Histories of olde New York tell how our waterways were originally paved with oyster reefs, from Sandy Hook all the way up to Ossining. So common, they were considered poor people's food (as were lobsters out on the east end of Long Island back in the day...). In our time honored fashion, this abundant resource was pretty … [Read more...]
Wild Wild Cranberries
The Hamptons, and East Hampton in particular where Steve and I have our house, get a lot of play in the press for the flashy exploits of the cast of characters who make it their summer playground. Too bad the real picture isn't as well known. On the southern fork of Long Island, Southampton Town and East Hampton Town comprise 200 square miles of land surrounded by Atlantic … [Read more...]
Fruits de Mer: Violets
At the risk of sounding all Gwynethy/Goop about this, I do want to share an exquisite delicacy that's extremely rare -- and yet so spectacularly delicous it should get its own PR firm. I'll do my best. You know those fabulous brasseries in Paris with all the shellfish displayed outside? And the wonderful towers of fruits de mer laden with oysters and all other … [Read more...]
Beach Plum Jelly
Wild beach plum bushes are found in the scrubby dunes around the bays out here on the East End. A little larger than a cranberry, they ripen to a reddish purple at summer's end and make an excellent beach plum jelly. Our tradition is to go picking on Labor Day weekend. Once you find a nice thicket of them, it takes the two of us about an hour to collect a gallon and a half … [Read more...]