Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: Chef Larry Kolar, Westlake Fish House

Dan’s Papers newest Taste of Summer event, ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk, premieres on Saturday, July 30. It will be the largest oceanfront food and drink fest ever to hit Montauk and Chef Larry Kolar of Westlake Fish House will be there. Named Dan’s Papers Best of the Best Chef last year, Kolar points out, “Montauk has been the subject of negative press over the past few years. I want people to know that there are many places families can still go to enjoy local food and have a great time, like they’ve been able to for decades.”

What fuels your creativity as a chef?
Local ingredients—we’re re-opening on May 6. On the opening menu I’ll have local fluke, clams, oysters, cod and kale.

What do you think of the Montauk Fishburger?
Children should eat better in general. Most cafeterias serve fatty, unhealthy foods to children and wonder why there are health problems. At Westlake we have healthy choices on our children’s menu.

What’s your local beverage, or cocktail, of choice this season
Montauk Rumrunners Coconut Rum

Which of your dishes would you most like to serve to another chef?
Local scungilli salad

How have eating trends affected your menu?
I started a low carbohydrate lean protein diet this off-season. I found it almost impossible to eat out. This season I’ll have many healthy choices next to the Fish ’n’ Chips, and Mac ’n’ Cheese.

What are you most looking forward to at Dan’s Taste of Summer ClambakeMTK?
Seeing how other local chefs are using local ingredients.

Please complete this sentence: My mother would not approve of my tequila drinking but she would approve of…
the flavor I am able to get from the local catch.

I could survive on a desert island if I just had…
Tequila, Bedell Cellars Taste White, limes and kale. I’m on an island—I figure I’ll catch fish.

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.