GrillHampton 2018 Brought Big Wins, Great Eats and Epic Music Friday

Dan’s GrillHampton presented by NY Prime Beef was a smashing success on Friday night, July 20. The first event of Dan’s Hamptons Media’s biggest Taste of Summer weekend offered the sold out crowd an evening of fun and flavors at beautiful Fairview Farm on Mecox Bay in Bridgehampton.

RELATED: Dan’s GrillHampton 2018 in Photos – A Night to Remember

The Preston House & Hotel chef Matty Boudreau won the GrillHampton Blue Moon People’s Choice Award, taking home a major trophy for the second consecutive year. Last year, with Baron’s Cove, Boudreau won the Judges’ Choice. This time the people voted for his epic, melt-in-your-mouth smoked brisket with lobster butter and avocado corn salad—a next level surf and turf of sorts. Unfortunately for locals, this was the only win for Team Hamptons, but Boudreau held his trophy high with pride.

Chefs from the Hamptons and NYC will definitely be gunning for Boudreau’s trophy next year. Let’s hope he’s prepared for the challenge!

Our panel of celebrity judges—including Adam Richman, David Burke, Julia Collin Davison, Salvatore DiBenedetto and Josh Tanner—gave the NY Prime Beef Judge’s Choice Award to il Buco Alimentari e Vineria chef Garrison Price of Team NYC for his fabulous Grilled Wagyu Short Rib with aged balsamic, new harvest moriolo olive oil, black garlic, and rosemary with charred avocado, crushed fava beans, castelvetrano olives, calabrian chili, flowering herbs. It was a well-deserved triumph!

Team NYC won the T-Mobile Team Award, putting the night’s majority wins to our neighbors to the west. And we wholeheartedly congratulate them on a job well done.

Of course GrillHampton isn’t just about who won trophies. The real winners are the folks who ate, drank and enjoyed all the bounty and luscious libations from a wide array of chefs, restaurants and purveyors, not to mention a host of additional surprises and goodies.

Here are some of our favorite moments and observations from the evening’s festivities.

Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot celebrated the music of Billy Joel all night long—guests went wild, dancing, cheering and swaying as the band played Joel’s greatest hits, as well as some other classics, including Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” and a rousing performance of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”

DelGuidice concluded the show with “Piano Man,” much to the delight of all in attendance. Fans at home were even watching via our live broadcasts on Facebook and Instagram.

The sunset over Mecox Bay was truly magical at Fairview Farm, and VIP guests had a front row seat from the exclusive Waterfront Lounge, which was bigger than last year. White cushy everything—yes please!

Our panel of celebrity judges—including Adam Richman, David Burke, Julia Collin Davison, Salvatore DiBenedetto and Josh Tanner—gave the NY Prime Beef Judge’s Choice Award to il Buco Alimentari e Vineria chef Garrison Price of Team NYC.

Price made a fabulous Grilled Wagyu Short Rib with aged balsamic, new harvest moriolo olive oil, black garlic, and rosemary with charred avocado, crushed fava beans, castelvetrano olives, calabrian chili, flowering herbs. It was a well-deserved triumph!

Finally, Team New York won the T-Mobile Team Award, putting the night’s majority wins to our neighbors to the west. And we wholeheartedly congratulate them on a job well done.

Of course GrillHampton isn’t just about who won trophies. The real winners are the folks who ate, drank and enjoyed all the bounty and luscious libations from a wide array of chefs, restaurants and purveyors, not to mention a host of additional surprises and goodies.

Here are some of our favorite moments and observations from the evening’s festivities.

Billy Joel‘s band members Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot took to the GrillHampton stage and absolutely crushed it! Guests went wild, dancing, cheering and swaying as the band played Joel’s greatest hits, as well as some other classics, including Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” and a rousing performance of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” DelGuidice concluded the show with “Piano Man,” much to the delight of all in attendance. Fans at home were even watching via our live broadcasts on Facebook and Instagram.

The sunset over Mecox Bay was truly magical at Fairview Farm, and VIP guests had a front row seat from the exclusive Waterfront Lounge, which was bigger than last year. White cushy everything—yes please!

An annual favorite, Shake Shack went big this year, dropping a full sized BBQ Pulled Pork Burger with pulled pork and slaw atop a beef burger. Was it their plan to fill guests up with so much goodness we had no room for the competition?

Here’s hoping VANDAL chef Jonathan Kavourakis gives it out the recipe for his tomatillo and roasted corn side dish. No, seriously, how much do you want for it? The Grilled Chipotle Shrimp was also a clear winner that definitely added some valuable points to Team NYC’s total.

