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From Farm to Wok :: WUJI organic Chinese Food Restaurant Opens in Greenwich
WUJI Restaurant introduces organic Chinese food to Fairfield County with its first Connecticut location opening in Greenwich by month's end. Already a success in neighboring Westchester County, this innovative restaurant concept bears an eco-pledge to customers vowing to serve local, organic, chemical-free and cooked-to-order Chinese food daily. This concept is a creation of MAAC Hospitality Group and takes a favorite Chinese-American comfort food and adapts it for how people prefer to eat today. Although, admittedly I am not a huge fan of Chinese Food I was quite taken with WUJI. You can read my review here.
All WUJI locations share the same culinary platform, yet each location’s ambiance and vibe varies, with Greenwich’s being Shanghai chic. Upon entering the new 76-seat Greenwich locale, the former Hunan Gourmet next to Whole Foods, it’s evident the restaurant is a design and culinary masterpiece, with true passion at the forefront. Bright red Chinese lanterns hang from the vestibule’s ceiling. The dining area is distinguished by a grand water wall effect, which is bejeweled with colorful flower petals and floating lit candles. The black lacquer bar is reminiscent of a high-gloss piano piece with an oversized opium bed mirror displayed between 400-pound Chinese urns. Tables, chairs, and everything in between are custom made from vintage Chinese fabrics, original artwork, and a massive dragon wall sculpture designed specifically for the space.
WUJI, meaning the singularity of the universe, offers Chinese food enthusiasts a more vibrant and fresh approach to this often misrepresented cuisine and is in keeping with today’s sustainable food culture. The original menu is created by Chef Guang Zanghou, formerly of China White, culinary director Peter How, a curator for chefs directly from Hong Kong; and Chef de Cuisine Roger Luo who's pedigree includes Chinatown’s famous Golden Unicorn Restaurant. Chef Josh Moulton, former service director of NYC’s Gramercy Tavern, will manage the Greenwich location.
WUJI’s authentic recipes utilize traditional and modern preparations, and incorporate only organic chicken, pasture raised pork, grass fed beef, wild caught fish, cage-free chicken eggs, Chinatown noodles, and organic vegetables. The food is as pure and natural as it can get, ensuring no MSG hangover. A strong emphasis on gluten-free includes vegetable and high-protein dishes and eliminates the use of starch based fillers and thickeners found in traditional Chinese restaurants. A product of MAAC Hospitality Group, WUJI is co-owned by Jody Pennette, founder and creative mind behind cb5 Hospitality Consulting, and Moodi Zahid, a business partner and friend for more than 30 years.
Menus are printed with vegetable ink on disposable paper that will be recycled after each guests’ use. Favorites include; organic Heritage pork spare ribs with honey-plum glaze; lo mein noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sesame ginger sauce; Cantonese roast chicken with crispy garlic and shallots; and spicy fried rice topped with a soft egg. The beverage program includes Asian beer selections, sakes, a well-crafted wine list and a creative selection of re-batched “tiki” cocktails prepared with top shelf spirits and fresh squeezed juices. Organic house made soda, herbal infusion ice tea service, and Kusmi hot tea round out the beverage offerings.
Delivery is available by calling 1-844-WUJI-NOW, or 1-844-985-4669. Traditional suburban delivery is reimagined with food delivered to nearby locations via a hot, insulated carrier case with “drivers” delivering on a custom designed bikes. For restaurant hours and to stay up-to-date with opening information, visit www.wujirestaurant.com.
WUJI LOCATIONS:
SCARSDALE: 2 Chase Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583
RYE: 26 Purchase Street, Rye, NY 10580
GREENWICH: 68 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830
TerraSole Ristorante embraces Italian Tradition and a new summer menu in Ridgefield
Located in the heart of downtown Ridgefield, TerraSole Ristorante is a product of Owner Pietro Polini’s culinary upbringing in Puglia, Italy. He and his wife Lana introduced their charming Italian restaurant in 2007 upon meticulously renovating its farmhouse building. Designed by iH Design Studio of Stamford, TerraSole is framed in exposed wood beams, hardwood flooring, eclectic Italian artwork, and natural sunlight. An intimate bar and additional seating area is reminiscent of an Italian piazza and sidewalk café, which opens up onto a bustling retail neighborhood. Now open is their lovely garden-like private patio that seats 50, adding to the 65-seat main dining room.
