Just a little preview at what will be in store on July 3rd: Roasted suckling pig, 8 dozen blue claw crabs, 10 clams, 15pounds of mussels, 10 whole chickens, vegan salads for our vegan friends, desserts prepared by guests, a few cases of wine provided by our good friend Walter Channing at Channing Daughters Vineyard in Bridgehampton and much much more. Mallets and Bibs will be given out upon entry where you will be led to the garden and seated at a stretching 40 ft table located under a blooming catalpa tree.

We can’t wait and we hope you enjoy our site when it is fully up and running!

Gutted of its innards minus the liver and some other unidentifiable organs she was ready for prepping…Jaime took care of this before I arrived with herbs and some oils and brought her to room temperature in the shower. Once I arrived we took her to the roof to the BBQ that Adam (whos apartment we were to have the dinner party at) had bought for the building. Stretched out and tied to the spit which took us too long to even talk about sadly, being the manly men that we are and wrangling animals is in our blood. But for our first oinker, we let it slide. Finally after the unmentioned amount of time had past, she was on the spit and rotating slowly. It would take Four and a half hours for her to get to that crispy golden awesomeness we all so desire.

Battling with the rotating spit for hours on end, taking turns between 4 of us manning the station, she was done just a couple hours before midnight i’d say. Everyone mouth watering and awaiting the star of the show, we carved her up and presented her to the 12 guests that she would be feeding and in no time, all that was left was a few bones and a snout.

12 people were fed off a single pig for $160. There are no complaints about that…oh and the pig was pretty great too!! Another one is already in the works for our kick-off bash on July 3rd in The Hamptons

www.the-meathook.com/

www.porchettanyc.com/

After we dropped them off we made our voyage into Manhattan…the entire car ride we were thinking of where we could go to dinner and for a good hour could not think of anything. And at this hour it would be very difficult to get a reservation early enough to eat then drive back out to the Hamptons before it got too late. We got to my apartment at around 7:30pm in the East Village, we mulled a few more places over and decided we were close enough and had been there before, but not in about a year. Death & Co. on 6th st. between 1st and Ave A.

My sister Danielle who was with us originally found out about this place a little over 2 years ago and this would be our third time visiting. You would not even know this place existed and if you did, you might miss it from the street. There is no outdoor seating, windows, balconies, not even a sign except for the subtle one laid in script within the pavement at the front door. When you approach Death and its wonderfully adorned wooden facade you feel like its the secret society of the Skull and Bones…you will find what seems like a bouncer, when really he is a maitre’ de with a list and ear piece who lets a certain amount of people in at a time, and keeps tabs on tables and the crowd at the door from outside. They don’t take reservations, only walk-ups so the idea is to go and put your name on a list, if you’re lucky enough you go right in…if not, you take a stroll or hang at a nearby bar until a table opens up. 

It’s a very small establishment that has a huge list of cocktails, where they fly in high-end bartenders from all around the world for even just a night just to serve you exactly what you’re in the mood for. I very rarely drink and on this night I was driving and it would be late so I wasn’t, but the waitress got the idea and had the bartender make a concoction of  various juices and berries and it was amazing.

My friend Noel joined us, so it was the four of us in our private booth. Since it is a Tapas bar we all just ordered a bunch of platters and tasted off of each others.

We ordered our favourite…2 Truffle Macaroni: Aged cheddar and truffle bread crumbs served on handmade special Death and Co. spoons 9 to a plate. I think one of the best on the menu, a must have!

2 Seared Petite Filet Mignon: Crispy onion, Chimichurri and smoked tomato. Another hands down winner for us also.

2 Seafood platters: 3 shrimp with cocktail sauce and 3 oysters on the half shell (brought in daily)

1 BBQ short ribs: that literally fell of the bone when you picked it up and was so tender with homemade barbecue sauce and finally 1 Seared Tataki Style Tuna: to a brilliant red.

The ambiance here is so amazing…its dark and secluded which makes it so much fun to have a meal in. Each table has a handmade Murano Glass Chandelier hanging over your head and the ceiling is done in a gorgeous cherry wood.  There is nothing like Death & Co. in almost anywhere, it is a very rare find and a glorious one at that. There is no disappointment here, just don’t forget it is Tapas so order enough to fill your stomach if you’re making it a meal.

Death & Co.

433 east 6th st. NY, NY 10003

212.388.0882

http://www.deathandcompany.com/

Perched right on Newtown Lane in a very homey hamptons like building, babette’s is the perfect place for brunch and keeping it low-key. It was a tough few weeks so we were going to get a Mimosa each. Which is served with delicious fresh squeezed orange juice and separate tasting bottles of Prosecco.

