Cooking with My Butcher's Help

I love to cook especially with fresh, local ingredients.  Now that we have Craft Butchery at Saugatuck Center in Westport, I especially like to eat what I cook.  Ryan Fibiger, the owner, sources organic, pasture raised and grass fed animals from local sustainable farms.  He brings in the whole animal and every part, from nose to tail, is used.

Ryan and the two other butchers who work along side him can tell you where the animal has come from and will butcher exactly what you need and how you want it.  I love knowing the source of what I'm eating and feel good that I can trust what I am putting in my body.

Just recently, I walked in and asked Ryan for short ribs. He cut them right in front of my eyes, fresh as can be. I got an excellent product and an education. Back home, I slow roasted the ribs with wine, carrots, garlic, onion, tomato and added parsley at the end.

The smell and the taste were phenomenal.  I served the ribs on top of stone ground grits with white cheddar cheese with  a side of dandelion greens. My husband and I could not stop eating it, but I made sure I saved a serving for my friend, Juliet.

I've enjoyed eating lemon-rosemary roasted chicken made with their free range chickens, veal meatballs with their organic ground veal and even pizza with their sage sausage. I am getting hungry just thinking about the goodness of Craft Butchery's products.

I better get busy making dinner, but first I'm on my way Craft Butchery to see what my butcher can suggest.

Celebrating Local Seafood at "The Whelk"

Last Thursday night, my husband Gil and I were invited to a sneak preview of Bill Taibe's new seafood restaurant, The Whelk, in Westport's new Saugatuck Center.  The ever creative Chef Taibe is featuring sustainable seafood from local and regional sources. Like at his LeFarm restaurant, Bill concentrates on where his ingredients are coming from.  He gets to know and builds a relationship with the people whose hard work brings food to his kitchen.  For example, Bill and chef de cuisine Dan Kardos, went out on Norm Bloom's oyster boat to see how he seeds, farms and harvests oysters around the Norwalk islands.

The result is unmistakable--fresh, sweet, local bivalves you can enjoy raw or cooked at the Whelk.

In his inimitable manner, Bill Taibe kept his sea-centric snacks coming all evening.  We really loved, the barbecued clams, blackened pollock sandwich with spicy slaw and the poutine which is grilled octopus and squid with french fries topped with beef gravy.  And my husband especially loved the lamb burger with meat from Craft Butchery.

 
The perfect complement to these delicious and surprising dishes was the fresh Bitter Hound made for me by Raffa.  It has Tito's Vodka, grapefruit juice, bitters and tonic poured over ice.

Although perfectly satisfied with our savory dishes, Bill did not want us to leave without dessert, which was a  cream filled chocolate whoopee bar, and we were happy to oblige.

Bill and his team are gearing up for the opening scheduled for the end of January and after sampling his creations, the calm, casual and fresh restaurant interior and his delightful staff, he is sure to satisfy customers for a long time to come.  Bill's understated and calm demeanor comes through in the atmosphere and in the people he works with.  What a great addition to Westport's culinary community.  Thank you Bill!

 And if you are wondering what a whelk is, I had to look it up myself.
 It's a sea snail!

On the Road with Pinkki

It's been deeply gratifying to receive the support of so many people for my project, "Cookies for a Cure". Pinkki, a cookie developed by Andre Kreft of Savor Fine Foods, hit the road in October to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. For each bag sold, Andre, William Raveis and I make a $16 contribution to the WRRE Breast Cancer Research Fund.

We unveiled the program at the Westport Farmers Market in October and response to the cookie itself and to the donation program was very enthusiastic.

Encouraged by the response, we took Pinkki on the road in December. "Cookies For a Cure" was invited by Mitchells in Westport to take part in a special evening to benefit breast cancer. Customers experienced a delightful evening of shopping and in the process made a donation to pinkaid (Mitchells program to support services for local women in need) and Cookies for a Cure.

Pinkki is so delicious that once people taste it, they jump at the chance to make a donation through their purchase. Men are some of the biggest supporters of Cookies for a Cure, including Bill Mitchell himself.

The evening at Mitchells resulted in 100 bags sold and raising $1600 for WRRE Breast Cancer Research Fund. Word of mouth spread the news of Pinkki and other merchants took in bags to sell in their shops. Cookies for a Cure are being sold by Soleil Toile, Effi's Salon and

 Lynne Ostilly Collections in Westport.

