Steve's Bagels--not just bagels!

When my husband and I first moved to Ridgefield, we were busy day and night unpacking. Every day we would take a break and go over to Steve's Bagels in the CVS shopping center, of course, for bagels. But I quickly fell in love as well with Steve's quiches—quiche lorraine, mushroom, cheddar and onion quiche, bacon,cheddar, and onion quiche (pictured at the bottom here), and their special broccoli quiche. All are delicious. In the colder weather, we sampled and fell in love with all their homemade soups—split pea, soupe au pistou, chicken vegetable noodle, curried chicken, seafood chowder, and many, many others. (A nice feature at Steve's is if you ask what's in the soup they'll give you a page with all the ingredients written on it). In the summertime, their gazpacho is my favorite warm weather treat. Some of my other favorite things served at Steve's are the challah, the pumpkin bread, the whitefish salad, (I think it's the best in Connecticut!)

and the orzo salad. They also have chef's salads, wonderful smoked salmon, flavored cream cheeses, and lots of different delectable muffins, danishes, and scones. It's hard to go wrong at this little eatery, where the service is always quick and friendly. The owner, Mark, pictured here, is always working very hard to make sure everyone is served delicious food promptly and with courtesy and a smile.

So, for almost 6 years we've been coming to Steve's—in the summer we eat outside at a cafe table with our little cairn terrier, and in the winter we are cozy inside with our bowls of hot soup and muffins, or quiche! I hope we'll see you there!

Steve's is a member of the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce. Their address is 463 Main Street, and the phone number is 203-438-6506. They also have a Wilton store, at 151 Old Ridgefield Road, phone: 203-762-7141.

Cake and cupcake heaven in Ridgefield

The Cake Box, purveyor of sumptuous cakes, cupcakes and other pastries, has moved to a new location in Big Shop Lane, next to Terra Sole. And, they've expanded their line of goodies to include breakfast pastries.

Shown here are their fabulous cupcakes, heaven in a little fluted paper cup. I always have a hard time deciding which is my absolute favorite--the Sweet & Salty, which has a caramel drizzle on top of an amazing buttercream icing, or the Mochaccino--a chocolate cupcake with coffee buttercream and a chocolate drizzle.

But you really can't go wrong with any of the flavors. And they have a special flavor every day. Wednesday is Lemon Drop, Thursday is Mint Chocolate Chip and a carrot cake cupcake called What's Up Doc, and many other special flavors for each day.

You can stop in and pick up cupcakes, or order a standard cake (nothing standard about their cakes, trust me!) 48 hours in advance. They will accommodate last minute orders when they can. Custom cake orders need to be done by appointment at least one week prior to an event.

They also sell yummy cookies, for the Cookie Monster in us.

As if that was not enough, you can get a delicious cup of coffee or tea, and have your sweet and a warm beverage in their lovely little cafe.

AND they have just opened a sister store named Swoon in The Marketplace at Copps Hill Commons. Swoon sells gluten free desserts. If they are anywhere near as good as the delicious desserts at the Cake Box, I will be swooning indeed.

So if you need a cake fix, drop in today and pick up some heavenly cupcakes and treat your whole family.

The Cake Box is at 1 Big Shop Lane, Ridgefield. Phone: 203-403-2558. For more information or photos, go to http://www.thecakeboxofct.com

Swoon is at 109 Danbury Road in the Marketplace in Copps Hill Commons. Phone: 203-438-4326. Web site: http://thecakebox.vpweb.com/

YUM!!!!!