Westport, CT October 2023

Let's Dine!

FOOD + BEVERAGE

FABULOUS PARTIES AND FESTIVE (HALLOWEEN!) RECIPES

TRAVEL

LUXURY DINING TREK THROUGH SANTA MONICA

LIFE + CULTURE

MAKE A WISH “TASTE OF WISHES”

HEALTH + WELLNESS

HOT TOPIC: WEIGHT LOSS

N o w o f f e r i n g a n o n l i n e b r i d a l & b a b y r e g i s t r y !

G e t r e a d y f o r y o u r b i g m o m e n t s w i t h T h e P o s t .

w w w . t h e p o s t c t . c o m

Fall is Fallen!

The weather is cooler, menus are changing, and picnics are memories. We choose this month for our “dining” issue because routines have kicked in and great meals offer cozy respite from busy days at work, school, activities, and sports.

You may also be busy making travel plans for the colder months, so we’re including a luxury travel feature to Shutters at the Beach in Santa Monica. Stay at this wonderful hotel and check out four amazing restaurants, two new, two not, while you’re there.

It’s also a month for Make A Wish “Taste of Wishes”! Learn about the incredible event and how a celebrity chef is mentoring a “wish kid” who joyfully cooked at last year’s event (we hope he’ll be back this year!)

Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to indulge. Open Doors is providing meals and groceries to food insecure people, along with other services. They realize that nourishment is the first step to life stability, and their doors are open to anyone who needs a good meal.

October is also Halloween month, so we’re including some hauntingly wonderful recipes for adults from Marcia Selden - kids can have their bitesized Twix, but parents want some Vietnamese Nori Rolls.

Did you know that Connecticut - Westport in fact - had witch trials 50 years before Salem? Westport Museum of History and Culture researched and wrote a fascinating piece on the condemnation of “witches" among some of Fairfield County’s first settlers.

On the other side of town, MoCA exhibit is of works by “outsider” an artist who lived in “Colored Town” and painted a different type of fear - one of racism and violence. Though he never left his approximately three square miles, his work speaks of a nation of unrest.

On a happier note, we feature Jordana Marie Events, whose beautiful events and gatherings remind us that love - and a spectacular soirée - will always conquer fear.

As the leaves change and the air grows crisper, we invite you to savor the flavors of this season, explore the stories that history and art have to tell, and embrace the warmth of togetherness. Happy October!

October 2023

PUBLISHER

Marisa MacLean | marisa.maclean@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Robin Moyer Chung | robin.chung@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caroline C. Barney, Meredith Guinness, Robin Moyer Chung, Violet E. Cooper, Angela Broockerd, Westport Museum for History and Culture

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

MoCA Westport, Make A Wish, Westport History Museum, Katrina Frederick Studio, David A. Raccuglia

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Eva Tucker

MARISA MACLEAN, PUBLISHER @WESTPORTLIFESTYLE

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @westportlifestyle

1: Salon dada’s reception for artist Frankie Vinci. 2: Gigi Shapiro Kulick and artist Frankie Vinci 3: Grace Camera and Scott Haskitt 4: John Moissiadis 5: Kendall Rizzo and Talia Rizzo 6: Benjamin Lagasse, Aphrodite Karakasis, Kataryna Parciak, Steven Gemignani 7: Frankie Vinci, Robin Moyer Chung, Benjamin Lagasse, Marisa MacLean.

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A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

SEE WELL LIVE WELL

Halloween Concert and Costume Ball

The Halloween Concert and Costume Ball is a new event for Westport. After the much-loved Halloween Window Painting Contest for the kids, adults can put their scare on and enjoy a creative and musical night. Bella's Bartok is the perfect band for All Hollows' Eve doing two acts with a costume contest between them. Come in costume or not and have a great time! Saturday, October 28 Trefz Forum, Westport Library WestportWestonChamber.com/Music

Pink Aid’s 13th annual Luncheon & Fashion Show

Pink Aid’s 13th annual Luncheon & Fashion Show, to benefit financially insecure breast cancer patients, will take place Thursday, October 12th at Mitchells of Westport. This year’s “Pink Land” gala, which brings a Candy Land theme is sure to delight an expected 650 guests. Westport’s own Kerri Rosenthal has created a spectacular painting for Pink Aid's auction, which goes live 10/12. Click here to bid on the PAINTING and lots of other amazing items! pinklandct.givesmart.com

Downtown Westport Halloween Parade

The parade begins on Main Street and continues right onto Avery Place, then left onto Myrtle Avenue.  Recommended for children up to age 8.  Children may trick or treat along Main Street and in Town Hall.  The parade ends on the Veterans Green (across from Town Hall). Parks and Recreation provides refreshments, a small gift for the children, along with entertainment. Check WestportCT.gov for details closer to the date.

Photography by Coley Stevens

Darkness, Inside the Mind of Connecticut’s Colonists

Enter 1647 and witness the witch trials that European colonists experienced through their own words, in the darkness that pervaded their everyday lives. Sit with us in the dark and hear about superstitions of witchcraft and the belief that danger—both physical and supernatural—was all around. This program contains mature themes.

Friday, October 13th, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Register online at WestportHistory.org

Westoberfest!

New England Craft Beer Festival & Family Fun!

We look forward to seeing you all for the 6th Annual Westoberfest on Saturday October 14th, 2023!

What to expect at the festival: BEER TASTING 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

DETAPAS SPANISH GASTROBAR IS DELIVERING NOW AUTHENTIC TAPAS, PAELLAS & SANGRIA DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME THROUGH UBER EATS

Food, Music, Vendors, Apples & Pumpkins Giveaway and more

For the Family: Pumpkin decorating, street magician, strolling bubbles, face painting and more!

LIVE MUSIC by fan favorite “One Bad Oyster”

Elm Street, Westport WestportDowntown.com

Stand Up for Homes with Hope: An Evening of Comedy with Roy Wood Jr.

This year, the renowned Homes with Hope comedy fundraiser features Roy Wood Jr., an Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, producer, actor, radio personality, and podcaster primarily known for his stand-up comedy and work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show since 2015. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University

Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 8:30 p.m . HWHCT.org

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Westport

Photography by John Videler

WESTPORT WITCH TRIALS

Connecticut colonists lived in a dangerous time, where fear— both real and imagined—caused panic across the colony.

Rival colonizers from the Netherlands vied for control over trade in the New World and raids from Dutch forces were a constant threat as well as Indigenous tribes—both allied with and against English forces.

While physical attack was possible, far more insidious was the possibility of injury or disease. A simple cut could be fatal before the discovery of antibiotics. Smallpox, yellow fever and influenza ravaged villages in Europe and traveled with the new colonists to New England.

Escalation of this fear culminated into the ruthless hunt of those believed to be witches in New England. Between 1647 and 1655 to be formally accused of witchcraft in Connecticut meant certain death for both men and women.

The first recorded execution of a witch in Connecticut occurred in May 1647. Alys Young was executed in Hartford, yet only a single line of text in the Colonial Governors’ diary survives to tell historians of the event.

This period proved most deadly to those charged as witches, even more so than Salem, which would occur nearly fifty years later. Here in Connecticut, every person charged by the court for allegedly practicing witchcraft was executed.

The Westport area did not escape the Connecticut Witch Panic. In 1653, Deputy Governor Roger Ludlow accused the wife of a political rival Thomas Staples— Goodwife Mary Staples—of being a witch.

There are numerous iterations of this story. Essentially, Rodger and Mary had a verbal altercation (i.e., she disagreed with him) and, as she was both a woman and married to a powerful man of a “lesser class” than himself, Rodger determined to eke revenge.

