Posted onMarch 17, 2024|Comments Off on The Blondinit: Long-Awaited Israeli Restaurant Opens Thursday
It took 11 months longer than expected for The Blondinit to open.
But when the first diners arrive on Thursday (March 21), they’ll know it was worth the wait.
A preview of the Israeli restaurant on Saturday showcased the ultra-fresh, ultra-good food.
And the very cool décor, handsome marble bar, and attentive wait staff.
Guests and staff at the Blondinit bar. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Owners Solomon and Inda Sade run several other businesses. But the attention they’ve given their newest venture is clear.
The former Manna Toast has been completely renovated. Brunch, lunch and dinner menus include salatim (salads, with a twist), nish nush (snacks), bowls, pita sandwiches, platters, skewers, specialty dishes and sides.
The Sades are particularly proud of their baklava pancakes, mafrum (potato, ground beef, lamb, spiced tomato sauce, couscous) and chraime (fish of the day, spicy tomato sauce, blistered tomatoes).
Despite a reliance on meats and salads, Israeli cuisine is not exactly the same as Middle Eastern, Mediterranean or Greek, Solomon notes.
Shakshuka features eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, with Israeli cheese and spices. It’s served with charred pita bread.
Two examples: there is no pork. The seasonings are different.
And this: the Bulgarian cheese Israelis use is soaked in brine, rather than fresh water.
The wine list includes many from Israel. Cocktails feature herbs, spices and fruits, like The Blondinit (Gregy Goose, feta brine, feta olives), Ya-Rok margarita (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, espresso, cinnamon and cardamom) and Boker Tov (Herradura Silver, s’chug, agave, egg white, sumac).
All food is scratch made. Ingredients are delivered fresh daily. The Sades will not use freezers or microwaves — “nothing out of a box,” Solomon says.
Leftover food will be donated to pantries and food rescue organizations.
The Blondinit owners Inda and Solomon Sade flank 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. (Photo/Dan Woog)
“We want people to feel like they’re a family, coming to dinner,” Inda says.
It felt that way Saturday. The “family” that filled the new restaurant came from all over Westport. They left smiling — and very well fed.
The Blondinit a great complement to 2 other very different restaurants, directly across the street: Spotted Horse and Pink Sumo.
So what’s with the name?
“Blondinit means ‘female blonde’ in Hebrew,” Solomon explains.
“It’s named for my wife.”
PS: How’s this for a delicious twist? The new Israeli restaurant is located on Church Lane.
(The Blondinit will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It will be closed Mondays.)
Bourekas are a puff pastry, stuffed with Israeli cheese, meat or potatoes. They’re served with a dipping sauce.
Comments Off on The Blondinit: Long-Awaited Israeli Restaurant Opens Thursday
Remember those 9 neighborhood meetings held last year about traffic?
And the report that followed, this past February?
On October 26 (7 p.m., Town Hal auditorium), the town hosts a “Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Update Session.”
On hand will be staff members knowledgeable about traffic management, roadway conditions, engineering, possible speed calming solutions, and the regulations and oversight authority of the town.
Public Works, Planning & Zoning and Public Safety Departments will update the public on progress made. Residents can also provide input on areas of concern.
RTM member Kristin Schneeman addressed a 2022 traffic and safety meeting. Next to her were fellow RTM reps Lori Church, Nancy Kail and Sal Liccione.
Westport Sunrise Rotary has 2 signature events each year.
The Great Duck Race is for kids and families.
The Westport Uncorked wine tasting is for adults.
The 21-plus (mostly a bit older) crowd turned out in force last night. The Inn at Longshore was filled with wines of a wide variety of vintages and vineyards. There was plenty of tasting, plenty of buying — and plenty of money raised for the many good works Sunrise Rotary does, locally and much further afield.
Everything, in other words, was ducky.
A small portion of the large crowd at Sunrise Rotary’s Inn at Westport “Uncorked” wine tasting. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Saturday’s “Stand Up For Homes with Hope” benefit at Fairfield University’s Quick Center is sold out.
But the headliner — comedian Roy Wood Jr. — is still working hard to make it a success.
He came to Westport yesterday to see what the fundraiser is all about. He toured the Gillespie men’s shelter, the Hoskins Place women’s shelter, met the clients and staff, and had lunch with the board.
Roy Wood Jr.’s job is to make people laugh. He’s done it as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and as MC of last spring’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
But he saw first-hand the very serious, even life-changing work that everyone associated with Homes with Hope does, 24/7/365.
He’s sure to give a shout-out to them all Saturday night.
Along with plenty of jokes.
Roy Wood Jr. (back row, center) with Homes with Hope board and staff.
Westport Police made no custodial arrests between October 4 and 11.
They issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 9 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 7
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
Operating a motor vehicle while texting: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 1
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An incorrect date was given yesterday for Lynn Flint’s 1-day art show, to benefit Bridgeport artists in need of help with rent, food, fuel and materials.