I tend to stay away from the idea of healthy eating, at a young age it’s not much of a concern as of yet so I indulge in hardy meats and cheeses when I can. So Babette’s and myself were not a match made in heaven. Although the menu is filled with farm raised organic fresh fruits and veggies which is a very difficult thing to come by. And this is what makes this place such a Gem.

Barbara Layton the owner herself was there to assist with the ordering, which was a real treat.

Alexa had ordered a salad chock full of fresh arugula and spinach with goat cheese and various nuts and beats. When combined all at once is a delectable combo of tastes all held together by the goat cheese. Wonderful

And I was leaning towards a Quesadilla…but the one listed on the menu was a BBQ Tofu Quesadilla. So I stupidly asked Barbara if I could have my Quesadilla with chicken…when she replied “why don’t you just get the barbeque Tofu?”

my response was, I’m not a fan of tofu(grinning) and she also came back with “ Well, then you’re in the wrong place” and smiled at me. Most places would kick you out, but I felt like I was truly welcomed into her establishment and was happy with how she handled it. When my order came out, sure enough it had chicken on it…and it was astounding, perfect ratio of spice to chicken and salsa, guacamole with sour cream and a salad was with it, a very fun plate for me. It’s always fun dragging your foods through the garden and trying different sauces and spices with it.

If it was a nicer day, I would have really enjoyed sitting outside, but unfortunately we didn’t have that luxury. But I was extremely happy with our meal and it was filling enough for me to be satisfied. 

My only complaint was the price range on the menu…for the two of us it was a little steep for lunch, but all in all it was healthy and fresh and in the best place on earth with a great friend and that’s all that matters to me. 

If you’re a vegetarian or just looking for a nice cozy place for brunch,lunch or dinner…on any day of the week, Babette’s is this place, and don’t expect the huge amounts of hustle and bustle to ruin your night on this side of town.Good luck!

Babette’s 

66 Newtown Lane, Easthampton NY 11937

631.329.5377

www.babetteseasthampton.com

We both wanted sushi and most of the japanese restaurants in the Hamptons are over-priced, not the best and packed full of socialites and celebrities. 

So we wanted to go to Suki Zuki, one of our favourite (not just Japanese) restaurants on the Eastern End of Long Island. I got there at around 9pm on Wednesday evening and they close at 10 but I thankfully secured a table for the two of us after waiting 10 minutes. At Suki you usually want to get there on the early side, since it is such a small space and tables are limited. There are no reservations here, you merely have to walk up and put your name down if needed and take a nice stroll through the quiet town.

The restaurant is playful and open, all the prep stations are right there for you to watch your dinner made fresh right in front of you. A small sushi bar and a Robata (Japanese open fire grill) to it’s left where the chef perfects your beef, chicken or fish to your liking.

When it came time for us to order, a menu wasn’t necessary for us. We knew exactly what we wanted.

Alex and I split what I think is hands down one of the best salads I have ever tried. The Chicken Teriyaki Salad filled with bite size chunks of chicken, lettuce, bean sprouts and crunchies with their special house dressing. Absolutely delicious especially when you drizzle some soy over the top as well.

She then ordered the Black Miso Cod not as great as Chef Nobu‘s but still very delicious and flakey… another staple on the menu to order. A Spicy Tuna Sandwich- triangular-cut sushi roll with spicy tuna, tobiko, scallion and tempura flakes with a light splash of citrus- A real show stopper.

I ordered Spicy Salmon rolls and Negihama (Yellowtail-Scallion) that are perfectly hand rolled and on the small size, the traditional japanese way… usually they are made a bit larger with more rice and they begin to crumble and become difficult to consume, this is not the proper way. And people complain when they get a small roll, but that is the proper technique.

Then a piece of Uni Sushi ( Sea Urchin) which to me is a real delicacy and a real art to prepare. The meat from the center of the Urchin is not its Roe, like a lot of people confuse it to be. But really the inner wall of Urchins are lined with Tongues and have around 6 of these, and when they are scooped out thats what you are getting and the membranes that surround them. A really delicious and refreshing creature, salty heaven. Along with that I also got a piece of Salmon sushi that melted like butter and a piece of local Fluke, which is a white fish and the texture was a little jello-like but the taste was very full and refreshing.

The list of great items on their menu is endless and you really must try their Robata items and Entrees that will make your mouth water endlessly, such as the Steak Saikoro and the grilled Mahi Mahi .

