~The Intern Series~
Nestled in the heart of Westport is a hidden gem that doubles as a garden oasis and cafe. Upon entering Terrain cafe, you are immediately struck by the beauty of the plants surrounding you. The staff is very accommodating and welcoming making your experience worthwhile. Terrain focuses on the use of fresh and local ingredients, embracing the changing of the seasons as they craft dishes based upon them.
The vibes Terrain gave were indescribable. Perfect for a Sunday brunch to enjoy their new apple cider mimosa to celebrate the fall season. We were welcomed with bread and butter that I have never seen so beautifully presented. The homemade bread was baked in a flower pot served with a tomato garlic butter. The way this melted in your mouth was too good to be true, our jaws were on the floor to say the least. Our waiter told us they also make the butter in house and frequently changes. Enough about the complimentary bread let’s dive into what we ordered:
Getting into the fall spirit, we needed to try this apple cider mimosa. This cocktail was fall in a glass and we were in love!
For an appetizer we went with their green chickpea hummus served with salty flatbread crackers. This hummus was packed with flavor and was the perfect way to start off!
For entrees, we went with the shrimp & heirloom grits which were savory and sweet with their jalapeno basil honey (this MADE the dish!! Delicious!). We also tried their grilled cheese with gorgonzola, pear chutney, and a rosemary honey. This was like none other classic grilled cheese as it was packed with fall flavors that were warm and comforting.
Our experience at Terrain Cafe is one to remember for sure. Already looking forward to what they have to offer come winter time!!
Q & A with chef Jes Bengston!
Can you give me a brief overview of Terrain Cafe?
- Terrain is a farm to table seasonal restaurant. We focus on what is grown locally and within the season so our menu is constantly changing and evolving all year round.
What was your inspiration behind the menu?
- The menu is based behind what’s grown in the season and what we can get our hands on in this area. So in the summer time we incorporated a lot of corn and strawberries within our menu, and now for the fall season we will use squashes and more stuff like that! One thing thats cool about our menu is that we make it with our culinary director, so the chefs from each location pitch in an idea of what they want to see on the menu and we work on that based on what feels right for everyone!
Do you have any collaborations with local businesses?
- Yes! We get our microgreens from Hydro, our breads from Wave Hill in Norwalk, our cheeses from Mystic Cheese, and most of the produce comes from local farmers. We also have local craft beer and wine!
What is your favorite thing on the menu?
- The shakshuka hands down!! The fried cauliflower sandwich is also a must.
Any menu items to look forward to?
- We just released our fall menu about 3 weeks ago and will rock with it till the winter time, so now it’s mainly pumpkin, squash, brown butter and warmer spices. It’ll change again in the middle of January so stay tuned for that!
About Terrain Cafe:
Terrain’s greenhouse cafe offers seasonally changing brunch, lunch, and dinner menus featuring hand-selected local produce, meats, and dairy alongside a thoughtfully curated beverage program from near and far. Served in a deliberately designed environment to blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, each cafe’s décor is unique, providing an inspiring dining experience every time. This is the second terrain location, tucked in the quaint seaside town of Westport, CT and includes indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
Author: Kirsten
Hi everyone! My name is Kirsten Horlbeck, one of the interns at 203 local. I was born and raised in Norwell, Massachusetts and I spend most of my time on Cape Cod where I'm on the beach 24/7. I decided to pursue my academic career at Fairfield University in CT, where I'm currently studying communications with a minor in psychology. I'm currently a senior graduating in May 2024! I decided to take on this internship at 203 local to enhance my marketing and communication skills and so far it has helped me decide which career path I would like to enter. A few fun facts about me is that I am one of five and have a twin sister! I also have a cat named Milo and two dogs, Jetti and Cash. I have always loved to travel and took that passion abroad where I spent 4 months in Florence, Italy. That experience is one I'll never forget and has taught me so much, I always highly recommend going to everyone here at Fairfield! Alongside traveling, I love to try new things that are out of my comfort zone such as foods i've never had. I'm a huge seafood lover…
