On Wednesday, August 18, Jenny Ljungberg, owner of c/o The Maidstone hotel in East Hampton will host the inaugural August Crayfish Dinner. A centuries-old tradition throughout Sweden, the August dinner at the hotel will mark the first time that the Swedish hotelier has imported the ritual to U.S. shores.
According to Ms. Ljungberg, “Of all the Swedish concepts that we have introduced since moving to the Hamptons, I am sure that this one will be the most popular. All over Sweden, families and friends gather under the stars in August to wear funny hats, sing songs, drink lots of aquavit and, of course, devour the delicious red crayfish.”
In what will become an annual tradition, the hotel will be decorated in Swedish fashion with brightly colored lamps and glowing moon-faced orbs.
For his stateside interpretation of this Swedish tradition, Living Room Executive Chef James Carpenter has assembled a new take on the classic menu. The Living Room version will feature corn from East Hampton’s Balsam Farms, baby beets and mache from Satur Farms on the North Fork, bread from Blue Duck Bakery, Västerbotten tarts, grilled short ribs, herring and gravlax. To complete the experience, diners will wear an array of colorful bibs to safeguard against stains and allow for the complete immersion in child-like merriment. For information or to make reservations, call 324-5006, or visit themaidstone.com.
on Aug 23, 2010