east hamtpon grill

HAMPTONS PEOPLE: THE ONE APP YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THIS WEEKEND!!!!

The menus!!! yess!

HALLELUJAH!  (Yes, I had to look it up to spell correctly)  The Hamptons is ready to enter the 21st century!  Well even though it still feels like 1975 here ( i.e. the IGA in E. Hampton), the folks at POSTMATES have decided to launch in our own quaint little part of the world.   So, I hear you now, “what is POSTMATES?”   Well it’s the only app you need to download this weekend for survival in the Hamptons.   With this app you can get delivery service in under an hour, anywhere from Southampton to Montauk!   PSYCH! That means, you can order from La Fondita (Tacos), The East Hampton Grill (French Dip),  Sam’s (Chicken Parm) and even Levain Bakery (Oatmeal Cookies) and get it delivered right to your front door.  But wait it gets better… seconds after you place the order you’ll get real time tracking information for your order.    Its also available for Android and online at Postmates.com.  Delivery fees start at 5$ and are calculated based on distance along with a 9% service fee which is applied to your order. Let’s hope these guys are the new UBER of Hamptons delivery (but not the UBER of E. Hampton)!    My friend Bernie ordered from POSTMATES last week and had his “Sam’s” at the house in 45 minutes.   But wait, it gets better…. the delivery guy refused to take the tip and was friendly!!!    I mean everyone wants a tip jar now, in fact I just saw one at the DMV last week!   Finally something we really need in the Hamptons!   I only have one question about POSTMATES that has yet to be answered:   Will they deliver one of those hot dogs from Speedway Gas?

This year, like last year my house is becoming a virtual revolving door of guests and relatives.   It’s not that I don’t love ALL my friends and relatives.   BUT every once in a while I hear some of my friends need down time.    So what can they do??   How can they get their guests to leave without being insulting?    Well here are a few easy tricks that will have them running to the Jersey Shore… and perhaps even get you a thank you host/hostess gift in the process!  So here it is…. HOUSE CLEANING 2015!

The Thing Wouldn’t Leave from AFTRS Radio on Vimeo.

Trick 1:  Internet Interception – It’s a fast paced world and one would think that when visiting one of the most beautiful locations on earth, visitors here would actually enjoy shutting the world off!   HA! In the Hamptons where dinner tables are silent only because everyone is texting someone else more interesting at another table, staying in touch is like air to breathe.    So what better way to give a guest a gentle nudge then to cutting off their connection to the world in addition to severing them from Netflix and sending their “Orange is the New Black” addiction into a tailspin…. unplug the wifi router!  Remember, cell service is a joke out here so that wifi signal is also a lifeline to e-mail, Twitter and Facebook!   I know it’s cruel but really aren’t they here to hang with you anyway?

The breakfast of chumps!

Trick 2: The Morning Jolt –  They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.   So what better way to suck the energy out of the overly intrusive guest then starting their day on the wrong foot!  Here’s how you do it!  You hide the Keurig, the Starbucks and the bagels and instead replace them with something terrifying;   Instant coffee, generic cereal and Tang!    Nothing says you couldn’t care more by spending less!     After day one of having to run to town to actually get something potable and edible your guest will be dreaming of a blanket in Sheep Meadow!   “Trust me guys, Toasted Oats are actually better tasting than Cheerios!  Really!”

Yes, they’ll have a headache and you’ll get rid of one!

Trick 4: The Cold Shoulders – After a hot sweaty day in the beach, there is nothing more refreshing than a nice relaxing shower.   So what’s a guest going to do when the hot water runs out before they have a chance to freshen up!   But alas you won’t have to fib to your guest about a faulty hot water heater, you’ll merely tell them it’s part of your fitness routine…. you know using the cold to burn fat!     Think about this way, you’re also helping them prevent their skin from drying out and invigorating their day since they didn’t have any coffee that morning!     It’s the alternative to Canyon Ranch and the only cost is you leave the house a day early!   As for cleaning off in the pool…. that’s disgusting… shower before swimming.

Trick 4:  Keep it Dry –  Clean the house of all beer, wine and vodka and tell them it’s a booze free zone.   While yes, I know you don’t need a drink to have fun… most Hamptons visitors want their sun and their Rose.   Imagine this, a house full of hungry, sober people with no Internet reception or emails having to sit around talk to each other?     I’d leave too!

REMINDER, this blog was done in the name of helping OTHERS.   All of the guest in my house are welcome to stay as long as they want… family is welcome to stay the entire month of July….. and guests of guests of relatives of guests are also welcome!  ANYTIME!

 

Police baffled by badly dressed missing couple in the Hamptons….. I know where they are!!! Plus some news to Nosh on!

So it’s that time of the year for real estate agents. Yes, the renters are here! Now, I don’t want to sound like I’m Paul Revere here warning of impending doom. I love the summer renters!!! Some are great… but there are few stories that leave me wondering about just how some of these people survive in the world!