Pig Beach chef Matt Abdoo made Sticky Honey Glazed Ribs to die for, and P.J. Clarke’s Michael DeFonzo prepared heavenly pit beef sandwiches. Two more winners for Team NYC!

That’s not to say that Team Hamptons didn’t have plenty of winners too. Cowfish chef Erick Jones made Rooted Hospitality Group proud with his inventive Chicken Bada Bing with white chocolate truffle risotto.

Grace & Grit chef Jennilee Morris delivered an incredible smoked tuna pineapple, jalapeño gremolata, creating a perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Noah’s on the Road chef Justin Schwartz wowed the crowd several dishes, including Peppers of the Sea, shrimp stuffed poblano, tuna stuffed jalapeño, blue claw crab stuffed bell peppers and grilled watermelon salad.

Even the greatest potato chip flavor ever created by man—dill pickle—takes a back seat to Topping Rose House’s Tabasco Chips, which made a perfect side to Drew Hiatt‘s Lobster Sliders on squid ink brioche buns.

Speaking of taters, the Truffled French Fries from Southampton Social Club were hot AND fabulous!

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is so smooth one could drink it all night long! Oh wait, quite a few people did. Others found their flavor with Diplomático rum, the excellently orange Aperol Spritz, Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon whiskey and much more.

Bai water and infusions by the bay kept guests hydrated, healthy and wise. The Bai Bubbles Bolivia Black Cherry sparkling antioxidant infusion was a favorite. We saw a number of people digging deep in the ice to find this flavor. Many others went for the non-sparklings, like Kula Watermelon.

The Margarita Bar by Union Cantina was the place to be if you like margaritas, bars, unions or cantinas. It was fun and freewheeling! That was one fine Blood Orange Margarita…and the Mango was not bad at all! Life in the Hamptons is rimmed with salt!

Turncoat! Chef Nick Dwoskin of Holy Ground competed for Team NYC but he’s originally from Sag Harbor! And he credits his time working at Channing Daughters Winery, Bay Burger and the Beacon for fueling his foodie fanaticism. There’s just no denying it: their smoked chicken was beyond-beyond.

Pretty sure ANYTHING wrapped in a thin pastry by Whole Le Crepe, Inc. would be delish, and the Lemon Berry Crepe was a nice, sweet complement to the mostly meaty fare.

My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream brought another sweet treat, and everyone loved the authentic Japanese confection made from pounded sticky rice.

We enjoyed testing out a spa from Harbor Hot Tubs, and who could forget the talented Samantha Slithers showing off her hula-hoop skills?

After spending the last month watching a thrilling and historic World Cup, how much fun was it to watch that guy in a French soccer jersey celebrate by winning several games at the foosball table—he even scored a goal while sipping a Corona! Many guests enjoyed playing foosball and cornhole in the California Closets Fun Zone, just outside the tent.

Speaking of foosball, we definitely saw Lufthansa Heist author Daniel Simone playing against his wife Brenda in the California Closets fun zone, just outside the tent. Guests also challenged each other in intense games of corn hole all night.

Who knew rosé on ice would be twice as nice? Rosé Piscine is specifically made to be served over ice. It was a nice way to cool down on a warm evening.

Forget those plain-old mass-produced pickles you buy at the grocery store. One taste of Backyard Brine’s Smokey Siennas, wood-smoked jalapeño dills, and you’ll be wondering what you’ve been doing with your pickle-loving life. The local gourmet pickle purveyors offered a total of four options, including the yummy “Turn Up the Beets,” which complimented the meat dishes beautifully.

NYC’s Oxomoco drew people in with their striking tie-dyed tablecloth, but we stayed for the delectable Pork Cheek Carnitas Tacos by chef Justin Bazdarich.

Audi Southampton showed off two of its newest, slickest, sleekest luxury vehicles.

On the way out, satiated guests couldn’t help making room for irresistible chocolate covered ice cream from the Hampton Chocolate Factory truck. Every bite was worth it.

If you missed the action at GrillHampton or are ready for more, make sure to attend tonight’s Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building and hosted by chef, caterer and award-winning actor David Burtka, who will release his first cookbook, Life Is a Party, next spring! VIP tickets are sold out.

And don’t forget about Dan’s Corona MonTaco at Gurney’s Montauk Yacht Club on Saturday, August 4. It’s a night of Mexican-inspired food and cocktails in one of the most beautiful waterfront location out there!

Visit DansTaste.com for tickets and info.