He enlisted commoner Goodwife Knapp, also suspected of witchcraft, to implicate Goodwife Staples of being a witch. Knapp refused. At a dinner party after Knapp’s hanging, Roger told guests that Knapp confessed to him that Mary was a witch.

Rumors exploded.

ARTICLE BY WESTPORT MUSEUM

HISTORY AND CULTURE

Due to these dangerous allegations, Mary’s husband, Thomas Staples, sued Roger, resulting in a 1654 slander case heard in New Haven. Throughout the trial, statements were recorded from both sides not focusing on Roger’s actions but mostly about Mary’s actions on the day Knapp was executed. Neighbors stood by her, but

Malleus Maleficarum or

in 1487, was a treatise written by Heinrich Kramer that served as a witch hunter’s manual through

FOR

50 YEARS BEFORE SALEM,“EVIL” LURKED IN CONNECTICUT

The

Der Hexenhammer known as “The Hammer of Witches” published

many also brought stories of her outspoken nature and frequently cited her as saying she did not believe Knapp to be a witch.

In May of 1654, Roger was found guilty of slander and forced to pay damages to the Staples. The case may have saved Mary’s life as formal accusations of witchcraft were never brought against her, though it was much discussed by the community.

By the end of 1655, seven people had been executed for the crime of witchcraft in Connecticut. And while the executions stopped in 1655, Connecticut’s connection with witches was far from over.

From 1655 until 1661 no witches were executed in Connecticut. This is largely thought to be the work of one man, John Winthrop Jr., the colonial governor. John was a man of science, and while primary source evidence suggests he believed in witchcraft, he was not easily swayed by eye-witness testimony. During his governorship witch trials were held but did not result in hangings as John required more evidence than previously required. However, this reprieve ended in 1662.

CONTINUED >

the 16th century. Using the Christian bible and treatises like the Hammer of Witches, 40,000 to 60,000 people were executed

as witches in Europe between 1300 and 1800. When Europeans traveled across the Atlantic these traditions followed.

*Most colonists were baptized at birth. This ceremony later allowed for a test to be performed should a person come under suspicion of witchcraft. The belief was that when a witch made a covenant with the devil, they denounced God and thus their baptism. When a witch was thrown into water, usually by a man of the church, the water would “reject” them as they rejected their baptism, and they would float. An innocent person would sink because the water would welcome them. To perform what was called the water test, or ordeal by water, a person was tied thumb to toe or placed into a “ducking chair” and lowered into the water.

“NEIGHBORS STOOD BY HER, BUT MANY ALSO BROUGHT STORIES OF HER OUTSPOKEN NATURE AND FREQUENTLY CITED HER AS SAYING SHE DID NOT BELIEVE KNAPP TO BE A WITCH.”

In that year John left North America to negotiate a new colonial charter. During his absence, eight trials were held and ten formal accusations were laid during what is known as the Hartford Panic, resulting in four more hangings. But when the governor returned, he swept in a 25-year period when no accused witch was executed in the entire region of New England.

However, history would repeat itself in 1692 when not only Massachusetts but Connecticut once again found its residents amid witch hysteria. The infamous Salem Witch trials—resulting in the death of 20 people—coincided with trials in Connecticut. In what would become Westport, five more women—Mercy Disborough, Hannah and Mary Harvey, Elizabeth Clawson and Mary Staples—were accused of “familiarity with the devil.”

Once again Mary Staples came under suspicion, but she and the Harvey sisters were quickly acquitted. Elizabeth and Mercy were subjected to an insidious water test in the still-present dunking pond* on Fairfield Common. Both were found to float when tossed into the water, but only Mercy was found guilty when considering other testimony. However, the 17th century evidence shows that she was given a reprieve.

Connecticut would not execute any accused practitioners in the 1690s, the last person charged as a witch to be executed in the colony would be in 1662, and the final trial would take place in 1692. Despite what we would consider the fantastical nature of these supposed crimes, Connecticut colonists believed so fully in witchcraft that life and death hung in the balance.

(Editor’s note: Horace Staples, a descendant of Thomas and Mary Staples, founded Staples High School.)

Memorial for an executed "witch."

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JORDANA MARIE EVENTS ARE LOVE STORIES

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

The number of guests at a party is inversely proportional to the intimacy of the party. So it’s ironic that guest lists are ballooning at weddings, baby showers, and birthdays - all celebrations of love - what’s more intimate than that?

Jordana George of Jordana Marie Events takes a tact a bit different from other event planners; she “writes a love story.” Which is a wonderful way to approach a life celebration.

Like all exceptional event planners she’s hyper-organized, full-tilt creative, with myriad vendors, ideas, and contacts. But what she creates are endearingly and generously realized affairs that exude romance and friendship no matter the length of the guest list.

She and her husband and COO/Safety Officer, Jonathan, seek out bespoke vendors, interesting venues, CONTINUED >

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THIS IS THE LIFE I SEE

ARTICLE BY VIOLET E. COOPER

The artist Purvis Young at MoCA Westport

Outsider artist Purvis Young (1943–2010) was entirely self-taught, painting images of racism and daily violence which plagued his underprivileged neighborhood of Overtown in Miami, Florida. Intensely prolific, he created over hundreds, perhaps even thousands of works.

His work tells a story of everyday struggles while living in an area referred to as “Colored Town” during the Jim Crow era. In all his life, he never left the few square miles of Overtown.

Unlike many of the artists he admired in his later years, Purvis did not have access to a traditional art education. Yet, with no constraints imposed on him from an academy, he was unburdened by typical artistic traditions.

Despite his outsider status, especially later in his career, the artist felt a profound connection to other artists such as Rembrandt and Gauguin. He maintained an invisible communion with the legacy of artists that came before him. “I just like to read about painters because they have the same problems. Same problems. They look like they see the same thing I see.”

Purvis Young (Photo: David A. Raccuglia)

Purvis’s work radiates rawness, indulging in color and shape. They are riddled with unrest and animation. Ultimately, his work is a dialogue of binaries. Freedom versus struggle. White versus black. Country versus city. Movement versus confinement. Truth versus deceit. Rich versus poor.

Ultimately, his body of work reflects his life, including Goodbread Alley, where he first started showing his paintings, to his prison cell where he remained for three years after being arrested for breaking and entering.

Despite his self-imposed confinement to a small neighborhood, he understood the plight of a nation of black people and their means of escape. “Blacks couldn't ride except on the back of the train, couldn't live but on one side of the tracks. But now the trains have come to mean freedom.”

"Imagine a Zulu Warrior on Horseback," 51 by 29.5 inches, paint on plywood. From the Collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick.

"Portrait," 26 by 16 inches, paint on plywood. From the Collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick.

Forty years later, MoCA Westport has taken Purvis’s work out of its environment. Out of the Alley, out of Overtown, but not necessarily out of context. “Everything in my paintings, just about, come from the neighborhood. I used to see everything that go on in the Alley. The Alley ain't there now, but what go on now be about the same, man, every day.” Indeed, it resonates in our contemporary moment, exceeding its humble origins; a record of his experiences that transcend time and place.

“DESPITE HIS SELF-IMPOSED CONFINEMENT TO A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD, HE UNDERSTOOD THE PLIGHT OF A NATION OF BLACK PEOPLE AND THEIR MEANS OF ESCAPE.”

"Pipe Truck Assemblage," 44 by 48 inches, paint on board. From the Collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick.

"Shackled In Blues," 47 by 43 inches, paint, wood, screen and cardboard. From the Collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick

The exhibition, from the collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick, features 36 never-seen-before paintings by the artist, showing his distinctive visual style and use of paint and everyday discarded found objects such as scrap lumber and plywood.

