CultureTea, Wilton's Own Tea Room

Keep warm in winter, one hot cup of tea at a time

Growing up in Wilton, there used to be nothing of major interest in the town center. Aside from three pizza parlors and four nail salons within a one-mile radius, outings were limited to the old library, the movie theater and Starbucks.

Much has changed since I left for college. A few restaurants closed, but several restaurants have opened and remained open since. Tusk & Cup opened a second location. The town finally allowed liquor licenses for package stores. 

And now there is a tea room.

CultureTea's space is a contemporary oasis outfitted with classic details. The arrangement of tufted leather burgundy seating along the wall, the black bistro chairs, and the marble top cafe tables in between feels like a cozy cafe. Even the soft, pale green walls and the white trim in the main space remind me of the elegant simplicity of Laduree's signature packaging. 

It's worth noting that the tradition of tea is British, but CultureTea is a far cry from uptight and formal. This is a place where you could sit back and chat for hours over a pot of tea, but out of sheer respect and decency for the establishment and the practice of tea drinking, please refrain from wearing sweatpants.

My mom and I browsed the menu and selected the Harmony Trio Afternoon Tea—it included two pots of tea, an assortment of tea sandwiches, scones and small desserts. I chose an organic white tea, Pai Mu Tan, and my mom chose an organic green tea, Genmaicha. Both of us were very happy with the teas and delectables we had ordered, but we both agreed that the fresh scones deserved a special kudos.

CultureTea is one of the special small businesses Wilton has needed. It's a warm gathering place for friends and family to catch up in town without having to eat a heavy meal. The tea room will be hosting special events in the future, including a tea and cheese pairing tasting, so be sure to stay updated on Facebook and their email list for more information.

Mecha Noodle Bar

Slurping encouraged at SoNo ramen noodle bar

I scrolled through the roster of restaurant reviews on my blog and have realized that there are a number of my favorite spots missing, like Mecha Noodle Bar in SoNo.

For those who aren't familiar with ramen noodle bars, this is not your Cup o' Noodles that you had in college. This is a bowl of love from Mom and Pop's Southeast Asian kitchen—but literally, since Mecha means "Mom and Pop" in Vietnamese. And it's not right to chalk up Mecha Noodle Bar as simply an Asian fusion restaurant, because it's more of a "American-Vietnamese-Japanese-Thai-Chinese-Korean-New England-Momofuku-Totto-and-Ippudo-inspired" noodle bar.

If you're a fan of pho, Vietnamese noodles, then you're in luck—Mecha serves both ramen and pho combinations.

Mecha Noodle Bar has three locations—Fairfield is their original location, followed by SoNo and New Haven, which recently opened in Fall 2016.

Although the space in New Haven feels larger and more open, I prefer the SoNo location for its laidback, downtown vibe. I've had some great conversations with the bartenders and other people while eating solo at the bar. At the other locations, it feels like you need to have a date with you—this is especially true in Fairfield, which has a tiny bar in comparison to SoNo and New Haven.

Ramen isn't just for cold-weather—I love coming to Mecha year-round. My favorite meal at Mecha comprises of the roasted mushroom dumplings, spicy miso ramen and the 99 Problems cocktail. Honestly, the entire menu is pretty spectacular, as are the Happy Hour specials between 4pm-6pm on weekdays.

It's tough deciding whether or not I prefer Mecha's spicy miso or Boru's spicy miso...

Apple Picking at Blue Jay Orchards

Celebrate your autumn traditions at one of Connecticut's favorite apple orchards

My friends and I had never gone apple picking together before, so when I Googled where to go in Fairfield County, Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel, CT was one of the first results that popped up. 

The farm dates back to 1934 and is recognized as a popular spot for apple picking. Named after the farm's original owner, Blue Jay Orchards changed hands to the Patterson family in 1985 and has grown 30 varieties of apples on its 120 acres of land. 

Blue Jay Orchards is located at 125 Plumtrees Road in Bethel, CT—the scenic 40-minute drive from Westport is perfect for viewing the beautiful fall foliage. For those driving to the farm for the first time, it's not as obvious to find as you may think... You may find yourself lost for a few minutes and driving slowly to appreciate the changing leaves a little longer.

Once you find Blue Jay Orchards, a quaint apple orchard sits on one side of the road with the farm store, while the pumpkin patch resides on the opposite side by an old "grandmother willow" tree. It's worth noting that the farm store carries an impressive amount of jams, preserves, baked goods and other delicious products made by the farm.

We picked our pumpkins first, then moved onto the apples. We weren't able to pick our own apples from the orchard, but there were several, pre-sorted crates filled with plenty of red and green goodness. Then, we went to the farm stand and finished the afternoon eating cider donuts by the orchard, watching the sun beginning to set.

Be sure to check Blue Jay Orchards' hours and activities before you make the drive!

Rothbard Ale + Larder

Meet the new watering hole for the Oktoberfest-obsessed and other Europhiles

While I studied a summer abroad in Oxford, England, European pub culture fascinated me—I fell in love with the comfortable feeling of sitting on the broken-in wooden bar stools, enjoying the company of friends and sipping Pimm's Cup made with fresh fruit.

I may not be a beer drinker, but after drinking every Pimm's Cup in Oxford City Center, I take this white girl English cocktail more seriously than I should.

There are two places where I've ordered Pimm's Cup stateside and not been disappointed. The first is the Clarke Cooke House in Newport, Rhode Island. The second is Rothbard Ale + Larder in Westport, Connecticut. 

I don't really care sounding incredibly biased when I say that there is nothing disappointing about Rothbard. The first time I sat at the bar for dinner, I thought I walked back into Oxford. Or somewhere in Berlin. 

It's the European pub with the understated, modern finishes to make the sophisticated American comfortable. The dim lighting is alluring, but not dark. The seating is stylish and comfortable, but not heavily worn. 

The menu is simple, but the meal tastes as beautiful as it looks. 

Bouillabaise and Pimm's Cup

Roasted chicken with broccoli rabe and potatoes and French 375

Moules frites and a-saison-I-can't-remember-the-name-of

It's worth mentioning that Rothbard has come to Westport perfectly packaged because of the success of Walrus + Carpenter, its American sister restaurant in Black Rock. Walrus + Carpenter has earned several nods, including being voted one of the Best Restaurants in Connecticut for Barbecue, Craft Beer and Cocktails for the past three years by Connecticut Magazine. 

Looking forward to seeing Rothbard gain popularity with the Westport crowd!