| Issue #36, December 1, 2006 |
BLUE PARROT FLOWN? WILL “IVY” FLUTTER IN?
By TJ Clemente
Now that all traces of what was once the Blue Parrot have been packed up, crated, and shipped away, what once was an East Hampton watering hole for so many different types of Hamptonites is empty and barren. While packing up 25 years of his life, former Blue Parrot owner Lee Bieler looked around and said, “Ralph (Lauren) is going to do a good job fixing up the place.” So what is it going to become? All Lee would say is that he was led to believe that “Ralph” was going to put in an Ivy (of Beverly Hills) type of place. Maybe even The Ivy itself. A call to The Ivy in California about that possibility was made and all that was received was a reply from the general manager, who said, “I cannot deny or confirm. It is our policy not to comment publicly on who eats in our places and what our plans are.” So back to square one. What will become of the little restaurant that is located next to the backdoor of The Chase Bank, Citta Nuova, and Ralph Lauren’s East Hampton’s Polo shop?
In the last four years, East Hampton has lost three local old-time Main Street America bars and bar fare icons. The first to go was the East Hampton Grill that had the feel of Uncle JJ’s basement where you could watch baseball and football games while you had a burger and read the paper. Locals would come in during a snowstorm just to see who else might have dug themselves out from under. Then O’Malley’s was gone. You would always run into ten people you knew when you went into O’Malley’s at 11 p.m. to grab a late bite. And finally, the Blue Parrot has served its last Margarita.
Next spring, long-time Blue Parrot patrons who don’t know of this will walk down the narrow corridor that leads from Main Street to the front steps of the Blue Parrot and be surprised to see smartly dressed Ralph Lauren-like mannequins whispering “right this way” through perhaps a maze of tables covered with fine table clothes, fine china and real silverware. On the walls will be fine prints of horses, English saddles, fine schooners or other Ralph Lauren trademarks. One former Parrot employee joked perhaps over the bar will be a portrait of Ralph himself on a horse dressed for polo. Not sure if we will be seeing that, however.
As for the menu, items such as Tokyo Tacos and Bean Burritos will be replaced with some Ivy-like favorites. A little research provided some clues. Corn chowder will replace what used to be chili. And for entrees, The Ivy is famous for its mesquite-grilled Cajun prime rib. Raves also come in about its fish and chips, consisting of a giant platter with shrimp, scallops, cod and calamari and mountains of onion rings and fries. In L.A., pastry chef Richard Irving is famous for, “seducing the Hollywood whippet-thin with decedent desserts such as fudgie pecan brownie and tart lemon pie.” East Hampton patrons perhaps will be able to get used to all of this. However, this is not going to be a place for kids or people looking to dine inexpensively. Lunch for two with a bottle of wine can cost you, after tip, $200. Good-bye, surfer crowd.
So as Lee Bieler said, “Good-bye Main Street, America and hello to corporate America.” But he again added, “Ralph will do a good job, but it (the Blue Parrot) is going to be different.’”
Everybody’s waiting so they can go take a peek.
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