Posted onJune 13, 2023|Comments Off on “06880” Podcast: Stephanie Webster
Westporters love to eat.
They love to know everything there is to know about restaurants: the new ones that just opened. The chefs behind their favorites. Where to find the best Easter dinners, Passover caterers, Fathers Day brunches, wine bars and taco trucks.
And no one dishes about eating better than Stephanie Webster.
The founder of CTBites.com — and a longtime Westport resident — she recently stopped by the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum. We spent a delicious 30 minutes talking about the world of food.
And of course, Westport restaurants.
Click below for the latest — and tastiest — episode of “06880: The Podcast.”
Comments Off on “06880” Podcast: Stephanie Webster
The next step in the plan to create a new zoning district in Saugatuck — part of the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck project — is a Westport Planning & Zoning Commission public hearing. It’s set for Wednesday (November 2, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
Speaking of Saugatuck: “06880” announced a few days ago that Saugatuck Provisions will be moving into the former Fleishers Craft Butchery.
But our little morsel was nothing compared to the meal Stephanie Webster delivered.
Her CTBites — the go-to platform for all things foodie in the state — has a full report on the new venture.
She describes the “culinary power team” of Chef (and Staples High School graduate) Matt Storch and Susan McConnell — both of the highly regarded Match Burger Lobster and Match — along with Jimmy Bloom (Copps Island Oysters) and butcher Paul Nessel (well known from his Craft Butchery days across Riverside Avenue).
Stephanie calls Saugatuck Provisions “a new concept offering customers a curated selection of the very best ingredients from the land, sea and grocery, enabling guests to create beautiful restaurant quality meals at home.”
Back in the day, women accused of witchcraft would be thrown into water. If they sank, they were innocent. If they stayed on the surface, they were guilty.
Looks like we had a couple of real witches in the water off Compo Beach yesterday!
(Photo/Karen Como)
Meanwhile, few hours later, and a few yards away, there was this:
“06880” was honored this summer to tell the story of Wynston Browne. The non-speaking autistic Staples High School student had made spectacular progress in just a few months, using a spelling board — a low-tech communication device.
Three months later, Wynston continues his astonishing growth. Now Westport Lifestyle magazine has taken notice.
For the latest on Wynston, click here. It should be must-reading for everyone, everywhere.
Wynston Browne and his communication partner, Elisa Feinman, He chatted with customers at The Porch.
The Westport Weston Family YMCA Water Rats swim team are winners in the pool.
And out of it too.
This Saturday (November 5, 8 a.m. to noon), they’ll help neighbors in need. The Water Rats are sponsoring a food drive (plus non-perishable items) for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.
the Water Rats Swim Team in their food drive benefiting the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The need is great: Pantry requests are double what they were last year.
You don’t even have to get out of your car. Just pull into the YMCA loop, and swimmers will take your donations. See below for suggested items.
This week’s Jazz at the Post show is “the most ambitious program so far” at the VFW location (Thursday, November 3, 465 Riverside Avenue; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.).
Grammy nominees Antonio Hart and Mike Mossman join veteran jazz warriors and recording artists pianist David Morgan, Ron Carter’s personal bassist Boots Maleson, drum master Tim Horner and the “Jazz Rabbi,” saxophonist Greg Wall, for 2 sets of jazz classics. Sextet arrangements are by Michael Mossman.
The repertoire features tunes by Miles Davis, Jimmy Heath, Duke Ellington and Duke Jordan.
Reservations are strongly suggested: Jazzatthepost@gmail.com
Antonio Hart
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This year’s fall foliage is the finest in years. Consider this Halloween-colored beauty on Cross Highway — perfect for today’s post-Halloween “Westport … Naturally feature:
An “06880” reader was intrigued by an item in yesterday’s “Roundup.” It previewed a November 1 discussion at the Westport Library on“How Public Policy is Putting Our Children at Risk.” The session will be led by CD Media’s chief investigative correspondent and senior editor Christine Dolan.
Hoping to learn more about Dolan the reader found a piece she wrote last year.
Headlined “Idyllic Westport, CT Is Ground Zero for CRT Infiltration by America’s Bolsheviks,” it begins:
The yellow and red leaves are drifting down quietly as they have for millennia in Westport , CT as the historic New England town sleeps towards a tipping point, one it may never recover from if the coming elections go the wrong way and vote in a continuation of its current path.
The Minuteman statue guards at Compo Beach where a ragtag group of American rebels fought the global tyranny of the once monolithic British empire, but Westport residents seem to want to forget this honorable history and welcome with open arms global tyranny of a different name — the Maoist doctrine of Critical Race Theory, or CRT.
