Food + Beverage

The Sweet Lyfe

The story of how Dimitri Pantzos built a trio of beloved Westport eateries. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy | Photography by Bevy Rutledge There’s a (probably unfair) stereotype that members of Gen Z don’t want to work hard. That’s certainly not the case for 29-year-old Dimitri Pantzos, owner of Pizza Lyfe, Lyfe Cafe, and Sweet Lyfe in Westport. He’s been working in the restaurant industry since, essentially, he was born. His family owned Fairfield’s Quattro Pazzi, had a diner, operated the food...

Food + Beverage

SNACK OF THE MONTH

Shaggy Coos Milk from Shaggy Coos Creamery Article by Madison Vitale Madison Vitale, one of the eponymous sisters behind the food-review social media brand @sistersnacking, recently moved to Fairfield County. (A Connecticut native, she and her sisters were on the cover of our 2024 Food Issue.) She’s been tasting and trying restaurants and cafés all over the area ever since. In this new column for Westport Lifestyle, Madison will be sharing a small bite she’s been loving lately. For more of...

Food + Beverage

Editor's Pick: Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard

Article by Sara Gaynes Levy I'll be honest: I debated not writing about Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard, my favorite orchard in Connecticut. It's slightly out of the way for Westporters, located in Shelton, and it lacks the flashy fall family fun activities available at other nearby orchards, like hayrides and pumpkin patches. But that's what I love about it: it's a simple, no-frills orchard with nothing but apples, a small farm store, apple cider, and fresh apple cider donuts. The rows (and...

Food + Beverage

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Article by Sara Gaynes Levy | Photography by Dan Reardon/Alex Torres Good food has been a part of Dan Reardon’s life for as long as he can remember. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he logged after-school and weekend hours working at a speciality foods market owned by his aunt. Days were spent watching Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, and Ina Garten cook on TV, and nights were spent gathered around the kitchen table for his Italian mom’s homemade meals. In college, he interned for a large...

Food + Beverage

Sustainable Westport: Crowning Restaurant Champions

The local organization is helping restaurants around town become more eco-conscious, one choice at a time. Article and Photography by The restaurant and hospitality industry notoriously creates a lot of waste: from food waste to takeout waste like double-bagged plastic containers and plastic utensils and straws, it can be hard to run a restaurant in a sustainable way. But Sustainable Westport wants to change that. The nonprofit, which helps encourage citizens and businesses in Westport to...

Food + Beverage

Let's Start a Riot

Meet the Fairfield County friends who thought candy needed a shakeup. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy When Stamford-based Jessica Gomberg Cohen and New Canaan-based Lana Powers met through their children’s preschool, the last thing on their minds was candy. “We were always seeing each other in the same workout classes, talking about what we’re feeding our families and looking for cleaner ingredients,” Lana tells  Westport Lifestyle . The two bonded over their commitment to feeding their kids...

Food + Beverage

Living Joyfully with Rebekah Lowin

Article by Sara Gaynes Levy Greenwich-based food and lifestyle writer Rebekah Lowin has earned a reputation as the “Jewish Martha Stewart.” This rep is based on some pretty legit credentials: in addition to her blog, rebekahlowin.com, and her well-followed Instagram account ( @rebekahlowin , 42K+ followers), she worked at Martha Stewart Living and has been featured by HGTV, Good Housekeeping, Forbes , and many more. She celebrates her moniker—and everything that comes with it—in her new...

Travel

The Caribbean Escape I Almost Didn’t Want to Share

Article by Marisa MacLean There are some places you almost want to keep to yourself. Not because they’re too good to share, but because they’re the kind of places you hope never change. Tucked away on a private stretch of coastline just minutes from the colorful capital city of Willemstad, Baoase Curaçao is one of those rare places that exceeds every vacation expectation. From the moment we arrived, it felt different. Quiet. Intimate. Relaxed. The kind of luxury that never feels overdone. ...

Life + Culture

Catching Up With… Murray Hill

The actor, comedian, and author visits The Westport Library on October 17 to discuss his new memoir. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy | Photography by Don Spiro On October 17, The Westport Library welcomes   two alums from the critically-acclaimed HBO series  Somebody Somewhere : Murray Hill will discuss his new memoir,  Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man,  alongside co-star Jeff Hiller. Ahead of his appearance, Murray sat down with  Westport Lifestyle  to chat about growing up in Connecticut...

Food + Beverage

The Choreography of a Celebration

Daniel Colvin Photography Article by Robin Selden Perfectly timed movements transform a party into an unforgettable performance, often without guests ever realizing what’s happening behind the scenes. There is a moment before every great party begins when the room is perfectly still. The glasses gleam. The flowers are flawless. The candles are waiting to be lit. In the kitchen, final garnishes are being placed, and trays are lining up just beyond view. Then, almost as if someone whispers...