Says Lynne, “Actually, our collection and some of the things that we have collected as outsider art is very in vogue now. We were not in it as an investment, we were in it for the pleasure of seeing it and appreciating what the artists had done.”

Exhibit runs from September 15 - December 29, 2023

Visit MoCAWestport.org to learn more about the exhibition and supporting programming.

"Funeral Procession Through The City," 48 by 96 inches, paint on fiberboard. From the Collection of Lynne and Jack Dodick.

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ARTICLE BY CAROLINE C. BARNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF OPEN DOORS

The First Step to Housing Stability: Eat.

OPEN DOORS FOCUSES ON FOOD SO CLIENTS CAN PAY THEIR RENT

Open Doors is a housing and homeless services organization based in Norwalk that provides resources for individuals and families on the path to housing stability.

Core to their model, Open Doors recognizes that the best way to end homelessness is to stop it before it happens. The prevention programs assist area residents as they gain sustainable housing and find financial stability and success.

Executive Director of Open Doors, Michele Conderino.

At the most fundamental level, tackling food insecurity is the base on which all other services sit.

For clients to find their path in life, Open Doors knows basic human needs must be taken care of first. The first step in building this foundation? Ensuring everyone has a healthy meal on their table.

“We aren’t fixing anyone here,” says Open Door’s Executive Director Michele Conderino. “[Our clients] have strength, they just have a lot of barriers in the way and it’s our job to plow the road so they can walk that road alone.”

Barrier: FOOD.

The rising cost of food, compounded by Fairfield County’s cost of living being significantly higher than the state average and rising (Nation Low Income Housing Coalition), means that people in our surrounding towns are suffering. In many cases, families are having to decide between food or rent.

“Making choices about food or rent in one of the wealthiest counties in the country is devastating. People are working so hard and they’re just surviving. We need to recognize that people aren’t lazy, they are working incredibly hard to keep up with the rising cost of living. These things are happening to them and then they carry the burden of blame for not being able to sustain themselves,” shared Michele.

Open Doors steps in to help fill the gaps. Their kitchen is the only program in Norwalk that provides free hot meals every day to anyone in need. It also has a grocery pantry that is open five days a week. In addition, they have a holiday meal basket program in the fall, winter, and spring for low-income families in our neighborhoods.*

Over the past few years since Covid, the number of households being served has grown exponentially and continues to rise. It is these food insecurity interventions, along with other wrap-around services, that bridge the gap between homelessness and housing.

“We are just the hands of the larger community for our clients… it is the entire community

CONTINUED >

that supports the work at Open Doors. Volunteers, food donations and monetary gifts make what we do possible. We all do this work together,” says Michele.

When food insecurity is addressed, clients are able to take further steps to realize their personal purpose and power. To believe that they can get themselves out of poverty.

A huge part of the work that is done at Open Doors is to inspire self-worth. To remind clients that they

have value. To offer resources to recover, tools to make changes and confidence to stick to a plan that helps them navigate from needing basic physiological needs like food and shelter to owning success.

To get out of the cycle of poverty is to go to war and not everyone’s journey looks the same. The staff and volunteers at Open Doors leverage the range of programs available from homelessness prevention through to housing stability to help individuals and

Serving

families piece together the services that work for them to help themselves. Success is watching clients own that path.

“Every day I get to watch other people succeed – that is the greatest joy in my life,” Michele shares.

OpenDoorsCT.org

*These food services are fueled 100% by donations. Much needed items at the food pantry include: fresh fruits and vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, canned soups, canned vegetables, beans and fruit, fruit cups, oatmeal, rice, cereal, dried beans, juice, mac & cheese, snack bars, coffee, spices, pancake mix, syrup, all-purpose flour, and sugar. Low-sodium and sugar-free options are highly appreciated, as are manual can openers."

If you have the ability to donate, it’s important to know that regular sizes are better than family/economy size products because many homes have limited storage, and it can be difficult to maneuver public transportation with larger items.

“Every day I get to watch other people succeed – that is the greatest joy in my life.”

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IN HONOR OF “FOODIE MONTH,” HERE ARE SOME OF DANNA & JEN’S FAVORITE SPOTS:

BAR LUPA | DOUBLE L MARKET

GAETANOS | FJORD FISH MARKET

GREER’S SOUTHERN TABLE | KAWA NI

KNEAD | LAYLAS | LILLY’S MARKET

OKO | SAUGTAUCK PROVISIONS

SALLY’S APIZZA | SPORT HILL FARM’S MARKET

STILE MARKET | SUPERIOR SEAFOOD

TARANTINO RESTAURANT | TERRAIN CAFE

THE WHELK| TRADER JOE’S

WAKEMAN TOWN FARM | WALRUS ALLEY

Where to Find Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Meals and More

ARTICLE BY DISCOVERWESTPORTCT.COM

THE FRESH MARKET

The Fresh Market is an upscale grocery store on Post Road. You can find high-quality foods that meet your dietary needs - fresh dairy-free and gluten-free products.

Stores.TheFreshMarket.com

605 Post Road East

GG & JOE

This modernized mom and pop shop, named after the founders, is the perfect stop for those wanting a healthy alternative. Coffee, açai and gluten-free bread and bun options are all on the menu.

GGAndJoe.com

165 Main Street

BARTACO

One of the busiest lunch spots in town, Bartaco’s menu is friendly to those who are looking to go gluten-free, with a majority of the menu accommodating your preference.

Bartaco.com

20 Wilton Road

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Whole Foods takes pride in seeking out the finest natural and organic foods available and maintaining the strictest quality standards in the food industry. Find excellent value in food options for special diets.

WholeFoodsMarket.com

399 Post Road West

THE CAKE BOX

Got a sweet tooth? Head to The Cake Box for cakes, doughs, cookies, and more! With a menu full of various gluten-free options, you have a variety of delicious snacks to choose from. Some of these tasty treats are vegan, too!

CTCakeBox.com

10 Bay Street

TRADER JOE’S

Since the original Trader Joe’s opened in 1967, its staff has been committed to transforming grocery shopping into a fun and welcoming journey, with plenty of gluten-free and dairy-free products.

Locations.TraderJoe’s.com

400 Post Road East

LITTLE BEET

“The best vegetable-forward restaurant in Manhattan” is now in Westport, with a vegetarian-friendly vibe and commitment to gluten-free meals.

TheLittleBeet.com

635 Post Road East

BALDUCCI'S

A “market for foodies, by foodies,” Balducci’s is dedicated to bringing customers the best gourmet foods. Shop a variety of fresh meats, fish, locally-grown produce, and chef-prepared dishes, including dairy-free and gluten-free options.

Local.Balducci’s.com

1385 Post Rd East

MATCH BURGER LOBSTER

Located by the Saugatuck River, Match Burger Lobster offers gluten-free buns and uses a gluten-free fryer. Oh - and everything can be washed down with delicious beverages, such as an ice cold alcoholic cider or lemonade.

MatchBurgerLobster.com

580 Riverside Avenue

RAINBOW

THAI

Rainbow Thai boasts an appetizing menu in which most, if not all, of the items are free of gluten. Many of the items are made with rice, allowing gluten-free customers to enjoy alternatives to popular meals.

RainbowThaiCT.com

5 Bridge Square

Eating Our Way Through Santa Monica

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

LUXURY TRAVEL WEEKEND FOR THREE

I wandered into the Shutters at the Beach sanctum around noon, clothes crumpled from too-early and too-long hours of flight, followed by two bedraggled teens who had clambered down from a twoweek mountain hike mere hours hence.

