Dan's Taste of Two Forks Countdown: Steven Judelson, Amagansett Sea Salt Co.

Steven Judelson of Amagansett Sea Salt Co. is excited to once again be a part of Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Co., this year hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli on Fairview Farm in Mecox on July 22. Judelson will be there with his new collaborator Rick Mast—yes, THE Rick Mast of artisanal chocolate fame. And they’ll both be with hundreds of samples of…smooth dark chocolate surrounding a silky caramel center…Amagansett Sea Salt Caramel Mast Dark Chocolate! So, you definitely want to go to there.

You can also meet Judelson most Saturday mornings at the Sag Harbor Farmers Market. The samples there are not quite as over-the-top, but local sea salt on a slice of freshly picked radish or cucumber is mighty fine.

How old were you when you knew that you’d have a career in food?
I didn’t know I wanted to have a career in food until after I had a first career as a lawyer and a second career as a real estate developer.

Why should consumers seek out local produce and wine?
I think consumers should seek out the best quality food products they can find—when the best quality food is also local, it’s a win-win. On the East End, that’s the case with most of our seafood, produce, and, of course, sea salt.

Would you agree that chefs and farmers have a lot in common in that both are a little crazy and overworked?
When we first started making salt, we jokingly named our salt works “The Salt Farm.” As a salt farmer, I don’t feel “crazy” (although certainly people have said that what I do is crazy!). How can I be “overworked” when my work is so much fun?

What local crops do you use?
Garlic scapes! Beets! Seaweed! Delicious-but-ugly produce!

Tell us about the best or most surprising thing you’ve ever eaten.
A carrot straight out of the ground from our neighbors at Quail Hill Farm.

What do you have in your pantry that would make another food pro jealous?
A near endless supply of Amagansett Sea Salt.

What are you most looking forward to about being a part of Dan’s Taste of Two Forks?
Hanging out with our friends at Mast Chocolates, as well as connecting with the great chefs and vintners on the East End!

Find the latest info on all of Dan’s Taste of Summer events remaining this summer—the new Dan’s Corona MonTaco presented by Don Julio (July 7) at Gurney’s Montauk hosted by Adam Richman, Travel Channel host, author, food & travel explorer; Dan’s ClambakeMTK (July 8) at Gurney’s Montauk hosted by Geoffrey and Margaret Zakarian—Geoffrey Zakarian is a star of Food Network’s Chopped, The Kitchen, Cooks vs. Cons, co-author of My Perfect Pantry, restaurateur behind The Lambs Club, The National in NYC, The National in Greenwich, Georgie and The Garden Bar at Montage Beverly Hills, Point Royal and Counter Point at The Diplomat Beach Resort and The Water Club at Borgata in Atlantic City and co-creator of Pro For Home food storage container system. Margaret Zakarian is President of Zakarian Hospitality, co-author of My Perfect Pantry and co-creator of Pro For Home food storage container system; Dan’s GrillHampton presented by Pat LaFrieda (July 21) hosted by Robert Irvine, celebrity chef, entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder of the Robert Irvine Foundation and chef/owner of Robert Irvine’s Public House at the Tropicana Las Vegas; and Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Co. (July 22) hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli chef/owner of Butter, Judge on Food Network’s Chopped, author of Old School Comfort Food and soon-to-be released cookbook The Home Cook—at DansTaste.com. Follow Dans Taste of Summer on Facebook, on Twitter @DansTOS17 and Instagram @DansTasteofSummer. Event Hashtags: #DansTOS, #MonTaco, #ClambakeMTK, #GrillHampton and #TasteofTwoForks.