Fundraiser Scheduled to Help Murder Victim's Son

 

Pizza clinics for kids continue in Ansonia

The next clinic will be held at noon Saturday. To reserve a spot call 203-732-8882.

Irish restaurant opens at former Oxford House location

Brennan's Shebeen Irish Bar and Grill opens in Oxford. / Contributed photo

    OXFORD – First Selectman George R. Temple will celebrate the grand opening of a new Irish restaurant Sunday at the newly restored Oxford House.

    Temple will be on hand for a 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Brennan’s Shebeen Irish Bar and Grill, 441 Oxford Road. There will be live music from 3-7 p.m. by Alpaca Gnomes.

     The new restaurant features items such as Irish Nachos, steak, fish, chicken and Brennan’s Famous Chicken Wings.

     Temple said he’s delighted that a new restaurant of this caliber has come to town. 
“I’m also pleased that the new owner has kept the historic tradition of the Oxford House in both character and structure. Brennen’s Shabeen has a friendly environment that is welcoming and warm and promises to be a great addition to Oxford’s entertainment,’’ Temple said.

   Kieran McAlinden, who owns the restaurant along with partner Michael Brennan, invites everyone to stop by for the grand opening on Sunday.

    The historic Oxford House was recently restored by local developer Jay Borkowski and houses the restaurant and offices upstairs. 
    The Oxford House was built in 1795 and was once a hotel.


This is a press release from Temple's office.

Restaurant opens in downtown Ansonia

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, left, congratulates Ansonia native Joe Mastersanti, owner of The Pantry on East Main Street. /Contributed photo

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti Thursday announced the opening of “The Pantry”, a breakfast and lunch venue at 384 E. Main St. 

I am excited to announce another new business in our downtown," Cassetti said. "The Pantry is a welcomed addition to Ansonia. With Mustang Sally’s (a restaurant and bar) right next door, the two businesses will work together to support one another. I encourage and invite other new business owners to explore Ansonia and see what we have to offer.” 

The Pantry is owned and operated by Joe Mastersanti, a 23-year Executive Chef, honor student and graduate of Emmett O’BrienTechnical High School and recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

Mastersanti and his family are originally from Ansonia. 

The Pantry currently employs nine people. The restaurant offers a wide variety of fresh, homemade breakfast and lunch items including omelets, burritos, French toast, sandwiches, burgers, Philly cheese steaks and Joe’s famous giant pancake.

“I challenge anyone to finish my pancake. It’s a large as a pizza and if you can finish the whole thing, your name will go up on our wall,” Mastersanti said.

The Pantry will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m.-4 p.m.

“I had breakfast there this morning and the food is outstanding,” Cassetti said.


This is a press release from Mayor David S. Cassetti's office.

Ansonia restaurant to help mark city's 125th anniversary

Cinco de Mayo event planned downtown

ANSONIA - It’s time to spice up downtown as Crave restaurant announces its annual Crave Presents Cinco de Mayo Saturday. 
The free outdoor celebration will begin at noon and continue through 11 p.m. in the 5,000-square foot parking lot adjacent to the downtown Latin-fusion restaurant.

Table seating and tents will be set up throughout. Food and beverage tickets can be purchased on-site at the event.     

Three bands will perform throughout the afternoon and evening hours including Juke Box PD Bauer, Bobs Fault Band, and salsa band Orquesta Son 7.

The menu offered by chef Fabian Delgado will be prepared at on-premise grills, and include carne asada, tacos, burritos, tostadas, and more. Beverages will include margaritas, beer, and wine. 

In support of the city’s 125^th anniversary celebration, members of the Ansonia High School Spanish Honor Society will showcase Spanish artworks, perform readings, and offer live singing performances.          

“As this annual event continues to evolve and grow in popularity, it offers to become an anticipated entertainment anchor to the city’s downtown renaissance,” said Crave owner Libby Meissner.

Parking is free throughout downtown.

For information, contact Meissner, owner of Crave, 203-735-3300 or e-mail crave102@yahoo.com.


This post is taken from a press release from the restaurant.

New restaurant in Derby gets Valley welcome

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, fifth from left, helps owner Tom Andrew Wednesday cut the grand opening ribbon at Marco Pizzeria & Restaurant, 656 New Haven Ave., Derby. Next to Andrew is his wife, Janet.

Tom Andrew, a North Branford resident, also owns Marco Pizzeria in Branford. He is a Seymour native. Celebrating with Staffieri and the Andrews are employees, family, and friends.



My thanks to Sheila O'Malley, Derby's chief administrative officer and economic development director, for sending me this photo. My camera battery died at a most inopportune time.

