Sunday, April 22, 2012

The Stars are aligned: Long Island Restaurant Week, Earth Day & The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook


I started this post saying it’s been a good week so far and it’s only Tuesday. 
Then so much more happened.
It came in waves.
But rest assured by Friday, it only got better. 

And to put the proverbial cherry on top ¾ or in this case, CherrieS: as in plural, because today heralds two big, celebrations that relate directly to my book: The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook.

Today kicks off Long Island Restaurant Week – the second, follow-up seasonal event after last year’s spring success.

And it’s also Earth Day – with lots of only-in-the-Empire State and Gotham-festivities, to mark the green scene Earth Day New York

Being superstitious, I see this stars aligned in this constellation as a very good sign from the food goddess and Mother Nature…

First up, news is the book will be in the warehouse May 5th. 

I am told this is when the pre-orders will get the books shipped to them. 
The pre-orders?  
The pre-orders, ahem – are, to my way of thinking, those fabulous, blisteringly, glamorous foodies who have already made the wise decision to get the advance, red carpet treatment for the book.  (These food-forward people were probably first with sustainable food choices and shopping the GreenMarkets, not to mention the first to own a Vitamix!)

The Postcards

I came home to the Gotham apartment on Monday to find a box from my publisher, Quayside Press on the welcome mat.


Welcome indeed!

I eagerly opened the box to discover the best gift ever.

Voyageur Press/Quayside produced the postcards. 
A few weeks ago I worked with Steve, the Quayside marketing genius on the text.

According to Steve, the postcards are to be used for upcoming events and speaking opps. 

They look great! 
The cover of the book is on the front of the card – good coloring and sharp image. 
With the notation: Featuring recipes and profiles of local chefs, restaurants and their gardens.”
I like that.

The back features the title, my name J and the names of the photographers, of course: Lindsay Morris Lindsay does the photography for the award-winning Edible East End Magazine. 
The magazine’s editor Brain Halweil, wrote the Forward for the book.
I am still so impressed. 
The book’s other photographer is Jennifer Calais Smith 

The postcard text is an overview of what the book is about, the list of restaurants and the book’s availability.
It reads:
The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook celebrates the distinctive cuisine of Long Island and the Hamptons.
Brimming with food stories from the region’s best real-food chefs and the growers who inspire their homegrown menus, more than 100 tempting recipes, and stunning photographs of the iconic dishes, authentic & sustainable ingredients, and the majestic land and seascapes that are the romantic hallmarks of the area’s food culture.
 Featuring profiles on Long Island’s best pasture to plate chefs who, with their dedication to connecting to the land, to using locally grown or just-caught & seasonal food, produce menus that boast delicious homegrown flavors. The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown restaurants include:
 18 Bay, 1770 House, Almond, Amarelle Restaurant, The American Hotel, CoolFish, Cuvee Bistro & Bar.
The Frisky Oyster, Grey Horse Tavern, Jedediah Hawkins Inn, Kitchen A Bistro, Kitchen A Trattoria, The Lake House,
The Living Room, Loaves & Fishes, Mitch & Toni's American Bistro. Nick & Toni's, North Fork Table & Inn, Mirabelle Restaurant,
Satur Farms, Scrimshaw, Southfork Kitchen, Starr Boggs, Swallow, Vine Street Cafe
I was so excited after opening the postcard gift that when I answered the door to find my super asking me if I wanted the AC put in (in April, mind you) I thrust a few postcards at him instead. He was genuinely elated and said to put some in the lobby. I put out 10 at a time just to test the waters… Our building is rather small, also. (Oh, and I held off on the air conditioning for now – at least until the calendar is sliding towards Memorial Day, climate change being what it is…)

Lecture at the 92nd Street Y

The talk I am to give at the 92nd Street Y was just confirmed too, so the postcards came at a serendipitous time. 
The Y asked me to take up a bunch in time for a Wednesday night related genre event because they wanted to distribute them to the audience there. 
So proud as a peacock, I hopped on the subway to deliver the goods.

I took them to the ticket counter and asked if this is where I should leave them.
The really nice woman behind the counter desk looked at them and said, “Sure. You can leave them here.”
I thanked her and playfully suggested she attend the event (scheduled for May 16th )and that she buy the book.
Turning the card in her hand, she asked, “Are you the author?”
“Yes,” I replied, feeling like an imposter. 
She must’ve sensed my emotion and declared, “You’ll do great!  Everyone loves to eat!”

