Shack Tacks North
Montauk's 668 The Gig Shack will soon have a sister outpost in Southold. Tracey Gardell, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Gray Gardell-Gross, and her children, has confirmed the purchase of Elbow East, which overlooks Long Island Sound at Kenny's Beach. Her son Arden Gardell, who lives in Greenport with his fiancee, Reina Miller, and their daughter, will be in charge of running the new site.
Mr. Gardell said Friday that he expects the purchase to close this week and the restaurant to be open by the beginning of the summer season. They are awaiting guidance from Southold officials before revealing any definitive plans, he said. "It's gonna be a combination of the Gig Shack and a combination of some elements of what they've been doing there for a long time."
The new restaurant will offer "some new twists on our global surf-cuisine inspiration," which incorporates flavors and dishes from "the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and of course, the greater Northeast and Long Island region."
While Mr. Gardell grew up in Montauk, Ms. Miller spent her childhood on the North Fork. "There's such a beautiful continuity where we have photos of her at six years old at Kenny's Beach, right in front of where the restaurant is. Her father had dreamed for many years of actually opening a restaurant on his own, but never got around to it. So it's a beautiful full-circle story." he said, adding that the family is eager to get to know the community and become part of it.
The goal is to have something for everyone, Mr. Gardell said, "from the residents to the farmhands to the fishermen to the summer tourists and second-home owners . . . We really hope to be a place that is a home for all, something they all treasure and really see as a great addition to the community."
Pastry Royale
Ladies and Gentlemen, adjust your toques! On Sunday, Sag Harbor Cinema will have a special screening and contest for "Kings of Pastry." The 2010 film by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker is centered on an intense three-day contest in France for the chance to be crowned King of Pastry by the French president.
Following "edge-of-your-seat" baking competition at the master level, the documentary was deemed by The Scottish Herald "the culinary 'Hurt Locker.' " The chefs make dainty chocolate confections, six-foot high sugar sculptures, and everything in between.
Jacquy Pfeiffer, the president and founder of the French Pastry School in Chicago, is the focus as he vies against 15 other French pastry chefs. His school is the only one of its kind in North America.
The film is part of the cinema's continuing retrospective series of the work of the two documentary directors. In addition to a chat with Ms. Hegedus and Mr. Pfeiffer (live from Chicago via Zoom) immediately following the screening, Sunday's event includes its own local competition.
East End chefs competing in the cinema's pastry contest will offer both sweet and savory interpretations. Their special creations will be judged by Francois Payard, a well-known pastry chef, and Karine Bakhoum, a consultant for Iron Palate. The audience can also taste and assess the treats.
The 3 p.m. screening costs $15, $10 for members of the cinema. A $25 ticket provides access to both the screening and the pastry tasting. More information can be found on the cinema's website.
Inlet Opens
Inlet Seafood on East Lake Drive in Montauk will reopen for the season tomorrow, and will be open through Monday. Lunch is served from noon to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4:30.
The restaurant offers sushi and fresh seafood from its own boats, at tables with views of the lake and bay. After this weekend, it will be open on weekends from Friday through Sunday.
Zooming Into Spring
The Madoo Conservancy will present a three-part series of online lectures called A Taste of Spring: Conversations with Aaron Bertelsen, beginning on Sunday.
Each talk will feature Mr. Bertelsen, a noted cook and vegetable gardener, speaking about one or two seasonal recipes based on springtime vegetables that can be grown in local gardens. Participants will receive the recipes prior to the talks and he will advise them on how to cultivate and care for the produce. Together, the three talks include recipes for a complete dinner, with appetizer (sorrel soup), entree (creamed chicken and Jo's pesto), and dessert (rhubarb gin and rhubarb fool).
After Sunday's first conversation, the next two will be on March 6 and March 20. All will take place at noon, with a recording available after the event. Tickets are $20 per talk, $15 for Madoo members.
Buy Local All Year
The East End Food Institute continues its winter food market through April 30, at 139 Main Road in Riverhead.
Open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market offers produce and products from local farms, vintners, and artisans. Music and activities are provided by other nonprofit organizations.
Vendors include Aki's Kitchen, Backyard Brine, the Blue Duck Bakery, Browder's Birds, Catch of the Hamptons, Chowderhead Soup, the Cookery, Eggcellent Quiche, the Ferm, the Granola Plant, Green Door Woodworks, Handcrafted by Hedges, Jamesport Sourdough and Coffee, Kalypso Greek Yogurt, Le Fusion, Mana Sauces, Maryhaven Center of Hope, Mecox Bay Dairy, Milla's Puffs, North Fork Flour Shoppe, North Fork Roasting Company, North Fork Oysters, Open Minded Organics, Papa Pasquale, Peck's of Maine, Peconic River Herb Farm, Peconic River Soap Company, Pendleton's Harvest Moon Farm, the Perfect Pickle, Pierpont Blossom Farm, Rena's Dream Patties, Sag Harbor Honey, Sang Lee Farms, Sweet Melissa Dips, Sweet Woodland Farm, Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, Turmeric Store, and Twin Stills Moonshine.
Participating wineries, which are there on a rotating basis, are Chronicle Wines, Lenz Winery, Macari Wines, Osprey's Dominion, Raphael, RGNY, Sparkling Pointe, and Suhru Wines.
The market takes SNAP benefits and has a partnership with Field and Fork Network to match SNAP purchases up to $20, giving participants $40 to spend on produce, food, plants, and herbs.
The East End Food Market has accounts on Instagram and Facebook for announcements and updates. Masks are required, and only registered service animals are permitted.
Pea Soup for February
Loaves and Fishes in Sagaponack is featuring pea and ham soup this week. The recipe is in the shop's cookbook for February, which features Riverhead's Long Ireland Beer Company.
The soup and cookbook can both be purchased in the shop. The full set of cookbooks is available on the store's website.
