Local food and wine extravaganza at the height of summer in the Hamptons

Taste of Two Forks was an extravaganza:

fun music, great spirits, 

delicious food and good wine. 

45 restaurants and 24 Long Island wineries offered up samples of their fare and spirits for an evening hosted by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and emcee Rosanna Scotto.  The event benefited East End Food Pantries Have a Heart Community ... 

East Hampton windmill-photograph gabby stephenson

Dan Rattiner, Rosanna Scotto and Marcus Samuelsson

excepts of Dan Rattiner forward about the event:

"You come to this event this evening as I do to celebrate and enjoy the bounty of one of the most beautiful places in this world -- the two forks of eastern, Long Island, a land of wonderful fields, dunes, cliffs, beaches, bays and harbors that experts have repeatedly declared to be among God's greatest accomplishments.

Many of us have come from afar and become dabbled by the beauty of this place and what those who have come before us have done with it. Europeans came here four hundred years ago, the Indians before that. They found the land fertile, and with its salt air, mists fogs and sun farmed it, creating bountiful crops of vegetables and fruits. They raised livestock. They fished its waters, fresh, brackish and salt from its shores and from ships, some of which traveled far out into the oceans. And they built villages and towns filled with beautiful churches and windmills...

I have visited more than forty countries and almost every state. There is nothing as beautiful as these two forks"

 First we popped into the party, grabbed a glass of wine, and bumped into Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson who brainstormed the idea.  Marcus was a busy bee during the evening but he found time to chat about his passion for food.

Next, I had the honor of meeting celebrity food writer, critic and author  Sylvia Lehrer. Have you picked up Sylvia's new book yet? Savoring the Hamptons which captures the essence and beauty of cooking in the Hamptons

 for more information on Sylvia's new book and for culinary inspiration read  Sylvia's beautiful blog
where she writes about her many travels and cooking experiences around the Hamptons  

Find Sylvia this summer 
and pick up an autographed book:

at East Hampton Library's prominent Author's Night Aug 13,

Dan's Art Show book signing Aug 20

cooking demonstration & book signing Peconic Land Trust Fri Aug 26

look for live radio broadcast for Pierre Wolff, host of "America's Dining and travel guide/ business talk radio network, which aired Sunday Aug. 7th and will air again soon

I chatted with Sylvia and asked her what she loves about cooking in the Hamptons --

 this is what she had to say:  

"There are so many ways that I love the Hamptons, the sheer beauty of the place, the ocean, the bays, the people who farm the land, grow the grapes and fish the seas. The artisans who have developed incredibly fine products such as high-quality cows and goats milk cheeses. We have a honey bee keeper with hives all over the East End and a local mushroom grower supplying us with magnificent shiitake and oyster mushrooms. We even have local sea salt from the Amagansett Sea Salt Company. There is constant inspiration for developing recipes and the best time to cook is right now!!!" Sylvia Lehrer

visual feast of food highlights of the evening profiled 

by the wanderingeaterer HERE

check out photos of

a few who came out in great style and offered up delicious tidbits...

Chef Kevin Penner from
the grill on Pantigo
1770 House

perfect for a warm summer night:  creamy yet light gazpacho

Time for a cocktail!
 We stopped into Pisco Porto

to learn about this delicious new spirit making a splash

in the Hamptons. 

How ironic that my hubby

just returned from Chile

where he had his first Pisco Sour
+recipe on Dan's Papers online about
 Grapes and Pisco 

One of my favorite restaurants in Sag Harbor --

the Beacon restaurant served up this delicious

and fresh herb panzanella salad

Colin Ambrose

of Estia's Little Kitchen 

brought out freshly made empanadas 

Colin Ambrose of Estia's Little Kitchen

My husband enjoyed the complicated flavors of

Copa Wine Bar's Seafood Paella

Mike Mosolino offering a
martini glass Stromboli appetizer. 

One of the evening's favorites was Montauk lobster with corn and basil
served on a potato chip-- it was savory and delicious

from North Fork's Jamesport Manor Restaurant

time for a glass of wine... 
We love rich and complicated wines with hints of chocolate, apple, wood, etc., however,   
I am also a fan of Long Island Rose,
specifically the 2010 Rose
from Wolffer Estates in Bridgehampton.

  We sampled a few wines and our top favorite for the evening were offered up by The Long Island Merlot Alliance. This interesting organization has blended some of Long Islands best wine. 

We both enjoyed the 2008 Merliance, which was brought out special for the occasion.  This organization offers up a plethora of events to bring together the vineyards.  The wines are an interesting blend of grapes and the most rich and layered flavors of all the Long Island wines we tasted during the evening.

For dessert:

What a thrill to meet Sarabeth Levine
of Sarabeth's Kitchen
and try some of her tasty treats --
I scooped up this fabulous autographed cookbook for my collection

Dylan's Candy Bar gave us take home sweet desserts, including large lollipops and

help yourself penny style candy just like in the store. 

after dinner cheese tastings from Lucy's Whey in East Hampton was delicious as well

Please stop back next week

for more glimpses of "foodies"
 in the Hamptons
with a walk through
Sag Harbor Farmer's Market


Happy Nesting 
XO Tamara