Archive for the ‘gourmet/specialties’ Category

Tell us what you think: Darien Social

Monday, February 13, 2012 by:Magdalene Perez
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Looks like Darien Social, which opened last week on the Post Road, is shaping up to be a runaway success. By the restaurant’s second day in business, it had 100 reservations for dinner that evening.

Chef Baird Van Beever says he plans seasonal changes to the menu, which currently consists of small plates, pizza and entrees, including Swedish meatballs with foie gravy, shrimp and grits, wood-oven-roasted chicken, wild salmon and filet mignon.

Our folks at Darien News have done the reporting, now go try it and let us know what you think. Is this the hottest new spot to hit Darien? Or are you not believing the hype?

Darien restaurant week starts Feb. 6

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by:Magdalene Perez
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Above: The Pan-seared scallops in chickpea purée at Café D’Azur, one of the participating restaurants in Darien Restaurant Week.

This just in from the organizers of Darien Restaurant Week:

Darien Restaurant Week will offer consumers great deals, the opportunity to experience some new restaurants, and re-visit a few of their favorites throughout the next installment of Darien Restaurant Week, Monday, February 6 thru Friday, February 10, 2012.

“We have had another year of great progress in our local food scene,” says Darien Chamber of Commerce President / CFO Carol Wilder-Tamme,” Darien has grown into a genuine restaurant destination.”

Beginning Monday, February 6 thru Friday, February 10, participating restaurant will offer a special prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menu during the entire week. Number of courses to be offered is a minimum of 3 (Excludes tax and gratuity)

Mid-range: Lunch $10.12 Dinner $15.12
High-end: Lunch $20.12 Dinner $30.12

Some of the participating restaurants include:
Cesco’s Trattoria
Chuck’s Steakhouse
Matsuri, Ole Mole
Phil’s Grill
Robeks Juice
Rory’s Restaurant
Scena Wine Bar & Restaurant
The Goose
Backstreet Restaurant
Café D’Azur
The Melting Pot
and the newly opened Darien Social
(more to come)

“This is great timing,” says Chef Nick Bilello of Darien Social, “My team is excited to introduce our restaurant and what better way to do so than with a specially designed multi-course menu.”

Details and participating restaurant updates: www.darienchamberonline.com or 203-655-3600.

Halelujah! Jamón ibérico is here!

Monday, January 9, 2012 by:Magdalene Perez
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Better late than never. Four years after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted its ban on the famed jamón ibérico, the most prized of Spanish hams, Greenwich now has its own team of importers.

Greenwich native Josh Merrow and partner Guy Spriggs, featured in a recent profile in Greenwich Citizen, are the brains behind Hamlovers.com, a company that imports Serrano and Iberian hams for $250 to $2,000.

Merrow, who appropriately lives in Barcelona, can’t speak highly enough about Spain’s most iconic of cured meats, including the jamón ibérico, which gets its distinct flavor from black-footed, free range pigs raised on acorns.

“Spanish hams have an indescribable butter taste,” Merrow told the Greenwich Citizen. “You cut the ham in paper thin slices, and savor it like a good caviar. It’s hard to put it on your plate – you want to put it in your mouth.”