The next time you're looking to buy Kosher food in the Hamptons, plan to spend serious time touring all of the epicurean delights that await. Here're some tips on where to go and what to do to satisfy your tummy, but be forewarned: our descriptions may trigger a dash to your fridge as you anticipate the goodies awaiting you on this trendy real estate. Whether your plan is to cook a feast, order take-out, dwell at a deli or grab dessert, you'll have no problem satisfying your craving in this bucolic area of New York.
Instructions
1. Buy Kosher cold cuts and more at a number of food outlets in the Hamptons. Expect sky-high portions of corned beef, tongue, salami and choice roast beef cuts at shops, cafés and restaurants and add a bowl of matzo ball or cabbage soup to your order. Whether you prefer a take-out or dining experience, find highly recommended eateries in the Hamptons by visiting the Chowhound and Shamash websites (see Resource section) or get your food double-wrapped to go from area favorites such as the Meal Mart or Mauzone.
2. Purchase a wide variety of Glatt Kosher foods from the Chabad Lubavitch of the Hamptons. Whether you're hosting a Shabbat dinner or need a week's worth of provisions, forget about doing the foot work and order directly from the Chabad, then wait for your doorbell to signal delivery. Due to strict kashruth observances, you'll need to place your order by Wednesday for delivery on East Hampton by Thursday or Friday. Each dish will arrive in your choice of conventional oven or microwavable containers for reheating. Prepared under the stringent supervision of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens and then cooked by internationally-trained chefs at Great Neck Glatt, food ordered from the Chabad even includes barbeque. Get more details at http://www.jewishli.com/hamptons, call (631) 329-5800 or drop by any of the Chabad Centers of the Hamptons located at: 13 Woods Lane, East Hampton; 214 Hill St., Southampton; or 40 Winding Way, Watermill.
3. Buy enough Kosher meat to make everyone but the vegetarians at your dinner table happy from the Glatt Kosher Butcher Shop. Beef, veal, lamb and poultry won't be cut until you place your order, so you can be assured of freshness in addition to meat and poultry that's been cleaned and koshered to the highest standards. Choose from these Kosher cuts: bison, dry aged beef, organic beef, beef, chicken, turkey, veal, lamb and duck. Glatt Kosher also prepares "grilling packages." Orders must be placed no later than Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. if you want delivery on Thursday or Friday. That stated, if you're not certain that your appetite for duck will be as strong on Friday as it was on the day you placed your order, grab the car keys and head for Commack Kosher Meats & Caterers at 98 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, New York 11725. Their phone number is (631) 543-2300.
4. Take the Hamptons deli tour when you're looking for casual eateries with overflowing plates of heavenly noshes. Lox, nova, white fish, onions and eggs, beet soup, kreplach, derma, bagels and bialys plus other traditional Kosher foods are available in bountiful portions at these popular Hamptons delis: Ben's Kosher Deli, 235 Alexander Avenue, Nesconset, New York 11767, (800) 439-8770, Delsen's Kosher Delicatessen, 43 East Main Street, Bay Shore, New York 11706, (631) 665-4203 and Zan's Kosher Caterers, 135 Alexander Avenue, Lake Grove, New York 11755, (631) 979-8770. Make it a point to try all three and once you find the one that makes kugel or kreplach exactly the way your Bubbe did, don't keep it a secret.
5. Follow the adage "Life's short: Eat dessert first." Hamptons' residents are loyal consumers of coffee cakes, sponge cakes, macaroons and rugala, whether it's during the Passover or the rest of the year. The Hummel Bakery at 572 Larkfield Road, East Northport, New York 11731, (631) 266-3517 will make sure you leave their shop with bags and boxes of confections, but if you want to go to the place with the most amount of press coverage, visit Crumbs of East Hampton at 35 Newtown Lane or call (631) 329-4883. Check out the bakery's website: http://www.crumbsbakeshop.com and be assured that all baking is done under the watchful eye of Rabbi Harry Cohen of Orthodox Kashrut Supervision Services. Katie Holmes fell in love with the shop's cupcakes so if the shop name sounds familiar, that's probably why. Crumbs Bake Shop offers three sizes of cupcakes. Pick a dozen taste-size (about an inch) or opt for six classics. Find cupcake nirvana by grabbing half a dozen signature cupcakes (4 inches high and 6 ounces of sweet bliss). Check the website for exotic flavors, fillings and icings before you succumb to the fantasy and race to the shop.
Tags: your order, East Hampton, from Chabad, Glatt Kosher, Alexander Avenue