Andre and I are grateful for everyone's support. If you want to join a baker and a realtor in the fight against breast cancer, buy a bag of Pinkki!

Slow Food, Thriving Community

Westport Farmers Market

My love of fresh, local food led me to be a regular shopper at the Westport Farmers Market.  It was there that I linked my love of good, clean food to the community and  the environment.  Wearing my business hat of a realtor, I became an official sponsor of the Westport Farmers Market.

Taking part in the Thursday markets, I found a kinship with a number of vendors like,

 Donny of Raus Coffee for Humanity and,

 Jerry of Nothin'But Foods and,

Erin of Erin Ostreicher Designs.

I especially connected with one vendor--Andre Kreft of Savor Fine Foods.

Originally, a graphic designer, Andre turned his visual artistic sensibility to his gastronomic senses and is now baking the most unique savory cookies with ingredients like lavender, roasted leek, smoked red onion,  chocolate and black pepper.  He is constantly finding new artistic combinations that delight the pallet.  

Working with an artist is inspirational and together we came up with an idea where we would join forces to raise funds for Breast Cancer and COOKIES FOR A CURE was born. Andre made a cookie called Pinkki which we sold in October at the Farmers Market. For every bag sold, we donated $16 to The William Raveis Breast Cancer Fund.

Pinkki a delightful cookie made with rosewater syrup, orange and cranberry with beet pulp to make it pink is lovingly made by Andre Kreft, founder and baker at Savor Cookies.

To date, we have sold 100 bags which equals $1600 for the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund.  This is just a start and we plan to continue! 

Come join me this Thursday Dec 15, 2011 from 6 to 9pm at Mitchell's in Westport, and discover the gastronomic delight of Pinkki Cookies and support a cause that is of concern to all of us. For each bag of Pinkki Cookies you purchase at $8.00, $16.00 will be contributed to the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund. The 2 for 1 matching contribution is being made by me, Savor Cookies and Bill Raveis.

I look forward to seeing you at Mitchell's and introducing you to this delightful cookie and tell you more about the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Summer Blooms to Winter Wreaths

This year I decided to make my own winter wreath using what I had in my garden.  Looking around I found so much to work with but I was most drawn to the lush mop head hydrangea blooms.  I had tons and I put them to good use. I feel like I have saved a part of my garden to enjoy every time I come in the front door. What do you think of my first home grown winter wreath?

My Front Door

After having made my first wreath, I was quickly inspired to make more.  I made this one for my friend Katie in North Carolina.  We were there recently visiting family and friends.  Katie's wreath reflects her creative and gentle personality.  She instantly hung it on her door and it suited her house to a tee.

 

Katie's wreath made of evergreens and hydrangea, lavender, gomphrena and Skimmia

Take a closer look

Getting Into the Spirit

Until this week, it's been so warm that it has been hard to beleive it's December. Today, I walked into the new Pop Up West Elm Store on Main Street in Westport and I quickly caught Holiday fever. There are so many unique home decor pieces and gift items that I was inspired to make my list of gifts for friends and gifts for me! The store will be here temporarily, so make sure you get your chance to experience it before it's gone.

Not in My Backyard! The Case of the Runaway Mountain Lion.

Oh no! First it was the moose on the Merritt, now it's the mountain lion!!!

The first sightings were last week in Greenwich, a mountain lion in CT...no way. The news told us that mountain lions have not been seen in CT since the late 1800's and that it was probably someone's pet. How a "pet" of that size could escape without being reported is beyond me, but whatever.

A week later, the news flash was that a mountain lion had been hit by an SUV and killed in Milford. So the question was wether or not it was the same "cat". This mountain lion had to have done a fair amount of running without being seen in the interim to end up in Milford.

Now, a few days later, I read that there were two sightings in Greenfield Hill in Fairfield...minutes from my home. I called up my husband to tell him and he asked if I thought that the coyote he saw with our dog was really a mountain lion instead. I couldn't help it, but I had to say it...the mountain lion wouldn't have barked...it would have meowed or worse, roared!

All kidding aside, here is info that the Fairfield Police Department has put out.


