A Real Deal
Diners can chase away their winter blues and save some green during Long Island restaurant week's winter event, taking place Jan. 29 to Feb. 5. Participants all over the island will offer three-course menus at three price points: $27, $37, and $44 for dinner with a $22 two-course lunch option.
Those signed up on the South Fork so far, all with $44 menus, are Lulu Kitchen and Page at 63 Main in Sag Harbor, Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, Calissa in Water Mill, and Bamboo in Southampton, which also has a $27 option. Restaurants must offer at least three options per course. The dinners will be served all night and every night that the restaurants are open, except Saturdays, when they can opt to pause the offer after 7 p.m. More information is on the Long Island Restaurant Week website.
Grill Out
The East Hampton Grill has a number of items from its regular menu now available for takeout. Diners hankering for the restaurant's burger, French dip, biscuits, Caesar salad, or chicken sandwich can now enjoy them in the comfort of their own homes. Sides like creamed corn, coleslaw, kale panzanella, and tabbouleh are also available to order through the restaurant's website to enjoy in p.j.s in front of the TV or for a dress-up date night in the formal dining room.
Black History Month
February will be here before we know it and with it the celebration of Black History Month. On Feb. 1, the East End Food Institute and Stony Brook Southampton will co-host a conversation and cooking demonstration with Chris Scott, a Top Chef competitor, and Kelley Fanto-Deetz, the author of "Bound to the Fire" and the vice president of collections and public engagement at Stratford Hall, an historic house museum in Virginia. Prior to becoming an academic specializing in early-African diaspora culture and archaeology, she was a professional cook.
Inspired by their homeland's cuisine, enslaved cooks made complex dishes on plantations, which have become part of broader American cooking traditions. Mr. Scott will demonstrate how to make healthy recipes honoring those traditions, such as roasted turnip and caramelized onion soup, pear and smoked cheddar crostini, and heirloom tomato, lemon and black-eyed pea salad.
Tastings will follow the event, which will take place at 5 p.m. and costs $20. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Idli for Lunch
Idli is now part of the Tapovana seasonal lunch menu. Served at the Bridgehampton Community House Mondays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Indian inspired lunch can be eaten there, picked up, or delivered through Uber Eats.
Idli is similar to a dosa but made from fermented rice and dal batter. It is a complete protein and supports the body's microbiome through its probiotic properties. The texture is soft and spongy and complements the sambar and chutney included in the meal.
Sylvester C.S.A.
Sylvester Manor has opened up registration for its 2023 community supported agriculture program, which offers farm produce for 21 weeks during the summer and fall. Participants can opt to pick up boxes each week or pick their own vegetables on the farm. The early funding of the harvest allows the farmers to buy and germinate seeds to prepare for planting, and helps mitigate the crop risks from weather, pests, and disease.
The manor's C.S.A. has more than 150 families with membership costs on a sliding scale and includes donations to food pantries as part of the program. The schedule runs from mid-June through October. The cost is $635 plus credit card processing fees. It works out to about $30 per week to receive anywhere from $35 to $60 worth of produce, depending on when the higher value crops are in season. Last year's average weekly value of a share was $54, or an 89 percent rate of interest.
Participating in the weekly pick-your-own option offers the best value and includes access to flowers, fruit, vegetables, and unlimited herbs. Those who can't make a weekly commitment can purchase an anytime farm stand credit for $500, which offers $550 worth of value for a full calendar year.
Pork, egg, and bread shares will be offered later in the season. Sign-ups and further information are available on the Sylvester Manor website.
Gone Fishing
Serafina in East Hampton is closed for a winter break and will reopen Feb. 9. The restaurant Leon on Shelter Island is taking a break as well and will reopen Feb. 2.
