News for Foodies: 11.15.12

Highway Diner and Bar

    The Highway Diner and Bar is now open on Montauk Highway in Wainscott. Created by David Kuperschmid and Gunnar Myers — the restaurateur behind the former Napeague Stretch restaurant on Napeague and New York City’s Tenth Street Lounge — the family-friendly eatery is in the space that formerly housed Rugosa. The building has undergone extensive renovations, and now offers a relaxed setting for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or just drinks. The new restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with earlier breakfast hours to be added soon.

    Robert Gurvich is the chef. Most recently, he presided over the kitchen at Alison 18 in Manhattan, the latest endeavor by Alison Price Becker, with whom he opened the original Alison on Dominick Street. Mr. Gurvich also served up meals at Ms. Price Becker’s restaurants here.

    The menu includes classic diner favorites such as grilled cheese, Reuben, tuna, B.L.T., and turkey club sandwiches, a fried oyster po’boy, and burgers.

    There is breakfast all day, a variety of salads, soups and a vegetable chili, and starters such as braised beef tacos, crab cakes, and tuna tartare. For drinks there are soda fountain favorites such as ice cream floats and chocolate egg creams, along with smoothies and healthy juices such as a “Green Monster” mix of pineapple, kale, lemon, cucumber, and celery. Entrees include meatloaf, ribeye, grilled salmon, skate, linguine with clams and shrimp, and grilled vegetables with quinoa. A junior menu offers a list of foods popular with kids, for $7.

Extended Season

    Bostwick’s Chowder House remains open Friday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, starting at 11:30. Menu items that can be ordered for takeout or eating at the restaurant include fried and broiled seafood, raw bar items, fish tacos, chowders, steamed lobster, lobster rolls, and a “guppy menu” for kids.

Restaurant Week Take Two

    Long Island Restaurant Week has been extended through Sunday in order to give those who have been conserving gas, or who were hunkered down in advance of or after Hurricane Sandy, a chance to take advantage of the deal.

    More than 80 restaurants across the Island, including the 1770 House in East Hampton, will offer a three-course prix fixe for $24.95 each night of the promotion, except on Saturday, when the offer will only be extended until 7 p.m. A full list of participants is at longislandrestaurantweek.com.

    Steve Haweeli, the president of the Long Island Restaurant and Hospitality Group, announced that on behalf of participating restaurants, a donation will be made to the Interfaith Nutrition Network and the Family Service League, two Long Island organizations that are working to help people affected by the hurricane.  Additionally, Muse in the Harbor in Sag Harbor will donate 10 percent of its proceeds on Wednesday night to the American Red Cross.

Chefs to Appear

    Silvia Lehrer, the author of “Savoring the Hamptons: Discovering the Food and Wine of Long Island’s East End,” will appear at a “Taste of the Holidays” event at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack on Sunday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. for a book signing and tasting of a recipe from the book.

    Colin Ambrose, the chef and owner of Estia’s Little Kitchen in Sag Harbor, will return by popular demand to give a class at the Old Whalers Church in Sag Harbor, as part of its East End Chefs series. On Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m., Mr. Ambrose will demonstrate several ways to prepare Long Island duckling, including a pan-roasted duck with a stone fruit chutney. A dessert incorporating local fruits will conclude the meal. Wine will be served.

    The cost is $30. Space is limited, so reservations in advance have been advised and can be made by calling the church. Proceeds from the programs benefit the community house efforts at the church, through which community groups are provided space.

Thanksgiving Desserts

    Dolce Nirvana, an East Hampton baking business begun earlier this year, has introduced a line of prepared, frozen pies, all ready to pop in the oven and bake. In addition, Dolce Nirvana offers already made fruit pies — pumpkin, apple, apple-pear, and apple-cranberry-nut — pecan pie, and chocolate-bourbon-pecan pie, along with cranberry nut or chocolate-pumpkin bundt cakes, and a chocolate bourbon bombe cake. Also available are the bakery’s specialty, key lime pies, in their traditional incarnation as well as blended with mango or coconut, or as a key lime tequila cake.

    Orders can be placed online at dolcenirvana.com for pickup at the company’s East Hampton location, or the baked goods may be purchased at the Hampton Market Place store in East Hampton or on Saturdays at the Sag Harbor Fair Foods Market, held at the Bay Burger building on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This weekend, the Dolce Nirvana folks will be one of the featured East End artisans at the Williams-Sonoma store in Bridgehampton, selling all of their wares at the store between noon and 4 p.m.

    Lucy’s Whey in East Hampton is taking orders for locally handmade fruit tarts for Thanksgiving desserts. Varieties include pear, apple, fig, and cranberry. The cost is $28 for a round tart, or $30 for a long tart. Orders placed ahead of time can be picked up anytime on Wednesday or between 9 and 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

And Turkey Dinner

    Among the numerous restaurants cooking up a Thanksgiving feast is the Living Room at c/o the Maidstone inn in East Hampton. Serving from 1 to 8 p.m., the cost is $85 for the meal, or $40 for a child-sized portion. Wine pairings can be included for an additional $45. The four courses include a choice among homemade squash ravioli, Peconic Pride oysters on the half shell, seasonal forest mushrooms, or pate, as one of two starting courses, and, as an entree, traditional turkey and fixings or Scottish salmon, grilled Angus hanger steak, or Swedish ham served with a pumpkin chutney.