The recommended precautions at home are:
• Keep children indoors around dawn and dusk
• Do not feed wildlife that would be a potential prey
• Install or use motion detector lighting, especially near sidewalks
and pathways
• Scatter mothballs and ammonia-soaked scraps of cloth around your yard

Face to face with a mountain lion:
• Do not approach
• Gather and protect your children
• Keep eye contact and back away slowly, without running
• Give the mountain lion an avenue for escape

In wooded areas:
• Hike with a group, not alone
• Hike with a dog on a leash
• Keep children in close proximity
• Keep standing, even if you pick up a child
• Carry a walking stick or pepper spray, stones –
any weapon that comes to hand.

Any sightings should be reported to the Police Department’s emergency communication center at 203 254-4800, so officers can be dispatched to the area.

Moose on The Merritt...Really?

Yes, really! I couldn't believe my ears this morning as I was listening to the radio. There have been several moose sitings along The Merritt around the Rte. 25 interchange in Trumbull. They've also been spotted on I-84 in Waterbury and Bethel.

Moose can measure up to 6 feet high at the shoulder and if hit by a car, will be at windshield level...very dangerous. They are usually more active at dusk and dawn. They are common in Western Connecticut, but because they are hungry and it's mating season, they're expanding their territory. The word Moose comes from the Algonquian Indians, therefore, there is no plural...just a bit of trivia.

The CT D.E.P. has asked to be contacted if you see a moose along The Merritt or I-84.

Drive safely!!!

Desirable Expanded Cape, Desirable Fairfield Location!!!

Yes, it's true, 4 Large Bedrooms and 3 Full Baths on corner lot in Fabulous Location. This fantastic home won't last!!!

Check Out This Business Insider Article!

See what Gary Shilling, an economic forecaster has to say about housing prices for 2011. Click on this Link.

Video: Easton CT Home for Sale

Hip Condo in Black Rock!

Wow! Gorgeous 2 bedroom, 2 bath Condo in Black Rock. Walk to shops and St. Mary's by the Sea. High end finishes make this a fabulous deal at $174,900. Will not be around for long!!!

Stratfield at its Best!

Check out this wonderful English Cottage in the Stratfield section of Fairfield. Lovingly restored with all of todays amenities! Come see!!!

Great Website to Support if You Like Walking Your Best Friend on the Beach!

It was a perfect day to go for a walk on the beach with Cello & my husband so we headed out to Jennings Beach in Fairfield. Jennings is one of the few beaches left where you can let your dog run off leash.

Cello was exploring, running and making friends, 4 and 2 legged alike when I was asked what kind of dog he was. Not unusual for sure, but one of the people was shooting tons of pics. After chatting for a bit I was handed a card for a great website...Fairfield Beach Access.

FairfieldBeachAccess.org is a site devoted to networking and sharing information to preserve and enhance the enjoyment of outdoor activities with your best bud. There is information on nutrition, how to find a holistic vet, a place if you've lost your dog and they even have a low tide calendar. There is a section devoted to Natural Toxins and Poisons and Hypothermia in dogs. They also feature wonderful photos of dogs running free that really capture the joy our best friends feel. Bravo!!!!

I signed up for their e-newsletter to show support of the phenomenal job they are doing. I am so happy that I was introduced to this site and thought that my fellow dog lovers would find it useful as well.

Enjoy the Outdoors with your Dog -- Even in Winter!

Beat those winter blahs and head outside with your canine companion. Sure, it's chilly, but the sunshine and camaraderie will give you, and your pet, a boost. In the short video below I share some of my favorite dog-walking spots in Fairfield County, CT.

What to do With an Almost 3 Year Old Comes to an End

Sad, but true, I took Henry and his mama and dada to LaGuardia this afternoon for their trip home. It was a great week with lots of activities and good times! The next time H comes to CT, he'll be 3 and we'll have to find some new adventures!

Instead of partaking in the traditional "black friday' activities we drove to Stratford and bounced our way to a good time. Bounce U is the perfect place to get out some pent up energy. They have an activity called the Open Bounce a few times a day and it's a good idea to call ahead and sign up. They break up the kids into two separate age groups, under 6 and 7 up. This is great because if you have a little one, you won't have to worry about the older kids running around and playing a little bit rougher than you might feel comfortable with. The Open Bounce lasts for 1 and 1/2 hours. They start the kids in one room then switch them in 45 mins. so both age groups can enjoy both rooms. They have T-ball, giant slides, basket ball hoops, a Sumo wrestling ring equipped with giant gloves & Sumo outfits. They of course have large spaces to bounce in. There are party options for that special day and a room where the kids can take a break and have a snack.

