On Saturday, April 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. EST, North Fork Chocolate Company Chef and co-owner Steven Amaral will welcome cookbook authors Stacy Dermont (The Hamptons Kitchen) and Stephanie Villani (The Fisherman’s Wife) for a joint signing event inside the Chocolate Company. Located at 740 Main Road in Aquebogue, the North Fork Chocolate Company is owned by Amaral and Ann Corley.
Extremely popular for Valentine’s Day and Easter gifts, the North Fork Chocolate Company is equally popular—with those in the know—for Mother’s Day. “We have heart-shaped gift boxes for Mother’s Day,” says Chef Steve “and our chocolate-covered strawberries—in milk chocolate or dark chocolate—make moms smile. Plus our gift shop features loads of handmade stuff from local artisans.”
The North Fork Chocolate Company offers much more than chocolate. Visitors can now order lunch from a new vegetarian menu. And the shop now offers a line of spices directly imported from Sri Lanka by Chef Steve.
“It was never just chocolate,” says this James Beard Award-nominated chef. “We also offer desserts and catering. But the new lunch menu really gives us an opportunity to interact with our customers.”
“The Hamptons Kitchen” is divided into five chapters—Spring, Low Summer, High Summer, Fall, and Winter, to enjoy local ingredients at their peak. Chef Eric Ripert says it “captures the spirit of cooking and eating simply, seasonally, and locally.” Many dishes were inspired by Stacy’s Sag Harbor kitchen garden. And the dishes come with Stacy’s regional pairing suggestions, featuring North Fork wines.
“The Fishermen’s Wife” features nearly 100 practical recipes, as well as techniques and fish handling tips. You’ll also find the answers to the most common seafood questions and a wealth of firsthand information about sustainable fishing practices, stories, and photos from the boat. The eponymous “fisherman,” is Alex Villani, captain of the one-man fishing vessel Blue Moon, and Stephanie’s husband. The couple lives in Mattituck with their daughter. In addition to Stephanie’s original recipes, the book includes recipes from chefs Marc Forgione, Rocco DiSpirito, Alex Raij, Carmen Quagliata, Ray Bradley, and Hiroko Shimbo.
The North Fork Chocolate Company features signed copies of The Hamptons Kitchen ($29.95) and The Fisherman’s Wife ($25.00) in its retail space, which is adjacent to its popular chocolate shop and ice creamery. So patrons can pick up a memento of their visit to the East End—in addition to made-from-scratch candies and chocolates. The Chocolate Company has created Mother’s Day gift baskets featuring the books and an assortment of goodies.
Both The Hamptons Kitchen and The Fisherman’s Wife are available from area bookstores and from all major online booksellers.
The April 30 cookbook signing will be held rain-or-shine.