Pietro Polini came to the states in 1999 and began working his way through New York City kitchens before establishing himself in Connecticut. He was front-of-the-house manager for the popular Siena Ristorante in Stamford for six years, and prior to opening TerraSole, Pietro and Lana opened a restaurant in Rimini Italy, called Malvasia. The Polini family still owns and operates restaurants in Italy today, and when Mamma Polini is in town it’s a family affair, offering her popular cooking classes for eager-to-learn guests.
A standout at this farmhouse-chic restaurant is their fresh made pastas including; tagliatelle, gnocchetti, cavatelli, and strigoloni as menu staples. TerraSole’s kitchen is led by Executive Chef Eugene (“Gino”) Jerome, formerly of Siena Ristorante in Stamford and Ristorante DiSopra in Greenwich. Together, he and Pietro create TerraSole’s extensive weekly specials and seasonal menus. Domestic and imported specialty ingredients are sourced from such quality producers as; Salumeria Biellese and Murray’s Cheese in New York; Chicago’s Allen Brothers for aged steaks; Le Veneziane gluten free pasta imported from Italy; market fresh fish from New England fishermen; and local produced sourced whenever possible. With limited space, the restaurant has no room for a walk-in refrigerator or freezer, so all produce, meats, fish, cheeses, and other ingredients are delivered almost daily.
Menu highlights include: Burrata Caprese- imported truffle burrata with prosciutto San Daniele and shaved black truffles; Portafoglio di Melanzane- baked thinly sliced eggplant envelope filled with organic spinach, wild mushrooms, ricotta salata, fresh herbs, served on cheese fondue and San Marzano tomato sauce; Pappardelloni con Astice e Gamberoni - pappaerdelloni pasta sautéed with Maine lobster, head-on jumbo prawns, asparagus, zucchini, finished with white wine, e.v.o.o., truffle essence and a touch of Vecchia Romagna Italian brandy; Grigliata di pesce (TerraSole’s signature)- grilled seafood platter finished with lemon, e.v.o.o, local farm vegetables (branzino, Maya prawns, calamari, king salmon, fresh Maine lobster); Vitello alla Milanese- milk-fed veal chop milanese with prosciutto San Daniele, organic baby arugula, multi-colored cherry tomatoes, imported truffle Burrata and shaved black truffle or Misticanza salad.
TerraSole also boasts an impressive, mostly Italian varietal wine program with more than 200 wines by the bottle and 20 exceptional wines offered by the glass. House made seasonal ‘cello is also a staple with such flavors as, limoncello, meloncello and espresso chocolate-cello. Cocktails are crafted using fresh squeezed juices and purees. The restaurant welcomes the close-knit community of Ridgefield and offers multiple happenings to accommodate the whole family.
TerraSole Happenings:
· Westport Farmers’ Market Cooking Demonstration, Thursday, August 25 @ 10 a.m.
· Happy Hour - Monday thru Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Buy-one get-one select cocktails and drinks
· Cooking Classes hosted throughout the year
· Sunday - Kids eat free every Sunday night
· Express Lunch - Two-course menu; $22 per person
· Tasting Menu - Chef’s tasting menu is offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings;
$46 per person
Reservations are recommended and can be placed by calling the restaurant, visiting the TerraSole website, or using OpenTable.
TerraSole Ristorante
3 Big Shop Lane #1
Ridgefield, CT
203-438-5352
www.terrasoleridgefield.com
Tablao, a Spanish Inspired Restaurant Finds a Home in the Heart of SoNo
Tablao Wine Bar & Restaurant is a Spanish-Mediterranean inspired dining and social destination in South Norwalk’s thriving dining district. Spearheaded by veteran restaurateurs Juan ‘Vinny’ Gonzalez and Galo Aleman, the duo, who hail from South America, have created an intimate locale evoking the style and sensibility of a modern wine and tapas bar that one would find along the café lined streets of Seville, Spain.
