Ohhh La La… THE BEST FRENCH FRIES IN THE HAMPTONS!

Bon Fromage! It’s Bastille Day later this week—you know, the holiday that is kind of like the Fourth of July but they celebrate it in France, and most Americans don’t even know about it? So, what better way is there to celebrate the execution of Louis and Marie than delving into some of the best French cuisine in the Hamptons!

But I’m not talking about Croque Madames or even macaroons. I’m talking about FRENCH FRIES! And don’t you dare call them chips or, even worse, FREEDOM FRIES!

So here in no particular order are my favorite places to super-size that side on the East End! Bon appetit, y’all!

Crispy, Crunchy and Crazy good! Cove Hollow Tavern

1. Cove Hollow Tavern (East Hampton) – Cripsy, crinkle-cut with a hint of bbq seasoning, these fries put the bomb in bon jour! Served with a side of extra caloric aioli, there’s no way to eat just one. Best served with a cool glass of Sancerre, but what isn’t? At $10 for a side, these are a steal.

2. Almond (Bridgehampton) – Yes, they have more generic plain fries (for the purist), but how dare you when you can have Cheese Fries Americaine with smoked cheddar and chilis! If you’re not in the mood for fromage, you can always go with Bernaise Fries, Gravy Fries or Korean Fries with sesame seeds, kimchi and sriracha mayo. Prices start and $10 and go to $13. No, you may not order these as an entrée… or can you?

GOLDEN NUGGETS ! DOCKSIDE’S BEST SIDE!

3. Dockside (Sag Harbor) – Crunchy is the first word that comes to mind whenever I sink my teeth into these special spuds. Delicately batter dipped (I think, or twice fried) and topped with bay seasoning, these are a perfect side with more than just burgers! Personally, I find these are a perfect balance to the healthy nature of the Seared Tuna Wrap. $7 per side. 

4. Fresno (East Hampton) – Delicately fried, fresh-cut potatoes with a hint of salt and a big side of Heinz 57. We’re not talking about anything too complex or fancy—just golden, salty, traditional fries done right. At $8 for a side, it’s a must-share at any dinner.

BIT OF BRUSSELLS IN SAG HARBOR…. LULU KITCHEN’S FRIES! GO AHEAD YOU ANTWERP!

5. Lulu (Sag Harbor) – These are no dud spuds! Lulu’s crispy and delicate treats are a greater potater! They are authentic Belgian fries that are crisp without being crunchy and without feeling like mushy steak fries! $14 per order.

When I started this blog, I had no idea that today is National #frenchfriesday! In fact, The New York Post just wrote about Serendipity’s $300-a-serving fries. I don’t know how it happened, but for once the Hamptons isn’t the most expensive game in town.

BTW, DID I MISS SOME GOOD FRIES ? LEAVE ME A NOTE AND LET ME KNOW YOUR FAVORITES!

‘LIFE IS A HIGHWAY’ ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE SITTING BUMPER TO BUMPER.

Ride Free, Ride Fun, Ride Nonstop in the Hamptons

Everyone knows TRAFFIC SUCKS IN THE HAMPTONS. But while sitting on 27 is great for getting through your audio book and podcast backlog, it’s not exactly fun when you’re due at an appointment or need to get to that precious reservation on time!

Anyway, with all the driving I do for showing and cavorting around the East End, I’ve been searching for ways to be a happy passenger instead of a cranky driver. Here are a few that I discovered that could help you avoid Hamptons road rage.

Hampton Hopper

Recognizable by their big, blue school buses, this inexpensive, app-based ride service runs daily loops in Montauk from 10 a.m.–10 p.m., with stops at all the hotspots, resorts and activity hubs, including Hither Hills Campground, Gosman’s Dock, Gurney’s, Kirk Park Beach, the LIRR station, Montauk Chamber of Commerce and more. They also offer private charters. Get all the details at hamptonhopper.com.

Rove

Coming back for summer 2021, Rove provides nonstop transportation between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hamptons—so you get on in one place and get off at your destination, with no stops in-between. Instead of a big bus, you’ll travel in a Mercedes Sprinter Van, which takes off from Rove’s partner hotels in SoHo or Williamsburg and drop off at some of the Hamptons’ most happening locations. You can also charter a private ride, and pets are permitted if they’re 25 lbs or less! Check them out at ridewithrove.com. They also have a Sag Harbor village shuttle service called Rove loop. You can check their website for details.

Circuit

Presented by founders and East Hampton natives Alex Esposito and James Mirras

as a greener ride option, Circuit (formerly Hamptons Free Ride) uses easy-to-spot all-electric vehicles to shuttle passengers to the beach in Southampton, East Hampton and Montauk—and it’s free! Visit ridecircuit.com to find out more.

Whether you’re making the journey from points west or tooling around town, these services are often fun, social gatherings on wheels. And they’re definitely a safe bet for anyone who should not get behind the wheel while enjoying a boozy summer day.

I’ll see you on the road!

HEALTHY ANIMALS MEAN HEALTHY PEOPLE!

Veterinarians International Dog Walk and Shopping

As we’ve established, I’m a smitten dog lover who can’t get enough of my Russell and Bella—not to mention supporting the many animal shelters and wildlife preservation orgs out here (remember the Walk for Awareness Dog-a-Thon?). With that in mind, I urge you to attend a very special event, Shop for Species Survival, a dog walk and shopping experience for animal and wildlife welfare at J. McLaughlin in Southampton this Saturday, June 26. I hope you and your pup(s) will join us at the corner Jobs Lane and Main Street at 10:30 a.m., when we’ll walk and then enjoy shopping from noon– 5 p.m. to benefit Veterinarians International, which helps provide veterinary aid and education to animals and communities around the world (visit vetsinternational.org to register).

DR. SCARLETT MAGDA… DOING THE WORK!

The founder of Veterinarians International, Dr. Scarlett Magda—a vaunted local resident, veterinarian and animal activist—will be on hand as we shop and sip at J. McLaughlin, which is donating 15% of the proceeds to her excellent organization. Dr. Magda will also share some compelling stories about animal welfare and conservation issues globally, including updates on plans for Sri Lanka’s first elephant hospital and much more.

I saw Dr. Magda speak at Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club benefit a few years agao and was thoroughly blown away by her message. Before hearing her speak, I was totally unaware of how closely human health, animal health and the health of our ecosystem are so tightly linked. It was a truly eye-opening experience. Check out Dr. Scarlett Magda online to get the full picture of her many accomplishments and important efforts to protect the world’s wildlife, ease animal suffering and stop the spread of zoonotic diseases, which is surely something close to all our hearts in these troubling times. 

A FUN CURE FOR THE SUMMERTIME BLUES… BINGO!!!

BORED? Maybe it’s time for you to play HAMPTONS BINGO! What better way to commiserate …..errr i mean CELEBRATE Summer ’21… with your friends at the next get together. Simply, print this card for hours and hours and hours of fun at your next dinner party! Sadly, I think I have all but 3 boxes filled.

BTW, I thought I was so orignal with this blog but alas they did it on Curbed.com about 10 years ago. So, this is the new and improved version of Hamptons Bingo. As Curbed editor at the time Laura Euler suggested, feel free to laminate this collectors piece of Hamptons life 2021.