Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: Marcel Link, Mercado, Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar

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/owner Marcel Link’s Mercado Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar is also located in Bridgehampton but it’s a world apart. Offering the widest selection of tequila (75) and draught beers (20) in the Hamptons to complement their flavorful dishes, Mercado, which means “market” in Spanish, gives a true taste of Mexico in a homey setting. You can savor the finest ingredients from local fisherman and farmers markets as well as those imported from Mexican markets in this unique eatery.

What fuels your creativity as a chef?
Trying foods in different restaurants around the world

What local ingredients are you using right now?
Scallops, tuna and squash blossoms from our garden

What’s your local beverage, or cocktail, of choice this season?
I still prefer a Coke over anything.

Which of your dishes would you most like to serve to another chef?
Chipotle Scallops

What are you most looking forward to at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks?
Tasting the other restaurants’ dishes

Please complete this sentence: My mother would not approve of my foul mouth, but she would approve of the flavor I get from salt. (She has the world’s most insipid taste.)

I could survive on a desert island if I just had: water and beef jerky because any other food would spoil—as I assume there’s no refrigeration or cooking equipment on this desert isle.

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 7:30–10 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.