We weren’t impressing anyone.

We were there for two reasons:  1. Experience the famous Shutters on the Beach with (somewhat opinionated) teenagers, 2. Eat.

Westporters love California, Santa Monica specifically. One hears talk about where to stay, but rarely about where to eat. For most of us, dining is a key part of traveling. And because I’m a giver, I decided to make it a key part of our long weekend.

After careful research, I chose three (well, four if you count breakfast) entirely different restaurants which typify the increasingly eclectic California dining experience.

Which brings us to our wrinkled selves in the lobby of one of the coast’s finest hotels.

A testament to the luxury experience, in its truest form, is how staff treats guests regardless of their appearance. The man at the front desk could not have been kinder or more inviting.

He swept out his arm to indicate we were in the “living room”; a large sitting area reminiscent of Sister Parish. Lovely furniture arranged in conversational sets, the primarily blue tones evoking its beachfront location. Outside, the terrace treated guests to a stunning view of the beach and the ferris wheel on the nearby pier.

The man directed us to the third floor, holding open the door for my wayward crew and even pushing the button.

Shutters on the Beach Suite

Our small room was filled with an elegant king-sized bed, artwork, and charming touches: Chinese ginger jars, coral, old-fashioned juggling balls in a whimsical cardboard box.

Books, chosen for their content and their covers, are placed throughout the rooms and the living room. The Old Man and the Sea, Chateaus of Loire Valley, memoirs, and books of art. That they are holdable and readable lends Shutters a festive and inviting sensibility.

But first: lunch.

We ate outside at the aptly named Coast, Shutter’s casual restaurant with an elevated-retro vibe, specializing in “California” cooking. We shared a delicious Caesar salad and Margherita flatbread pizza while watching the parade of visitors stroll along the boardwalk.

We also breakfasted at Coast each morning: large stacks of fluffy pancakes with Nutella and whipped cream, mostly. Crispy, buttery almond croissants, and colorful plates of broiled tomatoes, eggs, sausage, and asparagus.

When speaking to me, waitstaff and servers said “Miss” instead of “Ma’am,” which, well, I thought was fabulous.

A shout-out to the hot fudge sundae with preserved cherries from room service later that afternoon. We huddled around it as though worshipping an idol, spooning it into our mouths until my son muttered, “This is the best sundae I’ve ever had.” (We also received a surprise plate of fruit and a bottle of lovely Prosecco).

DINNER that night was at Zinqué, a French-inspired eatery in Venice Beach (and other locations). By 6:00 on Friday night it was bustling with chic young people sipping cocktails while breathlessly discussing recent encounters or quietly working on novels.

It has an urban bistro feel, with a large central bar and a flat-screen TV televising the women’s World Cup, which thrilled my daughter. The design is pared-down, accentuating its artistically plated dishes.

The menu features tartines, niçoise, and quiche, as well as riffs on French standard fare: apple camembert paninis and prawn tacos.

My daughter loved the popular “Le Bowl” - Brown rice and “forbidden rice,” avocado, tomato, arugula, comté, cilantro and Sriracha with a frittata and grilled chicken. My son inhaled the Rigantocini Bolgnese, and I ordered, as

“For most of us, dining is a key part of traveling. After careful research, I chose three (well, four if you count breakfast) entirely different restaurants which typify the increasingly eclectic California dining experience.”

Zinqué bar.

Zinqué Le Bowl

Shutters swimming pool with a wonderful view.

SHUTTERS AT THE BEACH

ShuttersOnTheBeach.com (including 1 Pico and Coast) For special offers, ShuttersOnTheBeach.com/ special-offers

ZINQUÉ

LeZinque.com/venice

COBI’S Cobis.la

LEARN TO SURF LA LearnToSurfLA.com

recommended, the Garganelli aux Morilles. Now, I’m not one to feast on ‘shrooms, but this simple, umami dish was tasty and unique, just as a French feast should be.

The popularity of the Zinqué restaurants, and enthusiasm for all things Français, convinced the group to open “à côté”, a bodega, in this location. Surprisingly successful, this bodega sells curated European products in addition to culinary items prepared in their kitchen.

The shelves are full of French wines, hand lotions, linens, even Italian toothpaste Marvis.

You can walk in, take stock, and before you know it be halfway home with a Nicolas Vahé Cutting Board, a grilled

whole branzino with chimichurri, and a bottle Clos SaintJean Deus Ex Machina Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2018. Voila!

JUST as its bread bowl is indicative of a restaurant’s quality, the swimming pool is indicative of a hotel/ resort’s quality.

Shutter’s pool is elegant, serene, and tidy. Though not large, it was never crowded during our visit. The staff is attentive and friendly,  and promptly swept away and replaced discarded towels with fresh ones. A word on the towels - these custom babies are fun and fabulous. They’re a lovely shade of blue with words streaming across: Play. Daydream. Waves.

Dining at 1 Pico.

Sun. Ocean. Shutters on the Beach. Writers dig words.

There are white terry-lined chaises near the pool and lined up on a patio overlooking the beach for, you know, guests who enjoy spectacular views of the sea while they relax in sand-free comfort sipping cocktails.

We spent considerable time in the jacuzzi and the pool, especially in the evenings when we had it almost to ourselves. Active teens take up a lot of space in swimming areas.

The cabanas, decorated in - you guessed it, blue! - coordinating patterns, look like living rooms in an upscale seaside cottage. My kids and I spent an early evening sprawled across the cushioned chaise and pillows while they sipped their first virgin piña coladas. The drinks were delicious, and I spent a large part of the next day fielding their requests for another one.

DINNER the next night was at 1 Pico, Shutters main dining room, celebrated as “outstanding” by the LA Times and heralded by Forbes as one of the best restaurants in LA.

The ambience is affluent-casual, New England yacht club, with enormous windows overlooking the palm trees and beach. One would feel comfortable wearing anything from (clean, well-cut) shorts to suits.

Here’s the thing about 1 Pico and, shoot, all of Shutters: it transports. It’s relaxing, smooth, and - I want to say quixotic but that takes it too far. I’ll put it this way: I get a kick out of watching people (not in a creepy way. Stop.), and there are plenty of intriguing people to ponder, in and around everything in Santa Monica. But people are one thing, crowds quite another. Shutters is designed, successfully, to be a respite from the bustle, even when it’s busy.

So there we found ourselves, at the precipice of what promised to be a wonderful dinner, in the catbird seats.

Feeling decadent, I ordered an excellent martini with blue cheese olives, ever so slightly dirty. It’s one of three I’ve had in my life and it just seemed the right thing to do, even though 1 Pico is known for their wine.

Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive, patiently waiting for my kids to navigate the menu while I peppered him with questions.

We started with the Kale Caesar Salad, Focaccia and Burrata (luscious local burrata, 24-month prosciutto), and Grilled Blue Prawns with a perfectly tart and crisp baby gem salad.

I warned my kids ahead of time that we’d be sampling each other’s orders, to try different meals and get a sense of the cuisine. So we all dined on Wagyu Filet Mignon and New York Strip (both Black Hawk Regenerative Farm, Kentucky), and line-caught Oregon Halibut.

Indulgent? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. I sipped my martini while we proffered slices of our steaks and fish on bread plates for each of us to sample. The melt-inyour-mouth steaks, perfectly prepared, were served with three sauces, including a truffle sauce which I wanted to eat with a spoon.

The dinner was so good, in fact, my kids took photos of it.

Dessert, of course. A creamy chocolate lava cake, panna cotta with luscious fruit compote, and a whimsical fudge sundae generously sprinkled with caramel cornwhat a fun idea!