Essentially, the agenda of the CRT movement is to teach young children their country is evil, that they themselves are racists and bad if they are white. The ideology is racist, it is divisive, and is on purpose. The doctrine is just a gateway drug to a more pernicious evil, re-imagining Westport schools. In the CRT future, gone will be AP classes, music excellence. Gone will be the gateway to Ivy league schools, replaced with a dumbed-down redistribution of educational wealth and excellence.
Along with this educational decline, property values will plummet as zoning laws are also changed to forever alter the nature of the community. Physical safety will disappear. Crime will increase.
If you like to dine out — and, this being Westport, that means everyone — then CTbites is essential reading. Published by our town’s Stephanie Webster, it’s a weekly guide to new restaurants, special culinary events, food trucks, catering and more.
I always learn something from the site. But — until yesterday — I’d never actually laughed while reading it.
“Connecticut Restaurant Confidential: Strange Stories, Odd Orders & Twisted Tales in the Industry” is a collection of jaw-dropping tales, from owners, chefs, bartenders and wait staff.
It’s an insider’s look at what gets told after hours — about diners (hopefully un)like you and me.
They come from all over the state. Including our own Winfield Deli. Click here to read.
Texas blues/New Orleans funk band Otis & the Hurricanes headlines the next “Blue Sunday” at the Westport Library (October 23, 2:30 p.m., Trefz Forum).
The free event is curated by Mark Naftalin. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame keyboardist will be there of course, with his Blue Sunday Band of all-stars: Westport/internationally known saxophonist Crispin Cioe, guitarists JD Seem and Paul Gabriel, and special guest Chance Browne.
Lat month’s Blue Sunday — the first in the series — drew a large crowd, and plenty of raves.
And this one could make that seem like just a warmup.
This week week’s “Jazz at the Post” features pianist Michael Cochrane, drummer to the stars Steve Johns, and fiery young bassist Jason Clotter in concert with the Jazz Rabbi, Greg Wall.
There are 2 shows — 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. — on Thursday (October 6) at VFW Post 399 (465 Riverside Avenue). There’s a $10 cover. Food service starts at 6:30.
Reservations are strongly suggested. Email JazzatThePost@gmail.com.
This is an active weekend in Westport. Among the highlights: Westport Moms’ 2nd annual Fall Family Festival. It’s Saturday, October 15 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Greens Farms Academy; $20 per family).
The event includes food, crafts, games and fun (bouncy houses, ninja course, music, art projects, DJ, pumpkin and cookie decorating, face painting, hair extensions, glitter tattoos, magic, STEM activities and more).
Many businesses will show off their products and services — all with activities for kids.
Organizers Megan Rutstein and Melissa Post ask attendees to bring gently worn jackets, for donations to a local non-profit.
Sunday’s Westport Weston Family YMCA Fall Festival drew a large crowd.
There was music, gymnastics exhibitions, bounces houses and s’mores. The weather was perfect for an outdoor event.
Best of all: You didn’t have to be a kid to have a great time.
Westport Board of Assessment Appeals member Ifeseyi Gaylel (left) and Westport Weston Family YMCA CEO Anjali McCormick take a break during the Y’s Family Festival.
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra takes center stage at the Y’s Women’s October 24 meeting (Green’s Farms Church, 10:45 a.m.). Jonathan Yates and Sandra Miklave will talk about the group’s long history, and share visions for the future.
But if you’re thinking Little Kitchen, Kawa Ni, Wa-Fu, Jeera Thai, Sakura, Tengda: Think again.
Little Dumpling House fills a special niche.
Here to tell you about it is CTbites. Connecticut’s go-to restaurant/foodie blog reports:
The team that brought you the uber popular Grammies Donuts + Biscuits is back with another crave-worthy ghost kitchen concept, Little Dumpling House. For those unfamiliar with the notion of a “ghost kitchen,” it simply means there is no dining space. Guests can order online and either get their meals delivered or picked up. In this case, it’s Asian to-go.
Little Dumpling House is the brainchild of owners, Charlie Gilhuly and Molly Healey, but their Asian inspired playlist is all Healey’s handiwork. The menu at Little Dumpling is small but very well executed, and also quite nicely priced. Healey wanted to create healthy clean flavorful Asian cuisine with something for everyone (including the kids), and they have delivered on that promise.
With a name like Little Dumpling House, of course there are dumplings. These come in the form of Shu Mai (pork or chicken), Potstickers (pan fried or Szechuan style), and fried Rangoon with Crab, Mushroom or Caramelized Onions. The Rangoon are prepared in the traditional style, deep fried and filled with cream cheese and the above assorted goodies. No complaints from these taste testers. These are all darn good.
