Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association

06/15/2026

New legislation allows restaurants to purchase legally harvested lobsters from other states, such as Maine, even if they are slightly smaller than Connecticut’s current minimum size requirement.

The updated law is expected to reduce costs for restaurants and customers without affecting local lobster conservation rules.

Watch Scott's interview with Mike Hydeck of NBC Connecticut to learn more:

Mike Hydeck: A new lobster law in Connecticut has at least some people boiling. Starting next summer, Connecticut restaurants can buy lobsters that are smaller than the legal limit here in Connecticut from a neighboring state. They’ll be allowed to buy the crustaceans from places like Maine and ot...

06/14/2026

Golfer spots at the 2026 CRHA Golf Classic are officially SOLD OUT!🏌️‍♀️

We have a limited number of tickets available for the Chef Farm Dinner in the evening. Grab those here: ctrestaurant.org/events/chef-farm-dinner

Funds raised from this event goes directly to supporting the hospitality industry through advocacy, education & support. Hope to see you there!

06/12/2026

Tomorrow is CTVisit's Open House Day! Over 180 tourism attractions across the state, including museums, arts and cultural venues, historical sites, farms and restaurants, will welcome visitors with free or discounted admission or special offers.

Such a cool event to discover many of the exciting attractions and businesses that make Connecticut so special!

View the full line up by county here:

Beer and wine tastings. Incredible art exhibitions. Family fun experiences. Scenic boat and trolley rides. Behind-the-scenes tours. These are just a few of the activities that Connecticut residents and families can enjoy on Connecticut Open House Day, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Over 200 tourism attrac...

06/11/2026

🧑‍🍳🚜 2026 Chef Farm Dinner Line-Up Announcement! 🚜🧑‍🍳

We’re excited to announce this year’s featured Chefs at our highly-anticipated 2026 Chef Farm Dinner, sponsored by Performance Foodservice!

✨ Chef Joe Attonito of jjStacks Newtown
✨ Chef Teila Chappel of Madison Beach Hotel
✨ Chef Jenna McPartland of JoylarkKitchen
✨ Chef Carlos Perez of Good News Restaurant & Bar

Tickets are limited. Grab them here: ctrestaurant.org/events/chef-farm-dinner

*The Chef Farm Dinner follows our Annual Golf Classic. Golfers do not need to purchase dinner tickets separately - your golf tickets include dinner.

06/10/2026

Yesterday we sent off Connecticut's James Beard Award finalists!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Mystic River Park to celebrate the 2026 CT finalists:

✨ David Standridge, The Shipwright's Daughter – Outstanding Chef
✨ David DiStasi, Materia Ristorante – Best Chef: Northeast
✨ The Port of Call – Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages Program (led by Jade Ayala)

Thank you to Lisa Nichols of Bread & Beast Food Photographer for these AMAZING shots!!!

This events was in partnership with Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Visit Litchfield CT, and the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association.

Thank you to State Representative Aundré Bumgardner who presented General Assembly citations to the finalists and to Selectwoman Deborah Norman and Morgan Nyerick, Director of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for their words.

The James Beard Foundation Awards is NEXT MONDAY in Chicago. Bring it home, finalists!!!🤩

06/09/2026

Are your credit card processing fees higher than they should be?

Through our partnership with Fiserv, the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association is offering a free rate analysis to help operators identify opportunities to reduce fees — without changing your POS or disrupting operations.

Benefits for your business:
➡️ Works with your current system
➡️ Transparent pricing across all card types (including AMEX + rewards)
➡️ Built to reduce costs and improve approval rates

Get Your FREE Analysis today. No cost. No obligation: https://www.ctrestaurant.org/products/rate-analysis

06/08/2026

TOMORROW: We're sending off CT's James Beard Foundation Award finalists! Join us in Mystic at the Mystic River Park Stage from 10:30AM to celebrate CT's culinary scene represented on a national stage!

This year's finalists are:
✨Outstanding Chef: David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter, Mystic
✨Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages Program: The Port of Call, Mystic
✨Best Chef Northeast: David DiStasi of Materia Ristorante, Bantam

See you tomorrow!

06/05/2026

Join us on Tuesday as we celebrate the THREE CT James Beard Foundation Award finalists as they prepare to head off to Chicago for the 2026 James Beard Awards!

✨Outstanding Chef: David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter, Mystic
✨Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages Program: The Port of Call, Mystic
✨Best Chef Northeast: David DiStasi of Materia Ristorante, Bantam

Please arrive at the Mystic River Park Stage from 10:30AM for the program to begin at 11AM.

This event is in partnership with Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Visit Litchfield CT, and the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association.

Details here: ctrestaurant.org/events/2026-james-beard-awards-send-off

06/05/2026

Hartford Taste begins TODAY at 12pm, and runs until Sunday, June 7 at 6PM on Pratt & Trumbull Streets in Hartford!🍴

Hartford Taste, now in its fifth year, has become one of the region’s most meaningful cultural and economic drivers.

More than 60 local vendors and dozens of artists, chefs, and entrepreneurs came together in downtown Hartford to share their culture, cuisine, and creativity, transforming the city streets into a vibrant, living showcase of what makes Hartford special.

🤩 Scott Dolch, CRHA President & CEO, will be competing in the Community Cookoff on Sunday at 1:15pm, alongside Jay Williams of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation and Jason Jakubowski of Connecticut Foodshare. Come and cheer him on!

Learn more here:

Experience Hartford Taste 2026 with food, art, music, and community. Enjoy free admission and support Connecticut Foodshare at this annual festival in Hartford.

06/02/2026

The CRHA Hospitality Reception hit the road again last night - this time landing at Hotel Marcel in New Haven!📍

A great crowd of restaurateurs, hoteliers, hospitality business owners and more joined us to network and strengthen their industry connections. We took over the beautiful Hotel Marcel lobby space, and even got to take a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of the hotel, learning about its history and eco-friendly design.

We were also joined by the Bear's Smokehouse BBQ team to spread the word about the Linked 4 Life program, showcasing our current partnership through the Eversource Hartford Marathon!🏃

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Connecticut Distributors, Inc. and Clover for your ongoing support of the CRHA.

Thank you to the wonderful team at Hotel Marcel for your hospitality, and Chef Megan Gill & the BLDG New Haven team for putting on a delicious spread!😋