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 Hamptons Best Pizza (update 2020)
Pizza is one of those food items that everyone loves, I guess because it is so customized for your personal taste. For some it’s all about the crust thick or thin, for others it’s the sauce and then there are those where it’s all about the cheese for me I want all three crust, sauce & cheese. I really like thin crust because I feel like you can really taste the toppings more when you’re mouth isn’t full of bread. Also important for me is that there isn’t too much tomato sauce. I hate a pizza where the sauce is gushing out with every bite and causing the cheese and everything to fall off. I vary with toppings, I like mozzarella, tomatoes and basil (but the mozzarella & tomatoes need to be sliced thin), I love really good pepperoni, yummy sausage & peppers or mushrooms. What are your favorite toppings?

 Who has The Hamptons Best Pizza? The Hamptons is home to many pizzerias many of which I have personally visited and many I have not. Based on suggestions from friends, my personal experience, google & yelp reviews is how this list was developed? Some will say Pizza in the Hamptons is not as good as NYC pizza like Gabby’s Pizza in Queens or Ray’s Pizza in NYC two of my favorites but I think you will be pleasantly pleased with the selected Hamptons pizzeria’s. My hubby tells me however no one compares to the legendary Gloria’s pizza that used to be in Flushing Queens, he continues to show his age.

These are my top Hamptons Mouthpiece picks for The Hamptons BEST Pizza…criteria: Traditional style NY Pizza, Crust, sauce, cheese, toppings and of course taste.  If your favorite did not make my list, email me and I will stop by to taste and if it meets my requirements for BEST PIZZA, they will be added to the list and a shout out on my social media, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin.

email: [email protected]

Plain pizza

  • P&G Pizza & Deli, Southampton *
  • Slice pizza, Shelter Island
  • La Capannina Wainscott, NY *
  • La Parmigiana, Southampton, NY
  • Sam’s Restaurant, East Hampton *
  • Astro’s Pizza  & Felice’s Ristorante, Amagansett
  • Francesca’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Hampton Bays
  • Tonino’s Pizza, Westhampton Beach
  • Primavera Pizza, Montauk
  • Springs Pizza, Springs
  • Hampton Market & Kitchen, Sag Harbor
  • Sag Pizza (not a fan of the brick oven, but I do like by the slice )
  • Red Horse Market (individual pizza)

  

Bridgehampton, NY: Bobby Vans Crab Salad

I am in love with this Crab salad at Bobby Vans in Bridgehampton, I have ordered it 3 times in the last 2 weeks and each time it has tasted exactly the same as the first time. I love the consistency of good food. I often find a lack of consistency in the Hamptons during the summer season. I am not sure why perhaps because of the influx of people during the summer. It is very rare that I make the effort to dine out in the Hamptons during the summer, but when I do I want that dining experience, good food, and amazing service.

This salad hit all of my taste buds, it includes avocado, bacon, lumps of real crabmeat, lettuce, shredded carrots, yellow tomatoes and wontons for a crunch, topped off with a delicious homemade dressing. I was pleasantly pleased and it left me wanting more and daydreaming about the next time I would have it. My only hope is when I return I will have the same dining experience. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere was enjoyable and it was not a long wait for our food to arrive. It was the perfect dining experience for a beautiful lunch with my hubby on a summer Monday afternoon in the Hamptons. I might add it was not over the top expensive.

I am a fan of Bobby Vans because I have always had a wonderful dining experience in many of the locations I have visited. I remember dining at an NYC location a couple of years ago with my daughter and we had a food experience that literally put us in a food coma.

Next time you are in Bridgehampton stop there for lunch I also recommend the SWEET CHILI TOSSED CALAMARI, the calamari was tender and the sweet chili sauce gave it a pop. OMG, it was so delicious.

Hamptons Eats:Riesling or Pinot Noir…enJoie offers Thanksgiving wine pairing advice
Judia Black of enJoie, a wine and lifestyle events company, hosted a tasty, and very informative Thanksgiving wine pairing at Minton’s in Harlem this past Saturday. The class provided examples of wine to be enjoyed with a variety of dishes typically served on Thanksgiving Day. Attendees explored how to navigate the wines’ many different personalities, similarly to adjusting and interacting with the many personalities of guests who attend Thanksgiving dinner. The wines were American grown in celebration of the American holiday and were prime examples that there is no need to look over the pond for quality wine, but right in our own backyard.

The class consisted of six tastings. Each guest received an informational sheet that listed the wines in the order they were to be tasted. Kicking things off was a sparking wine from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Next was a light and neutral Riesling from the Finger Lakes. Following was a full-bodied Chardonnay, which pairs nicely with creamy cheeses. The California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel were crowd favorites. The grand finale, and icing on the cake, so to speak, was an Iced Cider, a dessert wine made of apples, which were picked, pressed, frozen, and fermented in Vermont.2

A spread of wine-compatible snacks was provided to accompany the tastings. The French Stilton Bleu, from the infamous Murray’s Cheese, went nicely with the Zinfandel. A Swiss triple-crème Brie from Murray’s was a perfect match for the Pinot Noir. Toasted baguettes, blanched almonds, and apricots were also snacked.

