Black Hog Brewing at Spotted Horse Tavern: Drink Local and Eat Well!

Connecticut is delightfully awash with breweries, some new and some more established, and I am always thrilled to try the output of any of them. I recently had the pleasure of receiving an invitation from George O'Connell, owner of Spotted Horse Tavern in Westport, CT, to attend a beer dinner with Black Hog Brewing. Co-owners and brothers Jason and Tom Sobocinski, who also own two great spots in New Haven, Ordinary and Caseus, were in attendance (head brewer Tyler Jones was not, but it's clear from his beers that he's quite the talented guy) and offered a great education about each of their featured brews for the evening. 

With my fitness blogging, beer appreciating friend Courtney in tow, I headed to Westport ready for a great meal and new beer experiences. Our first beer of the evening was Strawberry Gose, a German style wheat beer with pink Himalayan salt, coriander and over 100 lbs of fresh organic strawberries from Massaro Farm (Woodbridge, CT) added during secondary fermentation. It was light (4% abv.), drinkable, and delicious.

Next, we headed out to Spotted Horse's cozy covered patio and began the dinner portion of the evening. More beer arrived, "Easy Rye'Da" session IPA. Jason Sobocinski is a motorcycle enthusiast, and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of Easy Rye'Da goes to the national motorcycle safety foundation. This easy drinking hoppy brew was paired with warm soft pretzels and a bacon cheddar dipping sauce. Yum. They were so well received that George decided to add them to the regular menu!

Oktoberfest Pretzels

We then enjoyed a fresh, light kale salad with cranberries and roasted squash. I liked the use of baby kale instead of full grown kale, which can sometimes be overwhelming. So much chewing! This course was accompanied by "Autumn Nugget," a wet hopped ale with vanilla pean, pink peppercorns, nutmeg, and cinnamon. I was surprised by how intensely it smelled of vanilla, but I couldn't taste it once I took a sip - instead, the spices really came through. This is a complex beer, and great for the winter.

Tuscan Kale Salad

We were offered a choice of either smoked and grilled pork chop with apple chutney, red cabbage, and potato pancake or seared scallops with wine and caper reduction, julienned vegetables and sweet potato mash. Luckily, Courtney wanted the pork and I wanted both, so I got to steal some of hers. Both dishes really were excellent, and everyone turned their full attention to their plates, creating a silence punctuated only by occasional comments on how delicious everything was. This course was paired with my favorite beer of the night, "Ginja Ninja," a red ipa brewed with 6 lbs of fresh ginger in every batch and hopped with centennial, cascade & bravo hops. This beer was originally created for head brewer Tyler's wedding! 

Grilled Smoked Pork Chop

Seared Diver Scallops

Stuffed to the brim, our final beer arrived alongside an indulgent warm brownie with ice cream. It was torture being too full to finish it, but the bites I managed to take were happy ones. The beer, "Nitro Coffee Milk Stout" made with brewed Organic Columbian Supremo and Espresso Roasted coffee, was rich and creamy, and if it wasn't socially inappropriate, you could drink it in the morning instead of coffee, I swear. So so good. 

Black Hog Brewing may be new to the scene, but they hold their own against more established breweries. I look forward to seeing them continue to grow! Their brews are inventive and delicious. Spotted Horse Tavern was already one of my favorite spots in Westport to grab a drink, as their bar is cozy and unpretentious, but now that I have had an opportunity to try the food, I'll be going there for dinner too. Many thanks to Jason, Tom, and George for a wonderful evening. 

The Aftermath

Spotted Horse Tavern is located at 26 Church Lane, Westport, CT
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Black Hog Brewing is located at 115 Hurley Road, Building 9A, Oxford, CT

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Westport's Little Barn: Where You Just Can't go Wrong

There is no greater pleasure when writing a review than the ability to wholeheartedly and genuinely report a completely positive experience. After attending a blogger dinner at Little Barn in Westport, I now have the opportunity to do exactly that. 

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the restaurant is cozy but not suffocating, features two fireplaces (one indoor and one outdoor), a lovely patio, and a rustic bar with an entire wall of sliding windowed doors for breezy summer dining. We began the evening outside by the fireplace and were greeted by Scott Beck, personable and witty co-owner of Little Barn, and gracious General Manager Dave Studwell.

Giant soft pretzels with spicy stout and honey mustard dipping sauces from Little Barn's Oktoberfest menu and a pint of Pumpkin Porter from Thimble Island (a Branford, CT based brewery) got us started, and while the pretzel was warm and delicious, I knew better than to eat too much and start the evening already full.

Inside we went, and dish after dish began to arrive. First, a series of appetizers served family style. Seared sesame encrusted Ahi Tuna over avocado puree and topped with pineapple pico de gallo were just right; very lightly seared and completely raw in the center with crunchy sesame seeds and a kick of sriracha served on the side. 

