Sunday Brunch at COTTO Wine Bar in Stamford CT

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On Weekends We Brunch - At COTTO Wine Bar

A few weekends back we found ourselves heading up to Stamford CT on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning for an invite to COTTO Wine Bar on Bank Street in Stamford CT. This amazing place is quickly becoming a local favorite for more than lunch and dinner! Their Sunday Brunch is fantastic too!

COTTO Wine Bar
51 Bank Street,  Stamford CT

Owners Claudio and Silvy Ridolfi opened Stamford's COTTO Wine Bar in 2012 with the simple idea of offering an interesting wine list full of regional Italian varieties, and a rustic trattoria menu including pizza, house made mozzarella and pasta, and a large selection of antipasti.

COTTO - Antipasti
Charcuterie

COTTO Wine Bar remains dedicated to providing customers with a meaningful dining experience, and added even more talent to this intimate restaurant and wine bar, with accredited sommelier, Ian Toogood, our host for the day. who came to COTTO via Marc Restaurant Group’s A Voce in Manhattan and Le Fat Poodle in Greenwich, CT, revamping COTTO’s wine list and further elevating its service.

COTTO is reminiscent of a charming little café in a sleepy Italian village. Designed as a tapas style wine bar with communal dining tables, the focal point of the urban eatery is the exposed brick wall adorned with vintage photos and magazine covers of Silvy’s absolutely beautiful mother, Simonetta Simeoni, a prominent Italian actress and model throughout the 1960s-70s.

Complete with the requisite red and white checked tablecloths on the outside patio tables, you will feel like you have been whisked away to the streets of Italy when you dine at COTTO!

COTTO  Artichokes

Let's move on to some of the items we sampled at Brunch.

Besides diving in to the beautiful antipasti dish and the artichokes pictured above, we started with the delicious Bloody Maria and some tart and frosty Bellinis!

COTTO - Bellinis!

COTTO - Bloody Maria

What's a brunch without some delicious egg dishes!! 

COTTO serves PORCHETTA E UOVO (Homemade Porchetta with Fresh Mozzarella and Sunny Side Egg), CHEF'S SCRAMBLED EGGS (Italian Omelette w/ potato, Onions, Eggplants, Zucchini, served with Mixed Greens, and the delicious SMOKED SALMON EGGS BENEDICT (Scottish Smoked Salmon Poached Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce)

SMOKED SALMON EGGS BENEDICT
Scottish Smoked Salmon Poached Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce

Any Pasta Lovers out there? 

You'll think you're in heaven when you try COTTO's SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA (Pancetta, Egg, Black Pepper, Pecorino Romano),  TONNARELLI CACIO & PEPE (Fresh Homemade Pasta, Pecorino, Parmigiano, Black Pepper, EVOO), RIGATONI ALLE SPUNTATURE (Pork Ribs, Fresh San Marzano Tomato Sauce), PASTA AL FILETTO DI POMODORO (Choice of Penne, Spaghetti, Rigatoni, With Fresh San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Basil), PENNE GREY GOOSE (Pancetta, Prosciutto San Daniele,Tomato Vodka Cream Sauce)

 COTTO's SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA

TONNARELLI CACIO & PEPE

And of course there's pizza! 

How about some MARGHERITA PIZZA (San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Basil) SCARPARIELLO PIZZA (Grilled Chicken, Hot Cherry Peppers, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage),  AMATRICIANA PIZZA (San Marzano D.O.P. Tomato Sauce w/ Pecorino, Pancetta and Mozzarella Fiordilatte "Grande") ... and so many more!

COTTO - Pizza

Next we moved around the brunch menu and sampled some of their delicious Paninis!

PANINI CAPRESE

PANINI CAPRESE
Fresh mozzarella,Tomato, Basil

There are just so many items available - there's truly something for everyone!

GRILLED OCTOPUS
Mixed Green / Modena Aged Balsamic

COTTO PORCHETTA

TUNA TARTARE
Avocado / Sardinian Flat Bread

And we finished our brunch with a refreshing lemon gelato!

GELATO AL LIMONE RIPIENO

We loved COTTO Wine Bar and I know you will too! It's the perfect place for brunch with friends and family -- a delicious and flavorful lunch, or a romantic dinner date with a special someone!


Join them for Happy Hour, Monday thru Friday, 4-7 PM, where they feature $5 Wine, $7 Cocktails, and 3 Tapas $15.

COTTO's offers Live Music on Thursdays at 7 PM

And of course, Sunday Brunch!

Visit them soon and you'll see why COTTO is where people gather over great food and wine!   
     

COTTO Wine Bar

51 Bank Street
Stamford, CT
203.914.1400
www.cottowinebar.com

Disclaimer: I was invited to attend a complimentary brunch by members of COTTO's management and marketing team, however all views expressed are my own.

