Stick a Fork in It

Listen up because this place is goooooood. We finally had the chance to go to Norfork Table and Inn in Southhold. This refurbished restaurant and inn has four rooms that seem to be occupied all of the time. When you taste the food, you realize why.

We arrived slightly early so we sat at the bar and had some yummy drinks. There were three of us and we all enjoyed different cocktails. Not only did they taste good, but they also looked picture perfect.

Once we sat down in the dining room and reviewed the menus, we quickly realized that ordering was going to be tough. We all wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. It took us a little while to decide but, in the end, we each selected an appetizer, main course and dessert.

The salads were delicious. The Assorted Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Goat Cheese was particularly noteworthy. The beets were sweet and tasty (which makes sense because they practically walked to the restaurant from the farm down the street). The Tuna Sashimi was fresh and flavorful.

For entrees, we ordered fish. When the plates arrived, we started fighting like immature children over which one of us made the best selection. Truth is, ALL of them qualified. Despite our very full bellies, and the large size of each dish, we practically licked our plates.

The menu changes regularly, but we had Sea Bass, Tuna and Halibut. Each fish was served over a different vegetable or legume, and the sauces were delectable. With entrees like this, we couldn't resist dessert. We honestly were thinking "How can you top this?"

We played with the idea of getting one sweet dish to share but, when we looked at the menu, no one wanted to share anything!

The most interesting dessert was the Tapioca pudding. The pecan tart and beignets were very good too. In fact (and we can't believe we're admitting this), we had extra beignets so we took a few home. That has to be the first time we've ever taken a dessert in a doggy bag.

Hopefully the photos can provide a window into how good this meal really was. It may seem expensive (about $85 to $95 a head), but it truly is worth it. All we can say is you gotta try it! Oh, and be SURE to make reservations, even if your party is small!

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

The North Fork Table and Inn

57225 Main Road

Southold, NY 11971

PH: 631-765-0177

FAX: 631-765-0179

www.northforktableandinn.com

LIV A Little

Now you can put the "Long Island" back into your Long Island Iced Tea with LIV Vodka. Distilled and bottled in Baiting Hollow, LIV (rhymes with jive) Vodka is made from 100% potatoes, which are grown right on the North Fork! 

This local distillery, said to be the first on Long Island since the 1800s, is housed within an historic barn, which was restored from 2001-2006. 

To have your vodka and drink it too, stop at the barn, located at 2182 Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow. If you're not going to be in the area, you can also find LIV Vodka at various restaurants and stores, including Stew Leonard's in Farmingdale.

You should also know that LIV Vodka was compared to Grey Goose and Chopin in a 2008 blind taste test conducted by LI Business News, and it passed with flying colors. Scoring an 85, LIV got some Strong Island points for its texture, smoothness, aroma and finish. We've had it alone and in mixed drinks and agree that the stuff is good (and we're not just saying that because we like supporting our local businesses). Do yourself a favor and, the next time you head out to Long Island's wine country, try some of Long Island's Vodka too.

DISTILLERY LOCATION:

LIV Vodka

2182 Sound Avenue

Baiting Hollow, NY  11933

631-630-9322 

www.lispirits.com

 

Buffalo Roam...on Long Island

Spring is really here and we've already taken several rides out to Long Island's North Fork looking for interesting places to see and things to do so that we can keep sharing this information with you! 

You'll never believe what we discovered on our last trip - buffalo! That's right folks. Buffalo roam on Long Island!

Don't let anyone tell you that the only way to see buffalo is to go to Yellowstone National Park (although we have to admit, Yellowstone is pretty cool and you should definitely go if you get the chance)! That said, seeing buffalo right here on Long Island is definitely a unique experience.

To locate the buffalo, head to Roanoke Avenue. As you're driving on Roanoke, you will come to a sign for a farm. Turn here. From the road, through the fence, you can watch the animals grazing. We were lucky enough to observe some babies last weekend - so cute!

Greenport

THIS LOCATION IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

We like the snow in the winter, and we certainly have been getting a lot of it this year! One thing is for sure though, Long Island looks lovely covered in white. Snow shouldn't deter you from heading east. In fact, this is a great time of year to enjoy Long Island's East End - you'll have the place all to yourselves (no annoying crowds folks). 

Our suggestion this week - Greenport.

Once a whaling and ship building village, Greenport is a lovely place to spend the day or the weekend. You'll enjoy just walking around and visiting the quaint shops and eateries including the Greenport Tea Company, Verbena and other shops. 

Also stroll along the waterfront where you'll see a large bronze sculpture of an Osprey by Roberto Julio Bessin. It commemorates the Americans who lost their lives during the September 11th attack in 2001.

You'll see, the ground doesn't have to be green to enjoy the North Fork town of Greenport.

Jedediah Hawkins Inn

Located in Jamesport, Long Island, the Jedediah Hawkins Inn is not to be missed. Built in 1863, the house was originally done in the Italinate style and was likely one of the most elaborate homes on the East End. It became vacant in the later part of the twentieth-century and remained empty until the 1980's. Set to be demolished in 2004, the house survived because of a partnership that developed to preserve and restore it. As a result, the structure was transformed into the wonderful Victorian inn it is today.

The Inn is grand, yet extremely inviting. Visitors are immediately transformed by the peace and serenity of the grounds, the lovely staff and the welcoming, cozy interior. After seeing the inside, it's easy to understand why this was the 2005 North Fork Designer Showhouse.

Upon entering the front door, guests are tempted to sit in the comfortable and bright entry room, where they might order a cup of tea or coffee and relax or read. For more than a snack, the Inn serves meals in a larger dining area. 

As Jamesport also happens to be home to many wonderful wineries, the Inn has a 2500-bottle wine cellar, which contains a sample from every wine producer on Long Island, including Jedediah's own label. Also known as "The Captain's Cellar," we think this room is one of the best in the house. If the hearth-like fireplace, soft, comfortable sofas, stone walls and rustic decor aren't enough to make you stay here all day, we're sure a few glasses of nice wine will.

If you enjoy wine as much as we do, you also might want to participate in the Inn's series of Thursday Night Casual Wine Dinners, which began on May 8, 2008. 

If you will be in Jamesport for a few days, also plan to stay in one of Jedediah's luxurious, designer-decorated rooms. Each room is unique and practically perfect, with a view of the lawn, garden, farm or pond. The Belvedere Suite is our favorite, and a great choice if you're looking for a wedding suite or a room for any special occasion. Be sure to plan ahead though - there are only six rooms! There is a two-night minimum stay on weekends and a three-night minimum stay on holidays. This is a great place to be no matter what the season, and rates change depending on the time of year. From May through December of 2008, lodging can run anywhere between $400-$695 per night depending on the time of week and the type of room. For those of you who can't live without Internet access, the rooms also have wireless connections, but we hope you'll take some time off and enjoy being pampered!

INN LOCATION:

400 South Jamesport Avenue

Jamesport, NY 11947

631-722-2900

jedediahhawkinsinn.com