Recently I was made aware of a new term for certain renters that the locals use. They call them the “mirrorless.” What does that mean and who are these people? Well, let me tell you. These are the people who wear fur coats in June, speedos with bulging guts and high heels on the beach. Apparently it comes from one particular incident,that an old timer agent friend of mine told me about. A few years ago when a tennant complained to an agent that the house had no mirrors anywhere in the house the agent went to the hardware store and bought a few inexpensive stand alone full length ones. Well when they went to the house, they discovered these people weren’t kidding. The wife look like she put her make up on the Cyclone at Coney Island and the Husbands Coogi sweater was about two sizes too small. Thus the term “mirrorless” was born in a Hamptons summer rental.

I’m not coining a new term but it is one I just discovered. It’s called an Earhardt! Apparently cab drivers in the Hamptons have been aware of this for years. Every year new comers come to the East End and move into their beautiful new 4 bedroom, 4 bath, heated pool compounds for three months. Now I appreciate that the newcomers to our community respect the rules of the roads and don’t drink and drive. But please from now on REMEMBER WHERE YOU LIVE! Saying, it’s a house with gray shingles off 27 doesn’t really help the driver. Nor does, “it has a pool in the backyard or I think it’s on Bay or Ocean or something like that.” Yes, apparently it’s an epidemic for cab drivers this time of year… tenants that get drunk and can’t remember where they live! If your a real estate agent like me, print little cards with the address for your new tenants. It’s the right thing to do. Otherwise, the cab drivers with be referring to them as an “Earhart.” Yes, like Amelia Earhart.

Also, I know I haven’t been blogging lately. I’ve actually been busy. But I have been trying some of the new restaurants around town and revisiting some of the old. Here in a nutshell what’s hot this year: Tutto Il Giorno the Southampton venue of the Sag Harbor restaurant… packed every night and hard to get in. Make sure to say hello to Walter, you know from the old Della Femina.. ooops… I mean Della

Famina. Speaking of the old “DF”… the East Hampton Grill is indeed open and apparently the buzz has been great. I went twice so far. I can recommend the Cod, the Salmon and the ribs are all amazing. The wine list is pretty extensive and well priced. So truly the wait has been worth it. They just started taking reservations , so plan ahead. I had dinner with a crowd from Palm Beach on Saturday and if it’s anything like there… you’ll need a good 4 or 5 days lead time at least.

On the down side of things, I don’t know what happened at Harbor Bistro. It was one of my favorites in East Hampton for a long time but something must have happened over the winter. The Caesar salad was watery, the tuna was dry and my friend sent his fish back. Also, the ribs ain’t what they used to be but don’t bother complaining the waiters are busy schmoozing at the bar and trying to get their attention was futile. It’s sad, this is one of the best locations in the Hamptons. I’ll have to give them a few weeks and see if they get back to where they were. Let’s hope so!

Two bucks will get you on the subway, but fresh garlic will get you a seat. I know where to buy it and announcing THE EAST HAMPTON GRILL!

Well, now that we all know that Della Famina is soon to be no more… I can tell you that the Hillstone Group the people behind Houstons will soon be opening “THE EAST HAMPTON GRILL.” I’ll assume it’s to be much like the PALM BEACH GRILL which the company owns and currently operates in that “OTHER” resort area. I only hope one thing, they have the Slow Roasted Pork Ribs, the Spinach artichoke dip and the crab cakes! It’s funny but I’ve never heard so much buzz or excitement about the opening of a new restaurant in the Hamptons like I have about this. Sure NOBU is going to Southampton but as I said before, the lines will be longer at The East Hampton Grill!

Citarella is getting a run for it’s money as Mike and Sandy DeGennaro, who own Long Wharf Wines in Sag Harbor and Southampton Wines at Water Mill Shops and Muse Restaurant & Aquatic Lounge chef Matthew Guiffrida have finally opened their long awaited AVANTI CULINARY MARKET.

Located at the site of the old Citerellas in Water Mill, I went to the shopping center the other day to buy cupcakes for a friend’s birthday (at Water Mill Cupcakes) and ended up strolling through what is one of the best epicurean (thank you spell check) centers in the Hamptons. The prices are more than competitive with the other gourmet shops in the Hamptons but the staff was over the top helpful!! The selection of seafood and meats were well stocked but I was bowled over by the extensive selection of herbs and spices (why do I sound like I’m talking about KFC) with the slick and cool packaging.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t try much of the prepared foods since I’m currently trying to squeeze into my 29″ waist speedo so I can’t comment. But I did try the tuna which the chef offered to turn into freshly prepared “tuna tare tare.” It was probably the best I ever had! To make a long story longer or shorter, AVANTI is now open visit their website for more details. But why do that… just go… EAT!