The post "Sunday Brunch at COTTO Wine Bar in Stamford CT" 

first appeared on Home Place on May 25, 2017. 

© Home Place 2017

Arezzo Ristorante on the Saugatuck River in Westport CT

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Everyone has a restaurant that they visit because of its atmosphere.

Winter or summer we all have our favorite places. Whether it's a restaurant with a roaring fire in the winter, or a flower bedecked patio in the summer. We all go to them for reasons beyond the food.

I have one special restaurant in particular that I love to visit because of its location on the Saugatuck River.  It's the Arezzo Ristorante in Westport Connecticut. Their beautiful patio overlooking the river offers amazing views and a special waterfront ambiance. The atmosphere is relaxing and casually elegant.

Dining at Arezzo Ristorante
on the Saugatuck River in Westport Connecticut

The restaurant features a menu highlighting Chef / Owner Vinicio Llanos' favorite regional Italian dishes in a Tuscan-style atmosphere.

I was recently invited to a media dinner at Arezzo and it was one of those balmy warm nights this summer perfect for dining al fresco. Besides the great atmosphere, I also was able to meet a wonderful social media influencer from New York, Irene, who publishes  I on The Valley, featuring great places and events from the Hudson Valley, and New York's Westchester County to Connecticut's Fairfield County.

Great conversation with friends, both old and new, over dinner always makes for a great dining experience!

We started with some cocktails and I went with a summery Limoncello Martini! Nice and crisp and with strong lemon flavor that I loved.

Limoncello Martini

We then sampled some starters, a savory tomato bruschetta and a delicious eggplant crostini.

Eggplant Crostini

Bruschetta

We were then seated where we began our wonderful dining experience over a fabulous charcuterie board before moving on to more appetizers and dinner selections.

Charcuterie Board

For our appetizers we sampled a salmon tartare, watermelon salad, and a three-pasta combination platter.

Salmon Tartare

Watermelon Salad

Three Pastas
orecchiette pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe ,
Gnocchi with cherry tomato marinara and shaved cheese, and a hearty seafood risotto

Next we moved on to our entrees, some great seafood and chops!

Halibut with clams and mussels
in a light tomato broth

Pistachio Encrusted Lamb Chop
with Roasted Baby Vegetables

For dessert we enjoyed a Tiramisu while the lights twinkled across the river...

Tiramisu

...and over coffee we concluded our dinner with a beautiful moonlit night in Westport Connecticut at Arezzo Ristorante!

Arezzo Ristorante in Westport Connecticut
View of the Saugatuck River

I know you will enjoy the views, food, and atmosphere as much as I do at the beautiful Arezzo Ristorante in Westport Connecticut.

Be sure to visit them soon!

Arezzo Ristorante

5 Riverside Avenue
Westport, CT 06880
203.557.9375
http://www.arezzowestport.com/index.php

Open Monday through Friday 11AM to 10PM
Saturday and Sunday 11AM to 11PM

Disclaimer: I was invited to the Arezzo Ristorante by members of the management and marketing team, however, all views are my own.


© Home Place 2016

Dining at Ballo Italian Restaurant at Mohegan Sun

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We love this time of year, when restaurants update their menus to take advantage of the warmer weather and spring bounty. BALLO Italian Restaurant, at Mohegan Sun, recently updated their menu to welcome the warmer weather with some lightened fare, and they were kind enough to invite us to visit to sample some of their latest offerings.

Herbed Truffle Butter with Olive Oil and Crusty Peasant Bread

What I loved best about their menu updates, was that many of the items are staples on their menu, they simply adjust the seasonings and pairings for lighter brighter spring flavors. Have a favorite item? It's likely still there - just amped up for the season!

The interior of BALLO is beautiful. It's a bit reminiscent of a Gothic abbey or Roman cathedral. The inside dining space is large and roomy and is sectioned into different areas. The front dining area is adjacent to an open walkway, which makes it feel like you're dining in a trendy open air restaurant in Tuscany.

The back dining room features a more intimate experience with elegantly set tables set in cozy nooks against brick walls. Situated underneath the grand arches with antique dimmed lighting, you feel as if you've been transported far away to a villa in Italy.

Taking great care of us was Scott, our knowledgeable server, who although new to BALLO, certainly was a great source of information about selections, ingredients, and preparation, and able to recommend items that we should sample. At Scott's suggestion, I started with the BALLO Limonata, made with Thatcher's Organic Vodka, San Pellegrino, and a frozen blood orange sphere. It was deliciously citrusy and light and the perfect accompaniment to our "starter" of BALLO's baked bread and herbed olive oil and butter spread.

