009: From the owners of Fairfield's Fraiche restaurant, Fraiche Burger which will be opening in the early part of '09 on Main Street in Bridgeport.

What are YOUR favorites of 2008-----or things you can't wait for in 2009? Let me know by leaving a comment! I'd LOVE to hear from you!

Happy New Year and all the best in 2009!

Champagne photo by dotw.

Restaurants: Fraiche, Fairfield, CT

UPDATE: Please note that as of April 2009, Fraiche Restaurant is closed.

The Fairfield restaurant scene has always been reliably good, if not always exciting. However, in recent years, several newer restaurants have received quite a bit of attention. Many of these buzz-worthy eateries were almost destined to succeed. Hotspots like Pepe’s Pizza, Barcelona, and The Beach Café already cracked the code to success in other Connecticut towns before hitting Fairfield. Other newcomers including Osianna and Café 4 Quattro became instantly popular thanks to the huge following developed by their winning sister restaurant, Quattro Pazzi.

Fraiche (pronounced “fresh”), is the newest eatery sure to become a new favorite among Fairfielders. While the modern, American restaurant is the first solo-venture for Chef Marc Lippman, it definitely has the recipe for success: great location, fantastic ambiance, an exciting menu, and an experienced chef.

Located at 75 Hillside Road in Greenfield Hill (the former site of La Colline Verte ), Fraiche is dressed to impress. Brooklyn-based design firm, John Loecke Inc., completely transformed the space In order to give an “urban farmhouse” feel to the interior. Rustic furniture and modern accents adorn the two dining rooms, which feature stone walls and birch-patterned wall coverings. The tables, which were handmade in the Catskill Mountains, are created from reclaimed barn wood, and farmhouse-inspired wire chandeliers line the ceiling. The chocolate brown and smoky blue palate give the entire space an updated, contemporary feel, and create a cozy setting in which to sample Lippman’s modern-American fare.

The menu is described as “market driven”, and therefore will change seasonally. To coincide with the opening, Lippman has designed an eclectic, fall-themed menu with signature dishes like Fresh Maine Scallops with Black Truffles and Sunchoke Puree, and Free-Range Axis Venison Loin with Quince Jam and Butternut Squash-Brussels Sprout Hash with Smoked Bacon. If that sounds too fancy for you, have no fear….the menu also includes a 100% Kobe Beef Cheeseburger with Fries, Heirloom Chicken with Potatoes and Roasted Root Vegetables, and a Prime New York Strip Steak with Mashed Potatoes as well. “I really wanted to balance out ‘casual-elegance’,” states Lippman. He adds that his hope is that Fraiche becomes a true “neighborhood restaurant” where people can simply drop in for a burger with their kids (there will be a children’s menu too), but will also want to return for that special occasion meal.

Lippman’s culinary career has taken him all over the world. After graduating from La Varenne Ecole De Cuisine in France, he worked at top restaurants in Paris, New York and Miami. Later, after serving nearly three years as the as Executive Chef at one of Mexico’s most luxurious five-star resorts, Lippman’s wife and PR manager, Karen, gave birth to their first child. This prompted a move back to the States, and after landing the position of Executive Chef at the popular seafood restaurant, Ocean Drive, in South Norwalk, Lippman and his family decided to settle in Connecticut.

Four years and another child later, Lippman decided it was time to break out on his own. “It was really a family-motivated decision,” he states. Wanting to be closer to home in order to spend more quality time with his wife and children, he searched for the perfect space for over a year. “I was looking mainly in the Fairfield/Westport area, and when I came upon this location, I really could see beyond the space,” he states. “It was definitely the best location for me.”

As Fairfield becomes more of an eating-destination than ever before, Fraiche is a welcome addition to the many new and exciting restaurants to open their doors this year. Early indications are that Marc Lippman’s inspired, seasonal menu will entice Fairfielders back again and again.

Fraiche is located at 75 Hillside Road in Fairfield and is open for dinner only, beginning at 5:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Appetizers range from $9 - $18, entrees from $16 - $36, and desserts are $9. For reservations, please call 203.256.5744.

Check out the New York Times review of Fraiche, which appeared on February 17, 2008.

Photos courtesy of Fraiche Restaurant.