To celebrate, Sustainable Westport announces their first-ever group of Restaurant Champions.
These restaurants do far mor than whip up delicious food. They’re also serious about operating sustainably, and supporting our local food system.
The Restaurant Champions program celebrates those that lead by example — and offers guidance and resources to those wanting to improve their sustainability efforts.
The program focuses on 4 key areas: complying with Westport’s single-use plastic ordinance, sourcing ingredients sustainably, engaging in responsible waste management, and prioritizing energy efficiency.
Led by Samantha Schwab, the Restaurant Champions program offers personalized support to help businesses cut waste and hauling costs, earn tax incentives, avoid penalties, improve employee satisfaction and gain recognition.
Here’s how some of the Restaurant Champions are already making a difference:
Kneads excels at sourcing local and sustainable ingredients from farms they know and trust; they even mill their own grains on-site.
The team also goes above and beyond while recycling food scraps and limiting waste. Not only does Kneads compost — they also donate end-of-the-day leftover baked goods to US Food Rescue, feeding the hungry while preventing waste.
Kneads is a proud Sustainable Westport Restaurant Champion …
Momu is another strong example of sustainable sourcing. Their dairy is Arethusa Farm (Litchfield). Their coffee comes from Irving Farm in New York. And they’re at the Westport Farmers Market every Thursday, seeking inspiration for seasonal flavors.
The Whelk team does an exceptional job with the restaurant’s waste management. They partner with CORR (Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration) to recycle oyster shells for an oyster habitat restoration project in Long Island Sound. This prevents shells from ending up in landfill, while also providing environmental benefits.
Massi Co regularly donates excess food to the Gillespie Center — a few yards behind it on Jesup Road — to minimize food waste. Since becoming a Restaurant Champion, they’ve swapped out their plastic to-go lids for paper ones, reducing single-use plastic.
… and so is Massi Co.
AlliumEateryhas also shown dedication to limiting single-use plastics. The buvette uses compostable containers for their to-go provisions, and since partnering with Sustainable Westport, they’ve swapped out their plastic bottles for glass. Allium also hangs educational signage, to help customers properly dispose or compost their takeaway containers.
For the launch, the Sustainable Westport team zoned in on Saugatuck. But they plan to open the program up to downtown and beyond. Click here for details.
Do you know of a food business in Westport with a strong commitment to sustainability? Send all nominations to restaurantchampions@sustainablewestport.org — and spread the word!
But a variety of businesses in Saugatuck Center invite everyone to block party this Sunday (June 22, 2 to 4 p.m.).
In and around the Whelk plaza, there will be live music, small bites, lawn games, and fun for all ages. It’s sponsored by “your favorite local businesses.”
See you there!
Block party time!
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Alex Edelman — called “the Jewish voice of his generation,” whose shows blur the line between standup comedy and narrative-driven storytelling — brings his show to Temple Israel next month (July 30, 7 p.m.).
And finally … on this date in 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, spent the next 17 years building her mausoleum. Today we know it as the Taj Mahal.
What do Garelick & Herbs, Romanacci, Organic Market, Kawa Ni, Rive Bistro and The Whelk have in common?
They serve the best soups in town.
That’s according to the 1,000-plus voters anyway, in this year’s Great Westport Soup Contest.
Results were announced today by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
Winners by category are:
Best Chicken Soup: Romanacci
Best Vegetable Soup: Organic Market
Best Beef Soup: Garelick & Herbs
Best Matzoh Ball Soup: Garelick & Herbs
Best Asian Soup: Kawa Ni
Best Onion Soup: Rive Bistro
Best Chowder: The Whelk
Congratulations to all — particularly double-winner Garelick & Herbs (which is actually a couple of yards over the border in Southport, but who’s counting?), and Romanacci (a fourth-time champion, after winning twice for pizza and once for salad).
The winners, with Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell (blue shirt). Clockwise from upper left: Organic Market, Kawa Ni, The Whelk, Garelick & Herbs, Romanacci, Rive Bistro.
It may be hard to remember. And newcomers have no clue.
But the current look of Riverside Avenue, in the heart of Saugatuck, is less than 15 years old.
The redevelopment was not without controversy.
The block containing DeRosa’s restaurant, Westport Florists, Riverside Barber and Gault was demolished. So too was the building across the street, which housed a salon and restaurant, and a nearby former garage that was Doc’s Café.
Today, this is the block with The Whelk and an ice cream shop.
There have been changes in the past 15 years. The first butcher shop moved across the street; after various iterations, it’s now Saugatuck Provisions, part of Match Burger Lobster.