The BALLO Limonata

For an appetizer, I selected the Buffalo Mozzarella, whose creamy consistency was punctuated by earthy char-roasted asparagus, drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette, and topped with crispy bread crumbs, making for a delightful flavor combination. The crispy breadcrumbs really added to the dish and were an unexpected surprise.

Buffalo Mozzarella

The cowboy decided to go with the "Per la tavola" (for the table)  bruschetta - and it was certainly large enough to be shared by 4-6 people. It was a great mix of baby cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, served atop large thick slices of crusty bread. Delicious!

For the table bruschetta

For dinner the cowboy went with his number one choice, SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS! I had heard about BALLO's meatballs! They're almost as big as tennis balls with equally big bold flavors! Served in a tureen, the pasta was cooked a perfect al dente with a beautiful pomodoro sauce.

Spaghetti and Meatballs Pomodore

I was in the mood for seafood and was so happy I selected the SCALLOPS & SHRIMP served with charred broccolini, goat cheese polenta, and topped with crispy parsnips. This was oh, so good, and I am definitely ordering this again on my next visit. The scallops especially were unbelievably well cooked, and we learned from Scott that most of their seafood is brought in fresh every day. This dish was absolute perfection!

Shrimp and Scallops

I also ordered a side of BALLO Brussel Sprouts, roasted with pancetta and sweetened ever so slightly with honey. Served in a cast iron pan they'd make a great appetizer or bite to eat or share over cocktails after a show.

Brussel Sprouts

We packed up what we couldn't finish because we wanted to try a bit of dessert, sanpling the zeppolas (baby donuts) and other delectables, that Luke, overseeing the dining room that evening, sent out for us to try.

Zeppolas

I ordered the salted carmel gelato which was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal! We can't wait to return to BALLO this summer to try more from their menu!

Salted Caramel Gelato

Owner John Tunney is committed to fresh, locally grown produce and innovative offerings, and says he loves that his restaurant is "a place where you are watching the freshest ingredients being prepared with the least amount of touch by the best pair of hands - delivered in an open area as if you're in someone's kitchen." (Mohegan Sun 2016)

Chef Shaun Golan certainly made us feel like we were dining in a private kitchen in a remote part of Italy with his exquisite dishes. We know you'll love them too!

Don't feel like a full meal? There's a great artisan pizza menu too!

Remember that BALLO offers a truly outstanding late-night dining, cocktail & VIP Experience, so be sure you visit them soon!

BALLO Italian Restaurant

Located in the Mohegan Sun Casino
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard
Uncasville, CT 06382

860.862.1100
https://www.balloitalian.com/default.aspx

Disclaimer: I was invited to BALLO Italian Restaurant by members of the restaurant's management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are my own. 

© Home Place 2016

That's Amore! - Amore Cucina and Bar in Stamford CT

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We finally had the chance to travel to Stamford CT for a promotional sampling at Amore Cucina and Bar!

Of course, we started with some cocktails at the bar, and I selected a Lemon Drop Martini with a bright citrus flavor to cleanse the palette and start the evening off right!

We hit the ground running and started right in on some of the delicious pizzas that Amore is well known for. The super hot oven cooks pizzas quick - reportedly in 90 seconds! Chef Bruno DiFabio joined us for a few minutes while me munched on freshly toasted bread with marinara and pizza and explained his connection to the restaurant, his award winning pizza skills, and the special yeast that hosts each pizza that is made.

Chef DiFabio is a six-time world pizza champion! For more on Chef DiFabio read HERE

Above: The cowboy gets some pizza tips from Chef DiFabio

The cowboy loved the bread, and especially the sauce. I swear he has tomato gravy running through his veins sometimes!

But Amore is so much more than pizza! Here's some of the other items we sampled

A beautiful creamy risotto. Why doesn't mine every come out like this?!

Amore Risotto

This Chicken Scallopino was delicious.

Amore Chicken Scallopino

My absolute favorite of the night - the white clam pasta!

Amore Pasta with Clam Sauce

And, I was so happy to see Chef Jared Falco is now at Amore! His personal touch is apparent and when I commented on the underlying heat of one of the dishes he went and gathered the peppers that were used in the dish so I could see them.

This pasta with pecorino cheese was AMAZING!

And we finished the night with some delicious desserts. Tomato Jam Waffles and fried oreos with cereal milk. What sweet surprises await you at Amore Ristorante?

Make sure you visit Amore soon - I know you'll love it!

Amore Cucina and Bar
921 Hope Street
Stamford, CT 06907
Phone: 203-357-1066

Web: http://amorecucinastamford.com/    



Disclaimer: We were invited to Amore Cucina in Stamford by members of their marketing and management teams. However, all opinions expressed herein are entirely our own.