CONNfection Connecticut Food and Wine Showcase at the Palace in Waterbury CT

The Waterbury Neighborhood Council will host the second annual CONNfection event, a showcase featuring Connecticut made food and wine, on Thursday, March 27, from 6p.m. – 9p.m. at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.  

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased by phone at 203-346-2000, online at www.palacetheaterct.org, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main Street in Waterbury.

CONNfection attendees will have the delight of sampling some of the best home grown and homemade products that Connecticut has to offer, including pasta, sausages, artisanal breads, gourmet olive oils, specialty condiments and relishes, biscotti, cookies, chocolates, cupcakes and more.  

Guests will also have the opportunity to sample a variety of beer and wine from local breweries and vineyards, as well as Onyx Moonshine, the first legal moonshine to be brewed in New England. The list of vendors scheduled to appear include 1249 Restaurant, The Bites Company, Fascia’s Chocolate, The Grotto Restaurant & Mrs. G, recent “Cupcake Wars” winner Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes,  La Molisana Sausage, The Olive Oil Factory, Pasta Gallery, The Provender of New Morning Market, Saha Sauces LLC, Sweet Confections by Regina LLC, Sweet Maria's, and more. 

For information about the Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Celebrate Strawberries at Jones Family Farm in Shelton

Strawberries at Jones Family Farm

This summer Terry Jones of Jones Family Farms is celebrating a tradition he began fifty years ago as a young teenager: setting out thousands of baby strawberry plants. Jones refers to this as the "Strawberry Red Anniversary" rather than the more typical "Golden Anniversary " because it honors a half of a century of tradition as well as two years of plant production.  

In 2013, Jones Family Farms is recognizing the 50^th anniversary of planting the ‘Queen of Fruits’ and 2014 will mark the 50^th harvest!

According to the Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture, Steven K. Reviczky, Terry Jones may be the state’s oldest commercial grower having continuously planted strawberries for 50 years.

Two aspects of strawberries have remained constant over the last half-century, according to Jones.  First, the consistent challenge of the weather.  This spring is no exception.  The last week of May started with 28 degrees and frost at Jones’ ‘Valley Farm’ and ended with three days of highs in the mid-90s.  In both cases, the plants and fruit were protected by irrigation sprinklers.  The second constant  is the excitement and passion of farm guests to harvest and to taste the sweet goodness of the first, ripe strawberries of the season!  Jones’ strawberries are ripening now, as they normally do in early June, in contrast to last year’s record early start in May so it won't be long  before it is strawberry shortcake time!

Jones’ strawberries are ripening now, as they normally do in early June, in contrast to last year’s record early start in May.

Jones Family Farms is located in Shelton, Connecticut, off Route 110.  For more information regarding hours of operation, picking locations, picking tips, and other information, visitors can call the Farmer Jones crop info line at (203) 929-8425, visit www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/farm/strawberrieswww.jonesfamilyfarms.com/farm/strawberries, their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jonesfamilyfarmswww.facebook.com/jonesfamilyfarms, or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jonesfamilyfarmwww.twitter.com/jonesfamilyfarm.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Savor Connecticut at Naugatuck Historical Society Feb. 23

The Naugatuck Historical Society is offering a program called Savor Connecticut that will feature a Connecticut only tasting and presentation on Saturday, February 23, 7-10 p.m.  Guests will be able to sample the flavors of Connecticut, including different wines, beers and food. They will enjoy a presentation and exhibits featuring the History of Connecticut Foods by authors Eric Lehman and Amy Nawrocki.

Visitors will sample drinks from Cambridge House Brewery, Two Roads Brewery, Avery Soda as well as taste wines from local vineyards. Food to be sampled will include items on the menus of the following restaurants: Tequila Grill, A1Pizza, Dottie’s Diner, Santos’ Restaurant, Jesse Camille’s, Ayash-Man, Nardelli’s Grinder Shop, Newman’s Own, G’s Burgers, Fascia Chocolates and more.

 The tasting will allow guests to sample the flavors of these local venues while strolling through the historic railroad station and enjoying the temporary exhibit The Flavors of Connecticut featuring artifacts from Avery Soda, the oldest soda company still bottling in Connecticut, Nardelli’s Grinder Shop, featured on the Travel Channel and Fascia’s Chocolates, a family run business for generations. The exhibit will also include artifacts from the Naugatuck Historical Society archives including pieces from Peter Paul, Naugatuck Creamery and Diamond Ginger Ale.

Eric Lehman and Amy Nawrocki, authors of “A History of Connecticut Food: A Proud Tradition of Puddings, Clambakes & Steamed Cheeseburgers” will kick off the evening with a presentation on the history of Connecticut foods. Their book includes the history and even the recipes of some historic dishes long forgotten and some still being made in our eateries today.

The authors sampled the rich fare to be found in Connecticut and their book shares their experiences and reflects their passion for Connecticut, its history and all that make this state a wonderland of dining experiences. They will also have copies available of “A History of Connecticut Wine: A vineyard in Your Backyard” from their presentation last year available. The authors will be on hand for a book signing and to answer questions. For more information on the book http://booksnewhaven.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/283/

Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, $25 at the door. Tickets are available at the Naugatuck Historical Society, 195 Water Street, Naugatuck, CT, Mountview Plaza Wines and Liquors and the Naugatuck Tax Office or by contacting wendy.murphy@snet.net. Tickets include admission to the presentation, tasting, exhibit and give-a-ways.

For more information call us at 203 729 9039 or email Naugatuckhistory@sbcglobal.net. To visit the website http://www.naugatuckhistory.com.  For  area information www.litchfieldhills.com.