Saugatuck Sweets is gone. It will be replaced soon by an ice cream shop operated by Kneads Bakery across the street — which itself took over from Garelick & Herbs.
One kayak rental shop has come and gone. Another moved in.
Doc’s Café was a favorite coffee shop.
Westport has welcomed thousands of newcomers since the early 2010s. They have no memory of the “old” Saugatuck — which itself was only the latest incarnation of an area that was the first commercial center of Westport, in the mid-1800s, then became a thriving Italian neighborhood that gave our town so much of its character and history.
More change may come soon to Saugatuck. Meanwhile, this was the scene that Peter Barlow saw — and was surprised by — when he visited the town he grew up in, 14 long (and short) years ago:
Riverside Avenue, under construction in 2010. (Photo/Peter Barlow)
(“06880” chronicles the changes in Westport — in real time, and in this regular Friday feature. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
In the aftermath of the death of Matthew Balga — the chef killed on Riverside Avenue last Saturday night, after leaving work at The Whelk — his co-workers and family have organized a fundraiser. Money raised will support culinary education in Connecticut.
“Chef Matteo” had worked for For the Food restaurant owners Bill Taibe and Rachel Golan for over 18 years. Friends said he loved classic cars, played the guitar, had a sarcastic wit, and “most of all, was a loving man who loved to cook.”
The Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF) is the non-profit philanthropic arm of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. It provides education for future restaurant industry professionals, workforce development opportunities and scholarships. Click here to contribute. (Hat tip: Westport Magazine)
The Westport Library offers plenty of innovative spaces and technologies, aimed at 21st century models of literacy and learning.
This spring, there will be more.
The Library is launching “Verso University.” The year-round series of high-level classes, workshops and lectures will further education and “learning for a lifetime.”
Offerings include one-time lectures, ongoing courses, and classes that meet weekly or monthly. They cover a wide variety of topics, with appeal to all ages and interests.
“Spring semester” includes
Launch Lecture: Martin Yellin on Space (Monday, March 13, 1 to 2 p.m.): Longtime Westporter and scientist Martin Yellin will provide an overview of the fascinating and unexpected discoveries made in space, and how we’ve begun to understand where we are and how we got here. Click here for more information.
The Range of Literary Realism: 4 Masterpieces of 21st Century Fiction, with Dr. Mark Schenker (Tuesdays, April 4 & 18, May 2 & 16, 2 to 3 p.m.): The noted lecturer in English at Yale University examines novels that reflect the range of literary realism as portrayed in 21st century fiction:
April 4: Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
April 18: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
May 2: Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson
May 16: Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan
Got Problems? Think Them Through for Better Problem Solving! (May) Problem-solving coaches Mike Hibbard and Patricia Cyganovich will teach problem-solving processes to use in any area of life.
Fiction Writing Master Class, with Gabino Iglesias (May): Renowned noir writer and Westport Library StoryFest alum Gabino Iglesias teaches a master class-style writing workshop.
Crew Call (Rolling admission, spring through fall): Crew Call is a training program focused on live media production skills. Volunteers of all ages gain real-world experience in video recording and production. Crew Call participants support many Library productions.
Marty Yellin launches the Verso University series.
Rowers love to hate the erg machine. That’s the fitness machine they use relentlessly on land.
But recently, junior members of Saugatuck Rowing Club eagerly jumped on board. The occasion: a “Row for Dough Erg-a-thon” fundraiser for Homes with Hope. The local non-profit provides supportive housing and a food pantry, in downtown Westport.
Both boys and girls teams participated in individual 10K races (over 6.2 miles), and raised over $6,500.
SRC junior rowers also volunteer at the Gillespie Center food pantry, and helping with other Homes with Hope projects.
Saugatuck Rowing Club captains (from left): Jack Kiely, Lauren Schramm, Hannah Clemens, Dylan Halky, Cooper Levinson, Janna Moore.
Over 200 fans filled the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum for last night’s Blue Coupe concert. The band includes former Alice Cooper guitarist Dennis Dunaway, and Joe and Albert Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult.
The event — a benefit for VersoFest, the music and media festival that kicks off March 30 — was co-produced by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
They’re collaborating on upcoming shows too, including Verso Fest‘s Sunflower Bean (March 30), the Smithereens (March 31) and the Johnny Folsom 4 at “Supper & Soul” (May 13).
Blue Coupe, at the Westport Library. (Photo/Matthew Mandell)
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong got up early yesterday, for an important session: He addressed the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club’s meeting at Greens Farms Church.
Tong discussed his role as the chief civil attorney for the state, including notable litigation on tobacco, opioids and gun control.