Suki Zuki is a great destination when in need of fresh and reasonable Sushi in the Hamptons and can’t stand the long lines to eat something that isn’t even half as delicious as here.

SUKI ZUKI

688 Montauk Highway

Watermill, NY 11976

631.726.4600

A Margartitaville in the Hamptons,thats what!

The Blue Parrot known for being a longtime local hangout hidden behind Ralph Lauren’s storefront in Easthampton had since closed down in 2006. It had the same fate as most historical Hamptons landmarks nowadays which is boarded up turned into some high end clothing boutique. But in the summer of 2008 Billionaire and Co-Owner of Revlon Ron Perelman decided he wanted his own Tex-Mex eatery where he can go and enjoy food he can eat with locals. He began networking and soon found a team to open up his dream. On the roster includes longtime friend and musician Jon Bon Jovi, actress Renee Zelwegger and Gallery/Restaurant owner Larry Gagosian.

Wow what a team for such a small restaurant. You would think you’d be getting served endangered species on King Louis XIV Gold while being fanned by Tutankhamun‘s wives. Well  I can say they preserved this restaurant just the way it should be. The way it was. Everything was practically dusted off, cleaned up and slapped on new paint. This is exactly what The Hampton’s needed, not some extraordinary five floor pavilion with water falls. Something quiet and tucked away.

The perfect opportunity to try it had come up, my very good friend Alexa performed at the legendary Stephen Talkhouse music venue in Amagansette, N.Y. in the Hamptons. It was more of a welcoming home concert since we grew up out there on Long Island. She hadn’t played a local concert since her Save Sag Harbor benefit back in Summer 08′  so it was to be a fun filled evening with tons of friends and family. Which it was, and she blew the entire crowd out of the water that night playing heart felt songs new and old and a great cover of Led Zeppelin‘s homage to Reggae D’yer Mak’er.  It was well deserved…she is truly a talented human being and a great entertainer I couldn’t ask for a better friend. After her chilling performance her mother threw a big family style feast at the Blue Parrot.

There had to have been 30 of us in the backroom and don’t forget the restaurant only accommodates 55 people inside. Everything on the menu was practically ordered and was brought out 3 to a table at a time.

The moment we were seated pitchers of “Dirty Bird Margaritas”, Mason jars and Chips were on our table with a selection of mild to hot salsa’s and guacamole and sour cream. The wait staff was very friendly towards us, and with such a big party they were very attentive to our needs. 

They soon brought out platters of Four Cheese Quesadillas with the works.

Then a batch of Grilled Chicken Quesadillas after that… awesomely prepared bite size with the works as well.

Next was Chicken Taquitos then Shrimp and Bistec Taquitos enough to feed a small army. Everything at this point was so delicious and almost overwhelming at how much food we had on our tables, it was a regular feast fit for kings with a Mexican twist. 

Grilled Tuna Steaks then came out as main courses…these looked very appetizing and a perfect red, but my Mercury Poisoning and uphill battle with Tuna recently left me without a taste.

And finally platters of Filet Mignon were delivered to our tables a nice Tex-Mex equation, seared to a perfect medium rare. I took spreads of guacamole and put it right on the filet to get the real feel of Tex-Mex. 

I do have to say, they did a great job revamping this place, and the food is very delicious and perfectly proportioned for a meal with friends. The idea is to go in and order a handful of items on the menu and share family style. 

The Decor is very homey with bright colors and rustic dining tables with gorgeous vintage “Viva Zapata” Mexican posters hanging. It really is Funky as Perelman stated when he opened.

This is one restaurant to not be missed this summer, if you can I strongly advise making a trip to Easthampton for some “Killer Mexican” make sure you get there early to put your name on the list, no reservations here. Just a few days ago Bon Jovi was dining at his newfound glory and pulled a guitar off the wall and began playing some songs for lucky guests dining that night. One was “Free Bird” and he finished up with “Dead or Alive”…Now is that one hell of a dinner or what?!

The Blue Parrot

33A Main Street, Easthampton, NY 11937

631.329.2583

Open Thursday-Sunday from noon-10pm 

Having practically starved ourselves for this meal, there was some ordering to be done. 

We ordered an apertivo for the table Otsumami: assortment of Edamame, green bean tempura and Shishito ( mini, sweet-hot pepper with sea salt) a recommended dish for a group to pick from, very delicious and light. The dipping sauce was a mayo horseradish which is always fun for tempura foods.