Casual dining at Coast.

1 Pico dining room

SHUTTERS on the Beach opened in 1993; the only 5-star resort on Santa Monica’s beach at the time. It was built by the Slatkin family who once owned the Beverly Hills Hotel.

They strove to emulate the gracious and opulent homes of Cape Cod and the Hamptons. In 2005, its interior was overhauled by designer Michael S. Smith who went on to re-design Obama’s Oval Office in 2010 and was appointed by the President to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House from 2008-2016.

It’s primo location is near the Santa Monica Municipal Pier which is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, which opened in 1996.

Closer to the hotel is the original muscle beach (remember Arnold?), now home to rings and ropes and swings. In the evenings, especially, numerous people of varying skill levels come out and practice flips, climbs, muscle-ups, and other impressive feats.

And where there’s water, there’s surfing. Perhaps the best of these is Learn to Surf LA. Since 2002 they’ve been teaching private and group lessons for people of all ages.

Their instructors are thoughtful and enthusiastic, and provide all necessary equipment, from wetsuits to boards.

Important for all parents, Learn to Surf LA is vigilant about fun, but also safety practices including investing in the pricier but less “dangerous” surfboards. For 12 years, they’ve been recognized for the safety track record and exceptional customer service.

BRUNCH the next day was our final meal on our dining tour. I chose Cobi’s as much for its cuisine as for its riot of design and color. Deemed one of Santa Monica’s top eateries, it’s the 2020 wild child of designer Cobi Marsh and partner chef Lance Mueller.

We walked from Shutters down Main Street, keeping a careful eye out for the restaurant. Main Street, as you may know, isn’t the most visually stimulating

Cobi's pink dining room.

(Photo: Katrina Frederick Studio) Learn to Surf L.A.

Beautiful cuisine at Cobi's.

(Photo: Katrina Frederick Studio)

of streets. Then suddenly *BOOM*, you’re staring at a bright pink building with green trim.

It’s a jewel box of a restaurant, opening up to a bar with silk flowers, hung by their stems, coating the ceiling. The dining room is festooned in pink floral wallpaper. Textures and patterns, from the upholstery to the mismatched vintage china, create a cozy yet energetic atmosphere complimenting the eclectic, primarily Southeast Asian menu.

We sat on the patio, the outdoor flora equivalent of its interior. It’s bustlingtables are full and a handful of hopeful diners loiter by the hostess.

To start, we ordered the large grilled prawns in ginger and yellow bean sauce. My son was momentarily taken aback, realizing he’d have to snap the heads off. But he did, and they were super tasty.

I sipped the Ginger Pear cocktail, a light not-too-sweet drink with soju, pear purée, ginger, sparkling wine. Soju, as you may know, is a rice-based “Korean vodka.” It never caught on in the U.S., probably because it has half the alcoholic content of our own vodka.

Following prawns were the popular Gary’s Fried Chicken with habanero brine, chickpea batter, lime, honey and chili glaze; then Nasi Goreng with fried egg, rice, sambal terasi, long beans, and we added pork belly.

Both dishes are enticing and inven tive twists on basics: fried chicken and fried rice.

The entire restaurant is a unique sensory experience in contrast to most other area eateries. I’m not crazy about the term “instagrammable,” but in this case, I have to use it.

AFTER a final (virgin) piña colada at Coast, we gathered the dirty backpacks that the staff cheerfully held for us after we checked out.

Upon returning home, almost everyone I spoke to about Shutters had a story from when they, too, stayed there. It was a memorable stay, well worth the redeye home.

Personalized Support for Your Family

O u r P l a c e m e n t P a r t n e r s p r o v i d e e x p e r t a d v i s i n g , f u l l - s e r v i c e a p p l i c a t i o n f a c i l i t a t i o n , a d v o c a c y , a n d c o u n s e l f o r f a m i l i e s a n d s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e a d m i s s i o n s a n d e n r o l l m e n t p r o c e s s .

B a s e d i n W e s t p o r t , C T , a n d t h r o u g h o u t g r e a t e r F a i r f i e l d a n d W e s t c h e s t e r c o u n t i e s , o u r t e a m h a s d e e p e x p e r i e n c e i n i n d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l l e a d e r s h i p , t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e o f c h i l d r e n , a n d a n i n t r i c a t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t d r i v e s a d m i s s i o n s d e c i s i o n s .

T h i s u n i q u e l y p o s i t i o n s G o w a n

P l a c e m e n t t o e n s u r e e a c h c h i l d e n d s u p i n t h e b e s t s c h o o l f o r t h e m .

EVERY SELLER HAS A STORY

Situation

In mid July, we received a phone call from an anxious seller. Eager to relocate to Manhattan and enroll their children in school by September 1st, they were concerned about prepping their home for sale and obtaining a solid offer within the tight timeframe.

Strategy

Because we have experience helping clients in similar situations, we swiftly addressed their concern, immediately hiring a stager, painter, photographer and videographer to get the house ready for sale. Only 9 days after their initial phone call, the house was listed for sale.

Solution

Our recommendations and marketing helped our clients receive multiple offers within the first weekend. Happily, our sellers accepted an offer 3% over asking price. Our efforts allowed our clients to finalize their plans for the upcoming school year well in advance, something they didn’t think possible. Another example of why selecting a knowledgeable and experienced team to help you sell your home matters.

57 CRESCENT ROAD WESTPORT, CONN.

LISTED $1,999,000 SOLD $2,060,000

HERE’S WHY CINDY RANEY & TEAM SHOULD BE A PART OF YOURS

Trick or Eat!

MARCIA SELDEN’S CATERING RECIPES FOR EXCEPTIONAL HALLOWEEN PARTIES

Is it time for us to take back Halloween parties from our costumed charges? Ready to ditch the Dirt Brownies and Eyeball Spaghetti? Yep.

We asked Marcia Selden Catering for spooky-spirited recipes that kick the night up a notch: Vietnamese Nori Rolls, Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass, Chocolate Ghoul Pots de Crème, and Bloody Sunset Fizz. Elegant and devilishly delicious.

Vietnamese Nori Roll

INGREDIENTS FOR ROLLS

• 8-10 nori sheets

• 3 c. finely shredded savoy cabbage

• 3 scallions thinly sliced

• 3½ oz. cellophane noodles (optional)

• ½ c julienned carrots

• ½ c. chopped cilantro

• 1 mango, peeled and julienned

• 2 tbs. toasted sesame oil

• 1 shallot, finely diced

• 1 tbs. minced peeled fresh ginger

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and julienned

• 24 mint leaves

• 24 basil leaves

Vietnamese Nori Roll

DIRECTIONS

1. Toss cabbage, scallions, cilantro, mango and cooked noodles in a bowl with sesame oil, shallot, ginger and garlic and set aside until ready to use.

2. Working with 1 sheet at a time, put the cabbage noodle mixture along 1 edge of the nori, leaving a 1” border.  Add a small amount of cucumber, 2 mint leaves and 2 basil leaves to cabbage mixture. Do not overfill the nori sheets.

