GrillHampton or Taste of Two Forks: Which Event Is Right for You?

Dan’s Papers is heading to Nova’s Ark in Water Mill for back-to-back events this weekend—Dan’s GrillHampton on Friday, August 20 and Dan’s Taste of Two Forks on Saturday, August 21—and both are extremely enticing in their own way! Here are 10 things to consider before choosing which event is right for you.

Grab your tickets to Dan’s GrillHampton and Dan’s Taste of Two Forks at DansTaste.com before they’re all sold out!

1. The All-Star Chefs!

Both Grill and Taste have stacked rosters of top-tier Hamptons chefs, but if you’re looking for the full range of Downstate New York flavors, you’ll want to attend both. Unlike any of the other Dan’s Papers food and wine events, GrillHampton has a dedicated New York City team of chefs competing against our East End favorites. The Grill teams battle for diners’ and judges’ votes to determine the best chefs of the night, and the competition gets intense! However, because Taste of Two Forks is focused on highlighting Hamptons and North Fork restaurants, there are twice as many local chefs than at Grill. So, Gotham Burger Club and Queens Custom BBQ, or Calissa and The Halyard at Soundview Greenport? It’s a tough choice, for sure.

2. The Mouthwatering Food!

While the specific dishes change each year, the general flavor palates of the two events are grilled and smokey, think barbecue and sliders, at GrillHampton, and fresh and flavorful at Taste, think seafood and lots of locally sourced veggies. There’s usually a bit of crossover, too – red meats at Taste, veggie dishes at Grill – so whichever one you pick, there’s more than enough to whet your appetite.

3. The Sweet Treats!

Designer doughnuts and vegan baked goods or gourmet chocolates and cubic cakes? If dessert is important to you, you’ll need to choose wisely – North Fork Doughnut Co. and Afragola Dolce are only at Grill, while North Fork Chocolate Co. and Madeline The Baker are exclusive to Taste.

4. The Luscious Libations!

This one’s a toss-up, as both feature refreshing libations from Corona, Blue Moon, LaCroix, Angel’s Envy Bourbon Whiskey, Honest Tea, Miami Cocktail, Listel Wine, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Dear Mom Wine Co. and more.

5. The Infectious Beats!

This one’s obviously a tie, because Mohegan Sun’s DJ Phresh will be filling Nova’s Ark with the freshest tracks this side of the Shinnecock Canal at both Grill and Taste. Don’t fight the rhythm, it’s gonna get you. So get ready to dance!

6. Location, location, location!

It’s hard to imagine a nicer location to dine al fresco than at the Nova’s Ark sculpture park in Water Mill. To celebrate the East End’s bountiful farm and food scene while seated within a landmark of the East End art scene – these two nights truly encapsulate what makes the East End so magical. Another tie.

7. The Instagramable Moments!

You wouldn’t come to a foodie event in a sculpture park and not take pictures, right? Grill and Taste should have #instagramable stamped across the banners, because if ever there was a photo to post that would make your Instagram followers jealous, this is it. Be sure to tag us @danspapers and use #DansTaste.

8. The VIP Treatment!

And speaking of making your friends and followers jealous, VIP ticket holders will enjoy a luxury experience complete with priority entry 45 minutes before the doors open for general admission, interactive bubbly and seafood bar, exclusive lounge seating and specialty drinks all night long! Only a limited number of VIP tickets are being offered so they will sell out fast!

9. The Charitable Donations!

A portion of all ticket proceeds from Grill and Taste goes toward All For The East End (AFTEE), a local nonprofit with a mission to generate significant new and creative sources of funding and organizational support for the more than 1,000 charities throughout the five towns of the Hamptons and North Fork.

10. The Special Offers!

GrillHampton tickets are on sale now for only $99, with Taste of Two Forks tickets just a bit higher at $125. The VIP price for both is $250. However, if you’re planning on inviting your crew, you can email wwhalen@schnepsmedia.com to enquire about special pricing and perks for groups of eight or more.

While similar, both Grill and Taste offer a lot of unique experiences, so you really can’t afford to miss either one!