A walk through the APPS section will land you in some delicious Mushroom Fried Rice, Charred Sesame Broccoli with a nice garlic-y kick, a few well composed salads as well as Cold Soba Noodles and Sunomono.
Moving on to KATSU’s which come in the traditional chicken or pork variety, this family was a huge fan of their Chicken Katsu. Picture two gorgeous thick white meat chicken breasts, panko crusted and served with a cabbage salad and seasoned rice. We also really enjoyed several of their “Sushi Bowls”, boasting proteins served over rice including very well seasoned Bluefin Tuna, Scallops, or an uber-delicate Hamachi.
For all those Peking Duck lovers out there, Little Dumpling has their version of this traditional dish, with tender duck and homemade plum sauce.
A late breaking addition to the menu, Little Dumpling House now offers a Family Dinner meal kit that serves four and includes: 2 Kids Boxes with Chicken Katsu, 2 chicken dumplings, fried rice, donut holes and fruit, Crunchy Cabbage Salad, Bluefin Tuna Sushi Bowl, Caramelized Onion Rangoon (6 pcs), Chicken Potstickers (4 pcs), and Chinese Five Spice Donut Holes. All this for $55…not a bad deal. They are also offering a Date Night kit with a 3 course meal for two including: Sunumono, Bluefin Tuna Sushi Bowl, Hamachi Sushi Bowl, Pork Shumai (4 pcs), Crispy Duck Buns, and Matcha Cronut.
Whether you’re ordering a meal kit or dining a la carte, don’t forget the incredibly delicious Five Spice Donut Holes found on the dessert menu. These are a must order, and create some nice synergy with Grammies, alongside the Matcha Cronuts.
Little Dumpling House is available for takeout through their web site. Guests can order online 24/7 and schedule a pickup Thursday to Sunday between 4 and 9 p.m. Pickups for desired time slots will be limited on a first come first serve basis. Delivery will be coming soon.
Flying fearlessly in the face of the pandemic, another new restaurant opens in Westport today.
Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar takes over the old Matsu Sushi on Jesup Road, behind the old Restoration Hardware (soon to be the new Barnes & Noble).
Chef Renato Donzelli has moved Basso from Norwalk to here. The 2-story space is larger, there is seating outdoors, and there’s a wood-fired pizza oven too.
According to CTbites, Donzelli was born in Venezuela and raised in Naples. His menu is Mediterranean flavored, with a Venezuelan influence. Click here for their full story.
(Photo collage courtesy of Stephanie Webster/CTbites.com)
And finally … Gerry Marsden, the leader and namesake of Gerry and the Pacemakers, died yesterday in London, of a blood infection. He was 78.
The band was from Liverpool, was managed by Brian Epstein, and for a while was the Beatles’ biggest rivals in the city. They were part of what the US called “the British Invasion” of the mid-1960s. They had several big rock hits here, like “I Like It” and “How Do You Do It?”
They were known for ballads too, like “Ferry Cross the Mersey,” “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” and “I’ll Be There.”
But they’re best known — and will be for generations more — for an odd choice of a pop hit. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” — from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 1945 “Carousel.”
It became the anthem of Liverpool’s soccer team, and was adopted by other clubs around the world. The Staples High School girls team plays it before every match. Watch the video below, and you’ll see why it may be best sports song of all time.
If you thought Saugatuck “kneads” something to replace Garelick & Herbs: You’re in luck.
“Kneads” — a bakery, cafe and mill — opened Saturday, across from Saugatuck Sweets. Chef Daniel Moreno offers breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, tea — and of course breads (sourdough, baguette, fig cranberry walnut, brioche …).
He focuses on local products. There’s bacon and ham from Fleischer’s next door. Moreno has partnered too with chef Bill Taibe of The Whelk across the street, as well as the Westport Farmer’ market and Wakeman Town Farm.
If your mouth is watering though, you’ll have to wait. Kneads is closed Monday and Tuesday. It’s open Wednesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Click here for more info, from Stephanie Webster’s great CTbites.
Here’s something you haven’t seen in nearly 6 months.
But tomorrow — for the first time since mid-March — school buses will prowl the streets of Westport. It will almost feel good to get stuck behind one again.
The other day, this driver practiced turning from Thomas Road onto Imperial Avenue.
(Photo/Christie Stanger)
Trevor Freeland was a member of the first all-Black team to reach the top ranks of American youth swimming (chronicled in the 2007 movie “Pride”). As the first Black swimmer to compete in the ACC, he helped the University of Virginia win the 1st of 16 league titles.
One of the few Black executives to run a major Wall Street trading desk, he has committed his life to challenging and breaking down barriers. He attributes his success to the work ethic and life skills he learned in the pool.