A food philosopher right in front of me…


Now I am working on the Powerpoint presentation and will coordinate with two of the chefs and a grower who will join me and make the lecture sizzle.  We’ll have tastings, naturally…

Amazon

I also got back to creating the Author’s profile page on Amazon that my cousin’s wife, Denine suggested I do.
And be sure to check out her self-published book, Don't Give Up on That Dog!
The book is a charming an heartwarming real-life tale about love and canine loyalty.

My Author’s Central profile got up without too many birthing pangs. Further, the service people at Amazon who are there to help the authors couldn’t be nicer and more helpful and responsive. 
So what if people are afraid they’re taking over the book world.  This is a benign dictatorship!

Here is my Author’s profile:

Restaurant Week
Do not hurt my feelings -- Do NOT miss Long Island Restaurant Week.  Go for the amazing food.  You will thank me.

Here are my recommendations for the best tasting food on the Island. 
Visit one or two restaurants a day – and you might be able to dine at all 28 featured in the book: The Hamptons and Long Island Homegrown Cookbook.


Restaurant Directory

18 Bay
23 North Ferry Road
Shelter Island, NY  11964
631-749-0053
www.18bayrestaurant.com

1770 House
143 Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-1770
www.1770house.com

Almond
One Ocean Road
Bridgehampton, NY 11932
631-537-5665
www.almondrestaurant.com

Amarelle Restaurant
2028 North Country Rd
Wading River, NY 11792
631-886-2242
www.amarelle.net

The American Hotel
Main Street
Sag Harbor, NY
631-725-3535
www.theamericanhotel.com

Mitch & Toni’s American Bistro
875 Willis Avenue
Albertson, NY 11507
516-741-7940

CoolFish                                  
6800 Jericho Turnpike                             
Syosset, NY 11791                                 
516-921-3250                                                    
www.tomschaudel.com

Cuvée Bistro & Bar, Greenporter Hotel
326 Front Street
Greenport, NY 11944
631-477-0066
www.greenporterhotel.com

East Hampton Grill (formerly Della Femina)
136 North Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-329-6660

Foody’s
760 Montauk Highway
Water Mill, NY 11976
631-726-food (3663)

Fresno
8 Fresno Place
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-8700
www.fresnorestaurant.com

The Frisky Oyster
27 Front Street
Greenport, NY 11944
631-477-4265
www.thefriskyoyster.com

The Grey Horse Tavern
291 Bayport Avenue
Bayport, NY 11705
631-472-1868
www.greyhorsetavern.com

Jedediah Hawkins Inn
400 South Jamesport Avenue
Jamesport, NY 11947
631-772-2900
www.jedediahhawkinsinn.com

Kitchen A Bistro                       
404 N. Country Rd         
St. James, NY 11780      
631-862-151                              
www.kitchenabistro.com

Kitchen A Trattoria
532 North Country Road
St. James, NY 11780
631-584-3518

The Lake House
240 West Main Street
Bayshore, NY 11706
631-666-0995
www.thelakehouserest.com

The Living Room at the Maidstone Hotel
207 Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-5006
www.careofhotels.com/maidstone

Loaves & Fishes
50 Sagg Main Street
Sagaponack, NY 11962
631-537-0555
www.landfcookshop.com

Mirabelle Restaurant
150 Main Street
Stony Brook, New York 11790
631-751-0555
www.threevillageinn.com

Nick & Toni’s
136 North Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-3550
www.nickandtonis.com

North Fork Table & Inn
57225 Main Road
Southold, NY 11971
631-765-0177
www.northforktableandinn.com

OSO Restaurant Southampton Inn
91 Hill Street
Southampton, NY 11968
631-283-1166
www.southamptoninn.com

Satur Farms
3705 Allvah’s Lane
Cutchogue, NY 11935
631-734-4219
www.saturfarms.com

Scrimshaw
102 Main Street
Greenport, NY 11944
631-477-8882
www.scrimshawrestaurant.com

Southfork Kitchen
203 Sag Harbor Turnpike
Bridgehampton, NY 11932
631-537-4700
www.southforkkitchen.com

Starr Boggs
6 Parlato Drive
Westhampton, NY 11978
631-288-3500
www.starrboggs.com

Swallow Restaurant
366 New York Avenue
Huntington, NY 
631-547-5388
www.swallowrestaurant.com

Vine Street Café
41 South Ferry Road
Shelter Island, NY 11964
631-749-3210
www.vinestreetcafe.com

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