What's New at Fresh Hamptons in Bridgehampton

Fresh’s Family Night Sundays offer a $59 Family Dinner Package for two to five people to dine in or take out. There were many families and couples enjoying themselves there. At Fresh you’re able to order just the entrée portion size you’d like, combined with any sides. I like ordering sides that come in “family size” because I know there will be enough to share no matter how delish Husband finds them.

I ran into some local folks I know, including artist Reynold Ruffins and Bette & Dale Organic Farm namesakes Bette Lacina and Dale Halbrich. Bette and Dale provide produce to Fresh from their organic farm just down the road. Fresh is all about local, because local is as “fresh” as it can get. The wine too comes from nearby—including wines from Wölffer Estate Vineyard and Grapes of Roth, Paumanok, Lieb, Lenz, Palmer and Peconic Bay Winery. There’s even Martha Clara chardonnay on tap—so I gave a glass of it a try. It was mellow but a tad acerbic, with almost a grapefruit flavor. After a bit, it opened up to a grapey mouth. There’s local beer too, from Montauk Brewing, but I endeavored to focus on the food. There is a bunch of vegan, Wellness Foundation Challenge Approved items on the menu.

Husband started with the Scofflaw—it’s bourbon, dry vermouth, bourbon-soaked cherries and homemade grenadine. He declared it “like a sweet Manhattan.”

Ooh, warm, whole-grain buns arrived at our table. The accompanying EVOO bore a label that read, “Bottled onsite for the environment and the good taste.” Right on.

We ordered quite a few Wellness approved dishes including the Asparagus & Spinach Bisque, which was really great. Make sure you try it before our too, too brief asparagus season ends—the shiitake mushrooms in it made me say “Ooh, mommy!”

The Raw Fresh Summer Roll must be healthy—it’s all raw, julienned hearts of Romaine, beets, carrots, avocado, peppers, scallions, sprouts and daikon radish wrapped in a collard green and “flavored up” with some mild tomato chipotle vegan aioli—a veggie lovers delight.

Husband was tempted by the All Natural Boneless Beef Short Ribs braised with five spice powder and merlot,
and our server professed her love of the Wasabi Dusted Local Skate sautéed with ginger and kaffir lime beurre blanc, but…I ordered the chicken and Husband the duck. Birds of a feather…we also ordered some Organic Jewel Yams, steamed and puréed with fresh ginger. Husband ordered the Organic Forest Mushrooms sautéed with organic baby spinach.

My leg of Pan Roasted Raleigh Farms Organic Chicken with fresh rosemary and pan gravy was perfectly cooked and juicy. Chef Jacobs travels to King’s Park every week to choose his ducks. Husband’s oven-roasted organic Long Island duck leg was nicely crisp. Over a bite of it and a sip of Cabernet Sauvignon, Husband said, “I chose my accompaniment wisely.” Indeed he did, the mushrooms and the gingery yams went very nicely with our poultry.

We were too full for a proper dessert, though the berries and vegan coconut whipped cream beckoned.

The booze is local too—Pine Barrens Single Malt Whisky and Rough Rider Bourbon Whisky Batch 1. Husband sampled a Rough Riders and found it flavorful with real bite. We sat and gazed over the kitchen garden beds all around Fresh as we contemplated our hearty, healthy meal.

Fresh Hamptons, 203 Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, 631-537-4700, freshhamptons.com