This Saturday (September 12, 9:30 a.m., Camp Mahackeno outdoor amphitheater), he’ll talk about “Excellence is a Habit: How Do You Shatter Racial Barriers, Win Championships, and Build a Life of Success?”
A limited number of spots are open to Y members who are not non-Water Rat swimmers, and their families. To register, or for questions, email ejohnston@westporty.org,
Trevor Freeland
Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 8, 7:30 p.m.), the Democratic Women of Westport are sponsoring a virtual discussion with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. He’ll discuss immigration issues.
To register and receive a link, email dww06880@gmail.com
State Attorney General William Tong.
Dick Festa — longtime owner of the Party Barn store, first on Main Street and then in Playhouse Square — died last week in Florida. He was 87.
Dick spent many years on the Westport YMCA’s board of directors. He was also an avid squash and badminton player there.
He is survived by 4 children, 4 grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and his sister.
There will be no calling hours, due to COVID-19. A memorial service will take place at a future date. For Dick’s full obituary, click here.
Alert “06880” reader Tommy Magro tells us that this year, Good Humor celebrates its 100th anniversary.
He spotted this classic scene yesterday, on Soundview Drive. He’s to 100 more years of Toasted Almonds (or whatever your favorite happens to be).
(Photo/Tommy Magro)
And finally … “06880,” Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie wish you a Happy Labor Day!
Matt Storch, and his new logo. (Collage courtesy of CTBites.com)
According to CT Bites, the new restaurant features fresh seafood from Norm Bloom and Son, and “Northeast pasture-raised and humanely-handled beef, ground daily at Fleishers.”
The menu includes lobster rolls, whole lobsters, a variety of burgers, local Copps Island oysters, Fleishers hot dogs, onion rings, donut milk shakes, wine and beer.
Storch’s “Match Burger” is be available in regular and mini versions — plus one that’s butter-dipped.
Fans of the butcher shop and restaurant can walk easily back and forth. Match Burger and Lobster will offer both table service and takeout.
No, it’s not a teenager’s lament on the lame life in the Land of Steady Habits.
CTBites.com is a blog — a clever, wide-ranging, sometimes-irreverent-but-always-interesting look at food in Fairfield County.
That’s food in all its forms.
There are pages on:
Eating In (recipes, cooking classes)
Eating Out (restaurants, food festivals and farm events, wine tastings, chef comings and goings)
Ingredients (ice cream names, green tips to reduce your carbon footprint)
Kids Bites (teaching children to cook; family-friendly joints)
Gadgets (onion goggles, coffee makers)
Food Talk (forums on the best pizza place, best bartenders, and everything in between)
CTBites is the brainchild of Stephanie Webster. A New Yorker-turned-Seattleite, she’s lived in Westport for not quite 2 years. But she’s already nailed our food scene.
She launched her blog last July, after realizing that — unless New York and Seattle — Fairfield County foodies did not frequent Yelp.
Or any other restaurant review blog.
In just 10 months, CTBites has grown “exponentially,” Stephanie says. She’s added food-loving, good-writing friends as contributors. They attract about 7,000 unique visitors a month — and it’s almost all by word of mouth.
Now, Stephanie says, she’s ready to turn her attention to really marketing — and monetizing — her blog.
The restaurant reviews are the initial draw for readers, and the most popular pages. “We’re not the standard Patricia Brooks/New York Times reviews,” Stephanie notes. “We get down to the nitty gritty.”
Readers like the blog’s community feel. CT Bites has sponsored monthly prix fixe lunches, where contributors and foodies meet and mingle.
CTBites.com sponsored a prix fixe lunch at The Dressing Room.
So how is the food scene in Fairfield County?
“Considerably better than I thought,” Stephanie answers quickly. “I like the hidden gems. Places like Le Farm are excellent, but I also like places like Bereket. It’s a Turkish restaurant behind a gas station in Bridgeport, and it looks like a complete dive. But it’s just like being in Istanbul.
“This isn’t Manhattan, where you’ve got a great place every 2 blocks. But there are plenty of good places around.”
Stephanie finds the the farm-to-table movement “exciting.” She’s also excited by the recent move of John Holzwarth, former executive chef at The Dressing Room, to The Boathouse at the Saugatuck Rowing Club.
“People love that there’s something out there — a window on Fairfield County,” Stephanie says of her site.
“And it goes both ways. Farmers and chefs like being part of the dialogue too.”
Stephanie Webster is happy to give them — and everyone else in Fairfield County who eats — something to chew on.
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CTBites is the brainchild of Stephanie Webster. A New Yorker-turned-Seattleite, she’s lived in Westport for not quite 2 years. But she’s already nailed our food scene.