If planning to pair wine with a Thanksgiving meal, here are some suggestions based on the selection from the class. The sparkling wine pairs well with appetizers; anything from crab cakes, to caviar. If squash or sweet potato dishes are on the menu, the Riesling or Chardonnay will be a great match. The Zinfandel collaborates well with strong cheeses, pork, and poultry. And for the turkey, this Pinot Noir can never go wrong. 1
A memorable moment, one that encompassed the significance of enjoying wine on Thanksgiving, was when Judia mentioned applying our five senses. Of the five, the sense of hearing is perhaps the most difficult to find a connection to when drinking. After some thought, the class shared ideas which included the sound of pouring wine and the sound of a cork popping. Judia’s theory is that the fifth sense is applied as we enjoy the wine and listen to those who surround us and create the environment. As we taste the wine and listen to the conversations and sounds of the friends and family we share with, it creates a complete experience. On Thanksgiving we are surrounded by loved ones, delicious comforting food, and perfectly paired wine. What’s more to be thankful for than that?

3Please see a list of the wines mentioned above:
Gruet Blance Noirs, Brut NV, Pinot Noir, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2013 Ryan Williams Reisling, Finger Lakes, New York
2012 Adele, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California
2012 Artesa, Pinot Noir, Carneros Region of Napa, California
2012 Brown Estate, Zinfandel, Napa, California
Eden Northern Spy, Northern Spy Apples, West Charleston, Vermont

For a wonderful selection of wines visit Sag Harbor Liquor Store….FREE DELIVERY…they also offer a 15 % discount off mixed cases of wine and sparkling www.sagharborliquorstore.com

Cutchogue: Bedell Cellars First Crush
On a shockingly bitter cold Tuesday in November, Bedell Cellars of Cutchogue held an exciting launch party celebrating the release of Bedell First Crush Red 2013 and the winery’s collaboration with artist Mickalene Thomas; who’s art proudly decorates the bottle. The expected 200 guests stayed warm at the Four Seasons in NYC and indulged in a variety of Bedell wines in suitable honor of the winery.

Bedell Cellars’ owner and Hollywood film producer Michael Lynne, mingled with guests with a smile on his face that never faltered. Among those invited were several whom are well known in the art and entertainment community including Stacy Engman, a curator at the National Arts Club in New York; Mashonda Tefiere, previously married to musical artist Swizz Beats; and Will Cotton, a famous painter whose inspiration is sourced from Katy Perry.

The 2013 First Crush is an exquisite blend of 60% merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, from grapes picked from younger vines. Lettie Teague of The Wall Street Journal describes it as, “A light juicy blend, pretty, uncomplicated, marked by soft tannins and bright red berry fruit.” It is absolutely delicious and delightfully smooth. Among other wines poured were an oak barreled chardonnay, a stainless steel chardonnay, and the Musée, another red blend with heavy, velvety tannins and a long finish. 3-2

Accompanying the wine were elegant hor dourves of steak carpaccio with truffle oil, seared tuna with mango chutney, duck wontons, and fried oysters among several others. Guests reacted very positively grabbing bites just as quickly as wine was being poured. Each food passed was more delicious than the last and thankfully were not in short supply.

Some time into the evening, Michael Lynne addressed the attendees, announcing the release of First Crush and introducing Mickalene Thomas whom also spoke to the crowd of the wine and her artwork. She described First Crush as being very easy to drink and would also make for an excellent art piece after drinking! Both speakers radiated positive energy and the crowd gave a loud and long applause to honor the collaboration. 4-2

The evening was a lovely celebratory event of art, great food, and excellent wine. To name this newly launched Bedell wine First Crush is an understatement. It truly seems more appropriate to be titled “First Love.”

Hamptons Eats: Wine and cheese: what milk is-­‐to cookies, with slightly more sophistication. Two glorious (food groups?) that when joined together create double the tasting pleasure. For those of you who are familiar with the many varieties of wines and cheeses, you may also be aware of the many possibilities for pairing them. For those in which wine and cheese are a foreign territory, a land in which you do not speak the language, there’s good news! You can learn. Here is a brief (and very general guide) for pairing wine and cheese that will leave you more knowledgeable and possibly with your mouth watering!
To understand a pairing is to recognize the flavors from the wine you are sipping, the cheese you are nibbling, and how it will taste when they collaborate. The goal is for each to complement the other. It is also, as many things are, about balance. Finding the right balance between the characteristics of what you seek to pair will ensure a satisfying flavor experience.

Let’s say you are celebrating a big accomplishment (go you!) You are sipping on some sparkling wine and are in need of a snack (all those bubbles!). Lucky for you the carbonation from those bubbles will cut through a thick and creamy cheese, making the two a perfect pair. I would suggest a triple cream Brie for between those sips of bubbly. The combination of the two is really something to celebrate!
White wines. There are so many options! Picture a relaxing afternoon at one of the vineyards on the North Fork. New world chardonnays, mostly made in the USA, (and those from our very own north fork vineyards), can evoke a buttery, oaky flavor as well as notes of tropical fruits. A chardonnay with these flavors invites a medium-­‐sharp cheddar to make a match. The softness of the wine compliments the sharpness of the
cheddar. Feeling like a kid again? Try it with a cheddar grilled cheese!
One could easily compare red wine to a lover. It can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So it’s a really good thing it couples so well with many delicious cheeses. It’s a dynamic duo and the 3 of you will be very happy together. Pinot Noir is arguably the most commonly drank red wine. It is a great starting red, for those whom are not typically red-­‐wine drinkers but are looking to branch out and expand their palates. Light, fresh, and fruity; pinot noir pairs nicely with a pungent, fierce, and flavorful goat cheese. A little bit goes a very long way when it comes to goat cheese thanks to its fantastic tang. When the pinot noir softens the pungency of the goat cheese, the flavors harmonize.
A successful pairing is the result of the wine and cheese complementing each other and creating an enjoyable tasting experience. By following the examples above, or just experimenting with your own palate (there really is no right or wrong!), get ready to get tasting! And if all else fails, you can never go wrong with cookies and milk.
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