3. Starting at the side with the filling, start to roll, enclosing filling.  Repeat process with remaining sheets.  Cut each roll into 1” pieces giving you 8 pieces per roll. Serve with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

• ¼c. fresh lime juice

• 1 tbs. sugar

• 2 tbs. fish sauce

• 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil

• 4 tbs. soy sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine ingredients of dipping sauce in a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Bloody Sunset Fizz

INGREDIENTS

• 2 oz Aperol

• 3 oz Prosecco

• 1 oz of Blood orange juice

• Rosemary bitters

• Club soda

• Slice of orange & sprig of rosemary

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill glass with Aperol and top with Prosecco

2. Add blood orange juice

3. Top off with 3 dashes of Rosemary bitters and a splash of club soda

4. Garnish with a slice of orange and sprig of rosemary

Creepy centerpiece... Bloody Sunset Fizz

Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass

MARINADE

• ¼ c. mirin

• ¼ c. sake

• ½ c. soy sauce

• 3 tbs. sugar

• ½ c. yellow miso paste

• ½ c. sesame oil

• 2 tbs. fresh grated ginger

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed

• 6 fillets, Chilean Sea Bass

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring the sake, mirin, sugar and soy sauce to a boil.  Turn the heat off and whisk in the miso paste. When the miso has dissolved completely, add in the sesame oil, ginger and garlic. Cool to room temperature.

2. Marinate the fish with the miso marinade and place in a plastic or glass container and cover. Marinate in the refrigerator for 48 hours.

3. Once fully marinated, preheat oven to 425°F.

4. Heat an oven-proof cast iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat on the stovetop. Film the pan with a little vegetable oil, then place the fish on the pan and cook until the bottom of the fish browns and blackens in spots, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the other side is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees.

Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass

Ghoulish catering staff.

Chocolate Ghoul Pots de Crème

INGREDIENTS

• 6 oz semi sweet choc chips

• 1 T sugar

• pinch of salt

• 1 T vanilla

• 1 egg

• ¾ c milk- heated to boiling point

• Place all ingredients in blender- pulse 1 min on low.

• Pour into cups/ramekins or shot glasses .

• Chill for 2 hours.

• Garnish

• 2 cups whipped cream

• 2c. Chocolate Cookie Crumbs

• Googly Eye Sprinkles to garnish

• *Dehydrated Strawberry Dust

• *Dehydrated Kiwi Dust

DIRECTIONS

1. *to make above dusts, blend dehydrated fruits in a coffee grinder till they form a dust.

2. Top pots de crème with whipped cream.

3. Cover the whipped cream with a thin layer of cookie. crumbs until there is no trace of the whipped cream.

4. Randomly sprinkle each with a little of each of the fruit dusts.

5. Finish garnishing with the googly eye sprinkles.

6. Recipe makes 6-8 depending upon vessel used.

Chocolate Ghoul Pots de Crème

Hot Topic: Ozempic

This article is intended to inform. It is not an endorsement or an opinion. It is not intended as medical advice; always discuss any medications with your doctor.

As we head into the holiday season, talk of Ozempic, the diabetes medication touted as the “miracle” weight loss drug, is louder than ever.

Always wary of miracle meds, we turned to one of the country’s top plastic surgeons, Westport-based Dr.

O’Connell, to learn more about how it works and its side effects.

According to Dr. O’Connell, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are all versions of the generic “semaglutide” which belong to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. Ozempic and Wegovy are administered as weekly injections while Rybelsus is a daily pill.

GLP-1 is a peptide hormone naturally made by our body that, in response to a

SELF CARE | HEALTH + WELLNESS

meal, enhances insulin secretion thus helping your body regulate blood sugar levels. This is why drugs that mimic GLP-1 (like Ozempic) are useful in treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

These drugs delay stomach emptying and communicate with the appetite control center in the brain to reduce appetite. The result is weight loss that can exceed 10% of your body weight, hence its popularity among those wishing to easily shed some pounds.

Ozempic and Rybelsus are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is a higher dose version of semaglutide specifically to treat weight loss.

Let’s throw another drug on the scrip: the increasingly popular Mounjaro (tirzepatide). This is a different drug that mimics a second hormone called “glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide” (or GIP) that stimulates both insulin and glucagon secretion, helping to control Type 2 diabetes and result in weight loss.

But nothing’s ever that simple. First, up to 39% of the weight lost with these medicines can include lean muscle, so Dr. O’Connell recommends adding weight training to the program. Second, about two-thirds of the weight tends to come back after stopping a GLP-1 agonist, which means you should have a diet and exercise plan for when you stop taking it.

Third - and this is serious - it may interfere with anesthesia should you require surgery. How? A recent study in Brazil showed “about a quarter of patients taking semaglutide had residual food in their stomachs during procedures requiring sedation — even after stopping the drug for 10 days.” With food in the stomach, an individual risks vomiting perioperatively, which can lead to pneumonia and even death. Doctors are now recommending at least three weeks without injections for surgery patients.

Not as serious but still a concern, you’ve probably heard of “Ozempic face.”  Dr. O’Connell

explains the skin on our face is supported by the underlying fat. If this fat disappears too quickly, such as with rapid weight loss, the skin doesn’t have time to contract properly. The result is loose, saggy skin, a hollowed-out appearance, and more lines and wrinkles.

Now, none of this touches upon the greatest gating factor: a price tag of, typically, $1,000 a month.

Due to cost and the increasing demand for the drug, some compound pharmacists are creating their own cheaper versions. However, Novo Nordisk, the maker of semaglutide, does not sell this product for compounding purposes. Which means these pharmacists are using generic brands that are not FDA-approved and mixing them with ingredients that may or may not cause negative interactions.

States are cracking down on these imposter drugs, some of which don’t work, others of which could be contaminated or dangerous, so “get your medication from your internist, trusted family physician or endocrinologist and I’d stick with the actual name brands.”

Granted, this is all a bit daunting. However, weight loss and sugar control has many health benefits, so don’t let bootleg meds or “Ozempic face” deter you from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Any havoc wreaked on one’s face or body can be addressed.

Dr. O’Connell works with “patients in need of various nips and tucks [and facelifts] following weight loss” on a daily basis. “We can address all of this but stick with a board-certified plastic surgeon – and do your homework first.”

As with any changes one decides to make to their body, consider it a multi-step process that must be maintained, and embark on the journey with all of the information. PlasticSurgeryCT.com

“These drugs delay stomach emptying and communicate with the appetite control center in the brain to reduce appetite.”

ARTICLE BY MEREDITH GUINNESS

WISHES AND DISHES

happening when I was about six. My mom took me to the hospital and it turned out I had a brain tumor.

“I had to have surgery right after I was diagnosed and then I’ve had an MRI done every four months and follow-ups at [Yale New Haven Hospital] since then. That was my second home.”

MAKE A WISH’S “TASTE OF WISHES” MADE A DREAM COME TRUE

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has a long history of turning kids’ wishes into realities – be it a trip to Disney World, a backyard fantasy playscape or tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.

“But it doesn’t stop there,” says Kim Pugh, director of major gifts for Make-A-Wish Connecticut. “It’s not just that you have your wish and that’s it. It’s a wish journey.”

You don’t have to tell Jayson Martinez. His association with Make-A-Wish began with a life-threatening health situation and has grown into a promising culinary future.

As the organization prepares for one of the hottest tickets of the Westport season – Taste of Wishes in October – organizers say they’re taking stock of how the annual fundraiser and November’s Wish Night truly change the lives of hundreds of children with critical illnesses.

“I had frequent headaches,” says 18-yearold Jayson, a 2023 graduate of Bullard Havens Technical School in Bridgeport. “It started

Kim met Jayson a few years after his surgery, when his doctor recommended him to Make-A-Wish.

As the second youngest of five children, his mom raised him in both Bridgeport and her parents’ home in Honduras, the then-eighthgrader says he took his wish selection seriously, wondering whether he should ask for something practical or fun and frivolous.

“I was a kid,” he says, laughing. “What should I wish for? I want everything!”

