"Hamptons Epicure": Jam Session

Faces on Your Food: Jam

There’s nothing better than East End fruits and vegetables in season. I can’t get enough of those berries and their glorious seasons are so brief! Local strawberries are winding down, rhubarb is done. I miss them already—but I put up my share of jams. Next winter each bite will take me back to beautiful East End summer days.

I’m pretty particular about jams and jellies. I thought no one made them like my mom and gramma but me—then I strolled into the Serene Green farmstand on Noyac Road, just outside of Sag Harbor.

Co-owner Laura Smith has been making jams with her mom for years and now she has a whole lot of fruit to work with. [expand]

Named for Smith’s older daughter Serene, Serene Green opened last spring in a small, long-abandoned stand. Laura’s husband John A. Smith fixed up and expanded the stand. This year he cleared the land behind the stand and is farming it—talk about “local!” They’re already harvesting mint; soon other herbs and tomatoes will be ready to pick, rinse off and walk over to the farmstand.

Laura’s jams caught my eye. They’re all contained in classic quilted crystal jars—but it’s the flavor that sells them. Made in small batches from fresh fruit, the flavors are as bright as can be. No corn syrup, no additives, no nonsense—just a touch of butter. As my gramma used to say, “Butter makes it better.” I love that their organic mint jelly has no added color. Try it with goat cheese on a cracker.

Better hurry in for the Strawberry, Rhubarb and Strawberry-Rhubarb Jams. Blueberry and Raspberry are on the way, and some day soon…Peach!

Another big draw at Serene Green is the fresh, local fish and seafood—a different selection every day.

At this stand, you can buy everything you need to make a complete East End dinner. Plus Serene Green offers cold drinks and flowers—so avoid the supermarket—take a bag and fill it up.

Serene Green, 3980 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor. Open daily, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., www.Serenegreeninc.com.

Experience all the best food and wine the East End has to offer at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks, the summer’s premiere food event in Bridgehampton, New York on July 16—hosted by Marcus Samuelsson. Go to danstasteoftwoforks.com for tickets and a complete list of participants. [/expand]