.It’s Thursday, October 26 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), on Belaire Drive. A sign on Saugatuck Avenue (near the Norwalk border) will direct art lovers to the sale.
If it’s Easter, it’s time for the Easter Egg Tree.
Staples High School Class of 1971 graduate Jalna Jaeger has once again decorated her Norwalk property with hundreds of colorful eggs.
She invites everyone to drive by and enjoy her work. It’s at #3 East Avenue. Head past Stew Leonard’s; go down the hill, then take a right at the first light.
Jalna Jaeger’s Easter Egg Tree.
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Speaking of Easter: Jolantha — Weston’s favorite pig — is all dressed up for the (bunny-themed) holiday.
(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)
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The Manna Toast logo still hangs over 29 Church Lane.
But a new restaurant is coming soon — “spring/summer,” the sign says — offering “Authentic Israeli” food.
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
I wish I could tell you more. But I followed the links on the sign for The Blondinit. There are no posts on either Facebook or Instagram.
And the website brings up a “Get this Domain” message, from GoDaddy.
Hey, Blondinit: Get your domain now.
Before someone from Layla’s Falafel does.
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Westport was first. Easton followed.
Now Stamford has a Ukrainian sister city too.
In a ceremony Thursday, bonds were formalized with Kramatorsk. Of similar size, both are commercial and transportation centers. Fittingly, the ceremony was held at the Stamford train station. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes were there.
The connection was made by Brian Mayer. The Westport native — who founded Ukraine Aid International, the non-profit that coordinates donations and support — was interviewed by News12. Click here for that video, which includes a mention of our town’s relationship with Lyman.
Suniya Luthar — who died in February at 64, after 2 years of health difficulties — was not a Westporter.
But the Columbia University professor emerita of psychology and education had an important impact on our community.
For a number of years, she led a longitudinal study on youth and resilience here. She chose Westport because of its high number of high-achieving professionals, and the emphasis on status and achievement.
One of her first discoveries was that “substance use, depression and anxiety, particularly among the (affluent) girls, were much higher than among inner-city kids.”
Dr. Luthar’s research led her to conclude that children of privilege are an “at-risk” group. “What we are finding again and again, in upper-middle-class school districts, is the proportion who are struggling are significantly higher than in normative samples,” Luthar said.
“It is an endless cycle, starting from kindergarten. The difficulty is that you have these enrichment activities. It is almost as if, if you have the opportunity, you must avail yourself of it. The pressure is enormous.”
Luthar was a distinguished developmental and clinical psychologist and internationally renowned scholar in resilience research. Her Westport work was part of a career focused on understanding resilience among diverse at-risk groups, and applying insights in prevention.
Hotel Marcel New Haven — the former Pirelli building seen on the left, approaching the city eastbound on I-95 — has gone green.
So green, in fact, that the boutique hotel just earned a LEED Platinum plauqe from the US Green Building Council. That certifies that it meets the highest standards of energy and environment design.
It’s powered by more than 1,000 solar panels, and uses no fossil fuels.
It’s also the first hotel to earn LEED Platinum status in 10 years, and only the 10th ever.
Hotel Marcel
US Representatives Jim Himes and Rosa DeLauro attended yesterday’s ceremony.
Congratulations to architect Bruce Becker — a Westporter who has long championed green causes.
Click here for the full CT Mirror story. Click here for a 2018 “06880” story on Becker.
Bruce Becker outside his home, with a “Westport Green Building Award.”
If you were among the thousands of attendees, you know it rocked the Westport Library last weekend.
If you weren’t — or you missed part of it — you can “check out” (weak library reference) the 9 panels, workshops and lectures. They ranged from beats and grooves, to the business of music, rock photography, and style. Click here for full videos of all.
And for a quick rap — er, “wrap” — video, see below:
But Aspetuck Land Trust — the conservator of open space, and steward of 45 preserves in lower Fairfield County — celebrates all month. Among the activities:
Vernal Pool Walk with wetland scientist Edward Pawlak (April 15, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Jump Hill Preserve)
Spring Hawk Migration with raptor specialist Larry Fischer (April 16, 1-3 p.m., Blueberry Patch, Easton)
Ephemeral Wildflower Walk with LandTech environmental analyst Anthony Zemba (April 22, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
Invasive Species Removal Work Day (April 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
Exploring the Trails with Aspetuck Land Trust land protection specialist Adam Goodman (April 27, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
Little Legs in Wildlife Kids Walk (April 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
There’s also a spring native plant sale. Online ordering begins April 11 for ALT members, April 18 for the general public. Click here for a list of available plants, and more details.
Pick-up is June 9-11, at Haskins Preserve in Westport.
Among the Aspetuck Land Trust Earth Day offerings: “Explore the Trails,” with Adam Goodman.
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“It’s Easter. Where’s my flock?” wonders this Burying Hill Beach guy, the subject of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Lucy Zeko)
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And finally … on this date in 1820, the Venus de Milo was discovered on the Aegean island of Milos. She’s over 2,100 years old, but she still lives on, musically:
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