The Hamptons community gathered on the waterfront Thursday night as Dan’s Taste welcomed guests to Chefs of the Hamptons at Sí Sí at EHP Resort & Marina. Set along the shores of the scenic Three Mile Harbor, the annual event brought together acclaimed chefs, beverages, and food lovers for an evening celebrating the flavors that define an East End summer.
“This is really helping me get my foot in the door in the Hamptons, and showing people what we do in Palm Beach,” Chef Jennifer Parker of Evolved Catering Services, who was serving up a dish called ‘The Palm Beach Dumpling,’ said. “I have a lot of clients that are already up here, so we wanted to show them that you know we’re here too, and that we’re bringing the Palm Beach class to the Hamptons. And it’s a great opportunity.”
It marked a back-to-back duo of parties at EHP for Dan’s Taste, as Light Up The Night took place on July 11 at the same location.
“This is a big opportunity for me, for the restaurant,” Chef Tommy Gilliam of Saylor Beach House, who was serving up a shrimp skewer with tomatoes, fresh pineapple, and a citrus glaze, said. “We want to come out here and do a great job and show everybody who we are, what we represent, and get people to open to the North Fork.”
Guests explored chef tasting experiences throughout the property, sampling signature dishes from some of the region’s most recognizable restaurants and catering companies while enjoying an open bar, live entertainment and sweeping harbor views.
“For us to be at Dan’s Taste means we get to have hundreds of people taste this wine for the first time,” Jacqueline Boshart of Fria Frio wines said. “Once you get it on your lips, and you taste it, now you’ve fallen in love with it. So now we have someone new that’s going to love our wine, we have someone’s going to promote our wine, be our own brand ambassador, and spread it out. For us, that means that our wines will get out there more into the market.
This year’s lineup featured culinary talent from Citarella, LDV Maidstone, Sí Sí Restaurant, Gurney’s, LUNCH Lobster Roll, The Halyard, Saylor Beach House, Evolved Catering & Events, The Caviar Bar, Pridwin, Toasted Oysters, Insatiable Eats, Events by Peter Ambrose, DJ Chef, Santa Chiara Caffé and Sogno Toscano, each presenting a dish that reflected its own style while showcasing the East End’s vibrant dining scene.
This benefits all the local community,” Chef Jorge Espinosa with LDV Maidstone said. “It’s not just the chef. I think it’s the community, the ingredients and everything. I think the more we support each other, the better for the community. That’s why I’m very excited to be here.”
As the evening unfolded, guests moved from experience to experience discovering everything from fresh seafood and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to elevated comfort food, all while DJs and live entertainment kept the energy high throughout the waterfront venue.
“We love to be involved with events of this caliber, of this status, with this kind of crowd, with so much influence. So we’re really happy to be a part of it again, and it’s important to give back to the local community as well,” Laura Bacharach, brand activation manager with San Pellegrino, said. “We’ve been working with Dan’s for years. Specifically for this, we wanted to highlight our Ciao! lineup because there was a lot of Italian influence from different chefs here tonight, and our lineup really pairs really well with food.”
Gold and Platinum VIP ticket holders began the evening during an exclusive early soirée before Silver guests joined the festivities later in the night, transforming the marina into one of the East End’s signature summer gatherings.
“This is my first time doing anything with Dan’s, but we were having these conversations a couple months ago,” Chef Francis Derby of The Halyard at Sound View Greenport, who was serving up lobster toast mixed with a lobster bisque, said. “I’m just pumped to be here. This is very exciting for us to actually get out to the other fork and see some people that might not normally come visit us on the North Fork.”
One of the evening’s defining moments came with the presentation of the inaugural Dan’s Papers Legendary Chef Award to Rao’s Executive Chef Dino Gatto, recognizing his lasting contributions to the culinary world.
“I want to thank Dan’s Papers, Vicki Schneps, and Schneps Media,” Gatto said. “It’s an honor to get something like this and be recognized by a lot of people that are in the restaurant business. And like I said, for all the chefs that are here doing what they’re doing, if they love doing it, keep on doing it. I love doing it. I’ve been in a restaurant for over 30 years.”
