Ridgefield's Talk of Our Town

Ingredients & Inspiration at Ridgefield Prime

By Charlotte Alston Legg

We’re all juggling these days, with work and family, filling even the spare minute with a dry cleaning drop or standing in line at Verizon to handle the latest problem to have arisen from technology that’s supposed to make life easier not harder.   But it’s because of this juggling act that I love Ridgefield Prime!

I dropped in today because it was perfectly plotted in my path from point A to B, and I knew it’d be an easy answer to the last most important quandary on my list:  What’s for dinner?  Unlike perfect mothers, I never know what my family will eat, well, until they eat it.  So on my daily circuit, I’m forever seeking inspiration.  

Have you been to Prime lately?  Here’s what jumped onto my radar: fresh wild salmon or Chilean sea bass.  Or cod, which I love.  Or the perfect-sized boneless pork chops, homemade sausages or any of the overwhelming array of steaks.  Cod won the day, I’m thinking a cornmeal crust and fresh tomato (tomatillo, maybe?) salsa.  As always, I came out of Ridgefield Prime practically clapping.  Another day gone and my children will eat.

You’ll always find a good selection of marinades and dressings, pasta and prepared dinners.  But better yet, Phil Longobardi, Ridgefield Prime butcher and handy man has self-published a cookbook, “Through the Eyes of a Chef“.  It’s full of easy dinnertime solutions, all based around the freshest meats and fish.  If you remember Phil from Balducci’s or have stopped by Prime to get his butchery expertise, you’ll know that his cookbook is no nonsense and forgiving – but I’ll wager you won’t know that he attended the Culinary Insitute of America and has worked in many restaurants whose names you’ll recognize.  We are lucky to have Phil and his crew with us in Ridgefield, and Ridgefield Prime has my vote for consistently making my day a little bit easier.

Ridgefield Prime, 113 Danbury Road.  Be sure to add your email address to Ridgefield Prime’s mailing list, you’ll get regular dinner ideas and discounts.  Phil’s book is available on his website and at the store.