Category

Hamptons Happenings

Category

Welcome to Sag Harbor to air on Oprah Network (OWN) on January 25th 2015….
Sag Harbor is one of my favorite places in the Country and I am blessed to live here year-round. I was introduced to Sag Harbor 25 years ago and 13 years ago my family moved here full-time. My husband and I have raised our 2 girls here, one is graduating from college in May 2015 and the other will be graduating from high school in 2017. We have amazing friends from all ethnic groups and we are well-respected in the community. I am active in the school district and many people who live here both full-time and part-time are loyal followers of Hamptons Mouthpiece. I can recall when I first came to the Hamptons, I could not believe how many black people had second homes in the Hamptons. I was a girl raised in Harlem and I knew very few people who had a home, let alone 2, it was mind-blowing and motivating for me. My husband’s mother lived in Sag Harbor and we would visit with her often but we only saw an influx of African Americans in the summer months. Many of these families retreat to Sag Harbor for the summer months only in the areas called Azurest, Sag Harbor Hills and Ninevah Beach.DSC_1442

Welcome to Sag Harbor…takes an unprecedented look inside one of America’s most exclusive and historically significant African-American beach communities, featuring its current homeowners, including popular restaurateur and lifestyle pioneer, B. Smith. Located in the heart of New York’s The Hamptons, this tight knit enclave was established as a refuge from racism in the early 20th century.

DSC_1203With the recent housing boom, this once all African-American neighborhood is now fighting to hold on to its identity. Real estate prices throughout the three bay front areas of Azurest, Ninevah Beach and Sag Harbor Hills have recently skyrocketed. This seemingly positive economic reality is forcing the younger generations, now inheriting these cottages from their parents and grandparents, to face a vexing dilemma: To sell or not to sell? Sag Harbor profiles a community at a crossroads, but also one that truly values celebrating life, family and tradition.

Tune in for the hour-long special on Sunday, January 25 at 10/9c.
Read more: www.oprah.com

Hamptons Eats …What’s up Doc? Bug’s Bunny would have been in Carrot Heaven at Estia’s Carrot Root Tasting… Carrots, an essential in every kitchen.

DSC_8995On Wednesday November 12 I attended a carrot tasting harvest. Estia’s Little Kitchen hosted their first in a series of root tastings.
This started last summer when Colin Ambrose of Estia’s Little Kitchen decided he wanted to explore the carrot with his friends, well-known hamptons chefs and farmers in the Hamptons. Christopher Polidoro with Quail Hill Farm farmer Scott Chasky
Joseph Realmuto with Nick & Toni’s Garden manager Jeff Negron
Jason Wiener with Almond pal, Sagaponack farmer Marilee Foster
Todd Jacobs with Fresh friends and partner farmers Bette & Dale
Kyle Koenig with Topping Rose House garden manager Jeff Negron
Robert Durkin and the garden at Robert’s in Watermill
. Each chef & Farmer displayed their control seed (scarlet Nantes) and a choice seed. In addition to tasting raw and steamed carrots, the chefs prepared a dish of their choosing and presented it on the counter at The Little Kitchen.carrot

I brought my daughter Allura with me and we had a great time learning about the different variations of carrots, and tasting each one of them. Growing up in Harlem, I was unaware that carrots were not just orange. DSC_8925At the tasting we ate purple carrots, white carrots, red carrots and of course the orange carrot. Some were light and sweet, others had your typical carrot taste we liked many of the carrots but we especially enjoyed the Atomic Red from the Garden of Estia’s Little Garden, we also enjoyed the carrot from Dales Fresh Mix from Todd Jacobs from Fresh and farmers Bette & Dale.
After everyone tasted each carrot Colin conducted a Q&A. Each participant brought all of their 20 foot carrot beds production to compare and discuss. One of the questions asked was about seeding:
Colin: Once your carrot seeds are set how to do you maintain that between the hard set and the harvest?
Quail Hill Farm farmer Scott Chasky: Weeds are not allowed… laughter erupted in the room…take a listen to his response….

DSC_8986Allura and I were in carrot heaven, the prepared dishes were so delicious, the Fritters, the Rabbit pie and Dumplings were among our favorite but my personal favorite were the mini carrot cakes made by Cassandra Shupp, the pastry chef from Topping Rose House. This was really one of the BEST carrot cakes I have ever tasted and I just wanted more.DSC_9000 2

I am looking forward to the Beet Tasting in this series of Root Tastings…All remaining carrots were donated to the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.

Photo credit: Allura Leggard

Holiday Gift Guide for the Couch Potato in your life!

Holiday Gift Guide for the Couch Potato in your life!

Hamptons Coffee gift cards, Gift basket from Golden Pear.

Of course you can’t be a couch potato with chapped lips….BUTTER LONDON LIPPY
Liquid Lipstick,$18.00,

GIFT CARDS HAMPTONS COFFEE

Hampton Coffee

Hamptons Happening: Cranksgiving comes to the Hamptons
Saunders_LogoSaunders & Associates is proud to join forces with the nationwide Cranksgiving movement. This ride was the brainchild of NYC cycling enthusiasts who wanted to pair pedaling with giving.

The concept is simple, a route is created that takes you to four different grocery stores. You pay nothing to join the ride, Instead, you are asked to bring your wallet and purchase non-perishables at each grocery store stop along the way – the amount you spend is completely up to you. Spend the morning riding your bike with a group of awesome riders and you help members of your community have food on their tables for the holidays.

What could be better than being able to help someone have food on their table for the holiday. The event will start in East Hampton Village on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.

logoAll donations for this ride will go to the East Hampton Food Pantry. They plan to feed more than 31,000 people this year in Amagansett, East Hampton, Montauk, Springs and Wainscott.

NBC’s TODAY Show will be at Cranksgiving documenting the event and will be airing the footage on Monday, 11/24!

Ride details:
Ride will start and finish at the East Hampton Middle School, 76 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY
Registration will begin at 10am. The ride will begin at 11am.

Please bring:
• Bike with a helmet and a bike lock
• Large, sturdy backpack to carry your non-perishable goods
• At least $20 to purchase the food (bring more if you want to donate more!) There is no registration fee.

Please check in when you arrive to receive a free map with your route — including stops at local grocery stores — a shopping list of food requested by the East Hampton Food Pantry and an envelope to collect all the receipts for your purchased items.

The ride is approximately 6 miles. There will be fun prizes and giveaways along the way!10348539_10152473843003575_3037848298029843841_n-2

Remember, this is a charity ride and not a race. Ride safe, be nice and treat others like you would like to be treated.

Cranksgiving is lots of fun, helps a good cause and shines a positive light on the local community. Please come and support the community, either by participating in the ride or cheering on the bicyclist. Come and ride with Team TODAY? RSVP here. If you can’t participate, please help them reach their goal of raising 1 million meals by Christmas with the help of Feeding America.

It is my hope that Cranksgiving in the Hamptons expand next year to other towns… 2014 it will start in East Hampton Town, but next year lets expand this to other areas.

If you need to rent a bike contact Amagansett Beach & Bike