FFD County Hounds - Anyone Home?

[jfood]

It has been veeeeery silent over the last few weeks on inputs from the FFD county hounds.

What has everyone been up to?

[amanda3571]

Barcelona Stamford opened last night. The chef came from Casa Mono in NYC which is great for us!

[gillyweed]

Thanks for the update! I've been anxiously awaiting the opening. I frequently go to both the SoNo and Greenwich locations, but live in downtown Stamford and am excited to be able to walk to Barcelona.

[missmar79]

let's see-
walked out of barcelona in greenwich b.c we waited over an hour for 900 pm reservations- i am disgusted with the serivce there

had two memorable meals at Tuttis in Westport- their penne with crab, lobster and shrimp in a mushroom ala vodka sauce (off the specials menu) was out of this world and the BYOB is a fabulous little perk

have been going to Capitol Grille for my recession menu- 2 salads, a side of truffle fries and the porterhouse split in 2 - gets us out for $75 or under and we still leave with full bellies

thats about it....
im looking forward to trying the new mexican on summer street and have been drooling over the construction site for the Fairway on Market Street.

Also looking for some outside dining suggestions... I am geting bored of Splash and Saltwater Grille

[Ima Foodie]

Where is Tuttis in Westport? I've never heard of it. Is it new/renamed?

[mrporkbelly]

Tuttis is off of exit 17 on 95. near the Black duck and Abondaza, never ate there ,but have heard good things about the food. It's a really small place. if you eat there stop by Dunvilles after for a drink , great local bar with really good pub food.

[missmar79]

it looks like a tiny pizza place, its right near railroad ave near Marios across the street from abbondanza

[connbates]

I was excited to go to Osetra last Friday night since I had not been there in a while and loved the food last time. My husband and I arrived there at 6:30, no reservation but it was half full. The hostess was about to seat us at a four top when the bartender (manager?) directed her to seat us at a two top, squeezed between two other occupied two tops. We sat, but then decided we don't go out to spend our money just to listen to strangers conversations and have them hear ours. So we went to Barcelona and had a great time as always. Same level of fullness, but they spread everyone apart from each other.

I understand wanting to keep the four tops open, but we were there, we were a bird in the hand. Why not keep us, and the other two-tops comfortable?

[mrporkbelly]

Had a great meal at Harvest in New cannon a little while back. this is one of my new favorite restaurants. great food, service , and wine in a comfortable atmosphere. can't wait to go back!

[sibeats]

I love Harvest as well. The Schoolhouse is our other favorite, sorry to hear ChefBoy didn't enjoy it. We've been to the Schoolhouse probably 20 times and feel that it just keeps getting better and better. Harvest is also one of the best in FFD County. My third favorite is in Stamford...

[ChefBoyAreMe]

Nothing of note to post on lately. Plus scaling back, like most.

I did have a fairly disappointing meal about a month back at Schoolhouse. First trip, was expecting great things, and felt it was so-so...high end hotel food. Plus, at 46, I felt about 20+ years YOUNGER than everyone who was there that night.

[LW1]

I was unemployed since January so we cut down on eating out as the first line of defense versus a dwindling bank account. I began working again and getting back on my feet.
That said, one of the recent meals ive had was in Stamford, at a new Peruvian restaurant (Chavin?). Good Pisco Sour, decent food, nice atmosphere. I don't dream about the food, but it's perfectly acceptable for something different.

[adamclyde]

one of my favorite meals recently in Stamford was at a different Peruvian Restaurant - Omar Restaurant. Very good Lomo Saltado...

Where is Chavin? I'm guessing it must be related to the Chavin in Port Chester...

[LW1]

It's on atlantic, near the corner. good tomales on the app menu. also, my wife had those boiled potatoes in the spicy yellow type sauce. i'm sure it has a name. both very good apps. worth the visit for the pisco and the apps.

[adamclyde]

the potato dish sounds like papas a la huancaina.

[bagelman01]

For some reason, a lot of Fairfield county activity is on the New England Board.

I just responded to a posting concerning Monroe, CT there.

[kattyeyes]

I wish Fairfield County wasn't segregated from the rest of New England--if anything, group all of CT together. I don't totally understand why a state as small as CT needs to be split up as it is here.

[adamclyde]

Because folks down here in deep SW connecticut have a lot more to do with the NY area than the rest of the state, foodwise. I have never even been to Bridgeport, or New Haven or Hartford or anything else... but I'm in Connecticut (Stamford). So having it grouped more geographically with commuter areas for me works well.

to jfood's point... it has been quiet. Most of my eaten's been happening in Westchester County or NYC because the only time I go out is for lunch. So Port Chester and Manhattan get my food attention these days...

[JohnnyCT]

Wow, you have never been to New Haven???? From one chowhound to another you need to make the trip to the New Haven area sometime for apizza and lobster rolls. Stamford really isn't very far from NH.

Just for the record many people from New Haven make the commute into NYC.

[adamclyde]

I know, I know. I have actually been to new haven once... to go to ikea and noticed all those taco trucks on the frontage road. I need to go back just to check it out. ... but really I just want to go to Bridgeport and check out the places you keep talking about.

[Scargod]

Sheesh Adam! What a thin excuse. Commuter areas: You can get on the train and be in New Haven in one hour and great restaurants start appearing in four blocks. $12 round trip. Sally's is a 10 minute walk (.7 mi.).
Thali and Miso are .4 miles and Bentara, Central Steakhouse and Foster's just one more block.
And only 40 minutes to drive there from Stamford.

[amanda3571]

Howdy jfood, I agree - pretty quiet in the hood as of late. Can't speak for anyone else but I can tell you that I am simply waiting for a couple things to happen around here.... first and foremost, the weather. I'm hoping that once this weekend is done, we will get a break from the rain for a while. NC Farmers market set to open next weekend and I am pretty excited about that. Looking forward to the Schoolhouse getting their spring harvest and seeing what Chef Labant comes up with for a new menu (this should be sometime after the 15th). Still getting my weekly DUO fix, although it should be mentioned they've completely changed their menu. They are focusing almost entirely on small plates & sushi. I like the concept simply because I love to try a little of everything, just hope it works for them. I know business has been slow. I'm still keeping my eye on the Fairway project over here in the South End as well. Nothing new to report. Looks like they just keep digging & redigging holes. I think most of us are probably staying in & cooking more lately. I've noticed more chains showing up in the area (Stamford in partic) and I simply have no desire to eat at them. Nothing notable has opened up as of late. I'm still frequenting my usual suspects. Have enjoyed a couple of nice meals at Osetra. Maybe I'll check out Rouge, but I'm not rushing.

As an aside, spent some time in New Orleans a couple weeks ago - had a delicious meal at Stella. Highly recommend you check it out.