Two different trays of tacos, char grilled filet tips with roasted pineapple, guacamole, and pico de gallo, as well as grilled chicken with pico de gallo and chipotle mayo arrived at the table. Wow. These are great tacos. The lightly charred tortillas and smoky spice of chipotle peppers made for an addictive flavor combination. There's a certain taco place in Westport (rhymes with martaco), and I've always been a fan, but now I've discovered a new favorite. 

Usually salads are the least "fun" part of a meal (at least not for my pizza-addicted palate). Not so at Little Barn. A shaved brussels sprouts salad tossed with crispy pumpkin seeds, crunchy granny smith apples, and chewy dried cranberries, dressed in a mustard vinaigrette and sprinkled with parmesan cheese, was the best use of raw brussels sprouts I have yet to experience. I was also pleased to see the correct spelling, "brussels" on the menu - almost every other restaurant, take note. 

The raw kale and shaved fennel salad with candied pecans and red wine vinaigrette earns the same "best I've encountered" status. I had three helpings. I want to eat more right now. It's a must order dish, even if you have disliked kale in the past.

Thai chicken lettuce wraps with hot chili sauce and peanuts were flavorful but not overpowering, and a great dish for sharing with the table. 

For my entree, I chose sesame and wasabi crusted tuna with warm soba noodles. Even though we had already tried the tuna appetizer, I was ready for more. The entree was even better, with larger, thinner cuts of Ahi tuna and noodles with just the right combination of peanut flavor and salty sweetness. For vegetarians, a bowl of these noodles would be totally satisfying. 

After such a great meal, I was not sure there was room for dessert, but of course I could not resist. A warm brownie with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and gelato was indulgently chocolatety, and the pumpkin pie was well received.
But the absolute star of the trio, and perhaps of nearly every dessert I've ever had, was fried chocolate chip cookie dough bites with vanilla gelato. My taste buds did not know how to handle the deliciousness of these bite sized delights.

Stop reading this review, and go straight to Little Barn to try them. They combine the classic carnival treat of fried dough, texture combination of fried ice cream, and the indulgence of eating cookie dough straight from the mixing bowl.

It is surely obvious that I highly recommend a trip to Little Barn. It's suitable for both family dining, watching sports in the bar, or date night by the fireplace. And the food...well, my compliments to Chef Jeff Spence. 

Little Barn is located at 1050 Post Road (near Barnes & Noble), Westport CT, 06880

Phone: 203-557-8501

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All photos by Jason Varga

Acqua of Westport - A Shining Star in the Westport Dining Scene

I had the recent pleasure of enjoying a lunch with my mother at Acqua of Westport. We had noted how nice it looked many times in the past, but had never stopped in; after our meal there is no doubt we will return! 

We had trouble deciding what to order, as there truly wasn't a single unappealing dish on the menu. Everything had a nice balance of unique preparations and ingredients without sounding overdone. It's an approachable menu but not at all run of the mill. In addition to the regular menu, there is an "express lunch" menu with more limited choices for $15.

After debating our options, we chose two appetizers and two entrees, and shared everything. First, Yellowfin tuna crudo with avocado, sliced radish, ginger-lime juice, & micro onions. Not only was the dish beautifully presented, but the combination of flavors was spot-on. The tuna was fresh and sweet, the avocado perfectly ripe, and the vinaigrette added a tanginess that didn't detract from the brightness of the tuna. 

For our second appetizer, we chose the Prince Edward Island mussels with red curry, cream, fava beans, & cilantro. I love mussels, and these were sweet and tender. I was particularly impressed by the broth; it was completely different from the lemony white wine broth one often encounters with a dish like this. It wasn't heavy at all, but the splash of cream added a sweetness to the slight bite of red curry. We gobbled up all the mussels and proceeded to soak up the broth with focaccia. Yum!

We were already feeling full and happy, but there were entrees on the way, and we were more than happy to make room. I chose the pan roasted bronzini with crisp spaetzle, brussels sprouts, wild mushrooms, and tart apple mustard. I was surprised by the combination of flavors. I love bronzini because the skin is so deliciously flavorful and crispy. I'm used to it being served with savory accompaniments, and the sweet applesauce-like dressing wasn't to my liking. Of course, that's just an issue of personal taste - it wasn't bad at all. The wild mushrooms were a nice touch. 

My mother definitely picked a winner: seared dry sea scallops with fennel - orange salad, pomegranate vinaigrette, & crisp prosciutto. I had to resist stealing all of her scallops, which were cooked perfectly. They were completely tender, with just the right amount of char. Absolutely excellent. 

Acqua was a pleasant spot for lunch, and would be perfect for a date night. The bar area is just the right size to be intimate without seeming so small that everyone can hear your conversation, and they have a nice wine list. I look forward to my next visit! 

Acqua is located at 43 MAIN STREET, WESTPORT, CT 06880 . (203) 222-8899