Hamptons Epicure: Greene, Levine & My 'Game of Thrones'
In two weeks two of my favorite icons—Gael Greene and Sarabeth Levine—will be in the same place at the same time, along with thousands of fellow foodies. This year’s Dan’s Taste of Summer will kick off held on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 in Bridgehampton. Dan’s Taste of Summer kicks off with GrillHampton presented by Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors on Friday, July 17, a competition spectacular that pits a crack Hamptons team of chefs against a group of would-be interlopers from New York City’s top restaurants. It’s hot and the food samples are amazing. On Saturday, July 18, we’ll gather for Dan’s Taste of Two Forks (DTOTF) presented by Farrell Building Company, which offers patrons tastes from over 40 restaurants and more than 15 wineries from across both of Long Island’s forks. The two events collectively feature celebrity hosts and judges including: Robert Irvine, Katie Lee, Marc Murphy, Michael Symon and Geoffrey Zakarian.
And once again, world famous food critic and novelist Gael Greene will attend, as will Chef Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth’s Fruit Spreads and Sarabeth’s Restaurants. Sarabeth will be womaning her own booth, which will feature a selection of cookies from her Chelsea Market bakery.
You can see what happened the last time these two got together at DTOTF above—my favorite photo of them, all smiles. They spent some time catching up like old neighbors and we all stuffed ourselves with the best food around.
I’ve spent time dining out with Gael and shopping with Sarabeth on the East End. This is how you really get to know your foodie friends.
Did I mention that Gael coined the term “foodie” in 1980?
But you’re dying to know where we’ve gone, right? Gael’s dining haunts have included Bay Burger, Espresso, Madison & Main, Osteria Salina and the Plaza Café. We’ve talked about going to the North Fork Table & Inn and the Bridgehampton Inn together but haven’t gotten that together yet. Sarabeth and I shopped the EECO Farm Farm Stand, Iacono Farm, the Sag Harbor Farmers Market and the Serene Green Farmstand. When we’re done shopping, all loaded up with local goods, Sarabeth puts her bags down and does a happy dance because she’s free from having to go to a grocery store that weekend. Her dance is the highlight of our outings!
So gobs of celebs turn out for Dan’s “Taste” events. At one point I was chatting with a pretty lady about area restaurants under the big tent, realized it was actress Molly Sims, turned to toss my wine glass into a trash can and bumped into a Kennedy! If you were playing celebrity bingo your card would be full!
You know who I haven’t seen at Taste yet? Bellport actress and producer Isabella Rossellini. I’ve seen her out a number of times. Seems like this event could draw her to the Hamptons. The last time I ran into her was at the Small Farm Summit at Hofsta University in Hempstead a couple years ago.
If you didn’t know Rossellini was putting together a serious organic farm with the help of farmer Patti Gentry you might have been surprised to see her there. I was surprised even though I knew Patti was prepping Rossellini’s property at the time. I was more surprised by Rossellini when she popped out of a stall in a big ladies room I’d been waiting for at Hofstra. And she flashed me a big, Hollywood smile. I smiled back, nodded and went in to do my business. The seat was warm, but not uncomfortably. I did not get off on this but it occurred to me that this—using a toilet right after a celeb—could be “a thing” for some foodies.
Upon further reflection it occurred to me that THE best place on the East End to play such a celeb “game of thrones” is Dan’s Taste of Two Forks. The celebs are thick on the ground, the portable bathrooms are the big, classy, navigable kind and they’re plentiful—there are no lines to use them. Plus everybody is drinking and eating like mad. The VIP tickets for Dan’s Taste of Two Forks have sold out but the general admission tickets will get you into the bathrooms as well as the tastings…
You can now follow Stacy’s wacky adventures on Twitter @hamptonsepicure.