On our way home we drove up Black Rock Turnpike and stopped at The Rugged Bear. Henry had a little accident and the staff was extremely helpful. They let us use the restroom to clean up then let H roam around in his diaper and vest. We found a great pair of pants on sale and we were ready to go. We weren't hungry, but if we were, A&S would have been a great place to by an Italian sub for the road.

Before our ride to the airport, DeeDee had one more adventure up her sleeve! I thought a little excitement would be a great idea before a plane ride. A true adventure...EarthPlace an nature discovery center is Wetport would be perfect. I love EarthPlace! They have live animals that have been injured, a colony of vultures, two bald eagles, rabbits, an indoor play area, lab and a fabulous outdoor playground.

While we were there today Miss Betsy had show and tell. We were able to pet a bunny and snake and learned quite a bit about both. For instance, did you know that pythons eat once a week? One of the resident pythons actually went five weeks without eating once! They have exhibits, programs and a nursery school. It's tucked away at the end of Woodside and also offers various trails for walking and exploring.

After all the excitement, we went to Coco Michelle in Westport for a quick hot chocolate. It's a European style hot chocolate and they call it a ChocoLatte...yummmmmmmmm! They also offer excellent coffee and handmade chocolates along with fresh baked goods. The coffee is FairTrade which is a bonus. It is now located across the street from the Westport train station.

I hope you have enjoyed the series and that I was able to share some places you might not have known about. Stay tuned for the next series. Happy Holiday's!!!

Visiting the Firehouse in Fairfield!

Sorry for skipping yesterday, but by the time I got done, making the pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, persimmon pudding and marinating the turkey it was already Thursday so I figured I'd wait! It's not so easy being the cook and trying to entertain that almost 3 year old!

To be honest, Henry was a bit under the weather and our adventure yesterday had to be short, but fun. What better adventure could there be for an almost 3 year old boy than to visit the local fire department? When Henry was in, in June, we visited the Westport Fire House where we saw beautiful new trucks, a rescue vehicle and a diving boat! The fireman on duty was super sweet and spent quite a bit of time with us. When we left, Henry got to take home a plastic fireman hat that he still has.

Since we were crunched for time, we went to the Fairfield Fire Department. I think that one of the requirements to being a fireman, is a love of children. The firemen in Fairfield were just as sweet as the ones in Westport and showed us some things we didn't get to see at the Westport Fire Department. Henry's favorite was the pole. Yes, they really do have a pole at the Fairfield Fire House! It's the first one Henry and his parents have encountered and you wouldn't believe the excitement on Henry's face when the fireman came sliding down...priceless!! The firemen in Fairfield wear leather helmets instead of the new composite style ones that are being used today. They were very cool looking and you could almost see all the stories that they could tell. This time Henry got to take home a fireman hat and a coloring book with safety tips.

From there, we headed over to Borders for a quick tour of their kids section. It's tucked away on the second floor and they have a very good selection of books and toys. If Henry had been feeling better, we would have crossed the street and gone to either Sweet Rexies, a kids paradise, or PinkBerry for a tart yogurt.

As for today's activity, we decided to head back to Compo for some more outdoor fun. This time the beach was packed with adults and kids of all ages. There were also plenty of dogs romping around and having a great time with their owners and the kids. Starbuck's was opened so we got a hot chocolate then headed home to finish up preparing our Thanksgiving Dinner.

I'm off to finish cleaning up and to plan tomorrow's adventure. It all depends on the weather...indoor or outdoor activity. We'll see when we wake up.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Adventure Continues, Day 4

We woke to a gorgeous November day and felt that at 65 degrees, we needed to be outdoors! After packing a goody bag full of snacks and drinks and a snack bag for Cello, my Spinone Italiano, we were ready to go.

Our first stop though was Coffee an' Donut Shop in Westport on Main Street (across the St. from Bogey's). If you love donuts and want something special, this is the place to go. These tasty treats are homemade and you can get anything from a plain old fashioned to a coconut twist. My personal favorite is the cinnamon, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside...yum! We were lucky it was during the week and after 9a.m. so we didn't have to wait on line. If your travels take you there on a weekend, be prepared to wait on a line out the door. You can also sit at a table or even better at the counters and have a regular breakfast. It's the place to go for that small town feel!

