Foodstuffs: Holiday Happenings, Wines and Cookies, and a New Eatery in East Hampton

Culinary Trio Presents Localism Dinner

Almond restaurant in Bridgehampton will host a special event on Thursday, December 1 — “Three’s Company.” Featuring former Almond chef de cuisine and current chef at Maverick Montauk Jeremy Blutstein alongside Almond’s executive chef Jason Weiner and chef de cuisine Andrew Mahoney, the trio will present a menu highlighting products from local suppliers. The family-style menu is based on all the amazing fishes and meats and cheeses and veggies and fruits and beer and wine and booze that the trio’s wonderful producer friends are kind enough to send their way.

The menu includes passed offerings like oysters, kohlrabi kraut, smoked trout roe, sesame duck prosciutto croque madame, sigit and quail egg. For dinner, the trio is offering: “East End vegetables pretending to be a charcuterie situation”; squid with crispy sweet potato and pumpkin, mint and chilies, cabbages and mustards; monkfish tonkatsu with soba, smoked pork dashi, pickled ginger and smoked scallop; venison merguez with preserved lemon, harissapolooza, raw milk yogurt and house naan. The meal will finish with persimmons served with kiwis and almond tuile.

Beverage-wise, “Three’s Company” will feature Kidd Squidd Brewery’s Dreamy Coffee Stout and Sag Harbor Lager, Macari Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Lifeforce 2020, Channing Daughters Winery L’Enfant Sauvage chardonnay 2016 and the Artist Series, Blend 2020, and a house limoncello made with Sagaponack vodka.

The cost of the menu is $150 with gratuity included. Almond Restaurant is at 1 Ocean Road, Bridgehampton. Reserve at almondrestaurant.com or call 631-537-5665.

Exploring Sparkling Wines on the North Fork

Kicking off the holiday season, Sediment & Sentiment (S&S) will host a sparkling wine tasting and presentation at Chronicle Wines in Peconic on Friday, December 2, at 6 p.m. The event will include a three-wine tasting of Chronicle Wines’ 2021 As If “Gratitude” Pét-Nat along with a Lambrusco from Italy and a Cava from Spain.

S&S co-founder and sommelier Jessica Green will guide the tasting, discussing various sparkling styles and how to identify these wines. Guests will also enjoy a glass of the 2021 As If “Gratitude” following the tasting.

“We’ve known Alie Shaper and Robin Epperson-McCarthy of Chronicle Wines for a long time, and really love what they’re doing,” Green said. “We had a chance to taste the As If ‘Gratitude’ recently, and not only was it delicious, it was a unique presentation of a blend, especially for the North Fork. Their mission aligns so closely with ours, so we’re really excited to feature one of their wines in this event, which will also be included in Sediment & Sentiment’s December curated wine subscription box.”

Chronicle Wines is a women-led winery based on the North Fork founded by veteran and award-winning winemakers, Alie Shaper and Robin Epperson-McCarthy. The event, which takes place in Chronicle Wines’ newly expanded tasting room at 2885 Peconic Lane in Peconic, will offer guests an exploration in different styles of wine from across the globe. While discovering the different regions, producers, varietals, and characteristics, guests will also learn about the importance of sustainability in winemaking. S&S will also offer its December curated subscription box featuring a bottle of each of the three wines, wine varietal education cards, and a luxury wine tool. Those interested are encouraged to purchase the box in advance at sedimentandsentiment.com, and can pick up at the event.

Founded by sommelier Jessica Green and writer Rachel Bosworth, Sediment & Sentiment creates meaningful connections between wine drinkers and makers. Focusing on biodynamic wines and sustainability, S&S offers curated subscription boxes, blind wine tasting kits, and events that make wine inclusive, educational, and fun.

Tickets for the December 2 tasting are $45 and must be purchased in advance at sedimentandsentiment.com/events. This event is for 21 and over only.

Holiday Cheer in Southampton

Southampton Inn is sponsoring the Southampton History Museum’s annual holiday party on Thursday, December 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening of hearthside cheer will include bountiful appetizers, a special old-fashioned drink prepared by the gourmet staff at Claude’s Restaurant, and a traditional sing-a-long. Tickets are $50 ($90 for a pair) at southamptonhistory.org. Southampton Inn is at 91 Hill Street, Southampton.

Seasonal Festivities at Rams Head Inn

Embarking on its second holiday season under new ownership, the historic Rams Head Inn on Shelter Island is hosting a holiday season full of events.

On Saturday, November 26, from 4 to 6 p.m., the inn hosts its first annual tree lighting with music by Vanessa Trouble, a special storybook reading by Billy Baldwin, carolers, arts, and crafts with bird seed ornament making hosted by Cornell Cooperative and cookie decorating, along with fire pits, smores, hot chocolate and spiced cider.

From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on November 26, Rams Head Inn will present a holiday mixology event with Krista Porreca offering demonstrations and secrets on bartending during the holiday season. Drinks include the Graham Cracker Delight, Holly & Jolly, Fireside Bourbon and more. The cost is $25 per person, which includes one cocktail, recipes and ingredients. Participants must be 21 or older.

