New Rochelle Foodies: Just Across the Border, It's Greenwich Restaurant Week

They came, they ate and they drank. And nearly three dozen Greenwich area restauranteurs hope the one night experience will continue through the coming week (and beyond) as the local eateries celebrate Greenwich Restaurant Week 2014.

The weeklong celebration of Greenwich’s gastronomic delights has been in the planning stages for nearly a year under the able direction of Jennifer Danzi, a board member of the Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG) that was the beneficiary of Wednesday evening’s opening night celebration attended by hundreds of foodies from throughout the region in the sleek showroom of MIller Motorcars Ferrari dealership on West Putnam Avenue.

“I love it, love it, love it. I’m ordering these for Thanksgiving,” swooned Ellen Samra, who along with her husband Kamil as they sampled double-smoked Scottish salmon atop an artichoke latke with creme fraiche prepared by The Smokehouse of NY, that’s based in nearby Mamaroneck, NY. The couple said Brett Portier’s smoked salmon “is better than we had in Vancouver.”

The Little Pub, which opened two months ago in the former Fonda la Paloma space on East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob, was taking advantage to increase awareness of the business. “For restaurant week we’re having a ‘Taco-palooza’ as a nod to Fonda la Paloma,” said the restaurant’s operations manager Lars Anderson. “Tacos are hot right now. Each day we’ll have a different taco special. Everything on our menu is under $20 — it’s a great value.” And diners can wash down those tacos with one of the 80 different beers The Pub serves.

• Take a photographic tour of Greenwich Restaurant Week 2014.

While serving grilled polenta cakes topped with a lamb sausage ragu and feta cheese, The Ginger Man’s general manager Tara Bailey said, “It’s about time there’s an official Greenwich restaurant week. It’s a way for everyone to go out to the restaurants in the area and then they might just come out again.”

About TAG

Jim Boutelle, the executive director of Transportation Association of Greenwich, said the restaurant week benefit will provide a much needed financial shot in the arm for the agency that provides 72,000 to 75,000 rides each year for Greenwich residents needing rides to medical appointments, and several nonprofit agencies in town including the YMCA after school program, the Greenwich Adult Day Care and Greenwich Senior Center. And in July, TAG assumed the responsibilities previously performed by the Red Cross Motor Pool which pulled out of the transportation business for financial reasons, according to Boutelle.

“We’re the big enchilada for transportation in Greenwich. We need events like this in Greenwich. … Who says Westport has the best restaurants. It’s Greenwich that does,” Boutelle said. Boutelle said TAG began operations in 1984 after the United Way identified the need for a more organized transportation plan for local nonprofits. “Instead of each agency buying its own vehicles for transportation, it made sense to have one agency,” Boutelle said.

Organizer Danzi said that in addition to the 35 restaurants offering various dining specials, restaurants including Golden View Firenze and l’Escale will be dropping their corkage fees on wine purchases. There’s also a mobile app that diners will be able to use year-round to stay informed on various restaurant offerings.

Boutelle said he anticipated TAG would receive about $25,000 from the Nov. 12 benefit that also featured a silent auction of sports memorabilia, jewelry, wine, weekend getaways and spa treatments. And the giving to TAG won’t stop during restaurant week. The agency also is registered with Amazon’s Smile campaign that allows shoppers to designate a half-percent of their purchases to be donated to TAG.

More Food

There’s a plethora of Italian restaurants participating including Eatalian that opened about a year ago at 342 Greenwich Ave. Executive Chef Andrea Tiberi was serving up red wine risotto from a serving bowl fashioned from a hollowed out large parmesan cheese round. Tiberi said he embraces the restaurant week concept. “Every city all over the world has a restaurant week.”

Executive Chef Albert DeAngelis of both Terra and Medditeraneo restaurants on Greenwich Avenue kept busy serving up his colorful marinated baby vegetable salad, beef carpaccio with arugula, shaved parmesan and black truffle oil. Both restaurants will be featuring black truffle-themed menus.

The restaurant week preview held at Miller Motorcars Ferrari dealership on West Putnam Avenue was the perfect opportunity for Tony Crudele and his executive chef Luben Palma at Bella Nonna to spread the word the restaurant has been operating at 280 Railroad Ave. for two years after a hiatus from its former Cos Cob location.

“We still have people who come in and say they didn’t realize we’re open,” Crudele said. Samplings of Bella Nonna’s pasta, and chicken dishes were popular as were bites of their light as air pizza. Bella Nonna is offering a prix fix two-course lunch for $12.14 and a three-course dinner for $24.14 during restaurant week that continues through Nov. 19.

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marcia O’Kane said, “I think this is a wonderful way to look at the many offerings in Greenwich. I totally encourage people to participate to support local businesses and a nonprofit — TAG.”

For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit the Greenwich Restaurant Week website.

Photo: Tengda sushi at the Greenwich Restaurant Week 2014 kickoff. Credit: Barbara Heins.

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