Foodstuffs: Restaurant Week, Suset Views, Clams By The Sea and A Moveable Feast

The Clam Bar Wakes Up

You know spring’s inching closer when the Napeague Stretch, that low lying bit of sand between Amagansett and Montauk, begins to wake up from its long winter nap.

When you get right down to it, nothing says warm weather on the East End like The Clam Bar at Napeague. The faithful little family-owned roadside eatery has been doing business at this spot for more than 30 years and is chock full of seasonal seafood favorites like fish tacos, clam chowder and, of course, the timeless lobster roll.

The Clam Bar officially opens for the 2019 season on Saturday, March 23, serving up favorites every day beginning at noon (weather permitting). So belly up to the clam bar for the “catch of the day,” and since clams are a staple here, try them served on the half shell, in chowder, fried or stuffed. But do it while you can. By November, the place shuts down again for the winter, because like lifeguards, beach towels, and hot sand, The Clam Bar is strictly fair weather fare.

Welcome Morty

… And speaking of Napeague, the after-beach gathering spot for the tanned and beautiful formerly known as Cyril’s Fish House will soon get a new lease on life as Morty’s Oyster Stand.

According to a story in the Independent, Jeremy Morton recently purchased the Cyril’s property for $1.31 million. This, after Cyril Fitzsimmons got into a bit of hot water with East Hampton Town’s code enforcement division by incurring a series of zoning code violations at the site. A 2016 trial led to a guilty verdict on 45 misdemeanor charges for Clan Fitz, the corporation that owned the business.

Meanwhile, the Dioguardi family, owners of the property, reached a settlement with East Hampton town attorneys and agreed to make substantial alterations to the restaurant and bar and pay a fine.

Now, it appears to be full steam ahead for Morty and his oyster stand, with the Indy noting that a full-service liquor license is currently being considered by the New York State Liquor Authority and a town building permit has been spotted at the site.

Stay tuned!

East End Restaurant Week

Fourteen years ago, Long Island Restaurant and Hospitality Group (LIRHG) created an annual early spring event designed to get people out of the house and into restaurants during what was traditionally a slow time of the year.

Initially called Hamptons Restaurant Week, this year the name has been changed to East End Restaurant Week (eastendrestaurantweek.com) and from March 31 to April 17, participating eateries across the North and South Fork will offer three-course prix fixe menus for $28.95.

“We’ve always received a tremendous amount of support from the North Fork,” said LIRHG president Steve Haweeli in a statement, “it’s time we recognize that and show our appreciation for all restaurateurs involved.”

Each participating restaurant is required to offer three options per course on the prix fixe menu. The annual restaurant week has proven to be a success for both diners, who get to experience new restaurants at an affordable price, and restaurateurs, who fill their seats during the off-season. Some of our favorites on the list or those we’re eager to try include 1770 House in East Hampton, Stone Creek Inn in East Quogue, The Bell and Anchor in Sag Harbor, and The Preston House & Hotel in Riverhead.

“Diners look forward to East End Restaurant Week all year round. ” added Mr. Haweeli, “It’s a great opportunity to try top notch East End restaurants, without breaking the bank.”

For the full list of participating restaurants, visit eastendrestaurantweek.com. You’ll be glad you did!

A Moveable Feast for Edible School Gardens

Just a reminder—coming up on Sunday, April 7 is “A Moveable Feast,” the annual food and drink event hosted by the Joshua Levine Memorial Foundation and Slow Food East End. Held each year at Sanctuary Home & Patio in Sag Harbor, the event features local food and drinks provided by area chefs and beverage purveyors. Proceeds benefit East End Edible School Gardens, a program which hires master farmers to oversee more than 30 gardens at schools all across the East End.

“A Moveable Feast” began back in 2011 when Slow Food East End joined with the Joshua Levine Memorial Foundation to host a fundraiser to honor the legacy of Mr. Levine, a young farmer and Sag Harbor resident who was killed in a tragic tractor accident at Quail Hill Farm in 2010.

For the past eight years, “A Moveable Feast” has been a primary source of funding for East End Edible School Gardens. The success of the program can now be seen in the school cafeterias where garden-grown vegetables are served and chefs come into the classroom to teach healthy cooking to students. Many of the schools also donate some of the food they grow to area food pantries.

“A Moveable Feast” is Sunday, April 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Santuary Home & Patio, 11 Bridge Street, Sag Harbor. Tickets are $150 ($100 Slow Food members). For tickets visit slowfoodeastend.org or joshualevinefoundation.org.

So, you want to be an innkeeper?

Are you a dreamer who has long harbored a secret desire to be an innkeeper by the sea? Well dream no more, because here’s your chance — 32 Lighthouse Road in Hampton Bays is now on the market for $3.999 million.

Located on Shinnecock Bay near the foot of the Ponquogue Bridge, the property is home to The Inn Spot On the Bay. Though occupying less than an acre, it’s filled with amenities, including a main house with four suites and The Inn Spot On the Bay restaurant, which is operated by Colette Connor and Pam Wolfert (aka Cheffe Collette and Cheffe Pam). According to broker Lawrence Citarelli of First Hampton International Realty, the parcel also comes with six colorful en-suite cottages, 140 feet of west-facing bulkhead (perfect for those sunset views) and a 125-foot dock.

The property is currently owned by Ms. Wolfert and Ms. Connor, who opened their first restaurant as The Inn Spot in Quogue in 1999. They changed the name to The Inn Spot On The Bay after relocating to the Hampton Bays property in 2004. Though the inn is on the market, in an email message, Ms. Wolfert offered assurances that the restaurant will remain as is.

“The property at 32 Lighthouse Road in Hampton Bays is for sale. The Inn Spot On The Bay is not for sale and will continue to operate as usual,” said Ms. Wolfert. “The Inn Spot will continue with its current lease and will not be immediately affected by any sale.

“Right now, we are in the middle of our international dinner series which features a new menu every week with food from a different country,” she added. “We travel internationally in the off-season and bring back recipes and ideas from all over the world.

“This week we will feature Ireland as that is Cheffe Colette’s home country, and it is after all, St Patrick’s Day. Our menus are posted each week on our website, theinnspot.com.”

To see the property for yourself, stop by for dinner or contact Lawrence Citarelli of First Hampton International Realty at 631-872-0280.