The honor added a new tradition to Chefs of the Hamptons while underscoring the event’s continued focus on celebrating the chefs whose work has shaped dining both on the East End and beyond.
“As executive chef, he has put Rao’s on the map as the most renowned – and hardest reservation to get – in America, maybe in the world,” Dan’s Papers publisher and Schneps Media founder Victoria Schneps-Yunis said, presenting Gatto with the award. “We are thrilled to be able to honor him, recognize him, and his dedication to the exceptional selection of ingredients, his timeless techniques, and his flawless execution.”
Entertainment remained a centerpiece throughout the evening, with legendary New York house music DJ Theo providing the soundtrack while celebrity magician and mentalist Josh Pele mingled with guests, adding unexpected moments of surprise between tastings.
‘I just love being in front of people,” Pele said. “I’m a performative style that you can’t really understand digitally. When you see a musician or a DJ or any other talent, and you see a video of them, you like them or you don’t, and that’s decisive enough for you to decide if you want them. I could have the best video online. You could think it’s incredible and still not be sure whether it’ll work for your event. Versus when you see me up close, you’re sold. It’s always a pleasure to be working with Dan’s Taste and making the magic – no pun intended.”
For participating chefs, the event offered more than an opportunity to serve memorable food. It also provided a chance to connect directly with guests and fellow culinary professionals in one setting.
“We had a long construction period last year, so it was a little weird,” Antonello Paganuzzi of Gurney’s Montauk, which has hosted Dan’s Taste events in summers past, said. “We are glad to be back, we are happy to showcase our new food, and we’re glad to see people again.”
Wine, spirits and cocktail partners complemented each course, giving attendees the opportunity to pair chef creations with premium beverages while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere overlooking Three Mile Harbor.
“It means everything, liquid to lift, and getting consumers to try our brands, especially Ranch Wine being a newer brand,” Shannon Kelly of Bonterra Ranch Wine, which was serving up glasses of wine with either a spiced or salted rim, said. “It’s how we build a community and build consumers who will love our brand and try it. And it’s really just how we are able to expand and grow. So we love doing things like these. We hope to continue to do things like these.”
Enjoying shrimp scampi from Gurney’s Gigi’s.Natalie Gerdik
Throughout the evening, conversations flowed as freely as the cocktails, with chefs discussing seasonal ingredients, restaurant favorites and the inspiration behind the dishes they prepared for the occasion.
“This is a great event, and we are part of the Hamptons,” Joe Gurrera, owner of the gourmet market Citarella and author of the cookbook ‘Joe Knows Fish’, said. “We’re here year round. We are local. We’re in East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Westhampton Beach and as you can see, we’re here to stay.”
Lauren Zarate, senior director of store operations at Citarella, noted Citarella and Dan’s Papers’s longtime partnership.
Enjoying Pellegrino & Bottega SPA.Natalie Gerdik
“When we got into Bridgehampton, Dan’s Papers was right next to us,” Zarate said. “Dan’s had a little office, we had a little store, and we grew together into what we both are today. It was an organic partnership.”
Chef Marco Barrila of Insatiable Eats and Shinnecock Lobster Factory, a regular chef at the Dan’s Taste series, had simple words for the event.
“It’s very hot, it’s very busy – and I love it,” Barilla said.
As darkness settled over the harbor, the celebration continued with guests lingering between tasting stations, gathering around the music and raising glasses to another successful installment of Dan’s Taste.
“It’s our chance to actually have fun while we’re working, and to enjoy the beautiful restaurant, and to feel like we’re on a boat over the ocean or something like that,” Sheila Barilla, wife of Marco, said. “The water behind us is part of the reason why we do this event. We just like to escape once in a while, and all of our favorite people are here. You know, we love Elizabeth and the whole Dan’s Taste team, we love to support them, and we like people to try our food because we make the best lobster.”
Next up for Dan’s Taste is Dan’s Grill Hampton on Saturday, August 8 at The Clubhouse Hamptons. For information and tickets visit DansTaste.com.
Hundreds celebrate Chefs of the Hamptons.Natalie Gerdik
