My visit to Taste of Ridgefield, a fantastic annual food and wine event in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
I’m going to confess from the start: I ate way too much when I visited Ridgefield, Connecticut last month. If you’re going to attend a gourmet tasting event, you have to go “all in” and indulge!
My friend invited me to join her for the 18th annual Taste of Ridgefield, a premier food and wine event hosted by the Ridgefield Rotary Club.
Held at the historic Lounsbury House, the event featured displays from the area’s chefs, food artisans, and beverage purveyors. It was a great opportunity to sample some of the best culinary talent of the region and support a warm and gracious community.
Proceeds from Taste of Ridgefield benefit the Rotary Club’s scholarship fund and grants for a number of local organizations. Fabulous food in support of a great cause? What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The Lounsbury House
Dating to 1896, The Lounsbury House is a beautiful marriage of gracious elegance and grandeur. Striking columns greet visitors at the main entryway with a sweeping porch that runs the length of the facade.
Preserved wood moldings adorn Lounsbury’s rooms and hallways. A focal staircase allures visitors to its landing with soft light filtered through stained glass windows. On this afternoon, a harpist at the base of the staircase provided an ambient backdrop to the setting. Every aspect of the event was, in one word, “lovely.”
The Food
This year’s event featured more than 30 food and beverage participants. (Yes, I visited them all!) I’ve selected a few of my favorite bites for this post.
I can never resist Croque Monsieur (above). The taste that Sucre Sale provided as one of my first stops did not disappoint. It was a perfect buttery, crispy, cheesy morsel to start the event.
Strolling around the corner, I immediately honed in on the Orange-Ginger BBQ Pulled Pork from Little Pub (below). Paired with a Thai Peanut Slaw and Wasabi Mint Yogurt, the dish had an outstanding balance of textures and flavors.
I loved creamy agave butter that Southwest Cafe paired with their Green Chile Cornbread. Guests often mention the appetizer in the Cafe’s reviews, and I can see why.
The Drinks
Taste of Ridgefield also gave guests an opportunity to sample wines and spirits. I discovered two reds via family-owned Acona’s Wines & Liquors.
First, Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley), which begged to be served with steak.
Second, Mas de Gourgonnier (Provence, France), a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This sip was smooth, rich, and complex, but not overpowering. It was very drinkable and would pair well with a range of dishes.
The Desserts
No tasting event is complete without dessert! Artisanal gelato from Johnny Gelato was a wonderful way to round out the afternoon. Choosing between Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge, Java Chip, Cannoli, and Banana Stracciatella was impossible! Definitely a Ridgefield “must visit” to indulge in their extensive menu of gelato and sorbet.
Last, but certainly not least: miniature cupcakes from The Cake Box. They were so good that my friend and I went back for seconds.
I indulged in the Sweet and Salty. (Vanilla cake and buttercream with homemade salted caramel sauce.) My friend fell in love with the Mochaccino. (Chocolate cake with espresso buttercream and a ganache drizzle.)
The Cake Box balanced the flavors of the salted caramel cupcake perfectly. It was not too sweet and not too salty. It is a reason on its own for me to make the drive on to Ridgefield again in the near future.
Don’t miss next year’s event! (Look for announcements on the Ridgefield Rotary page as the date nears). With its hospitable residents, charming downtown, and vibrant culinary scene, Ridgefield is a wonderful stop in Connecticut’s Fairfield County.
Oh I would definitely have eaten way too much if this food was on offer as well :) Everything looks just delicious, what a fun event~
Dude, you totally rocked the photography on this one! That window, Croque Monsieur, and cupcakes are all on point!
Oh my goodness! What a fantastic event! Who wouldn’t want to eat 30 bites for a great cause. The Croque Monsieur looks amazing and the Thai Peanut Slaw and Wasabi Mint Yogurt combination sounds playful and delicious. Nothing beats amazing food in gorgeous settings… and live music, wine, and dessert never hurt either. Looks like a very delicious experience!
I used to go to so many food and wine events…. but I haven’t been able to attend in a few years. Seeing these pictures brings back really great memories and makes me put the Central Coast Wine /gourmet food tasting on my to do list for JULY! It sounds like you had some amazing foods… Im with you though…. nothing beats a greatCroque Monsieur! The little bite sized one you pictured is giving me serious cravings!
Can we talk about all the food envy you’re giving me?!What an amazing event. I need to find more events like this near me- I bet this would make a super fun date night too (I’m not really the romantic type so a setting like this sounds ideal!). That Croque Monsieur looks so perfectly crispy!
What a beautiful backdrop for this event! And that food, swoon! Looks like something for everyone, and I wish I could have gone!
This looks like the best day ever! I love your photos, I wish we had these types of things around here.
I am a little jelly here looking at all the photos. :) Sounds like you had a good opportunity to enjoy some of the very finest flavors. Food, wine, gelato… Yum! Glad you had fun and time to take photos!
Your pictures are beautiful! This looks like a place I need to add to my Must-Visit list.
I think it must be “tasting” time of year. I was at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival last weekend and we have the Boca Bacchanal coming up next week! I wish I could have been at this event with you. The location is so charming, but the little bites are absolutely mouthwatering! I really wish you lived closer to me – we could go to these things together!
With over 30 different venues participating this would have been such a delight to attend. Just see all the different food and beverages would make me want to come home with new ideas to do in the kitchen.
This looks like it was a super tasty tour! Thanks for all the great tips!
AMAZING photos… the food looked so good!
Such creative dishes. I would have been totally like you and tried everything. Well, everything that I possibly could have. Love your commitment.
Wow! I need to add this to my bucket list. The food sounds absolutely intoxicating! Never would I have thought of these combinations. The house itself is fantastic! Love the stained glass.
What an amazing event!!!
Oh man- this is SO COOL! I would love to go to a gourmet tasting like this! I love neat old buildings- we’ve got the Greenbrier resort nearby us (in WV), and I was able to go there awhile back for a tour and an extra fancy lunch. This would’ve been right up my alley! Gelato is one of my absolute favs too– how fun!
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! Loved the food pics and the architecture. We don’t see anything like this in Australia.
Thanks for sharing
Julie
Agave butter? Wasabi mint yogurt? Canoli gelato? This sounds AWESOME. Seriously, I’m rather impressed by the ingenuity and creativity on display here. It really seems like everyone brought their A-game. Definitely makes me wish I wasn’t all the way on the other side of the continent. Hah. Still – it’s good to store these delicious little memories in my brain so that they can come screaming back if/when the chance arrives to visit!
Oh and I just wanted to say that in addition to the gorgeous food photos, I really love the architectural photography you included in this post. It certainly helps to paint a wonderful pictures!