Attorney General William Tong at Westport Sunrise Rotary. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
And finally … in honor of the very entitled dude who doesn’t know how to park his motorcycle (story above):
(Two important things to do before bed tonight: 1) Turn your clocks ahead; 2) Thank “06880” for reminding you. Please click here to make a contribution. Thank you!)
“06880” always looks for ways to serve our community. Readers always look for ways to find out what’s happening around town – including where to eat.
Which is why “06880” introduces today a new feature: a “Restaurants” tab. It appears permanently in two places on our home page: at the top (directly underneath “06880”), and on the right side (under “Pages”).
It’s a way to feed the hunger of our readers — for both information and food.
The drop-down menu (ho ho) includes:
Links directly to a restaurant’s website
Its social media handles
Its phone number
And a 2- to 3-sentence description (from them) about why they’re special.
Each restaurant can choose its own category. (NOTE: Restaurants pay a small fee to be listed.)
Click here (or above, or on the right side of the home page) to access the “Restaurants” tab. For more information on being listed, email 06880blog@gmail.com.
What to eat tonight? Click on our “Restaurants” tab!
The other day, Bill Taibe sat down for our “06880” podcast, at the Westport Library’s Verso Studios.
The owner of The Whelk, Kawa Ni and Don Memo talked about his passion for food; how he opens a new restaurant; staffing and supply issues, and Westport’s dining scene.
So where does one of the town’s premier restaurateurs go when he eats out? Click here, for the full interview.
Tuesday night’s COVID remembrance at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool will be remembered for its somber, stunning 400 lights. Each represents 1,000 Americans killed by the coronavirus.
Staples High School 2009 graduate Andrew Lott — a former Staples Players lighting director — played a major role in the event. He also helped light last night’s Biden/Harris inauguration show, featuring musical performances, fireworks, and tributes to Americans affected by the pandemic.
Lott — a University of Michigan alumnus — has worked with the Spoleto and Williamstown Theatre Festivals, Public Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park and Lincoln Center.
He spent 2 years as lighting director for “CNN Tonight.” He now works nationally on a wide variety of events.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their spouses admire 400 lights, at the Lincoln Center reflecting pool.
Meanwhile, there were no protests — in Washington, state capitals or Westport — yesterday, as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as America’s new leaders.
But Westporters Rex Fowler and Dodie Pettit — aka Aztec Two-Step — headed to the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge to celebrate.
A few people asked why Fowler was wearing a red hat.
“We are All Americans today,” Pettit explained. “We didn’t think about the color when we went out of the house. Maybe that’s the point!”
Winter sports practices have begun at Staples High School.
The usual date is around Thanksgiving. The pandemic delayed the start nearly 2 months; the first competition will now be in early February.
For the boys basketball team (shown below), along with girls basketball; boys and girls indoor track, ice hockey and skiing, and boys swimming and diving, it was one small step toward normalcy — though masks are required at all times, and spectators are not allowed.
Wrestling and competitive cheer are still prohibited.
I got a nice surprise this week with my takeout (fantastic lamb dan dan) from Kawa Ni.
The Japanese/pan-Asian restaurant has partnered with 2 others also owned by Bill Taibe — Don Memo and The Whelk — in a game. Every time you order from one, you get a letter (mine was “E”). When you have enough to spell out the name of one of those restaurants, you can post it to social media (with a tag) and win prizes (a family meal for 4, takeout up to $75, or a cocktail to go).
There are instant prizes too: guac and chips, fried oyster deviled eggs and crab rangoon.
It’s great food fun. And a lot better than a toy with a Happy Meal.
Noted chef Matthew Redington died unexpectedly earlier this month in New York. He was 40 years old.
The Westport native learned his craft at Acqua restaurant on Main Street under Christian Bertrand, formerly of Lutèce. Matt graduated from New England Culinary Institute where at age 19 he was the youngest person offered a spot in the Advanced Placement Program.
Matt and went on to top chef positions at Jean-George Vongerichten’s Spice Market in New York, Clio in Boston and Tengda in Greenwich (a co-creation of his). At Paul Newman’s The Dressing Room next to the Westport Country Playhouse, he helped Michel Nischan create the groundbreaking farm-to-table menu.
Most recently Matt ran a consultancy, creating culinary themes, concepts and menus for new and re-launched restaurants in New York and Connecticut.
Matt also enjoyed yoga, snowboarding, and innovative art and graphics.
He is survived by his father Thomas of Colebrook; sister Jessica Redington-Jones of Taylors, South Carolina; 3 nieces, 7 aunts, 6 uncles and numerous cousins.
A memorial celebration of Matt’s life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the New England Culinary Institute Scholarship Fund, 7 School Street, Montpelier, VT 05602. To leave online condolences, click here.