On December 3, the inn hosts a cabaret night in the bar and lounge with cocktails, wine, dinner or lite bites from the Bar Menu. Other events include an immersive, dinner theater offering of “A Christmas Carol” on Saturday, December 10, at 6 p.m., a one-man performance and three-course dinner. The cost is $125. A Santa brunch for the kids follows on Sunday, December 11, at 11:30 a.m. with gingerbread houses, cookie decorating, fire pits, s’mores, hot chocolate and spiced cider. The cost is $45 for adults, $20 for kids.

The Rams Head Inn is open for dinner Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m., with bar menus, prix fixe dinner Fridays, live jazz every Sunday and brunch all weekend from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rams Head Inn is at 108 South Ram Island Drive, Shelter Island Heights. For details or to reserve for events, visit theramsheadinn.com.

Light Up Barons Cove

The annual Barons Cove tree lighting ceremony in Sag Harbor will take place on Saturday, December 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with live music, tree lighting, and Santa stopping by at 7:30 p.m. Eggnog, frozen hot chocolate, candy cane martinis, warm gingerbread cookies will be served.

Barons Cove is at 31 West Water Street, Sag Harbor. Visit caperesorts.com/barons-cove or call 631-725-2100 for details.

Cookies for Christmas … and Hanukkah … and New Year’s

Tate’s Bake Shop is offering seasonal gift baskets that can be shipped nationally from tatesbakeshop.com. Options include:

Best Wishes of the Season Tin ($60) contains Tate’s signature crispy chocolate chip cookies, white macadamia nut cookies, chocolate tea loaf and pecan square.

Joyful Holiday Cookie Gift Tin Large ($65) combines thin, crispy chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, coconut macaroons, and a selection of delectable bars that are perfect for sharing.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Gift Basket ($100) features gingersnap cookies, cinnamon brown sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, sour cream coffee cake, brownies, blondies, crumb cake and more.

Vegan cookies, available in two flavors – Signature Chocolate Chip and Vanilla Maple ($20 for a pack of three) – are made with plant butter and egg substitutions, promising the delicious, thin, crisp and buttery treats that Tate’s fans have come to love.

Gluten Free Season’s Greetings Gift Large ($70) includes gluten free chocolate chip cookies and ginger zinger cookies, and a stack of tasty gluten free brownie and blondie dessert bars. The perfect treat for the gluten free loved ones in your life.

Sant Ambroeus Opens in East Hampton

Milanese-style coffee bar and restaurant, Sant Ambroeus, has opened the doors of its new East Hampton location at 66 Newtown Lane (most recently the longtime location of Babette’s), bringing the legacy, and hospitality culture of Sant Ambroeus to the community.

The team leading the opening of the restaurant includes long-standing members of the Sant Ambroeus family who bring their history and expertise to the new location. Jorge Flores, who began his career as a busser in Southampton 10 years ago, has been appointed general manager of Sant Ambroeus East Hampton. The kitchen will be led by Sant Ambroeus veteran of 17 years, Miguel Gutierrez, who began his journey as a dishwasher at Sant Ambroeus West Village and worked his way up to executive chef. The project was directed by VP of business development, Adil Avunduk, who started with the group 13 years ago and assisted in opening the restaurant in Palm Beach, while acting as general manager.

“This opening is very important for us — having our second location in the Hamptons, specifically in East Hampton, will allow us to reach more of our guests who live further out East,” said Avunduk.

“We are honored to join the community of East Hampton that so many of our clients call home,” Giulia Farinelli, CEO of SA Hospitality Group, said. “We look forward to providing the experience our guests expect from Sant Ambroeus in an intimate dining format.”

The menu offers a variety of new dishes created by culinary director Iacopo Falai and Andrea Pancani, along with staple dishes.

“The menu is heavily inspired by the ingredients available at the local market; many of our specials will draw from seasonal availability,” explains Iacopo Falai, culinary director.

Wine offerings will primarily be Italian, from Tuscany, Sicily and Piedmont, though will also include a variety of French and American options, as well as a number of biodynamic and natural wines.

Sant Ambroeus East Hampton was designed by longtime partner, Studio Robert McKinley.

“We took cues from the East End of Long Island’s country and seaside spirit,” McKinley explains. “We wanted to lean into the local architecture, so we lime washed the existing bead board and we painted the oak floor in a rich earth red lacquer. The decor features casually elegant elements such as vintage rattan chairs teamed with ocean blue Loro Piana marine fabric banquettes and custom bamboo and Murano glass sconces. We also built a nautical inspired mahogany bar with brass and antique mirror details. Throughout the interior, we drew parallels between the beautiful Italian seaside and the wild dunes of the Hamptons.”

The new location will be open seven days a week for dinner, and offers breakfast and brunch on weekends with weekday breakfast and lunch to be available soon. For more information visit santambroeus.com.