A Small Farm With a Bit of Everything — North Sea Farms Chicken Burger

First, a big thank you to everyone who sent me recipes! I love seeing your ideas, and I’d like to keep featuring them in this column. Please continue sending submissions to robynskitchen11968@yahoo.com. You never know, your dish might be the next star of The Chef’s Notebook.

This month, I chose to highlight a recipe from North Sea Farms, a place that’s been one of my go-to spots for years. They describe themselves as “a small farm with a bit of everything,” and that’s no exaggeration. On any given morning, you’ll find Goldberg’s bagels stacked fresh at the counter, but make sure you get there early on weekends. By 8 a.m., there’s a line of hungry North Sea locals hoping to snag their favorite bagel.

North Sea Farms has been a part of the community for more than 80 years, specializing in free-range organic chickens, eggs and a beautiful variety of produce. Their shelves are stocked with pantry staples, (and here’s a local perk) you’ll also find desserts from Tate’s Bake Shop thanks to the King family connection. Richard “Tate” King was the son of Stanley King, who founded the farm in 1945. His daughter, Kathleen King, went on to create Tate’s Bake Shop, a Southampton staple whose story began right here, selling cookies at the family farm stand. The rest, as they say, is delicious history.

If you visit, you’ll see hens running freely, a larger-than-life chicken sculpture, and even a Scooby-Doo statue dressed for the holidays. You might also spot Richie delivering fresh eggs to other farm stands like Halsey and Green Thumb, keeping North Sea’s reach alive throughout the East End.

Now, let’s talk about this burger. A good chicken burger is hard to nail … it can dry out faster than the Hamptons traffic line moves. But this one? Magic. The secret is shredded mozzarella, which not only binds the meat but also keeps the patties juicy and tender. Add a slice of their heirloom tomato and crisp lettuce, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a sandwich.

One warning: Steve at Peconic Prime Meats told me that after my last recipe was published, they sold out of Italian sausage for a week straight. So, if you want to make this burger, get to North Sea Farms early — or you might find yourself on the chicken waitlist.

Sam’s North Sea Farms Chicken Burger (Serves 8–10)

Ingredients:

(Also works with turkey sausage and ground turkey)

1 pound North Sea Farms chicken sausage

2 pounds North Sea Farms ground chicken

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 to 2 tablespoons garlic powder

1to 2 tablespoons dried oregano

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and form into patties

Cook thoroughly on a hot grill or in a pan.

Serve on the roll of your choice with a slice of North Sea Farms beefsteak or heirloom tomato and fresh lettuce.

Enjoy, and let me know how fast they sell out of chicken this time.

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