Elizabeth Menke is a foodie; Aline Weiller is a writer. The two Westonites teamed up to create and publish Entrée Nous, the go-to restaurant guide for Fairfield County -- out just in time for Valentine's Day, a time honored date night. Artisan, adjacent to Southport’s Delamar Hotel, is both included in Entrée Nous and will host the launch event on Thursday, February 11 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The celebration is free and open to the community. Additionally, copies of Entrée Nous will be available to be signed and purchased. Artisan Restaurant, Tavern and Garden (www.artisansouthport.com) is elegant yet easygoing and offers farm-driven, New England inspired cuisine. The restaurant is located at 275 Old Post Road, Southport.
“Entrée Nous celebrates local cuisine, a community Artisan is a part of. Chefs are farmers’ ambassadors, so I prefer to source many ingredients nearby, from resources like Westport Farmers’ Market and Sport Hill Farm -- also included in this guide. Food commands respect, and I’m proud to support Entrée Nous by hosting its kick-off event,” said Frederic Kieffer, Executive Chef, Artisan.
Elizabeth Menke is an investment banker with over a dozen years of experience, having worked for Goldman Sachs and Rothschild. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Brown University and an MBA from Wharton. Her career aside, Menke has always had a penchant for all things culinary, and a recent two-year stint in Germany confirmed her appreciation for interesting food and in creating a value-added restaurant guide. Her family's travel allowed Menke to sample dishes from Europe's finest chefs, serving as the initial catalyst for Entrée Nous. Upon her return to the U.S., she embarked on compiling an informational restaurant guide to include -- and celebrate -- eclectic, local cuisine. Menke garnered interest from distinct Fairfield County restaurants and honed the list to twelve. With a winning mix of standout restaurateurs and business know-how, Menke had a plan, but needed descriptive content. Enter Aline Weiller.
Weiller, a public relations pro and owner of the Weston-based, Wordsmith, LLC (www.wordsmithllc.net) brought her writing skills -- twenty-five years strong -- to the project. Weiller assists local businesses and authors with promotion and marketing, and doubles as a copywriter and essayist. Both her journalistic and creative work has been published nationally, including her piece, Missing Mimi, that was featured in the print anthology, Dear Nana (May, 2015, Pegasus Books). Prior to launching Wordsmith, Weiller obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English from Holy Cross College and worked in the marketing arena for The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and Time Warner, Inc.
“I’m happy to have lent my expertise to the book, and to have brought Fairfield County’s local flavor to life through Entrée Nous. I love to write and to discover new places to dine, so the project has been a complete win-win,” said Weiller.
When Menke and Weiller joined creative forces, Entrée Nous was born. Once the restaurant participants were on board, the women also secured the non-profit partner, Community Plates (www.communityplates.org), a national organization established in Connecticut in 2011, which is committed to ending American food-insecurity through direct-transfer food rescue. Inspired by their drive and dedication, Entrée Nous, LLC (www.entreenous.net) decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to help Community Plates further their efforts.
“What could be better than being introduced to some of the area’s best restaurants, getting a discount to try them, and helping feed people in need all at the same time? Entrée Nous is so generous to make a portion of their proceeds benefit the fight to end American hunger by funding Community Plates. We are so grateful,” said Kevin Mullins, Executive Director, Community Plates.
This collaboration resulted in an eye-catching hardcover featuring a dozen Fairfield County, Connecticut restaurants locals love. Industry pros, food enthusiasts and patrons alike were tapped when selecting the eateries. The impressive group includes: The Spread, Barcelona, Café Chocopologie, Elm, Artisan, Kawa Ni, The Little Pub, Martel, J House Restaurant, Cotto, The Goose, and Bernard’s & Sarah’s Wine Bar. The guide provides spot-on descriptions of the establishments and their signature cuisine.
Entrée Nous translates from French into “amongst us,” to reflect the true insider’s element of the book. Both a handy companion and personal invitation, Entrée Nous is a passport-style guide to use while dining out for two. When eating at a featured restaurant, bring your book for stamping and one guest will receive a complimentary entrée. The ideal gift for a hostess, newcomer or your Valentine, this edition of Entrée Nous is valid through December 31, 2016. In short, Entrée Nous allows for twelve evenings of fabulous fare.
“I’m thrilled Entrée Nous has come to fruition and allowed me to be part of the vibrant food community. Having our book uncover and highlight wonderful restaurants, while supporting food rescue, is an added plus,” said Menke.
The launch celebration at Artisan will commence sharply at 6:00, featuring light refreshments and cocktails. The party will also include a gourmet gift basket door prize and party favors for attendees. Reservations are required, so those interested should contact info@entreenous.net by Monday, February 8.
Menke and Weiller also invite food enthusiasts to visit, “like” and follow the Entrée Nous social media pages: Facebook Twitter Instagram and Google Plus.
Those who can’t attend the launch event, but would like to purchase the Entrée Nous Fairfield County edition ($58.00), can place orders at www.entreenous.net For additional information, e-mail info@entreenous.net.
