Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: Chef Scott Kampf, Southampton Social Club

Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Company returns Saturday, July 23, but to a new Bridgehampton location—the waterfront at Fairview Farm at Mecox. Chef Scott Kampf points out that “The Southampton Social Club [SSC] is more than a nighttime scene. It’s also one of the Hamptons top restaurants.” Attendees are eager to try what Kampf brings to the tasting event from SSC and from his new restaurant with owner Ian Duke, Union Cantina, which has taken over the former Publick House site in Southampton. Union Cantina promises high-end Mexican fare and a great bar scene year-round.

What fuels your creativity as a chef?
The trends in foods. Clean foods. What’s available—ingredients that are coming out right now. We have a lot of variety on the East End.

What local ingredients are you using?
Right now I’m using local corn, tomatoes, strawberries and asparagus.

What’s your local cocktail of choice this season?
A fresh watermelon purée, jalapeño with cheese, Don Julio Blanco Tequila and fresh lime juice.

Which of your dishes would you most like to serve to another chef?
Striped Bass Provençal over black forbidden rice and roasted asparagus.

How has the gluten-free eating trend affected your menu?
We’ve adapted to this trend by bringing organic quinoa and black rices to our dishes.

What are you most looking forward to at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks?
The opportunity to present our new restaurant, Union Cantina, to the public.

Please complete this sentence: My mother would not approve of my: attitude on busy nights, but she would approve of the flavor I get from local ingredients and foods.

I could survive on a desert island if I just had: Honey Smacks, milk, Coca-Cola, avocado and turkey—in that order.

Dan’s Taste of Summer kicks off with Dan’s GrillHampton hosted by Adam Richman on Friday, July 22 and continues on Saturday, July 23, with Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Company hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli, both on the waterfront at Fairview Farm at Mecox in Bridgehampton. VIP tickets for GrillHampton are $185 and offer early access to the event beginning at 7 p.m. General Admission, from 8 p.m.–10:30 p.m., is $135. VIP tickets for Taste of Two Forks are $295 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $185.

The oceanfront food and drink fest ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk hosted by Marc Murphy and Eden Grinshpan premieres on Saturday, July 30. General Admission for ClambakeMTK, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $150. VIP tickets are $250, and include access to the after-party from 10 p.m.–12 a.m.

Dan’s Harvest East End, the can’t-miss food and wine classic, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, is Saturday, August 20, at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue. VIP tickets for Harvest East End are $285 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $135. 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. A portion of proceeds from Harvest East End benefits Long Island Farm Bureau and HRHCare.

To purchase tickets and get more info on all Dan’s Taste of Summer events, visit DansTaste.com!