Foodstuffs: Food, Drink And Igloos To Liven Up The Season

Seasonal Beverages At Hampton Coffee Company

It’s that time of year — holiday beverages and treats have returned for the season to Hampton Coffee Company. All month, the locally owned and operated espresso bars and cafés in Water Mill, Southampton, Westhampton Beach, Aquebogue and Montauk are featuring a variety of holiday beverages, a warm seasonal muffin, special cookies and local holiday gifts.

On the menu in December are Hampton Coffee Company’s peppermint mocha, peppermint hot chocolate and eggnog latte, which is real steamed eggnog with espresso and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Also available are a shaken eggnog crème cold brew and limited edition Hampton Holiday Blend coffee, a wintry blend of hand-roasted direct trade organic coffee with cinnamon and holiday spices, which can be had by the cup or by the bag of beans.

Pair the holiday beverages with the Hampton Coffee Company’s eggnog cinnamon streusel muffin, warm from the oven, or a few “Gingerbread Guys,” made from scratch by the nonprofit South Fork Bakery. The purchase of these cookies benefits young adults with special needs in the community.

Hampton Coffee Company also carries made-to-order gift baskets, holiday teas and locally handmade Simply Made ceramic mugs. The safest way to order everything at Hampton Coffee is through the HCC Perks app for contactless pickup. And if you can’t get to one of the cafés, you can order online at hamptoncoffeecompany.com.

Almond’s 20th Annual Christmas Eve Suckling Pig Roast

On December 24, Almond Restaurant hosts its 20th annual Christmas Eve tradition of roasting Berkshire suckling pig. Sourced this year from Roaming Acres Farm in New Jersey, the dish will be served with seasonal accompaniments. The cost of the dinner is $45 and a portion of the revenue from Christmas Eve will be donated to the Pajama Program (pajamaprogram.org) which provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in need, many of whom are waiting to be adopted.

The regular a la carte menu will also be available. Hours on Christmas Eve are 5 to 9 p.m. Almond will be closed on Christmas Day. For reservations or more information, visit almondrestaurant.com or call 631-537-5665. Almond Restaurant is at 1 Ocean Road in Bridgehampton.

Christmas Eve At The 1770 House

If you prefer to do Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day) dinner at home, check out The 1770 House, where Chef Michael Rozzi does all the work with a Holiday Feast To Go. The ready-to-cook, expertly trimmed and tied roast comes with four cooked sides and dessert. The special dinner package serves six for $500. Orders must be received by December 19 and picked up on December 23 or 24. To order, visit 1770house.com or call 631-324-1770.

All that needs cooking is the chosen roast. Selections include pastured Oregon beef tenderloin, Berkshire pork eight-bone rib, boneless leg of free-range Australian lamb or three Long Island ducks split and trimmed.

The four sides are Balsam Farms root vegetable gratin, creamed spinach with toasted marrow-butter crumbs, truffled pasta cacio e pepe and French green beans with toasted hazelnuts.

Dessert selections include Tate’s chocolate chip pie or The 1770 House’s signature sticky toffee date cakes for six, plus caramel popcorn for everyone.

An array of enhancements to start the evening are also available for an additional charge. Selections include Mecox Dairy cheese board kit, Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova sustainable caviar with crème fraiche and blini kit, poached shrimp and lobster bisque.

Also, new in the Tavern at The 1770 House is a $45 two-course prix fixe dinner menu served Sunday to Thursday. Included are favorite Tavern mains and fine dining menu starters. The new Tavern prix fixe menu joins the continuing $75 three-course seasonal tasting menu available in the dining room and Tavern.

Check out both menus on the website. Limited seating for social distancing. Reservations recommended. The 1770 House is at 143 Main Street, East Hampton.

Bostwick’s Open Through Year’s End

Bostwick’s Chowder House, which usually closes after Thanksgiving, will remain open until January 1. The restaurant is currently offering limited indoor and outdoor dining, as well as takeout. Takeout orders can be placed by calling the restaurant directly at 631-324-1111 or by visiting bostwickschowderhouse.com. Bostwick’s is at 277 Pantigo Road in East Hampton.

Brunch Is Back At Coche Comedor

Coche Comedor in Amagansett has brought back weekend brunch, which is available Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. The menu will be available for indoor and outdoor dining as well as takeout and includes dishes like the Caesar salad, chilaquiles con huevos, huevos a la Mexicana, the classic huevos rancheros (tortillas, refritos, chorizo, queso fresco, salsa verde and pipian rojo and fried organic eggs), chicken or cheese enchiladas, tacos. From the bar, choose from a large selection of tequilas and mezcals with an emphasis on margaritas.

Coche Comedor is at 74A Montauk Highway in Amagansett. For more information call 631-267-5709 or visit cochecomedor.com.

Holiday On Ice

This the season for festive spirit — and spirits. Luckily, Main Street Tavern in Amagansett has introduced some new cocktails for brightening up the holidays. Here are a few, with recipes —all three were created for Main Street Tavern by Cory Coose. Cheers!

Midnight Manhattan

Ingredients

1.5 ounce rye

.5 ounce rosso vermouth

.5 ounce bianco vermouth

.5 ounce amaro

Method

Stirred in a mixing glass and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Serve in a coupe style glass

El Diablo

Ingredients

2 ounces Reposado Tequila

.75 ounce lemon Juice

.5 ounce Cassis

Method

Shake and add a splash of ginger beer. Serve in a rocks glass.

Hello, Old Friend

Ingredients

2.5 ounces dry gin

1 ounce Contratto Bitters (Campari equivalent )

.5 ounce Giffards Pamplemousse (Grapefruit sweet liquor )

3 dashes of oranges bitters

Method

Stir with ice, add an orange twist. Serve in a rocks glass.

Igloos For A Good Cause

Yes, winter is officially on our doorstep, and while outdoor dining is not as enjoyable as it was a few months ago, why not cozy up in one of the Ram’s Head Inn’s new waterfront heated igloos? This holiday season, three of the inn’s dining igloos on Shelter Island have been transformed on behalf of local charities into true winter wonderlands:

The “Holly Holiday” themed igloo benefits Kids Need More, a Long Island-based charity supporting children and their families affected by cancer and life-threatening illnesses.

The “Tinsel Time” igloo benefits the Shelter Island Action Alliance, which supports Shelter Island businesses, families, and frontline workers

The “Festive Fir” igloo benefits Feeding America, a national charity benefiting local food banks is decorated by the Ram’s Head Inn in traditional holiday trimmings.

Each igloo can seat eight people at a time for up to two hours, and requires a four-person minimum to reserve. The suggested donation is $50 for reserving a holiday igloo, all of which will go directly to the benefiting charities.

To make a reservation, call 631-749-0811. The Ram’s Head Inn is at 108 South Ram Island Drive, Shelter Island Heights. For more information, visit theramsheadinn.com.

Duck Dinners Delivered

The New York City-based restaurant Eleven Madison Park has launched EMP To Go, and on Monday, December 20, will deliver its roast duck dinners to East Hampton. Each dinner feeds four and comes with a duck breast ready for roasting and several sides to heat, including a shepherd’s pie, plus salad and dessert. The cost is $475 and each dinner purchased allows EMP to provide 20 meals to those who are food insecure through the organization Rethink Food.

Pickup takes place at the East Hampton train station from 1 to 2 p.m. Orders must be placed a minimum of 48 hours in advance. Wines from the cellar and cocktails are also available. Visit the EMP at Home page at elevenmadisonpark.com.