Food Seen: Lulu Kitchen & Bar's Philippe Corbet, Hampton Bays Dining & More

Get to know Philippe Corbet, chef at Lulu Kitchen in Sag Harbor, explore Hampton Bays dining and more dispatches from the Hamptons “Food Seen.”

Chef Highlight: Philippe Corbet, Executive Chef of Lulu Kitchen & Bar

Philippe Corbet was born in the small town of Chambéry, France, in the county of Savoie. He grew up in a family of chefs and developed an expert knowledge of food at an early age. While living in Savoie, he formally studied the art of cooking, earning a four-year chef’s degree and graduating first in his class. From there, he worked in a variety of Michelin-starred restaurants — including the famed Georges Blanc in Vonnas Ain — where he honed his skills and developed an interest in world cuisines. While in France at the young age of 24, misfortune struck Corbet when he received a phone call at work: The apartment where he had been living had burned to the ground. It was a total loss. Not to be defeated by such an event, Corbet saw this as an opportunity to come to the United States and continue expanding his gastronomic horizons. Within weeks, he sold his last remaining possession, his car, and he came to the East End to begin cooking at one of the Hamptons’ most enduring and successful restaurants, Stone Creek Inn in East Quogue. While there, Corbet experimented with new cooking techniques and developed a deeper understanding of the American palate. Corbet stayed at Stone Creek Inn for several years, but eventually decided to try his hand in the New York City restaurant scene. He accepted the position of executive chef at Bouley, one of New York’s consistently top-rated restaurants, and one that holds two Michelin stars.

After a successful stint at Bouley, Corbet was more passionate about food and cooking than ever. He wanted to create his own brand and focus his time and efforts on crafting the dishes he loved. As a result, he moved back to Suffolk County, where he became the executive chef at Oscar’s of St. James and then a partner at Roots Bistro Gourmand in West Islip. Roots was a small, beautiful, restaurant in West Islip with a focus on gastronomic cooking and custom chef’s tastings. It was there that he truly expanded his love and understanding for Long Island produce, wines and more. He worked closely with local purveyors to source the best ingredients. He then transformed them into dishes that can only be described as works of art.

Corbet met Steven Jauffrineau in the spring of 2016 and was taken on as a consultant to open Arbor in Montauk. He turned consulting into a full-time project. He then became a part of Montauk Asset Holdings, the parent company of both Duryea’s (Montauk and Orient) and Lulu Kitchen & Bar in Sag Harbor. Corbet is now the executive chef at all three locations.

What’s happening in Hampton Bays, you ask? Plenty, as it turns out.

Francesca’s is a great place to stop in for traditional Italian food. During your visit you can enjoy a drink from their list of imported beers and grand selection of wines. If you’re feeling like catering to your inner homebody, you can take advantage of their delivery throughout Hampton Bays and the surrounding towns seven days a week. Every Wednesday, customers can purchase a large cheese pizza pie for $17.

The Station Bar is a great place to enjoy a delicious cocktail in the sand and find the freshest seafood around. If you’re looking for a deal, on Mondays diners can get a burger and beer for $10, enjoy happy hour on weekdays from 3–7 p.m. and taco and tequila Tuesdays for $8 margaritas and $4 Jose Cuervo shots.

Matsulin incorporates specialty dishes from Malaysia, China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. Each dish on their menu has the country of origin labeled next to it so you can order from all over the continent. Their extensive menu has a variety of choices from hand rolled sushi to curry, noodles and much more.

Oakland’s Restaurant is a waterfront destination featuring live music every day for their diners to enjoy alongside their tasty seafood menu. Menu highlights include sashimi-style tuna wrap, short rib sliders and day boat scallops. Delicious!

Taqueria Mi Pueblito is a haven for Mexican comfort food. Huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, flautas and huaraches are just some of the great bites you can enjoy, and are all made with fresh handmade tortillas! Their shop has traditional Mexican candy, baked goods and ingredients to make you own dishes at home. The next time you’re in the mood for a fiesta, make sure to stop in!

Centro Trattoria & Bar has an extraordinary menu ranging from fried goat cheese and crispy zucchini chips to truffle fries and all the delicacies from Italy that you could imagine. Make sure to save room for dessert and bite into sweets like the Italian float, affogato and bombolini.

Out of the Blue Seafood brings you all the delicious under the sea treats like seafood gumbo, steamed snow crab and lobster, and fried seafood baskets. The seafood market even has their own artisan smokehouse where they carefully choose and pair the best untreated woods to be used for their seafood.

Fans of The Lobster Roll aka LUNCH are patiently awaiting the arrival of its newly announced iteration at the site of the former Princess Diner and Silver Lining Diner. The four co-owners, Andrea Anthony, Fred Terry, Paul DeAngelis and Irwin Simon hope to create an atmosphere evocative of the current Napeague location by using a lot of wood and utilizing the company colors: red, white and blue. Honestly, all they have to do is not reinvent the wheel and make sure their lobster rolls — as well as the rest of the menu — is consistent with what patrons have come to expect at their original location. Look for the team to also offer more merchandise like t-shirts, hats, tote bags and even doggie apparel. If they keep the prices affordable, they are sure to have a winner.

In other news, the Sagg General Store in Sagaponack has been sold. Currently, it houses the Sagaponack post office and the gourmet food market that’s operated by Pierre’s restaurant in Bridgehampton. The location has been a mainstay in the village for over 150 years. Early word is that the new owners are community minded. No word on how the sale will affect the food market. Stay tuned. The sale price? $3.75 million.

With the Jewish holidays in mind, Tate’s Bake Shop offers a full line of Orthodox Union-certified kosher cookies. Those who are entrusted with providing dessert for Yom Kippur’s break-fast do not need to look any further. The Tate’s signature crispy chocolate chip cookies are guaranteed to please even the pickiest member of your extended family. And as your bubbe probably told you, it’s never good to come empty handed. Tate’s Bake Shop OU-certified cookies are available nationally in stores, on Amazon and at tatesbakeshop.com.

Bamboo, the Asian eatery on Jobs Lane in Southampton, is offering $1 dumplings from 4–6 p.m. if you’re dining in! They’re closed on Mondays and open at 4 p.m. the rest of the week.

Did You Know: The name “Rowdy Hall” refers to a local boardinghouse frequented by the first artists and writers to visit the Hamptons at the turn of the century. According to local lore, when church-going locals would pass the place on Sunday mornings — still full of reveling guests — they declared the establishment to be a “Rowdy Hall.” … Also, Nick & Toni’s in East Hampton was one of the first restaurants in the Hamptons to have a garden; the eatery has over an acre garden behind the restaurant where it sources much of the produce on the menu.

Food Quote: “I went to a restaurant that serves ‘breakfast any time.’ So I ordered French toast in the Renaissance.” ~ Steven Wright, comedian

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