We each ordered a Samba 7 Roll: crispy Lobster, scallion,cucumber,celery,jalapeno with wasabi chimichurri dipping sauce. These rolls came equipped with the Claw in tempura batter as well as part of the tail and displayed very well, so between the 3 of us we had an entire lobster in our rolls.

Jess ordered a few pieces of thinly sliced Yellowtail Sashimi Seviche ginger, garlic, soy.Simply refreshing, ultra thin and filled with surface taste. Nothing like it.

Alex ordered an Avocado Roll and Spicy Tuna both classic rolls and both very common yet often made terrible, these were great. Small and not stingy on the ingredients.

I ordered as an appetizer 2 Crispy Yellowtail Taquitos: Shiso,avocado,roasted corn miso,spicy aji panca sauce    I loved these, I wish I had ordered more but there was a minimum of 2 per order. Nice and bite size…and fun to eat.

On top of my Samba 7 Roll I also ordered something that really caught my eye. The BoBo Brazil Roll: seared Kobe Beef,avocado,kaiware,shiso,red onion, chimichurri ponzo. This roll took the prize that night, for the best roll and it wasn’t even fish. The kobe was so tender and layered thinly on top with a dab of ponzu. Very tasteful and presented like a true piece of art.

I ordered a piece of Fluke sushi and Salmon sushi as well, that were just right and very fresh( of course).

Some of the local in the West Village hate the Samba rooftop canopy and put together petitions to take it down, but that was over-ridden by the state. But I may have to say sitting up there enjoying a meal with great friends on a beautiful evening is something that can’t be matched. The food is spectacular and the view amazing,all you need is right up there just a few feet above seventh avenue. And for those who think that samba 7 is pretentious and overrated, take a stab at it one day with an open mind, and I am sure you will soon realize the place is truly amazing.

Sushi Samba 7

87 Seventh Ave. South, at Barrow St.

New York, NY 10014

212.691.7885

Sushisamba.com

After 20 minutes went by, Bitonto rolled up and we were whisked away to our oasis past the crowds to a nice table toward the back of the restaurant.

Our waitress was nice but wasn’t attentive enough for us to appreciate her, but she was very helpful when we asked which was the best pizza on the menu. Her answer, everything is great but it really lies in what is most appealing to you to eat, whatever it says is on the pizza and nothing else. I should have probably went with her advice.

Noel ordered the special of the evening…

A Pancetta and mozzarrella basil pizza- this was one of the best mini pizza’s I have had in a long time, and I don’t really enjoy pizza so much, its very hard to find a good pizza that isn’t oily or too thick.

my sister ordered…

the Asparagus & Goat Cheese- this one took second place on the night and still was appetizing even with all the asparagus.

And I ordered the Funghi & Taleggio- it was great on the first slice, but she wasn’t lying when it came out, it was loaded with mushrooms and very little cheese. You would have to be an absolute mushroom adorer to eat this, they were just too over powering for me to handle, and went for Noel’s pizza.

It was a really fun place to be and the pizza’s really are delicious…but follow this advice, order what is most appealing to you, you actually will get what you want here. A tough thing to find out there in the world.

Buon Appetito 

OTTO Pizzeria

One Fifth Avenue NYC 10003

212.995.9559

Ottopizzeria.com

Pat’s Steak it still lives up to the name.

The owner Brad Kranz who has been making steaks since he was a teenager knows what he’s doing behind the spatula. There are many places in Manhattan that make “Philly” cheese steaks, but Brad’s joint is hands down the best one in all of NYC. Located in the heart of the East Village at 94 3rd avenue btw 12th and 13th he delivers to the perfect cliental of college students and tourists. A tiny 6 table dine or take to go shop, this place makes thousands of steaks a day, and it is never not busy. In the classic ordering style of Pat’s Get in, order, Get out (or stay) makes it very efficient as well as the menu abbreviations of Wit’ or Wit’Out for onions and Whiz if you want it.

The steaks are made fresh on the spot tender and cooked to your liking with any topping you want, as well as a special for $10.99 that comes with steak fries and a drink of choice. If you don’t like red meat they also make chicken and vegetarian as well.

To me there is nothing like grabbing a quick Steak with Whiz and Onions to go, it is one of the most satisfying sandwiches I can think of. Don’t be afraid of the grease soaked parchment its the true signature to a cheesesteak, if there is no grease stain at the bottom of your paper bag, you better bring it back.

If you are from Philly or want to try a philly cheesesteak but can’t make the trip this is the second best if not The Best alternative to making your stomach love you.

99 miles to Philly

94 3rd Avenue New  York, NY 10003

212.253.2700

99milestophilly.net