Framed in exposed brick walls, the restaurant’s design aesthetic is centered around the Spanish “tabla”, wood centric accents from the wine barrel host stand and wine crate paneled walls, to the dark oak wood furnishings and bold sliding door partitions. Edison light bulbs lend a warm hue to the space while the convivial bar dazzles at night flecked by dangling light fixtures and tequila infused conversation.
Taking its culinary cues from the Mediterranean Sea and the land that embraces it, Tablao’s menu is a virtual tour throughout these culinary rich cites and coastal ports. Chef Raul Gonzalez, formerly of the popular Meson Galacia in Norwalk, CT, which was instrumental in introducing Spanish cuisine and the tapas style of dining to Fairfield County circa 1991, harkens back to his early chef days with a menu that is both spirited and traditional. With a nod to our sustainable food culture, as well as exceptional imported ingredients from Spain, the menu at Tablao features domestic and imported charcuterie, an array of tapas, entrées featuring market fresh fish and prime beef, as well as traditional family style paellas.
A wine bar at its core, Tablao offers an extensive, while accessible, and always evolving, wine selection featuring varietals from across the globe with unabashed nepotism towards the wine regions of Spain and South America. Creative cocktails and craft beer round out the beverage program, as does Tablao’s late night menu, happy hours – upon hours, and special wine nights.
General Manager Zach Shafran and Bar Manager Sam Porteus, both seasoned hospitality professionals and alumni from SoNo’s Barcelona Restaurant, are at the forefront of this service-minded restaurant. Guests can enjoy DJ spun music, televised soccer games, and a unique offering for the summer - Happy Hour on the Harbor boat cruise series in conjunction with the SoNo Seaport Association.
More info: www.tablaosono.com
Happy Hour On The Harbor
July 19 and August 16
6 - 8 PM
$45 pp, all inclusive
2-hour Guided Boat Cruise
Seasonal Cocktail, Beer and Wine, Tapas
To purchase tickets to Happy Hour on the Harbor visit www.seaport.org.
Totò restaurant officially opens offering a “Taste of Life” to Downtown Fairfield
Totò restaurant officially opens offering a
“Taste of Life” to Downtown Fairfield
Restaurateur Antonio Ninivaggi recently welcomed friends and family to celebrate his newly redesigned and re-named eatery in the heart of downtown Fairfield. Formerly Osianna, the restaurant continues to focus on Mediterranean inspired dishes with a strong emphasis on fresh, seasonal, and healthful cuisine using sustainable all-natural ingredients. Toto offers a European sensibility with a casual and warm approach. Keenly tuned into the lifestyle and diverse dietary needs of today’s diners, Ninivaggi sources the finest ingredients including organic, hormone-free fish, poultry and meat, GMO-free olive oil, a full line of gluten free pasta, as well as pizza crust imported from Italy. The new menu also features a full line of gluten- free offerings to not strictly limited to pasta, but many other menu items as well.
At Totò diners will enjoy the return of many Osianna favorites like Grilled Octopus, Greek Tomato Salad, Lamb Chops, Sicilian Rice Balls, Crab meat stuffed shrimp, homemade Hummus and Tzatziki. Eager to showcase his own distinctive style, Ninivaggi has added several new dishes such as Lemon Caper Sole, Crackling Calamari Salad, Baked Whole Seabass. The Totò Burger - made from grass-fed beef, organic bacon, Vermont cheddar, and gourmet gribiche sauce on brioche - also makes an appearance for the first time.
Patrons will enjoy a full bar menu with specialty cocktails, a large selection of wines by both the glass as well as the bottle, and a nice assortment of craft beers from local breweries.
Upon entering the restaurant guests will immediately notice the newly redesigned space which takes on a more modern and youthful approach. A bold burgundy interior wall anchors the space which is balanced out by crisp white exterior walls and the clean, lean lines of the furniture. The patio has seen a nice change as well with the ability to be enclosed in a temperature controlled environment, guests can now enjoy dining outdoors from April through October.
Restaurateur Antonio Ninivaggi’s career began at the highly acclaimed Tarantino restaurant in Westport, and Columbus Park in Stamford. From there his talents took him to Capricio, Barcelona and then back to Tarantino. In addition to Totò, Ninivaggi, is also an owner of the newly opened The Pearl at Longshore in Westport.