With donuts at the ready, we drove to Compo Beach in Westport. I love the fact that I can let Cello run off leash and play with other dogs. You can walk for quite a stretch although if you go with your dog, part of the beach requires you to put your pooch on a leash. Henry ran around, threw rocks in the water, collected seashells and thought it might be fun to swim like Cello.

Another great feature of Compo is the large playground. It was rebuilt a few years ago and it is a kids dream. With swings, rock climbing area, bars, slides and towers, there's something for most age groups. Dogs aren't allowed here so Cello and I had to sit by the sidelines and watch Henry explore with his mama and dada while pop-pop clicked away. The area is also totally fenced in and has plenty of benches for those parents or grandparents that need a break.

There is also a skateboard park for the more adventurous!

Tomorrow is day 5 and we're going strong. How does a morning at the fire station sound? Find out in tomorrow's installment of "What to do in Fairfield County with an Almost 3 Year Old".

Stepping Stones is the Activity of the Day!

Day 3 of "What do with an Almost Three Year Old in Fairfield County" was spent at Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk. Wow, what an incredible space! Stepping Stones was closed for a bit of make-over and it was worth the wait; they did a great job. This past Saturday was the grand re-opening, just in time for the Holiday weekend...phew!

They have revamped the water section of the museum and it is now part of the Energy Lab. They have lab coats at the ready and hand dryers to dry off those wet little hands when the kiddies are done. The wind display was cute, but it seemed to need a little more wind power while we were there. Climbing up and through the tunnel was still fun.

There is a toddler play area that was packed so we ended up heading towards the health area. Here Henry was able to wear scrubs, a white coat to brush a giant set of teeth like a real dentist, scuba gear and a helmet and knee pads to ride on a bike with a skeleton that mimicked his movements. Henry's favorite was the construction site. After we geared up, a vest, hard hat and tool belt, we filled a "paint" can with paint brushes, shingles and paint sticks and set to work.

The Rain Forest had "mama & dada gorilla" with several "baby gorilla's"...Henry thought they were very cute. We took a "ride" up a tree and saw a live web cast of an Ecuadorian rain forest. We didn't make the "Rain Forest Canopy" movie...maybe next time. The outdoor playground was closed for a movie shoot which was a shame since it's such a cool spot.

After a quick trip to the gift shop, we headed over to the Westport Library. The kids section is located on the 3rd floor and is filled with books, cd's, toys and videos. Depending on the day, you can enjoy crafts, story time and so much more.

If you have a little one coming in for a visit, they have a great service called "GrandKits". You can either call or email ahead of time, tell them the age group of your visitor and their "likes" and voila, when you come in, you have a pretty sizable bag of goodies to take home. I know that when I did this for Henry, it was a real winner!

Hmmmm, what could be on tap for tomorrow? Stay tuned for day 4's "adventure"!!

The Maritime Aquarium Wins Out!

The UBS Parade in Stamford was going to be our destination for the day, but The Maritime Aquarium won out in the end.

For those of you have not been to the Aquarium in Norwalk, you should really make the effort to visit. It's right on the water and has tons of cool things to do. You can take a 2 hour boat ride, although they do have a minimum height so make sure to check, build a boat, see a movie at the IMAX Theatre or get some energy out in the indoor play space.

You can see the penguins, pet the sting rays, count the hidden flounders and gaze at the jelly fish. They have seals that you can view from the exterior of the building or the warmth of the museum. The kids love seeing them swim in circles and the best part is feeding time, which they have posted so you won't miss it.

The turtle exhibit was interesting, especially the giant sea turtle. Henry could have spent quite a bit of time just watching him swim around and moving the large stones around. He got a kick out of seeing "baby" turtle hang out right next to "mama" turtle.

I think our favorite exhibit was of the meerkats. Boy, were they fun!!!! I couldn't believe how cute they were. At only a year to two years old, they were full of energy and themselves! There was a spot were kids could crawl into and then stand, that gives them the impression that they are in the exhibit with their four legged friends. The meerkats come up to the window and run around the kids. They stand at attention, almost as if posing then jump into their make-shift swing. Like I said, too cute!

With tons of things to do, the theatre and great restaurants within walking distance, The Maritime Aquarium is a winner!!!