Fortunately I was able to get this photo off a video I took of restaurant manager Jordan Mann of Branford with owner Janet Allen. They are showing off thin crust pizzas fresh from the oven, which Tom Andrew described as "Wooster Street style."

I wish the Andrews the best of luck at their new location. 

Restaurant in Shelton to thank Echo Hose firefighters

SHELTON – Mat and Kelly Calandro, owners of Verace Pizzeria & Italian Eatery, 100 Center St., want to acknowledge the bravery and courage of the Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Co. #1 firefighters in Shelton.

From Sunday through Feb. 28 (closed Monday), Verace will be giving a portion of its proceeds for all dine-in and take-out meals (lunch and dinner) directly to Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co. #1.

The Calandros said, “The community has been so welcoming to us, and we wanted to say thank you. The firefighters at Echo Hose put their lives on the line to keep our community safe and we wanted to recognize their hard work and dedication.”

Verace Pizzeria and Italian Eatery is a full-service pizzeria, restaurant, deli, and bar making traditional Italian-American dishes.

Verace provides customers with delicious, high-quality, and affordably-priced meals specializing in family-style options, handmade breads, thin crust pizzas, and making everything fresh and to order.

Verace can be found on Facebook or at www.veraceshelton.com.

This information is from a press release from Kelly Calandro of Verace Pizzeria & Italian Eatery.

Report: Valley restaurant health inspections

The Valley Independent Sentinel has the latest health inspection information for all of your favorite restaurants throughout the Naugatuck Valley.

Do you eat at any of these places?

Ozzie's reopens in Seymour

Couple renovates downtown restaurant

Pictured from left, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, owners Ozzie and Leonora Trdevaj, and Economic Development Director Fred A. Messore. / Contributed photo

The restaurant at 145 Main St. has been open for six years. It has just undergone a three-month renovation. The new hours will allow the couple to spend time with their children

The restaurant is open seven days a week, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m., and weekends from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.  It is also open for dinner 5-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.

'Pink' waitstaff raises $3,200 for breast cancer fund

Event at Wellington's Restaurant benefits The Valley Goes Pink

Members of The Valley Goes Pink committee waited on tables Monday night. With them are state Rep. Jason Perillo, third from left, and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, seventh from left. / Contributed photo

The annual "Wellington's Waiters Go Pink" event raised $3,200 in tips from more than 100 attendees. Cornelia Evans, executive director of the Griffin Hospital Development Fund, thanked volunteers. She also thanked Paul and Sherri Murphy, owners of Wellington's Restaurant in Shelton, for allowing Griffin to host the event there. / Contributed photo

Ansonia will soon have Asian fusion restaurant

Spotted today:  A sign of the times.

Ansonia will soon have an Asian Fusion restaurant at the site of the former Pilgrim Bar-B-Q restaurant on Main Street. Economic Development Commission chairman Vinnie Scarlata said he was pleased to see that plans are moving along for the restaurant, which he said will offer "more gastronomic diversity" to downtown. Patricia Villers/Register

A new taste in town

Gourmet restaurant opens in Derby

Tanya Skeeter shows off her signature salad. Photo by Patricia Villers

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening of The Gourmet Cafe in downtown Derby.

Not only were the food samples scrumptious, but I met some interesting folks while I was there.


The beautifully-designed restaurant in the Plaza on the Green on Elizabeth Street opened quietly in May, chef/owner Tanya Skeeter of Bridgeport said.


She started her culinary career as a caterer in Bridgeport, where she has been dubbed "The Salad Lady," she said.

Skeeter's signature salad, The Tree of Life, pictured above, is filled with lots of vegetables as well as cranberries and strawberries. She served it with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
You can order it straight up, or topped with chicken, turkey or shrimp, and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.

An appetizer featuring focaccia squares topped with a fresh tomato slice, mozzarella cheese, basil and drizzled with balsamic vinegar was wonderful.

I also sampled spinach and cheese quiche. I haven't eaten quiche in a long time, but this one had the fluffiest filling I had ever eaten.

The atmosphere is relaxing. Quiet music plays in the background. Two large mirrors create a feeling of depth.
The walls are painted a soft green, which designer Joan Andrews of Bethel said she chose because green is fresh, and it evokes all things natural.

Andrews said she wants people to feel at home in the restaurant, and see it as a place to escape from the daily routine.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, a former restaurant owner, has become a regular customer. He said he sees the cafe as "a new wave" in the restaurant industry.

I wish Skeeter and her staff all the best as they cater to residents of the Valley and beyond.

Mayor Anthony Staffieri, third from right, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening. Photo by Patricia Villers