SAG HARBOR

As far as I know… no bedbugs in the Hamptons… but we seem to need a lot of beds!!! Plus good bagel…bad cupcake!

Ok, remember that fancy men’s store Belhause in Wainscott. Yeah, they were trying to be the Fred Segal or Jeffrey of the Hamptons and it just didn’t work. Well back in December of 2009, the show was loaded up and shipped out in the middle of the night. Literally!

Well, the space has now been occupied. So, is it a good Mexican restuarant? A Pottery Barn? A gourmet market like Whole Foods or Trader Joes? Is it anything we really want in the Hamptons!? Wishful thinking folks, it’s a Sleepy’s! YES… ANOTHER SLEEPY’S!!! Now, by my count that makes 5 for the Hamptons area from Hampton Bays to East Hampton!! I know there is a need with rentals for new mattresses every now and then but do we really need 5!!!? Maybe folks in the Hamptons are sluttier and more promiscuous than I thought. I have visions of mattress filled rooms with weekly bacchinals all season long! Of course we need more mattresses! By the way, I bought all of the mattresses at my house at… you guessed it, Sleepy’s! If you dont’ have a Sleepy’s near you, visit them at www.sleepys.com

Now a quick note of caution. I want to first say, I love Twice Upon A Bagel. They have some of the best bagels in town and their sandwiches are pretty awesome. The problem I have is with their cupcakes, they’re two for two with me. Both times I bought cupcakes there (and I’m not talking buying the day olds) they were stale! They were like little confectionary rocks with sprinkles!! Come on guys, good bagels… great tuna salad… great salmon.. YOU CAN DO BETTER. So my advice is buy the bagels but skip the cupcakes. By the way, please don’t say it. I know I shouldn’t be buying cupcakes anyway.

Southamptons is getting a little more social!!! And one of my greatest Hamptons discoveries ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well by now we all know the tales of Ed (Jean Luc) Kleefeld… his restaurants JL East, JL Bistro, Madame Tong’s and Prime 103 and their lasting legacy of cobwebs and unused commerical space. Well 2011 is a very good year for former some of the best old “JL” properties.

First, Michael Gluckman and his management team including Rory Boothby successfully launched “The Beach House” last week. A sort of spin off to their already successful “Boat House” off Three Mile Harbor. It was the opening of the year so far when they toasted Cinco De Mayo last Thursday! The cars were lined up and down Montauk Highway and of course our local men in blue were there to issue tickets. Yes, tis the season! It was wall to wall people there to see the new and improved space that was once PRIME 103 and JL East. The new menu gets a big thumbs up for some real crowd pleasing dishes (as opposed to the impossible menu at Southfork Kitchen) and the prices that won’t make your eyes pop. I’ll have more about their food and plans for events at “The Beach House” later this week… today’s blog is about the real estate. But one last word, KUDOS for the best opening night of the year goes to “The Beach House.”

Now for the property formerly known as Madame Tong’s. With one of the best backyards of any restaurant in the Hamptons, it only makes sense that the building would once again host a hybrid Restaurant/Club. It’s alleged that is exactly what will be the case with the new establishment “The New York Social Club.” According to sources the menu will be more American fair that will morph into a club scene after the dinner hours. I don’t know who the new owners are but I’m told they’re well known NYC club/restaurant owners. Look for more details in then next few days and an opening sometime in late May.

And lastly… according to CURBED.COM, Astoria’s Pomme Café is opening a at the old JLX in Sag Harbor. To many it’s better known as that doomed corner where numerous restaurants have flopped, including La Maison, JLX-Bistro, and Peter Miller’s. I apologize for my earlier blog… where I said La Maison is back… but that’s what the “manager” guy told me.

Now, we all see those free magazines tossed in the lobbies of restaurants, banks and real estate offices all over the Hamptons. Well last week my friend picked up an old copy of Edible East End which was sitting around the house and told me about a small Mexican Deli in Southampton, which features authentic homemade specialties. Well as anybody who reads this blog knows, I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD. I’ve been on a quest to find a good restaurant that serves it…. and while it’s not a restaurant the De Jesus Deli on County Rd. 39 next to PC Richard’s is a HOME RUN! If I were Blue Parrot I would buy my tamales from this little shop on the Highway and serve them. They’re AWESOME and some of the best I’ve ever had. Burritos for rock bottom prices, home made salsas and more are also available. This is an unknown find in the Hamptons. In fact, I went to a Mother’s Day party on Sunday and brought along some vegetable and Pork Tamales, they were the hit of the party. Ok, enough writing… I’m hungry now. It’s time for lunch.

A day of discovery in Sag Harbor!

First I’m telling you the rumors about the demise of La Maison formerly known as JLX Bistro are greatly exaggerated. The brown paper is off the windows and it looks as the if the restaurant run by the folks who bring you Trata will be back another year! For a time there everyone from Almond to Le Circ were rumored to be going into the spot but alas all were wrong. I stopped by and asked one of the head honchos there what the deal was and he told me La Maison will be open again for business the first weekend in May. Now, maybe this year I’ll actually go in and try the food!

Secondly, since moving into the Hamptons full time I’ve had 3 major complaints:

1) There isn’t anywhere to get shoes repaired east of the canal.

2) The movie theatres have the worst selection and options of anywhere on the planet (I swear March of the Penguins played for 3 years in East Hampton).

3) The only Tasti-D-Lite outlet (The Brown Bag in EH) is now a Sunglass Hut or something! There’s no low fat yogurt/ice cream anywhere to be found!!!

Well, now I think I have answers or at least mild solutions to two of my issues. 1– I hear that they do shoe repair in King Kullen in Bridgehampton. I dropped off 3 pairs last week 2 Ferragamo’s and beat up Prada. I’ll let you know how they do. Issue #3… they sell ONLY 8 – no fat, low carb, low calorie ice cream (or frozen pvc) at the Ice Cream shop in Sag Harbor. It’s right next to Vincenzo’s Pizza! Thank goodness… I don’t have to travel all the way into the city for frozen chemically tasting stuff anymore. According to the Only 8 website, a half cup only has 32 calories. If that’s the calorie count, I can deal with the funky taste.