Yes, it’s finally August in the Hamptons. The water is warm. The sun is shining. Traffic is bumper to bumper on 27 with Range Rovers in full bloom. While SoulCyle’s parking lot looks like a WWF pay per view. But enough about all the things we cherish in the Hamptons during August. Instead lets talk about a major first world problem that so many of us know first hand, the difficulties with getting a weekend restaurant reservation!
Yes, it’s the time of year when 25 minutes turns into 2 hours for a bar table. It’s more than any south of the highway socialite should have to endure. But luckily for you Paris, Kimye and all of the other society readers of Hamptons Chatter, you don’t have to suffer in silence any longer! Here are a few ideas for getting gourmet meals in your very home without having to stoop to pizza or any sort of wonton that comes in a paper carton.
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| Free form lasagna from JK Chef Collection |
1) Call JKChef Collection – 631-460-0010 – started by chef Jeff Purrazzi and Jack Kelly, the service has a stable of top tier chefs that come to you and and will handle the entire meal from soup to nutted apple tare-tatine. According to Purrazzi, “The process of hiring a private chef is pretty easy. We normally speak with our clients over the phone and get an overview of the families culinary likes and dislikes…
…. from the formal dining to the beach BBQ. The key is to match the clients needs to the perfect chef. Once we do that, we put the two together to create the perfect dinner menu.” Prices vary based on the size of party and the duration of the event. If you like more information you can visit their website www.jkchefcollection.com or give them a call at 631-460-0010. Make sure to tell them Hamptons Chatter sent you!
2) Saaz -1746 CR 39 Southampton – 631-259-2222 – Gourmet Indian food that in it’s short in town has garnered a large and loyal following. The location is easy since it’s virtually the first restaurant you see as you drive into the Hamptons. The full menu including a slew of vegetarian dishes is available online and they even deliver to a large chunk of the east end. So skip the pizza and go for some steamed chicken somos instead!
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| Salmon Tartare – Fresno |
3) Fresno – 8 Fresno Place East Hampton – 631-324-8700 – New American cuisine at it’s best. Head Chef Gretchen Menser’s rotating menu of classic crowd pleasers with an epicurean twist is why updated menu and get your tilefish or osso bucco to go! Diners have been lining up at this East Hampton favorite for years. But the real reason I’m mentioning this here is you can go online, check out the
4) East Hampton Grill – 99 North Main St. East Hampton – 631-329-1955 – Walk right by the crowd at one of the most popular Hamptons restaurants, step up to the bar and grab your grub and get out of there. Yep, the home of the “heavenly biscuits” will pack your dinner for you to enjoy in your own kitchen. The menu is available online and updated frequently. While I’m not sure I would get the oysters to go (a little messy) from the fresh fish, to the roasted chicken and the french dip all are made from scratch daily and travel well. But most important of all, the clean up is a breeze.
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| The french dip at East Hampton Grill – ask for horseradish! |
5) The Seafood Shop -356 Montauk Highway, Wainscott – 631-537-0633 – Yes you can buy your shrimp and your fresh fish for home cooking but you can also get a complete dinner on the fly without breaking a sweat. Lobsters, grilled fish and fresh salads and even a chicken breast sandwich are all on the take out menu. It’s a complete menu available online that is updated with specials daily and diverse enough for even the finickiest of diners. It might not be fancy but the food is awesome!
So there you have it 5 ideas for the hungry agoraphobic in all of us.