In the end, he considered his immediate future and opted for a shopping spree for a laptop, clothes and school supplies.

“Honestly, I thought, I’m going to need a lot of stuff for high school,” reasons Jayson, who takes after his mom, who has long worked in a corporate bakery. “I think education comes first.”

While the shopping spree only lasted a few hours, Jayson’s culinary dreams resonated with Make-A-Wish organizers. They knew just who to call when they started planning the first Taste of Wishes in 2018 and looked for “wish kids” to join in the evening’s excitement.

Soon Jayson stood side-by-side with celebrity Chef Christian Petroni, joint winner of the 14th “Food Network Star,” who will make a return to Taste of Wishes this October.

Jayson Martinez

The two crafted a gnocchi dish together and Jayson’s dedication and willingness to learn made a real impression on his new mentor.

“I wasn’t expecting to cook with an award-winning chef. No pressure there!” Jayson jokes.

The chefs make an effort to make the evening breezy and fun, which isn’t hard, says Robin Selden, managing partner and executive chef of event sponsor Marcia Selden Catering and Naked Fig Catering.

This will be her third year cooking with a wish kid and she’s looking forward to a strategy session to make sure she incorporates her young sous chef’s favorite ingredients into their signature dish. Last year, she and wish kid Julia made a pepperoni pizza and macaroni and cheese mash-up followed by cookies and cream strawberry cupcakes.

“It’s really, really special seeing these little faces so excited and happy,” she says.

After the evening, Christian, who now owns Petroni Foods, kept up with Jayson and encouraged him to apply to the Culinary Institute of

Jayson at CIA

Christian has been "100% supportive" of Jayson as he worked to make going to CIA a reality.

Taste of Wishes event.

America after graduation. With his cooking chops well-honed from four years in Bullard Havens’ culinary arts program, he was accepted but, even with well-deserved financial aid, the tuition, room and board were a bit of a stretch for his family.

Christian to the rescue! He and Jayson made a cooking video together that quickly went viral on Christian’s Instagram, earning more than 7,000 likes and 500 shares. In it, Christian explained that Jayson cooks dinner for his family nearly every night – after coming home from a full day at school and an evening job.

“It raised $25,000 in less than 24 hours,” says Jayson. “He’s been 100 percent supportive.”

In addition to Petroni and Selden, this year’s celebrity line-up includes Jes Bengston, executive chef at Terrain Garden Café; Dan Kardos, chef/owner of Café Melba; Anthony Kostelis,

Jayson Martinez with celebrity Chef Christian Petroni, the co-winner of the 14th season of "Food Network Star."

Taste of Wishes event.

Taste of Wishes

executive chef of The Whelk; and Matt Storch, a “Chopped” winner, chef/owner of Match of Norwalk and Match Burger Lobster.

As in past years, each chef will work alongside a wish kid in a kitchen at Aitoro Appliance, demonstrating food prep, cooking delectable dishes and serving up samples of their creations. The event brings together many of Westport and the region’s culinary luminaries, with Bartaco, Blind Rhino, Forever Sweet Bakery, Sweet Brioche Artisan Pastries and Copps Island Oysters supporting with food donations.

The third annual festivities take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., October 3, with all proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish Connecticut, which grants about 250 wishes a year for Connecticut children with critical illnesses. In total, the state organization has granted more than 3,600 wishes to local children.

If you didn’t snap up one of the tickets for Taste of Wishes, which has limited seating at Aitoro, you might want to mark your calendar for the annual Wish Night, a gala celebration set for Nov. 11 at Greenwich Country Club, says Make-A-Wish Events Manager Meghan Doody.

Fun, upbeat events like the Taste help dispel some misconceptions about Make-A-Wish, says Kristen Moran, director of marketing and communications. Many of the children granted wishes are past the most dire part of their health journey or are in treatments and looking forward to all the future holds.

For Jayson, that means starting classes in Hyde Park this fall.

“This experience has helped Jayson grow and develop more confidence and self-esteem as he reaches for his goals,” Kim says.  Jayson agrees.

“I’m not always creative. I’m still, to this day, drawing stick figures,” he says. “But there’s a creative me that comes out in cooking. I can’t wait.”

MakeAWish.org

“It’s really, really special seeing these little faces so excited and happy.”

THE FLAVOR OF FALL

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Apples are the trademark fruit of fall, and with the many varieties to choose from, there is an apple that is sure to please any palate. They can be included in both sweet and savory dishes and are delicious and incredibly healthful. We all have heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While they aren’t a cureall, apples are packed full of polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamin C, B vitamins and fiber. Make the most of autumn’s best produce and the flavors of fall with these simple recipes.

APPLE GALETTE WITH CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Easier than pie but with all the same textures, this gooey warm dessert is sure to please. For simplicity, this can be made with a premade crust.

INGREDIENTS: INSTRUCTIONS:

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cubed

• 1/4 cup iced cold water

Filling:

• 2 apples, peeled and sliced into thin slices

• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• Caramel sauce

• Optional: 1/4 chopped walnuts or pecans

Crust:

(Note: If running short on time, store bought crust works great, too.)

Mix flour, salt and sugar together in a bowl. Cut in the butter. Add water and mix until moistened. Lightly knead the dough and then form into a ball. Next, flatten dough into a thick circular form and refrigerate for one hour.

Filling:

Mix the apples, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar together in a bowl.

Assemble and Bake:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into a circle and set on parchment paper. Arrange apples in center of dough, leaving about one inch of space for the edges. Fold crust over the apples and press to seal edges. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with pecans or walnuts. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve with caramel sauce and ice-cream.

ELEVATED GRILLED CHEESE

This take on the classic grilled cheese is sure to satisfy your fall cravings. With the combined flavors of savory and sweet, it packs a punch for your taste buds.

INGREDIENTS: INSTRUCTIONS:

• 1/4 red onion, sliced

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Sliced sourdough bread

• 1-2 tablespoons butter

• 4 ounces Brie, sliced

• Fig jam, or preferred choice of jam

• 1 Granny smith apple, sliced

• Arugula

• Thinly sliced ham, optional

Heat olive oil in the skillet and add sliced onions. Cook for a few minutes and then add brown sugar. Sauté until soft. Set aside. Butter the outside of the sourdough bread. Next, spread jam on the inside of both slices. Add cheese, apples, onions and arugula. If using meat, add as well. Top with slice of bread and grill on skillet until both sides are toasted and cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!

APPLE CHUTNEY

This Indian-inspired dish is the perfect fall topping for pork chops and also pairs nicely with ham. This is so easy to make and will fill your kitchen with the aroma of fall.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 2 cups Granny Smith apple, chopped

• ¼ cup pecans or walnuts

• 1/3 cup apple juice

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons dried cranberries

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat butter in saucepan, then add remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat until the sauce has cooked down and the apples are tender. Serve over pork chops. Enjoy!

APPLE CRISP A LA MODE

This fall classic is the perfect treat for a cozy fall dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

Filling:

• 6-8 apples, peeled and sliced

• ½ cup dark brown sugar

• ¼ cup flour

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

Topping:

• ¾ cup flour

• ¾ cup dark brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ cup cold butter cubed

• 1 cup oats

• ¼ cup pecans, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease pie plate or baking dish. Mix all filling ingredients together and place in baking dish. Prepare topping by combining the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in butter using a fork or pastry cutter. Stir in oats and pecans and sprinkle over filling until covered. Bake for 45 minutes and serve with caramel drizzle and vanilla ice cream.

APPLE CIDER BOURBON

This easy fall cocktail is festive and delicious. Served hot or cold, it is a crowd pleaser.

