Sharing Food and Drink Unites the Forks

Last summer I approached Dan’s Papers Publisher Bob Edelman with an idea: a big food event sponsored by Dan’s Papers. I’ve learned that the best way to bring people together is to feed them together. Bob thought the idea had some merit, maybe for 2011.

A few months later, Manhattan Media, which owns Dan’s Papers, announced a HUGE food event, Dan’s Taste of Two Forks, on July 16, 2011. This thing is far bigger than I had imagined. Agency 21 Consulting is organizing the event. They organized the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival and their NYC Wine & Food Festival. Huge. Yum.

This year’s inaugural event in Bridgehampton will showcase many of the East End’s fine restaurants and wineries, as they all come together for one memorable night. Guests will enjoy local food and wine from all over both the North and the South Forks. [expand]

None other than chef Marcus Samuelsson will host our event. Wow! You’ve probably seen him on “Chopped,” “Inner Chef,” “Iron Chef,” “Top Chef,” or “The Martha Stewart Show.” Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, to say that Samuelsson’s cooking influences are many is an understatement.

After completing his education at the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Samuelsson moved to New York in 1994. He began at Aquavit and went on to found a string of highly successful restaurants, most recently Red Rooster in Harlem. In 1995, the 24-year-old Samuelsson was the youngest chef ever to receive a New York Times 3-star review. Samuelsson has also authored a series of best-selling cookbooks. His 2009 release, New American Table, demonstrates why Samuelsson is the ideal host for this celebration of local food culture.

Samuelsson will be in good company at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks. Dan’s Papers own Simple Art of Cooking columnist and “The Queen of East End Cuisine” Silvia Lehrer, will also be on hand signing copies of her new cookbook, Savoring the Hamptons: Discovering the Food and Wine of Long Island’s East End. James Beard Award Winner and Outstanding Pastry Chef Sarabeth Levine, will also be here with her best-selling cookbook, Sarabeth’s Bakery: From My Hands to Yours. Levine is the “Sarabeth” you see on those jars of Sarabeth’s Legendary Fruit Spread in IGA and Williams-Sonoma stores across the country. The spreads are all made in her Harlem factory—but Sarabeth’s heart is in the Hamptons. She weekends here and still makes her own small batch jams by hand from the East End’s seasonal fruits. Sarabeth and her husband Bill Levine also operate eight popular “Sarabeth’s” restaurants throughout New York and Key West.

Plus all of the East End’s top chefs and vintners will be on hand to serve you, answer your questions and pose for photos. Chefs are such fun people, especially when you get them out of their hot kitchens!

Expect a truly star-studded Saturday night at Sayre Park in Bridgehampton. Rosanna Scotto, co-host of “Good Day New York,” and Dylan Lauren, founder of Dylan’s Candy Bar, will share the role of Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Look for additional star power in Mark Feuerstein, the lead character on “b Pains,” as well as Alex McCord, from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York.”

I cannot wait until July 16! Thanks to Eric Feill, we foodies don’t have to. Eric is in charge of the Taste of Two Forks countdown online at www.danshamptons.com and he’s posting new details daily! You can preview participating restaurants and wineries, personalities and much more. I love what Eric is doing but I’m blinded by jealousy. In his early writing days, Eric cooked with Julia Child in her own kitchen! Child gave him one of her aprons and a signed wooden spoon! You can meet Eric at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks, shake the hand of the man that Julia Child taught to brown a frittata with a blowtorch.

Eric said he wouldn’t miss this event for the world. When I asked him what he’d be doing at the event, he said, “Easting, drinking and enjoying myself!” As he points out, “There’s nowhere else that all of this is brought TO YOU. It’s a great summer if you get to experience a few of these restaurants and wineries—we’ll have over 60 of them under one roof!”

A portion of the proceeds from the night will go to Have a Heart Community Trust, an important local charity that is 100% volunteer-based. Founded by John and Rosemarie Dios in 1991, the Trust was established to provide food and other services to families and individuals in desperate need of emergency assistance on the East End. Have a Heart works with numerous institutions in order to best distribute their resources, in particular partnering with many local food pantries. Our local pantries serve over 1,000 families annually.

Enjoy a charitable night of fine dining, wonderful people, and excellent wine. All of the participating restaurants and wineries will be serving their best at this premiere food and wine event. There is no tastier way to give back to your community, so come out and join us on Saturday, July 16.

Dan’s Taste of Two Forks, Saturday, July 16, 7:30-10 p.m., VIP admission from 6:30 p.m. Visit www.danshamptons.com and www.danstasteoftwoforks.com for more information, or e-mail contact@danstasteoftwoforks.com. [/expand]