Welcome to my Long Island blog.
This blog is a mini journal that will keep you up to date on all the best things to do on Long Island as well as adventures you might have missed.
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And don't forget to tell us about YOUR adventures on Long Island. Share your good times with the rest of us and I'll post your story right here.
Kingston’s reminds me of the some of the rough-hewn local eateries in Montauk Point. There’s nothing fancy here. The utensils and plates are plastic, and the dress code is as easy as it gets.
Check it out soon because unless the weather gets better they’re closing for the season on September 22.
Read my full review of Kingston’s Clam Bar
Sea scallops are versatile, easy to prepare, and always in season.
I’ve added a new page to my website that demystifies this favorite Long Island seafood with everything you need to know about buying, preparing, and cooking them. There’s video too!
Image below: The only way to get sea scallops with the roe is to buy them live and shuck them yourself.
Learn more about Sea Scallops.
Just when you thought the town of Greenport couldn’t get any cooler someone goes and starts a brewery.
I had heard about Greenport Harbor Brewing Company but didn’t think it was open yet. I drove by last weekend to see how things were coming and, well, see for yourself:
Right next to the jail behind Sweet Indulgences
The tasting room
In the tasting room you can taste beer, and buy pint glasses, tee shirts, bumper stickers…
First impressions: The beer (3 ales the day I was there) is excellent, and co-founder Richard Vandenburgh (in the doorway above) is an enthusiastic and gracious host. I expect good things to come.
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
234 Carpenter Street
631-477-6681
The snappers are running and some people will do anything to catch them…
Jake and Kevin of East Islip carry their fishing gear to the dock with a neat little bike rack that they built themselves. Their custom rack carries 4 poles and a couple of tackle boxes. Good job guys!
Snapper fishing is fun, easy, and the fish taste great. Right now they’re still a little on the small side, but they will be growing by the day.
Snappers are a fish that anyone can catch—even 4 year olds—and are a great way to introduce your kids to fishing. All you need is a pole and some bait.
If you want to try your hand at snapper fishing see my complete guide to snapper fishing on Long Island. Everything you need to know is there including a video that shows you how to catch, clean, and cook them.
Good luck!
A couple of weeks ago after the Boating with the Baymen tour I had some excellent soft shell crabs and steak at Fatfish in Bay Shore.
I tried to get to another restaurant on the water, but lucky for me, the wait was too long.
Remember that vineyard I showed you last week? Well, bud break is in full swing there now. The leaves are small, but they’ll grow like mad until the vines flower and produce fruit.
The warm weather not only stirs activity in the vines, but in the vineyards as well. There’s work to be done from now until harvest and beyond.
This is also the time of year when people end their winter hibernation and start exploring Long Island wine country. If you’ve never been to a tasting room before and feel a little intimidated, no bother, just read this bit about Long Island wine tasting and relax. If you already know the drill, then consider taking a chauffer driven Long Island wine tour.
On Long Island dogfish and skate are generally thought of as junk. They ruin the fisherman’s day and are thrown back in disgust. Because these fish are meaty, tasty, and boneless they are actually very good to eat and really don’t deserve their junk status.
If we had a better appreciation for these fish we’d have more fun, have more to eat, and there would be less pressure on more traditionally targeted species like flounder and fluke.
I cook and eat these fish whenever I catch them. If you’d like to try here’s a short page on how to eat dogfish and skate.
At this time of year there are a lot of people shopping in downtown Sayville. It’s a beautiful place and there are lots of cool little shops. One of my favorites is Down the Rabbit Hole Wine Boutique.
Because of its small size you can easily walk right by and never know you passed it, so keep you eyes peeled for the bright blue awning right next to the Sayville Chocolatier (I know you know where that is 
).
In this tiny little shop is a large selection of wines hand picked by proprietor Suzanne McDonald. Describe what you like and Suzanne will suggest a wine to fit the bill. Tell her what you’re cooking and she’ll suggest a pairing. It couldn’t be easier, or more fun. Suzanne is informative, unassuming, and smiles a lot.
I’ve seen a lot of people peek their heads in the door and then walk out scared because it’s a wine shop. I always encourage them to go in and talk to Suzanne. She’ll put you at ease and you’ll leave happy.
Snapper fishing on Long Island has definitely past it’s peak, but I’d thought I’d post this anyway.
Every year near the end of August the snappers start feeding heavily before they venture out into the ocean to migrate. These fish are lean, mean, eating machines and that makes them a lot of fun to catch. They’re also very good eating.
Snapper fishing usually peaks around end of August, beginning of September. They’re still out there now, it’s just taking longer and longer to fill the bucket. If you have the patience you can still catch enough for dinner before the day is over.
If want to try your hand at this popular long Island sport have a look at my guide to snapper fishing, filleting, and cooking (with pictures and a video).
Enjoy!
Just 2 weeks ago we Long Islanders were complaining about the end of summer. How it went so fast and there wasn’t enough time, blah, blah, blah. But cooler weather has its rewards (aside from not sticking to the sheets at night).
One of those rewards is my second favorite cookie of all time: Mallomars.
Fig Newtons are my #1 fav, but Mallomars are so close it’s practically a tie. Fig Newtons are available throughout the year, but on Long Island we can only get Mallomars in the cooler weather. They just melt too easily during the summer.
The limited availability exalts these cookies, and this might sound odd, but there’s a box of Mallomars in the cabinet for 2 days now and I just can’t bring myself to open it.
I’ve waited this long, they’re in the house, and rather than tear open the box before the rest of the groceries are put away, I’d like some quiet time to sit down and really savor the first Mallomar of the season.
Does that makes sense to anyone else or I am just nuts?