Last week’s Photo Challenge was a good one. David Loffredo’s clever image showed the tiled plaza by the Saugatuck River, viewed directly from above on the patio between The Whelk and Saugatuck Sweets. (Click here to see.)
Unfortunately, sussing out the scene was lower on most readers’ lists than clearing debris, tossing food from the fridge, and otherwise dealing with the zillion chores and inconveniences that come with a major power outage.
There were just 3 responses. Fred Cantor had the lone correct answer. And he lives in Southern California.
Now that the juice is back on: Try this week’s Photo Challenge. We’re easing back into things with an easy one. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
Looking for a list of open restaurants and delis — those with outdoor dining, along with takeout and delivery?
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce has you covered.
They maintain an up-to-date list. Click here for their website. As of this morning, the list included Arezzo, Bartaco, The Boathouse, Calise’s Market, Granola Bar, GG & Joe (the new acai bowl spot in Parker Harding Plaza, near TD Bank), Joe’s Pizza, Little Barn, The Naan, Pearl at Longshore, Rive Bistro, Rizzuto’s, Romanacci Xpress, Spotted Horse, Viva Zapata and The Whelk.
The Chamber site also includes FAQs, applications, and rules and regulations for restaurant owners.
There’s also this: a great new logo. It was created by (of course!) Westport’s go-to graphic designer, Miggs Burroughs.
On the long list of things people really, really want, then never look at again after wearing them once, the only thing less than a wedding dress is a graduation gown.
Except now. That goofy, floor-length outfit could save a life.
As healthcare workers lack personal protective equipment in the fight against COVID-19, they grab anything they can think of. Even trash bags.
Graduation gowns are a lot more effective than that. They cover legs and arms, and offer easy zipper access.
The Gowns4Good program provides graduation gowns to the men and women who desperately need them. Whether yours from years ago is gathering dust somewhere, or yours is spanking new for that less-than-raucous, socially distant 2020 ceremony: It can help.
Just click here. Fill out a short form. Select a medical facility from the dropdown list (pro tip: the closest to Westport is Stamford Hospital). Submit.
You’ll get an email back, with instructions on how to ship your gown.
Whether you graduated first in your class or last, you know: This is a very smart idea! (Hat tip: Becky Acselrod)
Despite the cigar smoke, these gowns will be useful.
Talk about “burying the lede”!
At the bottom of an email sent yesterday announcing new outdoor hours for The Whelk (Tuesday through Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m.), and the opening of a new Kawa Ni patio in “the next few days,” there was this momentous news from Bill Taibe’s group:
“With the seismic change that is happening in the world, we look at this as an opportunity to pivot and grow. Over the next few weeks Jesup Hall will evolve into Don Memo.
“While it is bittersweet to say goodbye to Jesup Hall, it is so exciting to create this new concept and be able to bring what we love about this cuisine and culture to downtown Westport. See you soon!”
“06880” will keep you posted. One thing is for sure: Don Memo won’t have to worry about creating outdoor seating. The patio in front of the old stone building next to Restoration Hardware — Westport’s original Town Hall — is already perfect.
Jesup Hall, soon to be Don Memo, aka the old Town Hall.
Westport’s Parks & Rec Department is posting clever new signs at their facilities around town.
Good thing they didn’t try to spell out “Recreation.”
If you wander by Jeff Franzel’s Saugatuck Island house any Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., you may hear him playing piano.
But you don’t have to live here to hear Jeff. His listeners span the globe, via Facebook Live. They suggest themes; he improvises. Original songs, plus those by Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish — he plays them all.
And very well. The Westport native has quite a resume. He’s played piano for the Hues Corporation (“Rock the Boat”), Les Brown, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Mel Torme and Bob Hope. He wrote hits like “Don’t Rush Me” for Taylor Dayne, and others for the Temptations, NSYNC, Shawn Colvin, Josh Groban, Placido Domingo and Clay Aiken. He mentors songwriters around the world, and brings some to his Songwriting Academy, at his home.
Intrigued? You’re in luck: Today is Thursday. Click here at 5 p.m., for Jeff’s 10th concert.
Jeff Franzel
Looking for a good read — and podcast? Persona’s Rob Simmelkjaer interviews Westporter Emily Liebert. Her 6th novel, “Perfectly Famous,” will be published June 2.
And finally … it will be a while before we get 400,000 people together in one place.
Or even 40.
But the Youngbloods’ message is as relevant today as it was more than half a century (!) ago.
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The Restaurant Champions program celebrates those that lead by example — and offers guidance and resources to those wanting to improve their sustainability efforts.