INGREDIENTS: INSTRUCTIONS:

• Apple cider (hot or cold)

• 1 ½ ounce bourbon or whiskey

• ½ ounce honey

• ½ ounce lemon juice

• Cinnamon

• Apple slice

Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake. Serve over ice and garnish with cinnamon stick and apple slice. Enjoy!

BAKED APPLES

Baked apples is a great fall side dish or can also be the perfect appetizer to share with others. This dish is surprisingly savory, is simple to make and looks impressive.

INGREDIENTS: INSTRUCTIONS:

• 3 apples, your choice of variety, halved and cored

• 3 tablespoons butter

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup apple juice or apple cider

• Fresh rosemary, chopped

• Brie, sliced

• Chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice apples in half and remove the core. Set aside. Heat skillet and melt butter. Add brown sugar and lightly stir. Place apples face down in the skillet and add apple juice and a sprig of rosemary. Allow apples to cook on stovetop for 5-10 minutes. Flip apples over and top with Brie, chopped walnuts and chopped rosemary. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until the Brie is melted. This is best served warm and is easy to reheat. Enjoy!

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

OCTOBER 1ST

Fall Festival

EARTHPLACE | 10:00 AM

A full day of family fun that includes food trucks, a climbing wall, corn pool, apple slingshot, donut on a string, nature exploration, animal encounters and more! Tickets will be sold in advance and at the door. Earthplace.org

OCTOBER 2ND

The Y's Men Present: CT Attorney General William Tong

WESTPORT LIBRARY | 7:00 PM

On Thursday, October 2, the Y’s Men of Westport / Weston will present William Tong, the Attorney General of the state of Connecticut, at the Westport Library. AG Tong will talk about how his office fights–and wins–against wrongdoers in the state. He will discuss the collapse of Mr. Bierbaum’s for-profit colleges, Stone Academy and Paier School of Art. (Must register) WestportLibrary.org

OCTOBER 2ND

October New Works Reading

WESTPORT COUNTRY

PLAYHOUSE | 7:00 PM

Through an influx of rehearsals, readings, and workshops each season, the NWI provides an artistic home to writers and theater makers, offering the resources and support necessary to further the growth of their works. As a thriving theatrical institution, we have a responsibility to support artists, particularly those from marginalized communities, who strive to break new ground and the scope of the American theater. WestportPlayhouse.org

Louise McGlynn Jacquelyn Conlon Janine Kelly

OCTOBER 5TH

Suzanne Vega - An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories

THE WALL STREET THEATER, 71 WALL STREET, NORWALK |

8:00 PM

Suzanne will be joined on stage by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard, performing a career-spanning show including favorites like Tom’s Diner, Luka, and more!

Notably succinct and understated, her work is immediately recognizable—as utterly distinct and thoughtful as it was when her voice was first heard on the radio over 30 years ago.

OCTOBER 5TH

Verso Book Club Launch

WESTPORT LIBRARY, BROOKS

PLACE | 7:00 PM

Verso Studios at The Westport Library is proud to announce its inaugural Verso Book Club event, a discussion of  To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse. Author Howard Fishman will be in person for the conversation and will hold a book signing. WestportLibrary.org

OCTOBER 9TH

Music & Art: Voces 8

CHRIST AND HOLY TRINITY, WESTPORT | 5:00 PM

Returning once again to CHT, the British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring extensively, the group performs a repertoire from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary commissions and arrangements; versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensemble’s performance ethos. CHTWestport.org

OCTOBER 14TH

Music at MoCA: Desde

Adentro – From Within

MOCA WESTPORT | 7:00 PM

MoCA Westport’s first-ever contemporary dance performance! Join East Coast Contemporary Ballet for

MANY OF MY CLIENTS FIGHT PAINFUL AND REPETITIVE WORRIES ABOUT THE WAY THEY LOOK.

They are overwhelmed by unremitting (constant) concerns about their weight, what they should or should not eat, and the way they must exercise. Often, these invasive and overwhelming thoughts interfere with their ability to focus, function and feel positive about themselves and enjoy their lives and the company of others.

In my practice I help people develop new and non-judgmental ways to think about their bodies, ease their struggles with self-destructive eating habits and help them build self-esteem. We work together to build ways to heal and establish healthier relationships with family and friends. I help clients learn to reimagine their thoughts about their bodies and there eating behaviors and in so doing develop a sense of optimism and transformation.

an evening of captivating dance and music. In addition to performing Vessels, an ECCB classic choreographed to a medley of Gotan Project pieces, the company will be premiering an original work, set to the music by composer Javier Farias and performed live by the Callisto Quartet, Yale quartet-in-residence and Alturas Duo.  MoCAWestport.org

OCTOBER 24TH

School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

WESTPORT COUNTRY

PLAYHOUSE | 8:00 PM

Get to know Paulina, the ‘Queen Bee’ of Aburi Girls’ Senior High School. This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities — and glaring differences — facing teenage girls across the globe as those at an exclusive boarding school in Ghana set their sights on the Miss Global Universe pageant. Opening October 24. WestportPlayhouse.org

OCTOBER 27TH

Night at the Haunted Museum

WESTPORT MUSEUM FOR

HISTORY AND CULTURE | 6:00 PM

Our haunted house is back with spooky scenes and scary stories from Westport’s actual history. Take an immersive, guided tour through the Museum and become a part of the story of Westport’s two sanitariums. Both hospitals have been brought back by the vengeful spirit of a past administrator—can you escape and put these ghosts back to rest?

Recommended for children 7+. Register online at WestportHistory.org

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Westport

SUGI ACUPRESSURE offers the health benefits of acupuncture, but without using needles--just manual pressure. It is an effective style of bodywork therapy well-suited to treat acute aches and pains or chronic maladies. Reduce inflammation and boost your mood. Manage anxiety and depression. Maintain overall wellness with a truly holistic approach that unifies the mind and body. By appointment only.

(Photo by Heidi Curran)

Letter from the Editor

TABLE MANNERS

Here’s a messy fact: table manners didn’t exist, as we know them, until the 1500s. Until then, people ate with their hands.

Imagine doing that around the dining table?

My kids would love it.

Growing up, my parents were hardcore about eating etiquette.

Almost every night we sat down to a family dinner with placemats and cloth napkins. Knife, fork, spoon, regardless of what we were eating that night.

If you forgot to put your napkin on your lap, punishment was swift and severe. To this day, I can’t eat a bite without, at least, the flimsiest shift of paper floating on my thighs.

When one considers the state of the world - wildfires, politics, strikes - table manners may seem trite. Why can’t I eat with my elbows on the table? What’s the point of a napkin on my lap? Who cares if I eat my salad with my dinner fork?

I care. Very much.

Table manners are one of the blocks that build character. Like making one’s bed in the morning, opening the door for others, taking turns merging onto busy highways. It’s part of learning the importance of being a responsible and caring individual.

It may seem silly to care about keeping one’s rim clean at a restaurant, but it’s also a sign that you care enough to not force the waitstaff to get your scraps on their fingers when they clear the table.

It shouldn’t matter if one hunches over their meal, elbows on the table, but it may be the only time you gather as a family and wouldn’t it be nice to sit up and appear open and available for conversation? Do it for Mom.

Table manners are also about respect. Respect for the person who made your meal, who served your meal, for those dining with you. Respect for the fact you have a meal and are not going hungry.

Julia Childs said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” And people with good table manners are always the best people with whom to eat.

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY ARMSTRONG SKATOFF

“Table manners are one of the blocks that build character.”

MOSAIC & VENETIAN PRINCESS