Posts Tagged ‘westport’

The Whelk – Westport, CT

January 27th, 2012

This leFarm/Souterrain fan got extremely lucky this week! Welcome to Westport’s brand new seafood spot, The Whelk. leFarm devotees and local food fans will recognize these names: Bill Taibe, Dan Kardos, Massimo Tullio. Plus a team of new and familiar faces providing a warm welcome, delicious food (mostly savory, with a few sweet finishes) and [...]
 

This leFarm/Souterrain fan got extremely lucky this week!
Welcome to Westport’s brand new seafood spot, The Whelk.

leFarm devotees and local food fans will recognize these names: Bill Taibe, Dan Kardos, Massimo Tullio. Plus a team of new and familiar faces providing a warm welcome, delicious food (mostly savory, with a few sweet finishes) and a growing list of libations offered up from an ample bar.

What exactly is a whelk? Well, this gastropod or sea snail is a darling of sustainable seafood lists and currently featured on the restaurant’s new menu, via the chowder. From scallop crudo and oysters on the half shell to smoked trout dip and octopus/squid poutine, you’ll find the bounty of the sea is the main point of inspiration at The Whelk. Landlubbers can stick to the lamb burger and crispy fries or hope that Chef Taibe won’t completely strike fried chicken from the menu.

The Whelk is located at 575 Riverside Avenue in Westport, CT. If you’re familiar with the area, that’s across from the old Doc’s, next to Saugatuck Craft Butchery or a short walk from the Black Duck and the Westport train station. Out-of- towners: think exit 17 off I-95.

For now, service is dinner only. Though I hear there are lunch/brunch plans in the works. Keep an eye on thewhelkwestport.com or check the leFarm Westport FB page for the latest. (The Whelk will be closed Saturday, 1/28/12 – due to involvement in Fork It Over, the Westport Farmers’ Market Benefit)

Most importantly… Reservations will be available for the tables beneath the windows facing Riverside Ave. (203) 557-0902 The rest of the seats (including the bar), will remain up for grabs. My advice? Get a rez or go early.

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what is a whelk?

January 7th, 2012

No secrets here, Bill Taibe is one of my favorite Connecticut chefs. After reading yesterday’s scoop on CTbites, I spent the better part of Friday wondering about the name of his new Saugatuck restaurant set to open in a few weeks. {Update: my photos of The Whelk’s opening week} What the heck is a whelk? [...]
 

No secrets here, Bill Taibe is one of my favorite Connecticut chefs. After reading yesterday’s scoop on CTbites, I spent the better part of Friday wondering about the name of his new Saugatuck restaurant set to open in a few weeks. {Update: my photos of The Whelk’s opening week}

What the heck is a whelk?

It sounds to me like something from a Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach movie.
With impeccable timing, the latest issue of Food + Wine just arrived to prove me wrong.

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thali too in westport, ct

October 19th, 2011

Thali in Westport has converted to Thali Too, featuring an all vegetarian menu. A week ago we stopped in for a light, late lunch and I’ve been thinking about this eggplant pagoda ever since. I’m going back for it tonight! The original Thali Too (also all vegetarian menu) is New Haven, on the Yale campus behind [...]
 

Thali in Westport has converted to Thali Too, featuring an all vegetarian menu.
A week ago we stopped in for a light, late lunch and I’ve been thinking about this eggplant pagoda ever since. I’m going back for it tonight!

The original Thali Too (also all vegetarian menu) is New Haven, on the Yale campus behind the Co-op. I prefer this dining room to the Westport location. It might be because I miss the koi swimming underfoot at Taipan.

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goodbye inn at national hall

August 16th, 2010

I had no idea the beautiful (and expensive) Inn at National Hall closed in Westport, CT earlier this year. I feel lucky that I was able to spend some time inside the Bulldog Suite, when two English Bulldog-owning friends got married! I wonder what became of all the beautiful decor inside this hotel. Wasn’t the restaurant [...]
 

I had no idea the beautiful (and expensive) Inn at National Hall closed in Westport, CT earlier this year. I feel lucky that I was able to spend some time inside the Bulldog Suite, when two English Bulldog-owning friends got married! I wonder what became of all the beautiful decor inside this hotel. Wasn’t the restaurant Zanghi also at this location, once upon a time? There’s a nice history of the property on Westport Now. It looks like the new Hotel Delamar Southport, is the main game in town for luxury accommodations. That’s me behind the bulldog on the right!Photo by Anthony DiCarlo.

