most expensive – Hamptons Chatter

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

July 13, 2021

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?

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!

SUPER EXPENSIVE SAGAPONACK SPREAD… AND THE BEST BIG $PENDERS!

August 17, 2018August 17, 2018

What would you pay for 2 acres south of the highway in Sagaponack? Yes, it has lush vegetation and is located in one of the most expensive zip codes in the country. Before you answer, just know it also has a large building envelope and includes an historic barn that was built in the 1890’s. Oh, it’s also super close to the Sag General store too. Well rather than make you guess I’ll let you read the ad from Zillow. Call me crazy but I think this might be a little aggressive. Look for price reductions soon. No it’s not my listing… it’s a for sale by owner. By the way, if you need to click the financing options button you probably can’t afford it.

Screen Shot 2018-08-17 at 7.52.01 AM.png — Zillow.com – hopefully they’re negotiable

Yep, it’s the height of the summer season right now here in the Hamptons. It’s a time for hot hazy days, warm ocean surf and a slew of stars. But not the kind in the sky, the kind that have twitter accounts and get better service at restaurants than you or I. Speaking of which; I’ve been asking some of my friends from the biz (yes, most are bartenders– stop it!) who are some of their favorite famous clientele? Here are a few names that were thrown out. All are noted for being friendly, courteous and above all good tippers.

Paul McCartney – He’s “awesome” said one person and very generous.

23rd Annual Simply Shakespeare — They love him, yeah yeah.

Hugh Jackman – He and his wife are super appreciative and friendly according to my sources.

Jimmy Fallon – He and his wife always introduce themselves (seriously) to staff and are friendly and outgoing. Occasionally likes to prank with the staff.

Alec Baldwin – He’s a local and frequent visitor about town, restaurant staff members all remark he’s a “good guy.” They also point out his wife Hilaria is a super sweet.

Howard Stern – Sits in the back of restaurants as to not attract attention, quiet and really nice to everyone from the front to the back of the house. He’s also a very very generous tipper.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Yep, she’s goop and spends tons of money on things that most of us can’t even contemplate (check goop.com) but she’s friendly and shares the wealth with the help. To quote one source, “she doesn’t make a fuss when she comes in.”

Jessica Biel – One story involves some rowdy fans approaching her and her husband (who is apparently also famous) in the middle of dinner. She smiled, posed for selfies and left a nice tip at the end of the meal. Here’s hoping the Timberlake’s buy out here soon. I’m happy to help.

Countess Luann de Lesseps – I don’t watch the housewives… never have… probably never will.. but the buzz around town especially in Sag Harbor is that this lady is just that.

There are a few names I could have put on this list that most waiters and waitresses avoid like the plague. But I’m trying to stay positive, but if you see me in person feel free to ask.

HOW TO BUY NEAR WATER WITHOUT SPENDING $140,000,000…. PLUS COULD YOU GET CREDIT FOR THAT AMOUNT?

February 22, 2017December 2, 2015

$140,00,000 and there is NO neighborhood block party?!

In the unlikely case your cocktail conversations have been focusing on such trivial matters such as terrorism, global warming or even Donald Trump.. instead of Hamptons real estate, you might not have heard the interesting news. Entrepreneur Chris Whittle has put his East Hampton home on the market for a bargain price of $140 Million dollars. While I’m not sure if the house comes furnished at that price or if he’s leaving the toaster oven, there are some who’d rather write a check with a few less zeros for their Hamptons home by the water. So if you love the smell of salt air in the morning, where do you go without spending a fortune? Luckily, Hamptons Chatter is here to guide you with a proverbial divining rod for some homes near water that won’t break the bank. Because I’d rather spend my extra $140 million dollars on something more sensible like an I-tunes gift card, I’ve explored other options with slightly less intimidating price tags.

Amagansett Dunes – It’s like the nicest parts of the Jersey Shore and it’s not in New Jersey. Causual summer living (think flip flops and t-shirts 24/7) and a quick stroll, skip or even levitation to beautiful ocean beaches is the real draw here. While the lots can be small and not everyone has a pool, this is all about the beach. Look to spend about 1.1 to 1.5 million for a comfortable home in the area.

Amagansett Dunes: Elliman.com H34948

Waterside Communities (Pine Neck, Whalebone Landing, Southampton Shores, Northampton Colony) – Located about 10 minutes outside of Sag Harbor village off of Noyac Rd., these areas are all about community. Community bay beaches, community docks and community club houses are a few of the features that attract buyers to this area. The sunsets on Noyac bay are also spectacular and the icing on the cake. Yet, for some folks the neighborly feel might seem a bit intrusive or suburban. Look to spend about $1.0 million to get into the neighborhood and as much as $10,000,000 for one of the current waterfront listings.

Shinnecock Hills – Spectacular views and the fact it’s nestled between the villages of Southampton and Hampton Bays is only part of the big draw in this community. One of the biggest draws for the growing popularity of this area is the time saving factor during those crazy weekends when Route 27 looks like a parking lot. Considering you can get a waterfront with view for around $2.5… that’s a savings of $137,500,000 if you were thinking about that “other” waterfront.

A few more areas you might find worth visiting are the Redwood section of Sag Harbor, close to the village and with views and great water for the boater. There is also Lions Head and Clearwater Beach areas of East Hampton. Community beaches, views of the sound and some deep water docking are the big draw for this area located outside the village of East Hampton. It also has several of the best waterfront dining spots in all of the Hamptons including Bay Kitchen and Harbor Bistro right in the hood. Yes, I know there are other areas that are certainly worth mentioning but these few are the ones that I think are a good bang for the buck. I’m only one guy without an editor and this ain’t my full time gig, so don’t get your panties in a bunch folks. If you want another neighborhood mentioned in a blog, feel free to go write it! I mean that in the nicest way possible! Sort of.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t matter if you’re buying a big ticket house or a little cottage, if you want to get financing from a bank… you better have good credit. So how do you know if you have good credit? Luckily credit expert Andrea Kent took some time out of her day to give Hamptons Chatter a quick tutorial on understanding your credit.

If you would like to contact Andrea for more information or about credit repair… you can e mail her at akent@primenationalny.com

UPDATE: Sorry last weeks finalist for the $500 holiday gift certificate goes to the staff at Baron’s Cove who submitted their holiday tree for the Hamptons Chatter holiday contest. If you want to enter the contest, send your photos to Hamptonsholiday15@gmail.com. Finalist will be anoounced each week with the grand price being announced on December 1st. And no, you can’t send me a picture of someone else’s tree!

The tree at Baron’s Cove – Sag Harbor!