FIRST LOOK: ‘Organika Kitchen’ on Main Street To Open in Two Weeks [PHOTOS]

Vegan and vegetarian foods provider Organika Kitchen offered locals a sneak peek of its offerings Thursday night during the annual Taste of the Town Stroll. Known for its pancakes, mezza plates, smoothies, organic salads and juices, protein and açaí bowls, burgers and pizza, Organika served up pesto pasta salad cups and small cups of its “Super Green Smoothie” (spinach, kale, mango, banana) during the 8th Annual Stroll. It will open in two weeks on a full-time basis, according to Dimitri Pantzos, a partner in the business. “We’re very excited,” Pantzos said outside the new location as visitors gladly took the samples on a clear, cool evening. 

Asked what made Organika want to participate in the Stroll, Pantzos said: “We just want to be part of the town and commerce, and Tucker’s really nice, so why not participate?”

He referred to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. Items on Organika’s chalkboard menu include Margarita Pizza (tomato sauce, parmesan, mozzarella, topped with extra virgin olive oil and basil—$11), Protein Boost Smoothie (banana, almond butter, cacao powder, cinnamon, rice protein, raw honey and almond milk—$8.50), Beets By OGK Fresh Juice (beet, lemon, ginger, apple, celery—$8.50), Almond Crunch Bowl (banana, blueberries, açai, almond milk, mango, topped with strawberry, banana, granola, almond slices, almond butter and raw honey—$10.50) and Dragon Bomb Smoothie (mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, topped with pineapple, coconut and raw honey—$10). 

The Stroll is a “food-raiser” organized by the Chamber and sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway and Walter Stewart’s Market that brings in donated items for the local Food Pantry as well as eyeglasses and hearings aids for the LIONs Club of New Canaan.

Mallozzi Munches

Here’s the List of Winners from the Taste of the Town Stroll

More than 550 people at the Taste of the Town Stroll on Thursday contributed items to restock the shelves at the New Canaan Food Pantry, and quite a few were winners of prizes at area stores. Here’s the list of winners, posted on Facebook by the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event:

Le Boudoir Grand Prize: Christie Harnett
Aetheria Relaxation Spa: Cathy Yancy

Baldanza market cafe: Jennifer Lapolla

Bankwell: Kathryn Pasternak

Baskin-Robbins: Ben Bognon

Brad and Vandy Reh: Leo Karl III

Caren Forbes & Co.: Audrey Bloom

Chase Bank Gift Certificate to Pimlico Home: Becki Kay

Ciel Eau $600 Spa Package: Kathleen Redman

Kitchens by Deane Deane Culinary Works: Paula Eldred

Design Solutions: Denise Luccarelli

Earth Garden: Kara Simko

Elm Street Books: Lizzie Kuchinski

Fjord Fish Market: Tina Kramer

Francos Wine Merchants: Patrick Leeber

J. McLaughlin $500 Gift Certificate: Sandra Melsen

Jade: Jane Ellwanger

Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs: Jennifer Busak

More & More: Blanca Romano

New Balance New Canaan: Randy Ferguson

New Canaan Diner: Andy Ward & John Walsh

New Canaan Healthfare: Liza Cuoco

New Canaan Music: Charlie Lampen

Oxygen Fitness Eleanor Meredith

Peachwave of New Canaan: Kevin Dwyer

The Philip Johnson Glass House: Danielle Sibilia

Polo Ralph Lauren: Fred Corrado

Sara Campbell – Fashion Designer: Anne-Lise Brown

Scout & Molly’s of New Canaan: Amy Wilkinson

Severed Ties Antiques and Quality Consignments: Beth Rowley

Shen New York: Yuwuen Martinez

Shoes ‘N’ More: Cindy Peiser

Sole Restaurant: Andrea Peterson

Suburban Couture: Robin Busch

TOGS: Jan Scaefer & Josephine Vernon

Vineyard Vines New Canaan Brian Moran

Rosie New Canaan: Tom Nissley

Plan to Stroll Around for a Taste of the Town on Thursday, Aug 20

Walk, sample some food from local restaurants and try for some prizes from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, at New Canaan’s annual “Taste of the Town Stroll” through downtown. And bring a bag to donate to the New Canaan Food Pantry in order to get a stroll map so you won’t miss any of the 25-plus participating stores and restaurants. How to win prizes

Here’s how to be eligible for a prize at the fifth annual event:

“[P]ick up your map at the Chamber of Commerce in front of the Movie Theater,” the chamber announced this week. “This year, over $6,000 worth of prizes, have been generously donated by local businesses.

New Canaan Gears Up for Aug. 21 ‘Taste of the Town Stroll’

New Canaan’s business community is gearing up for an increasingly popular annual event that connects local merchants with customers while benefitting the local food pantry. The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Taste of the Town Stroll, benefitting the New Canaan Food Pantry, runs from 6 to 9 p.m. next Thursday, Aug. 21 (rain date Aug. 22). Chamber Marketing Associate Laura Budd calls the event “a triple win.”

“Number one, the food pantry gets stocked.