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at compo

July 23rd, 2010

There’s plenty of shoreline in our hometown, so I always forget about trying other beaches in Connecticut. Luckily for us, Eunice still has a pass for Compo Beach in Westport as the day rate for weekend parking is $40!!! Recently, we found ourselves there spending a lazy Sunday afternoon of sun & surf, with grillmaster Dave [...]

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There’s plenty of shoreline in our hometown, so I always forget about trying other beaches in Connecticut. Luckily for us, Eunice still has a pass for Compo Beach in Westport as the day rate for weekend parking is $40!!! Recently, we found ourselves there spending a lazy Sunday afternoon of sun & surf, with grillmaster Dave dishing up some great sliders and grilled corn. Thanks Team Z, I think we pulled off the perfect beach picnic!
Don’t you love the curls on Nina’s younger son?We were too busy eating, but some people were just there to take in the sunset.

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c’est magnifique

June 18th, 2010

Last night we kicked off our anniversary celebration with cocktails at the Dressing Room bar. Their dining room was buzzing before showtime at the Westport Playhouse. We saw some tantalizing dishes coming out, but had already decided to dine at Le Farm.  We enjoyed a light meal, 4 appetizers, a salad and one wicked little chocolate pot-de-creme.  It’s a splendid time of year for farm-to-table dining in Connecticut and I deeply wish Chef [...]

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Last night we kicked off our anniversary celebration with cocktails at the Dressing Room bar. Their dining room was buzzing before showtime at the Westport Playhouse. We saw some tantalizing dishes coming out, but had already decided to dine at Le Farm.  We enjoyed a light meal, 4 appetizers, a salad and one wicked little chocolate pot-de-creme.  It’s a splendid time of year for farm-to-table dining in Connecticut and I deeply wish Chef Taibe would adopt me so I could spend every day exploring the wonders of his kitchen!  We’re talking about my favorite chef in Connecticut (we were crushed when Relish closed in South Norwalk) and I’d follow him anywhere, but I’m so thankful he’s serving up his amazing food at this low-key spot in Westport. I also want to give it up for our charming server Frank, who, with the true memory of an elephant, remembered us AND where we sat during our last visit in October of 2009! 

Don’t you love the long days of June when there’s enough light to shoot without flash at 8pm?  Below is our local lettuce salad with grapefruit, sunflower seeds and creme fraiche lime dressing. I’m not one to get excited about a salad, but it was so simple, yet so unexpectedly pleasing. Unfortunately the light disappeared before I could photograph the rest of dinner and sometimes, you have to put the camera down.
 On our way home from dinner we listened to Ella’s Twelve Nights in Hollywood as she sang the Cole Porter classic, C’est Magnifique. So true, Ella.

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westport: leFarm

October 23rd, 2009

Chef Bill Taibe is back with a relaxed, farm-to-table spot in Westport, CT. One bite of the duck breast with barley, swiss chard & black figs and I had an instant flashback to my first meal at Relish in SoNo.  I’m no professional food critic, but I will say we enjoyed a *delicious* three-course meal set [...]
 

Le Farm in Westport, CTChef Bill Taibe is back with a relaxed, farm-to-table spot in Westport, CT. One bite of the duck breast with barley, swiss chard & black figs and I had an instant flashback to my first meal at Relish in SoNo.  I’m no professional food critic, but I will say we enjoyed a *delicious* three-course meal set in the spare, but quite thoughtful farmhouse decor. LeFarm is a delightfully small and cozy restaurant, so a reservation is a good idea.  Don’t forget, you’re allowed to bring your own wine (corkage fee $20). For D’s birthday we decided to finally open a bottle of Stag’s Leap Fay Cabernet.

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I LOVE: keeping it local

October 5th, 2009

This fall, Connecticut retailer Mitchells | Richards stays true to their roots and mailed Keeping It Local, ”a tribute to nature, history & arts of our home towns.”  The  publication features local heroes and photo shoots from nearby landmarks such as: The Super Duper Weenie, The Westport Country Playhouse and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. I have one other bit of great [...]
 

This fall, Connecticut retailer Mitchells | Richards stays true to their roots and mailed Keeping It Local, ”a tribute to nature, history & arts of our home towns.”  The  publication features local heroes and photo shoots from nearby landmarks such as: The Super Duper Weenie, The Westport Country Playhouse and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum.

I have one other bit of great “local” news.  Bill Taibe (did you adore Relish of SoNo?) has left Stamford’s Napa & Co and opened a new farm-to-table restaurant called Le Farm in Westport.

Mitchells of Westport: Keeping It Local

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