Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: Chef Joe Isidori, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

Chef Joe Isidori from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer in SoHo will be heating things up at Dan’s GrillHampton on July 22 at Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton. Top chefs will take sides as Team Hamptons competes against Team NYC in a one-of-a-kind cooking competition and tasting event. Enjoy the expertly grilled fare, beer and specialty cocktails, then be part of the action as you, and a judging panel of A-list palates, cast votes for the finest food of the night. And, as Isidori points out, “Remember, it’s not about being fancy, it’s about having fun.”

Black Tap restaurants are famous for their burgers, but many East Enders will remember Isidori fondly from his time as chef at Bruce Buschel’s farm-to-table eatery, the Southfork Kitchen, which operated on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike from 2011 to 2013.

How does cooking with fire affect your mood?
Turn up the heat, the more fire the better.

What fuels your creativity as a chef?
Making people happy

How has the nose-to-tail movement influenced your work?
It hasn’t influenced our menu too much but nose-to-tail is great, as it gives you an opportunity to work with different cuts of meat.

What’s your favorite “off-cut” of meat?
Pork cheeks

What is your beverage, or cocktail, of choice this season?
Miller High Life all the way

Which of your dishes would you most like to serve to another chef?
My classic All-American Burger

How has the gluten-free eating trend affected your menu?
It has inspired us to make sure we cater to those who don’t eat gluten and that’s why we offer Udi’s gluten-free buns at all Black Taps, so everyone can enjoy our burgers.

What are you most looking forward to at GrillHampton?
The Hamptons vibe and energy

Please complete this sentence: I most feel like a well-fed caveman when I eat…
my favorite Pat LaFrieda meats.

I could survive on a desert island if I just had…
Taco Bell, pizza and Miller High Life

Who’s going to win the competition this year—the New York or the Hamptons team?
The New York team will win. We are the champs.

Dan’s Taste of Summer kicks off with Dan’s GrillHampton on Friday, July 22, and continues on Saturday, July 23, with Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Company, both on the waterfront at Fairview Farm at Mecox in Bridgehampton. The oceanfront food and drink fest ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk premieres on Saturday, July 30. Dan’s Harvest East End, the can’t-miss food and wine classic, is Saturday, August 20, at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue. For tickets and more information on all Dan’s Taste of Summer events, visit DansTaste.com! A portion of this year’s ticket proceeds from GrillHampton and Taste of Two Forks will benefit All For The East End (AFTEE), a 501(c)(3) that showcases and provides support to the more than 1,000 charity organizations in the five East End towns.